Qatar Tourism (QT) represented the State of Qatar in the 16th edition of the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition (TITE) 2023. As the first participation, QT’s booth included trade partners Qatar Airways, as well as The Torch Doha, Travel Designer WLL, Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, and Banana Island Doha Resort. The tourism exhibition, which concluded at the Tehran International Permanent Fairground, presented the ideal opportunity for Qatar to highlight the latest developments in its tourism industry and showcase its newest tourism and hospitality offerings. In addition, it provided a platform for Qatar to network with prominent travel operators, agencies, and airlines in Iran, to increase business-to-business and business-to-consumer awareness on Qatar and provide an update on the destination’s offering. Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “Iran is one of 15 target markets identified by Qatar Tourism as a primary source for visitors looking to relax, rejuvenate and take in Qatar’s vibrant culture. Participating in TITE allows us to share with sellers in Iran the information they need to expand and promote tourism opportunities to Qatar for their local, resident population. Initiatives such as these are important to help Qatar Tourism achieve its 2030 strategy, which aims to increase the number of visitors to Qatar by threefold, increase spending by 3 to 4 times, and grow the GDP contribution of the tourism sector to 12% by 2030.” Visitors to the Qatar pavilion (Hall 41 – Booth 18) were invited to learn about Qatar’s unique culture, beautiful outdoor spaces, and warm hospitality, all while exploring some of the newest attractions and favourable travel regulations that are set to boost the visitor experience.

The Arab Aviation Summit (AAS) announced a partnership agreement with climate technology company CHOOOSE, to calculate and offset its carbon emissions at its milestone 10th event, taking place from March 6 to 8, 2023 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. This partnership makes AAS the world’s first aviation and tourism event to calculate carbon emissions and to empower its attendees with the knowledge and opportunity to offset their own carbon emissions, underlining the Summit’s wider commitment to proactively addressing the impacts of climate change. Event participants will be able to calculate their estimated impact on the environment at registration and address their carbon emissions by opting for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or carbon offset schemes from certified and verified sources monitored by CHOOOSE. The partnership between AAS and CHOOOSE will enable key data on different emission sources to be measured, including flight and land transportation and local emissions. This data will provide participants with a clearer picture of their environmental impacts and will allow them to make more considered decisions. The AAS itself will also participate in offsetting the emissions from the event  through the data produced by this partnership. The aviation and tourism industry is actively committed to reducing emissions to zero in the coming decades and has heavily invested in research and development to aid this ambition into becoming an on-the-ground reality. The AAS organising board, founding partners, and sponsors have underlined the sector’s commitment to carbon neutrality through this year’s partnership with CHOOOSE and through working with their Strategic Partner, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, which is currently working to become the Regional Leader in Sustainable Tourism by 2025. …

From 18 March 2023, Air Astana will resume flights from Astana to Beijing with a frequency of two per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a further increase set for summer. The flights will be operated on Airbus A321LRs. In addition, from 2 March 2023, the airline will increase the frequency of flights from Almaty to Beijing to four times a week with plans to increase this to daily flights during the summer season. These will be operated on Airbus A321LR and Airbus A321neo. Adel Dauletbek, Vice President for Marketing and Sales at Air Astana: “As we begin to navigate the summer season, the airline is gradually increasing its capacity in China to meet the growing demand of the country with the largest economy and population. Our passengers have the opportunity to travel on comfortable Airbus A321LR and A321neo aircraft. We are confident that these flights will be in demand by passengers who are heading to China for business, tourism and other purposes.” The airline resumed flights to Beijing from 22 November 2022 after suspending operations with China in March 2020 due to the pandemic. From 2002 to 2020, more than 1,100,000 passengers were transported across this route.

Radisson Hotel Group is bringing its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection, to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city and governmental powerhouse. Radisson Collection Hotel & Conference Center, Abuja Nigeria marks the Group’s 9th hotel and 3rd Radisson Collection in the country, placing it firmly on track to achieve 15 hotels in Nigeria by 2025. Located next to the Presidential Palace in Maitama District, one of the most sought after and exclusive areas in Abuja, the hotel will be a 45-minute drive from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the country’s second busiest airport after Lagos. In proximity to the hotel is the city’s most popular market, Wuse market, Jabai Boat Club, a water based recreational facility and family entertainment center, and Abuja National Mosque, also known as the Nigerian National Mosque, built in 1984. The new-build, 249 room hotel will be the city’s first luxury hotel in Abuja, with an expansive range of rooms, from standard rooms and apartments to lofts and presidential suites. Spanning across almost 3000 square meters, the meeting spaces of Radisson Collection Hotel & Conference Center, Abuja Nigeria will consist of a dividable conference hall, five meeting rooms, a board room, as well as a pre-function area. Erwan Garnier, Senior Director, Development, Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “With a vast potential for significant scale, both Nigeria and its capital city, Abuja have been identified as key markets within our robust development strategy to reach 150 hotels across Africa within the next five years. It is an honor to kick start the year by introducing our beloved luxury lifestyle brand for experience-driven travelers to the city of Abuja as its first luxury hotel.” Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa …

As an estimated 474 million tourists traveled internationally between January and July 2022 compared to 175 million in 2021, international tourism continues to bounce back. But how will we travel in 2033? A global research study – Traveler Tribes 2033 – the third in a series that launched in 2007, identifies four Traveler Tribes that will develop in the next 10 years. It does so by examining the future forces of change transforming travel, alongside emerging traveler traits, behaviors and preferences, to understand exactly what it is that travelers will want a decade from now. It suggests many travelers will be open to new and emerging technologies and will want to travel in more sustainable ways. But with some travelers concerned about the proliferation of technology and the increasing need for cyber-security and data privacy, the industry must work together to ensure all travelers benefit from technological advances. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional segmentation, this psychographic approach identifies four key Traveler Tribes likely to be dominant in 2033: Excited Experientialists – this group has a ‘try it and see’ approach to life and travel. 44% are without children and have a mid- to high-income job with flexible working options, which enables them to readily explore the world. They have a you only live once (YOLO) approach. They are more likely than other travelers to act on instinct, making them 2033s ‘anti-planners’, favoring less predictable and more exciting accommodation experiences. They are also open to technology that helps them ‘speed up’ certain aspects of their journey, with many expecting to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the airport environment. Memory Makers – this group takes a more simplified approach to travel: …

The landmark 10th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit will be hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority from March 14 – 16 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre under the theme ‘Impactful sustainability in modern-day travel and tourism’ in the presence of leading regional and global players in the aviation and travel industry from across the public and private sectors. The growing demand for decarbonising aviation and travel will be in focus at the region’s leading aviation industry event that brings together more than 600 aviation experts and hundreds of attendees across multiple sectors at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre. Featuring a line-up of interactive panel discussions and inspiring keynote addresses in addition to various workshops and exhibitions which will take place during the three days summit enabling industry experts to share expertise and knowledge and explore the trends, insights and opportunities driving the continuous growth and development of the Arab aviation and tourism industry. Hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), the summit will analyse the importance of impactful sustainability and disruptive technologies in a rapidly changing travel market. Stalwarts in the industry including Original Equipment Manufacturers, Destination Management Companies, tourism boards and start-ups, will include best practices and offer valuable perspectives on sustainable business models. Strategic sector discussions will also highlight curated and innovative products, services and initiatives that are currently changing the way people travel. The 10th Arab Aviation Summit will cement its status as the ‘voice of the industry’ with a series of workshops and partner networking events that open doors for discussions on opportunities and challenges in the sector. Endorsed by Arab governments, …

Sardegna Resorts, a Smeralda Holding Company wholly-owned by Qatar Investment Authority  has signed agreements with LVMH Hospitality Excellence, to manage two of the most renowned and exclusive hotels in Costa Smeralda. LVMH Hospitality Excellence belongs to the world’s leading luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton. The LVMH brand Belmond will manage the Hotel Romazzino, which will open for the 2024 season as the “Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda.” The Hotel Pitrizza will be managed by the LVMH brand Cheval Blanc. The hotel will continue to operate under its current name until 2026, when it will be rebranded as Cheval Blanc Pitrizza, Costa Smeralda, following the completion of the renovation works. These changes are part of the Smeralda Holding Group’s long-term strategy to enhance and enrich Costa Smeralda as a best-in-class destination. This plan was launched in 2017 and includes, among others, tourism initiatives, the introduction of major F&B operators such as Nikki Beach, Zuma, Novikov, Beefbar and Matsuhisa and many more, while aligning with the unique character and heritage of the destination. This new partnership will aim to bring further value to the local community, by bringing increased employment and development opportunities for staff. All employees will remain employed by Sardegna Resorts S.r.l., which will also retain ownership of the hotels’ property and businesses. Through these agreements, LVMH intends to further strengthen its lead in experiential luxury with two new exceptional destinations in Sardegna that will benefit from all the know-how and expertise of the Belmond and Cheval Blanc brands. The two hotels will benefit from renovations allowing Belmond and Cheval Blanc to offer their future clients two new destinations in the heart of Sardegna, which is renowned for …

Wego and Japan National Tourism Organization bring the best of Japan to travelers. Through this partnership, Wego will work closely with Japan National Tourism Organization and develop a comprehensive and enticing campaign that will highlight the different aspects of Japan and showcase the best winter experiences. This will be promoted through all Wego’s marketing channels. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are excited to announce our partnership with the Japan National Tourism Organization to promote a new campaign to showcase the best of Japan to the world. Japan has a wealth of cultural and natural treasures that are sure to inspire visitors. This partnership allows us to give people an authentic experience and help travelers discover the unique beauty of the country.” Winter in Japan is one of the best seasons to visit the country, with a wide range of activities and experiences to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to hit the slopes, relax in a hot spring, or experience the country’s rich culture and history, there’s something for every type of traveler. Mr. Daisuke Kobayashi, Executive Director of JNTO Dubai office, commented: “When it comes to traveling to Japan, many people think of the cherry blossom season in spring, but it is not the only attraction. Cherry blossoms in spring, green nature in summer, colored leaves in autumn, and snow in winter. The greatest feature of Japan is the diversity that allows you to enjoy the natural scenery of each season and unique experiences throughout the year. Especially in winter, you can try skiing on the powder snow, which is said to be one of the best …

Abu Dhabi convention and exhibition bureau (ADCEB) will educate corporates, associations, event organisers, MICE agencies, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea about Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE proposition, highlighting it as a dynamic global destination for business events. Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are excited to open our first representative office in South Korea to further establish Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions. As we remain focused on progressing the emirate, growing our network of international offices will help us expand Abu Dhabi’s reach in newer markets. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in South Korea, we anticipate great demand for outbound MICE travel, making it the best time for us to establish our presence in this market.” In recent years, ADCEB has accelerated its financial and non-financial support towards strategic business events, which includes the launch of Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0, an enhanced subvention programme that offers event organisers an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, comprising financial assistance and destination-driven value-adds. ADCEB continues to build strategic partnerships that ensures event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees. Earlier this year, ADCEB formed a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, to further bolster support for MICE travel groups travelling to Abu Dhabi. Through this collaboration, ADCEB can offer eligible Advantage Abu Dhabi applicants additional flight benefits and perks such as group booking discounts, complimentary flights for large MICE travel group bookings on direct flights, and special flight rates for site/destination inspection trips to Abu Dhabi for clients who host their business events and incentive …

Discover Qatar (DQ) has launched three new additions to its spectacular series of Transit Tours that highlight Qatar’s position as the principal destination for sports activities following the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.Transit passengers can now embark on a journey to re-experience the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM in an exclusive transit tour that takes tourists across Qatar’s leading state-of-the-art stadiums. The tour includes an exterior visit to five of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadiums: Al Thumama, Education City, Khalifa International, Lusail Iconic Stadium, and the innovative Stadium 974 before its permanent disassembly. The guided coach tours offer a unique experience for passengers to explore Qatar’s architectural wonders from the outer perimeters that showcase the country’s culture, heritage, and history during the world’s most prestigious sporting event. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are delighted to help our transit passengers maintain their active lifestyle through our sports simulator sessions offered by Discover Qatar. Sports enthusiasts can also relive the excitement of the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ by visiting Qatar’s iconic stadiums which hosted an unforgettable edition of the world’s most popular tournament.” Discover Qatar World Cup Stadiums Tour can be booked online up to 48 hours before arrival in Doha or offline at the Qatar Tourism/Discover Qatar kiosk in the Duty Free Plaza on arrival at Hamad International Airport. The tour is priced at USD 42 per adult, USD 21 per child under the age of 12, and free of charge for children below the age of two. For more information, please visit:  https://www.discoverqatar.qa/transit-exclusive-world-cup-stadiums-tour For passengers who are transiting for four hours or more, DQ offers …