Tag Archives: 2024

Hilton revealed that Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay will be the first for the brand in the UAE and is set to open in the bustling area of Business Bay, near Downtown Dubai. The 104-key property will offer both leisure and business travellers an approachable, upscale experience with world-class customer service. The hotel will feature one-bedroom suites and studios with picturesque views of Burj Khalifa and the Dubai skyline, as well as a fully equipped fitness centre with an outdoor workout space, a swimming pool, a large ballroom, and flexible event spaces. Apart from enjoying complimentary made-to-order breakfast each morning, guests can experience the signature Embassy Suites by Hilton ‘Evening Reception’ offering for the first time in the UAE, giving guests an opportunity to unwind over complimentary snacks and beverages.

Bahrain is set to become the first Middle Eastern nation to host the 9th UNWTO’s World Forum on Gastronomy scheduled to unfold in 2024. This historic event underscores Bahrain’s rich heritage, diverse culture, and its burgeoning tourism industry, positioning the kingdom as a global epicenter for gastronomy tourism. The news was unveiled on the sidelines of the 8th World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, held in the picturesque city of San Sebastian, Spain. The announcement not only marks a significant milestone for Bahrain but also showcases the nation’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in the realm of gastronomy and tourism. Bahrain, with its captivating blend of tradition and modernity, is poised to leverage the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in 2024 as a catalyst for promoting responsible agricultural practices. The event aims to highlight the importance of nurturing local communities while preserving Bahrain’s rich heritage and traditions. Scheduled to take place at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, the forum promises a diverse array of engaging activities.   One of the highlights of the forum will be visits to local producers, providing participants with a firsthand experience of Bahrain’s vibrant culinary landscape. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in culinary classes, immersing themselves in the kingdom’s gourmet excellence rooted in its historical legacy. This unique combination of cultural immersion and gastronomic exploration is anticipated to make the 9th UNWTO’s World Forum on Gastronomy in Bahrain an unforgettable experience for participants from around the globe.   The year 2024 is poised to be a transformative period for Bahrain’s tourism sector, and the hosting of the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism plays a crucial role in the kingdom’s primary vision. The forum is …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the upcoming change in the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) Remittance Frequency for IATA accredited agencies from fortnightly to weekly effective January 1, 2024. This change will impact the following BSP Gulf countries: Oman, UAE and Bahrain. The changes, including remittance and settlement dates, will be reflected in the calendar application on the IATA Customer Portal before January 2024. “IATA is committed to supporting the travel agency community during this transition. The change has been communicated to all agencies and the 2024 remittance calendar will be made available by the end of the year to enable them to prepare accordingly,” said Mr. Khaled Al-Eisawi, Area Manager Gulf and Near East at IATA. “The change means that IATA will be billing travel agencies for their airline sales on weekly basis and the travel agencies will be settling their dues to IATA within a week of receiving their invoices.  As the association representing travel and tour agencies in Dubai, we encourage our member agents and corporate customers to take the necessary measures and adjust their billing and payment schedules to effectively manage the impact of this change,” said Mr. Asim Arshad, President DTTAG. IATA remains committed to the facilitation of financial settlement between IATA accredited agents and member airlines under the Passenger Agency Program umbrella.

MSC Cruises announced that in November it will open its first office in Saudi Arabia and also launch a brand-new itinerary from Jeddah as a further demonstration of its commitment to support the Kingdom’s plans for its tourism sector with Saudi Vision 2030. Details were unveiled in Riyadh by Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group as he attended the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO’s) ‘World Tourism Day’ conference. The new office will be based in Jeddah and house the commercial, sales and marketing functions for both MSC Cruises and its sister company, Explora Journeys, a new luxury cruise brand that began operations in July this year.  MSC Cruises added that it will start its third season of Red Sea voyages from Jeddah in two months’ time with a new sailing itinerary for international and Saudi Arabia-based holidaymakers. The 294 metre long 16 deck MSC Orchestra can accommodate up to 2,550 passengers and will operate from Jeddah for six months and offer 20 separate 7-night sailings to Aqaba in Jordan to visit Petra and three destinations in Egypt – Sharm El-Sheikh, Sokhna Port for Cairo and Safaga for Luxor – before returning to the Saudi port. In 2024, Explora Journeys’ second ship EXPLORA II will sail in the Middle East in 2024 and visit Jeddah to enable its passengers to visit the city as well as Al Ula and Hegra. Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group, said, “We are honoured to have played an important role partnering with the key government bodies to stimulate the establishment of the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia. Initially starting with local cruises during the pandemic and then …

Arabian Travel Market has unveiled its next theme: ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship.’ The 31st edition of the show will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024. Over the last 15 years, the travel and tourism industry has secured only 1 percent of total funding for startups across all industries, according to analysis from McKinsey. This is despite the fact that the sector accounted for more than 10 percent of global GDP in 2019. With exhibitors from the fields of aviation, accommodation, hospitality, attractions, technology and more, ATM 2024 will explore how innovators in the travel and tourism space are working to attract greater levels of funding to further increase the sector’s overall contribution to global GDP. The 31st edition of ATM will once again host policymakers, industry leaders and travel professionals from across the Middle East and beyond, encouraging them to forge new relationships, exchange knowledge and identify innovations with the potential to reshape the future of global travel and tourism. From startups to established brands, the upcoming show will highlight how innovators are enhancing customer experiences, driving efficiencies and accelerating progress towards a net-zero future for the industry. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The Middle East’s travel and tourism sector has demonstrated impressive resilience and growth in recent years, but we must continue to innovate and adapt in order to achieve the industry’s long-term goals. Thanks to ATM 2024’s theme, ‘Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, we have a golden opportunity to showcase expert insights, cutting-edge technologies and commercial opportunities with the potential to completely reshape the sector.” Building on ATM 2023’s theme of ‘Working Towards Net …

Etihad Airways announces its new destination in the United States, with four weekly flights to Boston commencing on 31 March 2024. This addition connects one of the United States’ most vibrant and dynamic cities to the ever-expanding Etihad network. “We are delighted to introduce flights to Boston, which opens up Abu Dhabi to visitors from the American Northeast and across the United States,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “We eagerly await welcoming guests to our extraordinary home as well as offering them access to our growing global network. As one of America’s most culturally diverse and thriving cities, visitors from Abu Dhabi will relish exploring its rich heritage and experiencing Boston’s renowned hospitality. Expanding US Gateway: This will be Etihad’s fourth US gateway, complementing services to Chicago, New York, and Washington, along with flights to Toronto in Canada. The addition of Boston further solidifies Etihad’s commitment to providing passengers with enhanced connectivity between the United States and Abu Dhabi. In addition to providing nonstop access to the Boston market, Etihad will offer convenient connections to cities throughout North America through its partnership with jetBlue. This partnership allows travellers to enjoy a seamless and hassle-free travel experience, unlocking numerous travel possibilities across the continent.

Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Icon of the Seas is in ship shape. The all-new vacation reached the next construction milestone after successfully completing its initial round of sea trials and sailing the open ocean for the first time. Icon returned to the Meyer Turku shipyard, where it is under construction, after four days of preliminary tests on a lineup of its latest technologies and equipment. From the main engines to the hull, to the brake system, to steering as well as noise and vibration levels, the hundreds of workers on board covered an extensive check list of key technical areas. Between preparations and the trials, the important step in the journey to bring Icon to life involved more than 2,000 specialists, hundreds of miles traveled, four 37- to 67-ton tugboats and more than 350 hours of work. Next up will be a second round of sea trials later this year, which will be when the first Icon Class ship is pushed to its limits ahead of its debut in Miami in January 2024. As the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation, Icon will introduce a new era of vacations for years to come. From the resort getaway to the beach escape and theme park adventure, every type of family and kind of adventurer can make memories together and on their own terms without compromise across record-breaking thrills, relaxing ways to chill, a neighborhood designed for young families, more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be entertained, and more. Icon will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami all year. Vacationers on board will island hop from destinations like Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island destination, …

Sindalah is expected to start welcoming guests to enjoy its bespoke nautical experiences, exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings from early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services. With its incredible array of amenities, state-of-the-art marine facilities, strategic location and exceptional natural landscapes, Sindalah is expected to become established as one of the most alluring islands in the Red Sea. Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 square meters, Sindalah, is one of a group of islands that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design. Building on its ability to design new tourism opportunities from the ground up, NEOM is working with world-class leisure and hotel brands to make Sindalah an exclusive and glamorous destination in the Red Sea for the world’s yachting community. NEOM is developing the island to be a premium destination surrounded by a stunning and diverse marine environment which has one of the world’s most beautiful coral reserves. This was disclosed as NEOM signed an agreement with Riyad Bank for SAR 3 billion in debt financing to help fund the development of Sindalah, marking the first NEOM region to be successfully financed with bank debt. Riyad Bank is one of the largest supporters of Saudi Vision 2030 and has developed a diverse range of initiatives specifically designed to support business capabilities from establishment, logistics and investment. Its strategic locations across the world include England, US, Singapore, and soon China, all of which facilitate foreign investments, managed by a talented and experienced team of specialists. Tareq A. Al-Sadhan, CEO, Riyad Bank, added: “NEOM represents an incredible opportunity for our …

Earth Hotels, a thoughtful and design-conscious hotel group for the ‘Earthly’ traveller, will open the first of its GCC-based properties in Q1 of 2025. Earth Shore, Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah will offer state-of-the-art rooms, a sustainable approach to build, and will provide visitors with an escape that inspires the adventurer within. Earth Hotels are designed to be softer on the environments that they inhabit, through careful consideration of construction methods, material selection, and energy conservation. The impressive new project Earth Shore, Marjan Island is being developed to reach an area of 300,000 sq, with 265 keys including resort rooms, GOAT terrace suites, and two-bedroom Sky Villas.  The destination will have direct beachfront access, a 13,000 sq ft social hub “sticky lounge”, and a signature stylish beach club with a dining and event space for up to 500 people. Alan Honein, Founder & Chief Executive Citizen at Earth Hotels, said: “Earth Hotels is set to be recognised for its dedication to sustainability and innovation. We are proud to have secured five individually unique hotels across the GCC and beyond, with an impressive total project value of more than 205 million USD. We hope to deliver our guests a unique set of lifestyle experiences that stand out in a crowded market.” Commenting on the buyer opportunity that the new RAK-based hotel will bring , Rami Moukarzel, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Earth Hotels, said: “We are excited to be offering individuals the dream of owning a slice of a beachfront lifestyle hotel through a unique and inclusive investment plan. This is a rare opportunity in leisure hospitality sector of the UAE, which promises to offer fruitful returns for hotel unit …

Hilton announced the signing of a management agreement for a new hotel in Jeddah. The hotel is owned by AlAhli REIT Fund, a listed investment fund managed by SNB Capital. In the coming years, Hilton expects to grow its portfolio in Saudi Arabia to more than 75 hotels across multiple award-winning brands. “Saudi Arabia represents a significant opportunity for Hilton to grow its portfolio and, with the announcement of this DoubleTree by Hilton property in an exceptional location, we look forward to further expanding our full service footprint across the country,” said Carlos Khneisser, vice president, Development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton. “Our partnership with the SNB Capital reaffirms Hilton’s desire to work with great partners and our strong commitment to the private sector.” A brand debut in Jeddah, DoubleTree by Hilton Jeddah Al Andalus Mall will open next year, following an extensive renovation programme that will see significant upgrades to both guest rooms, restaurants, recreation facilities and more. The hotel will offer guests 164 contemporary guest rooms and serviced apartments, two unique food and beverage experiences, state-of-the-art fitness offerings including a gym and an outdoor pool, and seven meetings and events spaces. This upscale hotel is situated on the King Abdallah Road, and is linked to Al Andalus Mall, one of Jeddah’s most popular shopping destinations and immediately adjacent to the first upcoming Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital with 330 beds. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from several renowned educational, medical and entertainment facilities, as well as Jeddah’s downtown and a 20-minute drive from the King Abdulaziz International Airport. DoubleTree by Hilton Jeddah Al Andalus Mall will participate in Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 19 …