Relais & Châteaux adds new members around the globe

In many parts of the world Relais & Châteaux is the "go to" guide for elegant accommodation.

The hospitality collection has just expanded its global portfolio with the addition of 10 new hotels, restaurants and a traditional Japanese ryokan in destinations across Europe, North America and Asia.

It says the latest members "reflect the association’s continued focus on exceptional hospitality, regional gastronomy and cultural heritage".The new additions span Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Mexico and the US, news hub Travel Mole reports.

“Our association is committed to helping build a more respectful and sustainable world through hospitality and gastronomy,” said Laurent Gardinier, president of Relais & Châteaux. “It is an honour to welcome these new members, who share our values and passion for excellence.“

Among the newcomers is Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina (top image), in Lisbon, an 18-room boutique hotel housed in a restored 18th-century palace overlooking the Tagus River in the centre of the lovely Portuguese capital.

France gains two new members. La Maison des Cimes in Malbuisson is to open next month. It features eight guestrooms overlooking Lake Saint-Point with chef Matthias Marc returning to his native Jura region.

Megève Bois, meanwhile, offers an intimate alpine retreat with 13 rooms and suites, two restaurants, an extensive wine cellar and a mountain-inspired wellness spa.

Italy welcomes two additions. Masseria Aura Terrae in Puglia occupies an 18th-century estate surrounded by vineyards and olive groves overlooking the Adriatic Sea, while in Abruzzo, Relais Villa Corallo combines an 11-room country house with the Michelin-starred Zunica 1880 restaurant.

In Mexico City, the Quintonil Restaurant joins the collection while Japan’s historic Hiiragiya ryokan in Kyoto also becomes part of Relais & Châteaux. Family-owned since 1818, the 23-room property offers traditional kaiseki dining, tatami accommodations and authentic Japanese hospitality.

Other new members include Villa Florhof in Zurich, a restored 15th-century boutique hotel operated under the Lalique brand; Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk, England, offering luxury countryside villas, and The Nell New York, a 134-room luxury hotel scheduled to open in autumn 2027 at Rockefeller Plaza.

* Founded in 1954 in France, Relais & Chateaux is an international collection of independently owned luxury hotels and restaurants that now represents close to 600 properties across over 50 countries.

Still the same: world’s busiest airport keeps its crown

The world's busiest airport isn't JFK in New York, London's Heathrow, or Dubai International.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (above) in the US has retained its spot as the world’s busiest airport in 2025 with 63.1 million passengers last year.

Dubai International stayed second globally and continued rapid long-term growth, figures release this week by OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry.

Dubai International has 62.4 million flyers while Tokyo's Haneda Airport remained third. Heathrow was fourth and Istanbul Airport fifth. 

Chicago O’Hare and Istanbul Airport recorded the strongest year-on-year growth among the global top 10, increasing capacity by 8% and 6% respectively.

Istanbul stands out as one of the fastest-growing major hubs globally, with capacity now 22% higher than in 2019.

“The 2025 rankings show that global aviation has moved into a new phase of growth," said OAG chief analyst John Grant.

"Dubai’s continued expansion and Istanbul’s rise as a global hub demonstrate how airline networks are evolving, while the resilience of large domestic markets continues to underpin global capacity.”

The busiest airports are concentrated largely in North America and Asia due to the very large domestic markets with four airports in North America and three in Asia alongside two in Europe and one in the middle east.

 

You can find the full rankings and methodology on OAG’s website.

Canada takes winter fun very seriously

If you want to experience a serious winter then Canada is a good place to start with its several months of bone-numbing cold weather, world-class skiing, a lively après-ski scene and and some of nature’s most impressive light shows from the Northern Lights.

Think sled dog trips, polar bears, ice hockey matches and amazing icebergs off Newfoundland and Labrador.

British Columbia alone is home to 13 major ski resorts including the iconic Whistler Blackcomb (below), which is considered North America’s premier mountain resort, and where you'll hear plenty of Australian accents from staff.

From Vancouver to the Rocky Mountains, Canadian Tourism promises ski resorts with wide-open runs, deep snow, and friendly residents.

A number of resorts in British Columbia boast ‘ski-in ski-out’ villages, including Sun Peaks, Silver Star Mountain Resort, and Big White Ski Resort.

And there are plenty of parties where the locals speak your language.

In Alberta, SkiBig3 offers a single lift ticket providing direct lift access at all three resorts: Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mount Norquay.

Lake Louise (top image) is one of the most scenic ski resorts in North America, with spectacular scenery and the Sightseeing Gondola.

In eastern Canada, Quebec’s Mont Tremblant is a popular destination for locals.

Only one problem: its is hard to find a good coffee in Canada, no matter what the season. Fortunately, the wines, beers and spirits are very good.   

# Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney, and direct to and from Brisbane four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Internal flights are available throughout Canada from all major cities, in addition to the VIA Rail train service.

See www.keepexploring.com.au

Airlines continue to slash flights

Airline chaos will continue through to the end of the year in North America as well as Australia.

Airlines are set to scrap tens of thousands of flights this November, Travel Mole reports.

Nearly 35,000 flights will be cut across several US airlines.

American Airlines is expected to make the biggest cuts to November schedules.

It is trimming nearly 29,000 flights according to Cirium data which represents an overall reduction of 12.6%.

Delta Air Lines schedule is cut by 4,396 which is about 3%.

Another 1 ,000 combined flights are being grounded by United Airlines, Frontier and Canada’s WestJet.

These include Chicago to San Jose, and Phoenix to Cleveland.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the airline is taking proactive measures to build in extra reliability for what will be a busy holiday travel period.

It comes after American cut about 15,000 flights for September and October.