The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – the organisation responsible for delivering the required infrastructure, host country planning and operations, and legacy projects for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – has signed an agreement with Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, to manage operations and deliver services to Qatar’s host country real estate portfolio through the end of 2022. The agreement was signed in Doha, Qatar, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. H.E. Ali Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance and Chairman, Katara Hospitality, and H.E.  Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General, were also in attendance. Engineer Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office, and Vice Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, signed the agreement alongside Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, and Katara Hospitality’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Humphries. The agreement will see Accor provide personnel to operate what will be the largest serviced real estate operation in the world, and include front office (check-in/check-out), operational supplies and equipment as well as housekeeping services among others. The agreement will make use of the country’s full real estate portfolio, further illustrating Qatar’s commitment to sustainability.   H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC said: “This groundbreaking agreement is another example of how Qatar’s approach is truly historic – not only in terms of setting the highest delivery standards, but also for legacy planning. By making full use of existing residential apartments and villas in Qatar, we can offer visitors a range of affordable and comfortable options; while also ensuring we have a sustainable hotel market that does not leave …

IHG® Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a Management Agreement with The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), an affiliate of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to open the InterContinental Resort Red Sea in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Situated within the premium Red Sea Development destination, the new InterContinental Resort is scheduled to open during Phase One of The Red Sea Project’s development. Activity for the first phase of development is well underway and is on track to be completed by the end of 2023. Speaking on the announcement, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “With a strong legacy in the country, we remain committed to leveraging the growth opportunities that are aligned with Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the priority destinations highlighted within the Saudi Tourism Strategy. We are excited to partner with The Red Sea Development Company, one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative projects, to strengthen our offering in Saudi Arabia and collaborate on sustainability related initiatives to protect the natural, historical and cultural environments that make this destination unique. These initiatives are in line with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow, a 10-year action plan focused on commitments to drive change for people, communities and the planet. We also look forward to building scale in the Kingdom to deliver a landmark development that will cater to the needs of diverse guest profiles expected to visit the country in the coming years.” The announcement comes during Intercontinental Hotel’s and Resorts’ diamond anniversary celebrations, marking 75 years of pioneering luxury travel with a celebration of rich heritage, iconic hotels and exclusive experiences.  The brand has become synonymous with bold exploration, travel and cultural discovery and …

Spain Tourism hosted its first post-pandemic travel and trade roadshow in Saudi Arabia& UAE as part of its initiative to target travellers of the region. The first event took place in Jeddah on the 25th of October 2021, at Jeddah Hilton, followed by  Riyadh on the 26th, at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya and the third at Intercontinental Dubai festival City last Thursday following all covid protocols. There were over 60 participants at all cities who met with the different tourism regions in Spain such as Barcelona, Madrid, Costa del sol, Valencia, Andalucia along with DMCs, hotels, and shopping outlets. Attendees included key players in various travel and tourism sectors which gave them the opportunity to have one-to-one meetings with all the Spanish partners. Speaking about the Spain Tourism Roadshow, Daniel Rosado, Director of Spain Tourism – GCC commented: “Spain Tourism is extremely excited to host its first post-pandemic roadshow in GCC as part of our dedication to further engage and develop our connections with the GCC market. As part of our continuous efforts to strengthen the connections between GCCs outbound travel professionals, MICE specialists and Spain Tourism’s travel industry partners, the event was a great opportunity to further develop new joint opportunities, create new holiday packages for locals and expats in the UAE and increase visitation from the region.” Spain is a one-of-a-kind destination, showing traces of many cultures and civilizations evident in the ancient Roman architecture, medieval castles, and buildings of the Golden Islamic era. Spain is also home to 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and offers a wide variety of lifestyle experiences including exclusive luxury and gourmet experiences, entertainment, and shopping, making it ideal for families and groups …

Accor expands its luxury footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a new property – Fairmont Red Sea – a luxurious family, wellness and nature focused resort part of the upcoming landmark The Red Sea Project (TRSP). TRSP is being developed as an exquisite ultra-luxury destination within a pristine 28,000 square kilometer area. Once complete, it will offer visitors the exclusive opportunity to explore a unique and diverse region of the world, including experiences for nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, cultural explorers and wellness seekers. With more than 200 km of untouched coastline, an archipelago of more than 90 unspoiled islands, dormant volcanoes, rich nature and marine habitats, and ancient archaeological sites, the destination will set new standards in sustainable development and further position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map. The group is partnering with the Red Sea Development Company, a closed joint stock company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Company. “We are pleased to partner with the Accor Group for the expansion of the Fairmont brand at our Red Sea destination. The Red Sea Project aims to deliver a unique barefoot luxury experience to our guests, and the name Accor has become synonymous with luxury the world over. We are proud to have the Group’s prestigious Fairmont brand at the development and look forward to working together to set a new global benchmark in regenerative luxury tourism. This is truly a milestone moment for the brand, for TRSDC and for the Kingdom,” said John Pagano, CEO at TRSDC.   Fairmont hotels are well-known for offering more than luxurious rooms, exceptional dining and outstanding locations: through heartfelt service, the delivery of meaningful experiences and a true and …

Mosaid Travel & Tourism Services (MTTS), one of the leading travel companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has renewed its partnership with Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, to support its strategic plans and recovery. MTTS will continue to access Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, enabling it to sell personalized travel packages from suppliers around the world. Through the next generation travel agency desktop, Sabre Red 360, MTTS will deliver an intelligent and consultative service to its travellers and create compelling shopping experiences. “The travel industry is undergoing many changes driven by new travellers’ expectations and market demands,” said Nadir Kazalbash, General Manager, MTTS. “Our renewed partnership with Sabre will help us continue to focus on our growth and expansion plans, while deploying intelligent solutions to respond to evolving market trends.  Sabre will help us support our travellers, who are expecting new levels of personalization, increased choice, control and flexibility.” Despite the challenges in today’s travel industry, MTTS continued its expansion plans and has grown to cater to customers in all major cities of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah and Khamis Mushayt. “MTTS has proven its resilience throughout the pandemic, and we are proud to extend our collaboration to help it achieve its goals,” said Faisal Kayal, Saudi Arabia Country Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “Now more than ever, tech-savvy Saudi travellers are expecting new levels of personalization and are seeking reliable consultative services throughout their journeys, thus our suite of intelligent solutions will help the travel agents at MTTS become …

As the Philippines opens its borders, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is making strides and developing new activities to welcome visitors while ensuring that all international safety regulations are followed at each site. Promotion of new attractions in various locations is one of these strategies. The Philippines is a location unlike any other, with over 7,000 islands offering visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether it is unwinding on the beaches or in the mountains, taking in the colourful city life, or immersing oneself in indigenous culture, the Philippines offers unique experiences for all types of travellers. Here are eight activities and experiences that are particularly Filipino and can be tried in different locations of the country: 1. Cycling around Intramuros on a bamboo bike: Bambike Ecotours offers a chance to explore the historic walled city of Intramuros. The handcrafted bamboo bikes come in a variety of styles for a safe and pleasant ride around Old Manila’s unique charms, with Bambassadors acting as guides. 2. Zooming through Banaue’s winding roads on a wooden bike: Tourists can try out the Ifugao mode of transportation in the mountains of Banaue, which consists of hand-carved wooden scooters that can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour. These bikes, which are built from scraps of wood and fragments from old rubber tyres, are a testament to the indigenous tribe’s wood carving talents and resourcefulness, which their forefathers carved by hand into the mountainside. 3. Testing balance on bamboo stilts in Cebu: Visitors can see the Philippines from a slightly higher vantage point thanks to the Kadang-Kadang (Karang) or Bamboo Stilts. Tourists in Cebu can test their balance and speed by putting on a pair …

With Australia’s borders set to re-open to international travellers from November, Emirates is welcoming the move by enhancing its operations to the country to meet pent up demand for travel into and out of Australia. With vaccination rates in New South Wales having reached their target, and Victoria being not far behind, the two states will allow vaccinated travellers to return to Australia without quarantine. In response to the easing of travel restrictions, from 2 November Emirates is stepping up the frequency on flights EK414/415 between Dubai and Sydney to daily operated by a Boeing 777-300ER. Flights to Melbourne will operate as a four-weekly service as EK408/409, with the potential to increase in line with demand. In another positive sign that the recovery is well underway for Australia, capacity on flights to Sydney and Melbourne will return to 100%, allowing 354 passengers across all cabins to travel on its flights. Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members will be able to enjoy unrestricted travel once again to and from the two points for the first time since the pandemic began, whether travelling abroad to global destinations for leisure or finally travelling home to visit family or friends, as long as they are vaccinated against COVID-19 with a TGA-approved vaccine. From 1 December, Emirates’ flagship A380 aircraft, will also return to the Australian skies once again, serving the Dubai-Sydney route, on a daily basis. The much-loved aircraft will offer 516 seats in a three-class configuration, with 426 seats in Economy Class, in addition to its premium cabins, with 76 and 14 seats in Business Class and First Class, respectively. Commenting on the airline’s ramp up of operations to Australia …

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 …