Category Archives: Agents

The official tourism authority of the Caribbean island country is reporting an impressive 32% increase in travellers from the GCC in 2023, compared to the previous year. dnata has partnered with Visit Barbados as it aims to attract more travellers from the GCC region.  Latest passenger arrivals demonstrate notable growth in travel to Barbados from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Popular locations across the island with GCC travellers include its capital, Bridgetown, and the world-renowned beaches lining the island’s West Coast and South Coast, where many of its luxury villa and all-inclusive resort accommodation, high-end dining, and entertainment options reside. Visit Barbados has appointed Dubai-based dnata Representation Services as its exclusive sales, marketing, and PR representative in the GCC, to bring the latest news, exclusive rates, bespoke itineraries and more from the destination to travellers in the region. The partnership will focus on showcasing trending experiences for 2024, including travel packages for the highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup games set to be played in Barbados this year, with the key objective of growing passenger numbers into the country. Rakhi Purohit, Head of Representation Services at dnata, commented: “We are proud to partner with Visit Barbados and look forward to promoting the island as a high-value, sophisticated and multi-faceted destination. In-focus will include the island’s impressive luxury accommodation product, fabulous gastronomic scene, and wide range of unique activities and attractions, from Barbados Sailing Week to eco-adventure experiences, and beyond.” Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, added: “Barbados presents an alluring long-haul holiday destination from the GCC. With excellent one-stop connectivity, our partners at dnata can support local travellers with the latest in travel, accommodation, and …

Almosafer announced a strategic partnership with ZAAER, a pioneering cloud-based property management solution and accommodation switch, to offer an enhanced portfolio of serviced apartments across Almosafer’s portfolio of travel businesses serving domestic and inbound guests. ZAAER offers a range of innovative technology solutions to enable owners and accommodation managers to manage their day-to-day operations, including inventory, housekeeping, finance, HR, reservations, check-in and check-out, room allocation, and more through an easy-to-use system, all dynamically linked to manage any size of accommodation. Under the partnership, Almosafer will integrate ZAAER’s serviced apartment offerings within its extensive portfolio of travel businesses through an API solution to enhance the travel experience for both B2B and B2C customers across domestic and international markets. This move will significantly expand Almosafer’s comprehensive offerings with a wider range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. ZAAER, which currently manages 700 serviced apartments, aims to ambitiously scale up its short-term rental stock to 2,000 high quality accommodation spaces in 2024. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, said: “As Saudi Arabia grows in appeal for the global traveller, the partnership with ZAAER builds on our digital capabilities to help address the upscale accommodation needs of a growing number of domestic and international tourists. Integrating the accommodation content of ZAAER on our state-of-the-art digital-first B2B and B2C platforms will facilitate real-time data exchange, ensuring a smoother and more interconnected experience for property owners, guests, and the travel ecosystem.” : Dr. Mohammad Almubarak, CEO, ZAAER, said: “We are excited to partner with Almosafer to expand our reach to a broader audience across its integrated and high-performing digital platforms. The partnership marks a significant step in the evolution of the travel industry in Saudi Arabia as we …

The 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair concludes its three days exclusively dedicated to professionals, surpassing its forecast of 150,000 attendees with a total of 153,000 visitors. This is reflected in the initial attendance data at the IFEMA MADRID Exhibition Center, indicating the complete recovery of the tourism sector. These figures represent a 12% increase compared to 2022. It is estimated that this influx of visitors to FITUR will generate approximately 430 million euros in revenue for the Madrid economy. FITUR receives institutional support with official visits from all five continents. As in every edition, in addition to the support of the tourism sector, FITUR has received strong institutional backing. After the official inauguration presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain on the first day, the Fair has had significant presences such as Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, which is this year’s Partner Country of the International Tourism Fair. Additionally, it has received the official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, representatives from the World Tourism Organization, the Ibero-American General Secretary, and more than ten regional presidents of Spain. In total, the 44th edition of FITUR has recorded the attendance of nearly 400 authorities, including State Secretaries, Tourism Ministers, ambassadors, business envoys, mayors from different regions, and other political and institutional representatives. Media coverage and social media impact of FITUR 2024 The fair’s growth and impact have been reflected in the extensive media coverage, with nearly 23,000 articles published in national and international media. In total, FITUR has accredited about 6,800 journalists (10% international from 53 countries). Moreover, in the social media sphere, during the first two …

Almosafer signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to enhance travel across the Haramain High Speed Railway network and expand offerings to Almosafer travellers. Under the agreement, which serves as a first distribution partnership for Haramain High Speed Railway, Almosafer will promote the train’s offerings as a truly convenient means of transport for travellers exploring the Kingdom, as well as for pilgrims, tourists and other travellers visiting the two holy cities. The high-speed luxury train provides a safe and fast method of travelling, linking the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City, along a 450 km route. The agreement will offer the option of high-speed railway travel via platforms across Almosafer’s portfolio of businesses including the consumer segment; Discover Saudi, the destination management company; and Mawasim, the Hajj and Umrah tour operator. Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “Rail travel is a truly great way to explore the Kingdom in comfort and Haramain High Speed Railway facilitates seamless travel between the Holy sites and major cities in KSA. This partnership is an exciting opportunity that enables more of our customers to experience high-end rail travel and underlines our commitment to creating opportunities for sustainable ways of travel, in support of Saudi Vision 2030.” Rayan Alharbi, VP of Haramain High Speed Railway, said: “This partnership affirms our commitment to establishing strategic partnerships with leading national entities that contribute directly to making the Haramain High Speed Railway services a safe, fast and convenient transport option for a larger base of customers. As the volume of people travelling to the holy cities continues to rise, this partnership will …

Almosafer announced a strategic partnership with Mabaat to bridge the gap in the demand for more flexible accommodation options to service the growing number of domestic and international tourists in the Kingdom. The partnership will transform the travel experience for diversified market segments across Almosafer’s omnichannel networks by connecting them to mid and high-end private homes and compounds onboarded on Mabaat’s unique digital platform. With Saudi Arabia planning to invest USD1 trillion in the tourism sector and aiming to attract 150 million tourists a year by end of the decade in line with its ambitious Vision 2030, the collaboration between Almosafer and Mabaat signifies a commitment to deliver unparalleled and seamless travel services in a rapidly evolving market. The renaissance in tourism that Saudi Arabia is currently experiencing has led to a vibrant market for serviced apartments, and increased growth in this segment will be critical in meeting the anticipated demands that Vision 2030 will deliver. Catering to the high-quality accommodation requirements of a growing number of MICE and leisure visitors has also opened vast opportunities in the short and medium-term rental segment and across key markets in the Kingdom. Mabaat onboards properties on its digital platform and other platforms and manages them on behalf of their owners under a high level of transparency and efficiency. Property partners and guests receive real-time information, and the platform has streamlined vital operations like booking and payment, cleaning schedules, property maintenance updates, and much more. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, said: “The partnership with Mabaat platform, the first platform specialised in managing properties on behalf of their owners and operating them in short, medium and long-term rental operations, is part of our strategy to continuously …

Wego launched WegoPro, a modern platform that simplifies business travel and expense management for companies globally. Formerly known as Travelstop, WegoPro will debut today in 7 key markets in the MENA region, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Egypt. The rebranding follows Wego’s acquisition of Travelstop in September 2023, reinforcing Wego’s commitment to offer comprehensive travel solutions to businesses in the region. Market research firms predict that the global business travel market will be valued at over US$1.8 trillion by 2027 and will return to the pre-pandemic levels of US$1.4 trillion this year. A significant part of that growth is expected to come from markets in Asia and the MENA region. That growth, coupled with the increasing demand for more modern and innovative business travel solutions, represents a substantial opportunity for WegoPro in the region. “The Middle East is a very young population and most people in the workforce today have grown up with powerful travel apps and websites, like Wego, that have let them book their own personal travel,” said Ross Veitch, Wego CEO & Co-Founder. “In stark contrast in their professional lives they are often forced to book their business trips through cumbersome offline booking processes having to email back and forth with a corporate travel management company and then to go through a tedious approval process. After the trip expense reports then need to be filed in a process normally involving Excel, receipts and sticky tape. With the launch of WegoPro today we are leveraging technology and our deep experience in the B2C space to bring business travel & expense management into the 21st century.” WegoPro offers a diverse and extensive range of flight and …

Riyadh Air and Almosafer announced a partnership during the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh, to further accelerate the growth of an internationally competitive tourism sector in the Kingdom. The newly signed agreement makes Almosafer the first travel partner of Riyadh Air in the Kingdom. The digital airline and the global travel agency will work together to test and innovate tech solutions to further support and boost business efficiency, as Riyadh Air prepares for take-off in 2025. Almosafer will also integrate Riyadh Air’s flight offerings across its B2B and B2C platforms to offer its domestic and international customers comprehensive connectivity options across geographies and a choice of tailored packages to make travel within and beyond the Kingdom more accessible and seamless. Almosafer customers will further enjoy a hassle-free travel experience and enhanced connectivity through exclusive deals and packages on Riyadh Air’s extensive network. As a catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, Riyadh Air targets to connect travellers to over 100 destinations by 2030, marking a new era of growth in the Kingdom’s aviation history. The launch of the new carrier will fuel the tourism goals of the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 which aims to attract more than 100 million visitors to the Kingdom and raise the sector’s contributions to the GDP by more than 10% at the end of the decade. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, said, “As a digital-first company, Almosafer develops and incorporates industry-leading digital solutions to redefine superior travel experiences for customers everywhere. We are excited to partner with Riyadh Air to further scale up innovations and best-in-class services for domestic and international travellers and guests. Riyadh Air is a digitally native airline and by harnessing …

Almosafer revealed in its data insights collated from across the company’s consumer platforms during 2023, that over 40% of the total booking share comes from the domestic sector, with 83% of local travellers showing a preference for luxury accommodation options. The new domestic travel trends report was released by Almosafer during the 2024 Saudi Tourism Forum held in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s leading travel company (part of Seera Group), further revealed that Saudi travellers are showing a strong appetite for the diverse range of tourism offerings within the country, leading to impressive gains for the domestic tourism sector in 2023. With the average length of stay being two nights, the overall number of room nights for hotels have seen a 22% year on year growth in 2023 compared to 2022. A key player in the travel and tourism industry in the Kingdom, Almosafer is accelerating efforts to boost domestic tourism and promote Saudi Arabia as one of the top travel destinations in the region by facilitating unforgettable journeys and creating seamless travel experiences for consumers across its business and consumer portals. This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 that aims to attract 150 million tourists annually by the start of the next decade, with half of its tourism demand to come from domestic travel. The new trends report has further highlighted that among the top growing destinations in the Kingdom, AlUla is the preferred luxury option, Jazan and Tabuk are winter favourites and Abha is a popular destination for families to spend the summer break. Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Makkah & Madinah remain the most popular destinations in terms of room nights sold. The booking behaviour of Saudi …

Buyers from 18 international markets are taking part – the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, the USA – the UK’s largest and most valuable inbound visitor market, as well as from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Nordic countries, South Korea and Switzerland. National tourism agency VisitBritain is gearing up to welcome more than 120 international travel buyers for a series of educational visits across Britain, as part of its flagship ‘Showcase Britain 2024’ trade event. The educational visits, underway from 27 January, are a mix of three-to-five-day itineraries to destinations across England, Wales and Scotland, showcasing to buyers and travel media the latest tourism products across Britain and the fresh and exciting experiences for visitors to come and enjoy this year. VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “We are delighted to be showcasing Britain’s outstanding destinations, tourism products and experiences to international buyers and travel press, highlighting the very best of our nations and regions to broaden travel itineraries and drive bookings. From the beauty of our coast and countryside, the vibrancy of our cities and cultural attractions to our world-class dining and accommodation, buyers will experience first-hand the quality of our tourism offer alongside the warmest of British welcomes. I know that the international buyers and media will return home in no doubt about the outstanding quality of tourism products and experiences available right across Britain.” VisitBritain’s in-country teams have worked in partnership with destination management organisations and destination management companies across England, Scotland and Wales to develop tailored itineraries* for each inbound market. The hosted visits are part of the national tourism agency’s ‘Showcase Britain’ trade mission, which gets …

Arabian Travel Award winner Rezlive has signed up as gold sponsor with Rent Conferences and Exhibitions Company for the first edition of the Saudi Travel Market (STM) to be held in Riyadh from February 25-27, 2024. Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director, Travel Designer Group shared, “We will be participating in the inaugural Saudi Travel Market 2024 as both an exhibitor and sponsor. Saudi Arabia holds significant importance in the travel industry, and your presence at this event reflects your commitment to exploring and contributing to this thriving market. Being a part of the first edition of this prestigious event offers a unique opportunity to engage with travel partners, fostering valuable connections and collaborations. This premier event promises to be a dynamic convergence of key players, innovators, and stakeholders within the travel sector and we are very happy to be a part of this event.” Rent Conferences and Exhibitions Company General Manager Mohammed Al-Harbi said: “We are pleased to sign a new agreement today with Rezlive to sponsor the Saudi Travel Market. The partnership with one of the world’s leading companies in the travel and tourism sector is very important in attracting international companies to the Kingdom. We consider the Saudi Travel Market to be one of the important exhibitions through which we intend to place the Kingdom on the list of major tourist destinations in the coming years. Through this exhibition, we aim to attract the largest international companies to the Kingdom and make it the first and best choice for everyone.” For his part, Rezlive’s Business Development Manager in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Marzooq Suleiman, said: “We are pleased to sponsor one of the most promising tourism exhibitions in Saudi …