Category Archives: Agents

Department of Tourism Philippines shared that United Arab Emirates was the top source market in 2023 with an increase of 419.8% followed by Saudi Arabia with 48.9%, Kuwait and Qatar. A special meeting was held with the DOT Philippines and travel trade industry partners on the sidelines of the 31st edition of the Arabian Travel Market 2024. Christina Garcia Frasco – Secretary of Tourism – Department of Tourism Philippines shared that they are looking forward to receiving more tourists this year from the region with all their offerings.

The 31st edition of ATM 2024 kicks off in Dubai featuring over 2,300 exhibitors from more than 165 countries, new destinations, including China, Macao, Kenya, Guatemala, and Columbia and expects over 41,000 visitors. Held under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, spotlighting a pivotal area for the travel and tourism industry. From startups to established brands, ATM 2024 will highlight how innovators are enhancing customer experiences, driving efficiencies and accelerating progress towards a net-zero future for the industry. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market added: “ATM 2024 is gearing up for an exciting lineup spread across two stages, with the Global Stage returning alongside the new Future Stage. The conference agenda will feature key industry speakers from around the world and address the emerging trends that are fueling the travel and tourism sector’s growth.” Curtis added: “An eagerly awaited addition to ATM 2024 is the new Entrepreneurship-focused summit, which will delve into the role of travel start-ups in the Middle East economy, spotlighting their pioneering approaches. As entrepreneurship and innovation take centre stage, the exciting ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle, in partnership with Emirates Group’s Intelak provides the perfect platform to celebrate the immense potential for innovators in the region and for brands to present their industry solutions.” The number of participating hotel brands for ATM 2024 has increased by 21% year-on-year, with a 58% rise in new Travel Technology products showcased. Several new destinations will be introduced at ATM 2024, including China, Macao, Kenya, Guatemala, and Columbia, while returning countries include Spain and France, among many others. Upticks across all key verticals with year-on-year growth across all regions participation including ME 28%, Asia and Europe 34%, and …

Traveazy Group is set to revolutionize the landscape of business-to-business (B2B) travel solutions with an exclusive unveiling at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, held from May 6th to 9th in Dubai. Attendees of this prestigious event are cordially invited to visit Traveazy Group’s stand to witness firsthand the future of B2B travel technology. As a leading online travel company, Traveazy Group is proud to announce the strategic relaunch of its subsidiary, Holidayme, as a premier provider of comprehensive travel solutions for travel providers globally. This transformative pivot marks a significant milestone in Holidayme’s journey, positioning the brand as a game-changer in the B2B travel sphere. Through cutting-edge technology and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Holidayme is set to redefine industry standards, empowering travel agents and service providers to unlock new opportunities and drive growth in the competitive travel market. At ATM 2024, Traveazy Group will unveil a suite of innovative products designed to elevate the capabilities of travel businesses. Geet Bhalla, Founder & CEO of Traveazy Group, expresses his excitement about the upcoming unveiling, stating, “We are thrilled to showcase the future of B2B travel solutions at ATM 2024. This event represents a unique opportunity for travel businesses to discover how our innovative products can drive their success in the global marketplace. We look forward to welcoming attendees to our stand and demonstrating the transformative power of Holidayme’s B2B offering.” Traveazy Group invites all attendees of ATM 2024 to visit their stand and explore the possibilities of partnering with a visionary leader in the travel industry. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to be a part of the future of travel solutions. For more information, visit www.holidayme.com or …

Sabre Hospitality announced a multi-year renewal with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, following the hotel franchisor’s highly successful adoption of SynXis Property Hub, Sabre Hospitality’s property management system (PMS). With seamless integration to SynXis Central Reservation System as a single source of truth, SynXis Property Hub increases operational efficiency by reducing the time to execute routine tasks and allows hoteliers to access their property from anywhere through cloud-native technology. In a landmark achievement that showcases the decade-long partnership between the two companies, Sabre and Wyndham teams successfully migrated more than 5,000 Wyndham hotels to SynXis Property Hub, including the transition of 550 in a single record-breaking month, nearly one year ahead of schedule. This early completion is complemented by the migration’s efficiency, which reduced the expected transition downtime for the Wyndham properties by 34%, ensuring successful management of day-to-day operations. This milestone not only highlights an innovative leap, but also sets a new industry standard for large-scale technology migrations. “Completing this migration nearly a year ahead of schedule is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration,” said Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Through our work with Sabre, thousands of Wyndham hotels now benefit from groundbreaking efficiencies, further enhancing their ability to serve guests and deliver great experiences day-in and day-out.” Strickland highlighted some of the immediate benefits of this migration for Wyndham properties and their daily operations. “For instance, service desk interactions have decreased by 50% compared to the legacy system after just 30 days of adoption. Additionally, by equipping our housekeeping with mobile solutions, we’ve increased clean room availability for guests by up to 15%. We’ve also streamlined the reservation delivery and …

The annual Discover Europe Travel Summit returns to Dubai, offering an immersive experience into the enchanting landscapes and diverse cultures of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. More than 100 partners from the three countries – representing states, cities, hotels, and tourist attractions – will be present, fostering connections and collaboration on 4th and 5th May in Dubai. This two-day event represents a pivotal opportunity for the European nations to showcase their unique attractions, forge strategic partnerships, and strengthen ties with GCC travel professionals. The Discover Europe Travel Summit serves as a vital prelude to Arabian Travel Market, the region’s largest travel exhibition, offering a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange on key industry trends and emerging technologies. With an impressive agenda comprising more than 4,000 curated meetings and an attendance of at least 120 buyers in the culture and luxury travel sectors of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the summit is poised to facilitate fruitful discussions and unveil exciting opportunities for growth and collaboration within the tourism sector. Reflecting on the significance of the event, Yamina Sofo, Director of the Marketing & Sales Office at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) GCC, commented, “We’re excited to showcase the innovative experiences Germany offers travellers from the GCC. From breathtaking mountain adventures to cutting-edge wellness retreats, Germany caters to the most discerning traveller.” “Germany is committed to sustainable travel practices, offering travellers from the GCC eco-friendly experiences while minimizing environmental impact. The Discover Europe Travel Summit allows us to showcase these initiatives and collaborate with partners to create extended itineraries that encourage travellers to stay longer and explore the rich diversity of our regions,” she added. Michael …

Sigmund introduces “Travel & Tourism RFP HUB” its latest innovative solution to revolutionise the way tourism professionals find new business. Sigmund has streamlined the process of wading through government, NGO, aid and tourism board websites in search of various RFPs for business and made it function as “Tinder for Tenders!” The new hub consists of opportunities for professionals who offer Consulting (sustainability, accessibility, development), Marketing (web, social, app, advertising, PR) and Research (branding, surveys, data analytics). Speaking with Tourism breaking news, Ally Stoltz Labriola, Director Sigmund shared more details on this exciting new platform. Labriola shared, “Sigmund’s new A.I.-powered RFP Hub makes finding travel and tourism contracts more efficient and affordable than ever before–at just $129 per year. Any tourism professional who signs up can access the hub. It caters to those offering consulting, marketing, or research services to entities like governments and NGOs that issue RFPs.” Among its unique features is that, “the hub is affordable, powered by A.I, and is tailored specifically for the travel and tourism industry, eliminating the need to sift through unrelated RFPs from other industries.” She reiterated how it helps in marketing, research, and analytics from a tourism marketing perspective, and how it can generate new business. “The RFP Hub provides marketing, research, and analytics consultants with specialized access to relevant RFPs in the tourism sector, helping them identify opportunities that match their expertise and utilize their skills to win contracts and expand their business. The annual subscription is $129 USD. A special rate for TravTalk readers of $99 USD for the first year is available with the code TravTalk99 at checkout.” In conclusion, she shared that, “a minimal investment can yield significant returns. Winning even one …

Speaking at a special interview with TravTalk ME, Gloria Guevara – Chief Advisor to the Minister of Tourism Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Mohammed Al Khateeb, stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking more action than just sharing words to ensure that the tourism industry thrives in the nation. She shared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now focusing on empowering more women to the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors and currently consist of almost 45% in the industry. According to research it is shared that 30% of the global population are under the age of 35 years hence they will have the opportunity to delve into careers based on their passion in the industry as the government from His Royal Highness, the immense support provided to train and mentor the youth and women leaders is a commendable strategy to go towards the goals set for 2030.

For the first time Philippines Department of Tourism conducted a special event to showcase their key health and wellness tourism partners to the GCC region. The first leg was kicked off in Abu Dhabi, second in Dubai and third in Riyadh. Dr. Paulo Benito S Tugbang, Director, Office of Product and Market Development, Department of Tourism Philippines shared that this has been an untapped tourism product which they want to present to the GCC travel trade to attract more visitors to indulge in the various healthcare facilities the nation is famous for. He reiterated, Filipino health workers are world renown when it comes to their care and dedication in the industry hence they want to further enhance travellers to first hand experience their services in their own country.

Riyadh is set to host, from April 28 to 30, the Health Tourism Future Forum which is organized by the Health Tourism Club and the Health Tourism Association in partnership with the Global Health Tourism Council (GHTC) according to SPA. Talking about the event, Health Tourism Association Chairman of the Board of Directors and Health Tourism Club President Ahmed Al-Arej said it will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and will highlight the Kingdom’s tremendous development in the medical field. He said that the event will attract local and international medical bodies and specialists, providers of health-care services and accreditation centers in the public and private sectors, which will showcase their products at an exhibition to be held on the sidelines of the forum. The event will feature specialized discussion panels, workshops, and business sessions that focus on promoting major projects in the tourism, hospitalization, and health-care sectors, and providing options and destinations for those seeking treatment and hospitalization from various countries of the world.

Dadabhai Travel in the Middle East, announces the renewal of its primary strategic GDS technology partnership with Sabre Corporation reaffirming their position as strategic contributors in shaping the future of the travel industry. This renewed commitment underscores Dadabhai Travel’s dedication to providing enriched customer experiences across multiple verticals, including Leisure, meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), business to business (B2B), and business to consumer (B2C). Sabre’s suite of products, including Sabre Red 360 (SR360), Content Services for Lodging (CSL), Sabre APIs, Sabre Virtual Payments (SVP), and Automation Hub, has played a pivotal role in empowering Dadabhai Travel to provide consistent and seamless services to its clients across its expansive network. The renowned SR360 platform, a cornerstone of this partnership, offers a customizable user experience that enables Dadabhai Travel to achieve product differentiation, selling branded content, add-ons, dynamic upsell options, and personalized offers. “Sabre’s continuous commitment to future investments and technology roadmaps aligns seamlessly with our vision of being the technology partner of choice,” said Aziz Gilitwala, Managing Director, Dadabhai Travel. “As a prominent TMC brand with diverse offerings, Dadabhai Travel relies on Sabre’s technology as our trusted partner. Sabre’s products and solutions have been instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and delivering on our commitment to offering unrivaled service levels, state-of-the-art technology, and providing competitive global travel options.” Sabre’s role extends beyond technology, with a critical contribution to enabling Dadabhai Travel to increase productivity and achieve ambitious growth objectives. This renewed collaboration marks a significant milestone setting the stage for continued innovation and excellence in the travel industry. “Our partnership with Dadabhai Travel goes beyond technology—it’s about collaboration, shared knowledge, and a joint commitment to driving innovation in the travel industry,” …