As Europe approaches the Christmas and New Year holidays, tourism flows are once again concentrating heavily in major cities and festive destinations. Winter pressure is urban, intense, and highly concentrated in time and space. Europe remains the world’s largest tourism region, with 625 million international tourists between January and September 2025, a 4 % increase over 2024, indicating continued strong rebound and growth. Put simply: the holidays won’t just be “busy.” They’ll be pressure-tests for city centres, infrastructure, housing, and resident tolerance.

The close of 2025 sends a clear message: long-term interest rates are rising, even as central banks hint at moderating official rates in 2026. For hotel owners and investors, this “disconnect” between short and long-term rates is redefining the cost of capital, debt structures and asset valuations.

New Zealand’s hotel sector delivered one of its strongest months in several years in November 2025.

Nestled on the shores of the South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu (KK) in Malaysia continues to captivate travelers with its unique blend of pristine islands, lush rainforests, and vibrant cultural heritage. The city serves as a gateway to Borneo’s unparalleled natural wonders, making it a highly sought-after destination for both leisure and adventure travelers. In this report, we will explore some exciting updates and the current outlook for the hotel and tourism market in Kota Kinabalu, reflecting the dynamic and evolving landscape of the region.

The announcement that the Antarctic ozone hole reached its smallest seasonal extent since 2019 is one of the most encouraging environmental signals we have received in years. After decades of global cooperation under the Montreal Protocol, the atmospheric system is finally showing measurable signs of recovery: later opening dates, earlier closures, and a progressive reduction in area size. At a time when environmental news is often dominated by climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem stress, this positive development matters. It demonstrates something fundamental: when the world commits to science-based policy, coordinated regulation, and long-term implementation, environmental recovery is not only possible, it is inevitable. But this is where the optimism ends, and the complexity begins.