Google is hit with a million euro fine over misleading hotel ratings in France… we talk with French travel journalist Luc Citrinot about the question…

Accor has launched the Maison Delano Brand on a worldwide scale

We have updates on how Covid continues to affect the travel world,

And in our special feature – luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite places in Singapore…

The ongoing saga of vaccination passports takes a new turn

Business tourism isn’t really headed for the ditch

The global travel market is set to reach a trillion dollars by 2025

And in our special feature, luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to a very special property in Oman.

“It’s… unique. It’s not weird, but it’s unique, and it’s different. And – I know it’s a bold statement – nothing else like this exists in the world.” That’s how Winston Fisher – the brains behind the amazing new Vegas attraction, Area 15, describes his extraordinary new venture. Listen to his exclusive interview this week…

… And in essential travel news headlines, Accor group launches into an exciting new luxury venture, IATA welcomes proposals to reinvigorate progress towards the Single European Sky, British Airways is set to begin trialling a new travel health app on trans-Atlantic flights, and Dubai has become the “go to” destination for vaccination tourism.

Catch these and other essential tidbits in this week’s edition of World Travel Essential.

The US Travel Association voices strong support for the new administration following a not-so-peaceful transfer of power

A new survey by the ETC shows Europeans are eager to travel this springtime

IATA is putting pressure on European leaders to introduce a common Covid vaccination certificate

Luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to Cannes on Côte d’Azur

And in our special feature, we talk to Mario Julen in Zermatt about his incredible new Ritz Carlton project in the Swiss Alps.

World Travel Essential • A podcast on Anchor

Surprise, surprise… the UK is closing all travel corridors

Israel announces a plan to open up fully to tourists by mid-year

Saudi Arabia has just launched a major new tourism TV ad campaign

Malaysia announces a new ten-year plan

Travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite hotels in the UK,

And in our special feature, one of the world’s top hotel tech experts gives his vision for the next year

World Travel Essential • A podcast on Anchor

British Airways land a two-billion-pound support package

IATA slams the Canadian government for its new entry requirements

Los Cabos in Mexico is projecting a big upswing in tourism,

And in this week’s special feature, global luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow gives an exclusive insight into her forecast for travel trends this year.

World Travel Essential

The WTTC says closing borders is counterproductive

Expedia shuts down offline concierge services

Seabourn introduces new pre and post cruise tours

Emirates brings back the A380 to its Sao Paulo route

And in our special feature, Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of a stately residence hotel in the UK.

This week in World Travel Essential:

The UK is hit hard with Covid restrictions over the holiday period

New Zealand set to create a travel bubble with Australia in Q1

IATA reveals details of a new travel pass

Marriott launches a special health protocol for meetings and events

Mary Gostelow is back in Dubai with another luxury hotel spotlight

And in our special feature, we look at a very worthy project with Lindbad expeditions – helping out in the Galapagos.

In this week’s show,

After more than 40 years’ ownership, Robert Redford is selling his mountain resort;

More countries open back up to foreign visitors as Covid restrictions ease – spotlights on Thailand, Oman and Kyrgyzstan;

Rosewood group partners with Bedsonline;

And in our special feature, we talk to ABTA about their latest outbound traveller survey.#

World Travel Essential • A podcast on Anchor