Possibilities of granting nationals from Kuwait visa-free access to the Schengen Zone have been discussed during official talks held between Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Both countries’ authorities also discussed new opportunities that would further enhance their collaborative relations, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports. Italian Foreign Minister reiterated Italy’s support for the abolishment of Schengen visa requirements for citizens of Kuwait, emphasizing Rome’s ongoing efforts on the matter in the European Union and European Parliament. At the same time, Sheikh Salem Abdullah affirmed keenness regarding boosting the friendly relationship between both states. Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has intensified the efforts so citizens of the Asian country can travel without additional requirements such as visas to the Schengen Area. Sheikh Salem Al-Jaber Al-Sabah recently held talks with Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto, during the Kuwait delegation’s official visit to Hungary’s capital. Among the main topics discussed in the meeting was the exemption of Kuwaiti citizens from visa requirements and also rallying European support for such a move. Last month, authorities in Kuwait also called on the European Union to abolish visa requirements for their citizens in a bid to facilitate the travel process, especially during the peak summer season. The request came in a meeting that Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs held with European Union ambassadors, during which he stressed that the country should no longer be subject to Schengen visa requirements. “The minister, during the luncheon held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, called upon the diplomats to act to ease off difficulties facing the Kuwaiti nationals seeking the Schengen visa, facilitate procedures to apply for the visa, set …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) continues to implement its operational plan for Summer 2023 by providing over 7.4 million seats for domestic and international routes during July and August, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The airline will operate more than 32,400 flights, reflecting a 4% increase. These measures aim to meet high demand during peak seasons and ensure smooth operations, efficient reservations for scheduled and seasonal destinations, and streamlined processes at airports. For international flights, SAUDIA is providing more than 4.2 million seats, achieving a 16% increase. Additionally, the airline is introducing over 14,800 flights , reflecting a 15% increase. On domestic routes, over 3.2 million seats will be available through 17,600 flights. The operational plan for the summer of 2023 is continuously monitored by dedicated teams to evaluate its performance. Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, emphasized the airline’s extensive experience in managing operations throughout the year, especially during peak seasons. The plan includes increasing flights, seat capacity, and introducing seasonal destinations to meet guests’ needs while providing excellent services. He also acknowledged the various challenges in the aviation industry. One upcoming challenge is managing the departure of Hajj pilgrims from Makkah. The airline has implemented comprehensive procedures and prepared the necessary facilities to ensure a successful summer season and Hajj pilgrimage. SAUDIA relies on its young fleet and dedicated team from Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) to maintain on-time performance of the aircraft. Earlier this year, SAUDIA Group announced the addition of 25 new international destinations, expanding its network to over 100 destinations. This expansion aims to provide more options for travelers and to connect the world with Saudi Arabia. As part of the …

EGYPTAIR announced that it will operate to Manchester, England, starting from 15th July, in light of its continuous efforts to stimulate tourism and travel, and to upgrade its airline network. The new route represents additional expansion points to EGYPTAIR’s network in Europe and serve new customers of the company around the world. It will operate 5 weekly flights to Manchester, England, starting from July 15, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with its B737-800NG , The outbound flight is at 10:00 am , Cairo time  , Flight No. MS781, arrives at 1:30 pm , Manchester time. EGYPTAIR customers can book their tickets on the two new routes through the EGYPTAIR website, Egyptair.com , EGYPTAIR offices around the world or travel agents.

Iraqi Airways has added Abu Dhabi to its network started flights between Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). Flights will operate on Saturdays in a two-class configuration (Economy and Business Class) by modern Boeing 737-800. Iraqi Airways is planning to add more frequencies soon.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a franchise agreement with DIA SARL to debut IHG’s premium brand, voco, in the Lebanese capital. A conversion property, voco Beirut Central District is scheduled to be rebranded by the end of this year, adding 123 rooms to IHG’s portfolio in the country. Globally, with 46 open hotels and over 50 hotels in the pipeline, voco continues to be a key driver of IHG’s overall growth in the conversion space. The distinctive brand, voco offers a premium experience to guests and combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. Since launching globally in 2018, voco has enjoyed rapid growth with multiple signings across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA), including markets such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The signing of voco Beirut Central District marks the brand’s debut in the Levant region. Located in one of the most prominent areas in the Lebanese capital, voco Beirut Central District will offer proximity to various popular attractions including the high-end F&B strip of Zaituna Bay, Beirut Waterfront, and Beirut Souks.  In addition to best-in-class guest rooms, the hotel will feature an outdoor pool, a rejuvenating spa and a well-equipped gym for guests looking to unwind. voco Beirut Central District will also house a business center and a dedicated theater area, as well as four meeting rooms including a banquet-style room. For guests looking to indulge in exceptional culinary experiences, the new hotel will offer three dining options and a destination rooftop bar, catering to diverse preferences. voco Beirut Central District will also benefit from the strength of IHG’s …

Sabre Corporation announced the integration between Nuvola, its task management and guest engagement software, and the renowned messaging platform WhatsApp. Hotels using Nuvola’s Guest Chat module now have the option to choose between SMS messaging or WhatsApp to power their real-time communications with guests. With over two billion users across 180 countries, the integration with WhatsApp provides hoteliers with a powerful tool to offer a differentiated and seamless guest experience. Additionally, Nuvola recently launched a two-way integration with Sabre’s property management system, SynXis Property Hub. This new integration allows hotel staff to have a more holistic view of the traveler and run operations on-property smoothly. “Properties using Nuvola’s Housekeeping module and Property Hub can send real-time updates to ensure the front desk has accurate room status information, such as if the room is cleaned, and can seamlessly check in guests upon their arrival,” said Juan Abello, Vice President of Product Management at Sabre Hospitality and founder of Nuvola. “Furthermore, if the hotel incorporates Nuvola Guest Chat or the Angel guest app, the information exchanged between the property management system (PMS) and Nuvola has the potential to improve the guest experience and increase the hotel’s guest satisfaction score.” Abello added. SynXis Property Hub is the latest PMS addition to Nuvola’s list of PMS integrations. Nuvola already offers integrations with prevalent PMS providers such as Oracle Opera, SMS Host and Maestro, making it an attractive option for the global hospitality industry. Furthermore, Nuvola currently supports user’s interface in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese languages, enabling each staff member to pick the language they feel most confident using. Additionally, Nuvola is set to release French, German, and Japanese languages next …

Emirates has taken off to Montréal, marking the airline’s first passenger flight to Québec’s culture capital, its second gateway in Canada. The new daily service to Montréal complements Emirates’ seven weekly services to Toronto and takes the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations and a total of 18 across the Americas. The service will provide travellers to Canada connectivity via Dubai from points such as Lebanon, India, Iran, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa. Direct services between Dubai and Montréal are expected to meet demand from a diverse mix of demographics, including business and leisure travellers, in addition to visiting family and friends that consists of Canadians living and working in the UAE. With Montréal being home to a number of world-class universities, the route is expected to become immensely popular amongst students from the Middle East, West and Central Asia and Far East. Emirates executives onboard included: Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Americas; and David Broz, Vice President Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs. Present at the airport to bid farewell to the delegation was HE Radha Krishna Panday, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE. Commanding the inaugural flight to Montréal was Captain Talal Al Hammadi (UAE National), Captain David Reny (Canadian), First Officer Omar Alhammadi (UAE National) and First Officer Veljko Veljovic (Canadian). Emirates will operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and over 300 spacious seats in Economy Class for the daily service.  

Red Sea Global (RSG) has awarded two major contracts to Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) in order to create over 500 new jobs to design, build and operate a Central Production Unit (CPU) for catering services for employee meals, as well as laundry services for The Red Sea destination including employee uniforms and hotel linen. As a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, RSG is playing a critical role in diversifying the economy and creating opportunities for Saudi nationals to break into the tourism sector. As part of the 70,000 jobs that The Red Sea destination will create once fully operational, this collaboration will offer more than 500 new industry roles for talent within the Kingdom. “We are dedicated to ensuring our partners and employees who live and work at The Red Sea receive seamless services. SACC, with over 40 years of experience in catering and amenities, coupled with a deep understanding of the Saudi market, will provide the high standards we expect,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. “It is equally important to us that the communities around our developments have the opportunity to benefit. SACC shares these values and together we will develop local supply chains by looking to work with neighboring businesses, farmers and artisanal producers wherever possible.” The agreements were signed in Riyadh in the presence of John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG, and Wajdy M. Al-Ghabban, CEO of SACC. A number of senior executives from Red Sea Global as well as SACC’s Chairman of the board of directors and other members of the Board and executives were also in attendance. Mr. Mohammed Al-Sarhan, Chairman of Saudi Airlines Catering Company, expressed his pride alongside …

The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) and 19th edition of Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi as FHS-AHIC from 25-27 September 2023 with TravTalk Middle East as media partners. This will bring together senior hospitality leaders, owners and investors and  feature three days of dealmaking and impactful industry discussions under the theme ‘Focus on Investment’. Organised by The Bench, FHS brings together the Middle East and Africa’s industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors. Leaders from some of the world’s most dynamic hospitality brands who have confirmed to speak include Accor Chairman & CEO Sébastian Bazin, Camil Yazbeck, Global Chief Development Officer of Accor; Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO of Rotana; Kevin Jacobs, Chief Financial Officer and President, Global Development for Hilton, and Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality. Among the names representing the real estate, asset management, consulting, banking and investment community are Mariam Al Musharekh, Executive Director of Human Resources at Miral Group; Raed Kuhail, Executive Director of Digital & Technology at Miral Group; Giuliano Gasparini, Head of Hospitality Asset Management at Wasl Group; Dale Qi Shen, Vice President, Director – Real Estate Structuring & Advisory of Mashreq Bank; Andrew Gilmore, Principal Economist at The Economist Group, and Nick van Marken, Managing Director van Marken Consulting. Stephen Sackur, Presenter of HARDTalk, will return to FHS as MC for the event. Technology will once again be at the forefront of the FHS 2023 programme with leaders discussing the future of the hospitality and travel tech stack. Confirmed speakers include Cenk Sidar, CEO and Co-Founder of Enquire IA. “We are excited to announce …

Qatar Airways has landed its inaugural flight to the French city of Lyon, with the new direct service operated by a Boeing 787-8, with four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. This new route expands Qatar Airways’ presence in France, whilst also growing its global network of more than 160 destinations. The flight was celebrated in both the Business Class and Economy Class, where passengers were welcomed with traditional French delicacies and a curated menu offering premium French cuisine. The Director of Commercial and Marketing of the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport, M. Pierre Grosmaire, welcomed the inaugural flight from Doha, alongside Qatar Airways Vice President of Sales, Europe, Mr. Eric Odone. Lyon is Qatar Airways’ third destination in France, with the airline continuing its services to Paris and Nice. Widely known as the culinary capital of France, Lyon is studded with countless Michelin star certified restaurants. The charming city also attracts film lovers owing to its heritage as the birthplace of cinema. Travellers are invited to experience unforgettable culinary experiences and film festivals celebrating the silver screen in a city that is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The new direct service to Lyon will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 which features 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats. The city also serves as a prime gateway to experience the nearby Alpine mountainous range. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to the renowned French city of Lyon. Qatar and France mutually benefit from a longstanding strategic partnership in various fields, including diplomacy, trade, and tourism. Our expanded …