Category Archives: Agents

The Jamaica Tourist Board continues with its “Discover Jamaica” webinar series for GCC-based travel professionals. The next session will take place on the 19 November at 13:00 UAE Time. Designed exclusively for travel agents in the Gulf region, this session provides a comprehensive overview of Jamaica as a viable destination, equipping agents with the knowledge they need to confidently sell the island. The webinar will cover essential facts about Jamaica, including its key resort areas – Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Kingston, Port Antonio, and the South Coast, highlighting their unique selling points, top hotels and resorts, and must-see attractions, from Dunn’s River Falls to the Blue Mountains. This webinar is a valuable resource to help travel agents design unforgettable Caribbean itineraries for their clients.

The Forum will be held on 19 November 2025 under the theme “New Waves of Tourism Spectrum”, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. This year’s forum will bring together senior government officials, global experts, and leaders in the tourism, travel, and technology sectors to discuss key issues and innovative solutions shaping the future of tourism. The event is organized in strategic partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). This year’s forum will focus on the pivotal role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in transforming the tourism sector, while striking a balance between leveraging these technologies and preserving authenticity in innovation. Attendees will gain valuable insights from leading experts worldwide on the impact of digital platforms on consumer behavior and the importance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing visitor and traveler experiences. The sessions will also feature case studies and research highlighting how AI technologies can improve visitor services. Additionally, discussions will emphasize the importance of investing in strategic partnerships between government entities, private sector organizations, and technology companies to foster innovation and ensure sustainable tourism practices that support the sector’s growth. The forum will also explore the importance of investing in tourism innovation and its role in supporting the growth and expansion of startups. Leading experts will share their perspectives on the challenges faced by startups in the tourism and travel sector, as well as opportunities to drive innovation and achieve success. Discussions will focus on key factors that startups need to expand, including access to funding and support, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging modern technologies. The forum will also highlight the …

Almosafer and Amadeus have strengthened their partnership with a renewed commitment that sets a new benchmark for AI-powered innovation, automation, and content exchange across the travel ecosystem, which was announced at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh. This new phase of collaboration will focus on pushing the boundaries of travel technology to deliver smarter, more personalised, and touchless journeys, reinforcing both companies’ support for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s ambition to establish itself as a global tourism hub. At the heart of the partnership is the use of Amadeus’ AI and data analytics capabilities to unlock hyper-personalised offers, predictive recommendations, and tailored travel options for Almosafer’s customers. Enhanced content distribution will ensure that global travellers can access rich, localised inventory curated by Almosafer, matched to their preferences and powered by AI-driven insights. In hospitality, the collaboration will strategically activate Amadeus Value Hotels (AVH), enhanced with machine learning for dynamic hotel content curation to deliver more accurate, transparent, and high-quality accommodation options. In parallel, airport services will evolve with opportunities to integrate AI-enabled digital check-in, smart boarding passes, and predictive disruption management directly into Almosafer’s platforms – creating a seamless end-to-end journey. The companies are also advancing innovation in payments through Amadeus Outpayce, collaborating to bring virtual card solutions to scale across the ecosystem. By leveraging Outpayce’s capabilities, the renewed partnership aims to deliver greater efficiency, trust, and automation in travel payments, unlocking new value for both suppliers and partners. Building on years of collaboration across distribution and advanced travel solutions, Almosafer and Amadeus are now taking their partnership further with an ambitious focus on NDCX adoption. Almosafer intends to lead the way in the Kingdom by scaling NDC …

After the huge success of Air India Express’s excess baggage promotion during the month of October, we’re pleased to announce the extension of the festive promotion on excess baggage from all Gulf countries to India with a few modifications. As part of this limited-time offer, customers can now enjoy 10 kgs of additional baggage allowance for a nominal fee of just AED 11 in the UAE, with similar pricing available across other Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain).  

Saudi Arabia-based Adeera has signed a new agreement to use transformative travel technology, Amadeus Digital Media. Through advanced omni-channel advertising strategies, Adeera’s brands will be able to better target travelers at the moments they are most likely to book, across paid search, display, and social media. Thomas Grunder, Chief Commercial Officer at Adeera, says: “Using Amadeus’ market intelligence, we will be able to refine our outreach and offer travelers more compelling reasons to choose Adeera. The ability to integrate marketing, distribution, and data insight into a single platform stands out as a significant advantage. “Beyond the product, we appreciate the partnership approach with Amadeus and the opportunity to grow together as Adeera’s brands are being built. This mix of technology and collaboration provides us with the foundation we need to achieve our ambitious growth goals.” Adeera is working to transform hospitality in Saudi Arabia, showcasing the kingdom’s rich tradition of hospitality through locally inspired brands. As hospitality marketing evolves, the brand, backed by the Public Investment Fund, will harness data and technology, not just to reach travelers, but to truly understand and inspire them. Jan Tissera, President, International, Global Accounts and Destinations, Hospitality, Amadeus adds: “By using the data-driven marketing capabilities of Amadeus Digital Media, Adeera can seamlessly launch and optimize campaigns across multiple channels, ensuring its properties are visible to travelers at key decision-making moments. “Recent campaigns using Amadeus Digital Media have helped hotels and destinations achieve double-digit growth in direct bookings and occupancy, while lowering marketing costs. Together, we can set new benchmarks for excellence by creating meaningful, personalized experiences that connect with each traveler.”

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Riyadh is set to host the inaugural edition of the TOURISE Summit (TOURISE 2025), organized by the Ministry of Tourism from November 11 to 13. TOURISE aims to shape the future of global tourism, fostering its growth and sustainability. It brings together leading figures from key sectors that intersect with tourism, such as technology, aviation, entertainment, education, sustainability, and media. Discussions will seek to develop innovative, actionable solutions that enable the tourism industry to address future challenges and thrive over the next five decades. Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE Ahmed Al-Khateeb expressed his profound gratitude to HRH the Crown Prince for his generous patronage, which, he noted, expands the event’s reach and influence. He emphasized that this patronage reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s unwavering support for the tourism sector as part of Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that “work is progressing on all fronts to empower our vital sector, which continues to demonstrate its readiness and competitiveness day after day.” He underscored that Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 countries in international tourist arrivals for 2024 and led globally in growth of tourism revenues from inbound visitors. TOURISE 2025 will feature a dynamic agenda of discussions, panels, and interactive experiences built around four key axes: addressing challenges, seizing growth opportunities, stimulating major investments, and shaping future policies. Sessions will also explore the rapid transformations shaping the tourism sector, including artificial intelligence in tourism, bold investment models, innovative travel experiences, and sustainable tourism that balances people and the planet. (Spa)

Unveiled at World Travel Market (WTM) London, this renewed collaboration through Amadeus Digital Media aims to significantly boost visitor numbers to Abu Dhabi, targeting over 60% growth through Amadeus’ platforms compared to the previous year. The new initiative will leverage cutting-edge AI-powered programmatic campaigns to target travellers who are actively seeking their next destination. A key focus is to engage new consumers who may not have previously considered Abu Dhabi as a travel destination, thereby expanding the emirate’s global appeal. By increasing exposure to a wider consumer base and driving booking conversions, this collaboration is expected to bring substantial benefits to Abu Dhabi’s key industry stakeholders, such as hoteliers and travel agents. HE Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our long-standing partnership with Amadeus has been instrumental in showcasing Abu Dhabi’s diverse offering to a global audience. This expanded collaboration is pivotal to our journey to achieve the ambitious goals set out in our Tourism Strategy 2030. By harnessing Amadeus’ advanced technology and extensive reach, we are not only aiming for escalated growth in visitor numbers but also strategically building destination awareness in new and emerging markets.” Campaigns stemming from the renewed partnership will strategically target diverse consumer segments, ensuring that Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage, thrilling adventures, family-friendly attractions, and stunning coastal landscapes are prominently featured worldwide. Jan Tissera, President, International, Global Accounts and Destinations, Hospitality, Amadeus, added: “Our collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi exemplifies our shared commitment to transforming travel through data-driven insights and innovative technology. By combining Amadeus technology and market intelligence with DCT Abu Dhabi’s visionary approach, visitor outreach can be refined to create meaningful, personalized journeys that truly …

Visit Qatar and Experience Oman announced a new strategic partnership aimed at strengthening regional tourism cooperation and promoting multi-destination travel between the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman. The announcement was made during Visit Qatar’s participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2025, one of the world’s leading trade and tourism exhibitions. Under this new strategic partnership, Visit Qatar and Experience Oman will develop integrated tourism packages and joint promotional initiatives aimed at encouraging visitors from key international markets, particularly from Asia and Europe, to explore both destinations in a single trip. Italy, Spain and China will prepare pilot markets for the implementation of the concept of joint cooperation. The announcement was made in the presence of Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, and Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism. Experience Oman was represented by H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, and  Shabib Al Maamari, CEO of Visit Oman. The partnership will also include joint promotional tours, unified participation in major international tourism events and exhibitions, as well as cooperation with major travel and tourism companies to develop and market joint packages for the two destinations that combine the cultural, heritage and luxury experiences of Qatar and Oman. The partnership reflects the two municipalities’ shared commitment to strengthening regional tourism links, increasing visitor numbers, and highlighting the Gulf region as a unified and world-class destination. By enhancing co-marketing opportunities and improving tourism connectivity, Visit Qatar and Experience Oman are positioning the region as a destination of choice for global travellers seeking unique experiences.

Almosafer has expanded its strategic partnership with VisitBritain to further promote Britain as a top destination for Saudi travellers. The partnership, formalized during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, reinforces the ongoing collaboration between the two entities, aligning with growing demand and stronger travel links between Saudi Arabia and Britain. VisitBritain’s research shows strong interest among GCC travellers in exploring destinations beyond London, from Britain’s idyllic coast and countryside to its vibrant cities, cultural and sporting events, royal heritage, film and TV locations, and luxury experiences. This partnership with Almosafer is set to showcase the nations and regions of Britain and to develop a new portfolio of high-value packages featuring signature experiences found only in Great Britain. Oxford Economics data shows that Britain remains one of the top 10 destinations for Saudi travellers and continues to see robust year-round demand. Through this partnership, Almosafer will highlight the most exciting and trending destinations across Britain with bespoke offers, targeted campaigns, and travel experiences designed to showcase the country’s culture, heritage, and modern appeal to Saudi audiences. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, said: “Our continued collaboration with VisitBritain underscores our shared commitment to enriching travel experiences for Saudi travellers. The United Kingdom remains a timeless favourite, offering a unique blend of heritage, diversity, and contemporary experiences. Together with VisitBritain, we look forward to deepening engagement with Saudi travellers and showcasing the best of Britain through our platforms and tailored offerings.” Gary Robson, VisitBritain Director for Europe, Middle East & India, said: “We’re delighted to strengthen our partnership with Almosafer to inspire more visitors from Saudi Arabia to choose Britain. Saudi travellers are among our highest-spending international visitors, and this collaboration is a …

The Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites (RCMC) has signed a strategic agreement with Almosafer, part of Seera Group, to strengthen the tourism ecosystem in Makkah and enhance the overall pilgrim and visitor journey. Through this collaboration, Almosafer will work closely with RCMC to showcase Makkah’s unique cultural and spiritual heritage while introducing innovative, technology-enabled services designed to deliver a seamless, world-class experience for visitors from within Saudi Arabia and around the world. The partnership leverages Almosafer’s integrated travel services platform and diverse portfolio of brands to curate enriching experiences for Makkah’s millions of annual visitors. This includes: ● Mawasim, Almosafer’s Hajj & Umrah tour operator, which will enhance religious travel services and pilgrim facilitation. ● Discover Saudi, its destination management company, which will design and promote Umrah+ itineraries that combine spiritual rituals with cultural, historical, and leisure experiences in Makkah. By integrating Almosafer’s market expertise, digital technologies, and global marketing capabilities with RCMC’s vision for destination development, the agreement aims to introduce authentic yet elevated experiences that align with international standards while respecting the sanctity of Makkah. Khalid Kurdi, GM-DMO said: “This agreement with Almosafer reflects our commitment to developing Makkah’s tourism offering in a way that protects its sacred identity while embracing excellence in visitor experience. Together, we will deliver services that are authentic, innovative, and deeply respectful of the city’s spiritual significance.” Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer (Part of Seera Group), added: “We are honoured to partner with the Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites. Makkah holds global spiritual significance, and through this collaboration, we aim to design integrated solutions and signature experiences that meet the highest international tourism standards while honouring the …