Traffic at Dubai International (DXB) has reached 95.6% of 2019 levels with passenger numbers exceeding 21.2 million in the first quarter of the year. This follows DXB’s strong showing last year during which the airport clocked 66m passengers to retain its position as the world’s busiest international hub for the ninth year running. DXB’s passenger traffic totalled 21,256,489 during the first three months of the year, up 55.8% compared to the first quarter of 2022, and marking the first time since the fourth quarter of 2019 when average monthly traffic reached the 7-million passenger-mark. March was the busiest month in the first quarter with 7.3 million passengers, which is also the highest monthly traffic since January 2020 when DXB recorded 7.8m passengers. DXB is currently connected to 234 destinations across 99 countries via 89 scheduled international carriers. India remained DXB’s top destination country with passenger traffic reaching 3m, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.6m), the UK (1.4m) and Pakistan (1m passengers). Other countries of note include the US (840K passengers), Russia (729K) and Germany (628K), while the list of top cities by passenger numbers was led by London (890K passengers) Mumbai (645K), and Jeddah (641K), followed closely by Riyadh (604K passengers). DXB handled a total of 400,015 tonnes of cargo during Q1, a contraction of 23% compared to the first quarter of 2022 during which the hub had handled 519,555 tonnes of airfreight. Total flight movements during Q1 reached 100,840, a year-on-year increase of 23% and 1.6% higher than Q1 of 2019 when DXB recorded a total of 99,197 movements. With load factors exceeding 2019 levels throughout the first quarter and reaching 80% in March 2023, the passenger per aircraft movement …

Rotana announced its ambitious pipeline across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023, signing four “Edge by Rotana” and one “Rayhaan by Rotana” property in partnership with Memar Development & Investment, a leading real estate development company specialized in the hospitality development guided by the motto “Developing to enhance life”. Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO of Rotana, and Eng. Abdulaziz Al Meqren, CEO of Memar Development & Investment, were both present at the official signing of the agreement at FHS’s Global Stage on Tuesday, 9 May 2023. Commenting on the partnership, Hutchinson said: “Saudi Arabia presents one of the fastest-growing markets in the region, increasingly establishing itself as a leading tourist destination. These new properties located in the heart of Riyadh include a mix of hotels and serviced apartments, offering our guests diverse options to suit their varying needs. We are excited to partner with Memar Development & Investment on this project as we work together to deliver on Rotana’s singular brand promise of delivering ‘Treasured Time’ for all our guests.” The five new Riyadh properties will add 618 keys to Rotana’s growing portfolio. This is in line with the group’s target of adding triple the number of rooms it currently runs in the Kingdom to 6,000 over the next four years. The new Edge by Rotana properties will be interconnected, operating in synergy to ensure efficient workflow and deliver the ultimate guest experience. The properties will offer guests a range of dining options as well as recreational facilities such as pools, gyms, treatments rooms and more. Eng. Abdulaziz Al Meqren, CEO of Memar Development & Investment added “We are pleased to sign today with …

KSA’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) announced the signing of a financing agreement with Golden Frond Hotel Services Company, a subsidiary company of the Afyaa Group to develop the ENVI Al Nakheel ecolodge in Al-Ahsa Oasis. The agreement demonstrates the commitment of both parties to advance sustainable tourism development, in line with the objectives of KSA’s National Tourism Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The announcement of this agreement coincided with the FHS Future Hospitality Summit held in Riyadh from May 7 to May 9, 2023. The Al-Ahsa region is one of the targeted tourist destinations and home to one of the largest oases in the world. It is the first site in the region to be registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its rich archaeological features, which show evidence of human settlement in the region since the Neolithic era. These historical attractions make Al Ahsa the ideal location to create tourism facilities where visitors can enjoy its beauty and charm. The Future Hospitality Summit witnesses the participation of a number of senior government figures, officials from the tourism and hospitality industry, as well as prominent developers, investors, hotel owners and operators, to discuss prospects for the growth and development of the tourism and hospitality sector in the Kingdom. The agreement ratifies the importance of the Al-Ahsa region, which is one of the ten targeted tourist destinations. ENVI Al Nakheel will provide 25 lodging pods consisting of one- and two-bedroom units. The destination will also include several facilities such as farm-to-table dining, spa, local arts & crafts, and a selection of unique activities. The lodge will be operated by ENVI Lodges – the eco-friendly, premium quality luxury lodge …

More than 40,000 people – including 30,000 visitors – attended the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which concluded last week in Dubai, UAE. This not only represents a year-on-year increase of 29% in attendees compared to 2022, it also represents a 5% increase over 2019, establishing a new record for the show, demonstrating that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is booming. In line with ATM 2023’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’, more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 150 countries gathered at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to explore how the industry can ensure sustainable travel for future generations. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “My colleagues and I are thrilled that so many tourism professionals were able to join us in Dubai to celebrate the 30th edition of the show and shine a spotlight on our sector’s ongoing journey to net zero. The fact that we witnessed record attendance at ATM 2023 is extremely encouraging and a strong indication that the Middle East’s travel industry is once again in excellent shape.” To mark three decades of ATM, there were a number of special events on the agenda during the four-day exhibition. Hilton won the inaugural Sustainable Stand Award. Selected by an independent panel of judges, the hospitality brand was chosen for its decision to use a local supplier in the creation of its stand as well as its commitment to repurposing materials as much as possible over the coming three years. Hilton also used a carbon calculator to measure the carbon footprint associated with its involvement in the show and has taken steps to mitigate this output. The prestigious Pearl Award was …

Accor plans to open three properties in the upcoming project by Rua Al Madinah Holding Company in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project includes a 142-key Fairmont hotel and 120 Fairmont branded residences, in addition to a 466-key Swissôtel and a 328-key Novotel. The Group is collaborating with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The company undertakes holistic development projects that feature modern urban planning to elevate the experience for visitors from around the world and enhance the quality of life for the residents of Madinah. Rua Al Madinah project is aimed at transforming the city into a modern Islamic and cultural destination. Rua Al Madinah Project’s master plan covers over 1.5 million square meters of space with direct views of Al Masjid al Nabawi, known as the Prophet’s Mosque, and will include 47,000 hotel rooms, with the master plan constituting 63% of open spaces and 37% of built area. The project has been designed according to the highest international standards and offers many integrated transportation solutions, including nine bus stops for visitors and underground parking. Duncan O’Rourke, CEO Middle East, Africa, Turkey & Asia-Pacific for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands at Accor mentioned: “We are very proud to sign the first Swissôtel property and strengthen our Novotel offering in the Holy city of Madinah. Through these signings our primary goal is to support the diverse offering at the master development of Rua Al Madinah, while continuing a long-term relationship with PIF and accordingly Rua Al Madinah Holding Company.” Since the announcement of the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, Accor has played a key role in the development of tourism, …

Miral Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Microsoft, announced the launch of its generative AI customer-facing service leveraging ChatGPT through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to provide personalized guidance and information to customers visiting Yas Island’s theme parks and experiences. With over 1,700 operations completed successfully within a week, ChatGPT is being used to augment the capabilities of chatbots for customer services for the first time, not only across various industries in the UAE, but also within the wider region’s tourism and entertainment sector. Commenting on the collaboration, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said: “We are proud to be pioneering the introduction of ChatGPT through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service within the tourism and entertainment sector.  We champion innovation at every step and believe that digital transformation is key to creating more compelling and personalized visitor propositions. Our collaboration with Microsoft is a testament to our relentless pursuit of delivering unique and memorable experiences to guests of all ages and nationalities, further positioning Yas Island as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure.” Miral has long been working with Microsoft, having used the company’s intelligent cloud and data services for its existing guest experience platform and operations. As part of its ambition to be a customer-centric, progressive and efficient organisation, Miral plans to use Azure OpenAI Service and ChatGPT to enable customers to plan their day at any of the theme parks, providing a more seamless customer experience. “We are delighted to collaborate with Miral to enhance its customer experience through the use of Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.” Said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. “With the help of Azure OpenAI Service and ChatGPT, Miral can better engage with …

The cities of Abha and Taif have been named as the favourite domestic holiday destinations for Saudi nationals, according to global property consultant Knight Frank’s flagship 2023 Saudi Report. In its survey of 498 Saudi-national households, carried out in partnership with YouGov, Knight Frank has found that Saudi nationals not only travel within the Kingdom on a high frequency, but some are being put off by high costs, which will be significant hurdle to overcome if the Kingdom’s tourism strategy is to be successfully achieved. The rapid expansion of hospitality-linked offerings across the country is expected to play a critical role in boosting domestic tourism, which Knight Frank forecasts will form a key part of the future of the Kingdom’s hospitality landscape and is already a thriving industry. Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Middle East Research explained: “For domestic tourism to flourish in the Saudi Arabia, care and attention must be paid to the development of attractions in secondary and tertiary cities if they are to compete and thrive alongside all the new giga project hospitality offerings. Furthermore, with 28% of Gen Z Saudi’s highlighting high costs (as a barrier to domestic travel, there remains an opportunity to develop more cost-effective accommodation options. “Think luxury glamping sites, youth hostels, 3* hotels, which will form just 17% of total hotel room supply by 2030, noting of course cultural sensitivities and adaptations that may be required”. With 100 million visitors expected to pass through the Kingdom’s gateways by 2030, the volume of real estate projects linked to the hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors is unsurprisingly soaring, says Knight Frank. The tourism and hospitality sector is quietly being positioned as one of …

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced plans for a new luxury resort as part of the NEOM master project, located on Sindalah Island. Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 square metres (9,041,684 square feet), Sindalah is one of a group of islands in the Red Sea that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design. In addition to the upcoming Four Seasons resort, Sindalah will be home to a luxury marina and yacht club, 9-hole golf course with 18 pin experiences, and several dining destinations. It will also host sophisticated cultural events, grand sporting spectacles and glamorous social celebrations throughout the year. “Four Seasons upcoming resort in NEOM will be a one-of-a-kind project, blending the natural wonders of the Red Sea with the future-forward technologies on which this new, exciting destination is being built,” says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to be part of the ambitious vision that our partners at NEOM have for transforming the future of hospitality in the region and look forward to welcoming guests to discover a new part of the Kingdom.” The Resort will feature 225 guest rooms and suites with terraces overlooking the beaches of the Red Sea, as well as 52 villas with one to four-bedroom configurations with plunge pools and beach views, and with the Presidential and Royal Villas offering private swimming pools, gyms and access to private yacht docks. The Resort architecture is being led by LUCA DINI Design & Architecture, with interiors for guest rooms and public areas by RBTA and LW Design respectively. “Sindalah follows NEOM’s vision and purpose of mitigating …

IHG Hotels & Resorts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA). The MOU provides a framework for both entities to explore methods to increase inbound visitation to Saudi Arabia from key markets across Middle East and Africa region. This includes developing customised promotions, joint marketing campaigns, and promotion through loyalty programs which will showcase Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s most exciting destination to an international audience. The MOU was signed at the Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2023 held in Dubai, by James Britchford, Vice President Commercial at IHG for India, Middle East and Africa, and Munirah Abanomy, Head of Marketing Partnership for Middle East & Africaat Saudi Tourism Authority. With Saudi Arabia targeting 100 million visitors by 2030, the Kingdom is a priority market for IHG Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East. The hospitality group aims to support the tourism sector in the country by growing the footprint of its existing brands, as well as introducing new brands from its global portfolio, in addition to running campaigns to promote various destinations within the country. IHG also plans to further support the Kingdom’s economic Vision by investing in developing Saudi talent in the Kingdom, with an ambition to hire 6,000 nationals across it’s growing portfolio by 2030. James Britchford, Vice President, Commercial, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “As a reflection of our commitment to support the growth of the tourism industry within the Kingdom, we are delighted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Collaborations with key government entities, such as the STA, enable us to position and promote attractive destinations …

Bringing together government leaders, hotel investors, owners, developers and operators at what is set to be the biggest Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) to date, FHS Saudi Arabia kicked off on Sunday at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s G20 Secretariat in 2020, FHS Saudi Arabia is the most influential hospitality investment conference for industry leaders and senior decision-makers in the hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This will be the sixth industry conference organized by The Bench for the Saudi market. “We are thrilled to be back in Riyadh in May following the overwhelming success of our sold-out 2022 edition, and we’re delighted to be in a new and larger venue this year thanks to our host sponsors Al Khozama Investment Company and Al Faisaliah Hotel,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “The demand for our hospitality events in Saudi Arabia continues to grow and with the Kingdom named as the fastest expanding tourism industry within the G20 countries in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, there will be so much to share about tourism and hospitality investment and development at FHS Saudi Arabia this year.” This year’s conference theme, ‘ Invest in Change’ , highlights the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. The action-packed three-day conference agenda will include tracks from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, start-ups and human capital development. “Delegates will have over 50 opportunities to network, learn and …