At the official press conference by RX Global for Arabian Travel Market 2025 it was shared that they anticipate over 55,000 attendees from 161 countries at the 32nd edition. ATM 2025 will showcase over 2,800 exhibiting companies with 17% from the Middle East and 83% from the rest of the world, and the event has achieved a near 12% year-on-year increase in exhibitor participation, making it the largest edition to date, now spanning 14 halls. Securing USD2.5 billion in industry deals, the event enables participants to forge global networks and discover emerging opportunities and innovations in the travel and tourism ecosystem. Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in collaboration with the event’s strategic partners: the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Al Rais Travel. Hosted at voco Dubai by IHG, the press conference unveiled plans for the upcoming edition, which will take place next week, from 28 April to 1 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Bringing together professionals and leaders from all travel sectors and verticals including leisure, business events (MICE), luxury and corporate travel sectors, ATM is where entrepreneurs and industry leaders from high growth and emerging markets across MENA, Asia and Africa unite with professionals from the Worlds most established and mature markets to drive innovation, investment and partnerships.  

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is once again making waves with the launch of its latest water sports adventure—the Jet Car Experience. Set against the backdrop of the island’s turquoise lagoon, the Jet Car offers an exciting way to explore the ocean in comfort and style. With its sleek automotive-inspired design and smooth performance, this water ride is perfect for families, couples, and friends looking to add a little adventure to their stay. Whether cruising under the sun or capturing perfect picture moments, the Jet Car adds an extraordinary and refreshing twist to island leisure. Launched in anticipation of the resort’s whimsical Easter festivities, the Jet Car sets the stage for an action-packed holiday in paradise. From Easter egg hunts and creative kids’ programs to beachside feasts, live entertainment, and themed dining events — Easter at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is a celebration for every generation. Easter Holiday Offer – book by April 20, 2025, for stays until December 23, 2025. Enjoy free seaplane transfers for one guest with a 4-night stay, plus up to 30% off villas and beach dining. Book a 90-minute spa treatment and receive a 120-minute upgrade for free. Two children can enjoy complimentary wakeboarding or water skiing with two paying adults. Whether you’re chasing adrenaline or serenity, the Jet Car experience and Easter escape at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi deliver the perfect blend of luxury, adventure, and family-friendly fun.

BENO will now offer curated adventures across yacht charters from its new lounge at Dubai’s ultra-luxury– Marsa Al Arab Marina. Located within the marina adjacent to Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – the new lifestyle destination in Dubai and the latest addition to Jumeirah’s global portfolio of hotels and resorts – the BENO Lounge is a sophisticated entry point for clients to discover the full suite of BENO services. Guests can choose to escape for a sail on any of BENO’s exclusive private yachts, with a growing fleet that debark from the hotel’s private marina, footsteps away from the lounge. The jewel of BENO’s fleet is the 115 ft Santorini Superyacht which has a capacity for up to 80 guests with overnight accommodation in five luxurious cabins for twelve. With a crew of seven, the yacht features a Main Salon, Bar, Jacuzzi, Dining Area, and Sunbeds, making it ideal for multi-day trips. The 74 ft Jude Yacht, 64 ft Julia Yacht, and 42 ft Arya Yacht round out the premium end of the fleet, each offering guests a luxurious experience both inside the cabin and out on deck. Aiham Bader, Founder and Chairman, said, “The opening of the BENO Lounge at the Marsa Al Arab Marina, one of the most luxurious and sought-after destinations in the world, mirrors our desire to deliver unrivalled leisure experiences in the luxury space. We aim to craft moments that feel effortless, yet unforgettable while you’re cruising the Gulf.” The announcement comes just ahead of BENO’s presence at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, where the brand will continue to build momentum and meet with key industry stakeholders. .

Red Sea Global (RSG)  announced the launch of its new brand, Botanica. The new name for The Red Sea Landscape Nursery, Botanica is dedicated to sustainable greenery across RSG’s destinations, while also providing exceptional, nature-based experiences to guests. Operational since 2020, Botanica has grown and supplied more than 7 million plants to landscape RSG’s destinations. It aims to deliver 30 million plants by 2030. Starting this month, Botanica is opening up to guests at The Red Sea, AMAALA and beyond. “Botanica is more than just a nursery — it’s a step towards regenerating Saudi Arabia’s rich biodiversity. After providing us with more than 7 million plants for landscaping our destinations, the nursery now becomes our first guest experience that caters uniquely to the RSG DNA of regenerative tourism. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy immersive, hands-on experiences that reconnect them with nature,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG. Immersive visitor experiences at Botanica Visitors to Botanica will be able to explore the beauty and sustainability of the nursery first-hand. The experiences on offer include: • A guided tour around the nursery • The opportunity to plant their own plants • Botanica Café offering breakfast and lunch • A garden shop and tropical area At over 1.8 million square meters, Botanica is the largest landscape nursery in the region. It is part of Red Sea Global’s planet-first approach, seeking to enrich the natural environment and set new standards in responsible development. Approximately 400 people are employed at the nursery, with 25% coming from the local community. The Red Sea welcomed its first guests in 2023, with five of its hotels now open. Botanica becomes the first guest experience that caters …

With Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific market, PATA signaled readiness to support the Kingdom with market intelligence and regional insights. While acknowledging Saudi’s robust in-house expertise, PATA highlighted its value as a connector offering knowledge from decades of Asia-focused tourism development. The collaboration could involve joint projects, knowledge sharing, and practical guidance to help Saudi adapt its tourism products for Asian travelers.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) hosted the Talent of Tomorrow Forum – a landmark event that brought together key stakeholders in Dubai’s education sector to redefine learning for a rapidly evolving world. The forum featured the release of the new ‘Jobs of the Future’ report, a visionary blueprint to align education with emerging industries and further consolidate Dubai’s position as a global hub for business, leisure, and innovation under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and the Education 33 Strategy. The Talent of Tomorrow Forum took place on 17 April at the Museum of The Future, gathering more than 450 educators, policymakers, and industry leaders for a dynamic day of panels, workshops, and networking. The forum focused on how Dubai can stay ahead by equipping its people with the right education, skills, and mindset to navigate the fast-changing world of work. The ‘Jobs of the Future’ report, co-published by DET and KHDA, examines how global trends like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and green energy are reshaping the job market. It identifies gaps in Dubai’s educational landscape and outlines opportunities to align learning pathways with future workforce needs. The report also draws insights from a proprietary Dubai Future of Jobs survey, which gathered inputs from nearly 7,800 students and educators to assess the skills most critical for tomorrow’s workforce. Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “A robust education sector is at the heart of Dubai’s long term economic growth, contributing to talent development and enhancing the city’s appeal as the world’s best …

Hilton announced the signing of two new properties in Cairo’s New Administrative Capital, Hilton Cairo New Capital Downtown and Hilton Garden Inn Cairo New Capital Downtown, in partnership with Panax Company, part of Selim Holding Group. Expected to open in 2028, this latest signing reinforces Hilton’s continued growth strategy in Egypt where the global hospitality company aims to triple its presence and exceed 40 trading properties across the country in the coming years. Strategically located in the heart of a transformative new capital designed to become a hub for business, culture, and innovation, both hotels will sit along the city’s Green River – a vast, landscaped park inspired by the Nile. The properties will be just minutes away from key landmarks including government ministries, the Central Bank, the Presidential Palace, and the Central Business District. Cairo International Airport is a 30-minute drive, ensuring convenient access for both domestic and international travellers. Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “The signing of these two new hotels in the Egyptian New Administrative Capital further reaffirms our commitment to continue diversifying and expanding our presence in the country. As one of the region’s most ambitious urban developments, we see strong potential in the New Administrative Capital’s evolution as a thriving economic hub, and we look forward to launching these outstanding properties to deliver an exceptional guest experience.” Hilton Cairo New Capital Downtown will feature 100 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, thoughtfully designed to foster energizing connections and offer comfort for all travellers. Guests will be able to enjoy the best of local and global culture through a variety of dining options including a lobby café, an all-day dining …

IDeaS announced the launch of IDeaS Spotlight, a first of its kind demand intelligence solution that empowers marketers to generate the right demand at the right time. Spotlight helps both single properties and portfolios to identify and act on high-value opportunities for deploying impactful, demand-generating marketing tactics informed by advanced analytics and AI. The solution brings IDeaS’ robust demand forecast and price sensitivity capabilities together to help hoteliers allocate marketing spend for the greatest impact on incremental revenue. In a time of uncertainty, rising marketing expenses, and increasing operational costs, hotel marketers are challenged to act quickly to translate every dollar spent into measurable revenue growth. Spotlight brings IDeaS’ unmatched forecasting capabilities into the mix, empowering marketers to optimize spend and unify commercial strategies, providing a vital competitive advantage. Additional key benefits of IDeaS Spotlight include: ● Translate forecast data into marketing action with a focused dashboard that automatically identifies periods of high revenue potential to help launch timely, impactful campaigns. ● Increase campaign conversion and influence guest behavior by leveraging price sensitivity signals. ● Respond faster with unparalleled foresight into future marketing opportunities. Powered by IDeaS G3 RMS’ advanced forecasting engine, Spotlight enables teams to proactively adjust strategies and take a surgical approach to demand generation. ● Spur collaborative action by streamlining communication between marketing and revenue management teams with intuitive workflows that ensure no revenue opportunity is left behind. Mike Chuma, vice president of global marketing, IDeaS, said: “For years, IDeaS solutions have served as the source of truth for future demand. With the introduction of Spotlight, hotel marketers can now drive their campaigns with that same state-of-the-art demand-driven forecasting. Spotlight is a purpose-built performance intelligence tool designed …

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a new vision and mission to redefine its role in shaping the region’s tourism landscape. The refreshed vision, “A meaningful Pacific Asia tourism economy”, emphasises purpose-driven growth. PATA’s mission focuses on sharing knowledge, enabling networking, and protecting tourism assets through innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. With this strategic shift, PATA aims to equip the travel trade with tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global environment, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, resilience, and industry unity across Asia and the Pacific.

Emaar has invested over US$ 1 billion in shaping and enhancing the city’s global identity. This cumulative contribution underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to reinforcing Dubai’s international standing through cutting-edge experiences, vibrant cultural platforms, and landmark social infrastructure. From creating and operating Dubai Fountain—the world’s largest choreographed fountain—and producing the internationally acclaimed New Year’s Eve celebrations at Burj Khalifa, to enabling the launch and continued success of Dubai Opera as the region’s cultural epicentre, Emaar has consistently raised the bar in enriching Dubai’s urban and cultural fabric. These signature experiences are sustained and enhanced through ongoing annual investments exceeding US$ 50 million, covering not only the operation and maintenance of key attractions, but also the evolution of immersive technologies and entertainment formats. This includes the modernisation of Burj Khalifa’s façade with next-generation lighting and projection systems, enabling captivating narratives that reach millions of viewers globally. In addition to its physical contributions, Emaar continues to champion inclusive growth and community wellbeing. Through the Emaar Foundation, the company supports a wide range of local causes—from charitable housing and development programmes to national sports and cultural sponsorships—demonstrating its integral role in nurturing both city and society. “Emaar’s journey has always been rooted in a vision that transcends construction—it is about crafting experiences that inspire, unite, and leave a lasting impact,” said Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar. “Our investments are a testament to our belief in Dubai’s limitless potential, and we are proud to play a key role in defining its global narrative.” Emaar’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community empowerment continues to drive progress, shaping Dubai’s future as a leading global hub. With bold ideas and sustained contributions, the company is poised …