ExploreTECH and Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) announced that they have signed an agreement to make ExploreTECH’s White Label Solution available to its 45 brands around the world to help streamline and simplify hospitality tech search. ExploreTECH’s new White Label Solution offers hotel groups and global hospitality brands a customised digital marketplace that empowers them to harness the full power of its robust B2B SaaS platform — customised under their own brand. This turnkey and first of its kind solution integrates a brand’s operating tech alongside approved and preferred suppliers, delivering a personalised tech discovery and procurement experience. Mona Faraj, CEO of ExploreTECH commented: “Over the past 12 months we have built what arguably solves the biggest pain point for hotel brands and groups in hospitality technology procurement, which is to digitally manage their bespoke hotel tech stacks based on their brand standards, in one place. Our White Label Solution gives hotel teams access to the latest brand-approved tech solutions while enabling corporate IT departments to track the uptake of technologies at property level in real time. In addition, brand-approved vendors can distribute their news and product updates easily across a group’s full hotel portfolio, keeping all stakeholders up to date on the latest features and technologies available.” By adopting this solution, hotel brands can offer their hotel portfolio, franchisees, and partners a streamlined path to explore, evaluate, and procure technology — all without the complexity, cost, or resource investment required to build and maintain their own platform or marketplace. “Partnering with ExploreTECH and being selected as a launch brand for their new platform is a significant step for Global Hotel Alliance,” said Folker Heim, COO of Global Hotel Alliance. “We …

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Radisson Hotel Group, marking a new chapter in their mutual commitment to driving tourism and enhancing the Kingdom’s global visibility as a leading destination. The MoU outlines a strategic framework for collaboration, with both parties set to explore opportunities that align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s ambition to welcome 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade. As part of this partnership, Saudi Tourism Authority and Radisson Hotel Group will evaluate a range of potential initiatives. These include amplifying the visibility of the ‘Visit Saudi’ brand across Radisson’s global marketing platforms and developing co-branded campaigns that spotlight Saudi Arabia’s diverse attractions. Basel Talal, Managing Director, KSA, Kuwait & Levant Radisson Hotel Group, commented: “Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic travel destinations globally, and we are proud to support its tourism ambitions through this MoU with the Saudi Tourism Authority. This agreement sets the foundation for impactful collaborations that will enhance the Kingdom’s visibility, attract new travelers, and offer unforgettable experiences to guests across our growing portfolio of hotels in Saudi Arabia.” With nearly 50 hotels operating and under development across the Kingdom, Radisson Hotel Group is a major hospitality partner supporting Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation and Vision 2030 objectives. Recent openings in the Kingdom include the launch of Radisson Hotel Group’s first hotel in Madinah, Radisson Hotel Madinh and Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center Riyadh Minhal, further strengthening its presence across the holy cities. Upcoming openings include Radisson Blu Hotel Riyadh Al Sahafa, Radisson Hotel Jeddah Tahlia Street, Radisson Collection Residence Riyadh, and Radisson Hotel Makkah Thakher City.

Mercure announces the opening of Mercure Khamis Mushait in the Aseer region, under the management of Amsa Hospitality. Located 15 kilometers away from Abha International Airport, the hotel is the first internationally branded hotel in Khamis Mushait offering 93 modern and comfortable rooms. Infused with Mercure’s signature warmth and deep connection to place, the hotel blends authentic Saudi hospitality with the rich cultural offerings of the Aseer region. Designed for business and leisure travelers, Mercure Khamis Mushait features an all-day dining restaurant, a coffee shop, a modern gym, an indoor swimming pool, and a fully equipped meeting room. Guests can also enjoy the convenience of 24/7 in-room dining and laundry services. The hotel’s design incorporates locally-inspired elements, with thoughtfully curated interiors across its rooms and public spaces that pay tribute to the region’s cultural richness. Since its founding in 1973, Mercure has been dedicated to unveiling the treasures surrounding each address, creating a truly local experience for guests. Through its “Discover Local” programme, Mercure ensures that guests are instantly immersed in a locally inspired atmosphere. The brand has recently achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 1,000 hotels worldwide. Hameed Ali, General Manager, said: “We take immense pride in bringing Mercure’s renowned hospitality to the Aseer region. Our dedicated team is committed to providing guests with a unique blend of local character and exceptional service, whether visiting for business or leisure.” Aamir Riaz, Chief Operating Officer of Amsa Hospitality, said: “We at Amsa Hospitality are beyond delighted to start welcoming guests to Mercure Khamis Mushait. We thank the Accor team for their excellent collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together to make sure our guests experience the warmth of …

Riyadh Air and Verteil Technologies announced a strategic partnership that will see Verteil become the launch NDC (New Distribution Capability) aggregator, marking a major milestone in Riyadh Air’s offer and order-based digital distribution journey. Through this collaboration, travel sellers across the globe will gain seamless access to Riyadh Air’s NDC content via Verteil’s industry-leading platform, Verteil Direct Connect (VDC), reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in airline retailing. With this partnership, Riyadh Air NDC content will be accessible to travel sellers globally as it rolls out a modern and efficient distribution strategy that prioritises transparency, personalisation, and direct connectivity. Verteil’s proven expertise in deploying scalable NDC solutions for leading airlines ensures that travel sellers can access a full suite of content and functionalities, including real-time availability, rich fare options, ancillary services, and instant ticketing across multiple points of sale. Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer, Riyadh Air, said: “Riyadh Air aims to set a new global standard for airline connectivity and innovation. Partnering with Verteil at this early stage allows us to ensure a strong foundation for modern distribution technology that is both future-ready and aligned with our digital-first strategy.” Jerrin Jos, Founder and CEO of Verteil Technologies, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Riyadh Air as their launch NDC aggregator. This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to modernising airline distribution, facilitating true retailing and enabling global travel sellers with direct access to richer content and better customer experiences.” Verteil’s robust integration and flexible deployment capabilities make it easier for travel sellers – whether OTAs, TMCs, or Consolidators – to adopt NDC without heavy technical or operational burdens. As Riyadh Air prepares to launch its inaugural flights, this …

VFS Global has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience. This strategic acquisition marks a pivotal step in VFS Global’s expansion journey—particularly across Latin America (LATAM)—as it continues to broaden its capabilities and deepen its impact in the public service delivery space. With nearly two decades of pioneering innovation in citizen services, CiX has established a strong presence in Brazil. This success will be further scaled across LATAM and other global markets, leveraging VFS Global’s international reach and operational excellence. This acquisition is centred on driving transformation through advanced digital technologies, including AI and data-driven platforms. By uniting CiX’s cutting-edge digital capabilities with VFS Global’s extensive global infrastructure and expertise in managing complex service ecosystems, we are positioned to deliver next-generation, integrated solutions to public and private sector clients around the world. For both companies’ client governments and partners, this will lead to enhanced, tailored solutions that improve citizen engagement, access, and satisfaction. Sergio Rodrigues, CEO of CiX Citizen Services, said, “Partnering with VFS Global will supercharge our growth. With access to their capital, technology, talent, and global reach, we can rapidly expand across Latin America, and beyond. This collaboration is about scaling CiX Citizen Experience, delivering even more intuitive, efficient, and accessible government services. Our goal is to simplify citizens’ lives with a combination of physical and digital solutions that also bring agility, and savings for governments worldwide.” Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “We are very pleased to have concluded this strategically important acquisition which will be value accretive for both companies – for CiX Citizen Experience and for VFS Global. VFS Global operates in 158 countries, serves 69 client governments and …

Qatar’s tourism sector kicked off 2025 with strong momentum, welcoming more than 1.5 million international visitors from January to March, driven by an integrated tourism strategy that combines major events, strategic partnerships and diverse tourism experiences that meet the aspirations of different visitors. Visitors from the GCC (36 per cent), followed by visitors from Europe (28 per cent) and Asia and Oceania (20 per cent) led the way, reflecting Qatar’s growing position as an attractive tourist destination in regional and international markets. Visitor arrivals were distributed by air (51%), land (34%) and cruises (15%), highlighting the effectiveness of Qatar’s diverse reach strategy. Eid Al Fitr 2025 recorded the highest tourist arrivals during the festive period in the past three years, with 213,500 visitors arriving over an eight-day period, an increase of 26% compared to 2024, and visitors from the GCC constituting 49% of the total visitors, recording an annual increase of 18%, while hotel occupancy reached 77%, recording an annual growth of 10%. This growth was accompanied by strong performance across the hospitality sectors, with average hotel occupancy reaching 71% and 2.6 million hotel nights sold, reflecting a significant increase in demand driven by key events such as the Qatar Web Summit, Doha Jewellery & Watches and Qatar International Food Festival. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism and Chairman of Visit Qatar, said: “The achievements of the first quarter of 2025 reflect the strength of our long-term strategic approach to developing the tourism sector. By deepening collaboration locally, regionally and internationally, we continue to diversify target markets, enhance visitor experiences, and cement Qatar’s position as a vibrant year-round tourism destination. We are delighted to welcome 1.5 …

San Jeet – Director DDP Group moderated an insightful session titled ‘Big ticket events :global impact and learnings’ at the 32nd edition of the Arabian Travel Market 2025. The panel included HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa – Chairman – SCTDA, Sebastien Doussin – SVP – Global Travel Services and Destination Management – dnata, Noor Ahmed Hamid – CEO – PATA and Dev Karvat – Founder and CEO – Asego Global Assistance Pvt Ltd. Opening the session, San Jeet shared that the industry has seen a rise in terms of job creation, revenue and contribution to the economy of each destination. The speakers shared that staying constantly updated and aware of ones’ surroundings helps one identify what’s truly relevant and which tools are best suited to achieve ones’ goals when it comes to big ticket events. It’s essential to keep up with current events and developments, as they directly influence everyone’s choices and direction. In terms of today’s technologies, for instance—there are numerous new tools that resonate more with people. Even if we were successful using older systems, those methods may no longer be effective. We must recognize and accept that as the world is evolving rapidly, and we need to adapt by embracing and leveraging these technologies.

CG Hospitality Global announces its expansion with Marriott International through the conversion of The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines to The Farm at San Benito, Autograph Collection, set to open in Q3 2025. This marks the first Autograph Collection property in the Philippines, reinforcing CG Hospitality’s dedication to elevating luxury and wellness-driven hospitality across key global markets, from the UAE to Southeast Asia. “Our UAE operations have been the cornerstone of CG Developers’ strategic growth. From our pioneering projects in Dubai including the luxury Taj hotel at Jumeirah Lakes Towers, we have consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation and excellence. As we prepare to unveil our world-class development on Dubai Islands, we are once again reinforcing our deep commitment to shaping the future of this dynamic market,” said Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO, CG Corp Global & CG Hospitality Holdings. Aligned with H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for a flourishing wellness economy, CG Hospitality takes the first step in making transformative wellness destinations accessible to the multicultural Middle East audience. Additionally, with over one million Filipinos residing in the UAE, the nation is already well acquainted with the warmth, hospitality and service-driven nature of the Filipino community. The Farm at San Benito builds on this legacy, offering a world-class wellness destination that seamlessly blends cultural heritage with holistic healing and global accessibility. Nestled in Lipa City, Batangas, just 90 minutes from Metro Manila, The Farm at San Benito, Autograph Collection will span 52 hectares and is expected to feature 70 villas — including one-bedroom sanctuaries and exclusive two- and four-bedroom pool villas. The resort will house five distinct dining destinations, a wellness-focused …

In a significant move set to bring Manhattan’s creative legacy to the Middle East, Clédor  has officially signed a partnership agreement with Arthouse Hotel, NYC. Coming to the iconic Al Marjan Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Marjan Arthouse, valued at AED 400 Million, will be the brand’s first residences outside of the USA. With a project development pipeline valued at over AED 2.1 billion, Clédor continues to make bold strides in reshaping the region’s real estate landscape. These branded residences are part of Clédor’s vision to deliver high-yield, design-forward communities that offer 150%+ investor returns and average unit prices exceeding AED 14 million. The signing ceremony took place today, at the elegant Amelia Lounge in Downtown Dubai, in the presence of Omar Gull, Founder & Chairman of Clédor, Karim El Aqabi, from Arthouse, Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO, Marjan and Islam El Dafrawy, Co-founder, Prospect. “Today’s signing marks the beginning of a powerful collaboration rooted in excellence, heritage, and innovation. We are very excited to partner with Arthouse Hotel, NYC, to bring a legacy of refined and artistic living into the heart of the UAE’s most dynamic communities – Al Marjan Island. With Arthouse, we’re introducing a new style of luxury, one that brings a creative, cultural dimension to Ras Al Khaimah. “Al Marjan Island is already a powerhouse for leisure and entertainment, drawing visitors and investors from all over the world. Through this partnership with Arthouse, we hope to add a new layer to the island’s story, a place where art and culture live side by side with lifestyle and hospitality. We are truly grateful to Arthouse NYC, and Marjan leadership and our strategic partner Prospect for believing …

Air India and Air India Express have announced the appointment of dnata Representation Services as their General Sales Agent (GSA) and Representative Agency (RA), respectively, in the UAE. The agreement, formally signed at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 in Dubai, reflects the Air India group’s continued focus on enhancing reach and customer engagement in the strategically important UAE market. Under this partnership, dnata Representation Services will provide comprehensive sales, marketing, and distribution support to both carriers across the UAE, excluding Abu Dhabi and Al Ain for Air India. This localised approach will improve accessibility for travellers and trade partners while supporting the Air India group’s broader growth plans in the region. Air India operates 82x weekly flights from the UAE to India, while Air India Express connects five cities—Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah—with over 240x weekly flights from the UAE. The UAE represents the single-largest international market for Air India Express and remains one of the most significant global markets, serving millions of Indian expatriates and other travellers. Kaizad Postwalla, Head of International Sales – GMEA & North America, Air India, said, “The UAE is a key market in our international network. We are pleased to partner with dnata Travel Group, whose deep understanding of the region and proven track record in travel services will help us better connect with customers, drive demand, and enhance service delivery in the market.” Dr. Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India Express, added, “Our collaboration with dnata Travel Group marks another step in expanding our commercial presence in the region. As our network and fleet grow, this partnership will help us stay closer to our customers and …