Valor Hospitality Partners signed a strategic Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) with Karmastaji Group to oversee a portfolio of 3 hotels in Dubai, 259 keys and 5 outlets. This partnership underscores the trust that Dubai-based Karmastaji Group has placed in Valor Hospitality Partners Middle East to deliver exceptional operational efficiency and maximize investment returns. Valor’s expertise in hospitality management continues to help visionary developers like Karmastaji Group transform their assets into successful business ventures. Julien Bergue, Co-Founder & Managing Partner for the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia at Valor Hospitality Partners, commented: “We are proud to partner with Karmastaji Group, a forward-thinking developer with a robust pipeline of projects aimed at elevating hospitality investments and modern living standards in the UAE and GCC region. At Valor, our mission is to contribute to the UAE’s hospitality success story by delivering operational excellence and sustainable growth. Together, we aim to achieve exceptional results aligned with the visionary goals of Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sectors.” By leveraging its comprehensive range of services—including acquisition advisory, branding, asset management, and innovative food and beverage concepts—Valor Hospitality Partners ensures its partners achieve long-term value creation and success. Rashed Karmastaji, Chairman of Karmastaji Group, added: “Partnering with Valor Hospitality Partners is a strategic step in our journey to expand our portfolio and set new benchmarks in the UAE’s hospitality sector. With Valor’s proven expertise, we are confident in delivering exceptional guest experiences and achieving our current and future business objectives.” As Dubai continues to thrive as a global tourism and hospitality hub, Valor remains committed to supporting the UAE’s and Dubai 2040 vision. By collaborating with developers like Karmastaji Group, Valor solidifies its position as a trusted and preferred …

Marriott International signed an agreement with Al Qimmah Hospitality Company and Amwaj Real Estate Company to open a 2,179-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Anticipated to open in 2026, the Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem would become the brand’s largest hotel in the world, providing exceptional hospitality, modern comfort and unparalleled convenience for visitors and pilgrims alike. Dr. Abdul Razzaq BinDawood, Chairman of Al Qimmah commented, “The signing of the agreement reflects the the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 framework which aims to position the country as a global hub for religious and cultural tourism and continues to promote cultured real estate development. We are constructing high-quality towers within the Al Naseem District, as part of our ongoing commitment to serve guests and travelers to the Holy Mosque. This will be one of our largest developments to date and continuation of our strategic collaboration with Marriott International.” “We are pleased to build on our relationship with Al Qimmah Hospitality and BinDawood Trading with this landmark agreement to open the world’s largest Courtyard by Marriott in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Chadi Hauch, Regional Vice President, Lodging Development, Middle East, Marriott International. “This agreement underscores Marriott International’s commitment to supporting the growth of the Kingdom’s tourism sector and reinforces the continued demand we are seeing for our portfolio of brands in the Holy City of Makkah.” The Courtyard by Marriott brand has the largest global footprint among Marriott’s portfolio of over 30 brands, focusing on thoughtful, sophisticated design elements and amenities, providing travelers with an elevated experience to relax and recharge. Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem is anticipated to comprise 2,179 thoughtfully designed guestrooms …

FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair organized by IFEMA MADRID, celebrated the opening of its 45th edition with the presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain. They were welcomed by José Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, along with a significant delegation of ministers, government representatives, and tourism industry leaders from around the world. During the inauguration, the authorities toured the exhibition halls to explore the proposals presented by companies, destinations, and exhibitors participating in FITUR. Among the standout spaces this year is Brazil, located in Hall 3, which participates as the Partner Country for FITUR 2025. Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino; the President-Director of EMBRATUR (Brazilian Tourism Board), Marcelo Freixo; and the Brazilian Ambassador to Spain, Orlando Leite Ribeiro, welcomed Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain during the official inauguration at the Brazilian stand. A total of 9,500 participating companies, 156 countries, and 884 main exhibitors, including 101 countries with official representation, are attending this international event to showcase their offerings across nine halls at IFEMA MADRID from January 22 to 26. Once again, FITUR will become the largest meeting point for the tourism sector, providing an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, create business opportunities, and discover destinations from around the world.

Luxury international hotel chain Delano has set up its Dubai home on Bluewaters Island. The brand has been brought to the city by Ennismore, which is also behind the operations of Banyan Tree Dubai, situated on the same island. With 251 rooms, including 84 suites – some with private pools – and amenities like an ocean-front swimming pool, exceptional dining concepts and more, Delano Dubai defines opulence and promises five-star hospitality.

flynas celebrated its first direct flight between Jeddah and Djibouti further expanding its network in Africa in line with its expansion plan and the national objectives in the aviation sector. An inaugural celebration was held at King Abdulaziz International Airport attended by Djibouti’s Ambassador to the Kingdom and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama, as well as representatives from flynas and Jeddah Airports Company. The flight was welcomed at Djibouti International Airport by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Djibouti, Faisal Al-Qabbani and Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. The leading LCC started operating three weekly flights between Jeddah and Djibouti, extending travel options offered to its guests travelling to and from Africa, in line with flynas growth and expansion plan, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom”, in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030 and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents.

Deluxe Mirage travel and tourism company won ‘fastest growing travel management company – KSA’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards in 2024. “Winning the Fastest Growing Agency in KSA in Arabian Travel Awards has provided us with enhanced visibility in the KSA market, strengthened our credibility, reinforced our position as a trusted partner for prospective clients, and, last but not least, inspired our employees to go the extra mile with renewed morale. This award marks a key milestone for Satguru Travel, enhancing our industry reputation and inspiring continued innovation. As competition in the travel industry grows, this recognition sets us apart, showcasing our commitment to sustainable and innovative growth. It also signals the rise of new players, driving higher standards of quality and service.”- Sajid Hussain, Branch Head, Eastern Province Dammam, Deluxe Mirage Travel & Tourism Company (Part of Satguru Group) (The award was received by Shashi Menon, General Manager, KSA & Bahrain, Deluxe Mirage Travel & Tourism)

According to the latest report by UN Tourism, The Middle East, Europe and Africa see strongest results in 2024 relative to 2019. Middle East record strongest international arrivals with 95 million with international arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels in 2024, though 1% higher compared to 2023. Growth is expected to continue throughout 2025, driven by strong demand contributing to the socio-economic development of both mature and emerging destinations. This recalls our immense responsibility as a sector to accelerate transformation, placing people and planet at the center of the development of tourism. Africa (74 million) welcomed 7% more arrivals than in 2019, and 12% more than in 2023. Europe, the world’s largest destination region, saw 747 million international arrivals in 2024 (+1% above 2019 levels and 5% over 2023) supported by strong intraregional demand. All European subregions surpassed pre-pandemic levels, except for Central and Eastern Europe where many destinations are still suffering from the lingering effects of the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

Dubai consolidated its standing as a top choice for prominent international conferences, congresses, corporate meetings and incentives in 2024, with the city securing the opportunity to host a record 437 events from a range of sectors and professions. Driven by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, this marked a 20% year-on-year increase in the number of successful bids, further elevating Dubai’s status as a globally competitive events hub, powered by innovation, infrastructure development, and rising global economic influence. The events captured in 2024 are set to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to Dubai over the coming years, making a direct impact on the city’s events, travel and tourism ecosystems, and bringing talent and expertise from around the world to enjoy the platform Dubai provides for knowledge sharing, professional development and networking. The city’s success, driven by collaborative efforts across the public and private sectors, underlines Dubai’s unrelenting draw as a go-to, accessible, safe and welcoming global MICE destination, in turn feeding into Dubai’s wider economic growth by attracting more visitors, positioning Dubai in the global business events arena, and shedding light on its thriving knowledge economy. Furthermore, it cements the important role business events are playing in achieving the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Guided by the vision of our city’s leadership, business events continue to play a vital role in bolstering tourism to Dubai and supporting its wider economic priorities. The healthy increase in successful bids in 2024 is further …

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Hyve has launched a strategic partnership to launch Shoptalk Luxe, marking the first luxury-focused retail event in the Shoptalk series, with Abu Dhabi as the event’s Host City Partner. Set to take place in January 2026 at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Shoptalk Luxe is poised to be the world’s most senior gathering of decision-makers shaping the luxury and premium retail sectors. The global Shoptalk event series is the most important and innovative in the retail industry. Currently held in Las Vegas, Barcelona and Chicago, these events unite leading experts and entrepreneurs from the retail and ecommerce sector to build the future of retail. Shoptalk Luxe represents an important addition to the Shoptalk event portfolio, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s status as a premier destination for luxury retail. Building on the emirate’s position as a culture, tourism and investment hub, this event will showcase an exclusive segment of the global retail industry, focusing on a new era of exceptional, immersive customer experiences. ADIO is collaborating with leading luxury retailers and technology firms to enhance the emirate’s retail landscape and capitalise on the expansive growth potential of its luxury retail market, harnessing advanced technologies to deliver innovative, curated consumer experiences. Shoptalk Luxe is set to attract leading players from the US$1.5 trillion global luxury market, which is projected to grow by more than 10 per cent annually. The Shoptalk team has already confirmed Chalhoub Group, the leading partner of luxury experiences in the Middle East, as a Launch Partner of the event, with more global partners to be announced soon. The three-day event will feature over 180 speakers from the leading brands in luxury retail, premium customer …

VFS Global launched its new user-friendly and efficient online platform to make Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application process seamless for travellers, promote inbound tourism, and enhance overall customer experience. The platform is in line with Indonesian government’s ongoing efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and services to welcome 14 million visitors in 2025. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform, is available for nationals of all the 97 countries eligible for e-VoA, including UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Travellers can now enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online and receiving a pre-approved e-VoA before departure. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development, VFS Global, said, “As a company, we are constantly working towards innovations which provide a seamless visa application submission experience to our customers. The launch of this innovative, secure, and user-friendly digital e-Visa on Arrival platform for Indonesia will undoubtedly streamline the visa application process, making it faster, easier, and more convenient. With Indonesia being a globally sought-after destination, we are honoured to assist visitors from 97 countries by facilitating their entry into this incredible country through this platform.” Here are the four simple steps to apply for Indonesia e-VoA: 1) Visit https://indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id/ 2) Submit all the required documents 3) Pay the necessary fees 4) Receive a pre-approved e-VoA on email before departure With the payment having been made online, travellers can enjoy a smoother and faster entry experience through E-gates or immigration counters. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform will ensure all the documents applicants submit are complete and error-free. It also offers OCR technology which will enable applicant details to be auto populated, thereby …