Emirates has announced it will restart passenger services to Mauritius this summer with two weekly flights from 15 July, as the island-nation gradually re-opens its borders to international tourists. To serve market demand, the airline has also announced it will deploy its iconic Emirates A380 aircraft to Mauritius starting 1 August. Fully vaccinated travellers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway in a list of pre-approved COVID-19 safe resorts across the island. Emirates’ flights to Mauritius will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays. Starting from 15 July, the route will be served utilising a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and from 1 August, utilising the Emirates A380 aircraft. Emirates flight EK 701 will depart Dubai 2:35hrs and arrive in Mauritius at 9:10hrs local time. The return flight will operate on Fridays and Sundays. Emirates flight EK 704 will depart Mauritius at 23:10hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:45hrs local time, the following day. Emirates flights to Mauritius can be booked on emirates.com, via travel agents or Emirates Sales Office. The Emirates A380 experience remains a favourite amongst travellers for its spacious and comfortable cabins and the airline will continue to expand its deployment in line with the gradual return in demand. Emirates currently operates the A380 to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Toronto, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Frankfurt, Moscow, Amman, Cairo, and Guangzhou. From white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and luscious landscapes – Mauritius remains one the most popular holiday destinations, attracting travellers across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Emirates passengers can also enjoy other Indian Ocean destinations, as the airline offers 28 weekly flights to Maldives and seven weekly flights to Seychelles. Travellers can also book with Emirates …

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is offering free private airport transfers to and from Dubai for guests travelling in Economy to select destinations. Tickets must be booked by 11 August for travel by 30 September 2021. Travellers will also earn double Etihad Guest Miles on their flight too. Guests travelling to Dubai do not need to quarantine on arrival and can travel easily from Abu Dhabi International Airport, using Etihad’s complimentary transfer services to Dubai. During the promotion, guests travelling in Economy can use the free private car service direct to their home, hotel, or preferred destination in the emirate of Dubai. Fatma Al Mehairi, Vice President Sales UAE, Etihad Airways, said: “With Dubai just an easy one hour drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport, we’re committed to making travel as easy as possible for guests travelling to and from Dubai this summer. The Etihad Wellness programme also means guests can travel with Etihad with complete peace of mind.” Guests travelling in Etihad’s Business and First cabins continue to have complimentary access to the Etihad Chauffeur service, regardless of their travel destination. In line with the Etihad Wellness programme, the driver will be wearing face masks and disposable gloves, and all vehicles are sanitised after every trip too. The free private airport transfer service is available for all guests travelling between Dubai and one of the following destinations: Amsterdam, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Brussels, Casablanca, Chicago, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Manila, Melbourne, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Mykonos, Paris, Phuket, Rabat, Rome, New York, Santorini, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington, or Zurich. In order to make travel as easy as possible, …

The Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC) has released the fourth annual AHIC Hotel Investment Forecast ahead of the 17th edition of the event, which returns to Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai live and in-person from September 20-22, 2021. According to research into the GCC hotels projects market conducted by MEED Projects, a division of MEED, co-organiser of AHIC alongside Bench, there are US $27bn worth of hotel investments in the pipeline. More than US $3.5bn worth of new hotel projects in the GCC have been awarded since the start of 2020 alone. These new investments are mainly located in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, including phases five and six at Jabal Omar, Makkah; the Jewel of the Creek development in Dubai; and Qetaifan Island North in Qatar. Ed James, director of content and analysis at MEED Projects, said: “Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the hotel industry is still optimistic about its medium-term outlook.  “Some US $3.5bn worth of hotel construction contracts have been awarded across the GCC over the past 18 months during the height of the pandemic, indicating that investors expect the market to return to normality in the next two to three years when the new projects are due to open.” James continued: “Longer-term, the industry is even more bullish, with US $27bn worth of hotel investments in the pipeline. “The majority of these are comprised of the ‘gigaproject’ tourism investments in Saudi Arabia led by the Red Sea Project, NEOM, Amaala, Diriyah Gate and Al-Ula, to name but a few,” he added. “All told, these will add more than 40,000 rooms to the Kingdom’s emerging hospitality sector, as it seeks to diversify its economy …

flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, continues to grow its network in Europe and will see Naples in Italy and Salzburg in Austria join its network later this month. The carrier will start its four-weekly service to Salzburg International Airport (SZG) from 15 July and resumes its operations to Naples Airport (NAP) from 31 July 2021. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we are excited to connect Salzburg to the UAE with direct airlinks for the first time which will also offer passengers from the neighbouring region a more comfortable and convenient travel option. We continue to grow our operations in Europe and with the resumption of flights to Naples flydubai is able to offer greater choice this summer. We are seeing steady growth in passenger traffic as more countries ease travel restrictions. We will continue to grow our network in the months ahead.” Flights to Naples will be operated within the quarantine-free travel corridor that has recently been established between Italy and the UAE enabling passengers to travel between the two countries with less restrictions. Passengers need to present a negative COVID-19 test result at check-in taken no more than 48 hours before departure from the UAE. On arrival in Italy, all passengers over the age of two years will be required to take a rapid antigen test. holidays by flydubai offers affordable travel packages for both destinations, with packages to Naples starting at AED 2,369 and to Salzburg starting at AED 2,769.  Package prices are for economy class return flights and accommodation for three nights per person based on two adults sharing a room including breakfast. Travellers can customise their travel packages and add optional extras such as …

Finland’s new entry model opens up Finland for leisure travellers: travellers from EU and Schengen countries can enter Finland freely as of 12 July without any additional health safety measures when they are fully vaccinated, or have had a covid-19 infection before, or are born in 2006 or later, or arrive from a country with low virus incidence. Those with one vaccination only are instructed to take a covid-19 test earliest 72 hours after arrival to Finland, and those without any vaccinations are required in addition to have a negative test result before departure to Finland or a test on arrival. In line with this new model, Finnair will as of 12 July discontinue its requirement for customers to present covid certificates before boarding flights to Finland. “With the new legislation, the requirements for entry are checked on arrival, so our customers do not need to show their certificates to Finnair customer service agent at the check-in when their destination is Finland”, says Jaakko Schildt, Finnair Chief Operating Officer. “We continue to check the documents for those transiting to an international flight at Helsinki, per authority requirements.” “The health and safety of our customers is a key priority for us, and we continue to have comprehensive measures in place on our flights to ensure safe travel. These include, among others, the obligation to wear a mask for the duration of the flight”, Schildt says. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommended earlier this year that all airlines with flights to Finland require their customers to show either a negative test result, a certificate of recovery, or a vaccination certificate, and Finnair has been the only airline flying to Finland …

As the island of Samui is getting ready to reopen to international tourists on the 15th July, Avani+ Samui Resort (www.avanihotels.com/samui) is introducing its “#RediscoverSamui” holiday package, just in time for the summer holidays. Thanks to the ‘Samui Plus Model’ travel scheme announced by the Thai Government, fully-vaccinated international travellers staying at certified SHA+ (Safety and Health Administration) and official ALQ (Alternative Local State Quarantine) hotels will now be able to enjoy Koh Samui’s rejuvenated beaches and bays that are looking more pristine than ever. The new package from Avani+ Samui Resort, which is both SHA+ and ALQ certified and has vaccinated all employees, combines full board accommodation, seamless airport transfers, in-room RT-PCR tests carried out by medical staff and complimentary on-property activities. On the day of the arrival, following the first RT-PCR test, guests will be asked to remain in the room to recharge their batteries after the flight and indulge with comfy beds or order a variety of in-room dining with choices from wellness to Thai food or even gourmet menus. Guests looking for extra space and a private pool can upgrade their stay to a beachfront villa. Following the negative test results, travellers are free to roam in the resort on the second day and enjoy open-air activities, such as floating yoga, guided meditation, kayaking or SUP (stand-up paddleboard) yoga. Guests can explore sealed tourist locations on day four, such as a trip to Tamlang Beach at Mu Koh Angthong National Marine Park. After day seven, holidaymakers are free to travel anywhere on the island, move to another resort or go to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao islands, which are also part of the ‘Samui Plus Model’ …

Seera Group, the region’s leading travel and tourism services company, has been appointed as the exclusive ticket reseller for Manchester United support travel services in Saudi Arabia. The agreement with Seera Group, the parent company of Sportsbreaks, Manchester United’s Official Supporter Travel Services Provider, will serve as the window for passionate football fans in Saudi Arabia to effortlessly purchase tickets for the most prestigious football matches and follow Manchester United, which has legions of fans in the region. Seera Group’s appointment builds on the huge popularity of football in Saudi Arabia and the increasing importance placed by the Kingdom to promote sports, leisure, and entertainment to support economic diversification and enhance the quality of life. Manchester United matches will become easy to access for fans and followers in the Kingdom through the trusted and authorised ticketing services by Seera Group, paired with travel arrangements and packages to complete the offering. Manchester United fans and football lovers at large in KSA will be able to attend the matches through the smart and seamless travel booking solutions offered by Seera Group’s flagship omnichannel consumer travel brand Almosafer and corporate and government clients will get access to the offering through Seera’s Business Travel brand elaa. Majed Alnefaie, Acting CEO of Seera Group, said: “Football is passionately followed by the young and old in Saudi Arabia just as the game is extremely popular across the region. As Seera Group, we have always been closely connected to the sport through club sponsorships, World Cup travel arrangements, as well as our support for the sports youth development in the Kingdom. Manchester United is one of the favourite teams of many, a connection that spans generations. Through …

Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group, with more than 400 hotels and resorts across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, is introducing a bespoke 1 year Sales & Distribution learning program for Saudi Talents across Accor properties in the Kingdom. With over 30 years of presence in the Kingdom, the group is continuously finding new ways to contribute and comply with the Kingdom’s Saudisation vision of 2030. Accor is building strong partnerships with educational institutions, local authorities and NGOs, recruiting Saudi role models to support new recruits and working with the government to provide placements for university students. Learning & Development opportunities are crucial to attracting, recruiting and retaining Saudi talent, with a focus on accelerating career development, Accor has rolled out several initiatives exclusive to the hospitality group, including the Saudi Management Training Programme (SMTP), the first initiative of its kind in the Kingdom, launched in 2014. Fairmont Riyadh –  In June 2021, the Sales & Distribution learning program began for 150 Saudi nationals, “Heartists”, across the Kingdom with the objective of building a new sales generation in compliance with local regulations. Participants of this immersive program benefit from the opportunity to acquire and build competencies in sales knowledge and skills, interaction and learning from peers and subject matter experts, and can participate in the program from any business function. The program will be taking place virtually and participants will be enrolled through Accor’s digital platform, INES. Over the four months before being certified, each participant will have to attend 3 sessions and only successful participants will be part of the second phase of the Sales Up-Skilling program starting in October 2021. Sofitel Al Khobar – “Learning and Development …

YouGov’s new report throws light on the travel plans, considerations, and motivations of consumers from 25 markets globally. Data from YouGov’s “International Travel & Tourism Report 2021” reveals that UAE residents were the most likely among other global consumers to say they intend to travel abroad for leisure in the next 12 months. Using YouGov Global Travel Profiles, the report looks at global travel demand, concerns and motivations of approximately 185,000 survey respondents from 25 markets globally. Data from Global Travel Profiles, a daily survey which runs in 25 countries, found that in the month of May half of people worldwide said they plan to take a domestic holiday in the next 12 months. On the other hand, appetite for international holidays is lower and less than a fifth of consumers (18%) globally are planning an international vacation in the next 12 months. The United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stand out in terms of international travel sentiment, with respondents planning to travel substantially more than consumers in other countries. In fact, in both these countries intent to take international leisure trips is higher than domestic trips. Apart from travelling for leisure, people in the Middle Eastern countries have also shown a higher interest in business trips. Consumer sentiment data shows that respondents in the MEA (18%) and APAC (14%) regions are more likely to travel for business, both domestically and internationally, than consumers in Europe (6%) and North America (11%). This makes them a favourable target market for airlines and hotels, particularly those offering premium products. Even though travel is on a recovery path, certain factors put additional pressure on consumer’s confidence and willingness to travel. When …

Travelport, a worldwide leader in travel retail, today announced it has appointed Tom Kershaw as its new Chief Product and Technology Officer. Tom is a seasoned product and technology executive, with more than two decades of experience leading innovation, technical strategy and execution within both emerging and mature organizations undergoing transformation. He most recently held the title of Chief Technology Officer at one of the largest independent advertising platforms in the world, Magnite, Inc. (which recently acquired SpotX, following the merger between Telaria and Rubicon Project in 2020). In the role, Tom restructured and led an engineering and product team of approximately 600 developers, overseeing the integration of product and engineering into a common organization. While at Rubicon Project, in 2017, Tom also co-founded Prebid.org, an open-source software organization dedicated to cultivating a new standard for cooperation in independent advertising exchanges to address industry challenges by facilitating collaboration and innovation. He grew the organization to more than 100 corporate members, over 1,000 contributing engineers and thousands of web publishers, and lead prebid.js to become the dominant form of advertising monetization on the Internet. Prior to Rubicon Project, Tom was a Director of Product Management at Google where he led the Google Ads and Commerce product team in the APAC region, overseeing all global products built for publishers and buyers.  While at Google, Tom also led product management for the Google Cloud platform where he focused on infrastructure development and was heavily involved in re-structuring Cloud infrastructure pricing. During his career, Tom has also held leadership positions at Ericsson, VeriSign Inc., and Unisys Corporation. Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer at Travelport, said: “As Travelport+ is the central focus of our strategy, …