Hilton announced its debut in Tunisia with the opening of the highly anticipated Hilton Skanes Monastir Beach Resort – a unique property set close to historical cultural landmarks, offering panoramic Mediterranean views, world-class dining, and a destination-worthy wellness centre. Located six miles from Monastir downtown and eight miles from Sousse, Skanes is a highly sought-after resort destination on Tunisia’s coastline, renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. Hilton Skanes Monastir Beach Resort is close to the Monastir-Habib Bourguiba International Airport, making it easily accessible to major attractions such as the Ribat of Monastir, Mausoleum of Bourguiba, Medina of Sousse, and other cultural attractions, visited and enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Golfers can enjoy their favourite sport on the Monastir Flamingo Golf Course located within the immediate vicinity of the resort. Jan van der Putten, vice president, operations, Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton said: “We’re excited to be opening Hilton Skanes Monastir Beach Resort, bringing Hilton’s world-class hospitality to Tunisia once again. This new resort offers guests a blend of Tunisian heritage, modern sophistication, culinary excellence, and Hilton hospitality – creating the perfect beachside stay. By growing our portfolio of wonderful resort hotels across the African continent, we are providing new holiday choices for travellers in outstanding destinations like Tunisia, as well as creating career opportunities for residents in the travel and tourism industry.” The resort’s interiors offer a unique interpretation of Tunisian culture, creating an exclusive sense of place, where designs tell a story and spaces have meaning. Guests are welcomed into the lobby with warm marine colours – white and turquoise – transporting them into a world of calm. Meanwhile, the 346-rooms and suites are …

Kuwait Airways announced the inauguration of its Elite Lounge at the Terminal 4, designated for Royal and First Class passengers, in addition to Platinum Card holders of the Oasis Club. The Elite Lounge was inaugurated by Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali M. Al-Dukhan, KAC’s Board Members, and the Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Airways, Eng. Maen Razouqi, in the presence of the Acting Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Mr. Saleh Al-Fadaghi, the Director General of the General Department of Airport Security at the Ministry of Interior, Brigadier General Essa Al-Failakawi, the CEO of Incheon Korea Airports Management Company, Mr. Jung June Ahn and various officials representing Kuwait Airways, Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Interior.  As part of the inauguration, a tour of the lounge was conducted for the officials, highlighting the various services available to the customers. On the side lines of the inauguration, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan felicitated the attendees on the opening of the Elite Lounge at Terminal 4, revealing the new image of the Blue Bird, which was announced in the beginning of this year. At the same time, Al-Dukhan also commended the efforts extended by Kuwait Airways’ employees in implementing and completing the preparations of the lounge with a high level of efficiency and in a short time, to provide distinguished services to the passengers of Royal and First Class. Moreover, Al-Dukhan expressed his happiness at the opening of the Elite Lounge, held in the presence of officials from Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Interior and extended appreciations to them for their continuous support and cooperation. He indicated that the opening of the Elite Lounge comes within the …

Home grown brand, Rotana announced the agreement signing for Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa Gonio, with one of the largest developers in Georgia, Pontus Capital. The luxury property located in the beach suburb of famous Batumi, is expected to open in 2026, catering to both business and leisure travellers. Integrating traditional architecture with modern living, Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa boasts 600 spacious rooms offering unobstructed views of the natural landscape. Guests staying at the property will also enjoy access to world-class gaming at the grand casino. The five-star property will offer an additional range of services and amenities including a private beach, exquisite dining venues, a serene spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fully equipped wellness and fitness center as well as a dedicated interactive kids play zone. Commenting on the announcement, Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO of Rotana, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Pontus Capital to debut the first Rotana branded five-star property in Georgia. Complete with glamourous architecture, a variety of fine-dining venues and elevated recreation facilities, Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa will deliver on our singular brand promise of ‘Treasured Time’ for guests and visitors alike. The 600-key property marks a significant milestone for Rotana as we continue to expand our footprint internationally with new regions in the pipeline, and we look forward to the property’s successful launch.” A beautiful coastal town nestled along the Black Sea coast, Gonio is renowned for its picturesque beaches and luscious green mountains. Pontus Rotana Resort & Spa will provide a beautiful backdrop for visitors to enjoy while they relax on the private beach or explore the local town. Batumi International Airport is only seven minutes …

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals the UAE travel & tourism sector is projected to meet the 2019 peak this year. The sector is set to contribute AED 180.6 billion to the UAE economy by the end of 2023, almost matching the 2019 high AED 183.4 billion, only 1.5% behind pre-pandemic levels. This represents nearly 10% of the total economy. WTTC is also forecasting that the sector will create nearly 7,000 jobs this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 745,100, to reach more than 758,000 employed by travel & tourism. Last year, the travel & tourism sector’s GDP contribution grew more than 60% to reach nearly AED 167 billion, representing 9% of the country’s economy. The sector also created more than 89,000 more jobs from the previous year to reach more than 751,000 jobs nationally, surpassing 2019 levels by an additional 6,000 jobs. 2022 saw the return of international travellers to the UAE, with India (13%), Oman (8%), Saudi Arabia (8%), and UK (7%) leading as source markets for international arrivals. According to the data, in 2022, international visitors contributed AED 117.6 billion to the national economy, representing a year-on-year growth of 65.3%, although 19% behind 2019 levels. In terms of domestic spend, 2022 saw a 35.7% year-on-year jump, reaching AED 46.9 billion, 10.6% above its pre-pandemic counterpart. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The national Travel & Tourism sector is recovering at a rapid pace, proving the UAE continues to grow in popularity amongst international travellers. The UAE is home to one of the world’s busiest and successful airports, Dubai International, which acts as a gateway to the Middle East. “The …

Google Cloud and Qatar Airways have agreed to collaborate to set out the airline’s intention to explore leveraging Google Cloud’s data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to create superior customer experiences for its passengers. In 2022, Qatar Airways carried 18.5 million passengers across 150 destinations worldwide. This large volume of passengers drives an abundance of structured and unstructured data to the airline’s digital transformation unit. The proposed collaboration with Google Cloud is intended to help bring deeper meaning to Qatar Airways’ customer data through the power of Google’s data analytics, AI and machine learning (ML) solutions, including BigQuery and Vertex AI. This, in turn, will enable the airline to enhance the travel experience for passengers, providing them with offerings personalized to their individual needs, travel trends, and past travel history. Qatar Airways Chief Information Officer, Mr. A.T. Srinivasan, said, “Qatar Airways is a highly respected aviation leader which has always set benchmarks with its globally recognised and award-winning customer service. Google Cloud brings us the opportunity to build elasticity and scalability on demand, as we increasingly look to leverage both structured and unstructured data to personalise customer and employee experience. We will also leverage Google’s highly secure and diverse set of Cloud service offerings for optimising our airline and airport operations particularly in the areas of aircraft inventory, flight operations both on ground and in the air, as well as airport operations. We also look forward to collaborating with Google Cloud to try out some of their cutting-edge technology through this long-term partnership. The presence of a Cloud in Qatar gives us the assurance that our data stays in-country and we can focus on data and AI/ML led innovation …

Cruise Saudi  is committed to creating 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Saudi by 2035, which will benefit the local workforce. In line with this, Cruise Saudi was keen to participate in the Ministry of Tourism’s first two-day Tourism Job Fair, with the aim of recruiting Saudi talents in the rapidly growing cruise tourism sector. Cruise Saudi Chief Human Capital Officer Ayman AlGhamdi said: “As we are developing a new industry that supports the Saudi Tourism sector, we believe in investing in the local community and its cadres. With a Saudization rate of 71 per cent, we are proud of our local talents who have proven their capabilities, qualifications and fast development in a wide range of cruise related fields.” Additionally, Cruise Saudi has outperformed the female employment goals outlined in Vision 2030, with their participation in the workforce now reaching 32 per cent, ahead of the 2030 target of 30 per cent. Saudi tourism is currently undergoing a massive transformation with a focus on long-term, sustainable growth. Under plans set out in Vision 2030, tourism will become an important tributary for national economy. Deputy Minister of Tourism Human Capabilities Development Mohamed Bushnaq said: “This forum comes at a pivotal moment, as Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is undergoing substantial development. Having transformed into a regulated industry backed by regulations, systems, projects, and programs, it is striving to become one of the most important pillars of Saudi Vision 2030. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the diversification and prosperity of the national economy. “We are here today, steadfastly continuing our journey to provide more opportunities for this generous nation by launching the first tourism employment forum both in-person and through …

Expanding its roster of collaborators, the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation to establish luxury hotels across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The collaboration aims to develop several hospitality-led destinations which will enhance the tourism offering in Saudi Arabia. These destinations may include beach and urban hotels, as well as mountain, desert and farm retreats. They will be developed under Hyatt’s existing trademarks, such as Alila Resorts, which offer an authentic wellness destination experience, or other trademarks such as Park Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Grand Hyatt and any other Hyatt brands mutually agreed upon by the entities. The development of these hotels would be part of the Kingdom’s National Tourism Strategy and in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Commenting on the agreement, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund Qusai Al-Fakhri, said, “We are joining forces with many legacy brands in the tourism, hospitality, and business travel segments as we continue to thoughtfully expand our roster of collaborators. This collaboration with Hyatt will help us to attract tourists and ensure that they receive a comfortable, high-quality experience in the Kingdom’s top tourism destinations.” Hyatt has one of the world’s largest portfolios of hotels and resorts, focused on the high-end travellers in each segment that it serves, and is continually growing its brand footprint. It has established an industry-leading luxury, lifestyle, and leisure portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which is significantly contributing to its global expansion. Regional Vice President, Development – Middle East and Africa at Hyatt Ludwig Bouldoukian, said, “Saudi Arabia is the largest emerging market in the Middle East and has made significant advances …

Sindalah is expected to start welcoming guests to enjoy its bespoke nautical experiences, exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings from early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services. With its incredible array of amenities, state-of-the-art marine facilities, strategic location and exceptional natural landscapes, Sindalah is expected to become established as one of the most alluring islands in the Red Sea. Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 square meters, Sindalah, is one of a group of islands that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design. Building on its ability to design new tourism opportunities from the ground up, NEOM is working with world-class leisure and hotel brands to make Sindalah an exclusive and glamorous destination in the Red Sea for the world’s yachting community. NEOM is developing the island to be a premium destination surrounded by a stunning and diverse marine environment which has one of the world’s most beautiful coral reserves. This was disclosed as NEOM signed an agreement with Riyad Bank for SAR 3 billion in debt financing to help fund the development of Sindalah, marking the first NEOM region to be successfully financed with bank debt. Riyad Bank is one of the largest supporters of Saudi Vision 2030 and has developed a diverse range of initiatives specifically designed to support business capabilities from establishment, logistics and investment. Its strategic locations across the world include England, US, Singapore, and soon China, all of which facilitate foreign investments, managed by a talented and experienced team of specialists. Tareq A. Al-Sadhan, CEO, Riyad Bank, added: “NEOM represents an incredible opportunity for our …

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has unveiled a new initiative for tourism education, which intends to collaborate with universities and higher education institutions throughout the Kingdom to offer distinctive and enriching educational programs. These programs are specially designed to align tourism and hospitality education with the market requirements, and to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure lucrative employment opportunities in this sector. At a special event held in Riyadh, Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud, Vice Minister of Tourism, launched this initiative on behalf of His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al Khateeb. The ceremony was attended by several key partners from government entities and the education sector, who discussed the programs’ primary objectives and implementation strategies. Additionally, the event witnessed the signing of four memorandums of cooperation with MoE, MHRSD, ETEC, and KFUPM. During this occasion, Her Highness stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with the top educational institutions in the Kingdom to introduce the tourism education initiative in order to raise awareness and attractiveness of opportunities in the tourism sector for Saudi citizens and education sector leaders. This initiative is in line with MT’s strategy to meet the needs resulting from the sector’s rapid growth. The launch of these programs will also guarantee that suitable talents are accessible to support the Kingdom’s march towards fulfilling NTS and Vision 2030 objectives, by empowering the next generation of Saudi talents.” Students will have the opportunity to enroll in specialized programs as part of the educational program. These programs include the “Travel and Tourism Diploma” offered by the University of Tabuk in partnership with the renowned Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the “Diploma in …

Qatar Tourism has installed an official monument on the Doha Corniche, in recognition of Doha’s landmark Arab Tourism Capital for 2023 title, which was awarded by the Arab Ministerial Council earlier this year. The monument, which reflects the official Doha Arab Tourism Capital 2023 logo, is positioned in a photogenic location on the Corniche. The design of the monument was inspired by the slogan of Doha Capital of Arab Tourism 2023, which reflects the city of Doha as a modern centre for tourism rooted in its rich cultural heritage. Since Doha received the prestigious award, Qatar’s tourism sector has welcomed an incredible start to the year. With over a million visitors in the first quarter of 2023, Qatar registered its highest ever first quarter of international arrivals. In April, Qatar Tourism announced the re-launch of the Hayya platform in its new form, inviting tourists who currently need a visa to Qatar to enjoy the country’s famously warm Arabian hospitality and diverse touristic offering. The Hayya platform unifies all visa process for tourists and business visas to Qatar.