Air Arabia has opened its second City Check-in facility in Dubai, located at Al Barsha Mall. The newly launched service offers added convenience to customers traveling from both Sharjah International Airport and Zayed International Airport, bringing the total number of Air Arabia City Check-in facilities to 14 spreads across the UAE. The City Check-in service allows passengers to drop off their baggage and collect their boarding passes from 48 hours up to 8 hours prior to their scheduled departure time, helping them avoid airport queues and head straight to immigration upon arrival at the airport. A handling fee of 20 dirhams per passenger applies. Operating daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the new facility also offers additional services such as the purchase of extra baggage allowance, seat selection, and flight modifications. The Al Barsha Mall location is the second Air Arabia City Check-in facility in Dubai, complementing a growing network of conveniently located centres across the UAE in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. This service is designed to streamline the travel experience, reduce waiting times at the airport and deliver added value to customers ahead of the busy summer travel season. As part of its growth strategy and dedication to quality, the carrier continues to provide enhanced customer experience. The opening of the new City Check-In facility is consistent with the airline’s commitment to providing affordable and value-added solutions that meet its customers’ evolving needs.

Atlantis, The Palm unveils “A World Away” brand campaign created to reshape perceptions, spark imagination, and reignite global awareness, the campaign positions Atlantis, The Palm as far more than a holiday destination. It is a world rich with energy, wonder, and emotion—where guests are invited to leave the ordinary behind and step into the extraordinary. Whether it’s a guest overcoming their fears on the iconic waterslide Leap of Faith, or a quiet moment spent face-to-face with marine life, every experience becomes a fulfilled dream. For the first time in Atlantis history, a campaign of this scale is conceived, produced, and executed entirely by the in-house brand and marketing teams—ensuring the final product is creatively ambitious, deeply authentic, and true to the spirit of the resort. To bring the story to life, the Atlantis team collaborates with Bruce Macdonald, winner of the New York Film Festival and International Film Talent Awards, whose cinematic direction anchors the emotional depth of the campaign. He is joined by Simon Duggan, the acclaimed Director of Photography behind The Great Gatsby and Hacksaw Ridge, and a two-time AACTA Award winner for Best Cinematography. The visual narrative is further enhanced by London-based photographer Jonathan Stokes, known for his work with National Geographic Traveler; FPV drone expert André Larsen, one of the world’s top talents in aerial filming; and underwater cinematographer Mike Rall, founder of Base Films and a recognised leader in his field. Filming takes place across several of Atlantis, The Palm’s most iconic locations, including the grand main lobby, the awe-inspiring Underwater Suite, the renowned Lost Chambers Aquarium, world-class culinary venues under the most Michelin-awarded destination in the region, and the record-breaking Aquaventure World. Visually, “A …

Accor has introduced a unique hospitality experience by launching the first Roland-Garros themed room in the Middle East, located at the Pullman Downtown Dubai. The immersive concept brings together sport, culture, and travel in a distinctive setting designed to appeal to tennis fans and global travellers alike. Speaking at the unveiling, Paul Stevens, COO – EMEA at Accor, emphasized the group’s commitment to creating memorable and culturally enriched guest experiences. “We aim to go beyond traditional hospitality by integrating elements of global events and culture into our offerings. This themed room is a celebration of the Roland-Garros legacy, offering guests a chance to engage with the spirit of the tournament in a completely new way,” he said. The Dubai installation marks the first of its kind in the region, with three more themed rooms set to debut in São Paulo, Tokyo, and France. Through this initiative, Accor continues to push the boundaries of experiential travel, creating spaces that resonate with passion and purpose.  

As global airports continue to evolve to meet growing passenger demand and sustainability targets, Honeywell is at the forefront of shaping that transformation. TravTalkME speaks with Nabil Cheqroun, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell Building Automation, on the sidelines of the Airport Show about the technologies which help achieve the seamless and smart services for the passengers. At the Airport Show this year, Honeywell showcased its suite of cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance airport efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental responsibility. “Our focus is based on three strategic pillars: delivering a seamless passenger journey, ensuring resilient operations, and accelerating the path to net zero,” said Nabil Cheqroun, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell Building Automation. “We’re showcasing several innovations that are already making a significant impact in airports around the world.” A Seamless Journey: Follow the Green One of Honeywell’s standout solutions is Navitas, the “Follow the Green” technology. This system enables aircraft to taxi from runway to gate in the most efficient and safe manner possible. “Navitas helps reduce downtime and fuel consumption, improving turnaround time while significantly cutting carbon emissions,” explained Cheqroun. Complementing this is Honeywell’s latest Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS), which ensures precise docking of aircraft. “Accuracy is critical in airport operations, and VDGS provides pilots with exact guidance to reach the correct gate position,” he added. Unified Airport Intelligence Honeywell also emphasizes integration with its Command and Control Suite, a platform that connects building management systems, fire safety, and security infrastructure. This unified view streamlines airport operations both landside and airside, enabling quicker response times and optimized resource management. “Our Enterprise Building Integration (EBI) solution is built to manage complex airport environments. Whether it’s lighting, HVAC, or emergency response, EBI …

Ministry of Economy UAE launched a summer hospitality camp to build national capabilities in the hospitality sector. H.E. added: “The Summer Hospitality Camp is an investment in our young Emiratis, designed to equip them with the skills and training needed to thrive in the tourism sector. It reflects our commitment to increasing local participation in this vital industry and aligns with our vision for a dynamic tourism future led by capable Emirati talent. Through this initiative, we are preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators who will enrich the visitor experience in the UAE and serve as true ambassadors of our authentic Emirati identity and globally recognized hospitality.” In the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, the Ministry of Economy launched the ‘Summer Hospitality Camp 2025’. The comprehensive training program places students in real-world hospitality settings such as hotels and tourism facilities to enhance national tourism capabilities, supporting broader efforts to develop human capital in the UAE’s tourism and hospitality sectors. The initiative aligns with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and is being implemented in strategic partnership with academic institutions, tourism and hospitality companies, and leading hospitality providers across the country. The launch event was attended by H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General elect of the United Nations World Tourism Organization for the 2026–2029 term, it was also attended by nearly 100 people representing the country’s hospitality sector, along with student leaders, and industry professionals. Speaking at the event, H.E. Bin Touq emphasized that tourism has become a key driver of sustainable development and economic competitiveness, thanks to the vision and support of the UAE’s wise leadership. …

Cvent announced the launch of CventIQ which combines powerful AI capabilities with deep industry expertise, proprietary insights and analytics, a smart platform, and intelligent infrastructure to help marketers, event planners, and hospitality professionals move faster and smarter, collaborate better, and deliver more engaging, high-return experiences. Cvent CEO Reggie Aggarwal unveiled CventIQ during his opening keynote address at Cvent CONNECT recently. “CventIQ enhances every aspect of the Cvent platform, and it represents our vision for a more efficient, intelligent, and collaborative future for meetings and events,” said Aggarwal. “By infusing advanced AI into the tools our customers already use, we’re empowering them to deliver more engaging events, more efficiently, with greater returns. Our launch of CventIQ reflects how we’re bringing trustworthy, practical AI to every corner of our platform so our customers can stay ahead of today’s fast-evolving landscape while remaining focused on what truly drives impact: human connection.”

flydubai launches a new Travel Shop in the Emirate of Sharjah, featuring a City Check-in service for the first time. Partnering with Sharjah National Travel and Tourist Agency (SNTTA), flydubai’s Travel Shop in Sharjah enhances convenience and accessibility for its customers in the Northern Emirates. For the first time, the airline’s recently opened Travel Shop offers passengers the option of City Check-in, enabling them to complete their check-in process well in advance before arrival at Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). The new Travel Shop, located in the heart of the city, is now open to customers who can avail the new convenient service as well as other available services. Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia) at flydubai, said: “we are committed to finding the right travel partners to bring our reliable travel experience to our customers wherever they are. The new flydubai Travel Shop in Sharjah underscores our continued commitment to innovation and delivering value-driven convenience to our customers. By offering this added flexibility with the new City Check-in service, we aim to improve the overall travel experience and support our customers’ needs in a more personalised and accessible way.” Designed with convenience in mind, flydubai’s Travel Shop in Sharjah features a comfortable waiting area, designated service desks and a porter service for baggage drop to enhance the overall customer experience. Customers can expect a range of travel-related services, including booking flights, making changes to their travel plans and choosing flydubai Holidays packages. The City Check-in service marks a significant step in flydubai’s customer experience journey, enabling passengers to check in their baggage, receive their boarding pass and select their …

Rotana announced a new multi-faceted sustainability partnership with Ecolab and  Stella Hospitality. Together, the three organisations will support Rotana in advancing its sustainability objectives across operations and guest touchpoints — from reducing water and energy consumption to phasing out single-use plastics and enhancing in-room product design. The partnership builds on a renewed agreement with Ecolab, marking 20 years of collaboration, and introduces Stella Hospitality into Rotana’s supplier ecosystem for the first time. The partnership was formalised through individual agreements with Ecolab and Stella Hospitality, following leadership-level engagements with representatives from all parties. “This renewed partnership with Ecolab, and the addition of Stella Hospitality, reflects our determination to make a meaningful and lasting impact,” said Philip Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at Rotana. “It’s about moving beyond intention to action — reducing resource use where it matters and making conscious choices that shape a better guest experience.” Scaling Measurable Sustainable Impact Across Operations and Guest Experience As part of the renewed partnership, Ecolab will continue to implement technologies that help Rotana reduce water, energy, and chemical use while maintaining high standards of hygiene and operational efficiency. These outcomes are tracked using Ecolab’s eROISM (Exponential Return on Investment) proprietary tool, which measures both environmental and financial impact — enabling smarter, data-driven decision-making across hotel operations. This approach directly supports findings from Ecolab’s global Watermark Study, which shows that consumers remain very concerned about climate change and are increasingly willing to support businesses that prioritize sustainability. By applying smart systems that optimise water and energy use, the partnership ensures Rotana remains ahead of these challenges. “This partnership shows how data-driven collaboration can deliver measurable environmental progress at scale,” said Stefan Umiastowski, Senior Vice President …

flyadeal announced a regional first with Saudi cabin crew to be trained as certified tour guides in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to build a dynamic tourism industry. The programme will target 800 crew by 2030 for comprehensive tour guide training in which they will embrace wider learnings of Saudi Arabia’s culture and historical attractions. Upon completion, they will receive a licence as tourism ambassadors enabling them to hone their skills as official guides engaging with passengers, and with visitors in a private capacity. Over the next few weeks, the Saudi-based airline will open applications for courses specifically designed for Saudi nationals. A training institute accredited to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism will conduct the courses.  flyadeal is promoting several developments at the show including its upcoming summer season flying programme and new year-round destinations. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “flyadeal continues to push the boundaries with employee initiatives designed to enhance their personal development and professional skills. This new training programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East, will empower crew and equip them with the skills and confidence to engage with visitors as official tourism ambassadors. “As licensed tour guides, the beauty of the programme allows our crew to use their new-found skills while interacting with passengers but also harness their experience by taking tourists on guided tours around the wonderful historic sites that the Kingdom is so renowned for.” To kick-off the programme, flyadeal crew were given a guided tour of the fascinating Dirayah district – the birthplace of Saudi Arabia – in the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh. They explored and learned more about the traditional mud-brick architecture and cultural sites being restored to …

Turkish Airlines and Icelandair announced the expansion of their existing codeshare partnership  marking a significant step in strengthening connectivity between two key regions at the crossroads of continents and oceans. Since the beginning of their partnership in June 2023, the two flag carriers have cooperated under a codeshare agreement to offer passengers more seamless travel options. Building on this foundation, Icelandair will introduce direct flights between Reykjavik and İstanbul, starting 5 September 2025, operating twice weekly during the winter season. These new flights will be incorporated into the scope of the agreement, allowing Turkish Airlines to put its marketing code on Icelandair’s operations. In return, Icelandair will place its marketing code on select Turkish Airlines flights beyond Istanbul, covering destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This extended integration connects Icelandair’s transatlantic network with Turkish Airlines’ global reach across multiple continents, creating new opportunities for both business and leisure travel. Commenting on the expansion of the partnership, Turkish Airlines CEO, Mr. Bilal Ekşi stated: “This cooperation goes beyond a commercial partnership. It represents a strategic alignment between two trusted carriers. By launching direct flights between Reykjavik and Istanbul and integrating our networks, we are opening the door to new traffic flows and connectivity options between Iceland, Türkiye and beyond.” Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair CEO, also commented: “Building on the partnership with Turkish Airlines will offer travelers even greater connectivity and seamless travel options across our combined networks. The expansion of our codeshare partnership to multiple destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, reflects our shared commitment to service excellence, building a stronger global network and unlocking new opportunities for growth.” This enhanced cooperation is expected to boost tourism and …