Etihad Airways has extended its COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover until 30 September 2021. Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Airways, said, “Extending Etihad’s COVID-19 global wellness insurance reinforces the effectiveness of Etihad Wellness, the airline’s health, and hygiene programme. It’s an added benefit automatically provided to all guests – no exceptions. “As Etihad continues to gradually expand its services to up to 60 destinations this spring, the airline wants to instill confidence to travel and hopes this additional cover will reassure guests Etihad is doing everything it can to keep them safe and protected.” Guests who are diagnosed with COVID-19 during their trip won’t have to worry about medical expenses or quarantine costs when they fly with Etihad.

Emirates’ Economy Class customers can now enjoy even more personal space and privacy onboard with the ability to purchase up to three empty adjoining seats on their flight. These seats will be offered to all Economy Class customers holding a confirmed booking. Customers will not be able to pre-book empty seats, as these are subject to availability. Empty seats will only be offered for purchase at the airport check-in counter prior to flight departure, and costs range from AED 200 to AED 600 (US$ 55 to US$ 165) per empty seat, plus applicable taxes depending on flight sector. Emirates has introduced this new seat product on the back of customer feedback, addressing the needs of a range of customers seeking extra privacy and space while still flying in Economy Class. This includes couples who wish to have the entire row to themselves (maximum of three seats in the same row), parents travelling with in-lap infants, or those who simply want the added assurance of more space while travelling during pandemic times.  

In a few hours, you could virtually meet the representatives of one of the most sought after destinations in the world; the island of Ireland with its scenic beauty and a luxurious holiday destination. Log in at 2pm UAE time on www.irelandmeetsthemiddleeast.com and connect with the Irish partners who will be able to update the latest on the destination.Siobhan Naughton – Trade Executive Middle East & Asia – Tourism Ireland shared, “Tourism Ireland is looking forward to hosting its first virtual roadshow in association with TravTalk Middle East for GCC travel trade across the region in March on the 8th and 9th March. Over the course of these two days travel trade will have the opportunity to have 1-2-1 meetings with 25 key Island of Ireland industry partners who will showcase the accommodation, attractions and activity offering across the Island. There will also be an opportunity to meet the team from Tourism Ireland who are based here in the region and to discuss how we can all work together to help to promote this exciting destination.Key GCC travel trade who are interested in educating themselves about the Island of Ireland and hearing about all it has to offer as a luxury destination. We are looking at UAE, Qatar, KSA,Kuwait and Turkey. This virtual roadshow will be a one stop shop for GCC travel trade to learn all that they need to know about the island of Ireland and to meet with key island of Ireland industry partners who can assist them with all of their programming needs. It is also a great opportunity to engage with the team from Tourism Ireland who are based here in the region and whose job …

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced the opening of two new parks in the Al Rahmaniyah neighbourhood in Sharjah including a female-only park. Managed by Shurooq under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the adjoining Kshisha and Shaghrafa parks feature social, entertainment, sports, and educational facilities, and have a combined built area of 147,700 sqm.  Dedicated to families, the Kshisha Park hosts football and volleyball courts, a library, amphitheater, fitness hub, jogging, and cycling tracks, playgrounds, skateboard range, and specially designed halls for holding workshops. Moreover, it houses an artificial pond with a duck feeding station with clear feeding instructions for visitors. Designed exclusively for females, Shaghrafa Park contains dedicated halls for conducting workshops, and features play areas, a theatre, jogging track, gym, and basket and volleyball courts. Visitors can bring their own food into the parks, although on-site barbeques are prohibited. Shurooq is currently working on adding designated barbeque spots at both parks. Visitors to Kshisha Park can pre-book the football field for AED 250 per hour or AED 450 for two hours at specific time slots, the volleyball court will be charged at AED 150 for an hour and 250 for two hours. At Shaghrafa, visitors will have free access to both the basketball and volleyball courts. Booing sports field in both parks are via a dedicated WhatsApp number The park’s facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday. Visiting hours extend until 11 p.m. on Thursday – Saturday and official holidays, and from 12 p.m. until 11 p.m. during the Holy month of Ramadan. However, the jogging tracks …

Newly launched Sharjah-incubated Mughamer.com is making a splash in the adventure tourism space. This first-of-its-kind website in the Middle East will curate the best adventure activities for tourists and thrill-seekers around the world when they plan their next holiday. Co-founded by Mohamed Al Musharrkh, and Sarmad Al Zadjaly, the project is supported by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) and the Sharjah Angel Investors Network – a Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) initiative. According to reports, adventure tourism contributes $1 trillion in earnings to the global tourism sector annually, and it is projected to increase even further year on year as the demand for new experiences and destinations continues to grow exponentially.  Speaking at the launch, Hussain Al Mahmoudi said, “It is a part of SRTIP’s mission to collaborate and support innovative initiatives such as Mughamer. The recently launched Sharjah Angel Investors Network is one of our most important initiatives aimed at supporting innovative startups and entrepreneurs. It will boost funding access to SRTIP-based companies and aid UAE’s status as a global hub for innovation, contributing to the growth and further diversification of the national economy.”

During the pandemic Cebu Pacific has been tirelessly working to ensure the confidence of the travellers. Speaking to TravTalk ME Alex Reyes – Vice President for Commercial at Cebu Pacific shared, “proving further its unyielding commitment to provide ease of travel for passengers amidst the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, CEB has been operating 20 per cent of its pre-COVID domestic network as of February 2021, operating flights to 28 Philippine destinations—of which, six destinations are already open for non-essential or leisure travel. As of this date, the airline has already restored flights to 86 per cent of our domestic destinations. Frequencies may be less than before, but it is also important to note that we are now providing access to more local destinations. We remain keen to make travel easier by providing flexibility in hopes of restoring passenger confidence in air travel.” CEB has remained unswerving in its mandate to provide the highest level of aviation service for passengers and tourists, even amidst the hurdles of the pandemic. We continue to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards. These include daily extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities, antigen testing before duty for all frontliners and crew members, and contactless flight procedures. These are all in accordance with global best practices and the highest safety standards. Aircraft are equipped with hospital-grade HEPA air filters, which make the inflight transmission of COVID-19 low or virtually non-existent. We have also ensured that cargo operations have remained active to ensure the transport of goods isn’t hampered. In terms of new products Reyes reiterated, “One the new undertakings CEB has introduced in order to restore …

St. Regis Hotels and Resorts announced the opening of The St. Regis Almasa with the rebranding of the Almasa Hotel. Located in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, The St. Regis Almasa is poised to becoMarrme the best address in the heart of the up-and-coming city, which is slated to be the new face of Cairo and the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. “We are delighted to bring our iconic St. Regis brand to the New Administrative Capital together with the National Authority for Management & Investment,” said Guido De Wilde, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International. “This opening is a significant milestone in our journey and underscores the tremendous trust and confidence our owners have in us and in the power of our luxury brands in the region.” General Sherif Salah El-Din Chairman of The National Authority for Management & Investment said, “The National Authority for Management and Investment is excited to collaborate with Marriott International to bring the classic sophistication of the St. Regis brand to the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. The St. Regis Almasa will play a significant role in giving the tourism industry much-needed support and will become the new destination for luxury hospitality in Egypt, playing host to the country’s most coveted events, conferences, and summits.”

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi has released the full programme for its virtual fourth edition, which will be held under the theme The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the Summit will take place from 8 – 10 March 2021. Attendance is free and open to the public, with registration now available on the Culture Summit website. Culture Summit 2021 will convene global experts from fields such as design, heritage, media, public policy, and technology, for a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, case studies, artist talks, performances, and film screenings. HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Culture Summit is ambitious in its goal to produce innovative, globally-impactful propositions by connecting cultural leaders with key voices from diverse yet related fields, and we will amplify that impact even further this year, through our first virtual and public edition. We create future-facing solutions that aim to change and improve the fields of culture, which are vital contributors to the recovery, growth, and development of any economy.” “Abu Dhabi recognised the significant role that the culture sector and the creative industries play in economic development early on and have always considered them a key aspect in achieving the emirate’s objectives. In a time when the viability of these industries and their practitioners have been particularly affected by current global events, Culture Summit’s discussions will be vital ones, that must result in concrete outcomes,” Al Mubarak added.

Ireland attributed for their special relationship with people by welcoming them with their warm friendliness could once again be enjoyed online on 8th and 9th March 2021, when they present their first virtual roadshow with 28 partners from the island of Ireland. Two of the partners share their thoughts about the event. Liz Godfrey – Assistant Director of Sales – Adare Manor, “With temperature screening in place, care packets in all rooms, both employees and guests wearing masks and maintaining 2-meter social distancing we can ensure the safety of every guest. The Middle East is an important market and we are working with travel agents and tour operators in the Middle East to increase awareness of our products through various marketing activities. Our USP is we are Ireland’s leading 5 star Castle Property, proximity to AdareVillage  on 847 acres lots of open spaces, lots of outdoor activities on the property; an award-winning property & Ryder Cup venue 2027.” Mark O’Dwyer – Managing Director and Founder -Secret Ireland Escapes, “Our private day-tour experiences take clients off the beaten track and away from the crowds in private locations.  Only our guests have access to these locations so we are in complete control of all health and hygiene standards and all of our experiences are private, located in the amazing scenery of rural Ireland and the Lakelands region. The Middle East is a key target market for our business model as we are aware of the importance of premium service and standards at all times.  This coupled with all of our experiences being exclusive to our guests allows for an extra level of privacy and being truly authentic. We value the support and …

Recent hospitality industry reports and analysis published by STR and Colliers International, have revealed that hotels in the UAE have put up a sterling performance, given the challenges of operating during the pandemic last year. To support the hotel industry still further during the vaccine rollout, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place in-person at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021, is organising a Hotel Summit on Tuesday 18th May. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “According to STR data, the Middle East region was a top performer globally during 2020, with an average occupancy of 45.9%. One of the best-performing countries was the UAE with an average occupancy of 51.7% and an average daily rate (ADR) of $114. Although these figures were 29.3% & 16.5% down Y-on-Y, given the challenges presented by the pandemic, it is a remarkable achievement and proves just how resilient the hotel sector is in the UAE and wider Middle East. “Furthermore, if we drill down on these figures, ADR in Fujairah and RAK actually rose last year by 7% and 1% respectively, compared with 2019 and over the New Year’s celebrations hotels in Dubai were running average occupancies of 76% with an ADR of $300. I am certain that many hoteliers in the Middle East are now preparing for a V-shaped recovery, especially with the successful rollout of the vaccine and the ensuing herd immunity,” added Curtis. “Moreover, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also indicated that British nationals may be allowed to travel without any restrictions as soon as June 21st, which, given their close ties, would be a major boost for business and leisure travel …