His Excellency Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al Khateeb, met with Federico J. González, CEO Radisson Hotel Group, who is currently visiting the Kingdom, to discuss the Group’s expansion plans aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Radisson Hotel Group is continuing its substantial expansion as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, several strategic points were discussed, these include: The opening of a Radisson Hotel Group regional headquarters in Riyadh during 2022 in response to the growing portfolio of the Group in the Kingdom, becoming the largest country for RHG in the region. Generating many new job opportunities and committing to developing and creating exchange programs for Saudi talent in the hospitality sector. The Kingdom remains a key development area for the Group, and part of its five-year transformation plan, which aims to double is presence in the Kingdom. Today, the Group operates 24 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in KSA and has another 20 under development.  Radisson’s commitment to sustainable operations was also discussed, particularly Radisson’s Carbon Negative meetings program. The Group continued its development momentum in the Kingdom including several milestones such as: Doubling of the Group’s presence in Jeddah with the addition of over 600 rooms, most of which will open in 2022 with the launch of the Radisson Individuals brand in the region as well as the recent opening of Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport, with upcoming openings that include the Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center and bringing the second Radisson Collection hotel to Riyadh with Mansard Riyadh, a Radisson Collection Hotel. Also doubling the Group’s presence in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, adding nearly 1000 rooms and …

Qatar Airways is boosting its service to Nigeria with the launch of four weekly flights to Kano (KAN) on 02 March 2022, and three weekly flights to Port Harcourt (PHC) on 03 March 2022, both operating via the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The airline currently operates two daily flights to Lagos and four times a week to Abuja, which will expand to a daily service in March. Kano and Port Harcourt will become the seventh and eight new African gateways launched by Qatar Airways since the start of the pandemic. Both routes will be served by the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “The airline was one of the few to keep operating to many African destinations throughout the pandemic and, as restrictions are lifted, is continuing to expand its network on the continent. As home to the largest economy and population in the region, we see tremendous growth potential for travel and trade in Nigeria. It is a key market and an important part of our African growth strategy; the expansion of our presence across two new gateways is a testament to our continuous commitment to Nigeria. “We anticipate good reciprocal demand between Port Harcourt, UK, USA and destinations across Asia. For Kano we see the opportunity to grow traffic to and from markets such as KSA and India, as well as strong cargo prospects.” As travel restrictions ease, Qatar Airways is restoring its services to all its African destinations. When Kano and Port Harcourt flights start operating, the airline will provide 188 weekly flights to 28 destinations in …

In light of the current situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) committed to support and assist all Kazakhstan tourists that were unable to leave the Emirate last week due to airline connectivity issues in their home country. The Authority provided all those without a flight home complimentary full board accommodation, inclusive of food and beverage and other amenities in their current hotel until the situation improves and travel is once more possible. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, commented: “Our thoughts go out to the people of Kazakhstan during this challenging time and we sympathize with those last week who were unable to return home. Our outmost priority is the wellbeing and safety of our valued visitors during this stressful time and we remained committed to provide support until they were able to safely travel back to the Republic.”

Preimo Urban Mobility, which was established in 2018 as Mojay Lifestyle Limousine, is a luxury chauffeur service has relaunched with the aim to provide comfort and safety through innovative technology. The company has successfully completed 20,000 trips and delivered to an elite clientele of world leaders, business executives, government officials, 5 star hotels, aviation sectors and other a-list travelers. Ensuring a world class chauffeur service, Preimo Urban Mobility’s vehicles are an epitome of luxury with spacious interior design including rich leather seats, complimentary wifi, wireless charging and premium bottled water. Keeping innovation and adaptability at the forefront each vehicle has advanced safety features including motion sensor door handles and touch screens alongside experienced chauffeurs that are fully vaccinated. With technology being the core of the relaunch, Preimo Urban Mobility has developed  a new user-friendly online booking platform allowing clients efficiency and flexibility in booking, managing, and rescheduling trips at their fingertips. “Through the new business model Preimo Urban Mobility will provide an unforgettable hospitality experience, which will set a new standard of excellence and luxury in the urban mobility industry.,” said Raul Silva, CEO and Managing Director of Mojay Global Holding Limited. Preimo Urban mobility takes great pride in having worked with a series of luxury clients such as Caesars Palace Dubai, Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel, SLS Dubai Hotel And Residences, Raffles The Palm Dubai, St Regis Dubai The Palm, Palazzo Versace, Armani Hotel, The Meydan Hotel, Chopard, Saudi Aramco, ENOC, Chanel, JETEX, iJET. Preimo Urban Mobility is part of Mojay Global Holding Limited, a Private Investment Holding Company. Mojay Global Holding Limited is a value and solution driven diverse organization created to invest, advise, and manage …

Moscow City Tourism Committee kicked off its first in person roadshow in Dubai with 12 partners representing hotels, travel agents and tour operators from Moscow and St.Petersburg. The event was attended by around 90 key travel agents and tour operators in Dubai who were able to discuss on one on one basis the strategies to promote the destination with their clients. The roadshow kicked off with a comprehensive presentation from key partners in Moscow City Tourism about the offerings for the GCC market. One of the key highlights of the presentation was that 50 countries that are non GCC are on the list for e-visa whilst those not on the list are able to apply for a visa for a fee of US$ 40. They further explained about the current covid rules and regulations and the fact that wearing a mask and keeping social distance is z necessity in order to keep everyone safe; the travelers and the residents. Speaking on the occasion Julia Syundyukova Head of International Projects Moscow City Tourism shared that their main aim from this roadshow is to educate the agents about their many offerings for the GCC market as just before the pandemic they had a very good number of visitors from the region and since the two countries share the same safety standards with covid protocols. She further reiterated that the B2B sessions with agents will have a great impact and engage both parties to work together on the requirements for the region. She further stated that cuisine wise with more halal food offerings, experience wise with Arabic speakers to help guests, prayer rooms, family oriented experiences will benefit the region. The presentations at …

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is partnering with leading forum organiser Intelligence Squared to stage a forum at Expo 2020 Dubai. Presented under the STB’s SingapoReimagine Global Conversations series, it aims to spur thought-leadership conversations on the future of travel and tourism. The SingapoReimagine Global Conversations which was launched in Singapore last year, encourages global industry leaders to exchange ideas and explore collaboration opportunities to reshape travel. It also highlights changing consumer behaviours as well as the latest trends and observations on travel and tourism. The Dubai edition is titled Reimagined Cities: Can cities leverage urban design and technology to attract the next generation traveller?. Taking place from 3.30pm to 5.00pm on Saturday, January 22, 2022 in the Terra Auditorium at Expo 2020 Dubai, the expert panel will dive into the shifts in global travel trends and what the next generation would want from a destination. Placing the spotlight on urban design and technology, these conversations will challenge traditional ways of destination marketing and discuss exciting trends within the travel and tourism industry. Starring a line-up of industry experts, the discussion will include insightful inputs from Dr. Barkathunnisha, Co-Founder, World Women Tourism and Founder of Elevated Consultancy & Training; Michael Magill, Managing Director, RSP Architects Panners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd Middle East; and Xavier Anglada, Managing Director at Accenture – Innovation, Digital Transformation, Energy Transition. The session will be moderated by Sarah Khan, recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. Representing a new generation of modern travellers, Sarah brings a contemporary and global perspective to the travel industry and will be leading discussions on future of travel with a special focus on sustainability. The panel will cover a …

Expo 2020 in the UAE has showcased resilience and strength in bringing tourists back to the country through safe measures. The world’s biggest cultural event is nearing the three million mark as it has already recorded 2,942,388 visitors, both local and tourists, in four months. With the theme of travel and connectivity from January 9 to January 15, Heriot-Watt University Dubai takes a look at three travel trends that are here to stay. Sustainable Tourism is one of the biggest emerging travel trends globally. The concept covers a holistic tourism experience that impacts a country’s society, economy, and environment. According to a report by booking.com,  83 per cent of travelers believe that the pandemic served as the tipping point for travelers to understand the importance of sustainable traveling. Domestic Tourism has increased in the past two years due to travel restrictions, the need for PCR tests and unpredictable lockdown situations which forced residents of countries to rethink their travel options. As a result, the global domestic tourism market is expected to reach USD6.73 trillion by 2030. Working Vacation or Workation as travellers refer to it continues to gain popularity across the globe. Remote working has taught most of the world that employees can work from anywhere. This is mostly true of job types that are not restricted to desk roles. Staying in a particular city or country and working in another while also treating it as a vacation post-work-hours is attractive to over 52 per cent of travellers, according to a survey by booking.com. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases globally has impacted the tourism industry, however, with the right measures and government support, countries can overcome the situation and promote …

Royal Jordanian has launched its innovative and dynamic corporate program Fly High in line with its five-year turnaround plan, which aims, among others, to become the preferred airline in the Levant by offering bespoke products and delivering a consistent customer experience. The Fly High program targets different corporate sizes: large-, medium- and small-sized enterprises, non-profitable organizations and family businesses, both in Jordan and abroad. It is reworked to offer simple, efficient and budget-friendly deals to fit different business travel requirements. RJ’s Chief Commercial Officer Karime Makhlouf said: “Stemming from RJ’s plan for the next five years to be a customer champion, we are now working on launching innovative solutions and enhanced digital services, among which the newly launched Fly High. With this program, the companies will receive a substantial cost-friendly and budget saving service for high-volume travel, without any commitment.”   Fly High, he added, has two programs: Tiara, which is designed to offer fare discounts to companies that already have organized travel programs and travel budgets, while also being able to keep their preferred travel management company, and Lionize, which offers benefits such as extra luggage, flexibility in changing the ticket booking date, more flexible ticket refund policy, and many more. Furthermore, Corporate Card holders can use the lounges and business-class check-in counters around the world.  

Cathay Pacific has redesigned its Economy fares offering Middle East customers greater choice and flexibility when booking flights. The airline has developed new and simple-to-understand Light, Essential and Flex fares that are tailored to customers’ travel needs and will be introduced to customers travelling from Dubai starting 11 January 2022. Each fare brand offers more control and extensive benefits, from enhanced baggage allowances to flexible rebooking and upgrade options. Additionally, the consistent and clearly defined attributes associated with each fare type provides more visibility for customers on what they are purchasing, helping them choose the fare that suits them best. Cathay Pacific will also progressively introduce the redesigned Economy fares across the network in phases. Light fares enable customers to enjoy great value when they have confirmed travel plans and are travelling light. One piece of checked-in luggage is included and customers can always pay for additional luggage and other benefits like seat pre-selection after their booking is made. Essential fares offer the perfect balance of everything customers need, such as an extra piece of luggage, seat pre-selection and the option to upgrade using Asia Miles. This fare type is ideal for those travelling with family, heading for a longer trip or simply seeking more comfort and convenience. Flex fares give customers maximum flexibility for their next business trip or holiday, with full control over their travel plans as and when changes are needed. Greater convenience and peace of mind is assured. Cathay Pacific’s Area Manager, Middle East, Vishnu Rajendran said, “We understand our customers’ travel preferences have changed over time and that no two journeys are the same.  Our aim has always been to develop and provide offerings that …

Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai, Hyatt’s newest modern lifestyle boutique hotel, recognized for its fusion of contemporary style, debuts in the Middle East. The 7-story property is set to become a social hub in La Mer, featuring 173 sophisticated guestrooms, including 27 spacious deluxe rooms and suites, showcasing the city through the playful juxtaposition of colors, textures, and curated curiosities. Offering a touch of classic elegance and refined comfort, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai will have its soft opening on December 15th, 2021. Nestled in the heart of Dubai and bringing in a fresh take on the modern hospitality sector, the hotel is the ideal destination for those looking to unwind in local hot spots and discover the city’s hidden gems. Adding to the vibrant scene, the hotel features tantalizing dining concepts. The hotel is a great launchpad to discover all that Dubai has to offer. Centrally placed between traditional and uber-modern Dubai, the hotel offers guests a window to experience both the city’s rich culture and the iconic city skyline. Situated in Dubai’s laid-back beach front destination, La Mer is your one stop shoreside getaway with bustling backstreets, variety of cuisines and lounges. Nearby attractions include Laguna Waterpark, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and for those seeking authentic experiences. The neighborhoods of Satwa, Bur Dubai and Al Fahidi, home to traditional souks and places are also within the vicinity. Dubai International Airport is also just 20 minutes away from the hotel. “Surrounded by the ocean with year-round sunshine and a stunning aesthetic, we are proud to introduce the 10th Hyatt branded hotel in Dubai and to bring the first Hyatt Centric hotel into the UAE,” said Britta Leick-Milde, hotel manager of Hyatt …