Latest from Travel Weekly
Travel Weekly
2 hours ago
- Travel Weekly
From solar eclipses to Mississippi cruises, Smithsonian Journeys unveils new trips
Smithsonian Journeys has unveiled new itineraries for 2026 and 2027, featuring land-based tours, special solar eclipse trips and small-ship cruises, including on the Mississippi River. The tour operator is expanding its tour collection, including to the Balkans and Greece. Smithsonian Journeys is also leaning into the astrotourism trend with itineraries dedicated to observing the skies and will offer a river cruise in the U.S. The brand will debut "Baltics Past and Present: A Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," an 18-day itinerary launching in May that takes travelers to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. There, travelers will explore historic sites, visit castles and see World Heritage-listed towns. The "Greek Odyssey: Athens to Corfu" itinerary will bring travelers across Greece in 14 days, where they will visit the birthplace of democracy, the island of Corfu and places like Delphi, known for being an ancient sanctuary in Greece. Other new itineraries are to Switzerland and the American West. Tapping into the astrotourism trend, Smithsonian Journeys will offer two itineraries next year dedicated to celestial wonders after seeing a spike in interest in solar eclipse tours. The brand will offer "Solar Eclipse Over Spain -- Basque Country to León," an eight-day itinerary with one departure date beginning Aug. 8, where travelers will witness the total solar eclipse in northern Spain. Visitors will also explore Madrid and World Heritage sites. This itinerary is already proving to be one of the most popular with travelers, the tour operator said. "Chile Earth and Sky: A Stargazing Journey from Santiago to the Atacama Desert" will offer two departure dates next year and one departure date in 2027. The 12-day itinerary dives into astronomy in northern Chile, including trips to observatories. Smithsonian Journeys will launch two new small-ship cruises, one next year and one in 2027. Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant will offer a joint expedition cruise to the Baja Peninsula next year. Photo Credit: Smithsonian Journeys "Cruising the Mississippi: A Springtime Voyage from Memphis to New Orleans" will take passengers on a nine-day trip of the Mississippi River on the American Splendor paddlewheeler. Passengers will visit Southern cities, battlefields and plantations. The "Baja and the Sea of Cortez" itinerary is a joint offering between Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant Exploration. The 2027 expedition cruise on Pnant's Le Bellot will last 11 days, bringing passengers to the Baja Peninsula, where they will watch grey whales, snorkel with sea lions and hike dunes. The tour operator also revealed its top 10 journeys for 2026, which "reflect an appetite for discovery," the brand said. These popular itineraries are to Japan, Italy, Egypt, Central Asia, Spain, Turkiye, Switzerland, Greece and France.
Travel Weekly
6 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Paris' Hotel de Sers emerges from renovation
Paris' Hotel de Sers, part of the B Signature Hotels & Resorts collection, marked its reopening in May after a complete renovation. The property, a 19th century Haussmannian mansion turned boutique hotel in the heart of Paris' Golden Triangle, was redesigned by Pascal Allaman and the Jousse family with an eye toward blending classic architecture with a modern aesthetic. More than half of the 45 guestrooms and seven suites now have private terraces, many with Eiffel Tower views, and there are three new Signature Suites featuring curated design, vintage details and plenty of natural light. Also new is an interior courtyard with citrus trees and teak furnishings and a wellness area with a hammam, sauna and Calma Paris treatments. Room rates at the Hotel de Sers start at about $575 per night.
Travel Weekly
14 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
IHG's upscale Voco brand is coming to Canada
IHG's Voco brand will add its first hotels in Canada with signings in Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls. The Voco Niagara Falls -- Fallsview will be a conversion of what was a Radisson hotel. Vrancor Group announced its acquisition of the 232-room hotel in February and plans a renovation. IHG expects a Voco reopening in late 2026. The 55-room Voco Montreal will be a new hotel in downtown Montreal expected to open in 2027. The Voco Toronto Airport West, situated near Toronto Pearson International Airport, will also be a newbuild hotel. Targeted to open in 2027, the 180-room property aims to be a zero-emissions, carbon-neutral hotel. The upscale Voco brand launched in 2018 and now has 115 hotels, including 21 in the U.S, according to Voco's website. IHG says Voco has an operational framework conducive to conversions, which has been a driving force behind its rapid expansion.
Travel Weekly
16 hours ago
- Travel Weekly
Hilton's Tapestry Collection makes Northern Ireland debut
Hilton's Tapestry Collection has made its debut in Northern Ireland with The Marcus Portrush, a hotel that breaths new life into a landmark Victorian building. Hilton says the 80-room hotel embraces the spirit of Portrush, a seaside town "known for its scenic beaches, rich heritage and old-world charm." The Marcus Portrush occupies a restored Victorian building. Photo Credit: Hilton The Marcus Portrush occupies a restored building that served as a hotel and bakery between 1895 and the 1980s. Hilton said a $15 million renovation preserved the original mosaic signage, decorative floor mosaics and tiled façade. Historical photographs displayed throughout the hotel show Portrush's heritage as a Victorian tourist resort, while the interior design draws inspiration from the surrounding coastline, blending a contemporary palette with nods to the natural landscape. The hotel is inspired by the fictional character Marcus, a comic-book-style adventurer. Illustrations from Marcus' journeys adorn the walls, while displays of treasures collected during his exploits bring the story to life. A guestroom at The Marcus Portrush. Photo Credit: Hilton Nemesis, the hotel's Asian fusion restaurant, is named after the mythical giant octopus from Marcus' tales. The menu offers reimagined classics, like Irish sirloin steak with bone marrow butter and Asian steak sauce. The Heritage Cocktail Bar features the Orra Margarita -- inspired by the winding beauty of Orra Drive, a scenic stretch through the Antrim Glens. This margarita blends poitín (Irish moonshine) with mango. Hilton noted that the hotel has opened ahead of the 153rd British Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club from July 13-20.
Travel Weekly
19 hours ago
- Travel Weekly
Hawaiian Airlines reports cybersecurity breach
A June 26 cybersecurity attack has impacted IT systems at Hawaiian Airlines, but the carrier is operating its full flight schedule and said guest travel has not been impacted. Hawaiian has not provided details on which systems were attacked and how they have been affected. "Upon learning of this incident, we engaged the appropriate authorities and experts to assist in our investigation and remediation efforts," the airline said. "We are currently working toward an orderly restoration and will provide updates as more information is available." The FAA, in a statement, said it is monitoring the situation. "There has been no impact on safety, and the airline continues to operate safely," the agency said.
