The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has welcomed the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) as its newest government member. The TDA’s aim is to establish the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah as a destination for leisure and adventure travel whilst maintaining its appeal for sun seekers, beach loving couples and families. Ras Al Khaimah TDA was established in May 2011 to develop the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and promote it, both domestically and abroad. In order to achieve its goals, the Ras Al Khaimah TDA has a Government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the emirate’s hospitality industry. It conducts research to identify tourism projects and current trends. Ras Al Khaimah TDA leads on the destination’s branding and subsequent marketing activities, and also develops and implements strategies designed to encourage tourism investment into the emirate. PATA CEO Mario Hardy said, “As our newest government member Ras Al Khaimah now has a much better opportunity to achieve their growth target of 2.9m visitors by 2025 by connecting with many of our members and by showcasing their destination to a much broader audience.” Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah TDA, said, “As we continue to work towards our goal of attracting one million visitors by the end of 2018, we are keen to establish partnerships that will enable us to achieve sustainable tourism growth. Asia Pacific, in particular India and China, are fast growing emerging markets where we have recently signed an agreement with Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, as well as Cox and Kings in India.”

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will open a property in the Middle East’s leading gateway for capital and investment, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Forming part of a mixed-use residential, retail and office-space development, Waldorf Astoria DIFC will feature 247 guest rooms, as well as a range of upscale dining options, spa and wellness facilities. Significant events space will include a grand ballroom and a further four meeting rooms, designed for social occasions and corporate events. Waldorf Astoria DIFC is expected to begin welcoming guests in autumn 2017, and will offer travellers timeless luxury and exceptional experiences in this bustling area of Dubai. The hotel will join a prestigious portfolio of 25 Waldorf Astoria properties operating in diverse global destinations such as Amsterdam, Beijing and New York. “Sound fundamentals underpin our luxury story in the Middle East, where we have seen exceptional growth in locations tailored for both leisure and business travellers,” said Carlos Khneisser, Vice President of Development, Middle East and North Africa for Hilton Worldwide. “I have long admired the role DIFC plays in the world of international investment, benefitting from its east meets west location and world-class trading framework. As an iconic luxury brand originating from New York, another centre of global finance, I am delighted that we will welcome Waldorf Astoria to this international hub.”

The third edition of Arab Luxury World, organised by Mediaquest, took place at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi on June 1 and 2. More than 30 panel discussions, presentations and private sessions provided an in-depth exploration of the latest ideas and trends in the luxury industry. Keynote Address, by the Co-CEO of Chalhoub Group, Patrick Chalhoub, spoke about the new challenges and realities of the GCC region’s luxury industry with a focus on travel, hospitality and retail sectors. ‘The New Normal’, which considered how the drop in tourist revenues in the GCC region has further pushed the need for regional expansion for many brands and retailers. Key agenda highlights included ‘GCC Outlook’, an analysis of oil prices, government budgets and subsequent effects on the luxury market; ‘Digital Strategy’, an analysis of the digital transformation and its impact on the premium goods and services and hospitality industry; ‘Luxury Brands and Programmatic: Redefining the Model’, which evaluated how pragmatic advertising has transformed the online ad-buying model; Air BnB  and ‘Fashion Trends’, which reflected upon emerging fashion and designer trends

The lucrative opportunities for investment between Sharjah and Australia were the main item on the agenda at a “Sharjah-Australia Roundtable” organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), in association with the Australian Business Council in Dubai (ABCD), the Australian Trade Commission and Australia Unlimited, at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The roundtable was Shurooq’s latest initiative in its extensive programme designed to highlight Sharjah’s rewarding investment climate, with Shurooq representatives visiting four continents in the past few months as part of its on-going promotional strategy for the emirate. The most recent activity in Shurooq’s global investment promotion agenda saw His Excellency Gerard Seeber, Australia Consul General in Dubai and Senior Trade Commissioner MENA region and His Excellency Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq, sitting down with Penny Couchman, Chairperson of ABCD and several Australian businesspersons, including spokespersons from Antipodean enterprises operating in the UAE. The day-long event involved the representatives discussing the emirate’s array of fertile sectors for investment, including tourism, environment, health and transport.

Sharjah in its aims to lure more tourists to the destination is working on some new projects to give a whole new face to the retail shopper who visits the destination. This new regional mall will further enhance Sharjah’s image as a family destination with a shopper’s paradise, which could have a positive feedback from the region and its neighbours as well.  Majid Al futtaim holding is building a ‘super-regional’ shopping mall at Al Zahia community in Sharjah, which is planned to open in 2018. Al Zahia is a 1.3 million square metre (14m sq ft) master planned gated community being developed by Majid Al Futtaim and owned by Sharjah Holding, a joint venture between Majid Al Futtaim and the Government of Sharjah. The new mall’s construction was confirmed as a part of Majid Al Futtaim Holding’s announcement that the group plans to invest AED 30 billion ($ 8.2b) in the United Arab Emirates over the next 10 years. Al Zahia community is located close to Sharjah University City and Sharjah International Airport, with access to road links to Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The development offers a range of 3, 4 and 5-bedroom townhouses and villas, apartments, commercial space and amenities including landscaped parks and mosques. The first homeowners took possession of their new properties last year and the development is expected to house over 12,000 residents when completed in 2019. The new super-regional mall will have a gross leasable area of 130,000 square metres (1.4m sq ft) and will be named City Centre Al Zahia. The mall is expected to have a wide catchment area due to its strategic location near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), which …

Dubai-based online travel platform Tajawal has released its hotel booking engine along with its highly successful flight booking services, making it a full-scale online travel agency offering seamless travel planning experiences. Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Al Tayyar Travel Group, one of the largest travel and tourism conglomerates in the region and a public joint stock company listed in Saudi Stock Exchange TADAWUL, Tajawal launched its operations in January 2016 and achieved an annual run-rate of $60 million by May, exceeding its projected sales targets by 30 per cent within the first five months of operation. Now with flight and hotel bookings on offer, Tajawal’s customers can travel to almost 15,000 destinations around the world while choosing from an extensive mix of more than 160,000 hotels, ranging from budget and value hotels to five-star and luxury properties and resorts. Featuring round-the-clock customer service support in English and Arabic, Tajawal’s hotel booking service will also offer customers enhanced flexibility, with the ‘Pay Now’ or ‘Pay Later’ and free cancellation options on most rooms. When making travel plans, users will also benefit from the ‘Customer Ratings and Reviews’ feature, complementing tajawal’s robust travel product offerings.

Etihad Airways has introduced industry-leading technology powered by Sabre Corporation that helps personalise the travel experience for passengers, enabling them to easily purchase customised fares. The national airline of the United Arab Emirates operates more than 1,000 flights per week to over 120 destinations worldwide. Sabre’s Branded Fares will enable it to effectively market and sell its broad and unique roster of fares globally through the Sabre Travel Marketplace, reaching more than 425,000 travel agents globally including Sabre’s growing network in Asia, propelled by the acquisition of the former Abacus operations, which Sabre acquired in July 2015. Sabre Branded Fares allows airlines to address growing consumer demand for more personalised services that meet individual needs. Using Sabre’s enhanced solution, Sabre-connected travel agents can now provide travellers with Etihad Airways’ Fare Choices, enabling passengers to book different classes of travel with a variety of options, such as bags, seats and mileage to meet specific needs. Fare Choices allow Etihad Airways guests to book different classes of travel with a variety of fare options and benefits tailored to their specific needs. “Etihad Airways is experiencing strong growth and has a clear strategy to provide its passengers with more choice when booking fares,” said Harald Eisenaecher, senior vice president EMEA at Sabre. “We have been working with Etihad Airways to find new ways to further personalise its products and make the booking experience more seamless for passengers. Sabre Branded Fares is just one of several ways we are supporting the carrier’s goals to gain competitive advantage and lead the industry in offering a personalised and customer-centric service to its passengers.” Travel agents using Sabre can now offer clients more informed choices and a higher level of customer service, while also driving upsell opportunities based on enhanced visibility …

With existing services to Bucharest and Constanta, Cluj becomes the 3rd destination for Turkish Airlines. Beginning from July 12, Cluj flights will be operated four times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in both directions. Introductory trip fares are available from Istanbul to Cluj, starting from USD129 and from Cluj to Istanbul EUR129 including taxes and fees). Additionally, for the first 6 months of operation to the new destinations, there is a special offer for Miles&Smiles members, with a 25 per cent reduction in the miles needed to redeem either award tickets or upgrades.

Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with interTouch, a premier integrated technology solutions provider to the global hospitality industry, to address growing ICT needs of the hospitality industry worldwide. interTouch will be offering, as part of a bundled solution, Huawei Switching & Wireless Solutions to its customers that include top-tier international hotel chains. The collaboration will enable interTouch to give its customers superior technology and innovation that delivers on connectivity requirements while significantly reducing total cost of ownership of these solutions.  The MoU signing ceremony between Huawei and interTouch took place during the annual Huawei Partner Summit held recently at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. In line with the groundbreaking MoU with interTouch, Huawei participated in the Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) conference held in Dubai last month. Farid Ben Asker, Director of Solutions for the Hospitality, Real Estate and Healthcare Industries, addressed a session at the HTNG and highlighted the importance of adopting next-generation technologies by the global hospitality industry.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the 438-room Conrad Makkah. Set in the heart of the Holy City and overlooking the Sacred Mosque, Al Masjid al Haram, and the Holy Kaabah, the hotel is designed for today’s smart luxury traveller, combining intuitive service with sophisticated, locally inspired surroundings. John T.A. Vanderslice, global head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, said that Conrad creates inspired experiences for their guests in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations and they are delighted to open their first luxury hotel in the Holy City and begin welcoming pilgrims and guests. Rudi Jagersbacher, Area President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said that the arrival of Conrad Hotels & Resorts to Makkah marks the addition of their second brand into the city and their 11th hotel into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With another 28 Hilton Worldwide properties in development, they are extremely proud to offer incredible variety and choice for travellers to the region. Conrad Makkah connects guests to a world of style in 438 elegant rooms, including 62 suites in two towers. For an exquisite stay, the luxurious suites – ranging from 56 square meters to 247 square meters for the Royal Suite – have a separate living area, a comfortable dining space with a kitchen, access to a private butler service, and direct views of Al Haram and the Holy Kaabah. The hotel also features stunning interior décor inspired by both modern and traditional Islamic design and complemented by contemporary art works.