Tag Archives: UAE

The standard of digital experiences offered by airlines, hotels and travel agents now carries significant influence over the booking decisions of young travellers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the findings of Travelport’s Global Digital Traveler Research 2019, which surveyed 23000 people from 20 countries. Three-quarters of millennial travellers in the UAE now actively consider whether an airline (77%) or hotel (76%) offers a good digital experience when making a booking. Half (51%) also get frustrated when booking information isn’t available round-the-clock on mobile devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches. Kathryn Wallington, Head of Account Management, United Arab Emirates, at Travelport, said, “Demand for high-quality digital experiences is now exceptionally high among millennial travellers in the UAE. Today, a good digital experience should really be delivered as standard and differentiation should be sought through excellence.” According to the Travelport’s study, when researching a trip, nearly all millennial travellers in the UAE (93%) have now reviewed videos and photos posted by travel brands on social media and one third (34%) ‘nearly always’ do this. When booking a flight online, two fifths (42%) of millennial travels in the UAE today want to personalise their experience. It also revealed that three fifths (60%) of UAE millennials want virtual reality experiences to help them plan their trips in a better way. Other findings include how two thirds (69%) of millennial travellers in the UAE have used voice search to help them manage travel, with one quarter (22%) ‘nearly always’ using the technology for this.  

Salih Gozcu, Chairman, BTB Tours, has been declared as the Face of the Future. He started his career in the Antalya region of Turkey in 2003 as a hotelier. In 2008, he moved to the emirate.  Between 2012-2013, he worked as a Summer Tour Country Manager. In 2016, he started his own company which by this year has reached out to 50,000 tourists from 15 different source markets. BTB Tours now aims to be the biggest DMC in UAE by 2023 as far as pax, revenue and quality are concerned.

In keeping with the mid-market sector UAE’s homegrown brand Citymax launched its second hotel in the Al Barsha area and the fifth across the UAE on June 27, 2019. The opening follows the successful launch of Citymax Hotel Ras Al Khaimah in November 2018, and enhances the Citymax portfolio up to five hotels in operation across the GCC, as well as a sixth Citymax Hotel in Aswan, Egypt. Known for its personality of ‘vibrant simplicity’ and providing its guests with an unforgettable stay, Citymax Hotel Al Barsha will follow in the same steps, but with an added sense of appeal. This Citymax property is uniquely positioned to cater to business travellers looking for the comforts of a well-known brand, but the exclusivity and warmth of a boutique hotel. The hotel boasts 120 spacious rooms, including 24 twin rooms and 96 queen rooms. Each floor of the hotel has only 10 rooms, providing a sense of privacy in the heart of bustling ‘New Dubai’.  The property hosts a meeting room, with a capacity of 8-10 delegates. One of the most unique features in this property is the special floor dedicated to women travellers who would require a little more privacy, hence the whole floor with 10 rooms are dedicated only for women, catered by women. “The introduction of Citymax Al Barsha is a milestone for both Citymax Hotels and the UAE hospitality sector, as we’re now in a position to offer a niche audience quality accommodation that perfectly suits their business needs, whilst at the same time amplifying the unique warmth of a boutique-style hotel,” says Joanne Williams, General Manager of Citymax Al Barsha.

The Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games Sharjah 2019 confirmed that 1,462 participants from 50 countries are set to compete in the world’s largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship in Sharjah from February 10-16. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah, the IWAS World Games has returned to the emirate for the second time after its successful debut in the city in 2011. The eighth edition of the world championship brings together seven games including archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. New details of the upcoming biennial sports championship were revealed at a press conference held recently at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. Global athletes landing in Sharjah over the next few days are set to represent 50 competing nations confirmed by the Higher Organising Committee which include the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Russia, China, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, Poland, Pakistan, Norway, Kenya, Latvia, Macau, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, France, Georgia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Comoros.

Orient Travel, one of the leading travel agencies in the UAE, has teamed up with Rail Europe to create an association to meet the experiential needs of the UAE travellers. The partnership aims to provide unparalleled access to a comprehensive array of rail products complementing the itineraries of vacationers from the UAE. It comes at a time when many travel companies are struggling amid fierce competition, sedentary travel losing appeal and cookie cutter package tourism. Analysts, however, say that in the long run, there is room for growth if agencies recognise that people are searching for unique and original travel combinations that will give them unforgettable experiences. Speaking about the association, Asim Arshad, CEO, Orient Travel, said, “This partnership delights us. We are happy it came through as it gives us the opportunity to surf the wave of experiential travel and meet the needs of our clients. We understand that travel in this age is no longer so much about where the client goes, but more about how they want to feel. By introducing Rail Europe as part of our products, we give our customers flexibility and personalisation across a variety of authentic experiences. Now, we can construct each holiday around a client’s needs and preferences; and end up with an imaginative personalised itinerary centered on individual interests.” By partnering with one of the leading global providers of rail products, Orient Travel has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for planning and booking European train travel and sightseeing products. Now, the UAE travellers can book both point-to-point journeys in Europe, and get Eurail, Swiss, Japan, and Korea passes. The company also said it will guarantee easy access to human support, after-sale …

Emirates has announced the return of My Emirates Pass, an exclusive seasonal pass that turns an Emirates boarding pass into an exclusive membership package, allowing customers to take advantage of discounts and benefits in over 500 locations across the UAE. Emirates’ customers now have more reasons to start off the New Year and explore Dubai’s many attractions. People travelling to and through Dubai from January 1 until March 31, 2019 can benefit from My Emirates Pass privileges across participating retail and leisure outlets by presenting their boarding pass and a valid form of identification. The offers are valid across retail outlets and various leisure activities, including up to 30 per cent discount on spa treatments; up to 50 per cent off on outdoor activities like water sports and access to night golf courses; up to 50 per cent discount on fine dining; and up to 30 per cent off on popular shopping outlet stores. Customers can explore the many offerings available under My Emirates Pass by visiting emirates.com/myemiratespass. Mohammad Al Hashimi, Vice President — Commercial Products Dubai, Emirates, said, “We are pleased to announce the return of our signature Emirates Pass this winter, encouraging visitors to explore all corners of the UAE. Travellers coming into Dubai, whether for a short visit or a longer stay can now experience what this city has to offer for less, by taking advantage of special privileges across some of the best hotspots. With attractive discounts to over 500 locations – there’s something for everyone to splurge on this New Year.”

Tens of thousands of visitors have visited the National Festival of Heritage and Culture, the 33rd edition of Janadria, organised by the Ministry of National Guard under the slogan ‘Faithfulness and Loyalty.’ The heritage village at the festival as well as the shows of the folk groups from various regions of Saudi Arabia and some Arabian Gulf countries are popular and have become a milestone in the most beautiful elements of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Janadria is the largest cultural festival in Saudi Arabia and the largest event of its kind in the world that is being held for 21 days during the period from December 20, 2018 to January 9, 2019 as part of efforts to intensify attention to the Saudi heritage and regional and international visibility. In addition, it promotes a dialogue of cultures and civilisations between nations and people. The heritage village at Janadria is attracting thousands of families from different age groups, in addition to the artisans who are present throughout the festival area, especially in the folk market. The National Festival of Heritage and Culture offers heritage lovers a unique application which includes a complete definition of the Janadria Festival, a map of the stands and elements of the festival, activities and updated news about the festival on a daily basis. The folk groups programme is one of the most important pillars of the festival and there are more than 700 people that reflect the folk heritage, customs and traditions of all regions of Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries of the UAE, Bahrain and Oman.

flydubai has announced the launch of direct flights to Kozhikode in Kerala, India. The three-times weekly service from Dubai International (DXB) to Kozhikode Calicut International Airport (CCJ) will start from February 1, 2019. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer, flydubai, commenting on the new announcement, said, “We have always been proud of the strong ties between India and the UAE. We have seen a stronger flow of trade and tourism between the two countries over the past few years. In 2017, India became the first source market to top 2 million annual visitors representing an impressive 15 per cent year-on-year increase in total number of visitors to Dubai. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Indian authorities and we remain committed to serving the market. We look forward to more opportunities to strengthen the airlinks between the two countries in the future.” Commenting on the announcement, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial (UAE, GCC, Subcontinent and Africa), flydubai, said, “We are pleased to add Kozhikode to our network of eight destinations in India, offering greater connectivity and an unrivalled travel experience to our passengers in India. The new route will provide more passengers from India with access to Dubai and beyond via its aviation hub together with the new codeshare agreement.”

Millennium Hotels & Resorts has introduced the maiden Studio M Arabian Plaza in the Middle East region under the ‘M collection’ portfolio. The three-star property comprises 323 hotel rooms and serviced apartments and features two food and beverage outlets, meeting room spaces, a lap pool and fitness centre. The opening launch marked Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA’s brand growth by expanding into the mid-market segment. Furthermore, Studio M Arabian Plaza is also the first venture of Hala Hospitality Group, a part of the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, into the hospitality industry. Kevork Deldelian, Chief Operating Officer, Millenium Hotels & resorts MEA, said, “The recently concluded launch of Studio M Arabian Plaza is Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA’s strategic step in addressing Dubai’s growing demand for midscale properties.” He added, “The hotel’s features also capture the interests of the growing market of the millennial generation looking for quality-driven, trendy and technologically-advanced hotels.” Commenting on the launch, Abdullah Mohammed Juma Al Naboodah, Chairman, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, said, “As our first venture into the hospitality market, we are extremely proud of Studio M Arabian Plaza, and the exceptional design and functionality of the property. We look forward to it becoming the go-to place for sophisticated and discerning travellers looking for a stylish, comfortable and practical place to stay in the city.”

The United Arab Emiates (UAE) celebrated the 47th National Day with fervour. To celebrate the occasion, a special commemorative three-dirham postage stamp was issued. Many government and private institutions came together to celebrate the occasion with various events for residents and tourists. The festivities brought together Emiratis and expat colleagues across numerous departments as they marked the occasion. Several locations hosted seminars and workshops, giving staff the opportunity to learn more about the UAE’s founding father in a fun and interactive way through games, quizzes and video content.