At the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market, Mohammed M T Khoory, Managing Director, Al Khoory Group, announced their plans to open 1100 rooms in Dubai by end of 2019, where they will start to explore opportunities internationally and foresee to create management contracts with stand-alone properties in the UAE and GCC market for long-term growth opportunities. Al Khoory Atrium Hotel in Al Barsha is set to open in July 2016 with 227 rooms. The hotel is in short distance from the upcoming Expo 2020 site, Jebel Ali port and the free zone areas. The property also offers meeting rooms with banquet and conference facilities for up to 70 people. All hotels within the group are dry, serve Halal food and have a no smoking policy, making it a family friendly hotel.

World’s largest annual airport event was opened on Monday morning by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines Group. The Middle East’s thriving aviation sector brings together leading industry players from across the world to tap into the tremendous opportunities as they open the 16th edition of the airport show at Dubai World Trade Center. Airport Show, a B2B platform, features over 300 exhibitors from 55 countries with 150 hosted buyers from 30 countries with expectations of over 700 industry professionals to attend the event within the next three days. The airport show reflects the growth of the aviation industry especially in the region.

Boeing is set to deliver a record number of airplanes this year to Turkey’s flag-carrier, Turkish Airlines. In total, the carrier will take delivery of six 777-300ERs and 20 Next-Generation 737-800s in 2016. Ahmet Bolat, Chief Investment and Technology Officer, Turkish Airlines said: “Turkish Airlines is one of the world’s ascendant airlines and an established global network carrier. It has achieved this through various significant investments as evident in its fleet which now stands at over 310 and growing. The delivery of a further 26 Boeing aircraft this year, which forms a substantial part of our long-haul and short-haul fleets, is integral to Turkish’s continued growth and we look forward to introducing the new planes on our domestic and international network.”

Emaar Hospitality Group has marked the opening of the first Rove Hotel – Rove Downtown Dubai. It is the first property under Rove Hotels, a joint venture by Emaar and Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company. The 420-room Rove Downtown Dubai exemplifies all the core values that Rove Hotels will bring to Dubai, as the first of ten planned hotels operational in the city by 2020, seven of which have already been announced. Just about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and located right next to Downtown Dubai, Rove Downtown Dubai celebrates the very pulse of modern Dubai, with its unique approach to delivering high quality hospitality experiences that transcend typical value hotel norms. Chris Newman, Corporate Director of Operations at Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Rove Downtown Dubai marks the beginning of a new journey for us, inspired by the city of Dubai, past, present and future. It delivers up-to-date convenience packaged in a thoughtfully developed hotel concept that complements Dubai’s booming tourism sector, which welcomes visitors from across the globe.”

In a drive to improve passenger experience and deliver increased flexibility to its airlines, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) will this year introduce SITA’s self-service check-in kiosks across Bahrain International Airport. SITA will install and manage six new AirportConnect® S4 Kiosks at the airport, with four kiosks to be introduced in the economy check-in area and two in the first and business class check-in area. The new S4 kiosks provide a vastly improved passenger experience with large 19-inch multi-touch screens. Along with the new kiosks, SITA will provide its AirportHub™ shared connectivity platform, enabling airlines to migrate their back offices from legacy or direct connections systems to a cloud-based communication link. Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer of BAC commented: “This project is the first step towards the company’s vision of implementing IATA Fast Travel Initiative which will significantly enhance the passenger experience at Bahrain International Airport. This initiative will offer benefits of self-service check-in to passengers to facilitate the passenger journey.”

Thailand-based hospitality group Dusit International has announced the launch of its dusitD2 brand in the United Arab Emirates this July with the opening of the dusitD2 Kenz Dubai. The hotel joins the Dusit Residence Dubai Marina as the second property launched in the Emirate with local partner Al Masar Holdings. The hotel offers 237 modern and sleek guestrooms and suites complemented by Dusit’s signature Thai service. Guests enjoy plush high-thread count linens, free Wi-Fi access, a state-of-the-art digital media hub with universal power outlets and LED TV screens with a built-in sound bar in each guest room. Located in the TECOM district of Dubai facing Sheikh Zayed Road, the dusitD2 Kenz Dubai is an upscale hotel that caters to business and leisure travellers. The hotel is located directly next to Dubai Internet City Metro Station, with major leisure and business destinations such as Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai international Airport, Dubai Marina and Dubai Mall within easy reach. Popular attractions including Marina Beach, Jumeirah Beach and Wild Wadi Water Park are also nearby.

The iconic Batmobile travelled from Europe to Asia by crossing the Bosphorus Strait via the new Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge which officially opens to the public this summer. This marked the longest-ever ride for the one-of-a-kind vehicle.  According to M. Ilker Aycı, Turkish Airlines’ Board Chairman, “The ride across the newest Bosphorus bridge is symbolic of how the Batmobile unites people worldwide as a pop culture icon, how Istanbul is the one and only city connecting two continents, and how Turkish Airlines bridges passengers globally to 113 countries and more than 287 destinations. This is an opportunity for us to introduce our precious city, Istanbul and our newest bridge to the world. The Batmobile is one of the most symbolic movie icons of all time, and has now connected the world with Istanbul.”

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (D TCM) unveiled new Desert Tour & Camp Regulations aimed at further elevating the popular Dubai desert experience to best-in-class standards.  As part of the initiative, Dubai Tourism has established quality benchmarks for all desert tour operators, including those managing outdoor, cultural and hospitality activities. Operators will be evaluated on a number of categories including, visitor experience, health and safety, insurance coverage, marketing and advertising as well as transport and logistics. The new Regulations will also focus on the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices. By empowering operators to improve their services and provide detailed information on the activities included in their packages, Dubai Tourism aims to position the Dubai desert tour industry as a safe, authentic and dynamic extension of the destination experience. The new Regulations will come into effect in three months’ time giving the industry a sufficient window to adopt the standards.

The Ministry of Tourism, Oman, has revealed that up to $US 35 billion will be invested in the tourism industry of the Sultanate over the 25 years as officials conclude a hugely successful presence at this year’s Arabian Travel Market. Up to 80 per cent of that investment will come from the private sector as the country plans to double the number of international visitors Oman attracts to five million as part of its new national 2040 Tourism Strategy. Tourism officials, led by Director General of Tourism Promotion Salim Al Mamari, conducted a record number of business and trade meetings during the ATM in Dubai as interest in the country as one of the world’s fastest growing and unique destinations rapidly grows. Al Mamari said: “We have enjoyed a hugely successful Arabian Travel Market and have found unprecedented levels of interest from the tourism industry in seeking new partnerships and initiatives with the Ministry.”

Arabian Hotel Investment Conference concluded last week at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai with some of the most prominent hotel chains signing new deals to expand operations in the region. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts announced two new projects in Morocco and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be opened before 2020. Wyndham Hotel Group will be expanding in Oman and Iraq with two properties in each location. Marriott International confirmed openings for 17 properties across the region this year. The premier tech-focused hospitality brand, YOTEL announced that it will be opening several more city/resort and airport sites in Dubai and Riyadh and is actively negotiating more opportunities in the Middle East including Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Jeddah.The first ever Middle East YOTEL will open in 2018 in Business Bay, Dubai. Announcing details of five new deal signings which will add 1,200 rooms in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Starwood Hotels and Resorts also confirmed five openings in 2016 across the same countries.