IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of The Venue, Vignette Collection Jeddah Corniche. This collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s dynamic Al Harithy Group marks a significant milestone in Jeddah’s hospitality sector, catering to the growing demand for authentic, curated hospitality experiences in the bustling city. Slated to be rebranded by late 2025, the 193-key property is situated on the vibrant Jeddah Corniche with views overlooking the Red Sea Coast. This strategic addition reinforces IHG’s commitment to aligning its growth with the tourism ambitions under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The property will undergo renovation and open as The Venue, Vignette Collection Jeddah Corniche next year, blending contemporary elegance with the property’s rich history, dating back to its establishment in 1997, ensuring a luxury upper-upscale experience. The hotel will feature a diverse range of amenities, including Jeddah’s first pillar-less wedding hall, ‘Duniaty,’ along with indoor and outdoor pools, three dining venues, a state-of-the-art business center, 13 meeting rooms, SPA fitness center, and beauty salon. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “The signing of The Venue, Vignette Collection Jeddah Corniche aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 led by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Jeddah, as a gateway to the holy cities and a thriving commercial hub, plays a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem. This partnership with Al Harithy Group demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences tailored to this dynamic destination, while celebrating its history and culture.” The Vignette Collection is a family of one-of-a-kind, exclusive hotels curated for guests seeking rich and varied stay experiences. The brand allows owners of world-class independent hotels to retain their distinctive identity while …

After another record event in 2024, Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, will return to Dubai from 27-29 October 2025 for what will be a milestone event for organisers The Bench, marking 20 years in the UAE for the region’s leading hospitality and tourism investment event, previously known as AHIC. FHS World 2024 saw a record 1,596 attendees representing 735 companies from 60 countries, of which over 550 were women faciliated by the organiser’s #FHSWomenPower initiative. The FHS World Advisory Board convened in Dubai last week to discuss and shape the vision and agenda for this year’s event. The Advisory Board comprises some of the hospitality industry’s most prominent leaders, including Anthony Costa, Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle, Candy Capital; Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Modon Hospitality; Amit Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Arada; Dinky Puri, Founding Partner, Eagle Wing; Othmane Jabri, Principal, Real Estate and Hospitality (Investment), Investment Corporation of Dubai; Nicolas Mayer, Partner, Global Industry Leader Tourism, PwC; Philipp J. Klohr, Senior Vice President, Mubadala Investment Company; Jeff Tisdall, Chief Business Officer Accor One Living, Global Head of Mixed-Use, Ahmed Nazim, Managing Director, Maldives Fund Management Corporation; Aboudi Asali, Executive Vice President, Hotels & Hospitality MENA, JLL, and Saahil Lalit, Vice President | Lodging Development EMEA, Marriott International. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, said: “This will be a very exciting year for us as we celebrate our 20th anniversary in the UAE, and at Madinat Jumeirah where it all began in 2005, and we’re thrilled to have Jumeirah as our Host Sponsor again to mark this milestone moment.” Thomas B. Meier, CEO of Jumeirah, said: “It’s a pleasure to once again sponsor and host FHS World at Madinat …

Air Arabia launched new non-stop flights to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The new service will connect Sharjah International Airport with Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with a frequency of three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: ” We are delighted to add Addis Ababa to our growing network of destinations. This new route reflects Air Arabia’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering economic and cultural ties between the UAE and Ethiopia. By expanding our destinations from Sharjah, we aim to boost trade and tourism while continuing to offer affordable and convenient travel options to our customers.” This latest addition to Air Arabia’s growing network underscores the airline’s commitment to expanding connectivity between the UAE and Africa, facilitating increased opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment. Air Arabia operates a modern fleet of 81 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. Offering passengers, a value-added onboard experience, the aircraft is equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming, and ‘SkyCafe’ an onboard catering service at affordable prices. In addition, Air Arabia offers ‘Air Rewards’ an innovative and generous loyalty program through which passengers can earn, transfer, and spend points. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Addis Ababa by visiting Air Arabia’s website, or by calling the call centre, or through travel agencies. Schedule to Addis Ababa (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency G9 738 Sharjah 21:25 Addis Ababa 00:40 Airbus A320 Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday G9 739 Addis Ababa 01:30 Sharjah 06:40 Airbus A320 Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday  

Khimji’s house of travel bagged ‘best group travel promotion for Malaysia in Oman’ at the seventh edition of Arabian Travel Awards 2024. Khimji’s House of Travel is a part of the diversified Khimji Ramdas (KR) Group in the Sultanate of Oman, with lineage dating back to well over a century. We offer Destination Management Services for inbound travel to Oman and UAE with in-house facilities backed by a team of multilingual professionals, who have extensive knowledge of the Country and the expertise to handle different segments of Destination Management like Leisure and MICE groups, Niche FIT clients, Special Interest Holidays and Destination Weddings.

Dubai announced the opening of world’s tallest wellbeing resort ‘Therme Dubai’ to be opened by 2028. This landmark AED2 billion development will feature an interactive park and the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, designed to host 1.7 million visitors annually. To be located at Zabeel Park and set to open in 2028, Therme Dubai will be an iconic addition to Dubai’s skyline. This innovative project reflects our commitment to enhancing urban biodiversity and environmental sustainability, and creating enriching experiences for Dubai’s residents and visitors. In May 2024, Dubai marked a new chapter in its pursuit of enhancing the well-being of its community under His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visionary leadership with the launch of the Quality of Life Strategy 2033. This ambitious roadmap aims to establish our city as the world’s best place to live.  

flyadeal targets 75,000 overseas Hajj pilgrims in 2025 as they unveil plans to operate more dedicated charters during the holy season. The figure represents yet another significant milestone for flyadeal which has been scaling up the number of overseas Hajj flights since 2023. From 35,000 pilgrims flown by flyadeal into the Kingdom last year – up 35 per cent on 2023 – the number is expected to more than double to 75,000 in 2025, with the airline operating additional widebody charters into Jeddah and Madinah, gateway to the Holy City of Makkah. flyadeal is also stepping up its year-round Umrah services, which will continue to operate from Turkey, Iraq and Uzbekistan, with the UK, Thailand, India and countries in Africa and Central Asia set to be included for 2025. The growth plans were announced during the 4th edition of the annual Hajj Conference and Exhibition that took place at the Superdome in Jeddah last week under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and organised by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. flyadeal joined sister companies Saudia and SGS (Saudi Ground Services) under the umbrella of parent Saudi Group – this year’s strategic sponsor – with a joint exhibition stand promoting products and services to visiting Hajj committees, ministries and tour operators from around the world. His Excellency Dr.Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom, together with HE Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia, and HE Engr. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahaman Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, were among the many visiting dignitaries. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive …

While the Los Angeles wildfires have presented challenges, the indomitable spirit of Los Angeles, as well as its iconic attractions and experiences, remain intact. In fact, the best way to support Los Angeles is to visit and patronize the hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend on tourism. Over 98% of Los Angeles County remains untouched by the fires, and the city’s iconic landmarks—from the Hollywood Sign to Universal Studios Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, the Santa Monica Pier, and more—are open and ready for visitors, as depicted in the recovery map provided by VisitCalifornia. Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta today issued the following statement on how tourism will support Los Angeles’ recovery: “Our message to travelers is simple: Now is the time to visit Los Angeles. “As households across the country – and world – are planning their 2025 vacations, we want everyone to know that Los Angeles remains open and ready to welcome you. “Ninety-eight percent of Los Angeles, including its iconic landmarks and attractions, remains untouched and fully prepared to welcome visitors. “The economic impacts of these wildfires are already becoming increasingly evident. One out of five California tourism-related jobs are in Los Angeles County, highlighting just how vital the tourism industry is to the region’s economy and recovery efforts. “LA’s local businesses and residents depend on tourism, and there’s no better way to help the region recover than to plan a trip now.” Postponing or cancelling trips will only make the economic impact of this disaster worse for everyone. Instead, visit Los Angeles and encourage your clients, friends and family to experience its vibrant culture. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we unite and …

Qatar Tourism has announced the highlights of the mid-season cruise season 2024/2025, which show Qatar’s growing position as a major tourism destination. By 20 January 2025, Qatar had received 53 cruise ships, carrying 191,944 visitors, including 20,951passengers have used Doha as a starting point for their cruises. So far, the season has welcomed passengers from Germany (30.2%), followed by Russia (10.8%) and Italy (9.2%), with the top ten nationalities collectively accounting for 69.2% of the total number of passengers. This season saw the addition of four new cruise ships: Resorts World One, MSC Eurobia, Celestial Journey and Costa Esmeralda. In addition to the ship “Norwegian Sky”, which is expected to arrive on 12 April 2025. The Costa Esmeralda, the eighth largest cruise ship in the world, will visit Doha Port ten times this season, carrying around 82,000 passengers. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development  at Qatar Tourism, said: “The incredible growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a testament to our vision within the National Tourism Strategy 2030. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, more than 30 cruise ships are expected to arrive by the end of the season in April 2025, carrying around 185,000 visitors, reflecting Doha’s growing position as a major cruise destination, coupled with strong partnerships with global cruise operators, all of which demonstrate the growing demand for Qatar’s exceptional cruise offerings. As we continue to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience, we remain committed to positioning Qatar as a premier cruise destination.” The cruise sector has become a key pillar of Qatar’s national tourism strategy, with remarkable growth in recent years, with Doha Port strategically located in the heart of the …

Orient Travel won the title ‘outstanding tour operator for Malaysia’ award at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024.“Orient Travel has since evolved and grown to become one of the Top Travel Management companies in the UAE. With over 50 years of enriching experience and quality services we have positioned ourselves as market leaders and trendsetters in the region.” Waseem Rahmany, GM- Sales & Holidays, Orient Travel

Emirates unveils its Emirates World store in Egypt, expanding the reach of its refreshed travel retail store concept that elevates the customer experience through product showcases, smart technologies and expert travel consultants. The Emirates World store, located at the luxurious 5A WaterWay in Cairo, was inaugurated by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Centre, in the presence of Her Excellency Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador, Pilot Montaser Mana, the Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt and Amr Kady, CEO of Egypt Tourism Authority. The opening ceremony was also attended by other distinguished guests, trade and media partners. Commenting on the milestone, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “This year marks our fourth decade of operations. Egypt was one of the first five destinations that we launched to at the very beginning of our operations, and we are proud to further enhance our offering for customers with the inauguration of Emirates World in Cairo.” He continued, “Our global retail strategy is perfectly aligned with our ‘Fly Better’ promise, offering our customers the elevated hospitality they expect from Emirates, along with smart and efficient technologies, hands-on product displays and expert support and advice. We will continue to roll out Emirates World concept stores in Africa and across our network, to connect more deeply with our customers at more touchpoints on the ground.” At 332m2, Emirates World Cairo brings the airline’s iconic product and services even closer to customers in the city. With its light and airy colour palette and open-plan lounge-like environment, the concept store is reminiscent of the airline’s signature inflight look and feel, further …