Cruise Saudi announced its collaboration with exceptional sector leaders in cruise ship outfitting, MJM Marine and DE Wave. This partnership has been specially created for its new premium owned cruise line AROYA Cruises, as a crucial part of Cruise Saudi’s commitment to create exceptional passenger experiences. MJM Marine is the globally renowned name in marine outfitting services. Its scope of work for AROYA Cruises includes upgrades to all existing cabins and suites, the creation of multiple culinary, retail and relaxation venues, steelwork modifications, upgrades to on-board electrical and mechanical services, and the manufacture and installation of bespoke furniture, finishes, ceiling features and seating. DE Wave is a leading contractor for cruise ship and yacht interior outfitting. It will outfit AROYA Cruises’ upper deck areas, including new super suites, public areas, and catering areas. Together, both MJM Marine and DE Wave will refurbish 98% of the guest-facing venues. Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “The creation of a premium cruise experience starts from the design phase and by working with two of the cruise sector’s most well-regarded outfitters, we’re demonstrating our commitment to making AROYA Cruises an exceptional product. We look forward to seeing the knowledge, passion and creativity that MJM Marine and DE Wave bring to the first AROYA Cruises ship.” Unveiled in June 2023, AROYA Cruises is Saudi’s first cruise line, designed for nationals, expatriates and regional guests. All elements of AROYA Cruises are being designed to suit Arabian tastes and preferences, from the design of cabins to the on-board food and beverage offering. For more information about Cruise Saudi, visit www.cruisesaudi.com. For more information about AROYA Cruises, visit www.aroyacruises.com.

ADNEC  Group, through its tourism arm Tourism 365, has launched new charter flight services in the UAE, enhancing travel options for international tourists from multiple destinations while propelling the UAE’s hospitality offering and reputation as a premier global destination. This premium new service, available from Europe and central Asia, is poised to increase visitor arrivals to the UAE, while further solidifying ADNEC Group’s position as a key player in the regional tourism sector. The new charter service complements the group’s wider hospitality offering, supporting the travel industry’s role in the nation’s economic growth, a sector expected to represent nearly 10 per cent of the UAE’s total economy in 2023. Charter flights have been launched by Tourism 365 in August from high demand and non-commercially operated international markets. Hundreds of thousands of travellers are expected to experience Tourism 365’s new service this year alone. Emerging source markets boosting arrivals into Abu Dhabi include Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Tajikistan through its tour operator, Easy Booking, in Central Asia. This October, the German market will also benefit from the launch of weekly charter operations to Abu Dhabi from airports including Leipzig, Nuremberg and Cologne through its own tour operator, Capital Holidays. The charter flights will complement the existing direct commercial flight network. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “Our strategic ongoing goal is to boost the UAE tourism sector’s contribution to national economic growth through enhancing the offering and capabilities of the sector. Tourism 365’s ongoing growth and service diversification has the power to further increase tourist arrivals and diversify the source markets, increasing the international footprint of travellers visiting the UAE. ADNEC Group …

The new partnership will drive towards achieving a zero-carbon footprint in the destination; Red Sea Global (RSG), Amaala and The Red Sea, has entered into a 25-year concession agreement with the French multinational electric utility company EDF (Électricité de France) and leading clean energy company Masdar on a multi-utilities infrastructure facility to service the Amaala destination. Like its sister destination, The Red Sea, Amaala will be powered entirely by solar energy, saving the equivalent of nearly half a million tons of CO2 emissions every year. The new facility consists of an optimized off-grid renewable energy system, which generates energy from photovoltaic technology, and a battery energy storage solution that enables 24/7 power, plus a desalination plant and wastewater treatment plant, both powered by renewables. “Sustainability is a cornerstone of Amaala, and our new partnership with EDF and Masdar will drive us towards achieving a zero-carbon footprint once fully operational. The project follows the template for success provided by The Red Sea, where we recently completed the build of five solar farms, procuring a destination-wide utility system that enables us to operate with no connection to the national grid,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Amaala’s renewable supply system has the capacity to generate up to 410,000 MWh per annum – enough to power 10,000 households for an entire year. The system includes a 700 MWh battery storage facility, which ensures Amaala will be powered by renewables, day and night. There will also be a water desalination plant that uses reverse osmosis technology and has a capacity of 37 million liters of water per day. The contract was procured in the model of an independent public-private partnership (PPP), …

The Emirates Group and Microsoft have joined forces to train, mentor and transform high-potential UAE Nationals to become future leaders. The curated, high-impact programme is designed around Microsoft’s technology courses, including digital transformation and driving business impact with AI, as well as the development of soft and leadership skills. The shared vision is to educate and inspire these future leaders of the Emirates Group as well as to carve out a clear career roadmap based on their business and cultural transformation. With over 120 hours of classroom workshops within a hybrid setting, the programme is underpinned by mentorship led by Microsoft’s leadership team in the UAE, as well as an opportunity for participants to meet and learn from senior leaders at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, USA. Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “We value our historical collaboration with Microsoft, and we are delighted to extend it to opportunities for our future leaders to develop their careers and gain wider knowledge. We cherish our common vision centred on developing and empowering our people for a better future, and we rely on their potential and contribution to benefit our businesses and communities. This new initiative is a first step, and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration to support our Emiratisation strategy.” Speaking on the occasion, Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, said: “The rapid pace of digital transformation across key industries, such as the aviation sector in the UAE, means that it is more important than ever for young professionals to hone the digital skills they need to succeed in the workforce of tomorrow. We are excited to collaborate with the Emirates Group on this new programme to …

It’s time again to applaud the stalwarts of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry with the return of the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards to take place on Wednesday 25th October with the Sofitel Downtown Dubai as the hospitality partner (attendance by invitation only). These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news and TravTalk Middle East who are premier media partners for the coverage of the event. The awards will be divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. They will include awards for 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, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. San Jeet Director Arabian Travel Awards shares, “Our awards have been evolving over the years to recognize the untiring efforts of the industry experts. This year will be the first time that we can finally say that we are back on track, especially with the UAE recording numbers higher than the pre-pandemic era. In today’s travel, tourism and hospitality landscape there are many changes and new trends that have emerged. As UAE declared this year as the year of sustainability and carrying forward their legacy to become the host nation for COP28, this is indeed a time when responsible travel, tourism and hospitality also steps in to make it a more conscious destination. Applications are still open to vote for those in the industry and who have been in the forefront of promoting and working to go over and beyond …

Dubai World Trade Centre will be hosting over 100 events business and consumer events in the last quarter. It will include recognised meetings, exhibitions and conferences, as it gears up for what is anticipated to be one of the city’s busiest events seasons, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for business tourism with over 100 business and consumer events spanning vital sectors including technology, sustainability, food and beverage, healthcare, green economy, among others over the last quarter. Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, said: “DWTC plays a crucial role in furthering the emirate’s position as the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital. We are witnessing substantial growth of flagship events like GITEX Global, ArabLab+, Big 5 Global, World Radiocommunication Conference among others and are equally excited to host new events at the venue. The upcoming events season will offer an unrivalled opportunity for exhibiting companies, participants, and the business communities at large to network and collaborate, provide access to global markets, while facilitating foreign investments into the emirate and contributing to the ongoing growth of Dubai as a business tourism destination in line with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33)”. September opens with Plastics Recycling Show ME, Sleep Expo, ME Foam & Polyurethane Expo, Adhesives Sealants, and Bonding Expo ME from (5 – 7 September), followed by Gulf Bride Show (13 – 17 September), Frozen Musical Celebrations (16 September), Sign and Graphic Imaging ME Exhibition, Connecting Trade Worldwide (18 – 20 September), the Annual Dermatology Conference and Exhibition MEIDAM (22 – 24 September) and the Forex Exhibition (26 – 27 September). The leading platform for the laboratory and analytical industry ArabLab+ will take place between (19-21 September) …

The Ajman Department of Tourism Development – ADTD signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) which aims to establish a partnership between the two parties to increase cooperation, unite efforts and exchange knowledge and experiences at all levels. The memorandum of understanding was signed by His Excellency Mahmoud Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development, and His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Hamrani, Director General of the Ajman Department of Economic Development. As part of the agreement, a coordinating committee will be formed that aims to increase the economic and tourism growth rates in the emirate by uniting efforts and exchanging experience and knowledge to support tourism projects and events in line with the emirate’s vision 2030. The agreement aims to enhance the emirate’s position at the regional and global levels by improving its position in international competitiveness reports. The two parties also seek to enhance the economic and tourism competitiveness of the emirate through integration in planning, partnerships and joint projects. The memorandum also aims to support decision-makers by measuring strategic performance and raising customer satisfaction rates. The scope of collaboration between these two parties encompasses a range of activities, including synchronized efforts in economic and tourism marketing and promotion, the exchange of vital economic and tourism-related data and insights, and the undertaking of collaborative studies and research endeavors. This collaboration further encompasses the formulation and execution of joint policies and initiatives, as well as the continuous monitoring of international competitiveness benchmarks. A pivotal objective is also to enrich the experiences of investors and tourists alike by involving international corporations and orchestrating joint occasions and festivals. In this regard, …

Qatar Airways is now the Official Airline Partner of BWT Alpine F1 Team as part of a multi-year agreement and will be working together to promote the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023. The partnership comes after the announcement of Qatar Airways’ Official Airline and Global Partner with Formula 1®(F1®) earlier this year. The partnership will include specialised branding on the driver helmets and caps for the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023, along with various events held during the race weekend featuring the BWT Alpine F1 Team and Qatar Airways executives, cabin crew and the public. The airline partnership with BWT Alpine F1 Team showcases the airline’s continued commitment to promoting and expanding motorsport, both within Qatar and globally. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are proud to be partnering with the BWT Alpine F1 Team on a multi-year partnership to help us promote the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023 and to deliver the best quality experiences for our passengers, customers, and fans who will be attending the Formula 1® race. Both of our organisations are committed to precision engineering and excellence to make the greatest technological advancements in our fields and to drive the most environmentally sustainable outcomes for our respective industries. We look forward to hosting the Formula 1® community at the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023 and wish the BWT Alpine F1 Team all the best for the remainder of the season.” David Gendry, Vice President, Alpine Sponsoring, Partnerships and Communications, said: “We are proud to team up with Qatar Airways, an incredible global airline that has such high standards. Both Alpine and Qatar Airways share the …

Amadeus’ Demand360® subscribers using the BEONx Revenue Management System (RMS) can now gain access to the in-depth, forward-looking market insights provided by Amadeus’ business intelligence solution in their RMS. Fluctuating demand and economic conditions brought on by the pandemic have highlighted the importance of revenue management systems and business intelligence within the hospitality industry. Having access to both historical and forward-looking data has become critical in enabling hoteliers to develop smarter, more informed business strategies. Going beyond the existing integration with iHotelier®, Amadeus, a global provider of hospitality technology solutions, and BEONx, a leading hospitality revenue management service provider, announce an extension of their partnership to bring comprehensive business intelligence to BEONx customers that subscribe to Demand360®. The integration will allow hoteliers using BEONx to gain access to Amadeus’ Demand360® business intelligence insights within their RMS. This will significantly improve a hotelier’s ability to understand market demand, historical and forward-looking business performance, and track results against their competitive set to best optimize revenue. BEONx hotels will also able to join Amadeus’ Demand360 network, strengthening the data available in that solution. “Expanding our partnership with Amadeus will better serve the interests of common clients,” said Rubén Sánchez, CEO and Founder at BEONx. “The two-way data exchange will enhance the revenue insights and competitiveness of hotels connected to BEONx and Amadeus by giving them improved visibility into market trends. It will also improve the BEONx algorithms that provide forecasting and inventory control systems capabilities to their participating hotels.” “With fiercer competition and leaner teams, revenue managers are often managing multiple properties now, rather than a single hotel,” said Michael Yeomans, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence & Data Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus. “This kind …

Kuwait Airways opened the Arab Air Carrier’s Organization (AACO) meeting on digital transformation in the aviation sector, which was organized in the State of Kuwait, in the presence of various experts and specialists in the air transport sector during the period from 5- 6 September 2023. The meeting discussed the latest mechanisms for digital transformation and artificial intelligence and focused on the methods to develop and improve this aspect in the air transport sector, as well as to follow the most important methods in the Middle East region. Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi, welcomed the attendees and stated, “We are pleased to host this important meeting, which is being held in the State of Kuwait. This conference highlights the most important aspects of digital transformation and artificial intelligence solutions, and the methods to use them in accordance with the latest standards for the air transport sector around the world. This will contribute significantly to the development of the aviation sector in general, which will ultimately benefit the travel traffic and valued passengers.” Razouqi continued by saying, “Kuwait Airways is keen to follow the latest technology and methods used in developing and improving the company’s system, be it in terms of finding smarter digital solutions that facilitate procedures for valued customers, or electronic services that the company has recently launched. Kuwait Airways always strives towards achieving the strategic objectives that it has drawn up until 2030, to keep pace with the best technology in the aviation sector.” Razouqi said, “With regard to sustainability, Kuwait Airways recognizes the significance of this aspect, and has released its annual sustainability report, highlighting the company’s commitment to the principles of sustainability, transparency, …