As we count down for one of the most loved European destinations in the GCC, German National Tourist Office (GNTO) Gulf Countries will host a special webinar on September 21, 2020 at 11am UAE time to discover the destination in the comfort of your home. Yamina Sofo – Director, Sales & Marketing – German National Tourist Office, Gulf countries shared, “We would like to highlight the importance of the destination of Germany as one of the preferred travel destinations for the GCC nationals due to its diversity. The Webinar is a perfect platform to reach out to the travel professionals in the region. Germany ticks all the boxes, whether for wellness and recreation, nature and sightseeing or simply for entertainment and shopping – offering high quality services, great value for money, luxury accommodation and facilities as well as environmentally-friendly transportation links throughout the entire country.” There will be a total of four speakers including Sofo, representing the German National Tourist Office, Gulf countries, who will share details about the importance of the ME market and the current numbers among many other general topics about the destination. Joining her from the State Tourist Board SouthWest Germany will be Natalie Dietl, Sales & Marketing Overseas; she will speak about Southwest Germany as a special vacation destination offering something for every age from nature to culture and culinary experience in the sunniest state of Germany. The next speaker will be from Hochschwarzwald Tourism (HochschwarzwaldTourismus GmbH- (Black forest highlands) Christian Gross, Head of Incoming/MICE. Some of the topics that he will cover include; Where are the Black forest highlands located and how to get there? How does it look like in the region? For …

Park Inn by Radisson announced the opening of its first hotel in Jeddah. The newest addition brings the group’s portfolio to over 45 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in operation and under development, accelerating Radisson Hotel Group’s expansion across the country. In addition to celebrating the opening of its latest addition to its growing portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Radisson Hotel Group is also marking another milestone in the Group’s commitment to Balanced Leadership, and its drive to improve diversity and inclusion within its business. Maram Kokandi, General Manager of the Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road made history, with her appointment as the world’s first female Saudi General Manager in the global hospitality industry. Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Our aim is to become the go-to hotelier for local guests and business travelers whilst empowering the Saudi working population simultaneously. As a pioneer and strong advocate of balanced leadership, we were the first hotel group to appoint a Saudi female GM in the Kingdom and it has been an honor to support Maram in her momentous progression.” Maram Kokandi, General Manager Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road and first female Saudi GM in the Kingdom said, “I can’t begin to describe how much being the first female Saudi GM means to me, both personally and professionally. It’s my aim to make a difference by empowering the younger generation and supporting them with their dreams. Introducing a new brand to the Jeddah market, allows us to showcase the brand’s unique affordability, convenience and difference.”

MakeMyTrip announced its foray into the United Arab Emirates with its portfolio of rich travel offerings for travellers across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. With over two decades of experience in serving and catering to the ever-evolving traveler needs in the region, the company has now set its focus on redefining the experience for travelers in the UAE through its wide gamut of offerings spanning across flights, hotels, staycations, activities and more. As the company enters one of the key global travel and tourism hubs, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO of MakeMyTrip says “We are looking forward to elevating the travel experience through hassle-free booking processes, safe travel options available at great value, and seamless post booking support. As the travel industry gets back on the rails after pandemic-led disruption, we continue to believe in the long-term opportunity in travel and are confident of the opportunity that the UAE market represents as a global travel hub.” The Game On! campaign has been themed and conceptualised around reviving the vigor of celebrating life in the world post-COVID-19 by marrying two most loved out and about activities, cricket and travel. The campaign includes a one-of-a-kind gaming contest on the app allowing travel and cricket fanatics to participate in daily raffle contests and trivia on IPL – gratifying winners with ‘unlimited cash earn, and unlimited burn on anything travel’ and more. This season, MakeMyTrip is also rooting for and co-sponsoring three teams including Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). As part of the Game On campaign, winners of the daily run ‘predict and win’ contest will also get …

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Tourism announced that the establishment of the UNWTO Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been approved by UNWTO Executive Council members. The announcement was made in a statement at the 112th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, hosted in Georgia, Tbilisi. The new UNWTO Regional Office will serve as a hub for the UNWTO to 13 countries in the Middle East. The office will focus on building long-term growth for the sector and human capital development in the travel and tourism sector in the region. The office will also include a dedicated Statistics Center whose objective is to become the leading authority on tourism statistics for the region. In the statement, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb reiterated his continued support to the UNWTO. “International cooperation and the role of the UNWTO are more important than ever. I am therefore very excited that Saudi Arabia will become home to the first ever UNWTO Regional Office, which aims to support growth at a national and regional level. We hope this will provide a model for future collaborations around the world. Tourism not only boosts economies, it also builds bridges between cultures and enriches lives. It is one of the only sectors that is able to drive such tangible transformative change, on so many levels.” His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb further highlighted the importance of tourism within the Kingdom’s vision and national strategy. “In Saudi Arabia, we are very aware of the transformative power of tourism on the economy and people. We may still be a young destination, but tourism is at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future,” said …

The Radisson Collection Hotel in Riyadh – Nofa Resort Riyadh, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in an exclusive retreat, and is now publicly bookable exclusively through their website. As tourism in Saudi Arabia begins to transform in line with Vision 2030, residents of large cities like Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam are embracing it by touring unexplored destinations. While many would usually leave Saudi Arabia during the summer months, the international travel ban has halted all trips abroad, resulting in an increased demand locally. Nationals and expatriates are venturing out, using the opportunity to discover Saudi’s rich heritage and culture as well as its breath-taking scenic beauty. “The Nofa Resort Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, is an iconic and exceptionally exclusive product which we previously operated as a private members-only resort. We have received numerous requests from individual guests wanting to experience the beauty of this Safari jewel in the Saudi desert and we are excited that the hotel is now publicly bookable and accessible to everyone.” said Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa “ The international travel ban in Saudi Arabia has also been a driving force for the local demand with many searching for a peaceful sanctuary to escape to, while feeling completely free and safeguarded from the contraction and spread of COVID-19.” he added.

Etihad Airways has announced an agreement with MCI Middle East, one of the largest professional conference organisers operating globally, to be the official travel and destination management partner of its key events in 2021 and 2022. Etihad will offer speaker and travel management services for all conferences serviced by MCI in Abu Dhabi. This new agreement allows exhibitors, speakers and visitors to purchase Etihad’s full conference package at a special rate, which includes event entrance, flights, hotel accommodation and ground transportation. Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice President Destination and Leisure Management, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “We’re looking forward to working with MCI over the next two years as COVID-19 restrictions are eased and we begin to see events taking place on the ground in our home, Abu Dhabi. “Abu Dhabi has rapidly grown its reputation as a world-class leader in the MICE industry and we will ensure a warm welcome, enriching experience and the very best of Arabian hospitality to all MCI visitors and participants as events resume.” Ajay Bhojwani, Managing Director, MCI Middle East said, “Over the years, Abu Dhabi has strengthened its position as a world class MICE destination globally. And with several events being managed by us every year, we feel it is time for us to push harder to bring in more audiences to Abu Dhabi and have them experience Abu Dhabi in the best possible manner. As economies open globally, we think we need to put forward a new offering that will help travellers choose to visit Abu Dhabi before any other destination. And to make this happen, there cannot be a better partner than Etihad Airways who will look after our guests right from …

Portugal Passport Collection Centres jointly launched by the Embassy of Portugal in the UAE and VFS Global for citizens of Portugal living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Officially launched on August 16, 2020, VFS Global’s Portugal Passport Collection Centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will ensure the safe and secure delivery of newly issued passports to customers, while the Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi will continue to accept applications for issuance and renewal of passports. The centres are operational from Sunday to Thursday, from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM. Chris Dix, Head of Business Development, VFS Global said, “With the launch of the new centres, we further enhance our relationship with the Embassy of Portugal in the UAE. Outsourcing the passport collection process to VFS Global gives the Embassy a trusted partner with established infrastructure and expertise in handling sensitive documents. We are delighted to provide a convenient and secure passport collection platform to Portuguese nationals in the UAE. In order to ensure a safe environment for employees and customers, VFS Global has established standardised protective measures to be followed across the centres including specific social distancing and sanitation mandates. All customers are subjected to body temperature checks at the entrance to assess their health conditions. Any customer exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, including high fever, cough and difficulty in breathing will not be permitted to enter the centre and requested to return once their health condition improves. Additionally, all customers and VFS Global employees are required to wear a face mask and gloves within the centre.

RAK Leisure (RAKL) announces the launch of 1484 by Puro on October 1, 2020. The highly anticipated restaurant located atop the Jais Adventure Peak is named for its height of 1,484 metres above sea level and is the UAE’s highest restaurant offering. Located next to the Jais Adventure Centre, 1484 by Puro offers guests magnificent views of the peaks and valleys of the Hajarmountains alongside a refreshingly delectable menu. Ideally positioned on the mountain-facing façade of the Jais Adventure Peak, an entire side of the venue consists of ceiling to floor glass windows that open up to uninterrupted views of the serene landscape, framed by year-round sunny blue skies and breath-taking sunsets, where guests can marvel at the spectacle of warm evening hues and the far-reaching mountains beyond. The dining offering incorporates fresh locally sourced ingredients, expertly crafted into a series of dishes that promise to appeal to the diverse array of guests that make their way up to the Jais Adventure Peak. The restaurant is the latest venture by PURO, an independent dining concept with two existing restaurants at Al Marjan Island and at the Jais Viewing Deck Park. Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding shared, “Jebel Jais is one of the most popular landmarks in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, offering visitors a host of bucket-list adventures that guarantee memorable experiences. With the opening of 1484 by Puro at the Jebel Jais Welcome Center, visitors can now enjoy an all-encompassing experience at the standalone destination that is the Jais Adventure Peak, home to thrilling adventure attractions such as the Jebel Jais Flight, Jais Sky Maze, and the Jais Sky Tour.”

SriLankan Airlines is expected to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery. Fully owned and backed by the Government of Sri Lanka, the Airline was forced to suspend scheduled services in early April as Sri Lanka took a tough stand on battling COVID-19. Now, with Sri Lanka’s health and safety situation under control, the Airline is ready to take to the skies and connect Sri Lanka with the world again. Discussing the reopening of Sri Lanka’s borders, the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Ashok Pathirage said, “Despite the challenges we face, we are looking forward to the reopening. Even though scheduled services were suspended, as the National Carrier, we have been working to provide relief flights to repatriate stranded Sri Lankans and other nationals. We have also been providing much needed cargo facilities to support our export industries and bring down essential emergency equipment and supplies to deal with the pandemic. We have been working around the clock to adapt our operations to meet health & safety guidelines and the challenging requirements of the ‘new normal’.” Ashok Pathirage is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost business leaders and is the founder of the Softlogic Group, a leading Sri Lankan conglomerate. In addition to his role as Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Pathirage oversees more than 50 market-leading companies with interests in retail, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, IT, leisure and autos. He was invited by the Government of Sri Lanka to assume control of SriLankan Airlines in late 2019, with a view to transforming it into a more profitable and progressive enterprise. Elaborating on the health and safety measures taken by SriLankan Airlines, Pathirage explained, “We have taken every reasonable precaution to minimize …

Saudi Arabia will partially lift the suspension of international flights from September 15, six months after travel restrictions were imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. An official source of the Ministry of Interior announced through Saudi Press Agency that a royal approval has stated that lifting of complete restrictions, previously imposed due to the spread of coronavirus, on the departure and return of citizens to and from the Kingdom and allowing the opening of air, sea and land outlets will take place after the first of January 2021 The following categories of citizens will be allowed to travel outside the Kingdom and return to it according to certain requirements: A – Civilian and military governmental employees, assigned to official tasks; B – Personnel at the Saudi diplomatic and consular missions as well as attachés abroad and personnel at the regional and international organisations, their families and companions; C – Personnel at permanent jobs, in public, private or non-profit facilities, outside the Kingdom, and those who have job tasks in companies or commercial institutions outside the Kingdom. D – Businesspersons whose their business requires travel to conclude commercial and/or industrial activities as well as export, marketing and sales directors whose tasks obligate them to visit clients; E – Patients whose treatment requires the travel outside the Kingdom, based on medical reports, particularly cancer patients and patients in need of organ transplantation; F – Students on scholarships, or those studying at their own expense and trainees on medical fellowship programs whose studies or training require travel to the countries in which they study or train and their dependents. G – Those who have humane cases, particularly the following two cases: 1) A …