Hilton | Officially Opened a New Hotel Part of its Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Inglewood, California, U.S.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc., American multinational hospitality company based in Tysons, Virginia, has officially opened a new hotel part of its Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Inglewood, a city situated in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County in California. U.S.

Inglewood is a major sports hub near LAX, it features iconic venues like SoFi Stadium, the Kia Forum, and the YouTube Theatre, a centre known as the “City of Champions”, it hosts NFL teams, major concerts, and events like Superbowl LVI and future LXI.

The new Anthem Los Angeles Stadium District, Tapestry by Hilton is owned by Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, an advisory and investment firm focused on the property management, renovation and development of lodging assets based in San Francisco, California and managed by PM HotelGroup, a leading hospitality management company headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

The property is located at 3900 W Century Boulevard in the Los Angeles Stadium District, adjacent to Intuit Dome, a short distance from SoFi Stadium, Kia Forum, and YouTube Theatre, 4 minutes’ walk from Hollywood Park Casino, approximately 10 minutes by car from Los Angeles International Airport and 20 minutes from the beach.

The hotel features 179 newly renovated rooms and suites, and amenities including blackout - ready shades, ergonomic woprkspaces, high speed Wi - Fi in guest rooms, a fitness centre, and valet parking is available. 

Tom’s Watch Bar  oversees the hotel’s food and beverage program, offering wall - to - wall screens and game - day with chef - driven menus, serving as the hotel restaurant partner and social venue.

The establishment’s pool area is framed by the Soundwave Pool Bar and features a hand - painted mural on the pool deck. The Stage rooftop provides skyline views, crafts cocktails, and performances. Behind The Stage, Backstage is a 1.285 - square - foot interior lounge that can be used for private dining, pre - show retreats, or as a quite space.

The property joins the Tapestry Collection by Hilton brand, characterized by independent hotels uniquely designed, reflecting the local culture and environment, offering guests an authentic and memorable experience, known for their vibrant design and excellence in service.

Anthem Los Angeles Stadium District, Tapestry by Hilton with its opening participates in the Hilton Honours loyalty program. Members booking directly through Hilton channels have access to benefits, including a flexible payment slider, member discount, standard Wi - Fi, and the Hilton Honors mobile app. Hilton Honors members can redeem points using the Points Explorer tool.

Links

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/laxlmup-the-anthem-los-angeles-stadium-district/

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article139903.html

Uruguay | Confirming Tourism as One of the Main Engines of its Economy

Uruguay closed 2025 with the second-best historical record of international tourist arrivals, confirming tourism as one of the main engines of the national economy according to Diario la R, a prominent free online newspaper in Uruguay headquartered in the capital city of Montevideo.

 The South American country experienced a massive surge in tourism last year, recording over 3.2 million international visitors between January and November 2025, marking one of the highest volumes in its history and generating approximately US$1.784 billion in revenue, solidifying the sector as a primary economic driver.

 Driven by a strong summer season Uruguay saw significant arrivals from Argentina and Brazil, with Montevideo and Punta del Este leading as top destinations.

 Argentina was the top source of tourists with over 2.1 million, followed by Brazil, alongside notable visitors from Europe and North America.

 Uruguay’s tourism success is built on stable, high - quality infrastructure, safety, and a “State policy”approach that promotes diversified, year - round attractions, making it a top South American destination. Key factors also include, strong regional appeal, especially for Argentine and Brazilian travellers, investment in luxury, eco - tourism, wine, and a strong focus on sustainable development.

Apart Montevideo and Punta del Este as main destinations the industry thrives on year 0 round options including thermal spa in the northwest, cultural tourism in Colonia del Sacramento (UNESCO site) and rural/agro - tourism. The country also has a strong reputation for environmental protection, with a high percentage of energy from renewable sources, appealing to eco - conscious travellers. 

The Minister of Tourism, Pablo Menoni, stressed that the summer season is developing at levels similar to those of the previous year and that, in addition to the high volume of visitors, there was an increase in average daily spending, a key factor for foreign exchange income.

 Beyond the positive balance, the Minister identified as the main challenge “breaking the ceiling” of inbound tourism, currently located at around 3.5 million annual visitors.

 Another central axis is the improvement of air connectivity, especially with southern Brazil and western Argentina, considered key to expanding the flow of tourism.

Added to this is Uruguay’s international projection as a safe, stable, and reliable destination, as well as dialogue with the private sector in the face of competitiveness challenges linked to the exchange rate.

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/uruguay-registr-segundo-mayor-n-mero-de-visitantes-de-su-historia-en-2025/

Kenya | Launching a Strategy Based on AI to Modernize its Tourism Sector

Kenya is launching a strategy based on AI to modernize its tourism sector as announced by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano at the Dubai World Governments Summit in February 2026. The strategy uses predictive data, AI - driven platforms and blockchain to offer personalized experiences and reduce with the goal to double the sector’s GDP contribution to 8% by next year. 
The official said that the country will leverage artificial intelligence and smart data to drive the next phase of tourism growth, with the aim to position the sector for resilience, inclusivity and competitiveness, and highlighted AI - powered personalization and low - carbon, conservation - led solutions to ensure local communities benefit from the tourism value chain as purpose - driven travel accelerates. 

Outlining a roadmap to a digitally enabled ecosystem during the Future of Tourism and Destination Global South Panel focuses as a major shift in the travel landscape, positioning the Global South as a primary driver of future tourism growth, transitioning from a passive player to a leader in authentic, sustainable, and technologically driven travel hub, the Cabinet Secretary cited applications including predictive analytics for demand trends and intelligent itinerary platforms, alongside smart - data tools for real – time ecosystem monitoring and improved park management.  

The Kenyan officially met the newly appointed UN Tourism Secretary - General, Shaikha Al Nowais, to explore cooperation on skills, investment and multilateral partnerships. The approach is expected to sharpen Magical Kenya’s marketing, attract digitally savvy travellers and support sustainable inclusive growth. 

Key Features of Kenya’s AI – First Tourism Strategy: 

•    Hyper - Personalized Experiences: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse visitor preferences for customized, tailored travel itineraries. 
•    Predictive Data Analytics: Using data to understand travel patterns, target visitors, and improve marketing efficiency. 
•    Smart Conservation and Operations: Implementing AI for real – time ecosystem monitoring, park management, and reducing the carbon footprint of tourism, 
•    Blockchain Integration: Employing blockchain technology to streamline processes, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, and ensure direct revenue to local communitiesand conservancies. 
•    Tech - Enabled Ecosystem: Positioning Kenya as a hub for travel tech startups and moving away from traditional “beach and bush” marketing to a digital – first approach. 

In essence, the initiative aims to position Kenya as a leader in sustainable, purpose - driven tourism while improving the competitiveness of its tourism products globally. 

Link 

https://atta.travel/resource/kenya-sets-ai-first-tourism-strategy-says-cs-miano.html

The United Kingdom | The UK Government is Planning a Further 25% Increase of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

The UK Government has confirmed that is planning a further 25% increase of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which would raise from £16 to £20.  

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a mandatory digital pre - travel permission for visa - exempt visitors, first introduced in 2023, valid for multiple, short - term, 6 months over two years (or passport expiry). It enables pre - screening of travellers to enhance security, with most applications via the UK ETA app, in minutes, though it does not guarantee entry. The UK Government indicated that 19.6 million ETAs were granted in the first two years of the system, until the end of September 2025.

Last year, the UK increased the Electronic Travel Authorisation rate by 60% from £10 to £16 with new value coming into force in April 2025. 

According to an information note from the Home Office, the equivalent of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the British Government intends to increase the cost of the ETA again by another £4 pounds, to £20 pounds. Although a data for this change has not yet been indicated, the most recent increase needs parliamentary approval. 

ETA Increase Details: 

•    Fee Structure: The cost rises to £20 per applicant. 
•    Implementation: The fee hike aligns with the mandatory enforcement of the ETA scheme, which begins 25 February 2026, meaning travellers without one may be denied boarding. 
•    Purpose: The increase is intended to support the funding of the UK’s migration and boarder system. 
•    Scope: This affects all - non - visa nationals (Including US, Canadian, Ausralian, and EU/EEA citizens) visiting the UK for short stays.

The increase which brings the cost in line with the EU’s upcoming ETIAS fee, was confirmend by the Home Office as part of the digital permit’s shift to full enforcement. 

 Another change, which comes into effect from 25 February 2026, will prevent eligible visitors do not have an ETA from boarding their UK - bound mode of transport. 

Travellers taking connecting flights at British airports and passing through UK passport control will still need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, unless they are transiting through London Heathrow or Manchester airports and do not crossing the British border. 

A Home Office statement said that as with all the UK fees, the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation is regularly reviewed, and the Government intends to increase the value of the ETA to £20 in the future.  

Chief Executive of the UKinbound tourism association, Joss Croft, saidf that rising visa and ETA costs risk pulling the tourism economy in the wrong direction and slowing down that growth. 

The head of the association added that international visitors have a choice, and the UK already has some of the highest entry in the world. Making visits even more expensive undermines the country competitiveness and puts valuable export revenue at risk. If the Government wants growth to be felt locally, it must rethink these increases and keep the United Kingdom, welcoming and competitive.

In addition, The UK Government also intends to increase the cost of the two - year visitor visa from £475 to £506 for travellers who do not qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

Link
https://www.publituris.pt/2026/01/27/governo-britanico-planeia-novo-aumento-de-25-na-taxa-da-eta

Mexico | The Maya Train Boosts Tourism and Local Sales by Introducing Specialized “Janal” Restaurant Cars

The “Tren Maya” or Maya Train, a 1.554 km long inter - city railway in Mexico that traverses the Yucátan Peninsula, designed to connect 5 states in the southeastern region of the country reaching various destinations and communities, is boosting tourism and local sales by introducing specialized “Janal” (eating) restaurant cars featuring traditional Yucatecan and authentic Maya cuisines as part of its 42 - train fleet services. 

This move alongside commercial concessions for local businesses at stations, is an initiative that aims to showcase regional culture and stimulate the economy across the Yucatán Peninsula supported by the launch of its delicious gastronomy travelling by train. 

The Maya Train adds a new gastronomic proposal as a culinary experience in motion with these restaurant cars integrated in the existing modalities such as Xiimbal, with a regular trip, an P’atal, a long - distance service. 

Janal also presents itself as a platform for collaboration with the restaurant and hotel industry in the region. The project seeks to amplify the value and high - level of the Mexican and Yucatecan cuisine, names and products od local businesses, as a gastronomic and cultural showcase. 

While they have not announced costs or exact opening dates to the public, Janal is an ambitious project because it’a a dining room on rails, turning the act of travelling into a way to get to know the Southeast through its relevant gastronomy and culinary art. 

The design of the wagons has the modernist aesthetic inspired by Luis Barragán, where light, colour and geometry dialogue with the landscape. Tables for two and four people, reclining seats and large panoramic windows observing the archaeological sites, the jungle, and the villages that the train crosses are some of the highlights of these restaurant cars.

Likewise, they will have the Mayan Train Beer, with an amber craft beer created to accompany the gastronomic offer, to pair the intensity of the traditional Yucatecan and southeastern stews and will be available in Janal, Xiinbal and P’atal. 

As reported by REPORTOUR.mx, the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) recently announced that the Maya Train will open ticket sales in collaboration with the transport platform Flix, a German brand that offers low - coast intercity coach services in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. The operations started on February 1, 2026 offering European tourists to purchase these services before their tours of the Mexican southeast. 

The Secretary of Tourism of Mexico Josefina Rodríguez Zamora stated that the collaboration strengthens the country’s tourism competitiveness by integrating digital tools that simplify the travel experience and bring the destinations of the Mayan World closer to a greater number of international visitors. The incorporation of the Maya Train to Flix confirms that this project continues to consolidate in the European market. 

Key Aspects of the Gastronomic Experience: 

•    Janal Service: Dedicated restaurant cars, designed with regional aesthetics, offer high - quality, authentic Mayan cuisine, enhancing the travel experience beyond standard transportation. 
•    Regional Economic Boost: The project prioritizes local businesses for concessions, enabling small, local enterprises to sell regional produces and handicrafts to passengers. 
•    Strategic Integration: The dining experience is designed to showcase the culinary heritage of the five states along the route such as Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán.
•    Complementary Services: The train system includes three types of services: Xiinbal (standard), Janal (restaurant), and P’atal (long – distance/sleeping cabins). 

This initiative aims to redefine regional travel, combining modern, eco - friendly infrastructure with deep cultural, culinary, and social integration of local communities.  

Link

https://www.reportur.com/agencias/2026/02/07/fotos-tren-maya-impulsara-ventas-con-tren-gastronomico/

Angola | Approved a €449 Million Public Investment to Develop Critical Infrastructure in Key Coastal Tourism Zones

Angola through its President João Lourenço has approved a €449 million investment to develop critical infrastructure in key coastal tourism zones, such as Cabo Ledo, Namibe, and Quicombo, financed by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., a Japanese bank holding and financial services company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. 

Under Executive Orders No. 32/36 and 33/26, the funds will be delivered to introduce a simplified procurement process for the design and construction of access roads, electricity,  public lighting, sanitation, telecommunications and water supply to boost tourism and diversify economy. 

Works will cover the areas of Quicombo Bay in Cuanza Sul, Pipas Bay in Saco Mar, Tômbwa Bay and Três Irmãos Bay in Moçâmedes, Namibe under the “Planifica Turismo” (Planning Tourism) programme approved in 2025. 

 The plan seeks to unlock a strategic coastal tourism corridor, reduce investor entry costs and address infrastructure gaps tha have constrained projects despite rising interest. 

Angola is actively working to improve its infrastructure and tourism sector and the African country was recognised by the Global Tourism Forum as 2025’s Best Tourism Investment Destination. The Angolan government expects the initiative to strengthen competitiveness and support sustainable development, with anticipated job creation and local economic gains. 

Key aspects of the investment approved in February 2026 include: 

•    Targeted Locations: The projects focus on the Cabo Ledo Tourism Development Hub, Quicombo Bay, Cuasza Azul, and the bays of Pipas, Saco Mar, Tômbwa Bay and Três Irmãos Bay in Moçâmedes, Namibe. 
•    Funding Breakdown: A €249 million tranche is dedicated to the Cabo Ledo project, while €200 million is allocated to the other coastal bay infrastructures. 
•    Economic Goals: The initiative aims to support the “Planifica Turismo” program approved in 2025, increase tourism’s contribution to GDP to 0.87% by 2027, and create nearly 7.000 temporary jobs. 
•    Strategic Context: The development is designed to reduce investor entry costs and strengthen Angola’s position as an emerging maritime tourism destination. 

This investment, part of the 2023 - 2027 National Development Plan, is expected to address long - standing infrastructure gaps to attract further private investment.

Link
https://atta.travel/resource/angola-approves-449m-for-coastal-tourism-infrastructure.html

Loews Hotels & Co | Revealed Plans to Open a 507 - Room Property in Arlington, Texas, U.S.

Loews Hotels & Co, an American luxury hospitality company founded in 1960 and  based in New York City, a group that owns or operates various hotels in the U.S. and Canada,  has revealed plans to open a 507 - room property in Arlington, a city in Texas, located in the heart of the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex,  a highly diverse centre, offering a dense suburban feel, with.

Arlington is a very attractive city, home to the famous University of Texas, a major entertainment and sport hub, depicted as  the “American Dream City”, featuring premier attractions like AT&T Stadium, Dallas Cowboys home, one of the most iconic teams in the NFL, Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers), the Arlington Museum of Art that showcases the popular Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, and Hurricane Harbor water park.

The future Americana by Loews Hotels will be constructed on the site of the existing Sheraton Arlington Hotel, which is scheduled for demolition in early June.

Construction of the new hotel is set to begin this summer and this development marks Loews Hotels & Co’s third property in the city’s Entertainment District. located at 1500 Convention Center Drive, close to AT&T Stadium, 13 minutes’ walk from Globe Life Park, and 3.2 kilometres from the Six Flags Over Texas theme park.

The property will feature 507 rooms, including 39 suites. designed to serve meetings and events, with more than 83.000 square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Indoor meeting space will total 44.789 square feet, including a 17.337 - square - foot grand ballroom, a 10.000 - square - foot event barn, a 6.808 - square foot junior ballroom, and 10.644 square feet of breakout rooms.

Pre - function space will add approximately 24.000 square feet, though this is not included in the total meeting space calculation.

Outdoor event space will total 38.651 square feet, featuring a 23.820 - square – foot event lawn, a 7.633 - square - foot pool terrace, a 2.760 - square - foot junior ballroom terrace, a 2.272 - square - foot three meal terrace, a 2.168 - square - foot grand ballroom and boardroom terrace.

Americana by Loew Hotels will be the brand’s 28th property, and its name pays tribute to the iconic Americana Hotel in Bal Harbour, Florida, a Loews landmark that opened in 1956.

Wth the addition of Americana by Loews Hotels, the company’s Arlington campus will comprise three hotels, totalling 1.695 rooms and more than 374.000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting place.

Link

https://www.loewshotels.com/press/news/press-categories/press-releases/americana-by-loews-hotels-arlington-announcement

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article139673.html