National tourism agency VisitBritain launched a new multi-million-pound global campaign to drive inbound tourism, as Britain gears up for a year of landmark events. The £10 million international GREAT Britain marketing campaign ‘Welcome to Another Side of Britain’ was formally launched by The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at a VisitBritain reception on 9 February in Dubai, UAE. The event, hosted by Dame Judith Macgregor, chair of the British Tourist Authority and Tricia Warwick, VisitBritain Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), was in support of the wider programme for UK National Day at Expo Dubai. Also in attendance was the British Ambassador to the UAE Patrick Moody, the Leader of Birmingham City Council Councillor Ian Ward, as well as top tourism industry and travel trade executives from India, the GCC, the West Midlands in England and international media. VisitBritain’s ‘Welcome to Another Side of Britain’ campaign is putting the spotlight on Britain’s cities, hit hard by the absence of international visitors, as well as on messages of welcome and reassurance. It is also capturing the major events this year, set to be global tourism draws, including HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and ‘Unboxed,’ the UK-wide celebration of creativity, to drive tourism to Britain. UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries said: “This brilliant campaign will highlight the best of the UK to the world and show that we are open and ready to welcome back international visitors.” “2022 is a fantastic time to visit thanks to major events including Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has officially inaugurated the 11th Sharjah Light Festival – themed ‘Echoes of the Future’ – which includes a series of activities and shows, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, until February 20, 2022. The event was held tonight at University City Hall and included the Festival opening act, attended by representatives of local and international media in the UAE, as well as an enthusiastic crowd. Speaking at the event, SCTDA Chairman His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa said that the Festival, now in its 11th edition, is “one of the hallmarks of the success and originality of our emirate’s tourism sector, organised every year by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. This event is an extension of years of hard work and dedication to charting a bright future for the Emirate of Sharjah – a future that cements its name and praiseworthy reputation as an unparalleled tourist destination teeming with culture, art, and authentic heritage, all the while being up to speed with visitors’ needs and requirements, and on a par with the world’s leading destinations.” “We are immensely proud of the accomplishments the tourism sector is making each year, guided by the forward-thinking vision and boundless support of our wise leadership, represented by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah,” H.E. Al Midfa added. “Over the course of the past 50 years, this vision has served as the foundation for Sharjah’s development and progress. And today, …

Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) has announced its partnership with Royal Jordanian Airlines, offering Royal Club Award Miles to Royal Club Program members staying in its distinctive hotel brands throughout the UAE, and Jordan Through this exciting new collaboration, HMH hotel guests enrolled in the Royal Club frequent flyer program will earn Royal Club Award Miles for every US$ they spend on hotel night stays and other services from participating HMH hotels. ‘We are always looking for ways to enhance our hospitality experience, both for our guests staying with us and for residents visiting the wonderful restaurants and facilities,’ commented (Haytham, Director of Operations). ‘Our aim through the HMH alliance and partner program is to reward guest loyalty with attractive, attainable rewards, and as one of the region’s most exciting customer loyalty programs, we are delighted to introduce Royal Club in participating hotels in the UAE, and Jordan. Members will be able to take those miles and unlock great travel related rewards, plus shop online at the Royal Club Rewards Store.’ ‘We are delighted to partner up with HMH in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and to welcome five distinctive hotel brands to our program for our members to enjoy new memorable experiences and additional rewards’, said Yola Isaac, Head of Royal Club Program. ‘We are constantly working to expand our partners network especially in the region, to cater for the needs and preferences of our valued members and to provide them with additional benefits while enjoying the distinguished array of products and services offered by our partners’. HMH has a range of alliances and partnerships in place with industry leaders in the Middle East, and its proactive use of …

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will add two new Jordanian destinations to its ever-growing list of routes. Flying to the extraordinary cities of Amman and Aqaba, the new routes will strengthen travel links within the region by bringing in a bold new frontier for ultra-low fare travel. The flight to Amman will operate two times a week on Tuesday and Saturday. Flights to Aqaba will operate two times a week on Sunday and Thursday. Tickets are on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app (also available in Arabic), with fares starting as low as AED 70*. Home to ancient treasures and monuments, lush green landscapes and staggering mountains, the beautiful country of Jordan is a great place for visitors looking to discover the region and experience a new adventure. Jordan has something for everyone from floating in the beautiful and world famous Dead Sea to experiencing the awe-inspiring rose-red sandstone rock facades and temples of Petra, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Michael Berlouis, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi said: “We are all very excited to be adding Jordan to our network and look forward to offering our customers the opportunity to experience such an incredible and culturally rich destination. Jordan really has it all, from hiking, sightseeing to relaxing on the beach. The wonders at Petra are incredible and something everyone should experience. The whole Wizz Air Abu Dhabi team are pleased to offer these travel and adventure opportunities to UAE residents at great prices and making them more accessible to everyone. We will continue to add to our flight schedule as travel restrictions begin to ease across the world – we’re looking forward …

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG), renowned for curating contemporary hospitality experiences around the world, and Dex Squared Hospitality, a hospitality management company, has signed a joint venture to bring SHG’s portfolio of brands to Egypt. The announcement coincides with the Group’s strategic expansion plans for 2022. It will see SHG’s hospitality and lifestyle concepts entering Egypt, the Arab world’s third-largest economy, and set to become a destination of choice for lifestyle experiences. Antonio Gonzalez, CEO, Sunset Hospitality Group, explains: “As we enter a promising 2022, we are glad to announce our joint venture with Dex Squared Hospitality to enter Egypt. Egypt offers a rich business environment. Being close to many European markets and a gateway to Africa, the country attracts tourists and investors alike. With its magnificent climate, sandy beaches, popular attractions like its historical monuments, and vibrant social life, our hospitality concepts will add value to the many experiences this country has to offer.” The partnership will see Sunset Dex Egypt use its knowledge and experience of the Egyptian market to operate healthy business investments that meet the specific objectives of Sunset Hospitality Group. This means Egypt will be home to brands like Azure Beach, Ammos, Black Tap, and Isola Ristorante Italiano, to name a few. Dex Squared is a hospitality management firm led by a highly experienced team with decades of engagement in developing hotel and restaurant brands and managing the portfolio of international hotel chains in MEA. Dex Squared Hospitality uses its diversified expertise to provide bespoke and relevant solutions ranging from franchised third party operated and stand-alone hotels, asset managed hotels and the development of innovative hotel and restaurant-related software. Kevork Deldelian, CEO & Founder, Dex Squared …

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) to address delegates on ATM Global Stage, as growth in business travel spending estimated to have outstripped leisure travel in 2021 – WTTC report findings bode well for ME business travel & tourism Business travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32% this year, following a predicted 49% increase during 2021, according to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) published in November 2021. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 9-12 May 2022, said, “This positive data will provide a welcome boost for business travel and tourism professionals throughout the Middle East region, as economies around the world begin to relax travel restrictions, despite the disruption caused by the outbreak of the Omicron variant. “During 2021, the increase in business spending for the full year is expected to have actually outpaced spending on leisure travel by 13%, 10% and 1% in the Middle East, Europe and Africa respectively. “Aviation experts speaking at ATM 2021, had expected business travel to lag behind leisure travel, but this estimated increase of 32%, comes on top of a predicted rise during 2021 of 49% which although 2020 was a challenging year, the business travel segment is now clearly accelerating towards pre pandemic levels,” added Curtis. In terms of business travel spending in 2021, the report ranks the Middle East region first with an increase of 49%, followed by Europe and Africa (36%), Asia Pacific (32%) and the Americas (14%). According to the report, the Asia Pacific region will lead the world in 2022 with growth in spending …

Sabre Corporation and Fahad Express Travel & Tourism L.L.C, one of the leading travel companies in the Sultanate of Oman, have announced a new multiyear preferred GDS agreement to help elevate the traveller experience in Oman. Fahad Express Travel & Tourism has been working with Sabre for more than a decade, delivering on its vision “to offer the best and most satisfying services to holiday seekers and our corporate travellers”. Under the new agreement, Fahad Express will be exclusively using Sabre Red 360 to deliver highly personalised offers for its customers, by deploying intelligent and consultative services and features. Furthermore, it will continue to benefit from Sabre’s automated exchanges and refunds to drive operational efficiency and excellence. “We are excited to extend our longstanding relationship with Fahad Express as its preferred GDS partner,” said John Matthew, Oman Country Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “Online travel is playing a significant role in the industry’s recovery, and we will provide the technology and tools to allow Fahad Express leverage this growth and excel in both online and offline travel.”   Fahad Express Travel and Tourism will use Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, to sell customized travel packages from suppliers around the world. “We have been successful in building a brand that delivers the perfect balance of quality, reliability and service in the offline space,” said Ms. Juliet Irwin, General Manager, Fahad Express of Travel & Tourism. “Our partnership with Sabre will see us work together to empower the travel industry in Oman and transfer our expertise to excel in the online space. We will leverage Sabre’s …

Since opening its doors to visitors from around the globe on October 1st 2021, the Qatar Pavilion has received over 800,000 visitors. Located within the Sustainability District, the Qatar Pavilion houses two main galleries of exhibition spaces that provide visitors with the opportunity to explore Qatar’s past, present, and future through visual arts, sound effects, and music. Reflecting the beauty and culture of the nation, the Qatar Pavilion uses architectural spaces to communicate the story of Qatar – blending heritage and culture with advanced modern technologies. Offering a deeply immersive audio-visual experience, the pavilion features a wrap-around projection screen and six illusion mirror totems displaying six key themes that represent Qatar’s story. Visitors are also invited to enjoy six illusion showcases that bring objects inside the pavilion to life. Situated between Gallery 1 and Gallery 2, the pavilion’s key exhibit is inspired by the overarching theme of “Bringing the World Together” and was built to commemorate Qatar stadiums as the upcoming venues for the FIFA World Cup 2022™. Mr. Nasser bin Mohammed Almuhannadi, General Commissioner, Qatar Pavilion, said: “We are proud to have welcomed over 800,000 visitors to the Qatar Pavilion since the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai. Inaugurated under the slogan, ‘Qatar: The Future is Now,’ the pavilion tells the story of Qatar’s rich heritage, underlined by our pioneering hope and vision of its future. Represented architecturally by elements at the core of the national emblem of Qatar, the pavilion invites visitors on a journey that moves from peacefulness to heightened emotion, from the personal to the global, and from the conceptual to the concrete. We are pleased to host people from all corners of the globe at the …

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Thera Island Suites S.A., owners of Magma Resort Santorini, managed by Athens-based SWOT Hospitality. Expected to open in 2022 in time for the summer season, the hotel will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt as the first Hyatt-affiliated resort in the Greek islands, featuring 59 guestrooms, including 24 suites. The signing underscores Hyatt’s strategy to grow its brand footprint in the leisure and independent collection segments across key European leisure destinations. Magma Resort Santorini will resemble a re-imagined traditional Cycladic dwelling by incorporating a sustainable yet modern exterior design that seamlessly integrates the lava-made and stone elements with the overall island’s ambience. All 59 guestrooms and suites, 46 of which will feature private pools and hot tubs, will enjoy unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea and Anafi Island. True to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand’s ethos, Magma Resort Santorini will offer one-of-a-kind, modern and personalized luxury guest experiences. Nestled among traditional old vineyards, the resort will be located on the lava-made slopes of Vourvoulos, in close proximity to picturesque lava sand beaches on the northeast part of the island and popular cosmopolitan destinations such as Fira and Oia, known for its Instagram-worthy sunsets. The resort’s culinary experience, Magma by Spondi, will be curated by a two-starred Michelin chef and honor local agriculture and seasonal ingredients in a contemporary and inventive interpretation. The restaurant’s menu will feature signature dishes and other fine dining options paired with renowned wines from the rich viticulture for which the island is known. “We are thrilled to work with SWOT Hospitality and are excited to announce The Unbound Collection by …

Raising its bar for the triumph more and more by interconnecting its wide wide flight network that sweeps the continents with the unrivaled geographical advantage of Turkey, Turkish Cargo now incorporates all of its air cargo transportation operations in SMARTIST, the Mega Cargo Facility. Having moved the cargo operations, it carries out by means of the passenger flights, to the Istanbul Airport following its opening in April 2019, Turkish Cargo remained to continue its freighter operations at the Ataturk Airport. Since its infrastructure has been made available entirely, the air cargo brand moved also its freighter operations to its Mega Cargo Facility at the Istanbul Airport by means of a relocation operation that took 72 hours. Having said goodbye to the Ataturk Airport by such a massive relocation, Turkish Cargo will from now on carry out all of its operational processes as based in SMARTIST, the new hub for the air cargo logistics. Turhan Ozen: “With SMARTIST, our new home, we are ready for the future more than we have been ever before.” Regarding the start of the full-capacity operation of SMARTIST, Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines, remarked as follows; “During the last 3 years, we carried out a highly substantial operation in both of our hubs. While we made use of our freighters at the Ataturk Airport, we benefited from our passenger aircraft and the paxfre* capacity at the Istanbul Airport. We performed approximately 30 thousand flights, 23 thousand of which were performed by making use of our freighters and 6 thousand of which were by paxfre, and we transported more than 4 million air cargo shipments, 2.5 million tons of which were transported from/to the …