Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is further expanding its international footprint with the opening of the newly built 131-room Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira, its first property in the UAE under the renowned economy brand. Ideally located close to Dubai’s popular landmarks with a direct access to the Dubai Metro, the launch of the Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira joins the recent openings of the Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira and Wyndham Dubai Deira as part of the Deira Enrichment Project and as a continuation of Wyndham’s rapid growth across the region. Days Inn by Wyndham is one of the largest and most recognised economy hotel brands in the world, with a global portfolio of 1,600 properties. The launch of Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira follows the brand’s debut in Turkey in June 2021 and marks the eighth hotel brand Wyndham has launched in the UAE, following the recent debut of the La Quinta by Wyndham brand in Bur Dubai. Michel Augier, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Dubai is one of the most sought out destinations for travellers from all corners of the globe, looking for a variety of accommodation options, making it the ideal location to launch our Days Inn by Wyndham brand. The launch of the Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira perfectly complements the recently opened Wyndham Dubai Deira and the Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira, which are already situated within the spectacular Deira Enrichment Project and our portfolio of over 60 hotels in the Middle East and Africa. We look forward to continuing to expand our brands and offerings in destinations we know our travellers want to be, …

Accor is growing its portfolio in Saudi Arabia partnering with Taiba Investments and opening the first Novotel Brand in the Holy city of Madinah. Once open the property will include 394 keys, 3 Food & Beverage outlets as well meeting rooms and retail space. Since the launch of the vision 2030 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2016, Accor has continuously been involved in the development of the hospitality landscape including, but not limited to, the introduction of unique development projects across the Kingdom, now adding a greenfield project with the first Novotel in Madinah. The group is partnering with Taiba Investments, considered to be one of the largest real estate companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which provides various services such as real estate property investment, development and management. ‘We are delighted to be partnering with Accor to develop our new hotel in the Holy City of Madinah, says Eng. Saleh Habdan Al-Habdan, Chief Executive Officer from Taiba Investments Real Estate Company”. We are confident that this new property will benefit greatly the hospitality landscape of the city and Kingdom overall, offering travelers a new and convenient accommodation option”. Novotel Madinah will be in close proximity to the Holy Mosque, and directly on King Faisal Road at its intersection with Amr Bin Al Aas Street, offering guests easy access to every main road of the city. Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport is only 23 minutes away from the hotel while Madinah Train Station is located at 13 minutes from the property. “This is a great opportunity to introduce the first Novotel property to the Holy City and increase further Novotel’s footprint in the Kingdom” says Mark Willis, …

Inmarsat announced the launch of its innovative new OneFi customer experience platform (CXP) for airlines. The first-of-its-kind solution will serve as a catalyst to monetise inflight connectivity by bringing a host of onboard services together within a single portal interface, which passengers can easily access using their own personal devices. OneFi delivers a rich airline-branded digital platform to enhance the passenger experience onboard flights. It allows passengers to order food and beverages, purchase seat upgrades, receive the latest flight and destination information, and sign-up to the airline’s frequent flyer programmes, all in real-time from the comfort of their seat. In addition, passengers can browse the internet, stream videos and audio, shop online and enjoy other ecommerce offerings, using high-speed inflight broadband that airlines could choose to offer free-of-charge, funded through OneFi’s sponsorship and advertising features. The launch of OneFi comes at a critical time for airlines, with the global pandemic having accelerated passenger demand for digital inflight experiences. Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “For many years, Inmarsat has advocated the vast commercial opportunities of inflight connectivity. However, until now, airlines have struggled to realise the full potential of the business model. OneFi is a step change for those looking to monetise their Wi-Fi services and ensure they keep pace with evolving passenger needs. It will empower a digital transformation in the cabin, which is especially important at this critical time for the aviation industry. “OneFi allows airlines to improve their brand experience and secure passenger loyalty, with the flexibility to incorporate their own services and use existing and new partners, such as content providers, advertisers and retailers. We are in advanced discussions with leading airlines about adopting this innovative …

dnata Travel is revealing the results of a survey conducted with thousands of UAE travellers in July and August 2021, during the busiest time for travel from the UAE the brand has seen since the onset of the global pandemic. Revealing insights to UAE residents’ travel plans for 2021 and 2022 so far, 86% of the respondents expressed the desire to travel internationally in this time. Of these respondents, 56% indicated a plan to travel to Europe for their next holiday, with more than a half planning to stay for a duration of one to two weeks. This represents a significant increase in room nights compared to previous years, with dnata Travel reporting a past average of three to four night stays in European destinations for UAE travellers. Emily Jenkins, Head of Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “We conducted the latest dnata Travel survey in July/August 2021, as international travel witnessed significant growth with many countries opening up to vaccinated travellers ahead of the summer, including destinations across Europe, North America, parts of the Indian Ocean, and Asia. “Since the start of the pandemic, we have witnessed a pent-up demand for travel, particularly in the wake of the UAE’s impressive vaccination drive. Much of Europe has eased restrictions for vaccinated travellers offering a wealth of options, with something for every type of traveller, from beach retreats to island escapes and city breaks.” From the dnata Travel survey findings, the top five most sought-after destinations in Europe for 2021/2022 holidays with UAE residents include: Switzerland, UK, Italy, Greece, and Georgia, respectively. Outside of Europe, survey respondents expressed interest in planning travel to Asia, with Thailand making up the vast majority, …

Sabre Corporation announced a renewed technology agreement with Etihad. Under the new agreement, Etihad will continue leveraging a suite of Sabre’s industry-leading IT solutions to aid recovery, help drive post-pandemic growth and enhance the passenger experience. “As we focus on our recovery, it is imperative that we have the right technology in place” said Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.  “Our strong relationship with Sabre and this renewed agreement means that we can continue to optimize our day-to-day operations.” Etihad and Sabre have a successful and long-standing relationship, with the carrier already having seen tangible benefits from a suite of Sabre’s network planning and scheduling, pricing and revenue management and cargo technology.  Under the new multi-year agreement, the following products will be among an important suite of technology for Etihad as it focuses on optimizing its operations to fuel its recovery: Fares Optimizer – Uses near real-time responses to provide dynamic price recommendations for Etihad’s fares. The solution will be crucial in helping Etihad improve its revenue. Network Planning and Optimization – this industry-leading planning and scheduling suite is able to scale to the largest airlines in the world. Powering more than 60% of the world’s top airlines, Sabre’s Schedule Manager will continue to help Etihad build and deliver robust, accurate and operationally feasible schedules across its network. Inflight – In previous years of using Sabre’s Inflight solutions, Etihad has been able to achieve significant savings, while continuing to provide a world-class and award-winning guest experience onboard. “Our renewed technology agreement with Etihad is testament to the airline’s confidence in Sabre to deliver the advanced solutions needed to help secure its recovery, and help it to power future growth,” said …

Accor is adding a new flagship property to its portfolio in Africa with Fairmont Djibouti. Set to open in 2024, the hotel will feature 155 rooms and 10 serviced apartments, with five food and beverage outlets combined with 1,398 sqm of meetings & events facilities. Located in Djibouti City, the capital of Djibouti and one of the country’s most affluent areas, the hotel will be strategically located by the beach in Plateau Du Serpent offering its visitors convenient proximity to the port of Djibouti. In addition, the property’s enviable seafront location will provide guests with unparalleled views, positioning Fairmont Djibouti as the “preeminent hotel” in the Djibouti market. “Accor has always been a key player in the tourism industry across Africa,” says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, “and Djibouti is no exception. We are confident that this project will greatly benefit the hospitality landscape of Djibouti with the introduction of one of Accor’s flagship luxury brands, Fairmont, while supporting government efforts for its “Djibouti vision 2035”. Accor is partnering with Carnegie Hill Hospitality, a company founded in 2018 which has positioned itself as a major player in the real estate sector in Djibouti, headed by Mrs Haibado Ismail, and showcases the strong ambition to be a leader in the tourism sector through “greenfield” developments and strategic partnerships in all segments of the hotel and real estate sectors. When speaking about the new Fairmount project, Mrs Habaido Ismail states: “It’s not about building one more hotel. The partnership with Fairmont and Accor underlines our desire to create a unique place, emblematic of Djibouti. At the heart of our approach, there is a desire for authenticity. It is …

Technology, sustainability, education & training, as well as equity in health, education, and economic opportunity to top the agenda. Popular hybrid format to continue – live and in-person event to take place 8-11 May 2022 – virtual edition will be on 17 and 18 May 2022. RX Global, organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), has announced that the 2022 edition of its annual showcase, will focus on the future of international travel and tourism and the likely challenges and the benefits, for a resilient industry that is still coming to terms with the new normal. “COVID-19 has dominated our lives since March 2020 and continues to do so in many parts of the world. However, although international travel & tourism has learnt from past experiences and adapted in some cases almost seamlessly, we now have an ideal opportunity to look ahead to the future of our industry. “Dwelling too much on the pre-covid past, would not necessarily be productive, especially because so many industry parameters and social attitudes have since been completely reset,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. “Undoubtedly innovation through IoT, AI, AR, VR and improved connectivity overall, will change the face of our industry dramatically, however, there are other challenges, that we should address together and share industry best practice. “These issues include climate change and broader social challenges, as well as stakeholder attitudes towards equity in health, education and economic opportunity, particularly in the communities that we operate in,” added Curtis. Now in its 29th year and working in collaboration with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the event, will take place live and …

Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), part of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), runs the first-of-its-kind multi-disciplinary educational platform in the region to create a dynamic, global and forward-thinking workforce of talent sourced from Dubai for Dubai. The College offers courses specifically designed for young students aiming to work within the tourism industry. The curated certificate and diploma courses span five programme areas – Tourism, Hospitality, Retail Business, Events and Culinary Arts, offering a pathway for students to achieve professional success through world-class academic offerings. Earlier this year, DCT and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), one of the oldest and largest higher education institutions in the United Kingdom, announced a new pathway for Dubai College of Tourism students. With the new pathway, students who graduate with a DCT Advanced Diploma and the required GPA, will be able to continue and obtain a ‘top-up degree’ as a student of LJMU and graduate with a BA (Hons) from the highly accredited UK institution. Aiming to bridge the gap between in-house training and a full bachelor’s degree, and as a vocational college, DCT focuses on providing students with practical experience to complement their theoretical knowledge. As part of Dubai Tourism, DCT is uniquely positioned to provide students access to a number of high profile city stakeholders from large hotel groups, to retail stores and restaurateurs. Placing emphasis on real-world skills, internships are a crucial element of DCT’s courses, as they empower students with the confidence and experience they need to succeed as the city’s next generation of tourism leaders. Students from previous cohorts have been able to work with partners of the College including major events within Dubai’s calendar including …

Disney Cruise Line will offer families exciting adventures around the world in summer 2022, including voyages to new destinations and favorite ports of call in the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, northern Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean. Plus, first-ever summer departures from Miami will take guests to Disney’s enchanting private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. In summer 2022, a new collection of destinations will be part of the Disney Magic’s grand tour of Europe, which begins with sailings through the Greek Isles and Mediterranean before heading to northern Europe for cruises to the Baltic, the British Isles, Iceland and the Norwegian fjords. Five new ports of call in Europe include Chania, Greece; Porto, Portugal; Riga, Latvia; Maloy, Norway; and Nynashamn, Sweden, near Stockholm. From Rome, eight-, nine- and 12-night cruises to Greece will whisk families to the beautiful landscapes and archeological wonders of destinations like Piraeus, the gateway to Athens, and to the spectacular Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. One nine-night sailing will mark Disney Cruise Line’s first call to Chania, Greece, on the island of Crete, known for its charming harbor and Venetian and Florentine influences. Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Spain, will visit a mix of must-see locales including Rome and Naples, plus French Riviera coastal towns like Villefranche and Cannes. During a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Dover, England, Disney Cruise Line will make its first-ever visit to Porto, Portugal, a coastal city with old-world charm nestled in one of the world’s leading wine regions and made famous for giving Port Wine its name. Additional new ports of call in northern Europe include Riga, the capital of Latvia and the largest metropolis in the Baltics; Nynashamn, Sweden, a beautiful seaside town …

In partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Yas Island Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s leading leisure and entertainment hubs, will be covered in green in celebration of the 91st national day of Saudi Arabia on September 23, 2021. In addition, the destination offers 20% discount to travellers from Saudi Arabia when booking hotel stay with theme parks access directly through www.yasisland.ae. The spectacular array of fireworks will be open for public viewing from selected hotels and restaurants on the island. Enhanced hygiene and social distancing measures are in place at the selected destinations to guarantee an enjoyable experience for all guests while ensuring their health and safety. Festivities are due to kick off at 9pm with the fireworks live streamed on Yas Island’s Instagram page @yasisland as public gatherings are prohibited. Moreover, attractions around Yas Island, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. WorldTM Abu Dhabi, CLYMBTM Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, Yas Plaza Hotels, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, and Etihad Arena, will be washed with green light in recognition of 91 years since the foundation of Saudi Arabia in 1930. For more information on the celebrations planned at Yas Island for the national day of Saudi Arabia, please visit yasisland.ae. For more information on precautionary measures being taken at Yas Island, please visit yasisland.ae/yaswellness.