Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

The First Group is extending its presence in the GCC with the launch of a new dedicated hotel management division, which will provide third-party management services to owners and investors looking to maximise the commercial potential of their hotel and hospitality assets. With a proven track record of launching and operating some of the UAE’s most successful upscale hotels and homegrown F&B brands, The First Group will leverage its proven expertise to offer best-in-class services and solutions to maximise the revenue-generating potential of clients’ assets. “We’re proud to launch our new third-party hotel management business and are committed to setting the benchmark for excellence in one of the world’s top hospitality markets. Our goal is to ensure that every property we manage operates to its maximum potential, remains adaptable to the latest market trends, and delivers exceptional guest experiences and strong financial returns for our partners,” said Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group. The launch of this dynamic new operation coincides with The First Group being appointed to manage the prestigious ZOYA Health and Wellbeing resort in Al Zorah, Ajman. ZOYA, which is the region’s first fully integrated wellness resort, offers a unique and holistic approach to mind and body rejuvenation. The agreement reflects The First Group’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of upscale hotels and lifestyle destinations while providing exceptional experiences to its guests and strong returns to its partners. “ZOYA Health and Wellbeing Resort marks our 17th management agreement in the region. We are truly excited to bring our all-encompassing hospitality management approach to the wellness sector. Our team of highly experienced property managers, hotel operations and F&B professionals work in sync to elevate the performance of …

The 13th edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair with TravTalkME  as media partners concluded in the Saudi capital of Riyadh yesterday. It is a significant annual event where the leading travel and tourism companies in Saudi Arabia with GCC And Other International Companies / Countries gather with exhibitors representing tourist promotion authorities and tourist companies at the Arab and International levels. This year Kazakhstan, South Africa, The Royal Commission of Al Ula and many other key partners held special B2B sessions to present their destinations to the travel trade. This year’s event attracted over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries. Another significance this year was the many interactive sessions in most pavilions which provided exciting give aways and prizes. Amala Tourism had their stand adorned with some beautiful birds and other species which attracted many visitors. Speaking with TravelTVNews, Nawaf Khalid, General Manager Amala Tourism shared that in keeping with the Saudi Vision 2030, they will be opening a special family destination 200km from Riyadh, with an animal sanctuary, 186 key resort, man made lake and many other exciting activities for both domestic and international visitors. He further reiterated that within the next two years, the project will be completed and travellers will be able to enjoy the destination.

Hilton announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) towards exploring cooperation opportunities between the two entities and developing creative content, with the aim of attracting visitors from key markets across the Middle East and Africa to the Kingdom. Signing this MoU comes as part of the STA’s ongoing commitment and efforts to forge strong partnerships with key players in Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem, working closely with these partners to promote destinations in the Kingdom and provide inspiring tourism experiences. This most recent partnership also highlights Hilton’s presence and growth in Saudi Arabia, where it currently operates 16 hotels – with another 51 in the pipeline and plans to grow its portfolio to more 75 hotels in the coming years. “We are very excited to sign this agreement, which comes in alignment with Hilton’s longstanding relationship with the Saudi Tourism Authority over the years and is a reiteration of our commitment towards the tourism sector in the Kingdom,” Ajami said. “Through this partnership, we aim to attract travellers from the Middle East and Africa who are looking to explore the Kingdom’s diverse tourism offerings while staying with a global hospitality brand they know and trust.” “This Memorandum of Understanding with global hospitality leader, Hilton, aligns with our strategy to partner with key international brands and corporations that are working in alignment with our vision, attracting new segments of regional tourists and helping us achieve our 2030 objectives,” said Abdulkarim Al-Darwish, CEO of the Middle East and African Markets, STA. Hilton’s portfolio in the Kingdom includes iconic properties such as the Waldorf Astoria Jeddah – Qasr al Sharq, Conrad Makkah, Jeddah Hilton and Hilton …

Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays and the Saudi Tourism Authority are excited to announce a new strategic partnership. This cooperative endeavour focuses on promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia to UAE residents. Under this agreement, Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority will work together to showcase the natural wonders, cultural heritage, and unmatched hospitality of Saudi Arabia to travelers from the UAE. The goal is to create unparalleled travel experiences, fostering deeper connections and understanding between the two nations. The partnership aims to offer UAE travelers the chance to immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, including the awe-inspiring rock formations of Al Ula, the bustling streets of Riyadh, the tranquil Red Sea coast, and the breathtaking archaeological marvels of Madain Saleh. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are committed to providing seamless travel experiences that exceed expectations with tailor-made itineraries, curated tours, and exceptional customer service. Bimal Jain, General Manager of Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays, and Khalid Khan, GCC Trade Director for the Saudi Tourism Authority, officially signed the agreement at the Arabian Travel Market event. Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in Al Rostamani Travel, the organization acknowledges the significance of this partnership in supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision to establish itself as a leading global tourism destination. By leveraging their expertise and resources, both entities will work towards raising awareness about the incredible tourism offerings of Saudi Arabia and inviting UAE travelers to embark on unforgettable journeys. As this collaboration unfolds, the public can look forward to more exciting updates and initiatives to showcase the wonders of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are determined to create memorable …

Dubai Business Events (DBE) has kicked off its participation at IMEX Frankfurt 2023, bringing its largest ever delegation of co-exhibitors from across the city and engaging in a full schedule of engagements and interactions with buyers, industry partners and stakeholders, with over 1,000 meetings expected over the course of three days (23-25 May). The strong presence at IMEX is underlining the contribution business events are set to make towards achieving the goals of the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The city’s official convention bureau, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, is once again highly visible at the major industry trade show, which is being attended by over 4,000 meeting planners from around the world. DBE has been joined by 35 co-exhibitors from across the city’s business events ecosystem, including hotels, venues, attractions, destination management companies and airlines. Among them are Dubai World Trade Centre, Emirates, Expo City Dubai and various hotels groups. Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai this January, D33 aims to double Dubai’s economy over the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three global cities Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Dubai’s business events ecosystem continues to be an important driver of not only increased visitation to the city and tourism-related GDP, but also the development of key sectors and the growth of the wider knowledge economy. The city’s robust presence at IMEX presents a strong message to the global industry that Dubai can provide them with a comprehensive platform for sharing knowledge, professional development and networking. From association congresses and corporate meetings …

Philippine Tourism is currently participating at the Riyadh Travel Fair in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with their valued travel and tourism partners to portray the many diverse offerings to the Middle Eastern travellers. Her Excellency Myra Paz Valderosa Abubakar, Undersecretary, Department of Tourism speaking with TravelTV Middle East shared the importance of the Middle Eastern markets and their focus on halal tourism. “Middle East market is a very important market for us and we are participating at the Riyadh Travel Fair as we are focusing on Muslim friendly travel from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the greater Middle East. Recently, in the Philippines we passed the Memorandum circular where in accommodation establishments could be Muslim friendly recognized so that they can get certificates so its very easy for our accommodation establishments in Philippines to be Muslim friendly recognized, we have 6 guidelines to follow and then 5 percent of the total number of rooms in an accommodation establishment in the Philippines should be Muslim friendly. So what do we mean by Muslim friendly, so each room will have the direction sticker (the kibla) that is very important, in our front desk, we encourage at least one Muslim employee to be able to greet our Muslim guests coming in and we have asked them to make available at the front desk a list of the prayer times as normally when you come from another country time changes so at least you have a copy of that so that you will be able to know what time to follow for prayer. Also, a list of masjids in the area or mosques so if they want to go for Friday prayers …

Qatar Tourism is leading a Qatari delegation of ten partners from the hospitality sector at the thirteenth edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair, which will be held from May 22 to 24 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This participation follows the great success of Qatar’s tourism sector during the first quarter of this year by attracting more than one million international visitors. Visitors from Saudi Arabia topped the rankings, reaching The total number of visitors to the Kingdom was 892,000 in the first quarter of the year, most of whom came to Qatar through the Abu Samra land crossing. The 96 square metre Qatar Tourism Pavilion will highlight the tremendous development of the destination’s infrastructure and the latest developments in the hospitality sector, offering visitors to Qatar a unique blend of authentic cultural heritage, modernity and sophistication. Qatar Tourism’s participation in the exhibition reflects its interest in the travel market in Saudi Arabia, and is its second participation in tourism exhibitions held in the Kingdom this year. Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Director of Shared Services at Qatar Tourism, said: “We are delighted to participate in Riyadh Travel and promote Qatar as a world-class tourist destination located next to our Saudi brothers. The Saudi market is one of our key priority markets according to our long-term tourism strategy. We continue to receive large numbers of visitors from the Kingdom, especially on national occasions and holidays. “During our participation in the next edition of the exhibition, we aim to inform experts and leaders of the tourism industry on the magnitude of the tremendous developments taking place in the tourism sector in Qatar, in addition to …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) hosted a series of events in major cities across the GCC including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to launch the highly anticipated SeaWorld, Yas island, Abu Dhabi, and Experience Abu Dhabi’s ‘One Summer Isn’t Enough’ offering, in partnership with 20 key stakeholders including hotels, city attractions, and agencies. The roadshow provided GCC travel trade professionals with the opportunity to learn more about the various attractions and experiences that Abu Dhabi has to offer as well as the emirate’s new promotions and travel products. Highlights included SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s tourism landscape, which promises to offer an unparalleled experience to visitors when it opens on 23 May. Abdulla Yousef, Director of Travel Trade and Market Development at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “This GCC roadshow will be an effective tool for promoting the new, highly anticipated SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, as well as Abu Dhabi’s exciting summer season offers, providing an ideal opportunity to showcase our family-friendly offerings and luxury experiences to families and visitors from across the GCC. With the Kids Go Free and Stay More, Pay Less offers, and with our location just a short flight away, we are confident that the emirate will be recognised as a top destination for families and friends looking to create memorable summer vacation experiences. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Abu Dhabi and showcasing all that our vibrant city has to offer.” Located on the emirate’s entertainment hub Yas Island, alongside popular attractions Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, this state-of-the-art theme …

Safarak Travel & Tourism is proud to announce its expanded service offering to become a leading Destination Management Company (DMC) based in Ras Al Khaimah. With a team of renowned travel industry experts, Safarak now offers an extensive range of travel services for both inbound and outbound travellers, catering to diverse travel preferences and interests. A proud member of RAK Hospitality Holding, a Ras Al Khaimah Government company that manages a diverse portfolio of hotels, hospitality, and leisure assets in the Emirate, Safarak enjoys unmatched credibility and repute in the travel and tourism industry. Having witnessed visitor numbers to Ras Al Khaimah exceed pre-pandemic levels, with more than 1.13 million overnight arrivals recorded in 2022, Safarak has expanded its service offerings to meet the surge in demand for travel and hospitality services in the Emirate. A premier excursion, transport and DMC, Safarak now offers complete travel solutions including tailor-made packages encompassing hotels, flights, tours, activities, transfers, and package modules. Catering to a wide range of travellers including travel enthusiasts, families and day-trippers, as well as MICE, corporate trips and wedding parties, Safarak is the only DMC in RAK that offers 24/7 client support hotline so that customers can travel at ease knowing that their team of experts are available every step of the journey. Cathy Mead, General Manager of Safarak said: “At Safarak, we believe that travel should be an unforgettable experience, and our team of travel experts take pride in curating tailor-made premier experiences that meet the ever-changing needs of today’s business and leisure travellers both within the UAE and beyond. We understand the unique requirements of busy professionals, and our commitment to providing flexible and comprehensive travel solutions …

Akbar Travels announced its collaboration with Saudi Tourism Authority recently, which will unlock many new experiences in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Speaking with tourism breaking news, Ashiya Nazar Director GCC Akbar Travels shared, “Akbar Travels is delighted to announce a game-changing marketing collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Together, we are set to unlock extraordinary travel experiences, showcasing the wonders of Saudi Arabia to the world. Get ready to embark on a journey like no other and discover the captivating charm of Saudi Arabia!”