The ninth edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, has announced the participation of a top-notch panel of global experts, which will take place from February 28 to March 2nd at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Following the overwhelming success of the eighth edition, which was also the first in-person aviation industry event held after the pandemic in the region, this year’s summit focuses on the theme, ‘The Roadmap to Recovery.’ With the global aviation and tourism sector gaining traction, the high-level event will underline the opportunities and challenges in ramping up the sector’s growth, with a particular focus on the Middle East region. Ahead of the Summit on March 1, extensive workshops will be held to discuss the regional trends in aviation and tourism. Referred to as the ‘voice of the industry’, this initiative will also bring the largest assembly of Arab media together and top executives from the aviation and tourism sector. The Summit will also reiterate the strong linkages between tourism, aviation and hospitality, three core growth sectors, which have a dominant role in post-pandemic recovery for local economies. Experts will discuss global best practices, and measures taken to build the resilience of the aviation and the tourism sector. A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be created post the Summit as a data bank on the insights shared during the event. The keynote speakers, with several more coming on board, include CEOs, Presidents, global aviation & tourism experts, distinguished airline officials, policy makers and representatives. They include: Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation; Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice …

Qatar Airways announced that it will be adopting Avios as the reward currency for all members worldwide from late March 2022. All Privilege Club members will experience a seamless transition into the loyalty programme’s new reward currency, Avios, with their existing Qmiles balances changing automatically to Avios on a 1:1 ratio basis. Privilege Club members will be provided even greater opportunities to accumulate rewards and leverage exciting new innovations in managing and spending with the change to Avios. In addition, members will retain their well-earned rewards balance and will be able to continue enjoying the redemption opportunities they currently have. Further details are available on www.qatarairways.com/Avios and more will be announced by Qatar Airways Privilege Club next month. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, stated: “The transition from Qmiles to Avios marks a ground-breaking new era for Privilege Club, enabling our loyal members to participate in the most compelling loyalty network and the largest portfolio of partners in the industry. “As the World’s Best Airline, Qatar Airways continues to redefine loyalty through the adoption of exciting digital innovations to create unique world-class experiences for our members. We look forward to revealing more details of this exciting change over the coming weeks, as we explore even more ways to reward our valued members both on and off the ground.” IAG Loyalty owns and manages the Avios currency. CEO of IAG Loyalty, Mr. Adam Daniels, said: “Qatar Airways have recognised the power of Avios. By adopting Avios they will be able to offer their customers a wider range of benefits and support their business development ambitions. It’s an exciting step for IAG Loyalty as we extend our …

C Central Resort the Palm will continue to attract families, groups of friends, couples, and honeymooners in the year 2022. The 5-star property recorded a peak in the number of leisure and group segments, with guests from the UK, France, Germany, and CIS countries topping the list, comprising 70% of its total guests since opening in September 2019. Guests reportedly booked an average of four nights stay and are particularly interested in the various beach and water activities, the magnificent surroundings, multiple dining options, excellent facilities, friendly and warm service, and the stunning location. “We look forward to an amazing start to the year. We have seen an increase in the number of guests from our key target markets, and we hope this trend will continue until the first half of the year. The coming months will be hectic for the property as we have planned some exciting promotions for Mother’s Day, Ramadan, Eid, and leading up to summer. It will be an exciting season as Dubai strengthens its position as the destination of choice for international travelers,” Hussein Gamaleldin, Group Director of Sales and Marketing. The 203-key beachfront hotel and resort feature rooms and suites that command breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and The Palm. The Premium Rooms, the Skyline Suites, and Palm Suites have private balconies where guests can watch the city’s spectacular sunset and the glittering Dubai skyline in the evening. The guest rooms feature contemporary and modern decor, dramatic wall art, and in-room amenities for complete comfort and relaxation. With several dining venues to choose from and plenty of money-saving promotions, C Central Hotel The Palm is the ideal dining destination. Whether staying at the …

Dubai International (DXB) continues to be the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year after clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021.  DXB’s annual traffic exceeded forecasts for the year by more than half a million passengers, on the back of a strong last quarter. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, described an eventful year which, despite the uncertainties of the global pandemic, contained many milestones that demonstrate several bold steps taken by Dubai and its aviation sector to lead the recovery of global air travel, including  the successful hosting of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the world’s first major airshow since the start of the pandemic, the return of DXB to 100% operational capacity with the reopening of Terminal 1-Concourse D and Concourse A, and the opening of the world’s largest in-house airport laboratory for fast-track processing Covid-19 PCR test samples for Dubai’s visitors. The airport also welcomed a record number of new airlines connecting Dubai to new destinations and joined the rest of the city in creating a warm welcome for millions of visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai. Describing DXB’s performance in 2021 as nothing short of impressive, Griffiths said, “Despite unprecedented turmoil affecting millions of people all over the world, we overcame many serious obstacles to the operation of the world’s largest international hub and provided smooth, comfortable and safe travel for millions of people travelling through DXB. This incredible performance by all of our staff and stakeholders was achieved in the face of abruptly changing travel regulations and concerns about new waves of infection. Despite these serious challenges to our ongoing success, we managed to exceed our own forecasts and continue …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has concluded the 11th edition of the Sharjah Light Festival 2022, which ran from February 9-20. Organised under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, this year’s edition of the festival took place under the tagline ‘Echoes of the Future.’ For the past 12 nights, Sharjah Light Festival has illuminated key areas of Sharjah with dazzling displays highlighting the ancient Islamic heritage that characterises its major buildings and landmarks, while the artistic performances that formed part of its programme celebrated the emirate’s progress and presented stories of its fascinating past, its vibrant present, and its promising future. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, affirmed that Sharjah Light Festival 2022 was a spectacular success, with the event enhancing Sharjah’s position on the global tourism map as a leading destination for international events. He stated that, as with each of its preceding editions,  the 11th festival attracted thousands of visitors from around the world who followed its special shows and activities in the emirate’s various regions, with the event effectively contributing to boosting the emirate’s tourism sector by highlighting the aesthetics and architectural splendor of its landmarks. His Excellency noted that the Authority is keen to advance tourism in Sharjah, in line with the directives of the leadership represented by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and his continuous support for the emirate’s tourism sector. H.E. Al Midfa said that the emirate continuously strives to provide the very best events and services that surpass the expectations of all categories of visitors, thereby enhancing the …

Following the success of the “Cloud 7 Residences Ayla Aqaba” which has been operating since July 2020, “Ayla ” and Kerten Hospitality agreed to manage another one-of-a-kind Hospitality Hub to further diversify the hospitality offering and continue to increase the footfall. “The Pulse”, a Cloud 7 Boutique Hotel, consists of 75 rooms located at the Marina Village, the heart of Ayla – a real estate leisure hub with the potential to be a second home destination. It is a tailored destination seeking to attract wanderlusters and exploration lovers and seeking to become an attractive Business Hub suited for short and extended stays that will constantly evolve throughout the seasons, attracting a diverse audience for a variety of immersive experiences along with dedicated workspaces for ‘bleisure’ travelers, guests, music and art lovers. Ayla’s Managing Director, Sahl Dudin, said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with “Kerten Hospitality” following their great success in managing the ” Cloud 7 Residences” and we entrust the Group with the management of “The Pulse Hotel” whilst seeking to expand our hotel accommodation and entertainment offerings in Jordan in addition to the real estate development projects. Since its launch, Ayla has taken the initiative to work on promoting and diversifying the tourism offers in Aqaba. Our commitment to grow the hospitality and real estate facilities would not have been possible without the right partners.” Marloes Knippenberg CEO of Kerten Hospitality said: “Our vision and efforts have always been exerted to create local collaborations and bring projects to life with depth and purpose that allow to bring communities together. Our relationship with Ayla has developed where we share and motivate new ideas for development; we are truly …

Etihad Airways announced new flights to Greece’s largest island, Crete, set to commence on 15 June 2022 and popular routes to Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar will also return for summer. Travellers with Etihad Airways can look forward to a new destination this summer, along with the return of popular seasonal routes to Europe and the Indian Ocean. Starting 15 June 2022, Etihad Airways will launch a seasonal twice-per-week service to Crete, the largest island in Greece. The flights are set to be operated on an Airbus A320 aircraft and will connect Abu Dhabi to the main city of Heraklion. Lying in the Aegean Sea, Crete offers travellers a rich tapestry of spectacular landscapes, cuisine and culture, with traditional villages and historic sites dating back thousands of years, such as the 4,000-year old Palace of Knossos. The airline will also return to Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar this summer. All four destinations are set to be operated from mid-June. “Etihad Airways is delighted to provide travellers with more choice for their summer vacations in 2022,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo. “Crete is an ideal summer destination for travellers who are looking for a mix of beach and mountain adventures, and along with the hotspots of Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar, makes for a perfect addition to Etihad’s summer network.”

Association leaders and thought leaders from around the world have gathered in Dubai for the third edition of the Dubai Association Conference, with city leaders urging them to make the most of the opportunity to develop their operations and take advantage of the platform Dubai can provide trade and professional associations for growth and expanded reach. The one-day event took place at Dubai Exhibition Centre, located within the Expo 2020 Dubai site as the final month of the World’s Greatest Show approaches. Under the theme of ‘Associations and The New World: Resilience & Reinvention’, the conference is providing a platform for exploring how associations can adapt amid not just the aftermath and direct impact of the global pandemic, but shifting dynamics among the professions and industries they serve. It was once again organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. The event kicked off with a session featuring the founders of the Dubai Association Centre (DAC): His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chambers. As driving forces behind both DAC and Dubai’s wider economy and business landscape, they provided their perspectives on the roles associations can play in global society and as a driver of positive change. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “The impact of the global pandemic has been felt across almost every industry, profession and field of expertise over the past two years, and associations have experienced this on two fronts: on the one hand supporting and …

Dubai Travel & Tour Agents Group – DTTAG announced the appointment of Mohamed Al Rais, as its Honorary Chairman effective February 2022. Mohamed Al Rais, is the Deputy Managing Director of Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group) with extensive experience in the travel & tourism industry. Mohamed Jassim Al Rais is a young dynamic Emirati, who completed his graduation from American University, Sharjah in 2006. His initial introduction to the Al Rais Group of Companies was made in 2002 through a Management Development Program and thereafter in 2008 was given a Leadership role in Al Rais Holidays, Al Rais Online Services and Al Rais Rent – A – Car Company. Mr. Mohamed Jassim Al Rais is now the Deputy Managing director of Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group) and spearheads the Strategic Direction and Growth Plan of the Organization. Asim Arshad, President of DTTAG, added: That on behalf of the Executive Committee members, it is our sincere pleasure to welcome Mohamed Al Rais as our Chairman. Mohamed is a highly respected individual and is very actively involved in managing and running Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group). His experience and network will be an asset to DTTAG and we look forward to working with him in the near future.

Wego announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with the Flipkart Group, India’s homegrown e-commerce ecosystem, to acquire Cleartrip’s Middle East business. This transaction also includes the sale of Flyin.com and a technology co-operation agreement between Wego and Flipkart. The Boards of Directors of Wego and Flipkart have approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Cleartrip is a pioneer of online travel in India and is famous and much loved by customers for its user-friendly interface and industry-first initiatives. Cleartrip expanded organically into the Middle East region in 2010 and acquired Riyadh based Flyin.com in 2018, which played a similar role in kick-starting online travel in Saudi Arabia. Wego and Cleartrip both have their regional headquarters located in Dubai Internet City. “Cleartrip and Flyin are both product-driven companies with best-in-class OTA technology that have established strong brands and strong positions across the Middle East,” said Ross Veitch, CEO & Co-Founder of Wego. “We are excited to welcome Cleartrip Middle East and Flyin into the Wego group. The Middle East is set to be one of the most exciting growth stories of the next decade with the travel & technology sectors taking center stage and with the Wego group playing a very crucial role. This acquisition will significantly increase our scale and capabilities and will strengthen our ability to partner and collaborate across our region. We are also excited to begin a multi-faceted partnership with Flipkart that will involve us sharing a brand across regions and co-operating on technology.” “The opportunity in travel tech for India is vast, and through Cleartrip, we have been able …