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Bahia Principe Launches ‘Happiness Sale’ to Boost 2027 Bookings

September 25, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts relance sa Happiness Sale - Photo : Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts

Climats du Monde

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts unveils a new edition of its Happiness Sale, one of its flagship promotional campaigns of the year.

Available until September 18, 2026 through travel agencies, OTAs, tour operators, and other distribution channels, the promotion aims to encourage travelers to plan ahead for their 2027 vacations.

Bookings placed during the promotional period can cover stays through October 31, 2027.

Depending on the properties and dates chosen, guests can enjoy discounts, a free stay for the first child, and free cancellation terms.

The benefits offered do vary by hotel and travel period.

Escape and Explore for Different Traveler Profiles

With this campaign, Bahia Principe also highlights its two hotel concepts: Bahia Principe Escape and Bahia Principe Explore.

The Escape range includes Adults Only properties, with an offering that focuses particularly on wellness, dining, and entertainment.

On the other hand, Explore targets more toward families and groups, with resorts designed around shared experiences. The group also emphasizes the development of spaces and experiences for families traveling with children.

This segmentation allows Bahia Principe to offer different stay configurations based on traveler profiles and expectations.

Travel Agents Benefit from Triple Points

The Happiness Sale also comes with a dedicated framework for travel professionals.

Members of Bahia Principe Rewards ProAgents, the loyalty program for travel agents, will receive triple points for all bookings made during the campaign period.

Professionals who are not yet enrolled in the program, meanwhile, will receive a 1,000-point welcome upon joining. The accrued points can then be redeemed for various benefits, including stays, spa treatments, dinners, or themed evenings.

For Bahia Principe, the goal is to support sales for the 2027 season while reinforcing the incentive to book through distribution professionals.

Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Egypt: Bookings Rebound, but Travel Professionals Remain Cautious

September 19, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Égypte : les réservations repartent, mais les professionnels restent prudents - Depositphotos.com, calinstan

MSC Croisières

Is Egypt potentially emerging from the dip caused by the Middle East conflict?

After several months in the red, bookings are rising again according to the latest figures from the EDV-Orchestra barometer.

In August 2026, the number of bookings for Egypt increases by 21.1% compared to August 2025. An acceleration after a +4.8% in July, while the destination still posted significant declines in spring: -5.5% in June, -34.2% in May, -42.6% in April and -66.8% in March.

The year had started well. Order intake showed gains of +50.3% and +17.7% respectively in January and February 2026, still according to the barometer.

The destination’s visitor numbers were also in positive territory.

After reaching the record threshold of 19 million in 2025, international arrivals rose a further 4% from January to the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025), according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The number of French tourists posted an even stronger rise. Already up 31% for the entire 2025, they also recorded an increase of 22% between January and the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025).

An end-of-year with last-minute sales?

Data that does not reflect the spring booking standstill, as trips were already booked.

« Sales are anticipated a bit more than for other destinations. They were therefore already secured and there were no cancellations. April thus proceeded normally, departures were full. Groups for March, April, May and June, which are key periods for this activity, were arranged without any issue », explains Bruno Abenin, Commercial Director of Travel Evasion.

« Egypt has never been directly involved in the conflict » recalls Gonzague de Gélis, president of the Kuoni France Group. « We did not cancel any departures; it was bookings that were halted. It stopped completely in March, April, May and June; then bookings slowly picked up in June, we were at -50% versus June 2025. After that, things picked up in July, with an acceleration in August », he sums up.

Gonzague de Gélis mentions a 60% rise in August bookings compared to last year, a year that was already considered good.

For these bookings made in August, the tour operator notes strong momentum for upcoming departures: +40% for 2027 departures and +100% for 2026 last-minute departures. « It is the destination that is showing the strongest growth in August » he adds.

A rebound, but professionals remain cautious

At Mondial Tourisme, Selatt Erdogan also confirms the restart, but puts it in perspective: « Yes, there is a rebound, it is indeed there, but we remain below our objectives. »

The tour operator believes in the destination and therefore expands his lineup with a new seven-night combo named “Treasures of the Nile to the Pyramids of Cairo“.

The product couples a Cairo discovery with a Nile cruise, in a shorter format than the nine-night combo “Pyramids to the Red Sea“.

At Travel Evasion, Bruno Abenin remains cautious too. For him, the year is “good,” though it could have been “excellent” after the successive impacts of March, April, May and June.

Looking at the current fiscal year ending in late September, the specialist estimates that Egypt activity should still grow by 14 to 16%. « We are riding the very strong activity we saw in Autumn 2025. July-August, which are not big sales months, are tracking the same as last year. The summer was driven by last-minute sales with still available capacities.

But we must be cautious with the figures: if we go from 2 to 4 bookings that is a 100% increase, and yet it remains small… Major deals will start next week, with our main distribution partners, » he details.

He is counting on the upcoming holidays: « We are betting on putting quite a few seats back on sale for the All Saints’ holidays. Typically, at this time, order books are full.

Here, we have specifically restocked: we have added air capacity on the two All Saints departures, notably for the Nile cruise. We are betting on selling it now, last minute. »

As for Cyrille Fradin, president of the Karavel-FRAM-Promovacances group, he, too, remains prudent. While he acknowledges the improvement in July and August, he notes it came after a period when sales were almost at a standstill. « We started from such a low base », he recalls.

The Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo, an extra showcase for the destination

Recalling the strong sensitivity of Egyptian sales to the evolution of the geopolitical context, he adds: « Egypt actually lives at the pace of Iran ».

According to him, every new alert concerning the Iran-U.S. conflict or the Strait of Hormuz can immediately have commercial consequences for the destination, even if Egypt is not directly touched.

The true resilience indicator will be Egypt’s ability to sustain its momentum over time, he believes.

« Where I think we can really pause to say there is resilience is when, after these few shocks, we truly see it materialize and endure over time. At that moment, we could start talking about a recovery, but right now it seems a little early… »

Nevertheless, Egypt has an asset that few destinations can claim: an exceptional historical and cultural heritage, now complemented by the Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo.

Open since November 2025, this new site provides an additional selling point for professionals, enriching an offering already anchored by the pyramids, temples, Nile cruises and Red Sea beach stays. A factor that reinforces Egypt’s status as a destination apart.

Published by Céline Eymery Editor-in-Chief – TourMaG.com
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MSC Cruises Opens Bookings for 2028 Alaska Summer Season

September 12, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

MSC partira en Alaska pour l'été 2028. DepositPhotos.com/DonyaNedomam

Hurtigruten

The cruise line is already gearing up for its third season in Alaska. MSC Cruises has opened sales for its itineraries for the summer 2028, with MSC Poesia as the vessel dedicated to this program.

Departing from Seattle, the ship will offer 7-night cruises starting on April 24, 2028. The itineraries will notably allow guests to discover Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Tracy Arm in Alaska, as well as Victoria, in British Columbia.

A Renovated MSC Poesia

For this new season, passengers will rediscover a recently renovated MSC Poesia, which notably welcomes the new MSC Yacht Club.

This concept « ship within a ship » includes 69 suites, a 24/7 butler and concierge service, as well as several private spaces : restaurant, lounge, solarium with whirlpools and a grill restaurant with bar.

The ship’s renovation also allowed the addition of two specialty restaurants: Butcher’s Cut, focused on meat, and Kaito Sushi Bar, dedicated to Japanese and Asian specialties.

The MSC Aurea Spa has also been modernized, while the ship now features a MSC Gym Powered by Technogym, a Gentleman’s Barber, several training studios and a Top 15 Exclusive Solarium reserved for Aurea guests.

The itineraries offered in Alaska will place emphasis on the landscapes and nature of the region.

Among the highlights announced are sailing through the Tracy Arm fjord, with its glaciers and waterfalls, as well as calls at Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point.

Polynesia: Aranui Cruises Opens 2028 Bookings With New Itineraries

September 12, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Aranui Cruises ouvre les réservations pour sa saison 2028 - Depositphotos.com @AlexShadyuk

Hurtigruten

Aranui Cruises officially opens sales for its 2028 program.

With more than four decades of activity, the Polynesian company continues its cruise model that blends freight transport with exploration travel, featuring two complementary ships: the Aranui 5 and the Aranoa, a new mixed cargo vessel whose delivery is planned for March 6, 2027.

For this new season, the company is resizing its offer with the return of the Aranui 5 to its historic 12-day itinerary to the Marquesas Islands and an expanded program for the Aranoa.

Aranui 5 Refocuses on the Marquesas

In 2028, the Aranui 5 will dedicate its entire schedule to the Marquesas Islands.

In total, 23 departures of 12 days are planned for the year, thus returning to the company’s classic itinerary.

To read: Polynesia: I tested for you the Aranui 5 Australes cruise

This shift responds notably to logistical constraints related to freight activity, essential for the populations of the archipelagos served.

To accompany this return to the historic itinerary, Aranui Cruises also announces that the 2027 prices for Marquises cruises will be maintained.

Aranui Cruises: Four itineraries for the New Aranoa

The new Aranoa, currently under construction, will have its own program in 2028. In total, four distinct itineraries will be offered, for 23 departures.

The first will combine the Australes and the Society Islands, with calls at Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea and Huahine. This 12-day voyage will be offered 14 times, compared with 13 days for the equivalent itinerary in 2027.

A second route, also devoted to the Australes and the Society Islands, will take travelers further with a stop at Rapa, one of the most isolated islands in French Polynesia. With a duration of 13 days, this itinerary will also include Moorea, Bora Bora and Raiatea, but not Huahine.

The Aranoa will also head toward Pitcairn and the Gambier Islands for two 12-day departures. This cruise will offer the chance to discover one of the most remote territories in the Pacific, notably linked to the history of the Bounty mutineers.

The company will offer a shorter format, with a five-day departure dedicated to the Tuamotu. This new product will allow travelers to explore the archipelago’s coral atolls over a shorter period.

On the occasion of the 2028 sales launch, Aranui Cruises is implementing several commercial advantages, including a 15% discount on Aranoa voyages and a 10% discount on Aranui 5 voyages, for bookings made before December 31, 2026.

Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Best Western Hotels & Resorts: A Summer Fueled by Last-Minute Bookings

September 3, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Best Western Hotels & Resorts dresse le bilan des tendances de l'été 2026 - DepositPhotos.com, dvoevnore

TAP Air Portugal

The Best Western Hotels & Resorts group presents the initial activity trends for its French network for the summer season 2026.

A summer marked by last-minute bookings and the direct impact of high temperatures on the choice of stays.

While July recorded a more moderate start, the remainder of the season remains highly evolving under the influence of the “last minute” phenomenon.

In this context, The PACA region stands out as the network’s most dynamic destination, while the search for milder temperatures redirects a portion of flows toward Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Des trajectoires régionales contrastées selon les marchés

The analysis of network performance highlights highly heterogeneous results depending on geographic areas.

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region remains the season’s main engine with a 6.6% rise in its gross revenue between July and September compared with the previous year.

On its side, after a hesitant start in July, Brittany records a 1.5% increase in August and September, benefiting from a shifting clientele seeking cooler temperatures, while Corsica maintains a stable attendance level despite higher tariffs.

By contrast, Île-de-France experiences more moderate activity, suffering the usual slowdown of summer business tourism and the disinterest of travelers in metropolises during heatwave episodes.

L’adaptation des infrastructures face aux fortes chaleurs

The surge of summer heat waves has become a decisive factor in choosing accommodations.

The hotel group indicates that more than 80% of its properties in France are equipped with air conditioning systems, which has driven a significant spike in bookings at these hotels during recent heat waves.

This infrastructure now welcomes both leisure travelers and teleworkers thanks to the deployment of their shared work spaces, myWO.

Train: SNCF Connect opens bookings to Germany and Switzerland

September 3, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

SNCF Connect facilite les voyages en France et en Europe du premier au dernier kilomètre, Depositphotos.com, Photo by jayantbahel

TAP Air Portugal

At the approach of the major summer departures, SNCF Connect expands its European catalog. The mobility platform has just integrated offerings from the German and Swiss railways. The agreement with Deutsche Bahn and the Swiss Federal Railways now provides connections to chain together trips in France, Germany and Switzerland.

Users can thus organize cross-border journeys that combine several operators from a single interface.

A Comprehensive Travel Companion and Summer Promotions

Beyond the European extension, the SNCF Connect app preserves its door-to-door itinerary search features, grounded in precise addresses rather than just station-to-station routing.

Travelers can centralize the purchase of multiple transport modes including trains, carpooling, long-distance buses, taxis, or car rental. The platform also integrates the public transport networks of around thirty French urban areas and centralizes ticket management for exchanges or cancellations.

Access to real-time traffic information, compatibility with various payment methods such as Apple Pay or the dematerialized Chèques-Vacances, and discounts on accommodations complete the range of services.

For the summer period, the SNCF Connect app also rolls out several initiatives and promotional activities.

In the leisure domain, a sweepstakes open until the end of August offers a chance to win more than a hundred invites for two to Disneyland Paris. A playful and illustrated holiday workbook is also available online to entertain solo travelers or families during their journeys.

Finally, a thematically curated interactive map, regularly updated, suggests destination ideas based on remaining seats in trains and local points of interest, organized around the sea, the mountains, urban getaways, and cross-border trips.

TUI France: Last-Minute Bookings Up 20% This Summer

September 2, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

TUI France observe un regain des réservations de dernière minute - Depositphotos.com @HJBC

TAP Air Portugal

While the French remain largely inclined toward advance bookings, last-minute departures are on the rise this summer.

TUI France indicates that bookings made in the 31 days preceding departure for the Clubs Lookéa and Marmara have increased by 20 % compared with summer 2025.

According to the tour operator, this trend reflects heightened traveler interest in last-minute offers, without undermining the habit of planning ahead. In total, 74 % of customers still reserve their holidays three to nine months before departure.

More precisely, 46 % book their reservation three to six months in advance, 25 % between six and nine months, while 3 % reserve more than nine months ahead of their stay. Conversely, 20 % book between one and three months before departure and 6 % only in the month preceding their vacation.

In a press release, Christophe Fuss, CEO of TUI France, states that “last-minute is gaining ground this year but it does not replace anticipation“, noting a growing demand for flexibility and good deals, especially for seaside destinations and club stays.

A last-minute traveler who most often travels as a couple

According to data released by TUI France, last-minute travelers predominantly go with a companion. Couples account for 60 % of bookings, ahead of families at 35 %, while solo travelers constitute only 5 %.

Mediterranean destinations remain the most sought-after for this booking pattern. Greece tops the list, followed by Italy and Tunisia. Among the most requested properties are the Marmara Doreta Beach Club in Rhodes, the Marmara Sicilia in Sicily, and the Lookéa Playa Djerba Club in Tunisia.

On theNouvelles Frontières itineraries side, reservations made one month prior are also rising. Itineraries to Iceland, Canada, and Portugal feature among the most in demand. For the TUI Sélection range, the Balearics, Crete, and Morocco remain the favored destinations for last-minute vacationers.

Finally, despite the growth of online bookings, the physical distribution network remains important. According to TUI France, 22 % of last-minute travelers book through one of the more than 200 TUI Stores across France.

Written by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com journalist
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EDV-Orchestra Barometer: Bookings Rise in June, but Summer Remains Below 2025 Levels

August 31, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Observatoire EDV-Orchestra : les réservations repartent en juin, mais l'été reste sous le niveau de 2025 - Depositphotos.com Auteur DimaBaranow

Costa Rica

After months of decline, does the latest EDV-Orchestra barometer dedicated to June 2026 performance signal a turning point?

While SETO announced on Thursday July 2 a deficit of 85,000 customers for the summer, the latest Orchestra figures – which, recall, only account for reservations made through this channel (custom trips, stays booked directly on TOs’ B2B, or the dynamic package created by agencies are notably excluded) – also show that, by the end of July, reservations for departures in July-August 2026 were lower than those of the previous year.

The number of files continues to fall by 8.2%, with a business volume down 7.9%. However, the trend is gradually improving: the lag was still about 10% a month earlier.

The medium-haul segment once again demonstrates the strongest resilience (-5.7% in dossiers), while long-haul continues to suffer (-19.2%). Travelers continue to favor nearby destinations, to the detriment of longer journeys.

Among the most dynamic destinations for the summer are Albania (+255%), Montenegro (+21%), Canada (+12%), Norway (+7%), Morocco (+4.5%), and the Dominican Republic (+2.3%). Spain manages to hold (+0.2%), while France, Greece, Egypt, Turkey or the United States remain down.

Summary:

June departures still lag behind

June reservations rebound

Observatory of French Holidays

The Travel Companies · Orchestra / Travelsoft

July 2026

01 Departures in June 2026

A marked retreat compared with June 2025: business volume -4.9%, dossiers -5.5%, with the average basket rising slightly (+0.7%) to €1,567. These results confirm a cautious entry into the summer period.

-4,9 %

Business Volume

-5,5 %

Number of dossiers

+0,7 %

Average basket

€1,567

Geographic areas — departures in June 2026 vs 2025

France
Medium-haul
Long-haul

Top 20 destinations — departures in June (bookings by comparison with 2025)

02 Reservations in June 2026

Net improvement in bookings: business volume turns positive again (+2.3%) after a -21% in May, driven by an average basket up (+3.9% to €1,868) which compensates for the slight drop in dossiers (-1.6%). The average lead time stands at 60 days (-1 day vs 2025).

+2,3 %

Business Volume

-1,6 %

Number of dossiers

+3,9 %

Average basket

€1,868

60 days

Average booking lead → departure

-1 day vs 2025

€1,868

Average basket

+3,9 % vs 2025

23,5 %

Late booking < 30 days

vs 23,4 % in 2025

31,4 %

Early booking > 90 days

vs 32,1 % in 2025

Geographic zones — June 2026 reservations vs 2025

France
Medium-haul
Long-haul

Top 20 destinations — reservations in June (bookings by comparison with 2025)

03 Summer holidays 2026

Summer July-August 2026: reservations still behind (volume -7.9%, dossiers -8.2%), but the decline is narrowing compared with late May. The average basket is almost stable at €2,490 (+0.3%). Long-haul remains the most affected (-19% in dossiers).

-7,9 %

Business Volume

-8,2 %

Number of dossiers

+0,3 %

Average basket

€2,490

Geographic zones — reservations for Summer 2026 vs 2025

France
Medium-haul
Long-haul

Top 20 destinations — reservations for summer (bookings by comparison with 2025)

Traveler profiles — Summer 2026 holidays

Solos

3,5 %

Dossiers -14,0 % · €1,574

Duos

36,2 %

Dossiers -8,3 % · €2,102

Families

46,6 %

Dossiers -8,3 % · €2,562

Friend groups

13,9 %

Dossiers -5,9 % · €3,494

Categories of stays — Summer 2026 holidays

Packages

-7,5 %

Cart +1,6 % · €2,550

Accommodations

-9,4 %

Cart -0,1 % · €1,097

Circuits

-15,0 %

Cart -2,6 % · €5,577

Top 10 cities by dossier count — Summer 2026 (departure changes)

Source: Observatory of French Holidays — The Travel Companies · Orchestra / Travelsoft — July 2026
Data drawn from travel agencies using the Orchestra platform (20+ brands, at least 2 years).

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Accor and H World Group Expand Partnership to Bookings and Loyalty Programs

August 29, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Costa Rica

Accor et H World Group ouvrent un nouveau chapitre de leur alliance initiée en 2014. Ce partenariat étendu vise à élargir le choix d’hôtels et à croiser les avantages de fidélité pour les membres des programmes ALL Accor et H Rewards directement depuis leurs plateformes de réservation respectives.

Les deux programmes continueront toutefois, de fonctionner de manière indépendante, préservant leur propre identité.

Sébastien Bazin, Président-Directeur Général de Accor, a souligné qu’après leur accord de Master Franchise en 2014, ce nouvel accord représente une autre étape majeure visant à abolir les barrières géographiques, à améliorer la distribution et à enrichir leur écosystème de fidélité.

De son côté, Ji Qi, Président de H World Group, a qualifié ce partenariat d’évolution naturelle après plus d’une décennie de confiance mutuelle, ajoutant qu’en unissant leurs forces complémentaires, les deux groupes allaient créer plus de valeur pour les voyageurs, les propriétaires d’hôtels et les partenaires.

A phased rollout throughout 2026

The agreement rests on the complementarity of the two organizations: Accor’s global brand portfolio and international distribution network join forces with the direct-channel strength and H World’s extensive customer base in China.

H Rewards counts more than 310 million members, while ALL Accor totals nearly 120 million worldwide.

The rollout of this synergy will occur in successive phases during 2026. H World International hotels located in Europe and the Middle East will progressively become accessible to ALL Accor on the French group’s direct channels.

Conversely, the premium and luxury brands of Accor operating in mainland China will be integrated into H World’s platforms for H Rewards members. Travelers of both programs will thus begin benefiting from preferential rates, privileged status recognition and the accumulation of points during their stays at participating partner properties.

Travelodge Partners with DerbySoft to Boost Its Corporate Bookings

August 29, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

DerbySoft et Travelodge s'associent, Depositphotos.com photo by TKKurikawa

Costa Rica

DerbySoft and Travelodge have signed a distribution agreement to directly connect the hotel chain’s inventory to business travel platforms. This technical setup enables travel buyers and companies to view and book Travelodge’s offering directly from their usual management tools.

Nick Jacobs, Travelodge’s head of sales, clarifies the aim of this move: « Partnering with DerbySoft allows us to broaden our direct-distribution strategy through a reliable and scalable platform, helping us reach more corporate travelers while ensuring smooth booking processes. »

The integration relies on DerbySoft’s data-exchange infrastructure to keep rates, visuals, and room descriptions up to date. For Travelodge, the challenge is to simplify access to its properties while preserving control over its direct distribution.

Streamlining Payment Flows and Expansion into the Corporate Sector

The collaboration also incorporates DerbySoft’s payment management and invoice reconciliation features. These tools automate settlement and invoicing processes, reducing the need for manual intervention for travel managers as well as for hotel operations teams.

The key figures of the hotel portfolio involved:

More than 630 hotels located in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Spain.

Over 47,000 rooms connected via the DerbySoft platform.

Two-thirds of the room stock already renovated to the brand’s new aesthetic standards.

Duane Overgaard, General Manager of DerbySoft’s Hospitality division, adds: « DerbySoft’s connectivity solutions help hotel brands expand their reach effectively, while allowing corporate travel agencies to access high-quality content through simplified and reliable channels. »

This initiative also supports Travelodge’s modernization strategy, which continues the rollout of its new dining concept “85 Bar Café” across its key properties.