Travelport won ‘Best travel technology provider’ at the seventh Arabian Travel Awards 2024. ‘Winning this award is incredibly important to us, as it reflects the voice of our customers. It is an honor to be recognized for our technology innovation work and dedication to supporting agencies, especially in the rapidly advancing Middle East travel sector. This achievement motivates us to continue advancing our Travelport+ platform to empower our agency customers to excel as modern travel retailers.’ Kathryn Wallington, Head of MEA, UK&IE, Central & Eastern EU, Travelport

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed an agreement with ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative to promote responsible consumption across the tourism and hospitality sectors, reflecting its commitment to supporting sustainability across the emirate’s tourism, hospitality and events sectors. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, and Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and Secretary-General of the ne’ma National Steering Committee. The national food loss and waste initiative is at the core of the UAE’s efforts to ensure food security and address climate change, and this collaboration aims to drive transformative change in the travel and hospitality sectors, contributing to the National Food Security Strategy 2051 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, aiming to reduce food loss and waste in the UAE by 50 percent by 2030. His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, said: “As Abu Dhabi continues to grow as a leading global destination, it is essential that we advance our commitment to sustainable development, establishing our emirate as a responsible hub for tourism and events. The partnership with ne’ma sets out a roadmap for meaningful action to reduce food loss and waste while creating awareness among travellers and stakeholders about responsible consumption.” As part of the agreement, DCT Abu Dhabi will encourage restaurants, hotels, and tourism establishments, to adopt sustainable practices such as portion control, menu optimisation, and creative use of surplus food; and develop educational campaigns for tourists and residents to highlight the environmental impact of food waste and the importance of responsible consumption. Khuloud Hasan Al Nuwais, said: …

Following Emirates’ successful launch to Madagascar in September 2024, the airline will introduce additional flights to the island nation, boosting its schedule from four to six-weekly services, starting 2 April 2025. The move reinforces the airline’s commitment to support Madagascar’s tourism ambitions to accommodate more leisure visitors and promote the island destination to global audiences. The boost in operations, in response to strong demand for its passenger services between the capital city and Dubai, was announced at a press conference held by Madagascar’s Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism, and Emirates in Antananarivo. Since flights commenced last year, Emirates has witnessed tremendous demand for its passenger services, both inbound and outbound, between Antananarivo and Dubai. With the current four weekly flights operating at near full capacity, the significant uplift to the number of seats offered on the route will support Madagascar’s efforts to increase visitor arrivals into the country, while also providing more choice and convenience for travellers to plan trips to and from the popular Indian Ocean destination. Announcing the expansion of Emirates’ services to the island at the press conference, Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for West Asia and Indian Ocean said: “We are pleased to boost our services to Madagascar by offering two additional flights per week in line with soaring demand for travel since the start of operations. Our growing flight schedule to the island means better connectivity, more choice and convenient options for travellers. Enhancing services will also strengthen the economic ties between Madagascar and the UAE, by supporting more inbound and outbound leisure and business travel to the island and bolstering trade lanes with additional cargo capacity. As tourism to …

Riyadh Air has officially selected Catrion to provide in-flight catering and related services for its domestic and international flights. These services will be provided at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the contract will span five years, with an estimated value of SAR 2.3 billion. This move is part of Riyadh Air’s efforts to ensure an unrivalled guest experience as it prepares to launch operations in 2025. The signing ceremony, held on 8 January 2025 at Riyadh Air’s headquarters, was attended by key executives from both companies. Riyadh Air’s selection of Catrion follows a rigorous and competitive bidding process, in line with the airline’s commitment to providing high-quality services and maintaining a focus on enriching local content. The airline is committed to a strong focus on Vision 2030’s drive for greater non-oil contribution to GDP by supporting Saudi suppliers across the country with Catrion playing a pivotal role in curating world-class menus that reflect traditional flavors from Riyadh and offering unique culinary experiences for guests. Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, commented: Our food and beverage offering, both in the air and on the ground, is hugely important for our guests and we aim to set a high benchmark for everyone who travels with Riyadh Air. By selecting Catrion, a company that shares our passion for quality and excellence, it strengthens our commitment to delivering an unparalleled travel experience for our passengers. Wajdy Al-Ghabban, CEO of Catrion, also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: We are honored to be selected as Riyadh Air’s catering partner. This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to showcase the richness of Saudi Arabia’s culinary heritage while offering a world-class dining experience to travelers. we look …

Tourism Malaysia won ‘Best destination marketing initiatives’ award at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Thanks to the organisers of DDP Group and the jury for this prestigious award, it is a great responsibility as now we need to work to ensure that we maintain and excel even further. Tourism Malaysia Dubai has actively participated in travel conferences and exhibitions, destinations seminar presentation with airlines and agents and familiarisation trips for agents and media.” Azhar Musyabri Abdul Mutallib, Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia, Dubai Office.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reported its strongest year ever, welcoming a record-high 1.28 million overnight arrivals in 2024, marking 12% growth in tourism revenues and a notable 15% rise in MICE visitors. This success is a testament to the Emirate’s strategic and sustainable growth vision to attract over 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030. Commenting on the Emirate’s achievements, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “2024 was a milestone year for Ras Al Khaimah, showcasing our commitment to sustainability, enhanced connectivity, and diverse experiences tailored to every traveller. Looking ahead, our vision extends beyond attracting more visitors; we aim to position Ras Al Khaimah as a destination of the future. With significant investments, world-class events, and groundbreaking developments on the horizon, 2025 is set to be another remarkable year. Several factors contributed to this robust performance in 2024, including the opening new hotels and resorts, a growing calendar of international events, increased connectivity to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, best-in-class marketing campaigns and over 2,200 international activities and market engagements across 70 cities.  

Travelport unveiled its 2025 State of Modern Retailing Report and one of the key findings was transparency where modern retailing requires honesty at every stage of the customer journey.  This report, combining new proprietary research and cross-industry insights, outlines critical trends reshaping the travel industry in 2025, including heightened demand for transparency, the emergence of new subscription models, and AI-driven advancements in the travel retail experience. “Consumers are clear about what they want from the travel industry: simplicity, transparency, and trust,” said Jen Catto, Chief Marketing Officer at Travelport. “Our latest research shows that travel has reached a tipping point. Modern retailers who embrace radical transparency, adopt AI responsibly, and deliver streamlined experiences will thrive in this evolving landscape.” Five Key Trends to Watch in 2025: 1. Consumer-washing ends; Radical transparency begins Travel companies face growing criticism for “consumer washing,” a practice where businesses advertise deceptively low prices, hiding fees or conditions until checkout. Nearly half (44%) of surveyed consumers ranked airlines, hotels, and travel companies as major offenders, second only to credit card companies (45%). Modern retailing requires honesty at every stage of the customer journey. Brands that eliminate hidden fees and agencies that present clear, comparable options across suppliers will earn customer loyalty. Radical transparency is not just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage. 2. Disruptors Delivering Simplicity Will Outpace the Laggards Fintech disruptors have reshaped banking, with 47% of consumers agreeing they’ve made personal finances easier to manage. However, the travel industry lags behind. Over half of consumers (56%) report that airline offers have become more confusing over the past decade. To match fintech’s success, travel brands must embrace agile, API-led technology that enables seamless integration of new …

Stirling Hospitality Advisors announced the signing of Radisson RED as the brand for an exciting new hotel project on Marjan Island. Scheduled to open in the Summer of 2027, the upscale lifestyle hotel will become the first franchised Radisson RED property in the UAE. Stirling Hospitality will oversee the development of the project, which is estimated to cost AED 215 million. The Radisson RED Marjan Island project is set to offer approximately 280 keys and an array of amenities, including four F&B outlets. Guests can look forward to an all-day dining restaurant, a lounge bar, a specialty restaurant, and a poolside bar. The hotel will also feature premium facilities such as an outdoor pool, a fully equipped gym, a Spa, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities, indoor and outdoor kid’s facilities. Conveniently located on Marjan Island 4, the property will be just steps away from the upcoming Wynn integrated resort and a short stroll from the beachfront, complete with a private area exclusively for hotel guests. The upscale lifestyle property will introduce a refreshed design concept for Radisson RED in the Middle East. The brand’s signature loft-industrial aesthetic will embrace a softer, resort-inspired style that incorporates natural materials and muted tones perfectly suited to the ambiance of Marjan Island. SSH International Consultants has been appointed as the Lead Design Consultant, with Stirling’s expert team acting as owner representative on behalf of BB Holding, orchestrating the collaboration between stakeholders to ensure the project’s timely and successful delivery. Tatiana Veller, Managing Director of Stirling Hospitality Advisors, said: “We are excited to collaborate with BB Holding, Radisson, and SSH International Consultants on this exceptional lifestyle project. This venture will set a …

Gewan Hotels and Resorts wins ‘fastest growing hotel management company’ at the seventh edition of Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Arabian Travel Award is an incredible honour and a proud moment for everyone at Gewan Hotels & Resorts. It’s a testament to our team’s hard work, passion, and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. This recognition fuels our confidence and inspires us to aim even higher, constantly innovating to delight those who choose us. It’s also a moment to reflect, grow, and push the boundaries of excellence. Winning is not the end—it motivates us to deliver even more, focusing on personalized service, sustainability, and ensuring every guest’s stay is truly special,” Ahmed Hassib, Chief Executive Officer, Gewan Hotels & Resorts

Insignia Worldwide has partnered with Red Sea Global (RSG) in its launch of three groundbreaking new resorts. The unveiling of Shebara, Desert Rock, and Thuwal Private Retreat marks a milestone in positioning Saudi Arabia as a premier leisure destination.As part of its strategic collaboration with RSG, Insignia delivered cohesive identities and immersive brand experiences for each of these unique resorts. From crafting brand strategies that resonate with the surroundings, to defining authentic guest touchpoints that elevate the journey, Insignia has played a pivotal role in defining this next chapter of luxury Saudi hospitality.Insignia’s expertise in creating transformative experiences aligned perfectly with RSG’s vision for these destinations. With human centricity at its heart, Insignia’s strategic approach illuminated how each of these hotels are a core ingredient in destination placemaking. Each property reflects the diversity of the Red Sea’s landscapes and RSG’s commitment to sustainable development, offering travelers an unparalleled connection to nature and culture. The brand identity and guest journey strategies ensured that every detail of the experience, from service touchpoints to rituals, reflects the Kingdom’s rich culture, tradition of hospitality, and forward-looking aspirations. To bring these concepts to life, Insignia creatively directed the photography and videography for all three properties, with imagery that celebrates the otherworldly architecture of Shebara, the natural integration of Desert Rock, and the serenity of Thuwal. This visual storytelling aims to inspire local, regional, and global audiences to discover the undiscovered. “Through this collaboration, we aimed to not only bring to life exceptional hotel brands but also redefine the perception of what Saudi hospitality is on the global stage,” said Insignia CEO Gaurav Sinha. “We have been honored to partner with Red Sea Global to realize their …