Category Archives: Agents

Blueberry Travel (Friends Travel & Tourism LLC) wins ‘Fastest Growing Travel Management Company’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “Winning at the Arabian Travel Awards is a proud milestone for us and a testament to our team’s dedication, innovation, and commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences. This recognition strengthens our resolve to elevate our service standards, expand our global presence, and embrace technology-driven solutions that enhance customer satisfaction.” Rahul Lalwani, Director – Travel Products (Technology) & GDS Relations Blueberry Travel

Arabian Journeys clenched the title of ‘Fastest Growing DMC Portal – UAE’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “As Country Head of Arabian Journeys, this award is a proud milestone for our entire team. It recognises our rapid growth driven by strong destination contracting, technology adoption, and partner-centric execution. In a short time, we have built a comprehensive UAE DMC portal offering seamless access to hotels, attractions, transfers, and MICE services. I sincerely thank our partners and team members who have contributed to this success.” Mushtaq Vakani- Country Head Arabian Journeys.

TravTips clenched the title of ‘Best Leisure Tour Operator’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “Winning the Best Leisure Tour Operator award for a third consecutive year is deeply meaningful to us. It reflects the care our team puts into every trip—so customers can simply enjoy the journey. We’re grateful to our partners and customers for their trust, and we remain committed to creating travel experiences that feel effortless, inspiring, and truly memorable.”

McArthurGlen has concluded its 2025 Partner of the Year Awards in the United Arab Emirates, hosting the celebration in a vibrant open-air setting that reflected the destination’s lifestyle appeal. The event recognised key collaborators who delivered outstanding results in driving visitor growth and enhancing the outlet retail experience. Tour operators, travel planners and service partners were honoured for innovative campaigns, bespoke shopping itineraries and premium guest support that attracted high-value regional and international shoppers. McArthurGlen underscored how curated transport solutions, multilingual assistance and seamless retail integration into leisure programmes helped increase footfall and dwell time. Senior executives highlighted that strategic partnerships remain central to positioning outlet shopping as a must-visit tourism component. The open-air awards evening symbolised transparency, collaboration and shared success, reinforcing the UAE’s reputation as a global shopping hub where retail, tourism and hospitality come together to create value-led luxury experiences.

As demand for luxury travel to Oman and the wider GCC continues to accelerate, dnata Representation Services – part of the dnata Travel Group – brought its exclusive luxury travel roadshow, Opulence by Ahlan Arabia, to the Sultanate for the first time. The milestone edition united more than 100 global travel professionals in a complete takeover of Salalah’s Alila Hinu Bay resort, between 13–16 January 2026. With destination leaders and luxury hospitality partners in attendance, the agenda explored the latest travel trends and opportunities for growth, elevated by a spectacular natural setting that defines the region’s luxury appeal. Central to the programme of the event’s second edition was the headline panel, ‘Rewriting the Travel Script: The Next Era of Travel & Tourism,’ featuring John Bevan, CEO of the dnata Travel Group, joined by senior representatives from WhereIsThis, Atlantis Resorts, and the Oman Convention Bureau. Insights from the discussion highlighted the concierge’s shift from a reactive role to one that anticipates guest needs before they arise. Speakers also explored how AI powered personalisation is enabling real time, seamless, and tailored experiences. The panel further identified storytelling, sustainability, and destination stewardship as key forces redefining the future of luxury travel. The event featured 28 curated exhibitors and 55 senior buyers from across the GCC and beyond, alongside professionals from across the dnata Travel Group and its partners, creating a dynamic platform for 1,680 pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings. Moving beyond traditional formats, Opulence introduced a ‘Beyond the Ballroom’ concept, with meetings and networking spread across the resort’s scenic spaces, complemented by immersive cultural experiences. Guests enjoyed a cultural evening hosted by Experience Oman at the Frankincense Museum within the Al Balid Archaeological Site, offering a deep …

Top Travel Trip (T3) was honoured as the ‘Best B2b Travel Company’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “We are extremely grateful to the Arabian Travel Awards for this recognition. This award belongs to our clients, suppliers, and team, whose trust and dedication brought us here. Going forward, we will continue strengthening customer relationships and delivering services that help both our clients and our business grow.” Dinesh Chelani, Country Head UAE, Top Travel Trip

Reollo Travel, in collaboration with SriLankan Airlines, recently hosted an exclusive Familiarization (FAM) Trip to Thailand and Sri Lanka for leading travel agencies from the UAE. Participants represented Sharaf Travel, Al Shamsi Travels, Al Saqr Travels, ATS Travel, Al Hind Travel, Zawaya Al Sadeem Travel, Al Rahal Tours, and Al Fursan Travel. The group departed from Dubai on 12 November for a four-night discovery of Pattaya and Bangkok, followed by a two-night stopover in Sri Lanka to experience the tropical beachfronts of Bentota and the vibrant urban attractions of Colombo. SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, ensured a smooth and memorable journey to Bangkok with seamless connections via Colombo. From warm hospitality to attentive onboard service, the airline demonstrated its signature Sri Lankan charm. The comfortable travel experience quickly became an early highlight of the FAM trip, boosting participants’ confidence in recommending SriLankan Airlines to their valued clients. Reollo Travel, a leading B2B wholesaler, curated a diverse portfolio of hotels across all destinations to showcase the most appealing choices for Middle Eastern travellers. Stays at Jomtien Thani Pattaya, Valia Hotel Bangkok, NH Sukhumvit Bangkok, Cinnamon Bentota Beach, and Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams allowed agents to gain firsthand insight into product offerings they can confidently promote. Complementing these stays, the group also received warm hospitality and guided property tours from Amari Pattaya, The Landmark Bangkok, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, and Cinnamon Grand Colombo, each providing exclusive presentations and hosted meals. The itinerary delivered a well-balanced blend of cultural exploration, hotel inspections, and memorable experiences across all three destinations. In Pattaya, the agents visited the famous Viewpoint, enjoyed a full-day Coral Island excursion, and discovered the city’s vibrant coastal highlights. Bangkok offered an …

Smart Travel LLC wins ‘Most Reliable B2B Travel Portal’ at the 8th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2025. “Smart Travel LLC is proud to win another Arabian Travel Awards, as the Most Reliable B2B Portal. This award reflects the technical and commercial success of www.smartzett.com. In just two years, Smartzett has on-boarded 2,500+ affiliates, becoming the only B2B platform in the region offering a complete one-stop travel solution.” Afi Ahmed, Chairman, Smart Travel

Connect Worldwide (CWW), a global leader in marketing and sales solutions for hotel brands and tourism destinations announced a strategic partnership with Buzz Travel Marketing which operates a tourism marketing office in the United Arab Emirates. This partnership strengthens CWW’s global presence and reinforces its commitment to expanding international market reach for clients. Strategic Partnership Overview Buzz Travel Marketing supports destination organizations, travel suppliers and tourism companies in achieving measurable, high-impact results through: • Insight-driven strategy development • Market-access and business-growth solutions • Deep analysis and innovative marketing approaches • Real-world expertise and strong industry relationships The Buzz Travel Marketing team brings extensive tourism experience and long-standing partnerships with tour operators, travel media, digital influencers, airlines and key stakeholders across the Middle East. “We are thrilled to welcome Buzz Travel Marketing to CWW Connect Worldwide,” Eric Otto, Founder & CEO, Connect Worldwide “Their expertise in destination marketing will be an invaluable asset as we pursue the growth objectives of our destination clients. This partnership significantly enhances our global sales and marketing capabilities.” “We are honored to join Connect Worldwide and contribute to its mission of delivering best-in-class solutions, at a time when brands are looking for deeper market engagement and stronger global representation”  SanJeet, Director Buzz Travel Marketing. “This collaboration allows us to combine Buzz’s on-ground expertise with CWW’s international reach, creating meaningful opportunities for destinations and travel brands to grow visibility, trade partnerships and long-term business across the region.”

Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar delivered a strong performance and sustained strategic momentum in 2025, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a year-round tourism destination. Total visitor arrivals grew 3.7 percent to 5.1 million, with the country welcoming 674,000 visitors in December, a near 16 percent increase on the same month a year earlier, driven by major international events, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. The hospitality sector delivered solid growth across all key indicators. 10.8 million room nights were sold, up 8.6 percent compared to 2024, while total accommodation revenue reached QAR 8.3 billion, representing a 12 percent year-on-year increase. 2025 was defined by strong integrated delivery across marketing, partnerships and events. More than 35 global strategic partnerships were activated, supported by over 95 integrated marketing campaigns across 19 international markets. Qatar Calendar delivered more than 600 events, while the MICE sector welcomed over one million international business visitors and secured 14 international bids for events scheduled across 2026 and 2027. The designation of Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026 further affirmed Qatar’s regional leadership. Service excellence remained a central priority, marked by the launch of Taste of Qatar, with up to 800 restaurants inspected nationwide and approximately 150 awarded 3-Star certification, alongside continued growth of the MICHELIN Guide Doha. Workforce development advanced at scale, with more than 55,600 Qatar Host and 13,000 Qatar Specialist programme completions delivered since 2022. Digital enablement and operational readiness were also strengthened – through Hayya, which processed nearly one million e-visa applications and supported major events with over 1.1 million ticket scans during the FIFA Arab Cup, with zero critical disruptions. Cruise tourism also advanced, with 72 cruise calls scheduled for the …