Etihad Airways announce the launch of flights to Sochi, the gateway to the north-east coast of the Black Sea. The route debuts this summer, providing guests with nonstop access to the Krasnodar Krai region, home to stunning summer beaches and lush mountains, as well as winter skiing and snowboarding in the nearby Caucasus Mountains, made famous by the 2014 Winter Olympics. Etihad will fly three-times a week* between Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sochi International Airport (AER), timed to optimise a leisure break in summer or winter. The Russian Riviera resort offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural history and will become a popular choice for guests seeking relaxation and adventure. This new route further underlines Etihad’s commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and expanding access to exciting new markets. The flights are on sale now and will operate three-times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using one of the airline’s modern A320 family aircraft, with eight seats in Business and 150 in Economy, and all guests enjoying Etihad’s award-winning service onboard. The announcement is the latest new route unveiled by Etihad and is the fourteenth new destination the airline will add to its thriving network this year. Etihad will also commence flights to metropolises including Atlanta, Hanoi, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as to the European capitals of Prague and Warsaw. Expanding its network across north Africa, Etihad will begin flying to Algiers, Tunis and Al Alamein. Additionally, Etihad will bolster its network across Southeast Asia, with new connections directly to stunning holiday locations including Chiang Mai and Krabi in Thailand, Medan on the island of Sumatra and the cultural city of Phnom Penh. …

Accor introduces the Mercure brand to Riyadh with the opening of Mercure Riyadh Al Anood. This marks the only Mercure hotel in the capital, offering a distinctive blend of comfort and authentic local experiences. Situated in the vibrant Al Murabba district, Mercure Riyadh Al Anood provides easy access to the city’s commercial and cultural landmarks. It is located near Faisaliah Tower and the Diplomatic Quarter, with King Khaled International Airport just 20 kilometers away, making it an ideal choice for both business and leisure travelers. Paul Stevens, Chief Operating Officer of the Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Middle East, Africa & Türkiye at Accor, emphasized the significance of this launch. “Opening Mercure Riyadh Al Anood is a major step in expanding the Mercure brand across the Kingdom. With this new property, we continue to offer experiences rooted in the local culture, enhancing our guests’ connection to the city through our ‘Discover Local’ program.” The hotel offers 135 elegantly designed rooms and suites, including Superior Rooms, Privilege Rooms, and Junior Suites, all equipped with modern amenities. Each room provides guests with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibars, digital safes, and in-room dining options, ensuring a comfortable stay tailored to meet the needs of every traveler. Dining at Mercure Riyadh Al Anood promises a memorable experience. Guests can savor a variety of international and Arabic dishes at Les Bernaches Restaurant, which features live cooking stations. La Vie Café Lounge offers light meals and specialty coffees from morning until late evening, with extended hours on weekends. For a more relaxed ambiance, La Maison Pool Lounge on the terrace serves refreshing drinks, exotic cocktails, and snacks, allowing guests to unwind while enjoying views of the …

Korea Tourism Organisation won ‘Most engaging travel events organised by an NTO in the Middle East’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It was fantastic, great entertainment, excellent line of awards, and we are overwhelmed because we won in three different categories. We would just make sure that we come back again and we won even more awards. Arabian Travel Awards are highly credible, and I call them the Oscar of our travel industry in the Middle East, so fantastic.”-Glenn Johnston, Representative, Korea Tourism Organization

Cheval Collection’s latest property in the Middle East, Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai, is set to open in March 2025 with 151 luxurious, serviced apartments – which can be booked for any length of stay – and a host of top-flight business and leisure amenities. One of the award-winning, UK-based hospitality brand’s largest properties, Cheval Maison – Expo City Dubai is a reimagining of the showpiece Leadership Pavilion that hosted world leaders during EXPO 2020 and COP28. The prestigious building, which has been extensively refurbished, is located alongside the iconic Al Wasl Plaza, five minutes’ walk from the Expo City Metro station. Its opening marks a key milestone in Cheval Collection’s Middle East expansion, which includes more properties in the UAE and a move into KSA. The company’s first Dubai property, Cheval Maison – The Palm Dubai, opened in April 2023, and won the ‘Best Debut Hotel Apartments’ accolade at the 2024 Arabian Travel Awards. Cheval Maison – Expo City Dubai offers a range of stunning accommodation, all with high-end finishes, beautiful furnishings and a fully-equipped private kitchen. Available for short-term and long stays, the apartments include Metro Rooms, studios, one to three-bedroom units and Royal Suites. Most have at least one balcony, with some directly overlooking Al Wasl Plaza. The pet friendly property also boasts a range of dining outlets, including TEN-11 all day restaurant, 7seven7 coffee shop and bakery, and PDL café. There is also a rooftop pool with stunning views across Expo City and nearby areas of Dubai, a state-of-the-art gym with yoga studio, and extensive, landscaped grounds. The stunning property also offers three Majlis, including the 450 square metre Royal Majlis as well as private meeting rooms. All …

The fifty-first meeting of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Regional Committee for the Middle East, hosted by Qatar Tourism, concluded  in Doha and saw the participation of tourism ministers, senior officials and experts from various countries in the region, as well as the leadership of the United Nations Tourism Organization. During the meeting, they reviewed the reports of the United Nations Tourism Organization on the performance of the sector during 2024-2025, in addition to discussing future policies and plans aimed at developing sustainable tourism and enhancing regional cooperation in this vital sector. In addition to the ministerial sessions and official meetings, the “Sports Tourism and Tourism Industry after the World Cup” conference  discussed the impact of major sporting events on tourism in the Middle East, their role in the development of sustainable tourism, as well as the role of technology in enhancing the sports tourism experience. Qatar Tourism’s hosting of this meeting reflects Qatar’s growing position as a regional and global hub in the tourism industry, and its prominent role in advancing sustainable tourism development, in light of its successes in hosting major international events.

As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its network of routes around the world and meet the growing demand from customers, Kuwait Airways has announced the launch of its summer flight schedule for the 2025 season. The new schedule introduces a variety of varied destinations in the emerging markets, offering customers with new and diverse options. Kuwait Airways is focusing on destinations that witness high demand from valued customers from within the State of Kuwait, particularly during the summer season from June 2025 to September 2025. The company will launch several summer destinations, including to Moscow with four flights per week commencing from 6th June, Alexandria with three flights per week starting from 1st July, Luxor with three flights per week from 2nd July, Antalya with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Bodrum with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Trabzon with four flights per week starting from 1st June, Sharm El Sheikh with two flights per week starting from 4th June, Malaga with three flights per week starting from 5th June, Nice with two flights per week starting from 17th June, Salalah with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Vienna with four flights per week starting from 1st June, and Kuala Lumpur with three flights per week starting from 1st June, bringing the number of destinations to 58 including the permanent destinations during the summer season for 2025. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce the launch of its summer 2025 destinations in response to the preferences of our valued passengers. The company, in cooperation with the relevant authorities and coordination with the operational departments, …

Emirates signed an interline agreement with West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, enhancing connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Nigeria. The partnership expands Emirates’ footprint to 13 new cities in Nigeria with frictionless single-ticket travel and simplified baggage throughput. Travellers booked on flights from Dubai to Lagos can access more of Nigeria, with onward connections to Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna and Owerri. The interline agreement will also benefit corporate travellers, connecting to additional cities in one of Africa’s major economic hubs, including its capital city Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Warri, further supporting the strong bilateral trade relationship between Nigeria and the UAE. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Emirates is a steadfast partner of Nigeria’s tourism, trade and aviation sectors. This partnership with Air Peace is the next step on this journey, bolstering our connectivity and introducing more travel options for corporate leisure, and travellers visiting friends and family to and from Nigeria. We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Air Peace in the future to enhance the benefits for our mutual customers.” Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace said, “We are excited about this strategic interline partnership between Air Peace and Emirates, which is a significant step towards enhancing global connectivity for Nigerian travellers. It aligns with our mission to provide seamless, world-class travel experiences while expanding our route network and international reach. This collaboration not only expands Air Peace’s international reach but also offers Nigerians arriving from Dubai seamless access to key domestic destinations, including Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, and Owerri. By improving ease of travel, we are boosting business, tourism, …

Wego walked away winning the ‘Best online travel marketplace, KSA’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Best Online Travel Marketplace in Saudi Arabia reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional value to travellers and partners in the Kingdom. This win will inspire us to continue evolving, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the industry and provide even greater value to our customers. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the organisers for this prestigious recognition.”-Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer, Wego

Qatar Tourism will be hosting the 51st UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in Doha on 12th February 2025. The meeting will bring together tourism ministers, senior officials, and experts from various countries in the region, as well as leadership from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). The selection of Doha as the host city underscores Qatar’s growing status as a regional and global hub in the tourism sector and its leadership role in promoting both regional and international cooperation. This is especially significant considering the country’s recent successes in hosting major global events, most notably the FIFA World Cup 2022™. During the meeting, the UN Tourism will present reports on the sector’s performance for the 2024-2025 period, and future policies and plans will be discussed. HE Mr. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, stated: “Hosting the 51st meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East reflects our steadfast commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and developing the tourism sector as a key driver of economic and social growth. Qatar has proven its capability to organise and host major international events, establishing itself as a global model for sustainable tourism. We are confident that this meeting will further advance regional cooperation in the tourism sector, and we look forward to exchanging ideas and expertise with partners from across the region to bolster the Middle East’s position as a unique global tourism destination.” In addition to the ministerial sessions and official meetings, the conference titled “Sports Tourism and the Tourism Industry Post-World Cup” will be held on February 13th at the Sheraton Grand Doha …

Hilton announced the opening of Signia by Hilton Amman in Jordan, marking the brand’s international debut and first property outside the U.S. Strategically located in the Shmeisani business district, the property offers a sought-after location for business and leisure travellers in the heart of Amman. Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “The opening of Signia by Hilton Amman marks a pivotal moment for Hilton in the region, as we debut the brand outside the U.S. Amman’s role as a central business hub, with its proximity to Jordan’s cultural landmarks, makes Signia by Hilton a great fit for this destination. The property offers guests a sophisticated stay, coupled with state-of-the-art meeting facilities and the personalised service the brand is known for. As we continue with our plans to double our footprint in Jordan in the coming years, this latest opening is an integral part of our robust strategy to expand in the Middle East and introduce more of our award-winning brands to the region.” Signia by Hilton Amman blends modern grandeur with sophisticated style, and is strategically located near some of the city’s main headquarters and banks. For visitors looking to explore the city’s cultural and historic venues, the popular Prince Hashem Bird Garden and Haya Cultural Centre are less than one kilometre from the hotel, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre are a short drive away.