Red Bird Travel News

• JCB Contactless Now Accepted on LA Metro’s TAP Validators

  August 19, 2026

  JCB Contactless is now accepted across Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) buses and Metro Rail stations through the agency’s newly introduced TAP validators. The move gives JCB cardholders a more convenient way to pay for public transportation across Los Angeles. The implementation is part of LA Metro’s ongoing efforts to make public…

• Marcel Damen Interview: Leading The Ritz-Carlton, Wuhan Into a New Era

  August 19, 2026

  The Ritz-Carlton, Wuhan General Manager Marcel Damen discusses his remarkable hospitality career, opening a hotel from the ground up, leadership, guest experience, AI and the future of luxury hospitality. Opening a luxury hotel is never simply about opening its doors. For Marcel Damen, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Wuhan, the process has meant building the…

• IHG Hotels & Resorts Expands Taiwan Portfolio with Five New Hotel Signings

  August 19, 2026

  IHG Hotels & Resorts is strengthening its presence in Taiwan with five new hotel signings and the launch of the IHG One Rewards LINE MINI App. The latest developments will expand IHG’s brand portfolio while giving members more convenient access to digital services. IHG currently operates 17 hotels across eight brands in Taiwan, spanning luxury…

• José Silva Appointed Chairman of Maybourne Hotel Group

  August 18, 2026

  José Silva has been appointed Chairman of Maybourne Hotel Group, bringing more than four decades of luxury hospitality experience to the operator behind some of the world’s most renowned hotels. Silva joins Maybourne following his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, where he played a key role in transforming the Dubai-based company from…

• Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit Opens as Fairmont’s First Hotel in Thailand

  August 18, 2026

  Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit has officially opened in Bangkok, marking Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ first hotel in Thailand. Developed in partnership with Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), the new hotel brings Fairmont’s signature spirit of culture, connection and celebration to one of Bangkok’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Located in Sukhumvit, the property features 416 guestrooms…

• The Ritz-Carlton, Wuhan Review: A First-Hand Stay on the 56th Floor

  August 18, 2026

  The Ritz-Carlton, Wuhan is one of the most significant new luxury hotel openings in Wuhan this year. Rising high above the city, the hotel combines the Ritz-Carlton brand’s signature service with panoramic views of Wuhan and the Yangtze River. I stayed at the hotel last week in a Club City Skyline View King Room on…

• Europe Captures One-Third of Global Leisure Travel Spending as Southern Europe Drives Growth

  August 18, 2026

  As millions of travellers head abroad during the peak summer holiday season, Europe has reinforced its position as the world’s leading leisure travel destination. The region captured one-third of global leisure travel spending in 2025, according to new 2026 Economic Impact Research (EIR) data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), sponsored by Chase…

• Pan Pacific Perth Offers Early Bird Privileges for Corporate Festive Events

  August 17, 2026

  Book your corporate festive event at Pan Pacific Perth by 30 September 2026 and enjoy an exclusive collection of Early Bird Privileges. Available for events of 100 guests or more, the limited-time offer is designed to deliver added value for larger end-of-year gatherings during Perth’s busy festive season. Whether you are planning an executive lunch,…

• The Hari London, Hong Kong and Singapore to Join IHG’s Vignette Collection

  August 17, 2026

  The repositioning will extend the long-standing relationship between Harilela Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts, while bringing The Hari brand into IHG’s global luxury portfolio. The Hari London, The Hari Hong Kong and the forthcoming The Hari Singapore are set to join IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Vignette Collection, a global portfolio of independent luxury and…

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