Travel, Aviation and Hospitality industry leaders coming from Italy and UAE will meet in-person November 22 at the Conrad Etihad Towers Abu Dhabi hotel and share mega and micro trends that will define the future landscape of the tourism industry. What will the impact of Expo 2020 Dubai on international tourism be? What will tomorrow’s travel trending topics be? What are the strategic communication levers that the tourism industry should use to engage travelers in the next decade? How to develop tourist excellence in terms of products, services and personnel? Travel Hashtag is a traveling conference-event format, born to deepen the scenarios that will be outlined shortly in the tourism industry. Aimed at developing valuable connections among key industry decision makers, Travel Hashtag draws attention of a community of entrepreneurs, professionals and journalists all interested in sharing about news, trends and visions concerning the future of travel. “We are truly grateful to our established partners Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, DCT Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways, Tourmeon for facilitating the international debut of our conference format in the UAE” – said Nicola Romanelli, Chairman of Travel Hashtag and founder of brandsavetheworld (International Strategy Consulting Hub). Among the guest speakers already confirmed also Giorgio Palmucci (ENIT- Italian National Tourist Board), Husain Alhashm (DCT Abu Dhabi), Martin Drew (Etihad Airways), Alessandro Redaelli (Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers), Tarik Achab Zekri (Expo 2020 Dubai), Fabrizio Puglisi (Tourmeon) and one of the most famous Travel & Lifestyle Influencer in Italy, Federica Di Nardo. “This is a tremendous opportunity for key hospitality travel and tourism leaders to come together and share recent experiences in order to enhance our approach on future travel trends.” – said Alessandro …

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Philippines is keen to revive tourism numbers. In a bid to boost the numbers, the Department has charted out a strategic revival tourism strategy. The strategy will focus on educating the travel trade on all safety procedures to be adhered to when tourists visit the destination as well as sanitization of all key tourist attractions. Every important step has been looked into following global guidelines. Plans are being drafted to work closely with our partners across the world. The Middle East is an important market for us. The plans include conducting workshops offline and online, interacting with media outlets talking about the key destinations and their readiness and overall education of the travel trade. Recently, the Department of Tourism (DOT) along with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) the Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) organized a Philippine Food Festival in support of the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. Several such activities are planned to increase awareness about the destination and prepare travellers for safer travel. Commenting on the plans, Mr. SanJeet, from Philippines Tourism said: “The Philippines as a destination is blessed with abundant nature. We want to give our travellers the experience that lasts as memories to be lived. Travel is all about experiences and the Philippines has that in abundance, from city life to local surroundings, there is always something for everyone.” Showcasing the destination beyond just sun and beach, there are several adventure, sports and eco-conscious activities. Elaborating on the plans for the Middle East, he said: “We are consciously working towards preparing our travellers for an experiential holiday in the Philippines. The pandemic …

Hilton announced the latest in a series of technology innovations that enhance the guest experience across the company’s 18 world-class hotel brands. In a first for a major hospitality company, Digital Key Share will allow more than one guest to have access to their room’s Digital Key, which turns the free Hilton Honors app on their smartphones into a room key. Hilton also announced an enhancement to a highly valued Hilton Honors benefit, providing members with early confirmation of a favorite perk – complimentary room upgrades. Eligible Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors members will be notified of their space-available upgrade 72 hours prior to arrival, enabling the member to choose their upgraded room directly when they check in via the Hilton Honors app. These two enhancements join the recently launched Confirmed Connecting Rooms, another industry first that allows individuals to easily and instantly confirm at least two connecting rooms at the time of booking.  “We’ve always had our guests at the heart of everything we do, and we continue to listen, evolve and innovate to give them more choice and control over their hotel stay,” said Chris Silcock, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Hilton. “Our approach to technology always starts with the guest experience, and as travel returns, we are pleased to provide Hilton guests with enhancements to their stay that are seamless, flexible and allow them to focus on what matters most – creating new memories.” Sharing Your Digital Key with Travel Companions Since its 2015 launch, Hilton’s Digital Key has expanded rapidly. The technology is now available at more than 80% of Hilton’s portfolio, or close to 5,400 of Hilton’s more than 6,600 properties worldwide. It …

DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel and Residences opened its doors to guests. Located in the heart of Sharjah’s vibrant arts and cultural scene, overlooking the Al Majaz Waterfront and in close proximity to the city centre, this new hotel offers warm ambience and engaging hospitality. “I am delighted to have opened the first DoubleTree by Hilton in Sharjah, offering guests stylish and spacious guestrooms, incredible dining options and service that will truly wow our guests,” said Vikram Jamwal, General Manager. “Sharjah has so much to offer – from rich culture, a vibrant arts scene, to unique events – and DoubleTree by Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences is poised to become a lifestyle destination of choice for travellers to the Emirate.” DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences features 156 guestrooms and 108 design-led family-friendly apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. It also offers modern meeting rooms appointed with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and a fully equipped and functional business centre. Each of the guest rooms, apartments and meeting rooms offer an exceptional Al Majaz Waterfront view with floor-to-ceiling windows.   “We believe the opening of this hotel represents a milestone moment in the development of Sharjah as a unique and welcoming destination for visitors” said Mr. Marwan Al Zaiem, Chairman of Al Marwan Group. “With incredible lake views from every room and fully equipped apartments, the design of this hotel is entrenched with the rich historical and cultural heritage of Sharjah all to offer each of our guests a very memorable experience.”   Dining options available at DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences include Majdolin, an upscale Levantine restaurant – led by Executive Chef Bilal Saleh …

Emirates has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with the Maldives by extending a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tourism. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group met His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of the Maldives, at the Emirates Pavilion in Expo 2020. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates and Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism Maldives, and Mr Thoyyib Mohamed, CEO and Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation. The ceremony was also attended by: Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates; Abdulla Al Olama, Regional Manager Commercial Operations Far East, West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates; Chandana De Silva, Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives at Emirates; Hamad Ustadi, Business Analysis Manager at Emirates; Fathimath Nilfa, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism Maldives; Mohamed Khussan, Senior Policy Director Ministry of Tourism Maldives; and Fazeela Ali, Executive Director Ministry of Tourism Maldives. Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates said: “Maldives is a very integral market in Emirates’ network and we are very pleased to be renewing our commitment to the island-nation today. Emirates has proudly served the country for more than 34 years and we look forward to continue strengthening our long-standing partnership, and to boosting the country’s trade and tourism industry.” Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism Maldives, said: “With over 1,000 flights and visits from 170,000 passenger arrivals to the Maldives this year, Emirates Airline continues to be a very important partner in Maldives Tourism success story. Ministry of Tourism is confident that this tri-party MOU between …

The Dubai-based network of 600 independent hotels and groups adopts D-EDGE’s suite of solutions to develop the sales of its member hotels and support its expansion. D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, a leading provider of SaaS and digital marketing solutions for hoteliers, announces a new partnership with ResNet World. Thanks to this agreement, the 600 hotels of the network will migrate to D-EDGE’s CRS* and will benefit from MediaGenius, the first multi digital media platform dedicated to hoteliers. Over the last 24 months D-EDGE has accelerated the development of its offering with the addition of a Central Data Management Platform offer, the launch of the first multi digital media management platform for hotels, and has developed connectivity with more than 50 additional partners/third-party solutions. The addition of ResNet hotels to its customer portfolio is a strong endorsement of D-EDGE’s technology and of the company’s ability to serve the growth and ambition of hotel chains. On the choice of D-EDGE, Shane Mansell, co-founder of ResNet World explains: “At ResNet World we know what independent hotels are looking for in our markets. They need technology that is flexible, reliable and makes their lives easier and they need great support and a fair price point from their CRS partner. And most of all our hoteliers need a technology company that focuses on its clients. That is why we are making this switch to D-EDGE: they care about the success of our hoteliers across all aspects of the business and provide us with the tools, attitude and technology we are hungry for to grow our company and to help hoteliers manage their properties.” D-EDGE already equips 12,000 hotels worldwide. Thanks to this deal, it will strengthen …

Oman Air will resume flights between Muscat and Paris from 31st October 2021. The flights will operate three times weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing Muscat at 14:45 local time and arriving in Paris at 19:25 local time. Flights from Paris will depart at 21:10 local time and arrive in Muscat at 07:10 local time on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. All flights are scheduled to operate with Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman’s airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety, and a number of other measures have been implemented to ensure that the airline’s guests and crew are safe at all times. Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website, caa.gov.om, to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate. Guests travelling to Paris should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through the country. Guests departing from Oman should also ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com      

Qatar Airways has announced it will operate flights three times a week to Odesa, Ukraine from 9 December 2021, becoming the second destination to be served in Ukraine by the national carrier of the State of Qatar. The service will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A320 featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We have been operating to the Ukraine since August 2017 and our launch to Odesa marks a milestone in our history with the country. Odesa is rightly known as the pearl of the Black Sea and we look forward to bringing visitors from around the world to explore its rich cultural history as well as further afield along the coast and inland in the south west of Ukraine. “Equally we are excited to offer leisure travellers from Ukraine access to our expanding network such as our Indian Ocean winter sun destinations including the Maldives, the Seychelles and Zanzibar. The route will also connect Ukrainians with friends and family across the globe from Sydney, Dubai and Bangkok.” With flights to more than 85 destinations in Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East passengers wanting to travel to or from Odesa can now enjoy seamless connectivity via the ‘Best Airport in the World’, Hamad International Airport. Equally, passengers can look forward to great hospitality onboard delivered by our much admired cabin crew serving award-winning cuisine, and entertained with a huge variety of movies, TV shows and music on Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system. Environmental concerns are of huge importance to Ukrainian customers, and Qatar Airways’ strategic investment in a …

Cruise Saudi, the company facilitating the development of the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia, has confirmed that it has become a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Launched in January 2021 at the Future Investment Initiative (FII), Cruise Saudi has made rapid progress in its mission to bring a global cruise industry to Saudi Arabia a new component of the country’s tourism plan outlined in the landmark Vision 2030 program. The company has already worked together with stakeholders such as the Saudi Port Authority MAWANI to guide the construction of a new cruise terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia’s largest port. It has signed agreements with several leading global cruise operators to bring their ships to Saudi waters. MSC Bellissima, owned by MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, and luxury liner Scenic Eclipse, have both been sailing the Saudi coastline during the summer season. The membership of WTTC, which advocates for the development of the travel and tourism sector as a driver of sustainable economic growth, will further establish the Saudi cruise industry just as international leisure travel begins to resume following the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining the Council will allow Cruise Saudi to better shine a spotlight on the year-round potential of the Saudi market to tour operators, travel agents and cruise lines, in addition to sourcing key data on international travel trends and learning from the best practitioners in the global cruise sector. Saudi Arabia certainly has an enviable and as yet largely undiscovered tourist proposition for international cruise passengers to explore – whether as a stop on a wider regional itinerary or a destination in its own right. The crystalline waters …

Ishraq Hospitality, a Mohammad & Obaid AlMulla Group division, announced the successful upgrade of all Holiday Inn Express hotels in Dubai to a three-star rating. This milestone is in line with Ishraq Hospitality’s plans to expand the Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) chain – the single largest hotel brand in the world – in the Middle East, with eight new hotels to be opened in the next seven years. Alexander Suski, Acting CEO of Ishraq Hospitality, said: “Ishraq Hospitality is committed to maintaining ambitious growth plans in the region and providing consistent quality services in the hospitality industry. The recent upgrade to three stars, an important milestone, will allow our hotels to accommodate new markets and audiences enabling further average rate growth for the portfolio, facilitate more smart travel guest services, and continue to deliver guest satisfaction.” Renovations across the hotels include new services such as a 24/7 kiosk and a coffee lounge, where guests can work and socialize in a vibrant environment. Rooms and features are also undergoing renovation, with a new front office look for Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport. The Brick Wall Sports Bar is now present in Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah and Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport. At Holiday Inn Express Internet City, the award-winning casual Mexican restaurant, Muchachas, also offers a takeaway menu. Holiday Inn Express is one of IHG’s fastest-growing hotel brands, a first choice for the increasing number of travellers who need a warm, comfortable place to rest, recharge, and work. Ishraq Hospitality, which operates Holiday Inn Express under the IHG® franchise, currently owns four Holiday Inn Express hotels in the UAE in partnership with IHG®.