The PIF-owned Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) has announced the launch of construction of an entertainment destination located in Saudi Arabia, with a value of SAR1+ billion. The complex will transform the entertainment landscape of the Tabuk region, with about 78% of its space designated for entertainment, 14% for cafes and restaurants, and 8% for stores. Amenities will include an advanced 12-hole indoor golf course offering bespoke experiences, a modern 10-track bowling alley, and a 10-screen cinema hall, according to a company statement. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEVEN, said: “The destination will add a qualitative leap in the entertainment scene of the region by providing a wide choice of entertainment attractions and distinctive experiences.” The project is being designed as an integrated village, with an innovative water tower inspired by the agricultural heritage of the Tabuk region at its center. This will connect to open community spaces, including gardens, parks and sports fields. The development reflects PIF’s strategy to develop and localize a variety of sectors, including entertainment, leisure and sports, to create a more vibrant society and improve the lives of everyone in Saudi Arabia. It also aligns with Vision 2030’s goal of positioning Saudi Arabia among the world’s top tourist destinations.​

IHG® Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a Management Agreement with Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City for a new Hotel Indigo within the city near the Irqah area along Wadi Hanifa in Riyadh. Set to open in 2025, with basement works already completed, the new hotel adds to IHG’s robust growth plans across various new developments that align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 tourism strategy. The signing of a new Hotel Indigo in Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City is significant, as it is the first nonprofit City of its kind, set to be an incubator for youth and for local and international institutions supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and future leaders. The hotel will be located next to the City’s Al Mishraq Zone and serve as a living laboratory where innovation and social life will thrive, and creativity will meet science and technology. Guests will be able to take advantage of the City’s cultural experiences by using a vibrant pedestrian-only main street as part of the City’s “15 minute” planning concept, with connections to cultural offerings as well as elevated fine dining restaurants overlooking the stunning Wadi Hanifah and views of Riyadh’s city skyline. The City will deliver a platform to experiment with new products and technologies, and will offer interactive retail environments providing customers with immersive experiences. The infrastructure will include a comprehenisve mobility solution, supported by a sustainable cooling and shading system. The solution will become a prime example for modern and integrated urban transportation, while delivering a comfortable environment encouraging outdoor activities. The new-build Hotel Indigo will feature 234 guestrooms and suites, as well as 138 serviced apartments. The hotel is ideally situated just 15 minutes from Riyadh …

flydubai announced  the launch of four destinations in Saudi Arabia. This includes the start of flights to Neom from 16 March, Najran from 18 March, Al Qaisumah from 21 March and Jizan from 26 April. Earlier this year, the airline also resumed its operations to AlUla with a twice-weekly service from 12 January. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “flydubai remains committed to opening up underserved markets and so we are pleased to offer our customers more options for travel with the launch of these four destinations. As Saudi Arabia continues on its path of economic growth and investment in developing its tourism sector, we look forward to offering passengers from the UAE and around our network the opportunity to explore more of the country.” flydubai operates flights to more than 114 destinations, 75 of which were underserved markets that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai. The growing network is served by a fleet of 76 Boeing 737 aircraft. Flight details for the four destinations Flights will operate from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). Start Date Flight Number Departure Airport Arrival Airport Frequency 16 March FZ 851/852 Terminal 2, DXB Neom Airport (NUM) 02 weekly flights 18 March FZ 803/804 Terminal 2, DXB Najran Airport (EAM) 03 weekly flights 21 March FZ 837/838 Terminal 2, DXB Al Qaisumah Hafar Al Batin Airport (AQI) 02 weekly flights 26 April FZ 801/802 Terminal 2, DXB Jizan Airport (GIZ) 04 weekly flights             Flights are available to book on flydubai.com, the official flydubai App, the Contact Centre in Dubai on (+971) 600 54 44 45, the flydubai travel shops or through our travel partners.

Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading hotel groups, announces the signing of two new hotels in Islamabad, Pakistan. This underlines the Group’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the South Asian market. The two new hotels, Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Islamabad, and Radisson Hotel Islamabad Multi Gardens are set to open in the next three years. Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, is a beautiful and modern metropolis nestled in the foothills of the Margalla Hills. Despite being a bustling city, Islamabad has managed to retain its serenity and peaceful ambiance, making it a perfect destination for travelers seeking a blend of modernity and tradition. Whether it’s the stunning Faisal Mosque, the lush green parks, or the bustling markets, Islamabad has something to offer for everyone. Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Islamabad, will be part of a mixed-use development near Islamabad International Airport, on the main Srinagar Highway in Mumtaz City, an exclusive suburban housing society. It will consist of a hotel with 432 rooms, suites, and serviced apartments. The development will also feature a shopping mall with retail and entertainment options, corporate business floors, lounges for airline crew and executives, and a banqueting area. The hotel will offer Radisson Blu’s signature service and offer stylish spaces. Through personalized service and local nuances, each stay at a Radisson Blu hotel becomes a truly meaningful and memorable experience. Radisson Blu hotels can be found in major cities, key airport gateways, and leisure destinations. Radisson Hotel Islamabad Multi Gardens will be part of the fascinating J7 Emporium mixed-use complex. The hotel will include 165 rooms, including four executive suites which will feature Radisson’s signature natural surroundings and Scandinavian inspired …

Amadeus and Microsoft have joined forces to co-author a new report exploring how new technologies will make the experience of travel better. Entitled ‘Delivering Traveler Value: Inspiring, understanding and fulfilling expectations throughout the travel experience and beyond,’ the report looks at how a focus on the ‘purpose’ and ‘context’ of each trip will allow the industry to maximize value.  The report unveils some of the latest milestones of the global strategic partnership between Microsoft and Amadeus. Together, the two technology leaders are working to deliver a new set of tools, solutions, and data applications to offer a next-generation experience for travelers, travel sellers and providers. The report draws on work from Northstar Research Partners, which was commissioned to survey 2,400 business and leisure travelers in six key markets around the world – Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom and the United States. The findings provide quantifiable evidence, supported by in-depth interviews with senior leaders from Amadeus, Microsoft and across the travel industry. Explored within the report is the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) within the sector when it comes to making time-sensitive offers, the impact of new technologies such as the metaverse and an evaluation of how enhanced data analytics can deepen the understanding of the traveler. Contributions from partners – including Meliá Hotels International, Expedia Group, TomTom and American Express Global Business Travel – also reveal how the new tools on offer can create more personalized and relevant experiences for travelers. Additionally, the report discusses the technology being developed as part of the Amadeus and Microsoft partnership. This includes the transformational travel and expense solution Cytric Easy and agility and analytics modules of the Amadeus Creation Platform, designed …

Almatar Travel Group and Sabre Corporation signed a new technology agreement at the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh, that will see the travel company uses Sabre’s industry-leading technology and solutions to help drive operational efficiency, advance its virtual payments strategy and transform travellers experience. Under this agreement, Almatar Travel Group will benefit from Sabre’s extensive travel ecosystem including its wide geographic scope and breadth of travel content, which includes air, lodging, ancillary and NDC content. Furthermore, Almatar will access Sabre’s portfolio of innovative technology and intelligent platform, Sabre Red 360, which will help enable the travel company to differentiate its offering, compete more effectively, grow faster in the region, and expand its online travel business. Additionally, Almatar will use Sabre’s APIs and Automation Hub to help it stay competitive in the dynamic Saudi marketplace. “With the impressive developments of the Saudi Vision 2030, we are witnessing increased tourism in the country, allowing us to deal with travellers from around the world with different expectations and accustomed to different technology,” said Faisal Al Rajhi, President, Almatar Travel Group. “We turned to Sabre to advance our technology, expand our reach and equip ourselves with intelligent solutions that make shopping and booking travel intuitive, personalised and flexible which is important to differentiate our offerings in a competitive marketplace.” Almatar Travel Group is advancing its payments solution and will deploy Sabre Virtual Payments (SVP) to help maximize value of its B2B payments and to provide payments flexibility and control, increased fraud protection and security, accurate reconciliation and better automation and efficiency. “We are excited to partner with Sabre at this exciting time to support the Kingdom’s vision and the travel and tourism developments,” said …

Marriott International, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to open eight hotels in the Holy City of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. Located in close proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid An Nabawi, the planned properties will be part of the Rua Al Madinah Project which aims to elevate the service and travel experience for visitors of Madinah. The anticipated openings will feature approximately 4,400 rooms across eight of the company’s brands – The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels, and Courtyard by Marriott. “There is a strong demand for high-quality hotel accommodation in Madinah and we are delighted to work with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to support the enhancement and diversification of the city’s hospitality landscape,” said Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “This multi-deal agreement also strengthens our footprint in Saudi Arabia where we continue to see strong growth momentum in line with the Kingdom’s vision for its tourism sector.” “The agreement with one of the world’s leading hospitality operators brings the Rua Al Madinah project a step closer to realising its ambitions to further enrich Madinah city’s Hajj and Umrah services,” commented Eng. Ahmed Al Juhani, CEO of Rua Al Madinah Holding Company. “This collaboration will culminate in the launch of eight new hotels and nearly 4.400 rooms that will serve both residents as well as visitors from around the world looking to visit Madinah.” The eight planned properties include The Ritz-Carlton, Rua Al Madinah which is slated to offer 151 luxurious rooms and suites including a signature Ritz-Carlton suite, multiple …

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Our second edition of the exclusive ‘Whale Sharks in Qatar’ tours, offered through Discover Qatar, presents an unmissable opportunity for nature lovers to witness and interact with the grand and gentle creatures of the sea. We are proud to call Qatar a home to one of the largest congregations of Whale Sharks in the world, and remain committed to being the leading destination to connect people from all over the world with such fascinating marine life.” Qatar has the largest concentration of Whale Sharks in the world, making it the only place visitors can see so many in a single sighting. Often referred to as ‘gentle giants’, they are estimated to have existed for 60 million years, can live up to 100 years, and grow up to 12 metres in length. Discover Qatar announced that the second edition of its ‘Whale Sharks in Qatar’ tours will begin from 18 May, 2023 and run until the end of August. Daily tours and private charters can be booked exclusively through the Discover Qatar and Qatar Airways Holidays online platforms. The once-in-a-lifetime experience departs every Thursday to Sunday for eight hours on a 40-seater catamaran, and starts from USD 249 per person. Nature enthusiasts can also avail private charters on a luxury yacht with a capacity up to 16 guests. Both tours include an expert guide, with Wi-Fi, refreshments, and breakfast and lunch provided. Launched in 2022, the ‘Whale Sharks of Qatar’ tour has been a resounding success, with nearly 500 explorers becoming the first to observe up to 300 Whale Sharks congregating off the north-eastern coast of Qatar. Discover Qatar …

flynas announced adding 10 new destinations and routes in Asia and Europe during the 2023 summer season as of next June, boosting its ever-growing flight network. Four new destinations will be served out of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, including the Maldives, the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Antalya in Turkey, and Tivat in Montenegro, the Saudi carrier said. Six new routes will be launched, including four routes from Dammam to Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, the Turkish cities sof Istanbul and Trabzon, and the Albanian capital of Tirana. In addition, two more routes will be operated from Jeddah to Salalah and the Turkish city of Bodrum, flynas added. Summer destinations and routes already launched as seasonal will be re-operated, including the Czech capital of Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg in Austria, the Azeri capital of Baku, Tbilisi, and Batumi in Georgia, the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, Trabzon and Bodrum in Turkey, Salalah in Oman, flynas stated. The total summer destinations in 2023 became 20 destinations. Bander Almohanna, CEO of flynas, said that the new destinations and routes of the Saudi carrier reflect the company’s commitment to its growth and expansion strategy under the slogan “We Connect the World to the Kingdom” to cement its leading position as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East and one of the top 10 airlines of its category worldwide. “This approach is in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers, 250 international destinations, and 100 million tourists annually,” he stressed Almohanna pointed out that flynas posted a record growth in performance and operations during …

Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism joined forces to partner with the highly acclaimed Destination Wedding Planners (DWP) Congress 2023, an exclusive event that brought the largest Business-to-Business platform for weddings to Doha. This collaboration underscores the city’s growing stature as a key figure in the MICE industry, which continues to attract business travellers from around the world. The 9th edition of DWP congress was held from 14-16 March, to bring together leading wedding planner professionals who provided fresh perspectives on the industry through a series of keynote speeches and DWP masterclasses. Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker opened the congress with a speech to spotlight Qatar’s offerings as a versatile and captivating wedding destination. Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our continuous effort to promote Qatar as a leading destination that caters to the needs of all travellers has been further strengthened by the recent hosting of the Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2023. This event is regarded as the most prestigious B2B gathering in the multi-billion-dollar wedding industry, and we are honoured to have had the best wedding planners and designers in Doha. We eagerly anticipate welcoming them back following an inspiring visit this year, and look forward to seeing their vision for luxurious and elaborate weddings.” The DWP congress has grown rapidly since its inception in 2014, which took place in Greece, and has successfully made its mark in desirable destinations across the globe from Florence, Phuket, Los Cabos, Dubai and Bali. This year the congress highlighted Doha, a city that has undergone remarkable developments in hospitality, aviation, …