Global smart hospitality solutions provider, Hudini, is set to close a record year for the business having witnessed unprecedented growth in 2022. Hudini enables hotels to provide a connected guest journey from pre-arrival to post departure, ensuring a faster, contactless, and hyper-personalized service delivery. The company’s hospitality middleware platform connects over 100 hospitality applications in one single guest interface. Driven by data and AI, Hudini’s proprietary software works across all touch points of the guest journey from online booking, mobile check-in and digital room keys to in-room services, communication, check-out, and payments. With over 300 hotels across 25 countries, Hudini is fast becoming the industry benchmark for digital transformation in the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry relies on its ability to connect people and the places they visit to create memorable experiences for its guests. In its revitalization post-pandemic, the industry is realizing the impact that technology can have on a guest’s stay, and the potential it holds to increase customer loyalty and create additional revenue. In fact, a recent study found that 62% of hotel executives said they would have “a fully contactless experience” by 2025. “It’s been an incredibly exciting year for us and we have evolved in so many ways over the past twelve months, from our product offering and team to our partners and customers,” said Prince Thampi, Founder and CEO of Hudini. “The global pandemic has not just accelerated the demand for contactless technology to provide a safe and seamless guest experience, but more importantly, has caused a significant shift in mindset when it comes to digital transformation in hospitality. Hoteliers are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate and personalize their guest experience, achieve better …

Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace reopened last week for guests. The Jewel of Beirut, Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace will open its doors yet again offering a unique taste of luxury in the heart of Beirut. Opening on 30th December 2022, the hotel offers 185 luxurious rooms including 20 elegantly appointed suites, a variety of food and beverage selections all-day at the Summer Place and hotel’s lobby lounge Tea Garden. Situated in the heart of Sin El Fil, this hotel boasts of magnificent views of the city from all the rooms. Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace has nine function rooms for 2,800 guests, including six multi-purpose meetings rooms practically located on one floor, a 24-hour business center and a dedicated Meetings Manager. In addition to this Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace Hotel provides guests with personalized services and advanced facilities including complimentary WiFi, a 24-hour business center, fitness center and outdoor pool. All designed to make every stay unforgettable. With its location only 15 minutes from Beirut International Airport, and Beirut City Center only a five-minute drive away from the hotel with an abundance of historical tourist sites in its vicinity, this hotel is an ideal base for exploring the charming Lebanese capital and the country’s main attractions. Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi.

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has launched the AWN Tourism and Hospitality program to support small and micro tourism businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the resources they need to realize their objectives and aspirations within the tourism industry. The program aims to support new tourism establishments, in addition to remodeling the existing ones, by leveraging the flexible financing solutions provided by TDF, with allocations of up to 10 million Saudi Riyals, and a repayment period of up to 10 years. Along with commercial franchising, the initiative will provide the targeted projects the tools they need to meet their needs in the areas of accommodation, restaurants and cafes, and entertainment. CEO of TDF Qusai Al-Fakhri, said: “This program aims to unlock the potential of small and micro tourism businesses. Small business owners, too, have great business ideas; all they need from time to time is motivation and financial support to thrive. We are confident our new initiative will give them this opportunity while encouraging knowledge sharing, entrepreneurship, and job creation in the Kingdom.” TDF has previously launched several support programs and financing solutions to assist small and micro tourism development projects in meeting their needs and creating investment opportunities to maximize their long-term impact. The pre-financing program by the Tourism Development Center is the first innovative and free educational opportunity for entrepreneurs to support and transform their ideas into sustainable businesses. The AWN Tourism Experiences program, designed for tour operators, event organizers, and cultural tourism product providers, offers financing solutions and products with easier mechanisms.

Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) has started to work on Chinese standards to be implemented at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) into an airport that welcomes Chinese tourists, and makes their journeys easier and more pleasant, by helping to overcome language barriers and offering services such as convenient payment systems. Chinese travellers view the “Welcome Chinese certification” as the global standard for hospitality services for international travel. An E-visa is already available for Chinese travellers to Saudi Arabia and KKIA is enhancing its welcome to all Chinese travellers and carriers to Riyadh. The Saudi Capital recently has major leisure and business mega events. Diriyah season, Riyadh Season and Boulevard Riyadh City are among tourist attractions in Riyadh. The “Welcome Chinese Certification” program, developed and issued by the China Tourism Academy working with the marketing and communications firm Select Holding Ltd, is a hospitality standard specifically dedicated to Chinese travellers outside their own country. China Tourism Academy’s sponsorship guarantees uniformity in the quality of service and supports all certified businesses in entering the Chinese travel industry. With the problems caused by the pandemic starting to recede, Riyadh Airports understands the importance of Chinese passengers and started to look at how to make life easier for them when they come to visit Saudi Arabia. The company is going to provide services at KKIA including flyers, brochures, destination maps and other informational material translated into Chinese, as well as signage and flights information. The UnionPay Payment System will be available in all the main facilities, and RAC will also investigate the potential for adding additional payment methods such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.  

Visitors to the Visa Application Centre submitting their applications can now learn more about the tourism offerings and highlights of India, guided by trained professionals from VFS Global, by visiting the kiosk at the time of their appointment. Mr. N. Ram Prasad, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia formally inaugurated the new India Tourism kiosk at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Riyadh recently. Mr. N. Ram Prasad, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia said, “I am pleased to launch the first India Tourism kiosk in association with VFS Global, who have been our partners in KSA for the last 14 years. In addition to best-in-class visa services, applicants will now also be able to learn about all the wondrous tourism offerings of India when they visit this centre.” Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global said, “We are excited to further strengthen our relationship with the Government of India with the launch of our India Tourism kiosk. I thank the Ministry of External Affairs for their constant and unwavering support and faith in our organisation and its services. As the service providers of visa and passport solutions here in Saudi Arabia, it is only fitting that we also provide informational services on all there is to offer in this bountiful country.” VFS Global caters to over 7 million Indians across 9 countries – Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, France, and Australia, offering passport and consular services on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The organisation has a long-standing association with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, offering visa application …

As the world’s longest running festival of its kind, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is nothing short of iconic. The 28th edition of the festival, organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), showcases the very best that the city has to offer. In its third week, (29 December to 5 January) DSF delivers another spectacular line-up of events, experiences, offers and deals designed to surprise and delight. Take your pick from one of the many concerts from international artists including Kylie Minogue, Martin Garrix, and Rahat Fatah Ali Khan. Or, watch the stunning fireworks and drone shows to celebrate DSF as well as welcome in the New Year. Participate in a Murder Mystery at Al Seef Heritage Hotel and bring out your inner detective, shop for must-have items at Al Seef Market, visit The Spark Within and Sky Castle, part of Dubai LIghts at City Walk and Dubai Design District (d3), or walk down memory lane at Dubai 80’s, Last Exit Al Khawaneej. Dubai is the place to be when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations. From enchanting fireworks, drone shows, to hotel offers, curated food and beverage menus  and more, the city pulls out all the stops to ring in the new year. In the lead up to NYE celebrations, legendary performer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan brings a never–before-seen show to the Coca-Cola Arena on 29 December. And on 30 December, at the same venue, don’t miss Martin Garrix and his spectacular performance live in Dubai. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Dubai skyline as fireworks light up the city skies to bid farewell to this year, and welcome in the next. Iconic Dubai spots such as Atlantis …

MAIZ, a unique fine-dining concept that brings authentic Saudi cuisine in a thematic Saudi Arabian cultural setting, opens its doors at Bujairi Terrace, a new fine-dining destination developed as part of Diriyah Gate Development. Concept of Al Khozama – one of the most prominent players in the Gulf region’s hospitality sector, MAIZ is the world’s genuine Saudi restaurant and aims to create a new food genre which in the future will be referred to as The Saudi Food, globally. CEO of Al Khozama, Mr. Khaled Saud Abu Haimed said, “Al Khozama brings decades of rich expertise in the hospitality sector and MAIZ will not only represent a new hospitality concept but also a unique journey of the Kingdom’s heritage and culture.” “We are proud of launching this original concept, and look forward to welcome tourists and residents to experience authentic Saudi food in a thematic setting”, he added. MAIZ features an exclusive menu that represents a standalone project including distinctive Saudi dishes with a huge array of savoury flavours and authentic flair that is a feast to all senses. The ambiance at MAIZ is fashionable, sophisticated, welcoming, and provides a unique experience to all guests.

The upscale hotel is located at the Al Taif Business Center; as soon as you arrive in the city, the property is attached to the Al Taif Mall. With 228 rooms, including 14 stunning suites and two restaurants, Bistro 1550 and Dura Café ready to welcome guests now, as well as the Street Culture bar, which is set to open in mid-2023. The 19-storey hotel provides city centre access with its proximity to the beach. It also provides a central point from which to explore Fujairah’s nature and some of the country’s most untapped areas of outstanding natural beauty. While Fujairah is a more traditional emirate, DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City embodies modernity and elegance with a nod to the locale. Vikram Jamwal, General Manager, said: “Putting the final touches to DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City has been a rewarding process. We know we have a world-class property that elevates the city’s accommodation and dining offering while bringing the warmth and care of our brand to the surrounding community and visiting guests.” “We’ve created a space that showcases the best of Fujairah as a vibrant port city while honouring the traditions of the community. We’re a place for people to come together, be it for meetings, important occasions, or simply to grab a coffee with a friend and indulge in one of our famous DoubleTree Cookies.” DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City forms part of the Al Taif complex on Al Maktoum Road and sits adjacent to Fujairah International Airport, which is a plane spotter’s haven. So, whether visitors are there for business, shopping, leisure or merely a getaway from the west coast, the hotel offers something for everyone. Bistro 1550, …

Adding to its lists of giga projects in keeping with the Saudi Vision 2030, is Trojena which will offer year-round outdoor skiing and adventure sports to be completed in 2026, an unrivalled experience and a global landmark for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Highlights include a stunning man-made freshwater lake and ‘The Vault’. It is a folded village fusing technology, entertainment and hospitality – as the main gateway into Trojena. On completion, the development will also contain a broad range of homes. Including apartments, chalets and mansions plus hotels ranging from the ultra-luxury and experiential to wellness and family resorts. In addition, there will be a wide range of retail, leisure and dining options. Activities including year-round skiing, water sports, hiking and mountain biking will sit side by side with an interactive nature reserve. Trojena will become one of the most dazzling destinations in NEOM and across the world. Infused with the ethos of NEOM with its bold ambition, built around technology and innovation. It will follow the principles of sustainability, state-of-the-art technology and astonishing design. It will provide extraordinary opportunities for residents and visitors looking for luxury, adventure, entertainment, livability and escape from the everyday. “Trojena will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, which is aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It also confirms our commitment to be part of the global effort to protect the environment. Trojena will be an important addition to tourism in the region, a unique example of how Saudi Arabia is creating destinations based on its geographical and …

Qatar Tourism (QT) data reveals that a suite of events, new launches and impending football fever drove visitor numbers during the month to nearly 180,000 – a six year high. Throughout 2022, visitors have steadily increased month on month, and the latest October figures exceeded pre-pandemic numbers by nearly a third (32% more than October 2017).Qatar continues to offer attractions and family-friendly entertainment for visitors from the region, making visitors from the GCC the leading source of all international visitors (over a third at 33%) to the country in October. At the same time, October saw a 10% increase from the prior month on the number of non-GCC tourists, at 66% of the total, an increase of 10%. Non-GCC arrivals hailed mainly from India (13%), the UK (4%) and the USA (3%). This month, 70% of visitors chose to arrive by air, followed by land (29%), and sea (1%).  A packed schedule of launches and openings greeted Qatar’s visitors in October, including the reopening of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), luxury malls (Printemps), and a spate of world-leading luxury hotels. Towards the end of the month, the Darb Lusail Festival officially inaugurated the pedestrian friendly Lusail Boulevard, the country’s latest open-air shopping and dining destination. The three-day celebration of Lusail City and the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region featured concerts and DJ performances, roaming shows and a spectacular nightly drone show. Commenting on the latest arrival figures, Haya Al-Noaimi, Head of Promotion Sector at Qatar Tourism, said: “As we welcome the world’s football fans, we are delighted to see so many people from around the globe keen to experience all that Qatar has to offer. …