Mohammed Abdullah Al Muhanna Hotels Ltd. signed a franchise agreement with Marriott International and a management agreement with Aleph Hospitality to open Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2025. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah is located in the Rabwah District of Jeddah with excellent connections to every part of the city and just 15 minutes from King Abdul Aziz International Airport. Featuring 112 well-appointed rooms and suites, food and beverage outlets and meeting facilities, the newly built hotel is anticipated to reflect the brand’s promise of ‘travel reinvented’, providing everything that matters most to today’s travellers seeking balance on the road, timeless style and comfort with genuine service. Tariq Dowidar, Vice President Saudi Arabia, Aleph Hospitality said, “I am thrilled that we have been entrusted with the management of the Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah and we look forward to a successful opening. Today, I am also proud to say that this is the second hotel under our management in Saudi Arabia, and the fourth hotel under the Marriott franchise. Our rapid expansion over the past year has made Aleph Hospitality the largest independent hospitality management company in the region.” “This project marks the starting point toward achieving great success in the hospitality sector and we are committed to providing a unique hospitality experience that caters to the needs of visitors from all over the world,” commented Saleh Abdulmohsin Al Sultan, Managing Director, Mohammed Abdullah Al Muhanna Hotels Ltd. “Supporting the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 has been a key driver for our investment in the hospitality and tourism sector in the Kingdom and we …

Gulf Air has entered into a strategic partnership with Almatar to enhance digital operations between the two entities. As part of the partnership, Gulf Air will integrate its New Distribution Capability (NDC) API with Almatar’s booking platform, enabling Almatar to offer Gulf Air’s products and services, such as seat selection, additional baggage options, refunds, and reissue services. This will provide travelers with a more advanced, flexible, and seamless booking experience. This partnership shows both companies are committed to improve the customer experience and meeting the evolving needs of travelers in a rapidly growing travel and tourism sector. The partnership marks a key milestone in the digital transformation journeys of both Gulf Air and Almatar. It makes Almatar the first OTA company in Saudi Arabia to collaborate with Gulf Air, setting a new industry standard. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group, said: “We are excited about this partnership that opens new digital distribution avenues for Gulf Air products. The integration of the NDC system with Almatar’s platform will enhance operational efficiency and improve the way the airline delivers exceptional services to our customers. Gulf Air is dedicated to adopting modern technology to offer flexible and user-friendly travel solutions, solidifying our competitive edge in regional and global markets.” Mr. Goh added that this partnership is a part of Gulf Air’s broader vision of achieving full digital transformation, improving the overall travel experience, and delivering innovative services that meet the expectations of modern travelers. The NDC integration will ensure easier and more transparent access to Gulf Air’s extensive range of services and products. Mr. Youssef Abdullah Al Rajhi, Chairman of Almatar, expressed pride in this partnership, …

SAUDIA signed a codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines. The agreement builds on the airlines’ existing interline relationship and will expand the choice of destinations for SAUDIA guests between North America and the Arabian Peninsula. The carriers applied to the necessary codesharing authorities today and will start selling codeshare itineraries once all government approvals have been received. The codeshare agreement will enable greater connectivity between the United States and the Middle East. SAUDIA guests will gain access to 12 destinations in the U.S. beyond Delta’s hubs at JFK and LAX airports. Delta customers will gain access to 9 destinations in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East beyond the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh. SAUDIA and Delta guests will enjoy enhanced travel experiences between the airlines’ respective destinations, serving both tourism and business sectors. SAUDIA and Delta are both members of the SkyTeam alliance. Frequent Flyers will continue to earn and redeem miles on both airlines, while SkyTeam Elite Plus travelers benefit from SkyPriority services. Arved Von Zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer at SAUDIA, stated, “Signing this codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines reflects SAUDIA’s commitment to expanding its flight network, providing seamless travel experiences and enhancing its global connectivity. This provides Saudia’s guests with more travel options, promoting the local tourism sector and allowing international visitors to discover the diversity of the Kingdom’s attractions.” He added, “This partnership between two legacy airlines fosters greater collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, opening up new possibilities for commercial and tourism relations. We look forward to furthering our cooperation and exploring additional opportunities with Delta.” Perry Cantarutti, Senior Vice President Alliances at Delta, said: “SAUDIA’s growing Jeddah hub and extensive network bring …

Visit Qatar hosted a workshop for its local MICE industry partners with 70 representatives of hospitality, destination management companies, hotels and event halls, to discuss ways to collaborate in attracting business events to Qatar.  The workshop aimed to provide participants with the essential tools and insights to effectively position Qatar as a key destination for business events, enhance their bidding strategies for international gatherings, as well as educate international MICE investors about the diverse assets of events in Qatar. The workshop was attended by more than  Attendees also gained valuable insights into the key characteristics of the exhibition and conference markets in China, India and Russia and guidelines for delivering a successful work and a compelling presentation. The workshop programme included panel discussions featuring dignitaries from Qatar’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry, as well as bilateral meetings with industry investors. Visit Qatar’s strategy emphasizes that the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector is a priority pillar in driving growth in the country’s tourism sector. By increasing the number of business events, Qatar aims to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry. Thanks to its advanced infrastructure, business-friendly ecosystem and state-of-the-art venues, Qatar has cemented its position as a preferred destination for the MICE sector for its ability to host world-class events.

Onur Saylan – Consul General – Consulate General of Turkiye in Dubai, speaking with TravelTV Middle East shared that they are looking at easing the visa processes for the expats living in the UAE such as Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos etc.by the end of the year. He reiterated the importance of promoting destinations which are the hidden gems of Turkiye which will be their focus in the upcoming months. “We work with tourists from UAE to provide alternative programs and placements. If we think of Turkiye, they immediately think of Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Trabzon and Cappadocia. It is true that these are some of the most beautiful cities in the world, not only in Turkiye, but there is more in Turkiye. Due to the current situation around Turkiye, there are more strict processes, but we are looking at coming up with easier visa process for expat groups living in UAE, such as Indian, Pakistani and the Philippines. We will establish many new methods to ease this process.  I think by the end of this year, we will find new alternative processes for visa issuance in the UAE.”

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) launched the Arabic language version of the ‘Experience Abu Dhabi Experts’ e-learning platform, a tool designed to actively support partners in the travel ecosystem, including travel agents and tour operators. The platform equips travel professionals across the Gulf with the knowledge needed to showcase Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks and attractions and diverse accommodation options to their clients. Specialised content across nine modules covers various facets of Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, allowing participants to create more attractive and customised tourism products. Upon completion of the programme, participants will receive a certificate officially recognising them as ‘Experience Abu Dhabi Experts’, bolstering their credibility within the industry and providing them with the knowledge to craft personalised travel itineraries for the destination. Abdulla Yousuf, International Operations Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are committed to empowering our travel partners across the region by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively showcase Abu Dhabi as an ideal destination for all types of visitors. By engaging directly with our partners, we collectively contribute to Abu Dhabi’s compelling growth story and ensure it remains a top choice for travellers seeking unique and enriching experiences.” The module is currently available in Arabic, English, Mandarin, German, Italian, Russian, French and Hindi and will be expanded to 13 languages, making it accessible to the global travel trade. Travel professionals can register for free at experienceabudhabiexperts.com and access the training content anytime, anywhere through mobile devices, tablets, or desktops, flexibly arranging their time and enjoying a convenient online learning experience. Domestic travel is expected to represent the bulk of the travel market in 2024, and …

Qatar Airways will launch a new service to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) starting on 11 December 2024, with three weekly non-stop flights from the World’s Best Airport – Hamad International Airport (DOH). As the airline’s fourteenth gateway to the Americas, the new Toronto route marks the airline’s second destination in Canada, joining Montréal which has served more than 1.6 million passengers across seven daily flights to and from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) since its launch. Operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, equipped with 42 award-winning Qsuite Business Class seats and 312 Economy Class seats, the new Toronto service will provide travellers from Canada and beyond with seamless access to destinations across Qatar Airways’ extensive global network, including Colombo (CMB), Bangkok (BKK), Delhi (DEL), Kathmandu (KTM) and Mumbai (BOM). Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “The Toronto route is a strong and enduring commitment towards providing Qatar Airways’ Canadian customers with the enhanced connectivity they deserve, as well as access to our world-leading service and Qsuite in-flight product. “The addition of a fourteenth gateway to our Americas network is also a testament to our aim in maintaining a key presence across the local market, and cements our reputation as a reliable global connector.” The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2024, has provided Canada with extensive support and assistance over the years, including contributing critical diplomatic efforts across several challenging issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar Airways also assisted the country by establishing an air bridge to facilitate the repatriation of thousands of Canadians. Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport (DOH), and …

Sofitel announced 70 residences in Downtown Dubai with 6 exceptional penthouses and 64 residences offering a variety of premium amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, a café, an immersive cinema room, and a health club with a stunning 15-meter swimming pool. Additional services such as 24/7 concierge, valet services, and à la carte options inspired by Sofitel’s French zest like personal chefs, childcare, and in-residence housekeeping are available to ensure that residents enjoy an elevated lifestyle. Located in the iconic Downtown Dubai district, just a stone’s throw from Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, Sofitel Residences Downtown Dubai provides unparalleled access to world-class restaurants, cultural attractions, and renowned boutiques. Residents will experience a unique blend of Middle Eastern culture and modern French aesthetics, seamlessly integrated into every living space. “As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sofitel brand throughout 2024, this project marks an exciting new chapter for us, bringing our signature French zest and heartfelt service to the real estate market in Dubai. Sofitel Residences Downtown Dubai will set a new standard in luxury living, offering an unmatched lifestyle experience in one of the city’s most exclusive areas. With Sofitel’s rich heritage and our ongoing commitment to redefining luxury living, this project is the perfect fit for the branded residences market. We are thrilled to welcome future residents to this unparalleled living experience in one of the world’s most vibrant cities.” — Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery, and Emblems. This new residential development further strengthens Sofitel’s presence in the luxury segment in UAE, targeting the real estate business and diversifying its business lines. Jean-Baptiste Recher, Regional Vice President of Development for Accor’s Luxury Brands based in …

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 4.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.6% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.5% (-0.6ppt compared to August 2023).All regions showed growth for international passenger markets in August 2024 compared to August 2023. Ticket sales in May-July for travel in August-September showed a 6.6% year-on-year increase, which bodes well for further strong growth this year. Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 19.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 18.8% year-on-year and the load factor was 85.2% (+0.8ppt compared to August 2023). Asia-Pacific is still growing robustly and is now just 8 percentage points from full recovery to pre-pandemic volumes. European carriers saw a 9.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 8.5% year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.2% (+0.5ppt compared to August 2023). The Europe-Asia route was by far the fastest-growing, but it is still markedly below its 2019 peak.

Hyatt proudly announces plans for the debut of two Hyatt-branded hotels in Jaumur, one of Magna’s destinations, located on the coast of Gulf of Aqaba. Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina will mark a significant milestone in the expansion of Hyatt’s brand presence within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and solidify its strategic collaboration with NEOM, a beacon of future living and sustainable luxury. Jaumur offers a visionary blend of land and sea experiences, setting a new standard for coastal luxury living for residents and guests. This exclusive destination features a state-of-the-art 300-berth marina with a gravity-defying cantilever rising above the largest of super yachts, a sculptural landmark that serves as the perfect base for marina attractions. The marina promenade will be a place alive with entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences alongside the deep-sea diving research centre, dedicated to deep-sea exploration. The brand-new Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina, set to open in 2027, will offer a combination of 350 luxurious rooms and suites, offering exceptional experiences for guests. Park Hyatt Jaumur will sit at the community’s vibrant epicenter, overlooking the bustling marina. Designed as an oasis of relaxation with 125 rooms, Park Hyatt Jaumur will serve as a home-away-from-home that seamlessly blends the very best entertainment, leisure, and cultural experiences, enabling guests to immerse themselves in unmatched offerings. Andaz Jaumur Marina, with 225 modern rooms and suites, will be a celebration of art and creativity, capturing the very soul of Jaumur. The hotel will inspire innovation while offering an eclectic allure, making it a luxury lifestyle destination for those seeking an escape from the ordinary. With a focus on personalized experiences, Andaz Jaumur Marina will envelop guests …