Tag Archives: General Manager

Al Ghazal Travel, a leading travel agency in KSA, has appointed Sabre Corporation as its technology partner to support its expansion strategy, provide more personalised travel services and improve customer satisfaction. Under this agreement, Al Ghazal Travel will have access to Sabre’s marketplace of more than 420 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, enabling it to sell personalised travel packages from suppliers all over the world. The agency accesses the marketplace through the new Sabre Red Workspace (nSRW), which makes it simple to shop, book and manage travel content. “We started in KSA in the seventies and are known for our uncompromised level of service and passion for technology,” said Ahmed Taleb Al Ghazal, General Manager, Al Ghazal Travel Agency. “Today, we are eyeing regional expansion and wanted a reliable partner to help us thrive and grow; Sabre has the right innovative technology, global expertise and dedicated team to help us achieve our ambitious plan.” “Al Ghazal Travel is a dynamic agency with the potential to tap into the region’s huge increase in travel demand,” said Ramzi Al Qassab, Regional Commercial Director and Global Partners, STNME. “Sabre’s worldwide network of travel suppliers will help Al Ghazal to offer a wealth of choice to its travellers, spearheading it towards competing with the industry’s global players.”

A recent report on ‘Middle East Consumer Travel Report 2018’ co-sponsored by Amadeus, explored an overview of the travel industry in Saudi Arabia and the latest highlights entailing consumer activities and mobile trends in the Middle East. Travellers from Riyadh showed an increase in mobile bookings in the Kingdom with 32%, followed by Jeddah with 31%. More than 40% of travellers in the region organise their trips online, 33% travellers today “actively search” for discounts online during the shopping process and 57% of travellers in the region book their flight fares only a week prior to their travel dates. The report acknowledges that the Middle East travel market is incredibly diverse when it comes to travel patterns. While value is a key driver in travel decisions, more people admit to being more influenced by friends, family and colleagues (53%) than by search engines and review sites (47%) or actual travel agents (31%). Eng. Nashat Bukhari, General Manager, Amadeus Saudi Arabia said, “We are pleased with the significant rise in the consumer’s online travel trend in the region and as the industry continues to evolve, we will continue the deliver the latest cutting-edge technology dedicate to alter the shape of the travel industry in the region.”  

Amadeus has announced the renewal of its partnership with Khimji’s House of Travel, a leading travel agency in Oman. The agency will be able to leverage Amadeus’ flagship products to deliver a superior level of service experience to their customers, making their journeys seamless during the whole trip process. Amadeus will provide Khimji’s House of Travel with solutions such as Amadeus Fare Optimiser, enabling travel agents to discover the best flight fares; Amadeus Online Corporate Traveller to manage corporate travellers, reduce business travel costs, increase policy compliance, and streamline the travel management processes; Amadeus e-Power to drive its online aspirations and provide rich contents 24*7 to customers; and Amadeus Travel Alerts Notifier, which keeps travellers informed about their booking up to their arrival back home, and more. Cashio Vettom, General Manager, Khimji’s House of Travel, said, “With this partnership, we are expanding our core capabilities to provide the best experience to our customers by using automated systems and programmes that increase our own efficiencies. We’re looking forward to sharing the benefits of this partnership with consumers across the Sultanate.” According a recent report revealed by the Colliers International, Oman’s tourism industry is expected to grow by 13 per cent between 2018 and 2021.

Roda Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Roda Links Al Nasr, a four-star property that will target business and leisure travellers who are looking for affordable accommodation in Dubai. Roda Links Al Nasr will open its doors on May 1, 2018 and will mark another milestone in Roda’s expansion plans, bringing the total number of properties that the group owns and manages to seven. Roda Links Al Nasr Dubai features 114 comfortable rooms with hip bars and fine dining outlets. The rooms and suites feature elegant contemporary décor with quality furnishings and state-of-the-art amenities. All rooms are equipped with satellite radio and TV channels, mini-bar, safety deposit box, ironing board and high-speed wireless internet connectivity. Amro Nagah, General Manager, Roda Links Al Nasr said, “We are pleased to announce the opening of Roda Links Al Nasr, our seventh property in Dubai and is a fantastic addition to our impressive portfolio of existing hotels and resorts serving varied market segments. Roda Links is our contribution to the mid-market sector which is a fast-growing segment in the industry. The property is an ideal option for business travellers, families and couples who demand comfort and personalised service at affordable rates and we are happy to develop a range of accommodation options for these travellers. Our focus will remain on delighting our guests with personalized Arabian hospitality and intuitive services and we are confident that Roda Links will deliver this.”

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay transforms itself from an urban resort to a complete island resort with the addition of The Four Seasons Beach. Curving along the private island’s sun-drenched southern shore, the 160-metre expanse of white sand is an ideal retreat for families. In addition to a dedicated play area for children, parents and couples can look forward to a quieter zone, providing a tranquil haven to lounge in the sun, sip a cool drink or take in the city’s spectacular sunsets. Richard Raab, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, said, “During our first three years, guests have been generous in their praise of Four Seasons, revelling in the many diversions we offer right here on our own private island in the city. We are delighted to now open the beach, which completes the hotel’s transition to a fully-fledged island resort.” Beach lovers can look forward to the attentive service of Four Seasons staff on hand to offer everything from fresh fruit skewers and refreshing beverages, to an array of high-end sun care products and a chair-side sunglasses cleaning and repair service. Set to open by this summer, The Four Seasons Beach will welcome hotel guests and spa members throughout the day at no additional charge.

Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2018 opened doors for the tenth consecutive year in Riyadh, with more than 300 exhibitors from 55 countries. The fair, organised by ASAS Exhibition and Conference Organising Company, is being held at Prince Sultan Grand Hall, Al Faisaliah Hotel, from April 10-13, 2018. The fair was inaugurated by Hamad Ali Alshowair, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Riyadh Chamber. The four-day event will become the focus of business networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions, discussions and recognition of the tourism industry’s achievements. Bander Algryni, General Manager, ASAS Exhibitions, said: “The 2018 edition is the largest Riyadh Travel Fair to date, thereby extending our prominence as the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the kingdom. More than 270 exhibitors from tourism boards, airlines, tour operators and hotels from more than 60 countries are currently present in the exhibition. It’s been a year of growth for not only the tourism and hospitality industry in the Kingdom, but also for RTF.” RTF 2018 show holds its strong Middle East support with 60 per cent of exhibiting companies from the GCC region including Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Government of Sharjah (Commerce & Tourism Development Authority), Ministry of Tourism Bahrain, Oman Tourism, besides featuring many firsts for the travel trade and consumer show.

Tune Protect recently partnered with Pan North Insurance Agency along with Jordan French Insurance to market travel insurance products in Jordan. The partnership further extends Tune Protect’s reach within the EMEIA region, after establishing itself in Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, India and Iraq. “We are excited with the prospects of our partnership with Pan North Insurance Agency. We are confident that the partnership will further strengthen our position as a leading travel insurance provider in Jordan,” said Arijit Munshi, General Manager, Tune Protect, EMEIA. Pan North Insurance Agency will be managing the marketing of various travel insurance products facilitated by Tune Protect, EMEIA, underwritten by JOFICO, through the online or digital channels managed by Tune Protect. “Jordan, with its rich history and robust tourism sector, is an important market for travel within the region. The innovative travel insurance products and solutions though our partnership with Tune Protect will allow Pan North Insurance Agency to offer more value-added services to the travel community in Jordan to serve the travellers coming into Jordan from anywhere in the world and traveling from Jordan, globally,” said Haya Al-Khalidi, General Manager, Pan North Insurance Agency.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum has recently opened for GCC for the summer season with an expanded offering for guests. New villas and suites overlooking the Paradise Bay will be available, and more butlers will be on hand to maintain the resort’s reputation for excellent service. Guests can savour new menus at the resort’s award-winning restaurants and book its new Flavours of Bodrum accommodation package. Guests staying at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum now have three new villas and the Bougainvillea and Royal Suites to choose from in addition to the existing selection of guest rooms, apartments, suites and villas. The Bougainvillea Suite, also known as the honeymoon suite, is in a secluded spot at the far end of resort. The 95-square metre retreat features a single bedroom and private swimming pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. The sea-view Royal Suite, with seven rooms, private garden and swimming pool is the largest on the Bodrum Peninsula with 533 square metres of space. Including its existing seven-room villa, the resort now offers large-scale family accommodation on the Peninsula. All suites and villas at the resort have infinity pools and private terraces overlooking the sea.

Pearl Rotana has announced the opening of its business and leisure-led hotel, Pearl Rotana Capital Centre, Abu Dhabi, located a few steps away from the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). An extensive array of spacious rooms and suites await guests, many of which present stunning sea views. The property has five dining venues, including two distinctive new concepts set to disrupt the Abu Dhabi dining scene. With central location to top attractions, in the buzzing Capital Centre area, and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi’s International Airport, the hotel makes for an ideal place to stay, immerse and experience the UAE capital to the fullest. “We are thrilled to offer Abu Dhabi residents and global travellers with an all new contemporary hospitality experience,” says Karim Nahas,General Manager, Pearl Rotana. “Following the recent announcement from the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), an impressive 7.4 per cent increase from last year in hotel guests to the capital, shows growth in the market,” he said. The 315 light, modern rooms and suites offer high-speed wireless internet, complimentary coffee and tea making facility, daily local newspapers and IDD telephones together with deluxe beds for maximum comfort. In-room flat-screen TVs come with multi and satellite channels, suitable for all visitors.

Opening doors for the tenth consecutive year, Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2018 is set to be held at the Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh from April 10-13, 2018. The four-day event will become the focus of business networking opportunities, seminar sessions, discussions and the recognition of the tourism industry’s achievements throughout the year. More than 270 exhibitors will be present representing more than 50 countries. Over 50 national and regional pavilions will also have a prominent presence. The show floor space has also increased by 10 per cent compared to the 2017 event. “Last year, RTF featured 270 exhibitors with visitor attendance at 27,329. That was an increase of 30  per cent compared to the 2016 edition. This year will continue our year-on-year growth as exhibitors hit over 270 and expected visitors numbers over 30,000,” said Bander’ Al Gryni, General Manager, ASAS Exhibitions (organiser of RTF). The Riyadh Travel Fair is open to both travel professionals and the general public looking for in-depth destination information and special deals. Visitors to the 2018 edition will be able to interact directly with various tourism authorities, hotels, airlines and travel agents from around the world.