Sabre Corporation hosted a series of technology sessions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last week. The events offered a unique view into the industry’s recovery and rising trends and expectations, celebrated resilience and growth and marked the opening of its new offices in Riyadh.  To celebrate the opening, Sabre brought together representatives of travel companies and partners.  “At this pivotal time in travel, we are proud to mark the opening of our new offices in Riyadh,” said Salman Syed, vice president, Sabre Travel Solutions.  “Sabre has shown resilience during the pandemic, and today we confirm our commitment to this region. Saudi Arabia is a key growth region for Sabre, and we continue to expand our operations and team there. We have invested in building a knowledgeable and diverse team of the best talent in the industry, to give our customers the support they require.” “Saudi travellers have traditionally been fast adaptors of latest technologies, and the pandemic has raised their expectations and demands,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “With such high expectations from all travel players, travel companies have an opportunity to engage the right technology to respond to these expectations and provide a more intuitive and personalised travel experience built around their preferences, choices and needs.” “The industry has become more complex and working together to simplify the travel journey in today’s environment continues to be important. We will continue to seek to deliver best-in-class technologies, including AI-driven products to travel agencies across the region to help enable them to grow.” He added. In Jeddah, Sabre executives hosted a roundtable with travel companies and partners discussing trends and technologies and travel retailing. “We …

Carlton Hotels and Suites is earmarked to welcome guests to its newly launched luxury hotel, Carlton Dubai Creek. Located near Dubai Creek Water Canal with views of Al-Seef district and stunning vistas of Burj Khalifa, Carlton Dubai Creek is an upscale, all-suite hotel featuring 126-kitchenette equipped studios and plenty of facilities for both leisure and business travelers. The hotel is managed and operated by the Carlton Hotel and Suites group, which is a Dubai based multinational hospitality company that manages Hotels in the Middle East and across Europe. With over 25 years of experience in the Hospitality sector, Carlton Hotel and Suites is globally recognised for creating some of the most unique, distinctive and affordable guest experiences. The group’s portfolio consists of 5 operating properties in Dubai including Carlton Tower, Carlton Palace, Carlton Downtown and Carlton Barsha. “We are delighted to expand our portfolio further in the UAE. We want our guests to be able to experience the rich Middle-Eastern culture along with a blend of modern hospitality through Carlton Dubai Creek. The hotel is strategically located along the creek making it ideal for both tourists and guests on a short business trip to access key tourist spots and business hubs easily.” says, Hosni Abdelhadi, CEO of Carlton Hotel and Suites With Middle-eastern inspired architecture blended with modern hospitality, Carlton Dubai Creek Hotel features two types of rooms. A spacious all-equipped twin studio room with kitchenettes, and one bedroom suite with a choice of walk-through balcony that features stunning views of the creek and Al-Seef district as well as breathtaking views of Burj Khalifa. Starting from AED 365 for a studio and AED 465 for a bedroom suite, Carlton Dubai …

The Republic of San Marino curated a Business Forum dedicated to tourism and economic promotion of the country at the Abu Dhabi Hall of Expo 2020 Dubai. The conference was led by the Agency for Economic Development – San Marino Chamber of Commerce with the participation of Fabio Righi, Secretary of State for Industry, Handicraft, Trade, Technological Research and Regulatory Simplification. To open the panel of the discussions, the Pavilion Director Letizia Cardelli, warmly greeted the audience of General Commissioners, Directors and Managers of other pavilions together with the Emirates media specialized in the economic and tourism sector. Following the greeting to the audience, Minister of State Fabio Righi, Denis Cecchetti, Director General of the Agency for Economic Development – San Marino Chamber of Commerce underlined the mission of the Agency, Chamber of Commerce as an official tool for the promotion of San Marino economy abroad and the attraction of foreign direct investments being the first point of contact and concrete support for companies interested in investing and building a business in San Marino. Following this, Laura Fabbri, Director of the Trade Division of the Agency – Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the different “strategic assets” of the San Marino jurisdiction in the various fields of action: tourism, international context, economics and taxation, giving a 360 degrees overview of how the country system of the Republic of San Marino presents itself to the world. The primary objective of the speech was to communicate to the guests attending to consider San Marino not only as a destination for tourism, thanks to its strategic position, natural beauty and democratic values at the basis of the recognition as UNESCO heritage, but also as an …

Cruise Saudi has welcomed another Silversea cruise ship, named Silver Whisper, to sail Saudi waters. A plaque and key exchange ceremony was held at both Jeddah Islamic Port and Yanbu Port last week to welcome the ship. This is the second ship from Silversea to sail in Saudi after Silver Spirit took part in a trial summer season in 2020; making it one of just a few ships to sail during the pandemic. Silver Whisper, an ultra-luxury cruise ship, will be the fourth ship to sail the Saudi waters around the Red Sea as part of its World Cruise 2022, Tale of Tales. Over 138-days, the ship will visit 69 destinations in 32 countries. Throughout the World Cruise, Silversea will welcome celebrated creatives – Tale Tellers – aboard Silver Whisper—each of whom will unique insights on a variety of topics and will contribute a chapter to the Tale of Tales anthology, which will be gifted to guests as a keepsake upon the journey’s conclusion. The cruise ship has been designed for luxury-seekers and offers spacious, ocean-view suites that include butler services, and most with private verandas. Silver Whisper also includes a shipboard boutique with collections from top designers, world-class cuisine served in four restaurants, multi-tiered show lounge, swimming pool and pool deck, beauty salon, wellness spa, fitness center, library and other venues. Lars Clasen, Chief Executive Officer of Cruise Saudi, commented: “We are pleased to welcome another exciting cruise ship, Silver Whisper to sail across Saudi’s pristine and crystalline waters. We look forward to offering tourists – specifically those who seek extravagance – truly memorable experiences whilst showcasing the breathtaking beauty in Saudi.” “Cruise Saudi was launched with a clear …

As part of its continuous endeavor to provide distinguished services to its valued customers, Kuwait Airways has announced the launching of the Platinum Card Category, for Oasis Club members, which is the highest level among the Oasis Club cards. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi stated, “ Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce to its dear customers the launching of its latest services, which is the Platinum Card for Oasis Club Members. This category of cards includes numerous exclusive benefits for its holders, most importantly of which is priority for check-in , arrival of their baggage and extra baggage allowance. Moreover, Platinum Card holders can have access to Kuwait Airways lounges in Kuwait and across all destinations to which the Blue Bird operates and in addition to two accompanying guests, as well as a date change waiver and various different services for its holders.” Razouqi said, “The launch of the Platinum Card emanates as part of Kuwait Airways’ diligent plans to attain the highest levels of excellence in providing services to its valued customers, as the Company renders great attention to evaluating the quality of services, which is in accordance with customer aspirations and meeting their requirements.” Razouqi added, “The services provided by the Oasis Club to Kuwait Airways customers are an important element in contributing to the success of the entire work system of the Blue Bird and distinguishing it from other airlines, where Oasis Card holders can enjoy diverse and exceptional services.” From his part, the Director of Customer Service Department, Mr. Meshal Al-Mutairi said, “We are pleased to launch the Platinum Card for Oasis Club members, which is the highest tier level …

The Austrian National Tourist Office hosted a press conference at the Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai joined by guests from the Salzburger Land Tourist Board and Wagrain Tourist Board on 28th of March. The press briefing highlighted the sustainability message that Austria has brought to Expo 2020 Dubai, showcased opportunities of sustainable travel in Austria, and shed light on how conscious tourism can play a key role in preserving natural resources and lowering carbon footprint. Sustainability in travel and tourism is extremely important for Austria and is woven into its very fabric. The country aims to be climate neutral by 2040 and is actively incorporating soft mobility, sustainable building and accommodation practices, recycling and upcycling, and organic farming while rapidly transforming its tourism industry to meet its ambitious goal. During the press conference, Robert Groeblacher, Director Middle East of the Austrian National Tourist Office, said, “The future of this world depends on the choices we make today. In Austria, every sector and industry, including tourism, is working to preserve the environment, and we are proud of the progress we have made so far. We welcome visitors from around the world to experience the magic of conscious travel, and to explore the beauty, glory, and pristine nature of Austria. We are confident that this is the only kind of travel people would want to do in the times to come.” Philipp Schramel, Director of the Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai echoed similar sentiments when he said, “Austria brought the message of sustainability to Expo 2020 through its pavilion’s climate-sensitive, cutting-edge, and ingenious architecture. The design showcases Austria’s vision and mission to adopt sustainable practices in every area – including …

The Saudi Arabian government has reopened the visa-on-arrival program for holders of valid visas for the US, UK and Schengen area, effective immediately. The move comes two weeks after the country lifted all COVID-related entry restrictions and returns Saudi to pre-pandemic levels of openness. Citizens of any country who hold one of the three visas and who are travelling on one of the country’s national carriers – Saudi, Flynas or Flyadeal – can now receive a 12-month tourism visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia without needing to apply in advance. Visitors holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa must have used it at least once to enter the issuing country or region in order to qualify for a visa on arrival in Saudi. Visitors will also need to purchase COVID-19 insurance, which they can do at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports. Citizens of any country eligible for the e-visa program, which was introduced in 2019, may also receive a visa on arrival, regardless of the airline they are travelling with. “Restoring the visa-on-arrival program marks the final step in returning Saudi to a pre-pandemic level of openness and makes it one of the most accessible destinations in the world for leisure, business and religious travel,” said His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of STA. “This decision by the government will further support the many thousands of people who depend on tourism for their livelihoods while welcoming the world back to the destination with the warm hospitality for which the Saudi people are renowned.” On March 6, Saudi Arabia announced the lifting of all travel restrictions put in place …

Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi received the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Kuwait, H.E. Belinda Lewis, accompanied by Mr. Siraj Hatem, Senior Trade Adviser at the Embassy and Mrs. Samantha Kerry, Events Officer, and in the presence of KAC’s Chief Operations Officer, Captain Eisa Al-Haddad and the Director of Training, Captain Ali Al-Marri. The Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi welcomed Ambassador Belinda Lewis at the Kuwait Airways headquarters, emphasizing on the extent of the long history of relations between the State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom. He also referred to the joint cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries and the methods to develop them in all fields in general, and particularly to the aviation sector. Speaking to the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is proceeding, according to well-thought-out and effective plans in moving forward towards expanding its network of operations around the world, with the launch of new and diverse destinations that suit the preferences of its customers and meet their aspirations. Accordingly, the Company will launch its scheduled flights to Manchester in the United Kingdom from 1st May 2022, with three flights per week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.” Razouqi stated that Manchester as a destination is of great importance to Kuwait Airways’ customers, pointing out that the selection came after an increased demand for it as a distinct destination for tourists, especially in the summer season, which is expected to witness an unprecedented boom in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors. Razouqi explained that Kuwait Airways currently owns a new young fleet, supported by the latest technology that keeps pace with all the …

Oman Air Holidays, the tour operating arm of Oman Air – has launched a digital platform giving locally owned and operated SMEs in travel and tourism sector greater online presence and visibility in front of a broader range of international customers. Helping local SMEs digitize their offer is a commitment Oman Air Holidays has undertaken in recent months to help empower local tour operators, guides, hotels, and other small business and solopreneurs in Oman’s growing leisure and hospitality ecosystem. “Empowering Omani SMEs through digitization initiatives brings them out of the shadows and into the spotlight where they can truly shine as local service and product providers,” said Mundher Yaqoob Al Shaikhani, Senior Manager Oman Air Holidays. “Creating opportunities where SMEs can flourish is a key component of the tourism pillars contained in Oman Vision 2040, and Oman Air Holidays is proud to do its part to help. Our platform is connected to a truly global audience and we know it will give local SMEs a step up in the right direction as we continue our efforts to attract more inbound tourists to Oman.” The new digital platform now connects local SMEs to a larger, growing network of international partners associated with Oman Air Holidays. In 2021, Oman Air Holidays partnered with several international travel operators, including WebBeds (a division of Webjet Limited), to enhance its digital booking experience and to provide more choice, flexibility and convenience to guests in search of innovative custom holiday packages. It also introduced stopover packages offering the flexibility to discover some of the most desirable tourist spots in and around Muscat.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announced the introduction of a new service to Istanbul city in Turkey, starting from April 29, 2022. Abu Dhabi travelers will now be able to fly direct to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul at competitive prices, as of the below schedule: Schedule to Istanbul, effective April 29, 2022 (all times local) Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency 3L  361 Abu Dhabi 12:00 Istanbul 15:55 Airbus A320 Friday/Sunday 3L  362 Istanbul 17:00 Abu Dhabi 22:30 Airbus A320 Friday/Sunday Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “We are glad to add Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, to our growing tourist hotspots with direct flights from Abu Dhabi. The new Abu Dhabi to Istanbul service offers our customers a unique opportunity to discover the historic city which straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosporus straits, the new route reflects our commitment to continuously offer our customers affordable and value driven air travel from our different hubs.” The new service represents the 17th route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the launch of the carrier’s service from Abu Dhabi International Airport in July 2020. Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Istanbul by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call center or through travel agencies.