Roundup of the Philippine and Global Hospitality and Tourism Industry News Updates for the period 18-31 July 2026.
Industry News Updates Headlines:
- 2026 Philippine Culinary Cup Takes Place
- Lasa at Likha: A Chefs’ Masterclass
- Food & Wine Festival Seeks Creatives
- P-Pop As Tourism Ambassadors?
- Cebu Pacific Introducing High-speed Internet On Flights
- Taiwan Extends Visa-Free Entry For Filipinos
- 186 Cruise Ship Passengers Rescued
- Ongoing European Wildfires Cause Devastation
- First Ever 24Hr Direct Commercial Flight
- Scottish Airline Set To Be First To Use Electric Planes
- Emirates Unveils Revolutionary Headrest.
- Covid Bounce Back Winners Revealed
- 3 Pilots On Same Flight Fall Ill
- US Androids And Robots Banned From Flying
- Massive Fine For Trip.com After Antitrust Probe Concludes.
- Google Fined €890 million
- Food Waste Tech Advisory Board Formed
- Hospitality AI Use Case Database Launched
Philippine Hospitality & Tourism Industry News Updates
2026 Philippine Culinary Cup Takes Place
The 2026 Philippine Culinary Cup takes place this weekend at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay. The competition is in its 16th year in the Philippines.
Running from July 29 to August 1, 2026 teams of chefs from around the Philippines will be competing in the only Worldchefs-approved competition in the Philippines.
Founded in 1928 in Sorbonne, Paris Worldchefs has a membership of more than 230 national associations, education partners, and industry allies.
This years competition categories included:
- Creative Breakfast Challenge
- Filipino Cuisine Challenge (Team)
- Wedding Cakes, Cupcakes and Muffins
- Young Chefs Team Challenge
- Dream Team Challenge
- Asian Gourmet Challenge
- Art of Dimsum
- Bread Pastry Showpiece
Competition results are available on the Philippine Culinary Cup Facebook Page
Lasa at Likha: A Chefs’ Masterclass
The Department of Tourism Office of Product Development organized and held a Chefs’ Masterclass at the Brittany Hotel, Bonifacio Global City on Monday July 27.
The masterclass saw 150 chefs and culinary professionals from across the Philippines coming together for an intensive day of collaboration and learning, aimed at celebrating the country’s culinary heritage and unique flavors, and elevating standards.
The day included keynote speakers, panel discussions and live cooking demonstrations led by Michelin-recognized chefs:-
Chef Aaron Isip (Kasa Palma)
Chef Andres Rendon (Uma Nota)
Chef Chele Gonzalez (Gallery by Chele)
Chef Don Baldosano (Linamnam)
Chef Jordy Navarra (Toyo Eatery)
Chef Kevin Navoa (Hapag)
Chef Kim Yumol (Sarsa)
Chef Miggy Cabel Moreno (Palm Grill)
Chef Rodrigo Osorio (Asador Alfonso)
Chef Stephan Duhesme (Metiz)
Chef Tatung Sarthou (Lore by Chef Tatung)
Chef Thirdy Dolatre (Hapag)
Ms. Erin Recto (Hapag)
Mr. Joey Cerdinia (Uma Nota)
Panel Discussions:
Building a Restaurant Brand That Lasts – Jae Pickrell (CEO and Co-Founder, All We Do Is Eat)
Public Relations Strategies for Restaurant Growth – Treisha Vanns (Public Relations Professional)
Marketing Strategies That Drive Diners Through Your Doors – Michelle Ho (Director & General Manager, Klook Philippines)
Siargao Food & Wine Festival Seeks Creatives
Siargao Food & Wine Festival organizers have put a shoutout for creatives on the island willing to share their skills at the festival, set to take place 26-31 August 2026.
The organizers are looking for:-
- Videographers and Photographers
- Graphic Designers, and
- Content Creators.
The festival aims to celebrate local producers, chefs and artisans, and promote the flavors, traditions and creativity that continue to shape Siargao.
The week-long festival is the first of its kind on the island and will feature events and activities across the island.
Follow the Facebook Page for details or to sign up to help out.
P-Pop As Tourism Ambassadors?
The Department of Tourism has embraced music as another arm for potential tourism growth, throwing its support behind P-Pop bands BINI and SB19.
On July 3 the Department of Tourism announced that P-Pop band BINI were the country’s newest tourism ambassadors. And SB19 became official DOT Tourism Ambassadors on July 26, 3 days ahead of their Lollapalooza appearance.
SB19 have created history as the first Philippine musical act to perform at Lollapalooza, in Chicago USA, and the DOT organized live watch parties across the Philippines for fans.
The watch parties, which were organized with the National Parks Development Committee, and regional DOT Offices, took place in:-
Bacolod City
Bohol
Butuan City
Cagayan de Oro City
Cebu City
Clark, Pampanga
Davao City
Puerto Princesa
Tagbilaran City
Cagayan de Oro City
What are your thoughts – do you think having SB19 and BINI as tourism ambassadors will attract foreign national tourists to visit the Philippines?
Cebu Pacific Introducing High-speed Internet On Flights
Cebu Pacific announced that it will have high-speed internet on its flights by 2027.
Cebu Pacific will be the first low-cost airline in Southeast Asia to offer in-flight connectivity via Starlink, as part of its broader strategy to enhance passenger experience.
Starlink’s capacity will deliver high-speed internet up to 1 Gbps per antenna. This will provide a more stable and responsive connection for airline passengers enabling them to game, connect with social media, stream films, and transfer large files.
Singapore Airlines has also announced that some of their planes will be fitted with Starlink from the start of 2027. The broadband will initially be installed on Airbus A350-900, and A380 planes. Singapore Airlines aims to have Starlink on their whole fleet of planes by the end of 2029.
Taiwan Extends Visa-Free Entry For Filipinos
Taiwan has extended its 14-day visa-free entry program for Filipino’s by an additional 12 months, until July 31, 2027.
Taiwan first introduced the program in 2016, and has extended it year on year ever since. Tourists from Thailand and Brunei are also eligible for the visa-free entry program.
South Korea has also extended its visa application fee waiver scheme for Filipino Group Tours. Organized tour groups will continue to be exempt from the 23,000 won ( ₱958) visa fee until December 31, 2026.
Hospitality & Tourism Global Industry News Updates:
186 Cruise Ship Passengers Rescued
186 passengers on the cruise ship Viking Ullur, near Vidin on the River Danube had to be rescued by emergency teams on Tuesday 28 July, after the ship ran out of food and water.
The Viking Ullur had been unable to get to the port at Vidin in Bulgaria, for its usual restock of supplies, after running aground in shallow water.
As reported in our last Industry News Updates article the River Danube is experiencing the lowest water level ever recorded – just 9 inches according to Budapest’s National Water Authority. The ships crew remain onboard for now.
Ongoing European Wildfires Cause Devastation
Europe continues to suffer with out of control wildfires, and thousands of hectares of land destroyed following an extended period of above-average temperatures since June of this year.
France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain have all experienced significant fires, with many still raging out of control. The United Kingdom (UK) has also reported a number of heath fires.
France is estimated to have lost more than 90,000 hectares of land, including many of its famous Bordeaux vineyards. Spain has estimated it’s lost more than 200,000 hectares to the fires.
“This is a pattern we are seeing more and more across Europe: heatwaves, drought and wildfires feeding into one another, and communities bearing the consequences,” – Maria Alcazar Castilla, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and hotels. More fires are expected throughout August and September.
First Ever 24Hr Direct Commercial Flight
Qantas is the first airline to fly a 24hour direct commercial flight. It took off from Melbourne, Australia and landed in Toulouse, France on the 28th July having flown 12,460 nautical miles.
This was a trial flight for Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights, so there were no passengers onboard. The plane, an Airbus A350-1000ULR, was flown by a crew of pilots who each did a four-hour shift, rotating every two hours, so the different crews overlapped.
Qantas is expected to launch non-stop Sydney to London flights in October 2027. See our earlier report on this in our Industry News Updates 3 July.
Scottish Airline Set To Be First To Use Electric Planes
Loganair announced Monday July 21, that they aim to be the first commercial and freight airline in Europe to run an electric fleet.
The Glasgow-based airline has previously bought a number of Beta ALIA CX300 electric-powered planes and has test “driven” them across 23 flight routes since March 2026.
The airline operates domestic flights across England, the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It also has international routes to Denmark, France, Ireland and Norway.
Most of Loganair’s flight routes are within a 100-mile radius, while the CX300’s ideal coverage is 366nautical miles. Recharging also only takes between 20-40 minutes.
Loganair’s Chief Exec, Luke Farajallah, has stated that the test flights have demonstrated ‘the potential to reduce operating costs by up to 80%’.
Loganair has already indicated that they aim to purchase more Beta ALIA CX300 planes in the very near future.
Emirates Unveils Revolutionary Headrest.
Emirates has unveiled its new Economy-class, ‘game-changing’ headrest – the U-dream.
U-dream has been designed to enable passengers to sleep more comfortably when flying in economy class. The headrest has side wings that can be positioned to fully cushion the neck, preventing the head from dropping forwards or sideways.
The U-dreams are being rolled out across the Airbus A350, and the entire A350 fleet will have had them fitted by the end of 2026. 2027 will see the majority of Emirates’ A380 and Boeing 777 fleets fitted with the U-dream.
Covid Bounce Back Winners Revealed
Visual Capitalist used statistics and analysis to reveal the Top 10 bounce back countries since Covid put the world in lockdown in 2019.
The data visualization platform used data for visitor arrival numbers 2019-2025 from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The report, Ranked: The Countries Gaining and Losing the Most Tourists released on Wednesday July 22, shows the greatest gains in North and South Africa, and the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has experienced the greatest increase in international arrivals, followed by Morocco, Egypt and Brazil.
Japan is the only Asian county to appear in the Top 10, having increased arrivals by 34%. Other countries in APAC (Asia Pacific) are yet to achieve their pre-pandemic numbers This includes Thailand, which the Philippines is often measured against, which is still 17% down on pre-pandemic arrival numbers.
Unsurprisingly Israel has experienced the most significant loss in foreign national arrivals with a 71% drop off.
3 Pilots On Same Flight Fall Ill
Three British Airways pilots fell ill mid flight, with one being declared as ‘incapacitated’ and requiring supplemental oxygen during the flight. The other two pilots symptoms and conditions worsened after they had landed in the UK.
The pilots had all stayed overnight at the same hotel in Hyderabad, India, and had breakfast together in the morning. They also all drank bottled water supplied to the hotel by a local company.
While British Airways (BA) referred to it as an ‘isolated incident’ on July 22nd, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) responded that its members had been lodging complaints with BA about poor hygiene at the £130-a-night hotel for some time.
All three Pilots filed Air Safety Reports, and provided samples to assist doctors and those investigating the matter. British Airways are currently investigating the hotel, including its catering facilities, and will also be assessing alternative crew accommodations in the city.
US Androids And Robots Banned From Flying
A number of American airlines have made moves to ban humanoid and animal-bots from both aircraft cabins and checked baggage.
Southwest Airlines was the first to implement the ban back in May 2026. Since then Delta Airlines and United Airlines have also introduced the ban, stating that general operational and safety concerns are behind their decision.
Humanoid devices typically require types of heavy-duty batteries that are already banned from flights.
Hospitality & Tourism Industry News Updates: Tech
Massive Fine For Trip.com After Antitrust Probe Concludes.
Trip.com has been slapped with a massive fine, plus additional penalties, after China’s State Administration for Market Regulation concluded its anti-trust investigation into the brand.
China’s regulator began an anti-monopoly and anti-trust investigation into Trip.com at the start of 2026, which concluded with their public announcement on July 26.
In our Industry News Updates coverage about the investigation on January 16, and January 30 we highlighted that Trip.com was being investigated for alleged monopolistic behavior.
The investigation was looking in to whether Trip.com’s business practices contributed to its market share and number 1 (OTA) in China position.
This included allegations by Chinese Hoteliers that they were required to offer the lowest possible prices for rooms, and subscribe to Trip.com’s frequent discount campaigns, in order to be visible to potential guests searching for accommodation on the platform.
Trip.com had been using an AI-empowered pricing software tool which monitored a hotels room prices across the internet – specifically the lowest offers – and then offered the rooms itself at the lowest price possible.
The State Administration for Market Regulation found that the practices Trip.com employed did impact on a hotels’ ability to list rooms with other platforms, and set their own direct booking prices, upholding the complaints from hoteliers.
In March of this year China’s regulator told Trip.com to stop using its pricing software, while it continued with the investigation.
Trip.com has been fined 3.52 billion yuan (almost ₱32 billion) by the regulator – equivalent to 7.5% of the revenue Trip.com earned in China in 2025.
The regulator has confiscated almost 1.66 billion yuan (₱15 billion) in gains from the “irregular practices” and ordered Trip.com to refund 122 million yuan in booking deposits that had been withheld from hotel operators.
Trip.com remains China’s biggest OTA and operates several major booking brands, including Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar. In 2025 Trip.com saw a Sales Growth of 17%. Its board and investors were allegedly informed in March that the 2026 Sales Growth was predicted to be only 3% in 2026.
Google Fined €890 million
Google received a fine of €890 million from the European Commission yesterday, under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), for allegedly favouring its own services and apps over rivals.
“Today, the European Commission took two decisions finding non-compliance by Google with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for self-preferencing its own services on Google Search, and for putting in place restrictions on businesses to direct consumers to alternative, often cheaper, purchase channels on Google Play (steering). In this regard, the Commission issued Google a fine of €460 million and a fine of €430 million respectively.” – European Commission July 23, 2026
Google stood accused of biased ranking and favored, enhanced coverage of its own services – placing its own flights, hotels and shopping above those from third-party services.
“Google displays its own services more prominently in search results, including at the top of the search results page or by using enhanced visuals and filters, while similar third-party services do not have the same prominence.” EU Ruling
The European Commission found in favor of the complainants and delivered a €460 million fine for the search breach. Google also received a €430 million fine regarding its Google Play store.
Google is now required, by the EU, to make changes to how its hotel, flights and shopping results are ranked and presented. As part of the findings, the Commission has ordered Google to bring the non-compliance to an end.
“In particular, Google must implement measures to:
Treat third-party services that feature on Google’s search results in a fair and non-discriminatory manner by reference to its own services, and
Allow app developers distributing their apps via Google Play Store, both technically and contractually, to freely communicate, promote offers and conclude contracts with users not only within but also outside the Google Play app store.“
Google now has 60 days to comply with the Commission’s decisions or risk additional penalty payments of up to 5% of its total worldwide turnover.
Food Waste Tech Advisory Board Formed
Winnow, an AI food waste technology company this week announced the formation of a new Advisory Board, tasked with bringing strategic and operational expertise to its go-to-market strategy.
Winnow already works with global brands Accor, Hilton and Marriott, and is looking to grow the adoption of its AI-powered technology globally with the ultimate goal of reducing and preventing $1billion in food wate.
The new Advisory Board saw two additions to its ranks this week – Paul Whetsell, Chief Executive Officer of CapStar Hotel Company, and Gregory Maliassas, CEO of Driftwood Hospitality Management.
“Food waste has always been a cost that the industry accepted as inevitable. What Winnow has shown is that with the right data, it isn’t.” Paul Whetsell
Winnow is used in more than 3,500 kitchens around the world. Its AI tools support kitchens to operate smarter by cutting food waste by 50%, identifying what – and how – food items are being wasted.
Hospitality AI Use Case Database Launched
Worried you’re behind on implementing AI? The AI Hospitality Alliance, in partnership with HEDNA, has launched the industry’s first comprehensive, crowdsourced catalogue of hospitality AI use cases.
The initiative is designed to help independent hoteliers and tech providers navigate AI, and they are inviting hoteliers, technology providers and industry professionals to help build the catalogue via a link on LinkedIn.
The aim is to build a database catalogue that shares real-world, practical applications of AI, spanning key operational and guest-facing areas:
- Guest Experience & Messaging
Virtual Concierges & Chatbots: 24/7 AI tools handle routine inquiries, booking modifications, and location recommendations.
Multilingual Translation: Real-time language translation for both staff and guests to bridge communication gaps instantly.
Sentiment Analysis: AI models read incoming guest profiles and messages, flagging shifted moods (e.g., frustration) to managers for immediate intervention.
- Back-Office & Operations
Workforce Augmentation: Machine learning models analyze real-time sales data and historical demand to optimize staff scheduling and reduce overtime.
Synthetic Mystery Shopping: AI agents act as “synthetic personas” simulating various guest scenarios (e.g., requesting room changes or late checkouts) to automate quality control across chat and booking flows.
- Revenue Management & Marketing
Dynamic Pricing: Revenue management platforms dynamically adjust room rates by instantly analyzing demand, competitor rates, and booking pace.
Personalization: Marketing systems use behavioral modeling to tailor email campaigns, loyalty programs, and website merchandising to individual guests.
Did you miss the last edition of our Industry News Updates? Read it here
