General Manager of Travco Gulf Region, Ms Jyoti Panchmatia was recognised as the DDP Gamechanger. A seasoned travel and tourism professional with over 40 years of experience, she excels in Destination Management, Cruise Handling, MICE, and Travel Agency leadership. Known for strategic thinking and effective people management, her efforts transformed loss-making units into profitable ventures, positioning key industry players in the Gulf.

The seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards takes place tonight at Conrad Dubai, honouring those who have significantly shaped Middle East’s travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. This invitation-only event offers a dedicated platform to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of industry leaders, encouraging their continued contributions to this rapidly evolving region. The Arabian Travel Awards distinguishes itself as a fair and impartial event, with winners selected through a systematic, internet-based voting process. Supported by TravTalkbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVMiddleEast.news, and TravTalkMiddleEast, the awards will showcase and reward excellence across four main categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards, and Partner Awards. Categories will spotlight Best Business Hotel, Best Family-Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, Best Luxury Hotel, among others. San Jeet, Director of Arabian Travel Awards, shared, “Our awards continue to evolve, celebrating the dedication and resilience of industry experts. This year is particularly special as we witness record-breaking growth, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in the region. Throughout the region, responsible tourism and hospitality have become more essential than ever. Hence, this is an opportunity to recognize those at the forefront of making the region, globally admired, sustainable destination.” He added, “The resilience of the Middle East sets a global standard in recovery and growth. The public-private partnerships across the GCC have catalysed the region’s strong rebound, ensuring a forward-thinking, collaborative approach. Tonight’s awards will honour those individuals and organizations who, despite challenges, continue to drive the industry forward, marking the start of an exciting new era in the region.”    

Qatar Tourism announces, the number of visitors by the end of October 2024 has reached a new high of 4 million, matching the total visitor count for 2023.  This year-to-date total represents a 26% increase in international visitors compared to the same period in 2023. This is a positive indication that we will reach even higher numbers by the end of 2024, especially with the kick-off of the winter season and the array of activities that has been planned for this period. GCC nationals make up 41.8% of visitors, with the remaining 58.2% from international markets. The top 10 visitor markets include Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of India, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Bahrain, United States of America, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Federal Republic of Germany, United Arab Emirates, and People’s Republic of China. To date, 56.2% of visitors arrived by air, 37.84% by land, and the remaining 5.96% by sea. Additionally, Qatar’s hospitality sector has grown significantly, surpassing 40,053 hotel keys (as of September 2024) as part of Qatar’s enhanced tourism infrastructure.  

Discover Saudi and the Muslim Golf Association (MGA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the world’s first Golf Umrah, Race to Makkah, in the Kingdom. As part of the MoU Discover Saudi will customise, promote & distribute a dedicated Golf Umrah package in collaboration with the Muslim Golf Association, combining the classic pilgrimage experience with premium golf activity for inbound and domestic golf enthusiasts. Participants will embark on an extraordinary journey, harmonising their passion for golf with the profound religious experience of Umrah. This event marks the launch of MGA’s World Championship, The Race to Makkah, an exclusive three-day golf tournament at the prestigious Royal Greens Golf & Country Club — celebrated as one of the Kingdom’s premier golf destinations, which has hosted several high-profile tournaments including the PIF Saudi International and LIV Golf Jeddah. Following their spiritual pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah, participants will engage in this unparalleled golfing experience. Founded in 2020, The Muslim Golf Association is the world’s first dedicated golfing platform catering to modern, professional, Muslim male and female golfers of all abilities. It has also recently launched a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) to train new volunteers and deliver dedicated sessions for disabled Muslims. The partnership draws on Discover Saudi’s extensive on-the-ground expertise and vast network of local tour operators, and access to hospitality partners to elevate the travel experience for the tournament participants and attendees. Saudi Arabia’s growing clout in the international sporting arena, with the Kingdom playing host to a range of sporting events, attracting tourists and fans from around the world, gets a further boost with the Race to Makkah event expected to enhance …

Emirates has introduced Chauffeur-Drive Services (CDS) in Riyadh, further elevating the travel experience for discerning premium passengers arriving at and departing from King Khalid International Airport. Emirates customers travelling in First and Business Class will enjoy a stress-free, comfortable journey with a door-to-door experience that reflects the airline’s exceptional onboard experience and premium services. First and Business Class customers can request for CDS on any of the airline’s three daily flights to and from Riyadh. The exclusive service is complimentary for customers within a 100-kilometre radius of the airport. Excess Mileage will apply for areas beyond the served radius*. Emirates Chauffeur-Drive Services are currently offered in over 70 cities within the Emirates’ network. Emirates’ Chauffeur-Drive service can be booked through Manage My Booking option on www.emirates.com or Emirates’ call centres as well as through travel agents. Bringing a new level of comfort and luxury to Saudi Arabia. Emirates’ recent investments in its operations to the Kingdom underpin the airline’s commitment to bringing a new, heightened level of service and hospitality, both in the air and on the ground, for customers flying to and from one of Emirates’ most important markets globally.This includes a new dedicated lounge at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The US$5.4 million, 900-square-metre lounge located in the airport’s newest Terminal 1 welcomes 190 guests at any one time, with seating tailored to the needs of business and leisure travellers. In early October, Riyadh became Emirates’ first GCC destination to welcome the airline’s refurbished Boeing 777, offering passengers an all-new Business Class cabin and highly acclaimed Premium Economy seats. The four-class Emirates Boeing 777 offers 24 Premium Economy seats, giving customers the opportunity to treat themselves to a more spacious seat …

Despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions, bottlenecks in aircraft production, and engine problems, Turkish Airlines continued its growth uninterruptedly thanks to its agility and extensive flight network, increasing passenger capacity by 5.4% in the third quarter of 2024. In the July-September period of 2024, Turkish Airlines’ total revenues increased by 4.9% year-on-year to 6.6 billion USD, even with the high base effect from the same period in 2023. Passenger revenues, which accounted for 84% of the total, increased to 5.6 billion USD driven by the strong contribution from the Far East region. At the same time, our Incorporation’s third-quarter cargo revenues rose by 47% year-on-year to 911 million USD. Turkish Cargo increased the amount of cargo transported by 16.8% compared to the same period in 2023 and became the world’s third-largest air cargo carrier in September, with a market share of 5.7%, according to data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Due to competitive pressure on passenger unit revenues along with the negative impacts of global inflationary environment and engine problems on costs, Profit from Main Operations recorded as 1.3 billion USD in the third quarter of 2024. Our Incorporation’s EBITDAR amounted to 2.3 billion USD and EBITDAR margin stood at 35.2%, exceeding both its historical average and peers. Financial income generated through Turkish Airlines’ effective and dynamic portfolio management also played a key role in supporting net profit. Aiming to expand its fleet to 800 aircraft by 2033 as part of its 100th Anniversary Strategy, Turkish Airlines increased its number of aircraft by 9% in the first nine months of the year to 467 in spite of bottlenecks in aircraft production. As a part of its diversification strategy …

Sabre Corporation  announced a major milestone in air travel distribution for India, with the launch of New Distribution Capability (NDC) content for Air India, the country’s flagship airline. As part of Air India’s strategic modernization efforts, the introduction of NDC offers through Sabre will enhance the way Sabre-connected travel agents shop, book and service Air India reservations. Sabre’s NDC capabilities, a core component of its multi-source content platform, will provide agencies with rich content and real-time offers from Air India, ultimately, giving travelers greater transparency, choice, and flexibility. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “At Air India, our aim is to deliver superior customer service through innovative technologies. By continuing to enhance our partnership with Sabre, we’re able to advance our NDC journey to meet the evolving needs of travel agencies and passengers, providing an enhanced experience.” Sabre and Air India already have an agreement in place to distribute Air India’s traditional content, both in India and globally. With the launch of NDC offers through Sabre, Air India aims to further optimize its distribution strategy, providing travel agencies with a broader range of real-time offers. By using Sabre’s technology, the airline will be able to offer a more streamlined, efficient shopping experience that meets the dynamic needs of the modern traveller. “We’re energized to extend our collaboration with Air India by launching their NDC content and helping to enhance their distribution capabilities,” said Kathy Morgan, Senior Vice President of Product Management, Distribution Experience, Sabre Travel Solutions. “India is a key market for Sabre and for the travel industry overall as it fuels increased demand for travel. It’s important that the airline can distribute its NDC content easily to …

Discover Saudi (part of Almosafer), has partnered with Heavens Portfolio to promote their services in China. The new collaboration will enable Almosafer’s Destination Management Company to showcase its rich array of services to a whole new audience in China. The partnership follows the news of Saudi Arabia receiving the Approved Destination Status from China, enabling easier travel to the Kingdom. It also aligns with Almosafer’s commitment to enhance inbound tourists to the Kingdom in line with Saudi Vision 2030. China’s rapidly growing significance in the global travel sector has made it a lucrative market for international travel and tourism companies. Almosafer’s leading status within Saudi Arabia’s dynamic travel ecosystem has made it a global portal for inbound tourists seeking access to the top-tier travel destination. Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “Our partnership with Heavens Portfolio aligns with our larger strategic plan to penetrate further into the expanding Chinese market. The Kingdom today offers a rich and diverse tourism experience for international travellers with curated services and personalised offers for discerning Chinese tourists. By collaborating with like-minded partners to elevate our offerings and enable wider access to the services Almosafer provides, we showcase our deep understanding of the Chinese tourism sector even as we play a key role in promoting tourism within the Kingdom.” Christine Galle, Founder and CEO of Heavens Portfolio, said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Discover Saudi at a pivotal moment for the Kingdom as it emerges as a major player in the global tourism landscape. This collaboration represents a remarkable opportunity for both Heavens Portfolio and Discover Saudi to harness the potential of this dynamic market. Together, we aim to showcase …

Diriyah projected to attract 50 million annual visits by the turn of the century, will gain increased visibility through a series of new travel trade agreements signed by Diriyah Company at WTM 2024 in London with leading Saudi tourism partners. The collaborations, with Tetrapylon DMC, 88 Destinations, and Athaar Arabia DMC, are designed to further elevate Diriyah as a premier global cultural and tourism destination. Under the agreements, Diriyah Company and its travel partners will collaborate to promote Diriyah, The City of Earth, as a leading premium cultural destination for discerning global travelers. Working together with these partners Diriyah Company will produce tourism reports and develop a comprehensive marketing toolkit to highlight the various offerings for inbound cultural travelers visiting the Kingdom in groups. The agreements follow two travel trade agreements signed on the first day of WTM with global luxury firm Abercrombie and Kent and local Saudi travel platform, Almosafer. All five of the travel partner agreements are aimed at positioning Diriyah, The City of Earth, as an emerging must-visit destination on the global tourism map. Diriyah Company recognizes the impact of leveraging the expertise of world class specialized partners to further enhance its marketing efforts and ensure access to top-tier market data, ultimately delivering world-class visitor experiences. Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “We are delighted to have signed three additional travel trade agreements with leading international and Saudi based travel companies. These strategic collaborations will enhance our appeal to both domestic and global tourists as we continue our journey in transforming Diriyah, “The City of Earth”, into a world-class destination for discerning travelers and international explorers.” Diriyah Company is participating in WTM 2024 to provide …

Qatar Tourism has launched its new cruise season 2024/2025, with the arrival of the luxury cruise ship Resorts World One, which is expected to become the largest in the history of the industry, with 95 cruises, including 33 partial turnovers, 11 departure and return flights, and 4 flights arriving in Qatar for the first time. The luxury cruise ship Resorts World One has launched its first voyage to Qatar and is scheduled to make 23 scheduled visits, carrying 72,000 visitors. Qatar is expected to welcome more than 430,000 visitors from November 2024 to April 2025. During the season, renowned cruise ships such as Minechef 4, MSC Euribia, Aida Prima, Costa Esmeralda, Norwegian Sky and Celestial Journey will dock at Doha Port, reinforcing Qatar’s growing position as a leading global cruise tourism destination. Building on the success of theprevious cruise season 2023/2024, during which Qatar welcomed 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, the new season is expected to continue the pace of growth in the cruise sector with a new record performance. During the previous season, Doha Port welcomed world-renowned vessels such as MSC Vertusa , Seaborne Encore, Aida Prima, Artania, Minechef 2, Azamara Journey and MS Rivera. and MS Hamburg and Norwegian Down. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Stimulating the growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a key component of our National Tourism Strategy 2030, and the 2024/2025 cruise season is expected to see a 30% increase in the total number of vessels, as well as a 24.5% increase in the total number of visitors compared to the previous season, reflecting the growing demand for cruises in the region. With new partnerships …