Category Archives: Agents

Emirates announced that it is expanding its long-standing partnership with Trip.com to focus on exploring growth avenues to capture emerging opportunities in new markets and customer segments. In the next phase of its expansion, the partnership will Emirates and Trip.com will collaborate on expanding Trip.com’s global presence through strategic partnerships and activations, leveraging Emirates’ extensive international network, and coordinating promotional efforts in Asian and European markets, which remain a strategic focus for both Trip.com and Emirates. The agreement was formalised at ITB Berlin by Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales & Country Management for Emirates and CT Ooi, VP of Flights Business, Trip.com Group. Nabil Sultan commented on the newly expanded partnership: “We very much look forward to extending the breadth and depth of our cooperation with Trip.com. The next phase not only strengthens our position to provide more of our products to Trip.com’s customer base, but also unlocks traveller demand for air and hotel packages, enables us to integrate offers across both of our loyalty programmes and tap into a variety of consumer segments with specialised promotions. We look forward to empowering Trip.com customers with options to customise their travel with ease on Emirates.” CT Ooi added: “At Trip.com, we are excited to take our partnership to new heights, integrating a wide range of flight offerings with an expanded portfolio of hotels and travel services. By combining Emirates’ world-class network with Trip.com’s innovative travel ecosystem, we are creating more opportunities for travellers to access exclusive flight and hotel packages, tailored promotions, and enhanced loyalty rewards.” Product integration and exclusive promotions: Emirates and Trip.com will work closely on boosting customer conversion by integrating a variety of Emirates flight offerings …

Concierge One Tourism wins ‘Best debut Luxury Tour Operator’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Arabian Travel Awards is a tremendous honour, validating our commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences to the UAE market. It reflects our dedication to quality, innovation, and meeting the unique needs of our clients, especially in the luxury travel sector. This recognition elevates our brand, inspiring trust and credibility among clients and partners. It motivates our team to excel further while showcasing the UAE’s and Bulgaria’s potential as premium travel destinations.”-Ivan Mavrov, Business Development Manager, Concierge one Tourism

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways have  launched the new Abu Dhabi Pass at ITB Berlin. The new Abu Dhabi Pass transforms the visitor experience into a fully digital journey, simplifying access to the emirate’s offerings. Etihad passengers will receive an email with a link to access the Abu Dhabi Pass through a dedicated website, with no additional cost or app download required. The free Abu Dhabi Pass unlocks a range of benefits for Etihad passengers and all visitors to the emirate. These include a tourist SIM card with 10GB data to stay connected, unlimited access to public buses, and 24-hour unlimited access to the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network exploring key city attractions. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The launch of the new Abu Dhabi Pass reflects our commitment to enhancing the visitor experience by providing seamless access to the emirate’s diverse, world-class attractions, cultural landmarks, and entertainment offerings. Through this partnership, we aim to introduce Abu Dhabi as a top global destination to a wider audience, making it easier for our travel and tourism stakeholders to showcase the very best the emirate has to offer.” Aysha Al Kaabi, Vice President Commercial Enablement & Engagement at Etihad Airways, said: “Our collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi makes experiencing the emirate’s attractions more appealing than ever. By combining transport, connectivity, and attraction discounts in one digital pass, we’re making it simpler for visitors to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s diverse experiences, from cultural discoveries to family entertainment.” The agreement builds on the success of Etihad’s stopover programme, which welcomed 85,000 international visitors in 2024, compared to 12,000 in 2023. …

Lumi announced a strategic partnership with WalaOne which allows Lumi customers to earn a designated number of WalaOne points for each rental transaction. These accumulated points can then be exchanged for an array of rewards and benefits available through the WalaOne platform.  The partnership was officially signed at a ceremony attended by Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne; Khaled Almangour, Partnership Manager, WalaOne; and Abdulrahman Alshehri, Customer Success Specialist, WalaOne, in addition to a distinguished group of senior executives from Lumi, marking a pivotal moment in Lumi’s ongoing dedication to expanding its loyalty program offerings and enriching customer satisfaction. Syed Azfar Shakeel, CEO of Lumi, said: “Lumi is committed to continuous innovation and enhancing the customer journey. In a proactive move to meet the demand for rewarding loyalty programs, we’ve partnered with WalaOne to offer seamless integration and enhanced benefits. By providing WalaOne points with every rental, we are reinforcing our dedication to customer loyalty and satisfaction.” Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne, said: “At WalaOne, we strive to provide our users with more ways to maximize the value of their everyday transactions. Our partnership with Lumi marks an exciting step in expanding our ecosystem of rewards and benefits. By integrating Lumi’s mobility services into WalaOne, we are giving customers even more opportunities to earn and redeem points, making their journeys more rewarding.” The addition of WalaOne marks the fourth loyalty program within Lumi’s portfolio, complementing existing programs such as Qitaf, AlFursan, and Mokafaa. By partnering with WalaOne, Lumi aims to deliver even greater value and choice to its customers, rewarding them with points redeemable for tangible benefits.

Al Naboodah Travel bagged the ‘Best Corporate Travel Agency’ Award for the seventh consecutive year at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It is a wonderful experience. It is a moment of pride and recognition for all those who have worked hard, who have worked smart, who have performed well. And I think this recognition will add a lot of value, confidence, and inspiration for all of us to do even better for the coming years. I am overexcited and looking forward to winning more than three awards next year.”-Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies.

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) successfully concluded its roadshow in Dubai, UAE, on 27th February 2025, at the Address Dubai Mall hotel. The event attracted a large number of travel trade professionals, business leaders, and industry stakeholders, providing a platform to promote Macao as the ideal destination for both leisure and business travel from the UAE and the broader region, while strengthening business ties between the travel and tourism industries of Macao and the UAE. The roadshow, which included pre-scheduled meetings and networking opportunities, highlighted Macao’s unique and unparalleled offerings in family travel, culture, luxury, and adventure. Attendees had the chance to engage directly with representatives from MGTO and other co-partners, gaining valuable insights into Macao’s diverse travel and tourism experiences “We are thrilled with the success of our roadshow in Dubai,” said Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office. “This event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Macao’s unique attractions, exceptional offerings, and unparalleled experiences to key players in the UAE’s travel industry. It underscores our commitment to strengthening ties with the UAE market and the broader region. With eight direct flights from Dubai to cities across China that connect to Macao, we are eager to position Macao as the leading destination for both leisure and business travel, through new initiatives and partnerships not only in the UAE but also across the Gulf Cooperation Council.” The event also featured a cultural performance which offered attendees a glimpse into Macao’s rich heritage and history. The event highlighted Macao’s growing appeal to travelers from the UAE and the broader region, showcasing special promotions such as halal-friendly dining options, MICE travel, healthcare services, and 5-star accommodations tailored …

Visit Qatar and Microsoft strengthened their collaboration to drive digital innovation in the tourism sector by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Qatar Web Summit. The MoU was signed by Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, and Lana Khalaf, General Manager of Microsoft Qatar, marking the beginning of a new phase of partnership between the two sides. Building on the success of Visit Qatar’s Smart Travel Assistant powered by Microsoft Azure, OpenAI 4o and 4o mini technologies, the two entities will explore the latest technologies to enhance visitor experiences and improve workflows. Visit Qatar’s Smart Travel Assistant is a pioneering innovation that seamlessly integrates text, voice, content, a conversational virtual assistant, maps and an interactive layout interface, setting new standards in digital excellence in tourism. Visit Qatar and Microsoft are developing a comprehensive technology roadmap to drive digital transformation in the tourism sector and enhance visitor experiences through integrated smart and digital solutions.

VFS Global launched a new Generative AI-powered chatbot to enhance customer support for travellers to the UK in 141 countries including the GCC. The AI-Powered Chatbot not only utilises advanced Generative AI technology to offer human-like, conversational support, but does so through both voice and text commands, providing instant, accurate, and accessible information for customers travelling to the UK. Developed by VFS Global’s AI team, headquartered in Dubai, the AI-Powered Chatbot addresses the increasing demand for efficient customer support, allowing users to easily access the information needed to navigate the application process. Jen Vidler, Deputy Director, Cross Cutting Service Operations, Visa, Status and Information Services, Customer Services Group, UK Visas and Immigration, said, “The rollout of VFS Global’s AI-powered chatbot demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all customers. Providing instant access to accurate information about the visa application process will ensure we continue to offer the best service to our customers.” Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “Technology and innovation have always been the cornerstones of our operations at VFS Global, and we are pleased to launch this AI-powered information solution which will significantly enhance the visa application experience for our customers travelling to the UK from across the globe. We are developing a range of AI and digital technology driven products to drive the next transformation in visa and consular services for our Client Governments and customers. We remain deeply committed to the responsible development of AI in accordance with the policies and requirements of our client governments.” The AI-Powered chatbot was developed using advanced Generative AI technologies, each trained exclusively on publicly available data …

Pluto Travels was recognised as the ‘Most promising TMC’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. “This award is a testament to our collective effort. It is your dedication and hard work that made this achievement possible. Together, we shine and succeed!”-Sapna Aidasani, Marketing Director, Pluto Travels

As UAE travellers prepare for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr and spring break, dnata Travel is seeing a significant rise in international bookings, with 90% of customers opting for trips abroad in 2025. This marks a sharp increase from previous years, and highlights a growing preference for overseas travel during holiday periods. For Eid Al Fitr 2024, bookings were more evenly split, with 60% of travellers choosing international destinations and 40% opting for staycations in the UAE. dnata’s travel experts attribute this surge in outbound travel to Eid Al Fitr aligning with the two-week spring break, allowing families to extend their holidays and explore further afield. Overall bookings – both international and domestic – have increased by 65% compared to the previous Eid holiday. The most popular destinations include the Maldives, Spain, Mauritius, France, and Sri Lanka, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland are seeing the highest year-on-year growth in demand. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “One of the key travel trends for 2024 and 2025 is growing demand for long-haul destinations. Travellers are booking longer stays in more distant locations, with many looking for unique and less-explored parts of popular travel hotspots. “For Eid Al Fitr and the extended spring break in 2025, we’re seeing strong interest in cities like Madrid in Spain and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. More travellers are approaching our experts this year to check off bucket-list destinations, while making the most of longer holiday periods with family and friends.” To meet this rising demand, dnata Travel has launched a range of bespoke holiday packages for UAE travellers with availability still open for Eid Al Fitr …