It was announced by the Spain tourism authority in the GCC that they will be exhibiting at this year’s Arabian Travel Market from 9th to 12th May 2022. Spain is a destination which caught the attention well ahead of time to the travelers from GCC, mainly due to the bilateral relationship which exist between the countries, the fact that the country opened fairly early than the rest of Europe and also vaccinated their population just like the UAE ahead of the rest. Daniel Rosado, Director Spain tourism in GCC reiterated, “We will be promoting Spain as a destination which is safe, friendly and offering a vast variety of activities where to enjoy a hassle free holiday. We will present various destinations and also continue to promote our current campaign ´´You deserve Spain ´´In addition to this we will be signing up with an online platform   for a campaign to promote Spain this summer. There will be around 30 partners from across Spain representing various regions, DMCs, Hotels etc.” During the pandemic, Spain has been proactively working to ensure that their destination was top on the minds of the travelers with many B2B sessions online and then when they finally opened borders, ensured that the physical road shows continued. 2021, for Spain was a considerably good year as the visitor numbers form the GCC rose due to ease of restrictions. Rosado shared, “We had relatively good numbers from GCC in 2021 despite the fact that the country opened up only in June. we are positive that the trend continues and with the ease in restrictions for GCC travelers and the seasonal summer flights to Malaga other than the regular Madrid – …

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announced the opening of W Dubai – Mina Seyahi. Situated on the highly sought-after Jumeirah Beach coastline, the 31-storey hotel boasts striking glass architecture with unobstructed views of the sun-soaked Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s iconic landmarks. “Dubai is an always-on, high-energy city with a growing luxury lifestyle scene, making it the perfect destination for the iconic W Hotels brand,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is the third W hotel to launch in the UAE and reflects its world-famous culture and social vibrancy, and brings the W brand’s signature style of luxury to travellers looking for new ways to celebrate the destination. Guests and locals can expect the unexpected with intriguing spaces, vibrant dining experiences and dynamic programming.” Dubai’s historical, cultural and social fabric is woven throughout the design of the hotel with surprises waiting to be discovered around every corner. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the artfully designed porte-cochère that leads to a show-stopping Welcome Desk featuring bold colours and textures inspired by the romanticism of a snake charmer – a nod to the Middle East’s history of mystique and its mix of poets, storytellers, and performers who brought the energy of the region to life. Inside, the W Lounge – the brand’s take on the hotel lobby – pays homage to famed, Middle Eastern gold souks, with rich, warm hues and gold accents to create a lively, modern-day bazaar. Guests can connect over imaginative cocktails and savoury bites infused with local flavours, complemented by live music and nightly DJ sets. …

Wego and Tourism Ireland, sign a campaign to get GCC travelers to visit the Island again. Wego is working with leading tourism boards across the world to boost tourism recovery and help travelers select the best destinations for their next holiday. Wego and Tourism Ireland are bringing the best of the island of Ireland to GCC travelers offering them a glimpse of Ireland’s wonderful city breaks. With Eid holidays coming up, travelers can book their holiday to enjoy one of the exciting experiences the island of Ireland has waiting for you. Discover UNESCO City of literature, the culturally rich and invigorating Dublin. Travelers can opt to visit the vibrant galleries and old museums and castles, try exceptional food experiences, learn the story of this incredible city and much more. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are excited to partner with Tourism Ireland to promote yet another marvelous country to our users. Wego is seeing a great demand for this country with marvelous city escapes for all types of travelers. We are seeing positive signs of recovery for tourism and through these collaborations, we aim to encourage people to travel more in the new norm.” Another city that is a must see for everyone, is Belfast. People come to Belfast to explore the maritime heritage and, to experience Titanic Belfast, which tells the story of the famous liner which was built in Belfast city. Belfast is also home to an incredible music heritage, wonderful Botanic Gardens, and lots of great places to eat and listen to traditional Irish music. Aisling McDermott, Manager Middle East & Asia for Tourism …

Wego reveals that travelers will be taking longer holidays and spending more on travel in summer 2022. Our data shows that the average booking value for flights this summer has increased by 57% in comparison to the same period in 2019. Similarly, that of hotels saw a spike of 55% compared to 2019. It is a testament that people are looking to spend more and book leisure trips. We also see travelers opting for all-inclusive leisure travel which gives them a safe travel experience during the pandemic. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “Summer 2022 will be all about long holidays and travelers will be spending more on leisure travel to make up for the lost time. There’s a lot of pent-up demand, people have accumulated leaves and are ready to travel again in the new norm. Our data also shows that the average trip duration has increased by 80% for some destinations.” Wego also reveals that the overall trip duration for people traveling to MENA countries has increased by 73% to 24 days, up from 14 days in 2019. It has increased by 80% for Oman for travel dates between May and July 2022. Saudi Arabia saw a rise of 62%, Egypt 58%, Turkey 42%, Lebanon 41%, Morocco 31%, India 28% and 21% for the UAE.

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 …