Kerzner International Holdings Limited (“Kerzner”), the owner of the iconic Atlantis Resorts and Residences, ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts worldwide, is proud to announce the launch of Rare Finds; a diverse collection of resorts celebrating the individuality of each property, showcasing their unique identity, location, talent and expertise, with a distinct ability to captivate the imagination, provoke thought and elevate a destination through transformative experiences, unmatched food and beverage offerings and spectacular entertainment. Under this new vertical, Kerzner has assumed management of Bab Al Shams, Dubai’s quintessential desert resort, owned by Meydan. The resort will close for an extensive reimagination between May 2022 and early 2023, reopening as part of Rare Finds. “I am excited to welcome Bab Al Shams Desert Resort to the newly introduced Rare Finds collection. The addition of this legacy landmark desert resort marks Kerzner International’s continued growth and expansion within the region,” commented Philippe Zuber, CEO of Kerzner International. “We have been part of Dubai’s storied history with one of the first ultra-luxury resorts with One&Only Royal Mirage followed by the epochal Atlantis, The Palm and we continue to be very bullish on the destination with the upcoming opening of Atlantis, The Royal Resort & Residences later this year and One&Only One Za’abeel joining Bab Al Shams next year.  We are thrilled to continue to be part of the future of Dubai, and we look forward to welcoming guests to discover this new, evolved idyllic retreat.” The extensive reimagination of the iconic desert resort will introduce a completely renewed aesthetic whilst maintaining the resort’s authentic equestrian identity. Captivating destination experiences and vibrant entertainment will be the beating heart of the reborn resort, spreading an intangible energy to …

Recent research by Gartner states over the next five years, an exponential rise in digital interactions between buyers and suppliers will break traditional sales models. The Gartner Future of Sales research further shows that by 2025, 80% of B2B sales interactions between suppliers and buyers will occur on digital channels. Riding on this trend, ExploreTECH has now introduced a revolutionary solution with its comprehensive vendor/product comparison tool for users. The new functionality will assist hospitality & travel buyers in making informed business decisions based on their requirements while offering vendors with the perfect platform to showcase their products and technology. This latest feature helps buyers from the travel and hospitality industry save time and money by offering an in-depth breakdown of key features & functionalities per products of different providers all on one unified platform. On the other hand, technology providers are presented with a unique opportunity to showcase their key products and features, reaching out to a wide range of buyers all with different objectives and budgets.  By connecting with the right vendors, buyers can navigate challenges and create long-term strategies, the platform also allows subscribers to request demos and buy products directly from vendors. “Being part of the industry, we understand the constant challenges, especially in the new normal environment. Our comparison tool is disruptive as it is truly a unified source of information of multiple vendors.  ExploreTECH offers the opportunity for hospitality and travel professionals to expand their network beyond local sources, as well as discover the newest technologies that can enhance their business strategies.” says Ralph Melis, Co-founder of ExploreTECH The one-of-a-kind digital marketplace assists vendors in boosting their audience engagement and lead generation through cost-effective …

UAE family residents and visitors are invited to boost their fun with the ultimate LEGOLAND® Playcation, combining LEGOLAND® Dubai theme park, LEGOLAND® Water Park and LEGOLAND® Hotel to celebrate the best Eid ever. Ramesh Ganeson, General Manager, LEGOLAND® Dubai Resort, commented: “With the opening of LEGOLAND Hotel earlier this year, marking the first of its kind in the Middle East, we are excited to celebrate our first Eid Al Fitr as LEGOLAND Dubai Resort, where we offer families the chance to triple their kids’ excitement with the exclusive ‘3-in-1 PLAYCATION’. He added: “From 2nd to 8th of May 2022, families can enjoy our awesome 3-in-1 adventure with Theme Park rides, Water Park splashes and hotel adventures.” To maximize this Eid celebration, parents can surprise their kids with a Hotel Playcation at LEGOLAND Hotel, the best kid-friendly hotel in the Middle East with dedicated kids’ services and facilities. Featuring kid-height level check-in counter, kid-height level buffet counter, character appearances, a huge Castle Play area in the middle of the lobby, a LEGO Pit Pool with hundreds of LEGO bricks together with the creative workshops offering playful learning LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configurations, and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2022 The LEGO Group. LEGOLAND is a Merlin Entertainments brand. adventures designed to accommodate the different age groups. To extend the fun this Eid even further, kids are welcome to choose one or more of the exciting Eid themed activities including Eid LEGO® Lantern Build and Eid arts & crafts with unlimited fun. All this is topped with the in-room treasure hunt, where a different adventure awaits the little ones in each of the 5 room themes, …

Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism announced the launch of “Oman Tourism Forum 2022” to be held on May 10, 2022, at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 in Dubai, UAE.  The forum is a high-level event that aims to gather industry leaders to explore tourism and partnership opportunities in Oman through dialogue and to explore some of the key areas where companies can be involved. The forum will witness the presence of key speakers, including officials from the Sultanate of Oman and a number of speakers from China, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

dnata Travel has opened a new travel store in Dubai Hills Mall, providing the growing community with easy access to its range of services and expert team for travel bookings, advice, and inspiration. Located at newly-opened Dubai Hills Mall, the modern travel outlet is now welcoming customers to meet its multi-lingual team of travel experts at their local one-stop travel shop. Here, shoppers can book all they need for travel, including staycations or more complex itineraries, including flights, hotels, holiday packages, insurance, tours, attractions, transfers, express PCR testing, and more. The UAE-based travel brand is revealing a focus on expanding its retail footprint in the wake of increased demand from travellers for face-to-face bookings. The dnata Travel Dubai Hills Mall outlet is the first to open in a pipeline of new travel stores gearing up to serve a comprehensive range of travel solutions to a range of emerging and established UAE communities. Emily Jenkins, General Manager, dnata Travel Leisure, commented: “Demand for travel is at an all-time high, as restrictions ease across the globe. In tandem, with UAE travellers we are witnessing an increased demand for bookings within our travel stores, as travellers seek to ease their experience with the support of our experts. At dnata Travel outlets across the UAE, we can book all aspects of a customer’s journey in one, convenient place. We look forward to welcoming travellers to our new Dubai Hills Mall travel store, to tailor-make their next journey.” To celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and the opening of its new travel outlet, the first for the prospering Dubai Hills Estate community, dnata Travel is offering its customers the chance to secure a limited-time, complimentary staycation. …

Dubai Food Festival (DFF), the city’s annual festival of food, is back! Celebrating Dubai’s global gastronomy status, the 14-day, city-wide festival of food will return between 2–15 May 2022 to showcase Dubai’s most exciting culinary offerings. Returning for the ninth edition, this year’s festival will take guests on an immersive tour of a city home to more than 200 nationalities and renowned for its rich culinary diversity. DFF will showcase the best authentic homegrown cuisine and concepts created by Dubai’s local food heroes, as well as world acclaimed fine dining restaurants, experiences and masterclasses by leading chefs with views of Dubai’s iconic locations.   Festival favourites, Dubai Restaurant Week and Foodie Experiences, will once again headline DFF with exclusive dining experiences. Bookings are now open and with limited spaces available, diners are encouraged to secure their seats now. Here’s what is in store from the flagship events this DFF: Dubai Restaurant Week (6 – 15 May) In partnership with 40 of the city’s best restaurants, Dubai Restaurant Week (DRW) returns from 6 May with specially curated 3 course dinner menus starting from AED150 per person or 2 course lunch menus starting from AED95. Diners in the city will be able to enjoy irresistible dishes using the freshest ingredients – all at an attractive price that saves customers up to 50 per cent when dining out. This year’s DRW welcomes some of the city’s most recognised restaurants, including some of those listed in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 such as LOWE, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki and Indochine, as well as hotspots that have launched in 2021/22 such as 11 Woodfire and Tamoka. Diners will also be able to enjoy restaurants with iconic …

Etihad has released its Sustainability Report 2020-2021, outlining the impact the company has had on the environment, and detailing its Sustainability strategy, represented by the Etihad Greenliner and Sustainable50 programmes. The report demonstrates the potential advancements to be made in sustainable aviation by a wide range of initiatives, coordinated to achieve a 20% reduction in emissions intensity in its passenger fleet by 2025, cut 2019 net emissions by 50% by 2035, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our sustainability report highlights our insistence on harnessing the opportunities that are available today, and commits to continuing to find solutions for the future. Many partners joined us on this journey over the last two years, and this report demonstrates the potential we have collectively, with an ambition to set the direction for 2022 and beyond. “We need to be bold in facing this issue. We need to be decisive. There is no other way forward. That is why we have been insistent that we continue to focus on the question as a long-term strategic priority for our business, spearheaded by the Etihad Greenliner and Sustainabile50 programmes.” Etihad 2020-2021 sustainability highlights Reduced total carbon emissions by 56% (due in part to reduced scheduled operations from pandemic impact) Launched the world’s most comprehensive industry-wide testing and innovation programme Became the first airline to secure commercial finance based on verified compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Raised US$1.2 billion in the first sustainability-linked loan (SLL) tied to environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets in global aviation. Partnered with Boeing, Safran and NASA for eight days of specialised testing to enhance …

Akhom Consulting and Crown & Champa Resorts, a luxury collection of island resorts in the Maldives announce their partnership effective from April 2022.Akhom Consulting will be responsible for the sales & marketing representation of this unique and diverse brand in the Middle East region, more strongly in the GCC countries. Throughout 2022, the Maldives will be celebrating 50 years since tourism to this spellbinding island-nation began. Crown & Champa Resorts, the leading local hospitality group of Maldives, boasts with a legacy of strong ownership which forms part of the pioneers bringing the very first Tourists to the destination. Crown & Champa Resorts are part of this 50 years journey , which is what leaves this brand with  a well-known reputation of strong and reliable business practices in Maldives. One is spoilt by choice with over several unique resorts in the Maldives. The Crown & Champa Resorts collection leads the destination with continuously developing and growing the resort portfolio. CCR strives to constantly deliver great quality, value for money, and authentic Maldivian experiences across all their resorts. Following the very well-known Maldivian concept of one island one resort, each resort has its very own unique design which reflect their surroundings and heritage, creating getaways filled with authentic beauty and allure. There is a unique resort within the CCR collection for every purpose including choices from romantic, relaxing holidays to adventurous water sports and beach family escapes. With adult-only and family-friendly resorts to luxury and more affordable resorts , CCR is bound to deliver  a wide selection of accommodation options. Within the luxury resort selection of Crown & Champa, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Hurawalhi Island Resort and Kagi Maldives Spa Island are …

At the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) global summit in Philippines, they  launched its ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’, a globally recognised and coordinated set of criteria that all hotels should implement as a minimum to drive responsible Travel & Tourism. The initiative was launched today at its prestigious Global Summit being held in Manila this week and will help every hotel address and improve their environmental impact. Developed by the industry for the industry, it highlights 12 actions which are fundamental to hotel sustainability and will help raise the base level of sustainability across the entire hospitality industry by providing every hotel a starting point on their sustainability journey. The initiative has already gained support from major global groups such as Jin Jiang International (Holdings) Co., Ltd. including their affiliates Jin Jiang Hotels, Louvre Hotels Group and Radisson Hotel Group, Accor, Barceló Hotel Group, Meliá Hotels International, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), as well as key hotel associations around the world like the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the Hotel Association of India (HAI), Huazhu Hotels Group, and many more. Collectively this represents more than 50,000 hotels around the world. WTTC’s ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ provides the global hospitality sector with a baseline of positive actions to be taken to ensure they meet at least the minimum sustainability requirements. However, this is just the beginning of their journey, and WTTC urges the sector to seek constant improvements beyond the 12 basic criteria so that every hotel, whether an individual business or part of a larger group, moves on to more advanced frameworks and greater sustainability. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are launching the Hotel Sustainability Basics to …

In response to growing passenger demand for air travel, Emirates will double its flights between Algiers and Dubai from two to four weekly, starting 1 May 2022. The service currently between Algiers and Dubai will no longer be linked with Tunis, offering more flexibility and convenience to travel to Dubai and onwards to Emirates’ extensive network of more than 130 destinations. Emirates is also the only airline serving Algeria with private, enclosed First Class cabins, offering premium customers an enriched experience across every touchpoint of the journey. Emirates will utilise its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between Algiers and Dubai, and the new flights will operate on Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to the current Tuesday and Thursday services. Flight EK758 departs Algiers at 15:45hrs, arriving in Dubai at 01:05hrs the next day. EK757 departs Dubai at 08:45hrs, arriving in Algiers at 12:55hrs. Omar Alhemeiri – Manager Algeria commented on the boost of services: “We have seen a marked increase in passenger demand to and from Algiers, especially to Dubai and onwards to other destinations that are gradually opening or easing their restrictions across our network.  We hope that by increasing our frequency into Algeria, we are able to support traffic flows in and out of the country as it continues its post-pandemic economic recovery, and it is also a testament to our commitment to Algeria. We have been operating flights for almost 10 years, connecting Algerians to the world and offering a world-class experience onboard, whilst prioritising the health and safety of our customers. We look forward to boosting our services further in the future to provide better travel options for our customers as they take to the skies again.” Since …