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“Experiential travel makes an impact for travellers today” – Sapna Pluto Travel

At the recently concluded TTME International Women’s Day Celebrations it was shared that the new travellers of today require a different type of experiences. Sapna Aidasani Director Pluto Travel shared, “there are three kinds of tourism trends for younger generation. They prefer experiential holidays as what really excites them is something out of the box or the regular itinerary, such as a bread baking experience in France etc. The next trend we see is purpose tourism where the client will take a trip to receive an award of achievement and this could be a three or four day break where they can network with likeminded individuals as well as experience the localities. Lastly, the main trend is “detox holidays” where travellers just want to kick back and relax and stay away from all things digital or technological including their mobiles which has become part and parcel of life.”

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“Travel agents require new skills to adapt to new technologies” – Alan Satguru

At a recent exclusive interview with TravelTV Middle East, Alan William Chief Strategy Officer Satguru Travel shared that upskilling the staff is important with new technologies such as AI and NDC. He reiterated, “Travel is a very personal business irrespective of what AI pops out today if you do a ChatGPT and what it pops out today, do you really believe it? I think there is a lot more for AI to go and if you read all the management books they always say to take AI with a pinch of salt and that’s what we are also doing. We are very much aware that technology will be there but when packages are formed they still need human intervention. I come from a generation when computers were introduced they didn’t kill jobs but the skills of the people need to change to adapt to the new requirements it’s a service industry people are needed but it’s a different breed of people that are needed. Upskilling is very important take for example a travel consultant five years ago his job was to issue a ticket and ensure those tickets were issued but today with NDC coming in and the amount of ancillaries the staff has to know.”

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Amsa Hospitality to build an Academy to train Saudi’s in hospitality

At an exclusive interview with TravelTV Mohamad Mandii – Chief People Officer of Amsa Hospitality revealed their plans to build an academy dedicated to training Saudi youth in hospitality in order for them to get first hand training and experience in the industry. “We are working on many programmes but two important ones are ‘Future Generation of Saudi Hoteliers’ and ‘Saudi General Managers of Tomorrow’ which will help and support the initiatives from the ministry of tourism.” He reiterated that they are focusing on the great place to work concept to attract more youth to the industry as they target tier II cities to employ youth who know Saudi Arabia well and could provide authentic experiences to the guests. Their main focus is to provide that authentic experience to guests who will fly from across the globe to understand the beauty of Saudi Arabia.

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musafir.com appointed as General Sales Agent for Fly Egypt in the UAE

musafir.com announced its recent partnership with Fly Egypt, appointing musafir.com as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Fly Egypt in the UAE. This strategic collaboration aims to enhance Fly Egypt’s market presence and sales across the UAE travel network while offering the lowest fare for Sharjah to Cairo return flights in the country. Under the agreement, musafir.com has established a dedicated reservation and ticketing sales office for Fly Egypt in Sharjah, located at their Rolla branch. This office will cater exclusively to Fly Egypt customers, offering seamless booking experiences and personalized services. “This appointment aligns perfectly with our strategic goals and vision,” said Raheesh Babu, COO,musafir.com. “We are committed to increasing sales and distribution for Fly Egypt in the UAE, thereby expanding its market reach and enhancing customer satisfaction.” “We at FlyEgypt are delighted to partner with musafir.com, a leading travel agency in the UAE. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission of making travel to Egypt more accessible and convenient for everyone, this appointment will significantly strengthen our presence in the region and allow us to offer even more value to travelers flying between Sharjah and Cairo.” said Ashraf Osman, Chief Commercial Officer, FlyEgypt. “Through musafir.com’s extensive network and expertise, we look forward to providing a seamless booking experience and unmatched affordability on this popular route. We are confident that this partnership will be a win-win for both FlyEgypt and musafir.com, ultimately creating a more convenient and enjoyable travel experience for our customers.” Osman added. Initially, musafir.com responsibilities as Fly Egypt’s GSA will focus on the Sharjah-Cairo-Sharjah route, offering direct flights at the most competitive rates in the UAE market. With flights operating three times a week on Fridays, Saturdays, …

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Attracting next gen to travel and tourism industry

At the recently concluded International Women’s Day celebrations by TravTalkME, panellist Aga Khatib, General Manager Panworld Travel spoke on the importance of attracting next generation to join the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. She reiterated, “I can see shifting values. I think its also important to recognise that the values are changing and how we can close the gap between the generations and how we can attract the young generation to join our industry by increasing the net revenue which industries generate. Next, we need to create for them the surroundings or conditions that speak to their values by offering flexible timings, attracting them by pointing how the tourism and hospitality industry has a great positive impact in terms of the income, revenue, connections, learning about different culture and travelling the world and also focus on personal benefits like building confidence there are many points that we need to link the benefits by source of inspiration like social media or internet.”

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Emirates to restart daily Phnom Penh services via Singapore

Emirates will bring back its daily Phnom Penh service starting from 1 May via Singapore, boosting the airline’s Southeast Asian connectivity to/from Dubai, and linking two trade and leisure centres in the region. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President, and Chief Commercial Officer commented: “The resumption of our Phnom Penh services demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our Southeast Asian network, as we continue to create more opportunities for travellers to explore diverse and culturally rich destinations, and help businesses and exporters of all sizes establish stronger trade connections. We thank the Cambodian and Singaporean authorities for their support in establishing this new route. We look forward to re-introducing our customers to yet another vibrant destination on our network as they explore the world.” The service will be operated with a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates’ flight EK348 will depart Dubai at 0230hrs and arrives in Singapore at 1405hrs. The flight will then depart Singapore at 1535hrs arriving in Phnom Penh at 1635hrs. Emirates’ return flight EK349 will leave Phnom Penh at 2050hrs and arrives in Singapore at 2350hrs. The flight will then depart Singapore at 0140hrs the next day arriving in Dubai at 0455hrs. All times are local. Phnom Penh’s linked schedule with Singapore is conveniently timed, providing optimal connecting opportunities to and from multiple cities in France, UK, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. Through this additional connection, Emirates will serve Singapore with four daily flights starting from 1 May. Emirates SkyCargo will also offer cargo bellyhold capacity on the Boeing 777-300ER of more than 300 tonnes per week in and out of Phnom Penh. Main commodities exported from Phnom Penh includes textiles, pharmaceuticals, and other high-value commodities. The new Emirates …

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“2024 year of expansion for travel and tourism” : Satguru Travel

At a recent exclusive interview with TravelTV, Dinkar Dasaur, General Manager Satguru Travel UAE shared that this year is one of expansion not only to them but in the travel and tourism industry itself. He reiterated, “last year was the year of correction and this year is the year of expansion. I don’t think covid is existing anymore in our business. We can see the growth of corporate business and corporates getting more opportunities in respect to their businesses. We see a lot of B2C movements, we see a lot of B2B movements. In fact the industry has grown versus last year and this year looks more promising as there are more expansion plans not only with us but also with our partners like airlines, where their frequencies are increasing, the destinations are increasing, value spent for money is increasing, hence we look at 2024 as an opportunity to make great gains.”  

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DCT Abu Dhabi to foster development of UAE’s space exploration

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Culture and Tourism. DCT Abu Dhabi to foster the development of the UAE’s space exploration capabilities through collaborative efforts in education, awareness programmes, and knowledge exchange. H.E. Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Honouring the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this MoU is a vital boost to the UAE’s space sector ambitions, through strategic community outreach rooted in education and collaboration. With a mandate to promote, protect and progress Abu Dhabi, we are fostering a shared appreciation for astronomy and highlighting its integral part within our vast cultural heritage.” H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC, said, “This MoU is a testament to our shared vision of harnessing space exploration as a catalyst for educational, technological, and cultural advancement. Through this partnership, we aim to inspire a new generation of explorers and scientists by highlighting the rich legacy and future possibilities of space exploration. It is a strategic step towards nurturing talent and promoting sustainable growth in the UAE’s space sector.” Reinforcing the UAE’s space sector, the MoU was signed by H.E. Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi and H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, in the presence of astronaut H.E. Dr. Sultan Saif AlNeyadi at Louvre Abu Dhabi, and H.E. Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director, Strategic Affairs, DCT Abu Dhabi. A key focus of the MoU is on outreach and educational programmes designed to raise public awareness about the importance of space exploration. This will include seminars, workshops, and other events that will not …

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“Female entrepreneurs to bring revenue and create employment”

TravTalk ME’s recent International Women’s Day forum consisted leading ladies from travel, tourism, hospitality and technology. “Female entrepreneurs do not get the same investment as male entrepreneurs, in the travel and tourism sector and I feel that is one area where change is required. There are female entrepreneurs and if they get funded and supported they will create business and employment opportunities which will give rise to the industry,” shared Nina Kubik-Cheng, VP  Media Solutions & Partner Marketing – Wego. She shared the importance of investing in women entrepreneurs as one of the guests who is an entrepreneur herself with her own agency posed a question. Mariyam Kapasi Founder of Amore Travel and Tourism shared about her journey as a female entrepreneur.  

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Emirates and ITA Airways sign MoU, planning extended cooperation for codeshare

Emirates and ITA Airways  inked an MoU for the expansion of their existing interline into a full codeshare partnership. Once activated, the codeshare will boost travel options and connection choices for customers travelling between Dubai, Italy and beyond. The MoU signed will establish the foundations to strengthen the partnership between both airlines, creating one-stop connections to popular cities across Italy and wider Europe with ITA Airways, and opening up simpler and faster journeys to the Emirates network from Dubai with the best routes, schedules and connections. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “Enhancing our partnerships and boosting our presence in key regions such as Europe is an integral part of our commercial strategy, and underscores our commitment to providing customers flexibility through our partners’ complementary networks. Working closely with ITA Airways will strengthen our footprint across exciting cities in Italy, and key points in Europe. We look forward to fully activate our partnership with ITA Airways in the coming months and providing unrivalled access to both of our growing networks.” Antonino Turicchi, Chairman of ITA Airways said: “We are pleased to sign this codeshare partnership with Emirates today. This MoU further enhances ITA Airways’ commercial strategy of growth and opens up a privileged access route to all passengers who will benefit the connectivity via Rome Fiumicino and Dubai. This agreement marks the Company’s 35th codeshare partnership, an excellent result we have achieved in just over two years.” Under the planned codeshare, Emirates’ customers will be able to smoothly travel to a number of domestic cities in Italy from the airline’s gateway in Rome, including popular tourist destinations like Florence, Genoa, Palermo, Trieste, among others. Customers will …

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