Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

• Research among over 2,000 South African travellers reveals that nearly seven in 10 plan to take more or the same holidays in 2026
• The use of AI to plan and research holidays has now gone mainstream, and 59% would trust it to book holiday accommodation
• Lux-scaping – travellers booking a luxurious stay, like a spa or luxury hotel, at the start or end of their holidays – identified as a key travel trend for 2026 alongside passion pursuits

Nearly seven in ten South African travellers (69%) plan to take the same or more holidays in 2026 compared to 2025, including 49% who intend to travel more frequently, according to Marriott Bonvoy’s Ticket to Travel research (www.Marriott.com). Younger generations are leading demand, with 66% of Gen Z planning on taking more holidays next year and embracing AI planning tools, luxury add-ons, and passion-driven trips.

The research, conducted among more than 22,000 adults across 11 key travel markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—including over 2,000 South Africans—reveals that South Africans are planning an average of six holidays in 2026. This includes two domestic breaks, two short-haul trips (four hours or less), and two long-haul getaways.

Among those planning holidays, the top travel destinations are South Africa (25%), England (10%), Mauritius (10%), USA (9%), Mozambique (9%), France (7%), Botswana (7%), Zanzibar (7%) and Italy (6%).

AI Goes Mainstream in Travel Planning

Artificial intelligence has become a key tool for South Africans planning their next getaway. Nearly half (49%) of travellers have used AI to plan or research a holiday, with 15% using it all the time. Younger travellers are leading adoption—66% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennials have used AI for trip planning, compared to 27% of Gen X and 22% of Baby Boomers.

Confidence is also growing: 59% say they would feel comfortable booking accommodation through AI platforms such as ChatGPT, rising to 67% among Gen Z. Only 12% say the idea makes them uncomfortable.

‘Lux-Scaping’ Emerges as a Defining 2026 Travel Trend

‘Lux-scaping’—booking a luxurious stay such as a spa retreat or five-star hotel at the start or end of a holiday—has emerged as a defining 2026 trend. Two-thirds (64%) of South Africans have lux-scaped before, surpassing the EMEA average of 59%. The trend is especially popular among younger generations, with 74% of Gen Z and 67% of Millennials embracing the approach.

Travellers cite the top benefits of lux-scaping as helping them relax and get into the holiday mindset (49%), return home refreshed (46%), give themselves a treat (41%) and enjoy a level of luxury they might not afford for a full trip (33%).

When asked what experiences and services they expect from a 5-star escape, luxury travellers in South African prioritise curated activities such as adventure excursions, wine tastings or private chef experiences (41%), followed by exclusive access to beaches and pools (36%) and all-inclusive stays (34%).

Passion Pursuits Take Centre Stage

Another major trend shaping 2026 travel is the rise of ‘passion pursuits’—holidays built around personal interests such as music, sport, or adventure. Over seven in ten (73%) South Africans have taken a passion-led holiday, higher than the EMEA average (68%), and one in five (19%) do so several times a year.

This trend is especially strong among Gen Z (84%) and Millennials (76%), who are using travel to deepen their engagement with the things they love. The most popular passion pursuits are travelling to see or participate in a music or cultural event (58%), watching or playing a sport (56%), and adventurous explorations like a safari or trek (39%).

Together Time Tops Travel Priorities

When choosing accommodation, the ‘brilliant basics’ remain top priorities: cleanliness (96%), customer service (95%), and price (93%) lead the list. South Africans are strongly family-orientated, preferring to travel with family or children (44%) rather than with partners (35%) or friends (12%) while only seven percent prefer to travel alone.

‘Spending time with family and friends’ (53%) remains the top travel priority, followed by ‘great food and drink options (48%), treating themselves (40%), and time in nature (40%).

Smart Spending, Savvy Travellers

South Africans remain financially savvy, finding ways to make their money go further. Price is a key driver, with 51% saying they’ll book a holiday if a special price is available – the highest across the EMEA region.

Travellers are also making smart use of loyalty programmes to maximise value: 42% say hotel loyalty programmes influence where they stay (compared to 32% across EMEA), while 27% would go ahead and book, if they could earn loyalty points.

South Africans are equally focused on maximising experiences once travelling. ‘Country hopping’ – visiting multiple countries on one trip – is on the rise, with 45% saying they will ‘probably’ or ‘definitely’ do this next year, increasing to 52% among Gen Z.

Sustainability Continues to Shape Decisions

South Africans continue to place sustainability at the heart of their holiday choices. Three-quarters (76%) of South African travellers have looked into the environmental impact of their holidays, while 59% checked the sustainability credentials of their accommodation before booking — the highest proportion across EMEA.

“South African travellers are entering a new era of exploration — planning their holidays with sustainability in mind, while being more selective about how they spend and who they travel with,” said Dorcas Dlamini Mbele, Senior Director, Commercial – Sub-Saharan Africa, Marriott International.

“Younger generations are especially enthusiastic, taking more trips and embracing new ways of planning — from using AI to building multi-country itineraries. At the same time, holidays are increasingly centred on what matters most, whether that’s spending time with friends and family, enjoying great food, pursuing their passions through music, sport or adventure, or adding a touch of luxury to a getaway. The clear message is one of optimism, with travel continuing to be a top priority across South Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..

Notes to Editors:
*Research conducted by Mortar Research amongst 2,045 adults in South Africa between 14th-21st July 2025, as part of wider research among 22,266 adults in the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Türkiye, South Africa, and Egypt. There is a minimum of 2,000 respondents per market.    

When referencing the Generations, please see below the age groups that are referenced:

• Generation Z: 18 to 28 year-olds
• Millennials: 29 to 44 year-olds
• Generation X: 45 – 60 year-olds
• Baby Boomers: 61 – 79 year-olds
• Silent Generation: 80 – 97 year-olds

For more information, please contact:
Birgit Deibele
Senior Director of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa
Marriott International
Email: Birgit.Deibele@marriott.com

Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/47OllUV
X: https://apo-opa.co/4nOXx9G
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4nRxkqZ
TikTok: https://apo-opa.co/3XrkBAg

About Marriott Bonvoy®:
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of more than 30 extraordinary hotel brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. To download the Marriott Bonvoy app, go here (https://apo-opa.co/4nKdzkZ). 

Source: APO

The Stevie® Awards (https://www.StevieAwards.com), organizer of the world’s premier business awards programs, has issued a call for entries for the 2026 (seventh annual) Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, sponsored by the RAK Chamber of Commerce & Industry (http://www.RAKChamber.ae/). Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at https://MENA.StevieAwards.com.

The Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards are the region’s only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all its forms. The awards are open to all organizations within 18 nations in the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

All individuals and organizations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small – may submit any number of nominations to any number of the categories.

There are no entry fees in this awards program. Organizations may submit as many nominations as they would like, without cost. Instead, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners can choose to pay a “winners fee” for each successful nomination to maintain their Stevie winner status.

Nominations may be submitted online through two entry deadlines. Winning nominations submitted through the first deadline, 3 December 2025, will have reduced winners’ fees. 21 January 2026, is the second and final entry deadline.

Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards in the competition will be announced on 16 April 2026, and celebrated during a gala event at the InterContinental Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 14 May 2026.

New for the 2026 Competition

The 2026 competition introduces several new and expanded category groups, including AI Innovation Awards (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP) recognizing the achievements of individuals and organizations in Artificial Intelligence, and Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC), , honoring innovation and excellence in government and public service. Other category groups with new award categories include Sustainability, Technology, Customer Service, Marketing, and Human Resources.

Nominations citing innovative achievements will be accepted and judged in both Arabic and English, in more than 150 categories across the following category groups:

• AI Innovation (https://apo-opa.co/3JQW8RP)
• Apps & Websites (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4dS)
• Achievements (https://apo-opa.co/497sWQV)
• Annual Reports & Other Publications (https://apo-opa.co/4hSzGo1)
• Company/Organization (https://apo-opa.co/49ecmPw)
• Corporate Communications & Public Relations (https://apo-opa.co/3LC9WQI)
• Customer Service (https://apo-opa.co/47PNScG)
• Human Resources (https://apo-opa.co/4oCh2Dw)
• Individual Professionals (https://apo-opa.co/49IaP4b)
• Live & Virtual Events (https://apo-opa.co/43WFUNT)
• Management (https://apo-opa.co/3Lw7Z8t)
• Marketing (https://apo-opa.co/4owmwPX)
• New Products & Services (https://apo-opa.co/4oKt4uo)
• Public Sector Innovators (https://apo-opa.co/3LwT2mC)
• Social Media (https://apo-opa.co/4hXgCVM)
• Sustainability (https://apo-opa.co/43ner7Z)
• Technology (https://apo-opa.co/49KWCU4)
• Videos (https://apo-opa.co/3JMPZGr)
• Thought Leadership (https://apo-opa.co/4hT50CY)

New Website and Entry System

For the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards program, a new website and entry system have been introduced to make participation easier and more efficient than ever before. Entrants can now use a single account to access the entry system for all nine Stevie Awards programs, submit and manage nominations seamlessly, and enter directly from any device. The platform supports over 30 languages with automatic translation for judging and offers multiple convenient payment options, ensuring a smooth and accessible experience for participants across the region.

Winners of the 2025 edition with multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards include Abdulla Almazrouei Advocates & Legal Consultants, Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), ADNOC Logistics & Services, Alef Education, Barns (Saudi Arabia), DAMAC Properties, Deloitte & Touche (M.E.), DHL Express (across multiple MENA locations), Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Emirates Health Services, Etihad Aviation Group, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Ministry of Finance (Saudi Arabia), Ooredoo Group (Qatar), Petromin Express (Saudi Arabia), Public Works Authority – Ashghal (Qatar), QNB Türkiye, RAK Police, Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu, Saudi Aramco, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Silal (Abu Dhabi), STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Turkcell, VUMI Global, Yalla Group (UAE), and ZIGMA8 | 360º Creative Communications, among others.

The 2026 competition will be judged by more than 150 professionals around the world. Those who wish to apply to participate on one of the juries may do so at https://apo-opa.co/445vdsn

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards.

Contact:
May Hassan
May@StevieAwards.com

About the Stevie® Awards:
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations and territories. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at https://www.StevieAwards.com.

Source: APO

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Africa’s oil and gas sector is entering a period of accelerated growth, as new upstream projects kickstart across the continent. In 2025, the continent’s oil production is set to reach 11.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMboe/d), rising to 13.6 MMboe/d by 2030. This upward trajectory spells new opportunities for the continent’s petroleum markets and the upcoming G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum – hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) on November 21 – will explore strategies for maximizing Africa’s oil and gas value chain.

The forum will feature a panel discussion on this topic, with speakers delving into the state of play of Africa’s exploration and production landscape. The session will explore key topics, including Africa’s proven and prospective oil and gas reserves; how regulatory frameworks support exploration, infrastructure and production; and how nations can build resilient oil and gas supply chains. By unpacking the continent’s production and supply dynamics, the session affirms hydrocarbons as a driver of industrialization and energy security in Africa. 

While Africa’s proven oil reserves currently stand at 125 billion barrels and its proven gas reserves are estimated at 620 trillion cubic feet (tcf), ongoing exploration campaigns are expected to raise this portfolio significantly. Established producers across the continent are making strides towards revitalizing output through renewed drilling campaigns which target both brownfield and greenfield assets. Angola has set a goal to sustain production above one million barrels per day (bpd), Nigeria targets 2.5 million bpd while Libya aims to reach 2 million bpd in the coming years. Emerging markets such as Namibia and Ivory Coast are advancing towards first oil production while countries to the likes of Senegal, Mauritania and Mozambique are pursuing new gas projects following the start of major offshore LNG developments in recent years.

Amid the rise in upstream projects, African nations are turning their attention – and investments – towards the downstream sector. A number of large-scale refining and pipeline projects are underway across the continent, aimed strengthening continental trade. The operationalization of Nigeria’s 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery marked a turning point for the continent’s refining industry, with other facilities in Angola (60,000 bpd Cabinda and 200,000 bpd Lobito); Ghana (40,000 Sentou); and Egypt (160,000 bpd Midor Amiriyah expansion) set to further bolster capacity. In tandem, several ambitious pipeline projects are in development, including the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline; and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. These developments aim to maximize value from oil and gas production by strengthening regional trade and fuel security.

Despite this progress, pressure on supply chains is expected to increase, with net import requirements for refined products set to reach 3.4 MMboe/d in 2050, up from 2 MMboe/d in 2025. To support this increase, the AEC’s State of African Energy 2026 Outlook shows that the continent requires upwards of $20 billion in investments, underscoring a need for coordinated investments in African ports, import terminals, pipelines and storage. The G20 Forum will shine a spotlight on these investment opportunities, while exploring the impact of regulation on Africa’s oil and gas value chain as well as strategies for strengthening market integration and supply chain resilience. The forum will also discuss the definition of a bankable oil and gas project in today’s investment climate and what technical and financial support is needed to help African countries reform tax-to-GDP ratios and natural resource revenue management.

“Africa’s energy transformation depends on how well we move from exporting raw resources to building integrated value chains that create jobs and industrial growth at home. The G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum is not just about attracting capital; it’s about reshaping our approach to oil and gas so that every barrel and every molecule of gas delivers value for Africans first,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. 

To register for the Forum click here (https://apo-opa.co/4hRdlr7).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.