Merlin Entertainments (Merlin) announced the opening of the world-famous wax attraction, Madame Tussauds in Dubai, located within the popular island destination Bluewaters. It has been one of the most talked about and highly anticipated attractions to come to the UAE, and the wait is nearly over. Tourists and residents can feel the fame as they step into the star-studded party of a lifetime, where they can meet incredible likenesses of the stars from the region and beyond in a family-oriented attraction that offers a diverse range of experiences to enjoy all year round. The iconic attraction is set to open its doors later this year, and will provide an interactive fame experience like no other, where visitors can get up close and take pictures with 60 global stars, including 16 brand new wax figures from the Middle East region. Madame Tussauds Dubai will be located next to Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, and will enhance the vibrant destination’s position as one of Dubai’s most attractive tourism destinations. Meike Lippert, Senior Divisional Director Midway Europe and Global New Openings, Merlin Entertainments, the operator of Madame Tussauds, comments, “As one of the world leaders in location-based entertainment, we are delighted to be launching the first ever Madame Tussauds in the GCC, Dubai, later this year. In addition to well-known global figures, the new Madame Tussauds will also be home to figures celebrated in the Middle East including Nancy Ajram and Maya Diab, alongside other figures which we will announce very soon. The new attraction will provide an immersive and exhilarating experience for visitors to enjoy the famous world of renowned celebrities and personalities” Sanaz Kollsrud, General Manager of Madame Tussauds …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of Radisson Hotel Djibouti. The hotel marks the Group’s entry into the country and brings its East African portfolio to 18 hotels and over 2700 rooms in operation and under development, strengthening its strategic position in the region. This new signing further underscores the Group’ presence as the hotel company active in the most countries on the African continent with close to 100 hotels in operation and under development. This new-build 144-room hotel, scheduled to open in 2024, will comprise not only of modern standard rooms and suites, but will also have accessible rooms, designed for wheelchair access. Dining options will include light snacks at the lobby café, international and local cuisine at the all-day-dining restaurant, and refreshing drinks at the poolside juice bar. Boasting an expansive meetings and events area, the hotel will offer a variety of versatile venues, including a ballroom, five meeting rooms, a pre-function area, as well as break out areas. The leisure facilities will include a spa, gym, and an outdoor swimming pool. Just 15 minutes away from Djibouti International Airport, Radisson Hotel Djibouti will be located in the heart of the city, surrounded by key infrastructures such as the Djibouti Port, Djibouti Free Zone, international headquarters, shopping malls and the seaside, providing the ideal base for business and leisure. Erwan Garnier, Senior Director, Development, Africa, Radisson Hotel Group said: “We are delighted to mark our entry into Djibouti with Radisson, currently our fastest growing upscale brand in Africa. With its existing limited branded hotel supply, we are confident that Radisson Hotel Djibouti will be the country’s leading internationally branded hotel. Along with our partners, Salaam Properties, we are …

Zambia and Zimbabwe are being added to Qatar Airways expanding list of destinations in Africa from early August, bringing its award-winning service to two important southern African destinations. The new service to Lusaka and onwards to Harare is scheduled to be operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It will connect passengers in Zambia and Zimbabwe with Qatar Airways’ global network of more than 140 destinations. With the addition of these two new routes the carrier will operate over 100 weekly flights to 27 destinations in Africa. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said, “Africa continues to be an area of strong growth for Qatar Airways and launching this service will support the development of the economy and tourism sector in both countries. “Not only do we continue to rebuild our network after the pandemic, but we are actively expanding it with the addition of these two key destinations. These are the fifth and sixth new destinations in Africa added to our network since the start of the pandemic, taking our total new destinations added across the globe to 10.” The launch of Lusaka and Harare also supports increased demand for trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe and destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as London, Frankfurt and New York and from multiple points in China. With a total of 30 tonnes of cargo capacity on the aircraft per flight, Qatar Airways Cargo will play a key role in facilitating key exports from Zambia and Zimbabwe. As travellers return to the skies with Qatar Airways, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art …

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Alila Hinu Bay in Oman which joins Alila Jabal Akhdar as the brand’s second hotel in Oman along with 15 other Alila properties worldwide. Distinguished a strong commitment to sustainable tourism, the award-winning brand features luxury hotels and resorts in some of the most spectacular natural locations. The 112-key hotel is nestled on a secluded beachfront in Oman’s southwest region of Dhofar. The untouched area is best known for its lush landscapes, cool summers, and it is within easy driving distance from Salalah International Airport. Between Samhan mountain and the blue waters of the Arabian Sea, Alila Hinu Bay caters to well-traveled guests seeking reflection and impactful connections. Along with the breath-taking scenery, the area is known for its rich traditions and the renowned warmth of Omani hospitality. Combined with a personalized experience that is crafted for each guest, travelers can expect to be immersed in authentic yet bespoke journeys tailored to their preferences and interests. “We are very excited to add Alila Hinu Bay to the Hyatt portfolio and welcome guests to this region of Oman, a true nature lover’s paradise full of stunning landscapes, waterfalls and greenery,” said Martin Persson, general manager, Alila Hinu Bay. “Dedicated to being responsible and sustainable, guests can enjoy exquisite culinary experiences evoking local and international flavours at one of our dining options or treat themselves to a customized spa experience that uses natural products.”

Accor has signed a brand-new Fairmont property in Saudi Arabia on the Ajdan Waterfront development, the most high-profile mixed-use development in Al Khobar and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. With an opening date expected for 2023, the hotel will feature 160 rooms and serviced apartments, four dining outlets, and meeting rooms to accommodate large social and corporate events. The group is partnering with Ajdan Real Estate Development Company, the lifestyle focus, internationally award-winning developer. “Our values rest on promoting social transformation, helping to enrich lives, and driving forward the Saudi 2030 vision. We couldn’t think of a better partner than Accor to join our vision and develop the Fairmont hotel on Ajdan. This prestigious destination is known to be one of the most desirable leisure attractions for visitors and residences of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia,” said Abdullah AlFozan, Chairman of Ajdan Real Estate Development Company. “By signing this development, we complete the final piece of Ajdan waterfront components,” said Mohammed Al Otaibi; CEO of Ajdan Real Estate Development Company. “We are proud to be the first private developer that joins its footprint with Accor, achieving this major transformation in lifestyle and tourism industry in the eastern province.” “We believe the new Fairmont Ajdan Al Khobar will become the ultimate premier urban waterfront development in the Eastern Province, and maybe even the whole of Saudi Arabia, adding to the strong momentum the Fairmont brand is seeing in the Kingdom after the successful opening of Fairmont Riyadh,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey. “Overall, with the powerful Fairmont brand features, through to the unique architecture and expressive décor added to its prime location, …

Series of uniquely soothing sensory videos created under the 360 Hong Kong Moments initiative by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), which has managed to capture and bottle the city’s auditory essence into highly immersive and pleasurable viewing experiences. A highlight of the Great Outdoors Hong Kong (GOHK) 2021-2022 summer campaign, four distinctly themed Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos will each feature 30-second snapshots of dreamy environmental acoustics heard in far-flung corners of the city. The videos are designed to stimulate the senses and to heighten one’s sensitivity to the harmonic countryside symphonies just a stone’s throw from the city. ASMR in Peng Chau invokes a ship’s horn, a temple’s chimes and the hypnotic kau cim (shaking of fortune sticks). Swaying leaves, dripping waterfalls, chirping birds and flapping wings angle for attention in ASMR in Shing Mun Reservoir. ASMR in Stanley spans splashing in the ocean and swooshing open a paper fan, to biting into a piece of deliciously warm French toast at a local cha chaan teng diner. Finally, ASMR in Sai Kung delves into the myriad tones and timbres of the open sea, which can be encountered during a lone stand-up paddle-boarding session. Both calming and provoking, the video series stars curious individuals exploring the outskirts of Hong Kong through a hyper-focused lens, and culminates in a three-minute magnum opus, which brings all the contrasting elements together into one beautifully euphoric whole. The ASMR videos form part of the broader GOHK summer campaign, which will also showcase 13 seasonal routes, covering hiking and sightseeing destinations, island-hopping itineraries and water sports experiences. A particular focus is water-based activities, which are easily accessible but often overlooked by visitors who …

Emirates announced it will launch a four times weekly service between Florida’s second largest city, Miami, and Dubai, from 22 July, 2021, expanding its US network to 12 destinations. The new service will provide Emirates’ global travellers with another access point into Florida after Orlando (effective July), serving the Southern Florida area while offering convenient connections for travellers headed towards the Middle East, West Asia, and Indian Ocean via Dubai. With the addition of Miami, Emirates will now serve the US with over 70 weekly flights, offering over 26,000 seats across 12 gateways including Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK and Newark), Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and Orlando. A cultural mecca, famous for its proprietary take on nightlife, art, music, architecture and cuisine, the City of Miami is one of America’s most exciting destinations. As travel demand and consumer confidence continues to grow with all the multi-faceted health measures in place, the new route will cater to Emirates’ leisure and business travellers, boosting tourism and trade opportunities both inbound and outbound. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said: “Launching a non-stop service to Miami at this time signals our confidence in travel recovery as countries progress on their vaccination programmes and implement protocols for the safe resumption of flight and travel activity, particularly in the US and the UAE. It also underscores our strong commitment to the US market which Emirates now serves with over 70 weekly flights across 12 gateways. “There is a clear demand for this service from both leisure and business travellers and we anticipate that our new route will be warmly received across our global …

Almosafer is revealing  key insights into Saudi nationals’ travel preferences one month into open borders. Almosafer’s study examined consumers’ searches and bookings over the period of 17th May -16th June 2021 compared to the same period pre-pandemic in 2019 and found promising signs of travel revival as KSA travellers venture out to explore the world again and continue to explore the vast tourism offering in the kingdom. The findings solidify the results of Almosafer’s second extensive travel sentiment survey conducted earlier this year which unveiled that over 80% of Saudi respondents are planning to travel internationally within the first six months of border opening. Since the resumption of international travel from the kingdom last month, Almosafer has recovered 76% of total bookings compared to the same time in 2019 and expects this percentage to further increase by Q4 to exceed pre-pandemic booking volume as more travel restrictions are lifted and more destinations reopen for visitors across the world. The data also shows that domestic travel is in high demand due to the growing appeal of local destinations amongst Saudi nationals, as well as the breadth of offer created by Almosafer from bespoke packages to a variety of bookable tours and attractions available on the brand’s domestic activities marketplace. Almosafer has allocated significant funds, research, and product development efforts to boost its domestic offering, in line with the Kingdoms’ wider agenda to enhance the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy and will continue to do so with several innovative product launches planned in the coming months. Top local destinations include Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Khobar and Dammam, while new trending destinations that gained popularity over the past year are Al Jubail, …

Wizz Air announces the launch of its new Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), a technical solution that will replace all printed onboard manuals and materials with iPads for pilots. The new system brings increased efficiency to all aspects of flight planning. It builds on the airline’s broader sustainability commitments by significantly reducing paper use and fuel consumption.  Under the new EFB system, every Wizz Air pilot will receive an iPad. The devices will be equipped with the relevant documents, charting- and performance applications needed to prepare for a flight. It offers real-time information and revisions to mission briefings throughout the journey.  The switch to using the new EFB will also positively impact Wizz Air’s broader commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, in line with its aim to cut carbon emissions further. Not only will the new system save around six million sheets of paper a year, equivalent to saving over six hundred trees, but it will also reduce fuel consumption through more accurate flight planning and weight savings. The availability of recalculated flight plans before each flight and in-flight optimisation will save over 4,500 tons of fuel per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by well over 14,000 tons. This weight translates to the equivalent of 180,000, 80-kilogram passengers a year, which is the same as the weight of 750 full 239-seater A321neo aircraft. Wizz Air will offer e-trainings to the pilot community to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. The target date to go live and remove all paper from the flight deck is the end of this year. Gerben Bondt, Line Training Captain, EFB Solution Architect, Wizz Air, said, “At WIZZ, we strive to be the greenest airline …

Dubai Airports has announced that it will reopen Dubai’s International’s Terminal 1 and Concourse D on June 24. The facilities were closed on March 25, 2020 following the partial suspension of operations at DXB as part of the strategy to control the spread of Covid-19. Welcoming the reopening of Terminal 1 as an important step in preparing to accommodate the anticipated growth in travel demand in the coming weeks and months, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports said,  “Dubai’s aviation sector has been at the forefront of a global campaign to restore vital international air services with the opening of quarantine-free travel corridors between the UAE and multiple countries around the world. This move signals our confidence that the outlook for the rest of the year and beyond is one of optimism, as well as being a clear indication of Dubai’s intent to lead the aviation industry in its efforts to enable social and economic recovery of the world. This reopening is a collaborative effort of the many stakeholders involved in the operation of the world’s largest international airport and we are delighted to be able to make this important step towards the restoration of full airport operations.” The reopening of the facilities will enable the gradual return of 40 plus international carriers that are currently operating at Terminals 2 and 3 back to their home terminal at DXB. Dubai Airports has advised passengers to confirm their terminal of departure and arrival with their airline prior to coming to the airport as the transition will be managed in several stages, with the plan for the relocation to be completed by the end of June. …