Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil | Inaugurated CTERSA, the Center for Technology in Renewable Energies of the Semi - Arid Region

The Government of Brazil inaugurated CTERSA (Centro de Tecnologia em Energias Renováveis do Semiárido) the Center for Technology in Renewable Energies of the Semi - Arid Region in Campina Grande, the second largest city in the state of Paraiba, after João Pessoa, considered to be the most important city of the Northeastern Brazilian subregion called agreste, boasting a unique blend of rich agricultural history, booming tech innovation, and world – class culture. The city is known as both the “Brazilian Liverpool” for its past as a global cotton hub, and the “Silicon Valley" of the Northeast for its top - tier tech industry.

CTERSA is an innovation hub focused on sustainable solutions backed by an approximate R$34 million investment (approximately $6.46 million) via the National Institute of the Semi - Arid Region (INSA), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation deep on (MCTI), and also financed by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT).

With an area of 2.205 square metres and specialised laboratories, the centre seeks to strengthen innovation in areas such as on sustainable solutions, solar, wind, biomass, and green hydrogen, as well as running the OTERSA accelerator for deep - tech projects.

CTERSA will also promote research on desalination, carbon capture, circular economy and smart energy management.

The launch highlights the strategic importance of the Northeast region in the global transition, heavily focusing on transforming scientific research into applied industrial and socioeconomic solutions.

During the inauguration, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, stressed that the centre will contribute to consolidating the role of the Brazilian Semi - Arid in the energy transition, promoting solutions adapted to the needs of the region and promoting sustainable development.

The initiative is part of the Government’s strategy to turn the Semi - Arid region into a hub of innovation in renewable energies and is part of the Strategic Agenda for 2032, a plan based on technical studies that identifies challenges and opportunites in the energy sector in the region, defining more than 300 actions aimed at promoting the energy transition and technological development in the territory.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation allocated more than R$513 million (approximately $97.47 million) to research and innovation projects in the state of Paraiba.

Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/brasil-inaugura-un-centro-de-innovaci-n-en-energ-as-renovables-en-el-semi-rido/

Cancún, Mexico | Taxi Security Reinforced with AI, GPS and Video Surveillance to Prioritize Tourist Safety

Cancún, a premier Caribbean resort city located on the northeast coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, renowned for its 22 kilometres of white - sand beaches and vibrant nightlife, through the “Andrés Quintana Roo” Taxi Driver’s Unit in Benito Juárez is modernising its taxi fleet to prioritize its tourist safety and fare transparency.

The Taxi Union launched the Flywheel technology platform, a new exclusive application for taxi service that seeks to reinforce the safety of users and operators integrating connected technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), real - time GPS tracking linked central command centres, and 360 - degree video surveillance cameras, built - in panic buttons.

These integrated features operate as follows:

·       Video & AI Surveillance: Upgraded cabs features 360 - degree cameras to record the interior and exterior of the vehicle, backed by built - in video analytics to monitor suspicious incidents.

·       Real - Time GPS Tracking: The union continuously monitors vehicle geolocation, enabling immediate emergency responses and providing an exact record of travel routes.

·       Passenger Panic Buttons: In the event of a threat of emergency, drivers or passengers can trigger a built – in alarm that alerts the police and central dispatch.

·       Digital Taximeters: To avoid overcharging and haggling, digital taximetres are being rolled out to guarantee that fares are strictly calculated by distance.

With this measure, the union seeks to strengthen confidence in the taxi service in Cancún, improve the surveillance of the units and expand the digital options available to users and operators.

Secretary General of the taxi union, Rubén Carrilo, reported that implementation of this technology will be gradual. So far the first 50 taxis have already been equipped with the system, while more units will be added daily, without there being an established limit for their incorporation.

The taxi union leader explained that Flywheel has security cameras connected to the C5, a geolocation system and permanent monitoring, as well as a renewed chromatic system to identify the units that are part of this platform.

The Secretary General pointed out that this innovation is part of a strategy to open new income and work opportunities for the concessionaires and operators that are part of the union and that the association opens the doors to all those who believe in the union and see it as an area of opportunity to have more sources of income and more job opportunities.

The union head also clarified that Flywheel does not replace eTaxi, but that both applications continue to operate in parallel as exclusive tools for taxi drivers affiliated to the“Andrés Quintana Roo” Union.

The leader of the entity also stressed that about 80 percent of the he union’s vehicle fleet is in a position to be incorporated into the new platform, because they are modern units that meet the necessary characteristics to install the technological equipment.

As reported by REPORTUR.mx, in May, new incidents related to the taxi service in Cancún once again generated controversy on social networks and among visitors, amid the efforts of authorities and tourism sectors to strengthen attention to destinations such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Link

https://www.reportur.com/agencias/2026/07/02/cancun-refuerzan-seguridad-de-taxis-con-videovigilancia-ia-y-gps/

Durbanville, South Africa | Stellenbosch University Partners with Cape Winelands Airport for a Planned R8 Billion Expansion

Stellenbosch University (SU), a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in  South Africa’s Western Cape province surrounded by the picturesque vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountainous nature reserves of Joenkershoek, has entered into a formal partnership with Cape Winelands Airport (formerly Fisantekraal Airfoeld) located at Lichtenburg Road (R312), approximately 13 kilometres northeast of Durbanville.

The expansion project with an investment of R8 million aims to create a second major international airport for the Western Cape and will blend infrastructure development with cutting - edge academic research.

The airport is designed to serve as an alternative to Cape Town International Airport,  featuring s planned 3.5 kilometres runway capable of handling wide - body aircraft and offering more direct access to the Western Cape’s wine regions.

The collaboration will span spatial planning, transport and logistics, aviation research and agricultural and food processing with construction scheduled to begin in late 2026 and expected to begin commercial operations in early 2028. 

The terminal will be built in a park - like environment featuring vineyards, a conference centre, a hotel, and outdoor entertainment spaces. The airport will also include advanced prototyping labs, pilot training facilities, and smart aerospace zones.

In addition the air hub introduces dedicated agri - processing zones to optimize cold chains and farm - flight efficiency for exports.

The partnership will create applied research and practical learning opportunities for students with initial proposals including Master’s - level engineering research projects linked to the airport’s development.

Over its first 20 years of operation, the airport is projected to support 35.000 direct and !00.000 indirect jobs, positioning it as a significant economic driver for the region.

For the tourism industry, the development adds wave of aviation investment in the Western Cape - Cape Town International Airport is currently undergoing s separate R10 billion upgrade under ACSA’s national infrastructure programme, while the private Atlantic Aerodrome near Philadelphia, a village located 23 km north - east of Durbanville is scheduled to open in September 2026.

Link

https://atta.travel/resource/stellenbosch-university-partners-with-cape-winelands-airport-in-r8-billion-development.html

Cabarete, the Dominican Republic | Surf Schools and Local Businesses Requested Urgent Government Intervention to Ban Vehicles from Playa Encuentro

Surf schools and local businesses at Playa Encuentro,, located in Cabarete, a lively beach town on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast renowned as the adventure and water sports of the Caribbean, as well as one of the most consistent surf breaks in the region, just a 25 - minute drive from Gregorio Luperón Airport, formally requested urgent government intervention to ban vehicles from the beach.

The request is calling on Dominican authorities to immediately enforce existing regulations that prohibit vehicle access the protected coastal strip, warning the uncontrolled traffic in Cabarete, endangering visitors, damaging the environment and harming the beach’s reputation as a world - class surfing destination.

Playa Encuentro is located 4 km west of Cabarete centre, and is the Caribbean’s premier surfing destination. The narrow, 1.1 km stretch of sand features a lush jungle canopy, casual beach shacks, and consistent, year - round morning waves and it is unswimmable for casual bathers due to strong currents.

The beach offers distinct breaks for all levels, ranging from the forgiving white waters of “Bobo’s Point” for beginners to the intense, expert - only reef barrels at “Coco Pipe” and “Destroyers”.

The coalition of surf schools, including Dominican Surf School, Buena Onda Surf School, Cabarete Surf Co., and local businesses delivered a joint letter to the Ministries of Tourism (MITUR),  the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MMARENA), the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Miunicipal de Cabarete (Cabarete municipal council) and Politur (Tourism Police) demanding a ban of all vehicle traffic and parking within the restricted 60 - metre maritime zone (the 60 metres from the pleamar,  or high tide line), which is protected by Dominican environmental and constitutional law.

The unregulated circulation of cars and motorized vehicles on the narrow strip of sand poses severe physical riks to surfers,, children, tourists and families while accelerating dune erosion, degrading the local ecosystem, changing coastal vegetation, and damaging the area’s tourism image.

The group is requesting stronger enforcement, including coordinated inspections, visible signage, designated parking areas outside the beach, physical barriers to block vehicle access and a permanent management plan developed with local businesses and authorities.

They warned that protecting Playa Encuentro is essential to preserving Cabarete’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier surfing destination and ensuring the long - term sustainability of its tourism industry.

Link

https://dominicantoday.com/surf-schools-urge-dominican-authorities-to-ban-vehicles-from-playa-encuentro/

Ruby Hotels GmbH | To Open its Second U.S. Hotel, Located in New York City

Ruby Hotels GmbH, a hospitality international  brand founded in 2013 and based in Munich, Germany, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ leading premium portfolio, a hotel company breaking new ground with its Lean Luxury philosophy with a lean organisational structure and concentration on on the essentials and aimed in creating a contemporary, affordable, cost and style - conscious customers,  will open its second U.S. hotel in New York.

The urban lifestyle hotel  brand will introduce its signature blend of character, charm and efficient design in New York City once again, planning to open a new location in one of the most demanded destinations worldwide like NYC, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, a major global city and vibrant metropolis, known for its diversity, economic influence, and cultural significance, located at the mouth of the Hudson River in southeastern New York state,  the most populous city in the U.S.offering a plethora of places to visit for tourists, including iconic landmarks,   vibrant neighbourhoods and several cultural attractions.

The soon - to convert Ruby New York City marks the second U.S. signing for the brand only a few months., alongside a forthcoming Chicago hotel, both properties to open in 2027.

Local hotel, residential and commercial developer AC Developers will be the owners of Ruby New York City, while Ambridge Hospitality, a third - party hotel management company based in Piano, Texas, managing over 1.100 hotels globally will oversee its operations.

A comprehensive renovation set to begin this year will transform an 18 - story, historic 1930s – era building into a flagship for the Ruby brand. 

This upcoming 187 - room urban lifestyle hotel opening in Manhattan will open its doors  along the famed and bustling Avenue of the Americas,  steps away from landmarks like Madison Square Garden, Herald Square and the Empire State Building.

The property will combine the brand’s distinctive, cost - conscious luxury design with a highly social cultural atmosphere, inviting lifestyle - minded travellers into a soulful, high - energy environment shaped by the rhythm of New York City.

The hotel will feature 187 streamlined, compact rooms with signature bedding, rainfall showers, and standardized  premium prewar finishes, with each space built for effortless comfort.

The property will boast a 24/7 lobby bat that serves as a communal social space for both hotel guests and local visitors alike, echoing the vibrant atmosphere that defines Ruby’s European portfolio.

The forthcoming Ruby New York City builds on IHG Hotels & Resorts’ recent expansion across the market. Luxury and lifestyle brand Kimpton recently opened the doors to new properties, Kimpton Era Midtown - New York and Kimpton Ashbel New York - Park Avenue. IHG premium brand voco hotels opened its largest Americas hotel in Times Square, a 32 - story property also owned by AC Developers. Later this year IHG’ s renowned Crowne Plaza brand will return to the iconic Times Square with the opening of a newly converted hotel.  

Beyond its U.S. expansion, Ruby Hotels boasts 40 open and pipeline properties predominantly span Europe’s largest and most prominent cities. The brand’s 2026 global signings include its first planned hotel in Belgium and new properties in Germany and Italy. These additions further IHG Hotels & Resorts’ ambition to grow the brand to more 120 global hotels during the next decade and more than 250 during the next 20 years.  

CEO, Americas for IHG Hotel & Resorts, Jolyon Bulley, said that Ruby’s arrival in New York City reflects the company momentum in bringing the brand’s distinctive experience and flexible model to major U.S. urban markets. With two properties new planned in iconic, gateway cities, IHG is just beginning to unlock Ruby’s growth potential. IHG Hotels & Resorts also looks forward to building on its longstanding relationship with the team of AC Developers to make New York’s first Ruby a must - stay destination.

AC Developers co - founder Andrew Webs added that New York City is the ideal home for Ruby Hotels, a brand that balances an inviting and memorable lifestyle experience while appealing to cost and style - conscious travellers and AC Developers welcomes the opportunity to bring Ruby Hotel in New York in collaboration with IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Links

https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2026/ruby-hotels-to-shine-in-the-big-apple-with-second-us-signing

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141469.html

Minor Hotels | Signed an Agreement to Open a 121 - Room NH Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Minor Hotels, an international operator, investor and owner in the hospitality industry founded in 1978 and based in Bangkok, Thailand, has signed an agreement to open a 121 - room NH hotel in Riyadh, the capital and main financial hub of Saudi Arabia, located on a desert plateau in the centre of the country, known as the cultural capital of the Saudi Kingdom due to its numerous cultural centres, among them the King ‘ Abd ‘ Aziz Historical Centre,  the National Museum and the National Library. 

The future  planned opening of NH Riyadh Prime Square Hotel marks the debut of the NH Hotels & Resorts brand in the Middle East, as part of the company strategy to expand its presence in the region in key destinations like Riyadh that is investing heavily in hospitality and infrastructure to meet its demand. The number of of tourist rooms in the region recently reached 50.000, which is a 34% increase.

The property, developed by  Heyazah Real Estate Development, a renowned company based in Riyadh offering integrated services and constructing commercial projects, part of Ahmed Sl - Saif Holding Group, which has completed approximately 621.000 square metres of development and has more than 1.1 million square metres under development.

The hotel is scheduled to open in 2030 within Prime Square, a mixed - use development located along King Abdullah Road, an integrated urban destination centred around a landscaped plaza with retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, and lifestyle amenities. The development is situated near Al Wurud Metro Station and STC Metro Station, providing access to the city’s commercial and leisure districts.

Prime Square is situated in the beating heart of King Fahad District,  a well - known residential and commercial neighbourhood in central Riyadh near bustling roads and avenues highlighted by the presence of  towering skyscrapers, and the extensive King Fahal District Park, a peaceful green space that is open 24 hours hours a day for walking, picnics, and family outings

The area offers an easy access to key transit spots like the King Fahad District 2 Station, highly accessible and serving as a major hub for businesses and medical centres, providing s variety of amenities snd lanmrks for residents and visitors.

The hotel will feature 121 rooms and suites, including 80 King Rooms, 25 Deluxe King Rooms, and 16 NH Suites. Amenities will include an all - day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a rooftop pool bar and lounge, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a business centre, and meeting facilities.

The hotel will join NH Hotels & Resorts, a  brand which provides travellers with comfortable, modern urban hotels boasting excellent city - centre access, emphasizing great value, excellent service, and modern comfort.

The signing of NH Riyadh Prime Square hotel comes amid ongoing growth in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector despite regional tensions, supported by infrastructure investment, economic diversification and increasing travel demand with Riyadh identified as a growing hub for business tourism and events.

Links

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141876.html

The Dean Group | Announced the Opening of a 281 - Room Hotel in Munich, Germany

The Dean Group, a boutique, culture – driven hotel company founded in Dublin, Ireland has announced the opening of a 281 - room hotel in Munich, vibrant, cosmopolitan capital of Bavaria and Germany’s third - largest city, famous for its world – class museums, stunning architecture, a rich cultural heritage,  historic beer halls like the Hofbräuhaus, the iconic annual Oktoberfest,  a city that beautifully balances a high – tech, modern economy and stunning alpine scenery right of its doorstep.

The Dean Munich is the brand’s largest to date hotel and its second in Germany, following the opening of The Dean Berlin in February 2026.

This culturally - forward lifestyle boutique hotel which merges luxe 1980s glamour with early 20 th - century Jugendstil design is located at Landsberger Strasse 68  in Munich’s vibrant Westend neighbourhood in the heart of the city near Marieplatz Viktalienmarkt,  a short walk of Theresiewiese (Oktoberfest grounds), the historic Augustiner beer garden, the Donnersbergbücke, and Schrenksrtasse transport hubs,  providing direct 15 - minute S – Bahn access to Munich Airport.

The design of the hotel incorporates elements inspired by Bavaria’s Art Nouveau heritage and 1980s Munich nightlife, with social spaces designed by Tatjana von Stein.

The property features 281 comfortable guestrooms range from Standard Rooms to The Dean Suite and The Penthouse Suite, include smart technology and a range of amenities.

Guestrooms blend paired - back palettes of gentle greens with velvet, polished wood, and custom DS & Durga Irish - landscapes fragrance. Upgraded rooms and suites feature black tile floors, golden rugs, copper accents, deep soaking bathtubs, and private balconies.

Guests can dine at Ibasho, the brand’s signature restaurant serving a modern traditional Japanese menu developed by consultant chef Alex Craciun. The menu includes pressed sushi, sashimi, grilled steaks and seafood, a curated caviar selection, and a cocktail and sake menu. The hotel also features a chic Rooftop Bar and a Lobby Lounge & Bar.

The Power Wellness Club, The Dean’s fitness and wellness concept, features a high - energy fitness and recovery space, an indoor infinity pool complete with a cinema screen and cocktail service, sauna, steam room, a full menu of spa treatments,, group training classes, and a thermal suite with contrast therapy.

The hotel will launch a site - specific art program titled “The City Beneath the City,”curated by Christian Gnzenberg. The Program will focus on Munich - based contemporary artists and include works by Ju Young Kim, Veronika Hilger, Jienn Park, Sebastian Quast, and photographers from Der Greif Studio, Ossian Fraser will also contribute commissioned works using materials from the hotel site.

Links

https://thedeanhotels.com/locations/munich

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141971.html