Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island opened its doors to guests, marking the debut of Hampton by Hilton in Ras Al Khaimah. Located on a 750-metre beach, the hotel features incredible sea and island views – and throughout their stay, travellers can look forward to experiencing the brand’s award-winning friendly, thoughtful service and inclusive hot breakfast. As the largest Hampton by Hilton in the world, featuring 515 guest rooms – half of which are interconnected – the hotel is ideal for groups of friends or family.  Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton, an innovative booking technology, will allow guests to easily book and instantly confirm at least two connecting rooms. The hotel’s interiors are inspired by a “day at the beach” – encouraging good vibes with colourful boat paddles hung in the guest rooms and surf boards adorning the restaurants and public areas. “We are pleased to debut Hampton by Hilton in Ras Al Khaimah and our Team Members are looking forward to welcoming guests with warm and friendly hospitality for a fun-filled stay,” said Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Hilton. “Ras Al Khaimah attracts visitors for many different types of leisure trip, from adventure to culture to sun and beach. With 800,000+ visitors arriving in the emirate in 2020**, this latest addition to our portfolio of six hotels already welcoming guests in RAK will no doubt attract more travellers to the Northern Emirate from both the UAE and beyond.” For those looking to keep fit, the hotel has a variety of great leisure facilities including an infinity pool and a state-of-the-art fitness facility. The hotel invites families to enjoy a getaway in Ras Al Khaimah – catering to …

Miral in collaboration with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, announced that The WB Abu Dhabi hotel is on track to open in 2021. With a design and concept inspired by the world-famous Warner Bros. brand, the hotel, developed with a total investment of USD 112 Million, will complement the company’s commitment to diversifying Yas Island’s offerings and delivering holistic unforgettable experiences for its visitors. The world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel, operated and managed by Hilton under its upper-upscale Curio Collection by Hilton brand, is now 90% complete. To date, the first guestroom floors, branding and theming, as well as the ballroom, core spaces, and the building façade within Miral’s newest hospitality development, have been substantially completed. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral, commented: “We are proud of our long-term partnership with Warner Bros. that has resulted in two world-firsts here on Yas Island.  The WB Abu Dhabi represents a great addition to Yas Island’s hospitality offerings and attractions, strengthening our commitment to position the Island as a top global destination for leisure, entertainment, and business. We look forward to celebrating the hotel’s opening later this year and welcoming guests to experience a truly unique hotel.” Peter van Roden, SVP Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, said, “We are thrilled to be so close to completion on the world’s first Warner Bros. branded hotel. The WB Abu Dhabi will be an amazing complement to the adjacent Warner Bros. World theme park. The hotel will be a first-rate family destination inspired by the iconic WB library of film and television shows. Guests will be able to participate in all the thrills and excitement of the theme park then step inside the hotel for …

Qatar Airways continues to set the benchmark for innovation, safety and customer service, becoming the first airline to trial COVID-19 vaccine authentication through the IATA Travel Pass ‘Digital Passport’ Mobile App. As more travellers return to the skies, the airline remains committed to reducing paperwork and providing a more contactless, secure and seamless travel experience for its passengers. The trial will be rolled out in phases from July, beginning initially with cabin crew returning to Doha travelling from Kuwait, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Sydney. Cabin crew will be able to upload their Qatar issued COVID-19 vaccination credentials along with their COVID-19 test results to the IATA Travel Pass Mobile App and verify they are eligible to travel. On arrival in Doha, crew will then be able to safely and securely share their vaccination certificate and proceed through immigration at the airport. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “Despite the significant challenges the pandemic has caused international aviation, our industry has continued to be a leader in adopting new technologies and innovations to ensure a safe, secure and seamless travel experience for our passengers. Qatar Airways is proud to lead the way by becoming the first airline to trial COVID-19 vaccine authentication through the IATA Travel Pass ‘Digital Passport’ Mobile App. I want to especially thank Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior, Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Corporation, whom without their ongoing support, this trial would not be possible. “We know as more people begin making plans to return to their favourite holiday destinations, they will inevitably face the challenge of ensuring they have the right paperwork. Through …

Etihad Airways and EL AL Israel Airlines launched their joint codeshare network and reciprocal loyalty agreement for frequent flyers. This builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the airlines signed in 2020 following the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Israel. Available for sale from 1st July, for flights from 18 July 2021, EL AL will add its ‘LY’ code to Etihad’s existing twice weekly service between Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv. Beyond Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub, this new partnership will extend further and is planned to include destinations in Australia, Bahrain, India, Korea, Philippines and Seychelles from 1 August. In the next phase of extending the codeshare agreement, subject to obtaining applicable governmental and regulatory approvals, Etihad will offer guests an additional 14 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and US by adding its ‘EY’ code to EL AL flights. These codeshare routes will provide guests greater choice, convenience and flexibility, and further strengthens the ties between the two nations. In other areas of collaboration, the partners will also establish a reciprocal loyalty agreement. Members of the Etihad Guest and Matmid programmes will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights across both carriers’ networks. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are very pleased to be able to announce the launch of our codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with El Al. This partnership will provide additional choice and connectivity for both carriers’ guests, and a range of benefits for frequent travelers between and beyond our respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.” Avigal Soreq, Chief Executive Officer, EL AL Israel Airlines said, “This is the first commercial partnership that EL …

Travelport and Emirates announced they have reached a commercial agreement that will allow Travelport-connected travel agencies to avoid the airline’s surcharge on bookings via Global Distribution Systems (GDS) that will be introduced from 01 July 2021. Furthermore, the companies announced a new long-term agreement to enable the distribution of Emirates NDC content via Travelport’s next-generation platform, Travelport+, and an extension to its longstanding IT agreement. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates said: “We are pleased to have reached key agreements with Travelport that take our decades-long partnership to the next level. Supported by the recent launch of Travelport+, these new deals will further cement Emirates as the airline of choice for travellers that want highly personalized offers and access to the world’s best destinations. Emirates and Travelport will continue to work jointly on future travel retail solutions that will offer our travel community partners even better and more bespoke services.” Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport, said, “This series of agreements highlights the determination of both Travelport and Emirates to re-invent travel retailing and push the boundaries of what’s possible. With a shared vision for the future, our long-standing collaboration will continue to go from strength-to-strength. Together, we look forward to giving the many travelers returning to the skies this summer and beyond the best possible offers and experiences.”

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) unveiled VisitOman.om, the first authorized national online booking and information gateway for Oman’s Travel Trade sector. In its first phase, registration is now open for Travel Trade partners in international markets together with Oman’s travel and tourism players for future bookings. Envisioned to become a fully integrated digital Travel Trade ecosystem for the Sultanate, VisitOman.om will serve four overarching objectives: First, to position Oman as a growing tourism destination to global markets. Second, to increase inbound tourism. Third, to introduce an accreditation process for the Omani Travel Trade stakeholders featured on the platform. And fourth, to boost socio-economic development in Oman. His Excellency Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahruqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism said, “The launch of the brand identity of the National Travel Operator ‘VisitOman.om’ is an important step that aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and the economic diversification plans. The platform will digitize the local tourism supply chain, in cooperation with our partners, and will become a vital factor in supporting the Sultanate’s vision to increase local and international investments in the tourism infrastructure, in addition to achieving our objective to attract 11.7 million tourists by 2040, of whom 5 million are international tourists.” His Excellency added, “This platform is also in line with the recovery plan adopted by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.” The launch of VisitOman.om comes as the Sultanate rolls out strategic initiatives to reboot the tourism sector and resume tourism activities. As global traveler demands evolve, the portal will offer quality assured packages with instant confirmation, fully supported by destination and partnership specialists. This 360-degree approach ensures the booking process gives Trade Partners, and end consumer confidence, particularly …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has recently appointed Barceló Hotel Group to operate Al Mussanah Resort from 1st July 2021. The appointment aligns with the group’s plan to enhance tourism experiences and activities in the resort while bringing new operational and management concepts to its various facilities. OMRAN Group is aiming to re-position this unique beach resort, which was established 10 years ago, in line with its wider strategic goals to position it as a locally, regionally, and internationally attractive all-inclusive family holiday destination with a wide variety of activities and experiences. Hashil Bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, said, “We are pleased to cooperate with Barceló Hotel Group. This step comes in line with the directions of the National Tourism Strategy 2040 towards strengthening the Sultanate’s position in the travel and tourism markets and increasing its competitiveness as a destination of choice for visitors from around the world.” “We look forward to strengthening the tourism sector by working with Barcelo Hotels to capitalise on their experience in the leisure tourism markets and the strength of their distribution channels in overseas markets.”  Al Mahrouqi added. Speaking on the newly found alliance, Raúl González, CEO EMEA of Barceló Hotel Group says, “Oman has always been a prospective source market with immense growth potential for us. We are pleased to be partnering with OMRAN on this endeavour. This collaboration will provide us with the perfect opportunity to introduce our 90-year international hospitality expertise to the source market and establish our footprint in Oman”. José Canals, Managing Director for the Middle East and Asia at Barceló Hotel Group says, “Oman has been a focus area to expand Barceló Group’s presence …

Seera Group announced today the signing of a master hotels development agreement, a joint venture to manage and develop hotels in various projects developed by Kaden Investment throughout Saudi Arabia. The first hotel will be launched at Riyadh Front. An extraordinary urban experience in the heart of the capital, Riyadh Front is a mega-development set to transform the future of business and leisure in Riyadh, across the Kingdom, and beyond. As the region’s growing economic hub, Riyadh is the perfect location for business events and with the introduction of fast and easy visas, the city is now ready to welcome greater numbers of travelers than ever before. Bringing to the table 40 years of travel and tourism legacy and drawing on regional expertise in developing and operating hotels, Seera Group is perfectly placed to provide travelers with the quality mid-market hotel accommodations they need, all backed by Choice’s global hotel platform and brand reputation for value and service. Aimed to lead the industry towards better experiences, Kaden Investment is a real-estate developer with a track record of delivering long-term projects, notably Riyadh Front and The Logistics Park, which are both regarded as the most successful projects to emerge in a short span of time. Majed Alnefaie, CEO of Seera Group, said, “Simplifying the business travel experience, and making it an enjoyable and rewarding one, has always been one of our goals. Riyadh’s business hub market is full of potential – we have plenty of managerial experience and local resources in the domestic and international market, while Kaden Investments is an outstanding establishment in hotel development locally. We look forward to this partnership to tap into the Kingdom’s business market and …

Etihad Airways was the first international flight to land in Phuket, to mark the reopening of tourism to Thailand. To celebrate the occasion the aircraft was greeted with the customary water cannon salute on arrival. Etihad flight EY430 from Abu Dhabi to Phuket arrived at Phuket International Airport at 11am on 1 July, and is the first Etihad flight to return to Thailand since the start of the pandemic. The airline will operate three weekly flights to the island of Phuket, helping to support the recovery and bring tourism back to Thailand. Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Cargo, said: “Etihad’s return to Phuket is a fantastic step forward as we reopen a very popular holiday destination for travellers from the UAE, and we’re proud to be the first international flight to arrive since the pandemic halted travel last year. Holiday makers from Europe and further afield can also easily connect through Abu Dhabi and on to Phuket, and can enjoy the benefits of flying in safety and comfort on Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.” To further support the return to travel, Etihad has extended its ‘Verified To Fly’ travel document initiative, enabling travellers to validate their Covid-19 travel documents before arriving at the airport, to routes across its global network. Available for the vast majority of Etihad flights, passengers can use the Verified to Fly service up by visiting ‘Manage my Booking’ on etihad.com and following the simple instructions to upload and submit their travel documents. Guests will receive confirmation once their documents have been approved in line with government requirements and can travel to the airport with confidence and peace of mind, knowing they have met all …

Emirates is ramping up its operations and expanding services across its network to meet strong leisure travel demand over the summer, as entry restrictions ease for  travellers. The airline has been gradually and safely rebuilding its route network and advancing its strategy to optimise its presence in key markets to serve leisure and growing business travel demand, as well as segments of travellers visiting friends and relatives. Today, Emirates serves 115 global passenger destinations, and by the end of July, it will have recovered close to 90% of its pre-pandemic network, operating 880 weekly services across 124 cities. The airline will resume services to seven cities in July including: Venice on 1 July; Phuket, Nice, Orlando and Mexico City on 2 July; Lyon on 9 July and Malta on 14 July. Emirates will also launch flights to Florida’s second largest city and one of the world’s most popular holiday spots, Miami, starting 22 July. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said, “Emirates is committed to keeping Dubai, businesses and communities around the world connected and we are working hard to rebuild our network and secure access to more destinations in partnership with various authorities and stakeholders. We are encouraged by the latest developments as many countries have begun to turn the page and reopen for international visitors, and we are seeing strong signs of pent-up demand wherever restrictions have eased. Emirates is nimbly matching up flight services and identifying opportunities to grow our footprint, and provide customers more opportunities to safely get where they want to go this summer, offering best-in-class service, greater convenience and more choice.” Across its network, the airline will …