Desert Adventures, part of the Kuoni Destination Management Specialists division, has widened its presence in hotels across the UAE. By securing excursion sales desks at hotels, Desert Adventures also aims to provide tourists in the UAE with the opportunity and convenience of managing and planning their itinerary right at the comfort of their hotel accommodations. Through the guidance and advice of Desert Adventures’ professional travel expert, guests can also work within their time and budget limitations to ensure a truly memorable and enjoyable stay in the country. “The travel and tourism sector in the UAE has experienced robust growth. This is expected to further strengthen in the coming winter season,” said Senthilvelan Nandagopal, Chief Operating Officer, Desert Adventures. “As a key destination management company for the UAE, Desert Adventures aims to be well-positioned to capitalise on very promising business growth opportunities that this market continues to present. “Utilizing the depth of our knowledge and expertise of the country, strong working relations with local authorities and tourism boards as well as solid partnerships with duly accredited, authorised and licensed tour and excursions operators, we have put together the widest selection of the finest and most enjoyable cultural, entertainment and leisure activities for guests of the UAE,” Senthil added. Desert Adventures plans to secure more excursion sales desks in key hotel partners across the country as part of its overall objective of providing exceptional travel experiences to as many guests of the UAE.

In a move to step up efforts to attract and welcome more visitors to the destination, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority have signed an agreement with VFS Global in the presence of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. The agreement paves the way for an efficient and transparent tourist visa application system. The agreement will enable Qatar to identify and implement the ideal visa solutions for its visitors, while capitalising on VFS Global’s expertise in developing multi-platform visa services, and Qatar Airways’ extensive international footprint. Qatar Airways and QTA will be working with VFS Global and MOI over the next months to establish the new tourist visa application process, after which full details of the new system will be announced. The steps taken are expected to increase Qatar’s openness ranking on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways has been bringing tourists to Qatar for nearly two decades and today’s announcement marks another milestone in our commitment to making Doha a world-class tourist destination. Qatar’s tourism industry is experiencing exponential growth and the visa advancements announced today will further support our country’s vision to invite and welcome visitors from around the world to experience all that Qatar has to offer. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on-board, at Hamad International Airport and into Qatar, as a result of today’s initiative. “I would like to sincerely thank the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriates Affairs, and Qatar Tourism Authority for their partnership in making today’s announcement possible. This initiative is a great example of what we can accomplish by working together, and we have other initiatives …

Dubai-based luxury property developer Seven Tides returns to Cityscape Global, which takes place from September 6-8, 2016, at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC), with an update on construction of the newest addition to its luxury hospitality and residential portfolio, DUKES Dubai. Seven Tides’ executives will also share details of demand for its high-end collection of Palm Jumeirah apartment developments, with both the Anantara The Palm Dubai Residences and DUKES Dubai hotel apartments almost sold out. “We are now really seeing the building begin to develop its unique personality, and this is a milestone moment for Seven Tides as we can begin to count down to handover at the end of the year,” said Abdulla bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides. The five-star DUKES Dubai marks the first international property for the DUKES Collections brand, the flagship DUKES London has long been a popular destination for GCC travelers. DUKES Dubai will add a distinctly English flavour to the city’s current premium hospitality offering with 279 hotel rooms and 227 hotel-managed studios and one-bedroom apartments. According to the latest progress report, the project, which is centrally located on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, is now more than 83% complete and on schedule for a Q4 2016 handover. DEWA and MPOWER services will be connected at the beginning of September with all excavations, shoring, piling and structural works completed, and HVAC, electric, plumbing and fire & safety works 80% complete. In addition, 90 per cent of block, drywall and cladding works have been finished with 60 per cent of the residence’ balconies completed and overall general finishing works at the halfway mark, and 50 per cent complete.  

Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has soft launched The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City. The hotel is the second Westin hotel to open in Dubai and the largest Westin hotel across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Rising to 41 storeys and located on Sheikh Zayed Road, it promises travellers a whole new level of active wellness from check-in to check-out. The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City features 1,004 well-appointed guestrooms, including 142 suites. All rooms and suites feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed and dedicated Sleep Well Menu, invigorating rainforest shower and separate Heavenly bathtub, along with Westin’s signature bath amenities – to reinforce the concept of rejuvenation and ensure an unwinding experience. Offering a sensory welcome, the hotel’s lobby and interiors have been inspired by the region’s Hajar Mountains and feature stylised motifs of the Art Deco movement. The two-bedroom Heavenly Suite is located on the 40th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows framing captivating views of Dubai Water Canal and Sheikh Zayed Road. As the hotel’s top suite, this is a 425sqm sanctuary with king size Westin Heavenly® beds to ensure unsurpassed comfort. The spacious living area offers comfortable seating for up to 14 guests and includes a bar counter, while the kitchen extends into a dining room with a 10-seat dining table and separate majlis area. The suite also includes a separate entertainment room with a media wall and pool table. “Together with Al Habtoor Group, we are excited to deliver Westin’s well-being promise to guests at Starwood’s largest hospitality project in the Middle East,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “This opening reaffirms Westin is on …

The tourism board of India, headed by I.R.V Rao, has revealed two important events planned to promote and strengthen ties between the UAE and India. The inaugural ITM or India Travel Mart will take place from February 1-4, 2017 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi which is set to attract many visitors from different regions. It is a B2B travel trade event organised in conjunction with Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tourism Finance Corporation. Another event of importance is the Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit (IITIS) to be held from September 21-23, 2016, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. IITIS 2016 will create a platform for the global investors to explore investment opportunities available within the ambit of India’s tourism sector as well as the core infrastructure, understand policy framework and investment ecosystem of the country and be informed on incentives offered by government on investments,  explore and understand the nature of the wide array of investible projects from the States that will be showcased, catalyze partnerships through of B2B and B2G linkages, and identifying joint Venture opportunities with Indian Companies. The three-day Summit will include Thematic Sessions, Exhibition and Business-2-Business (B2B) and Business -2- Government (B2G) meetings. More information will be provided on India Travel Mart in due course.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled a Digital MICE strategy and online marketing plan highlighting the ‘Biz Thailand’ mobile application — an information gateway for MICE travellers. TCEB’s four key online marketing initiatives in 2016 include the enhancement of the innovative Thai MICE website at www.businesseventsthailand.com by providing comprehensive information on MICE products and services, available in eight languages, and the ‘Biz Thailand’ mobile application to seamlessly leverage the TCEB website user experience catering to target audiences across the globe; online marketing tools and digital sales kits including a blog, digital brochure, photo and video content, as well as infographics and digital sales kits. Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President, TCEB, said, “This year TCEB continues to promote the readiness of Thailand’s MICE industry through a comprehensive Digital MICE marketing strategy, utilising online channels to support the bureau’s key marketing activities while aligning both traditional and digital activities in the same strategic direction, consistent with the government’s Digital Economy policy – driving growth for the MICE industry, while serving as an effective economic growth driver.”

Etihad Airways has marked Emirati Women’s Day by announcing that more than half the UAE nationals employed by the airline are women, including almost 50 pilots. Of the more than 3,200 Emiratis employed by the airline, 1,661 are women – or 51 per cent. This includes the 137 at the all-female Al Ain Contact Centre, reflecting the appeal of Etihad as an employer of Emirati women. Aisha Al Mansoori recalls being mesmerised by the aerial activity at Al Ain Air Show in 2007. Nowadays, she is one of those pilots, flying the largest passenger jet in the world. “I fell in love with aviation during the 2007 Al Ain Air Show and joined Etihad the following year as a cadet. After qualifying, I started as a Second Officer on the Airbus A320 and now I’m a First Officer on the A380. I hope to become Captain so I can train other aviators,” she said.   A total of 11 Emirati women are fully operational as pilots with the airline, while 38 others are navigating their way through cadet pilot training. Etihad has been holding a series of events to mark the second year of Emirati Women’s day, a government-led initiative now held annually on 28 August to recognise the role of Emirati women in the development of the UAE. This year’s theme is Emirati Women and Innovation. The most symbolic of the events was a visit to Etihad Airways’ Training Academy by ten longstanding members of the UAE General Women’s Union (GWU). The delegation met some of the airline’s Emirati female pilots, engineers and business leaders – bringing two generations together in a powerful illustration of the journey of Emirati …

The Ministry of Economy will hold its ‘Tourism Leadership Program’ from October 30 to November 3, 2016, in collaboration with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Themis Foundation. The programme falls under the framework of the Emirates Host initiative launched recently by the Ministry which aims to enhance the capabilities of the tourism sector and support the preparation of a strategic integrated five-year development plan. The plan will raise the efficiency of the UAE’s tourism workforce, improve service levels, and build local capacities. H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said: “The development of the tourism sector and the enhancement of its contributions to the national economy are among the main pillars supporting economic diversification and promoting policies for a post-oil economy.” The Minister also emphasized that the Ministry will continue to work on developing a national tourism strategy that covers plans, initiatives and programs at the federal and local levels over the next five years. The strategy will promote and market UAE as a Tourism destination by creating a unified destination identity and supporting and strengthening each emirate’s unique tourism potentials. For his part, H.E. Mohammed Khamis Al Muhairi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy, added that the Ministry is coordinating with the UN World Tourism Organization and Themis Foundation, which is responsible for implementing training and education programs, to prepare an extensive tourism training plan during the coming period which will include many of the training programs and interactive workshops tailored for citizens working in the tourism sector. The Tourism Leadership Program is an intensive training course focused on strengthening the foundations of leadership and communication in tourism through theoretical and practical approaches.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman has underlined its commitment to ‘Soap for Hope’ and ‘Your Can for Tree’ campaigns. Pioneered by Sealed Air, the hotel has been a part of the ‘Soap for Hope’ project for more than two years. While giving out boxes of used soap for recycling, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman pledged to continue its participation not only to save the environment, but also to help less privileged communities supported by the project. The property also took part in the ‘Your Can for Tree’ initiative organised by Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), which aims to raise funds by collecting and selling used aluminium cans to fund tree-planting activities across the UAE.

Oman Air has launched a new free bus service between Al Ain and airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The service will enable customers to easily access the airline’s international network by simply selecting Al Ain as their origin or destination whilst booking their tickets. Tickets can be purchased online at www.omanair.com, or through the nearest Oman Air office. The new bus service has been introduced to offer enhanced convenience for passengers from Al Ain, and to ensure that they start and end their journeys in style and comfort. Oman Air’s buses seat 33 passengers and are equipped with climate-control systems and reclining seats. Externally, their unique Oman Air liveries will make a distinctive impression on the busy roads of the UAE, as they make their non-stop journeys between Al Ain and the two airports.The services will run double-daily between Al Ain and Dubai, and between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, with a single journey time of approximately two hours. This double daily bus service to each Abu Dhabi & Dubai has a seating capacity of 33 passengers.