Antarctica21, the adventure travel specialist that pioneered fly-and-sail expeditions to the White Continent 20 years ago, has opened its new Explorers House in the historic center of Punta Arenas. Explorers House is a first-of-its-kind facility designed for guests preparing to fly to Antarctica, skipping over the notoriously rough seas of the Drake Passage to join their ship directly at the White Continent. With amenities that include a restaurant, bar, coffee station, library, and presentation space, it functions as an Antarctic-themed private club, providing guests with an inspiring environment where they can relax and meet fellow travelers, as well as attend pre-departure briefings. More than just a starting point, Explorers House is a gateway to the entire Antarctic experience – a space that encapsulates the spirit of Antarctica21’s expeditions, that tells a story beginning in Punta Arenas and stretching to the icy landscape of the White Continent, that brings together guests from around the globe on a journey to one of the most remote and untouched places on Earth. During the austral summer, this port city on the Strait of Magellan gets very busy as adventurers on their way to Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, and Antarctica fill hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Before Explorers House, Antarctica21 guests competed for access to the city’s limited resources. Now, they have a private gathering space where they’re greeted by members of the Antarctica21 team and enjoy the same service quality they receive aboard the company’s ships, Magellan Explorer and Ocean Nova. “As Antarctica21 grew, we began thinking of a space in Punta Arenas where we could welcome our guests in a way that matched the feeling and elegance they would experience on our …

The 2023 edition of the annual Liwa International Festival has officially concluded after 24 fun-filled days that welcomed more than 300,000 visitors from across the UAE, GCC, and beyond. Organised by Liwa Sports Club, with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, each year the festival captivates visitors with its distinctive motorsport thrills, desert experiences, and family-friendly fun, centred around the 300-metre-tall Tal Moreeb dune. The integrated motoring, music and cultural festival brought its famous mix of family fun, variety of F&B options, superb live music, and high-octane motorsports to Al Dhafra. The biggest, best, and most popular festival yet, this year’s event ended with a drone and fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. The unique fusion of the Al Dhafra region’s majestic sand dunes, the perfectly cool winter weather, and an exciting array of activities meant the event once again provided visitors with experiences that are simply unavailable anywhere else in the region or beyond. H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism, the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi, said: “As a prominent highlight on Abu Dhabi’s back-to-back year-round events calendar, the 2023 Liwa International Festival was an exciting, fun-filled celebration for families and motorsport fans. It stood out as one of the biggest and best events to date, showcasing the festival’s continuous growth in size, scale, and popularity each year. Al Dhafra remains the top destination for exceptional entertainment and family-friendly fun in the heart of the desert. I look forward to next year’s edition and even more memorable experiences.” The biggest Liwa Festival ever This year, the festival featured the return of Liwa Village, which …

Sabre Corporation entered into a multi-year distribution agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG) that will expand their existing partnership and further promote modern travel retailing practices. The agreement will allow Sabre-connected travel buyers and agencies to sell traditional EDIFACT content as well as having competitive access to NDC offers from British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling – including Additional Price Points and ancillaries – through the Sabre travel marketplace globally. This enhanced content will provide travel agencies with a wider range of options to compare and shop for, while travellers will benefit from an improved experience with more choice and transparency. Sabre and IAG’s airlines are working closely together and will communicate as NDC content is rolled out to Sabre-connected travel agencies on a carrier-by-carrier basis. The agreement between Sabre and IAG underscores the industry’s shift towards modern travel retailing, where airlines can differentiate their offerings and provide more personalised experiences to travellers. Both Sabre and IAG are committed to advancing the NDC standard as a key component in the industry’s evolution towards modern airline retailing enabled by offers and orders. Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are on a journey to A Better BA and we continue to invest across the business as part of that commitment. Not only are we improving the experience of those customers who fly with us, but also the way we work with our valued travel agent and travel buyer partners. We understand how valuable retailing is to them, and IAG’s partner-ship with Sabre allows us to make a wide range of attractable offers available even further across the globe.” This agreement is another milestone in the IAG strategy to embrace …

Spain Film Commission is co-organising together with IFEMA MADRID the 6th edition of FITUR Screen, the monographic section dedicated to screen tourism, which will have a 99 m2 space in Hall 10 from 24 to 26 January 2024, the days on which the International Tourism Trade Fairis open to trade visitors. In this space, it will offer a specialist networking area and will host an intensive programme focused on the promotion of screen tourism. This new edition takes on the challenge of contributing to making Spain a global audiovisual hub and aims to become a platform for connecting the tourism and film industries through the dissemination of knowledge about screen tourism, commercial exchange between the industry’s different players and the formulation of future proposals for the development of this sector in Spain. FITUR Screen will have its own space, which includes an exhibition area with the offerings of various participating agents, a B2B area and a dedicated area for the conference programme. Different partners of the Spain Film Commission will be participating in the 2024 edition, offering an extensive programme of activities over three days. Over the course of these three days, FITUR Screen will host three round tables on trends in screen tourism and the importance of this powerful tool for promoting tourism in areas that have been used as locations in films or TV series. In addition, on [date and place] the awards for Spain Film Commission Ambassadors 2024 and Spain Film Commission Best Production 2023will be presented. The collaboration between the Spain Film Commission and the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) for the promotion of screen tourism will also be presented during the event. Spain Screen Grand Tour, …

Jazeera Airways inaugurated its new sales office in Riyadh recently. Operating in KSA since 2007, the airline currently flies to six destinations including Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Hail, and Taif. With 105 flights a week, Jazeera Airways serves 4000 passengers covering leisure and family visitors, religious pilgrims, and expatriate workers. Rohit Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways highlighted: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an important market for us and we are very pleased to open our new sales office in the city of Riyadh. As we grow our presence in the country, we continue to stay focused on offering affordable fares and convenient connections while maintaining the highest levels of safety. We greatly value our relationships with the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) as well as our local travel trade partners, and take this opportunity to extend our deepest gratitude for their ongoing cooperation and support over the years. We look forward to continuing our efforts to deliver the best to our partners and passengers, while steadily contributing to Saudi’s growing aviation industry.” Listed in the Best Workplaces in Asia list for 2023, Jazeera Airways has more than 50% Saudi nationals recruited into its local operations to support the government’s ongoing Saudization efforts. Established in 2004, Jazeera Airways and is the first airline to be listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. With a market cap of more than $1 billion, it serves nearly 5 million passengers across a network of 64 destinations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe, with a fleet of 23 aircraft. Jazeera also owns and operates its own terminal, Jazeera Terminal 5, at Kuwait International Airport.

Kanoo Travel won the title as ‘Best Travel Management Company Middle East at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. The award was received by Zaeem Gama, Divisional CEO, Travel, Kanoo Travel and Aubrey Heldt, Divisional General Manager, Travel Operations, Kanoo Travel. Fawad Kanoo, CEO, Kanoo Group shared, It is an honour to accept this esteemed award. This recognition is not just for me but for everyone who believes in the power and beauty of exploration. We are all adventurers at heart, drawn together by the magic that unfolds when we discover new places and forge new connections. A heartfelt thanks to my community, supporters and fellow explorers.”

International SOS underscored the necessity to implement enhanced risk management strategies for travellers and organisations, amid the increasing international travel. While global travel regained momentum despite significant fluctuations throughout 2023, the evolving landscape raises concerns about the growing complexity of risks that both travellers and organisations need to navigate. International SOS data revealed a 59% increase in international travel and 48.4% increase in domestic travel during October 2023, as compared to the beginning of the year.1 These findings align with a recent report from The International Air Transport Association (IATA), emphasising the resurgence of global travel. According to IATA, global air traffic reached 97.3% of pre-COVID levels at the end of 2023.2 With the holiday season quickly approaching, IATA anticipates that this trend will continue into the New Year, despite economic and political uncertainties in parts of the world. For instance, the Middle East region anticipates to witness a substantial uptick in air passenger traffic, indicating a promising trajectory for 2024. Additionally, the industry forecasts indicate that the volume will reach 105% of 2019 levels, facilitating travel of around 429 million passengers. Michael Rogers, Chief Security Analyst at International SOS said: “The resurgence in global travel comes at a time in which the travel security landscape is increasingly being complicated by geopolitical events, natural disasters and other developments. More and more organisations are finding comprehensive risk mitigation strategies for their mobile workforce to be of upmost importance. Today, more than ever, travellers need to remain informed of prevailing risks and attendant mitigation measures. Beyond geopolitical issues and natural disasters, emerging diseases, social unrest and evolving crime dynamics require that travellers practice vigilance. Across a series of concurrent and overlapping crises, …

Travelport and easyJet, announced they have signed a new content distribution agreement that will bring more enriched easyJet content to all of Travelport’s agency customers – now including OTAs for the first time. The multi-year deal confirms that travel retailers using Travelport+ will have access to all easyJet fare types and bundles that the airline has made available to distribution partners, including ancillaries, without any agency channel restrictions. The addition of easyJet’s Standard Plus fare bundles (including seat selection and large cabin bag) and Essential fare bundles (including seat selection and checked bag) which complement the existing fares of Standard, Business Inclusive and Flexi, will significantly enrich the options available for both business and leisure travelers. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to shop and compare easyJet’s products all in one place, so they can easily upsell and personalize offers for their travelers. Travelport’s enhanced servicing capabilities also ensure agents can seamlessly manage easyJet bookings, including modifications and exchanges. “We’re bringing more easyJet content to Travelport+ so that travel retailers across the globe can create more personalized offers and provide superior service to our customers,” said Dominic Tucker, Senior Distribution Manager at easyJet. “Our partnership with Travelport helps us deliver more choice and connectivity to the market so that travelers flying easyJet can easily customize their experience and add-on extras when they book in any channel, whether they are traveling for leisure, business, or both.” “This new deal means that Travelport-connected agencies can access easyJet’s dynamic offers effortlessly, so they can book the best options for travelers based on their needs and preferences,” said David Gomes, Head of Regional Air Partners, EMEA at Travelport. “By opening up easyJet content to …

The second edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum will kick off from 22nd to 24th January 2024 at the Riyadh International and Conventional Center. It will be an important forum where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be promoted as a tourist destination, strengthen constructive collaboration among all stakeholders in the Saudi tourism sector, and deepen awareness about investment and development opportunities in this vital industry, This forum will serve as a platform for achieving remarkable successes and fostering a spirit of cooperation and partnership. There will be seminars and workshops conducted over the three day event to showcase the rich diversity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai unveils MBRACE Club that acts as a passport to a life enriched with unparalleled privileges, beach access and experiences. Members may bask by a 75-metre outdoor pool, unwind at the sublime Saray Spa and participate in invigorating group classes that revitalise the mind and body. It is a gateway to a world of possibilities, from physical well-being to mental clarity and from leisurely relaxation to exhilarating activities. MBRACE Club is a brand-new lifestyle membership that redefines wellness and offers a fresh perspective on embracing life’s finest moments. Unlocking exclusive access to the resort, MBRACE Club promises an elevated way of life, inviting members to rejuvenate, invigorate and explore in the idyllic setting of one of the world’s most iconic locations – Palm Jumeirah. Gerrit Schmitt, General Manager of Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, shares his excitement: “We are delighted to introduce MBRACE Club, a remarkable membership that encapsulates the essence of holistic well-being. At Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, we believe in offering our members more than just amenities; we provide a lifestyle that inspires and elevates. MBRACE Club is designed to empower individuals and families to embrace their best selves, surrounded by the unparalleled beauty of the Palm Jumeirah.” MBRACE Fitness: A Journey to Wellness and Vitality The heart of MBRACE Club lies in its exceptional fitness facilities. Members have access to the state-of-the-art Marriott Fitness Center comprising a thoughtfully designed, personal fitness space featuring cutting-edge cardio, strength and resistance equipment. The Fitness Center boasts other exclusive facilities, including a sauna, providing a complete wellness experience. With select complimentary personal training sessions and a range of group classes including Yoga, Boxing Fit, H.I.I.T, Pump & Tabata …