Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) held its first bi-annual ‘City Briefing’ for 2021 at the newly built Dubai Exhibition Centre, highlighting the sector’s promising performance since the reopening of the city to international tourists a year ago.  As efforts intensified across the tourism ecosystem to accelerate momentum in this landmark year for Dubai and the UAE, the forum featured a detailed presentation on Expo 2020, the multi-faceted mega event which runs from 1 October, 2021 to 31 March 2022, as well as insights into domestic and global developments and marketing campaigns worldwide aimed at reinforcing Dubai’s profile as a safe, must-visit destination and the world’s best city to live and work in. Presided by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, the forum hosted over 1,000 key executives from leading establishments in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. It was held within the framework of Dubai Tourism’s regular dialogue with key industry leaders to exchange insights and work with them to ensure the industry is seamlessly aligned with tourism growth initiatives and strategies. By holding the forum at the Dubai Exhibition Centre with precautionary guidelines being comprehensively observed, Dubai Tourism sought to highlight the enormous significance of Expo 2020 to Dubai’s tourism industry and the gathering pace of recovery in the events sector. HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, commented: “Dubai has continued to lead global tourism recovery and has constantly set new precedents in how to safely yet effectively open internationally and critically stay open. Inspired by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, the …

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, begins the summer season with 80% of its pre-pandemic destinations as it continues to resume operations and restore services to cities of its original 2019 destination network. The airline has also announced that it has successfully launched all of its seasonal destinations for the summer of 2021 with direct flights to Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Malaga in Spain and Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt as well as recently resuming Tbilisi in Georgia. The airline currently flies to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, Muscat, Cairo, Amman, Casablanca, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Istanbul, Tbilisi, Larnaca, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Dhaka, Colombo, the Maldives and several destinations in India and Pakistan. Commenting on this network restoration milestone, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi commented: “We at Gulf Air are very excited and proud to restore 80% of our 2019 destinations network amidst the restrictions and continuous updates from each and every destination we fly to. The national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain never stopped flying during the peak of the pandemic making it one of the most experienced and safest airlines to fly during these times and today we are growing closer to our full network”. He added: “We are working on frequencies and connectivity to offer more choices and more convenience to our passengers and we are confident that the months ahead will feature more milestones and success stories to tell”. Recently, Gulf Air announced the launch of point to point flights beyond its Bahrain International Airport hub allowing the airline to expand its operations to new destinations as well as …

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, announced its collaboration with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), becoming official airline partner for the Middle East as part of ICCA’s Regional Travel Partnership Program. As newest member to the program, Oman Air brings 5-Star COVID-19 safety and network connectivity across the Middle East to association meetings professionals so they can re-connect with colleagues and work towards reviving face-to-face, in-person meetings in the post-pandemic landscape. “In securing this partnership, we are pleased to connect our ICCA members in the Middle East with an airline that will serve them under exceptional standards of health and safety. Meeting face-to-face is vital to our industry and we at ICCA World believe we can begin to do so once again as we continue to adhere to best practices in pandemic safety,” said Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO. “Throughout COVID-19, Oman Air has implemented and maintained exceptional health and safety standards on board our aircraft and across the entire passenger journey,” said Eng. Abdulaziz AlRaisi, CEO of Oman Air. “In-person, face-to-face meetings—whether association and industry meetings or the full offering of corporate travel and events—are crucial for the recovery of local economies and Oman Air is proud to partner with ICCA to offer safe travels for its members throughout the Middle East, and beyond, as we work together towards a robust restart of the interconnected aviation, MICE and tourism sectors.” “As ICCA Middle East Regional Director, I am proud to announce their new collaboration with Oman Air as the official airline partner for the Middle East region. Oman Air’s initiative during the current crisis and their adaptability demands applause and should be taken as …

Emirates is connecting global business and leisure travellers with it’s first-ever passenger service between Dubai and Miami. The airline celebrated the inaugural flight of its four times a week service when it touched down in Miami at 1100hrs local time on 23rd July 2021. Emirates flight EK213 was welcomed by Miami International Airport with a water cannon salute, and drew in an audience of passengers, aviation fans and guests. For the first flight, the airline operated its popular Boeing 777 Gamechanger, and on the ground, showcased the interiors of the aircraft to guests, featuring its highly popular First Class private suites. With floor to ceiling sliding doors and sleek design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Emirates’ First Class suites on the Gamechanger offer up to 40 square feet of personal space each, and ultra-modern design features. The airline will subsequently operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class for the four times a week service. Along with Orlando, the new service to Miami provides an additional access point to and from Florida and expands Emirates’ US network to 12 destinations on over 70 weekly flights, providing more choice and convenient connections from the Emirates network to Southern Florida. It also links travellers from Miami, as well as Southern Florida, South America and the Caribbean to over 50 points across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa, Far East and the Indian Ocean Islands via Dubai. “We are excited to welcome new Emirates flights to MIA as we expand business and leisure traveling options for Miami-Dade residents and visitors, connecting them …

It was recently announced that Sun Siyam Resorts regional office will be opened in Dubai, which will enable the hospitality group to tap into the GCC market following a rise in travel as we near the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Since opening its first resort over 20 years ago, Sun Siyam Resorts have grown to own and manage five luxury private island properties in the Maldives and a boutique beach retreat on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. Each resort is unique, but what unites them all is the genuine warmth and heartfelt hospitality of their people, many of whom have been with the hospitality group from the beginning. Previous Emirates Holidays’ Product and Contracting Manager, Manica Radjou, speaks on the “exciting opportunity that this new office will bring by opening many doors for the resort, attracting a new demographic and customer base within the UAE and Middle East.” Stepping in as Director of the Dubai office, Radjou has the experience needed to take the Sun Siyam Resorts to new heights within the GCC. Beginning with the intent to promote inbound tourism to the Maldives, Sun Siyam Travels was established in 1990, founded by Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Group. The opening of a Dubai based office will allow the company to begin expanding their operation globally with attentive focus on the GCC region to gain market share for its portfolio. Sun Siyam Resorts, has announced that Siyam World, their fifth property in the Maldives, a stand-alone brand in its collection is due to open on 28th October 2021 – a revolutionary resort, located on a stunning natural island nestled in the Noonu Atoll …

Accor, the largest hotel and resort operator in Phuket, invites travellers from the Middle East and around the world to reawaken their love for travel and be amongst the first to discover the joys of the ‘Phuket Sandbox’. Phuket never fails to awaken the senses. A blissful blue sky, clear oceans, and lush green hills set the backdrop for glittering waves crashing on the pearlescent sandy shores on which only a few people gather under coconut trees swaying with the coastal breeze. The island paradise of Phuket has been closed to international visitors for over a year, allowing nature to recuperate and thrive. A new chapter now awaits with vaccinated travellers welcomed back from 1st July 2021 from countries with a low or medium risk of COVID-19 transmission. For those wistfully dreaming of a tropical beach getaway, Phuket offers the perfect collection of experiences that can be enjoyed around the island without quarantine. Days spent on breath-taking beaches are an essential part of the Phuket experience. Powdery sands, glistening waters, and spectacular views can be discovered all around the island, with a diverse array of offerings on the popular west coast as well as the more secluded east coast. There are over 30 beaches in Phuket, some of them hidden away and others adjacent to beachfront resorts. With limited flights operating, visitors have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay on unblemished shores with very few other people, for a more chilled-out atmosphere, bringing a whole new meaning to ‘social distancing’. Where to stay: Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort is nestled in a southern cove overlooking the broad palm-lined arc of Makham Bay. Its private stretch of fine white sand is great …

A virtual dinner was recently hosted by the Department of Tourism in Philippines for trade partners from the GCC. This informal gathering was a networking exercise to understand the current GCC market and the way forward. As GCC is way ahead of other regions in terms of vaccination drives, it is looking at better summer travel. At the event, SanJeet, Director, Durga Das Publications and Market Representative for the Middle East, shared the current realities in the Middle Eastern market, followed by an address by Daks Gonzales at the Head Office of Product and Market Development, Philippine Department of Tourism – Middle East. Gracing the evening, Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso, CESO III Assistant Secretary for Product and Market Development Department of Tourism from the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, expressed her gratitude to those taking time off to attend the event and enjoy the Filipino cuisine. She reiterated the importance of understanding the market at present and shared the various initiatives taken by the Government of the Philippines to ensure safety and rebuild the confidence of the travellers, especially from the Middle East. Leading CEOs from the Middle East attended the event, including Nasir Jamal Khan – Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies LLC, Jamal Abdul Nazar – Cozmo Travels,  Asim Arshad – Orient Travel & Tourism Agency,  Arshad Munir – SATA, Tarique Katri – Seera, Deepak Rawat – MakeMyTrip, V. Jayaram – Sharaf Travels, Mathew D’Costa – Dnata, Sumit Archarya – BCD Travel, Manu Mehrotra – Al Tayer Travel Agency, Suresh Ahuja – Trans Arabian Air Travel, and Sai Rattan – SNTTA The CEOs presented some very interesting facts about expectations, especially from the side of the locals …

Emirates has announced the launch of Emirates Pay, a new account-based payment method for purchasing air tickets. Emirates Pay is now available for Emirates customers in Germany and the UK who are purchasing tickets via emirates.com. Emirates is the world’s first airline to launch this payment alternative powered by a white-label solution jointly developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in partnership with Deutsche Bank. Michael Doersam, Chief Financial Officer at Emirates said: “We’re pleased to be the first airline to roll out this new account-based solution for our customers. Our aim is to provide our customers with choice, convenience, and the best possible experiences at every touchpoint. Customers who don’t have a credit card, and those already using direct payments for other purchases, will welcome the simplicity and security of this method when making travel purchases. When it comes to payments solutions, we’ve always kept close to the latest innovations so that we can offer our customers in different markets the most secure and convenient options.” Christof Hofmann, Global Head of Corporate & Payment Solutions at Deutsche Bank said: “We are very proud that Emirates, which is widely recognized as one of the world’s best airlines, is the first airline to implement the new payment solution. The launch of Emirates Pay not only sends a very positive message to all of us that the airline industry is putting COVID behind, but more importantly that Emirates is clearly focused on improving client experience at the transactional level when moving into a brighter, post COVID world.”  Emirates Pay is an alternative method for travellers to pay for air tickets purchased online by directly debiting their bank account. It is based …

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, announced its collaboration with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), becoming official airline partner for the Middle East as part of ICCA’s Regional Travel Partnership Program. As newest member to the program, Oman Air brings 5-Star COVID-19 safety and network connectivity across the Middle East to association meetings professionals so they can re-connect with colleagues and work towards reviving face-to-face, in-person meetings in the post-pandemic landscape. “In securing this partnership, we are pleased to connect our ICCA members in the Middle East with an airline that will serve them under exceptional standards of health and safety. Meeting face-to-face is vital to our industry and we at ICCA World believe we can begin to do so once again as we continue to adhere to best practices in pandemic safety,” said Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO. “Throughout COVID-19, Oman Air has implemented and maintained exceptional health and safety standards on board our aircraft and across the entire passenger journey,” said Eng. Abdulaziz AlRaisi, CEO of Oman Air. “In-person, face-to-face meetings—whether association and industry meetings or the full offering of corporate travel and events—are crucial for the recovery of local economies and Oman Air is proud to partner with ICCA to offer safe travels for its members throughout the Middle East, and beyond, as we work together towards a robust restart of the interconnected aviation, MICE and tourism sectors.” “As ICCA Middle East Regional Director, I am proud to announce their new collaboration with Oman Air as the official airline partner for the Middle East region. Oman Air’s initiative during the current crisis and their adaptability demands applause and should be taken as …

Offering guests an unforgettable opportunity to take in Dubai’s breathtaking sights while on a thrilling water adventure, Nemo WaterSports’ Jet Ski tour of Dubai gives travellers a chance to zip across the ocean and take in views of the stunning city skyline and landmarks – Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Atlantis – The Palm and the Burj Khalifa. The Awards, an initiative of Tripadvisor, one of the world’s largest travel platforms, recognise the world’s top experiences featuring tours and activities. Winners are determined on the basis of traveller reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, activities and attractions on Tripadvisor collected from 1 January 2020 – 30 April 2021. In announcing the awards, Tripadvisor said it was sharing the activities that travellers loved the most throughout the pandemic, so others could go out and enjoy the diverse experiences themselves. Referring to the No. 1 Experience in the world for 2021, it said that “travelers are loving soaking in the stunning Dubai skyline with the thrill of a jet ski ride, and ample photo-ops”. Dubai has retained its number one position with Tripadvisor for offering the world’s top tourism experience for the second consecutive year. Dubai’s leading travel company OceanAir won the top global award for Experiences in Tripadvisor’s 2020 Travellers’ Choice Awards for its camel safari and desert BBQ offering. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) said: “We are delighted to have Dubai’s experiences once again showcased and recognised on a global platform such as Tripadvisor. Nemo WaterSports’ splendid achievement highlights Dubai’s position as the destination of choice for global travellers. Dubai Tourism continues to foster its relationships with partners and stakeholders, as it remains …