Tag Archives: AI

Over 80% of travellers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia (KSA) intend to go on more or the same amount of holidays in 2026 compared to 2025 (84% in UAE and 83% in KSA). This includes 54% who plan to go on an increased number (56% in UAE and 52% in KSA), according to new industry research amongst 4,017 adults in UAE and KSA. Figures from Marriott Bonvoy’s 2026 Ticket to Travel Report suggest continued overall growth in the industry. In 2026, the average traveller is planning 3 domestic holidays within their own country, 2 short-haul breaks (four-hour flight or less) and 2 long-haul trips. The report also shows that on average people book their holiday 2.1 months in advance (2.5 in UAE and 1.6 in KSA). Visiting multiple countries (not just destinations) within one trip – will continue to be common for travellers in 2026. 75% say they ‘probably or definitely’ plan to do this next year. Popular international travel destinations for travellers in the UAE and KSA include Italy, Switzerland, France and Turkiye. Nearly three quarters of travellers (72%) say they have used AI to plan or research a holiday (77% in UAE and 68% in KSA). Over a fifth (23%) say they use it ‘all the time’ (24% in UAE and 22% in KSA). ChatGPT is the favoured AI platform for travel planning – used by three quarters (76%) of those who have previously used AI for this purpose (81% in UAE and 70% in KSA). It is followed by Gemini at 38% (41% in UAE and 35% in KSA) and Copilot at 21% (23% in UAE and 19% in KSA). Reinforcing the increased familiarity and trust travellers …

Emirates and OpenAI have entered into a strategic collaboration to advance AI adoption and innovation across the airline. The collaboration will entail enterprise-wide deployment of ChatGPT Enterprise, supported by tailored AI literacy programmes, technical exploration, and executive strategic alignment designed to embed AI capabilities across the organisation. Ali Serdar Yakut, Executive Vice President IT said: “We see enormous potential for AI technology to support our business requirements, helping us tackle complex commercial challenges, strengthening our operations, and enhancing the customer experience. Closely working with OpenAI will make our technology investments both strategic and scalable, enabling us to deliver enhanced value to our employees and customers, fundamentally changing how we innovate, deliver value, and maintain our competitive edge in the industry.” Rod Solaimani, Regional Director, MENA & Central Asia at OpenAI said: “Emirates Group has laid out a bold vision for how AI can transform the future of aviation. With this collaboration, we’re proud to help them bring that vision to life – embedding intelligence across their operations, empowering teams with powerful new tools, and reimagining the travel experience for millions of customers.” As part of their work together, Emirates and OpenAI will explore opportunities to introduce practical use cases, develop an internal AI champion network, and establish an AI Centre of Excellence. This collaboration will identify key areas for enhancing and expanding AI capabilities across the organisation, covering critical skills, processes and technology needed to power Emirates into the next era. Emirates stands to gain early access to cutting-edge AI research and emerging breakthroughs, as well as collaboration on government-led innovation projects and accelerators. Additionally, Emirates and OpenAI will jointly run dedicated leadership sessions to explore practical applications, build sponsorship and advocacy for AI initiatives, …

Aristara AI announced the launch of its multilingual digital assistant at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World, providing delegates with real-time access to information and updates throughout the event. Accessible directly through WhatsApp, the assistant enables participants to ask questions about panel sessions, speakers, venues, and schedules in more than 50 languages. In addition, The Bench, organizers of FHS World, will be able to send important notifications to ensure delegates enjoy a seamless summit experience. Founded in Los Angeles by a team of hospitality and technology leaders, Aristara is an AI-driven company transforming hotel operations and guest engagement. Its platform delivers intelligent automation, real-time personalization, and measurable efficiencies that increase both guest satisfaction and profitability. FHS World also marks Aristara’s official entry into the Arabian Gulf, a key growth region for the firm. Rosanna Wang, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Aristara, said: “We are honored to introduce our technology at FHS World in partnership with The Bench. This is an ideal platform to showcase how AI can enhance event engagement. It also represents an exciting beginning for Aristara in the Arabian Gulf, where we see tremendous opportunities to support hoteliers and event organizers with innovative solutions.”