Emirates announced it will ramp up its operations in Australia by upgrading its second daily flight EK430/431 between Dubai and Brisbane to an A380 starting from 1 October, along with adding a second daily service between Dubai and Perth operated by a Boeing 777-300ER starting from 1 December.  From 1 October, Emirates’ second A380 flight EK430 to Brisbane will depart Dubai at 0230hrs, arriving in Brisbane at 2220hrs. Emirates’ return flight EK431 will depart Brisbane at 0155hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1005hrs. All times are local. The additional flight to Perth will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER. Starting from 1 December, Emirates flight EK424 will depart from Dubai at 0915hrs and arrives in Perth at 0005hrs the following day. Emirates’ return flight EK425 will depart from Perth at 0600hrs and arrives in Dubai at 1310hrs. All times are local. Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia at Emirates, commented: “We’re pleased to offer more choice and opportunities for Australians traveling from Brisbane and Perth through the ramp up of our operations. It’s a demonstration of the importance of both gateways for tourism and trade, and Emirates’ commitment to ensure convenient schedules and comfortable connections to and through Dubai. Whether it’s the advantage of seamless afternoon connections from Dubai to a wealth of destinations across Europe on the second Perth flight, or a full A380 experience to and from Brisbane to close to 50 cities served by our flagship, we’re creating access to diverse opportunities for business, leisure, culture, and more. “The ramp up is also a testament to our commitment in enhancing global connectivity to our Australian gateways and supporting tourism and trade growth opportunities.”  Gert-Jan de Graaff, Brisbane …

Almosafer signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to enhance travel across the Haramain High Speed Railway network and expand offerings to Almosafer travellers. Under the agreement, which serves as a first distribution partnership for Haramain High Speed Railway, Almosafer will promote the train’s offerings as a truly convenient means of transport for travellers exploring the Kingdom, as well as for pilgrims, tourists and other travellers visiting the two holy cities. The high-speed luxury train provides a safe and fast method of travelling, linking the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City, along a 450 km route. The agreement will offer the option of high-speed railway travel via platforms across Almosafer’s portfolio of businesses including the consumer segment; Discover Saudi, the destination management company; and Mawasim, the Hajj and Umrah tour operator. Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “Rail travel is a truly great way to explore the Kingdom in comfort and Haramain High Speed Railway facilitates seamless travel between the Holy sites and major cities in KSA. This partnership is an exciting opportunity that enables more of our customers to experience high-end rail travel and underlines our commitment to creating opportunities for sustainable ways of travel, in support of Saudi Vision 2030.” Rayan Alharbi, VP of Haramain High Speed Railway, said: “This partnership affirms our commitment to establishing strategic partnerships with leading national entities that contribute directly to making the Haramain High Speed Railway services a safe, fast and convenient transport option for a larger base of customers. As the volume of people travelling to the holy cities continues to rise, this partnership will …

Saudia, the official airline partner of the all-electric Formula E series, will bring car racing fans from around the globe to the Diriyah E-Prix on 26 and 27 January, in the nation’s capital of Riyadh. The race was first held as part of the 2018–19 season and was the first Formula E race to be held in the Middle East. Diriyah plays host to a pair of night races as Formula E illuminates the historic desert surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage site on the 26th and 27th of January. Season ten of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship gets into gear with 21 twists and turns across the 2.495km Diriyah Circuit. Visitors to the race weekend will be treated to a fusion of the old and new, as the extraordinary destination acts as the backdrop against which cutting-edge all-electric racing cars will compete for victory – including the DS Penske DS E-Tense FE23 driven by former Formula E World Champion, Stoffel Vandoorne, whose position as Global Ambassador for Saudia has been continued for 2024. During the race weekend, fans will have access to an expansive E-Village, wherein Saudia will have a dedicated, newly developed Discover-E Zone. The E-Zone features a variety of interactive experiences designed to educate and excite fans in new and innovative ways including the revamped ‘Evolution in Your Hands’ virtual quiz and the enhanced ‘ReGen3rate’ game that allows fans to experience the exhilaration of racing on the Diriyah racetrack whilst controlling the battery levels in their car as they steer to pole position. For the first time ever, fans unable to attend the Diriyah E-Prix will be able to visit Saudia’s Discover-E Zone in an …

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era today with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage. UN Tourism: Transforming tourism for a better world – To achieve this goal, UN Tourism engaged the services of Interbrand, the leading global branding agency. Interbrand successfully translated the Organization’s renewed vision for tourism into a new visual identity and brand narrative. This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement. Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization’s membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole. With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters …

In order to attract more GCC travellers to Germany, GNTO has shared a lineup of events across Germany for the year 2024 as a guide to some of the most anticipated happenings that will inspire their next journey to the heart of Europe. Each of these events reflects Germany’s commitment to celebrating its rich heritage and contemporary vibrancy. From the serene beauty of historic art to the roaring excitement of football matches, from the enchanting routes of fairy tales to the reflective significance of historical anniversaries, Germany in 2024 offers a spectrum of experiences. The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) is extending a warm invitation to travellers from GCC, encouraging them to immerse themselves in the country’s rich cultural tapestry. In 2024, visitors exploring Germany will encounter a rich mosaic of experiences, each unique to different parts of the country. Germany’s event calendar is brimming with a variety of engagements, ensuring that every visit is both memorable and distinct. This diverse range of events showcases the country’s cultural richness and promises an enriching journey for all who travel there. Hamburg will be in the spotlight as it hosts the biggest port festival in the world. The Hamburg Port Anniversary, from May 9 to 12, will feature an extended range of events, including maritime presentations on the Elbe, the Grand Arrival Parade, the Tugboat Ballet, and spectacular fireworks show. The festival atmosphere will extend along the docks, with over 420 stand operators and performers, ensuring a lively and diverse experience for all visitors. Football fans will have a reason to cheer as Germany hosts the European Championship 2024 from 14 June to 14 July across ten host cities. Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, …

Mowasalat inked a transportation agreement with Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) to operate a daily bus between the Governorate of Muscat and the Emirate of Sharjah (To and from) in order to boost tourism between the two cities. The new service aims at expanding the international network of bus transportation between Oman and the UAE, as well as boost tourism between the two countries and provide travel options for people. Moreover, the agreement was signed by Badr Mohammed Al Nadabi, CEO of Mwasalat and Eng. Yousif Khamis Al Athmane, Chairman of SRTA.

Miral has marked significant progress across its ongoing sustainability commitments, with an aim to accelerate positive transformation across the leisure, entertainment, and tourism industry. Most recently, a 524-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) project was announced on Yas Bay Waterfront, with 920 solar modules designed to offset 450 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions at the destination. Earlier this year, Miral inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s largest solar rooftop project at Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, incorporating approximately 16,000 solar modules, producing nearly 40 percent of its annual energy demand with a 7-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity. The frameworks follow a similar agreement between Miral and Emerge to deploy on-site solar energy systems at SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with a capacity of 8.4 megawatts (MW). In parallel, nearly 150 rooftop solar panels significantly reduce energy consumption across Miral’s three hotels, Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton.Miral’s initiatives closely align with various national strategies for sustainability, such as achieving Net Zero by 2050, delivering on the outcomes of the recent 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), and advancing the UAE Union Aspiration for sustainability. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral, commented: “Sustainability remains an integral part of Miral’s vision to transform the leisure, entertainment, and tourism sector. Guided by the UAE’s vision to transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy, our continued commitment to combat climate change is testament to our efforts in creating a sustainable future for the next generation. Together with our partners, we will continue to become a more socially responsible organisation that significantly strengthens Abu Dhabi’s sustainability and eco-tourism ambitions and accelerates the Emirate’s long-term economic growth.” Miral’s commitment to sustainability is …

NEOM McLaren Formula E are relishing the opportunity of racing at this weekend’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Diriyah E-Prix races and are eager to produce strong performances in their ‘home races’. Saudi Arabia hosts Rounds Two and Three on Friday and Saturday night and for NEOM McLaren Formula E, the races present an opportunity for them to raise the national flag high following the strategic partnership between McLaren and NEOM in 2022. McLaren driver Jake Hughes is looking forward to racing again in Diriyah and says the team, which includes two-time Diriyah winner Sam Bird, is progressing on and off-the track. Speaking in a press conference in Diriyah, the British driver said: “I think every driver on the grid enjoys coming to the circuit and none more so than me. It’s a driver’s circuit as it’s very fast and flowing with a lot of tracks and it’s something I am looking forward to especially in Saudi Arabia and work towards getting a good result.” Team Principal, Ian James, says the partnership with NEOM is crucial for McLaren’s development. He said: “It’s a privilege to have NEOM on board as a partner from the start of our venture and into our transition. Not only is McLaren a racing company but also an engineering and technology organisation. I think for that reason it bodes very well as NEOM are very future-focused and works well as a two-way relationship. “The stability that we are given through the partnership with NEOM is absolutely crucial. It shows that we have a foundation within the team that is stable. One of the things I find fascinating between NEOM and McLaren is that they have …

UAE-headquartered Global Hotel Alliance reported record 2023 results, with every key performance metric hitting an all-time high. Repeat stay revenue surpassed the billion-dollar mark for the first time, increasing 60% year-on-year to US$1.4 billion, while hotel cross-brand revenue jumped 71% to $289 million, demonstrating GHA DISCOVERY’s successful loyalty model, which incentivizes members to enjoy the programme’s benefits, including earning and spending their DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) rewards currency, across its 40 member brands. Total room revenue of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme, shared by all brands and their collective 800 hotels, reached US$2.3 billion, surpassing 2022 by more than US$1 billion. This reflects the growth and engagement of the loyalty member base, which crossed the 25 million mark in 2023 and achieved 2.7 million new member enrolments for the year compared to 1.6 million in 2022. With more members understanding the value of D$ (D$1 equal to US$1) – as easy to redeem as cash toward the bill at checkout – D$ redemptions more than doubled year over year. Redemption spiked during key 2023 holiday periods, with December seeing the highest redemption rate since the rewards currency was launched two years ago. “Our record 2023 results reflect how our customers have embraced the GHA DISCOVERY programme and its new rewards currency, which offers incredible value and choice to members” said GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “With more upscale and luxury hotels and brands continuing to join GHA amid record revenues in 2023, we embark on our 20th anniversary celebrations this year in great shape and primed for further growth.” Key booking preferences of GHA DISCOVERY members in 2023: International travel dominates International stays contributed 60% of all revenue in 2023, with countries …

Qatar Tourism launched its new programme, titled ‘Qatar Tourism Ambassadors’, to celebrate local community leaders and provide a platform for entrepreneurs, artists and promising talents in Qatar to share their journeys and experiences with Qatar Tourism representatives, and share views on ways to collaborate on various initiatives undertaken by Qatar Tourism, as part of its efforts to raise awareness among citizens and visitors about the latest developments in the tourism sector and its tourism initiatives and services. Under the theme ‘The Right Arm’, the opening session of the programme was held at Feh Al Afia Restaurant in Katara Cultural Village, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism. The session was attended by editors-in-chief of Qatari newspapers, directors of local television channels, senior journalists and media professionals in Qatar, as well as a group of social media influencers. The welcome meeting was held at Fitah Al Afia Restaurant in Katara Cultural Village, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism. During its opening session, the program invited entrepreneurs to discuss the reality of the tourism sector and express their experiences, with the upcoming meetings covering a range of topics including business development, the arts, and entertainment and adventure initiatives. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “We are delighted to launch the Qatar Tourism Ambassadors Programme, through which we aim to encourage dialogue with prominent representatives of society and discuss the most important topics related to inspiring and ambitious goalsto serve the tourism sector in the State of Qatar. We also aim to provide a platform for young and emerging …