Category Archives: Technology

As travel picks up once again around the world. Wego provides a detailed report on Egypt’s top flight destinations for domestic and international travel in 2023. According to Wego’s 2023 data so far, Kuwait and Jeddah are highly favored by Egyptian travelers as top international destinations due to convenient accessibility and wide range of attractions. Following these two cities are Dubai, Doha, and Muscat. On the domestic front, Cairo takes the lead as the most popular choice even for local tourists. Along with Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Aswan, and Luxor also captivate Egyptian travelers with their unique characteristics. During the ongoing changes within the travel industry, Wego’s core mission is to assist Egyptian travelers in uncovering their preferred destinations, offering a streamlined booking process for flights and accommodations to ensure an exceptional travel experience. With a wide range of flight options at their disposal, those with a passion for global exploration will find countless opportunities in 2023.    

TravelGenius Pte Ltd announced the launch of Geni-us, a powerful travel search engine which delivers meaningful, relevant, and personalised travel recommendations and itineraries based on the travellers’ desired experience. The map-based travel planning and discovery platform uses a revolutionary technology understanding travel intent, with a natural language free form search, answering all travellers needs in a single search and locating the best area to stay at. Acting as the users’ local travel agent, Geni-us.ai, currently launched in Beta version, offers a stress-free way for users to turn all their travel desires into memorable experiences, at a click. Following the recent launch of SpotQuest, the leading location intelligence platform for hospitality businesses, TravelGenius is ushering in a new era of human-centric innovation for the travel industry. Leveraging cutting-edge Voice and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies, as well as advanced mapping capabilities, TravelGenius offers a dedicated location intelligence platform tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality and travel sector. With access to meticulously curated proprietary data, TravelGenius enables location classification at granular levels, right down to streets and neighbourhoods. This all-encompassing platform is a one-stop solution catering to the diverse needs of travel businesses, consultancies, hotels, restaurants, travellers, and destinations alike, offering a transformative approach to the world of travel. Pioneering this game-changing solution for the travel industry, Hannes Bos, the Founder of TravelGenius, is a hospitality professional with over two decades of industry leadership. Understanding the travel industry challenges, Hannes has always wanted to simplify how people work in the industry, and how travellers can plan for their trip and make the best out of their stay. “Over the last twenty years, the online travel industry has not been able …

At the recently concluded TravelTech ME with TravTalkME as media partner the travel experts from various travel agencies, tourism boards, travel technology and metasearch companies etc shared some very important aspects in terms of the future of the travel and tourism sectors. Daniel Rosado, Director Spain Tourism GCC shared, “during travel tech we had the chance to discuss and learn about the new trends, challenges and solutions on the travel sector related to technology, where experts from different companies enlighten the attendees. But also, amongst the topics we discussed some other issues on a more general approach in order to give the frame and set the tone of the current situation of the region where these technologies are applied. We highlighted the importance of tourism in the region, with UAE and Saudi leading the way. We analysed the latest data and figures trying to understand where the near future will take us. Regarding the outbound market we also saw that its growing at a steady pace and travel to countries such as Spain has experienced an impressive growth.”

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai in a special interview with TravelTV Middle East shared that travel agents can  now make use of the smart portal to apply and obtain approval for bulk tourist visa within a few minutes with the new system in place. Lt.Colonel Dr. Ghalib Abdullah Hassan Al Majed Al Marri, Director of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence reiterated, “the new visa issuance application which process all the entry permits through AI solutions within 3 to 10 minutes with this new system. Travel agents apply through the smart portal, the main AI system  is comparison of pictures which is a new solution which expedite the process. The good part of this new solution is that you can obtain approval for bulk visa within a few minutes instead of the earlier time period. Before, if you had 100 or 200 tourists who needed entry visa you had to send each one for approval but with this new system, travel agents can obtain approval within minutes as it becomes one application through the new system.”

At the recently concluded Travel Tech ME summit with TravTalkME as media partner, the focus was on the digital tourism strategies which could accelerate growth in the tourism ecosystem. Guest speaker Amro Al Zubair – Director of Digital Product & Digital Experience, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia reiterated that a new unified platform to connect the tourism ecosystem, launch new services, and support investors and startups as some of the main criteria to work on. He further shared that strategy to embed digital practices across the tourism sector, upskill workforce, and attract investment coupled with digital transformation will help drive sustainable growth of the tourism ecosystem. In this digital age in travel and tourism where technology has become a catalyst in this industry. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of digitalisation for the past many years and today they continue with their plans to make the destination sustainable in all aspects.

Amadeus announced the opening of its new office in Dubai. This strategic move aims to further strengthen Amadeus’ commitment to the UAE and particularly to the burgeoning travel sector in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, expressed his enthusiasm and said, “We are excited to mark the inauguration of our new Amadeus Gulf Office and are eager to enhance the level of service we provide from this new, dynamic location. Dubai is a lighthouse to attract tourism and the new office is a state-of-the-art space for clients and visitors who support this growth for this city.” Next month marks the 21st anniversary of Amadeus Gulf’s presence in the UAE, initially opening its doors in Abu Dhabi. Recognizing the UAE as a hub for some of the busiest airports, Amadeus is committed to complementing Dubai’s rapid growth in the travel sector. The global achievement of Amadeus supports the regional growth including partners working with the Dubai office. Amadeus continues to be a leading R&D investor, and recently formed a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft using Azure cloud technology to revolutionize software development cycles and data capabilities. Customers will be able to develop truly engaging solutions on top of the Amadeus Technologies. Amadeus in Dubai is also working on the environmental efficiency of its operations and sup-ports customers in their sustainability journey with the aim of reaching the industry’s goal of being Net Zero 2050. “At Amadeus, we acknowledge our responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change. The company has invested in climate-tech companies like Chooose and CAPHENIA and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025’ and locally in Dubai we get involved in …

Hospitality technology solutions providers WorldVue® and Infrateq have announced they have signed an agreement that will mark the entry of WorldVue’s full tech stack into the EMEA region powered by Infrateq. Nearly 50 years in business, WorldVue (formerly known as World Cinema) has been a trusted provider of video, digital infrastructure, wireless connectivity and professional services to hotels, residential properties and enterprises across the world. A family-owned business headquartered in the United States, WorldVue has offices in the Americas, UK, Netherlands, Mexico City, Dubai, Singapore and Australia. Michael Vargosko, Managing Director International Operations at WorldVue commented: “This agreement couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. As we close in on managing a million rooms installed globally, the business has been focused on strategic international growth with EMEA as a top priority, which was cemented by the appointment of Julian Daniel as Vice President of Operations EMEA earlier this year.  Through our alliance with Infrateq our full offering, including IPTV, ISP and wired and wireless network solutions, will be available in EMEA and we will work closely with the team to ensure smooth and seamless operations with the goal to fully integrate the business.” Specialized in IT infrastructure project design, deployment and management for the hospitality industry, Infrateq designed solutions are approved by leading vendors and international hotel chains, using decades of industry experience of their team plus a network of over 50 verified local partners. Infrateq has extensive coverage in the EMEA region through its hubs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Europe and the UK. “This is a very exciting milestone for the company,” said Gary Carscadden, CEO & Founder of Infrateq. “WorldVue will bring its North …

According to Phocuswright, an increasing number of companies from outside of travel are entering the online travel agency (OTA) space. This comes ahead of the 2023 Phocuswright Conference, which will be themed around what recent powerful advances in technology could mean for the future of the industry – and how travel businesses must adapt to remain relevant. Although outside players are plugging into online travel companies’ platforms, it is mainly the OTAs that will reap the rewards of this trend, according to Phocuswright: “Historically it was travel suppliers who partnered with the OTAs in a bid to supplement their core products,” said Lorraine Sileo, senior analyst, at Phocuswright.  “However, non-travel brands, such as financial institutions, retailers and loyalty clubs, are now partnering with OTAs to sell travel. “These companies now really want to get into the travel business – and technology is enabling them to do so.  Over the past two years, several have launched travel booking platforms or announced ambitious plans to do so, even though the online travel agency market is already near saturation and uber competitive.  The goal for these companies is not to gain substantial revenue directly from travel, but to keep their customers coming back, for example by encouraging card usage and giving customers more ways to earn or redeem loyalty points.  But, for the OTAs, these partnerships can be directly profitable.” This trend is set to benefit the big brands in the OTA space, as many “outside” companies will simply be tapping into their various plug-and-play models without needing much experience or expertise in the travel sector.  Here are three companies in the finance space that are now tapping into OTAs to drive loyalty …

Sav has joined forces with Musafir.com to bring a groundbreaking approach to travel savings. This transformative partnership is set to reshape the travel landscape, making it more accessible and affordable for UAE residents. In an era where financial responsibility and smart spending are paramount, Sav and Musafir.com introduce an innovative paradigm shift—”Save Now, Buy Later for Travel”. This trailblazing feature empowers users to embark on a journey of financial discipline while planning their dream vacations. Sachin Gadoya, CEO and Co-Founder of musafir.com said, “At Musafir.com, our mission has always been to make travel dreams a reality. Through this partnership with Sav, we aim to empower our customers to save effortlessly for their dream vacations. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to providing unforgettable travel experiences while making the journey towards them more accessible and convenient.” Unbeatable Travel Discounts Musafir.com commits to contribute to users’ goals across hotels, holidays, domestic and international Visas, which will redefine their travel experiences: 10% Off on UAE Visas: Seamlessly apply for UAE visas and enjoy an unprecedented 10% contribution from Musafir.com. 50% off on International Visas: Explore the world with ease and save significantly on international visas. 5% contribution on Hotels: Secure your stay at top-notch hotels with an unbeatable 5% contribution from Musafir.com. AED 300 contribution on Booking Holidays: Plan your dream holiday and save AED 300 on your booking. This partnership epitomizes Sav’s unwavering commitment to helping users save on their travel aspirations. Musafir.com joins this mission as one of the pioneering companies promoting sustainable affordability in the travel category.     A Unified Vision for Financial Empowerment This partnership between Sav and Musafir.com is about fostering sustainable financial practices in …

Cruise Saudi announced its investment in world-leading tech organisations for its pioneering owned cruise line AROYA Cruises, part of its visionary ambition to revolutionise the Saudi tourism industry and guide Saudi into the future, in line with Vision 2030. Cruise Saudi’s strategic partnerships for its phase I of technology stack development for Aroya Cruises including Monitor Deloitte, Alibaba Cloud SA, theICEway, SourceToad, Otalio, and Versonix Seaware form a crucial part of Cruise Saudi’s commitment to creating a seamless passenger experience, from booking to the boarding process, and beyond. The unrivalled expertise of the Information Technology and Digitisation team at Cruise Saudi to craft the technology stack, coupled with an insatiable drive for innovation and market disruption in cruise line technologies, underscores the project’s visionary approach. Meanwhile, the blend of both luxury and groundbreaking technology sets AROYA Cruises apart as a beacon of innovation, charting a fresh course for Arabian travel experiences. A global powerhouse in strategy and consultancy, Monitor Deloitte will be at the vanguard of project management, intricately weaving a data and digital strategy to ensure every technological decision is foresight driven. As a homegrown Saudi enterprise, Alibaba Cloud Saudi Arabia will be laying the digital foundation for AROYA Cruises, epitomising the zenith of security, reliability, and swift digital interactions. Meanwhile theICEway is tasked with amalgamating AROYA’s diverse technological realms into a seamless and cohesive digital ecosystem, ensuring a harmonious experience for every guest and crew member. Providing features for passengers, such as an interactive ship map, daily itineraries, and reservations for shore excursions, dining, and spa treatments, Sourcetoad’s guest-centric digital concierge is poised to be the central hub of onboard connectivity and engagement. Alongside this, Otalio’s Ship Property Management System …