China unveils upgraded tax refund policy to boost inbound spending, top meeting destinations in Asia Pacific for 2026 and more...

China unveils upgraded tax refund policy to boost inbound spending
Friday, 22nd May 2026

China has rolled out a new package of measures to upgrade its departure tax refund policy, aiming to stimulate inbound consumption, improve the shopping experience for overseas travelers, and support the country's broader opening-up efforts.

China has accelerated efforts to attract foreign visitors in recent years through unilateral visa-free policies, 240-hour transit visa exemptions, and improved payment services >>

Introducing Atheel, KAFD Hotel, a new Saudi luxury business hotel in the heart of Riyadh
22 May 2026 : Atheel, KAFD Hotel, a Saudi luxury business hotel developed for the inner circle of Riyadh's business and cultural community, is set to open in King Abdullah Financial District in the last quarter of 2026 >>

Top meeting destinations in Asia Pacific for 2026
21 May 2026 : The industry-acclaimed annual rankings recognise the top-performing hotels for MICE business, as well as the world’s most coveted meeting destinations >>

First Noted Collection by IHG hotel signed in the UK
21 May 2026 : Historic Hertfordshire estate near London set for major refurbishment under IHG’s newest brand, Noted Collection by IHG >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Sales Equals Speed in 2026 for Hotel Lead Nurturing
Friday, 22nd May 2026

Cultivating leads inhospitality to win the sale is a consummate task for hotel teams, whether responding to a curious leisure guest or responding to a juicy group RFP.

As we enter the latter half of the decade and into an era of tech-everything hyper-capitalism, speed of response is now the foremost KPI to optimize for >>

12 Things to Know: Tourism and Travel in Southeast Asia
The ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026–2030 is anchored on five focus areas: resilient tourism, empowered tourism workforce, accessible and seamless travel, digital transformation, and sustainable tourism >>

In case you've missed it: Global eNewsletter of May 20, 2026
Japan’s new tourism basic plan: From volume to value, Spain becomes Europe’s high-value travel champion and more >>