Compiled by Debanjali Rakshit
Amadeus and Shiji: The Tech Partnership Changing Hotel Operations
In a world of hospitality that requires managing multiple technology vendors and partners can sometimes feel like cat herding, two behemoths have just arm-in-arm in a way that will make you look. On Sept. 15, 2025, Amadeus, the Spanish travel technology giant, and Shiji, the Chinese technology innovator, announced an expanded partnership aimed at making things easier for hoteliers all over. This is not just another partnership, this is a strategic combination designed to respond to the industry’s ongoing challenges of heterogeneous systems and clumsy integrations. With the combined expertise of these two teams, the potential for growing innovation is large, helping hotels consolidate buying power and focus on what matters most; creating an experience of delight for guests.Â
Fall 2025 Travel Buzz: Skip the Crowds for Quick, Feel-Good Getaways
With autumn colors spreading, 2025’s fall season is sparking a new wave of trips focused on short, meaningful escapes rather than long hauls. Many travelers are embracing “micro-trips”, short escapes lasting just a couple of days, often planned around seasonal events like apple picking or harvest festivals. Culinary experiences are also drawing big attention, with people seeking hands-on adventures such as truffle hunting in Italy, olive harvesting in Greece, or foraging for wild mushrooms in the U.S., all to enjoy a more authentic and flavorful connection to local culture. Eco-friendly spots and relaxing wellness breaks are trending, offering quiet retreats in places like cozy Norwegian huts or classic American ranches to unplug and recharge.
Digital arrival Card streamlines Bali’s boarder experience
Traveling to Bali and the rest of Indonesia is now simpler. All foreign visitors must fill out the free All Indonesia Arrival Card online prior to their journey starting on September 1, 2025, which will combine customs, immigration, and health inspections into a single form. Simply complete the form up to three days prior to travel, obtain your email QR code, and show it at airport counters to expedite entry and avoid paper forms. The digital system starts at Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya airports by October. You’ll still need a paid Visa on Arrival for most nationalities (about US$35), and Bali visitors must pay the US$10 tourism levy per entry. Each traveler, including children, needs their own card, available at the official government portal to avoid scammers.
US ends Visa interview waiver program, reinstates in-person screening
On September 2, 2025, the State Department terminated the visa interview waiver program for most applicants from 57 countries. This meant that a number of travelers, including students, workers, and visitors now needed to attend an in-person interview at a US Embassy or Consulate, reinstating a more thorough vetting process.
This included travelers who were previously eligible for the interview waiver, including children under 14 years old, individuals 80 years old and older, and many people renewing a visa. The exemptions previously provided for these categories mostly no longer exist. Visa categories H-1B (skilled workers), L-1 (intra-company transferees), F-1 (students), O-1 (extraordinary ability), and B-1/B-2 (business/tourism) all now require an in-person interview. The exemptions are very few and limited, the possible exceptions largely for individuals on a diplomatic visa or those with specific paragraph cases. Visitors also faced increased wait times for visas and more expenses.
Strike Alert: Europe’s Airports grind to a halt amid Autumn Labor uproar
Travelers heading to Europe this fall may want to bring a little extra patience with them, as airport unions in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal have already announced significant strikes are on the horizon. Italy will kick off the transportation fiasco on September 6, when easyJet workers in Catania, Swissport workers in Milan, and workers at Pisa and Florence airports all down tools. Woes will continue on September 26, impacting two of Milan’s major airports and part of Cagliari security. In France, failed pay talks will see air controllers walk out on September 18-19, as the French flying network is a major thoroughfare for multiple routes around the continent. In Spain, Ryanair’s baggage crew at ground ops will be having short strikes weekly, with large disruptions coming to airports like Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Ibiza. Portugal is getting into the act after unions for the ground staff there voted for low wages and have planned repeated disruptions from September to October, at airports in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores.