Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments signed a mutually rewarding collaboration with Heritage Express to bring an immersive Emirati-led cultural journey to its guests. Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments is a family-friendly hotel that actively supports initiatives aimed at preserving local culture and heritage and promoting cultural diversity. Experiential tourism is a part of the hotel’s sustainability initiatives to promote UAE culture to its guests, employees and the community. Heritage Express is the only tour provider that offers a unique and inclusive Emirati cultural learning journey. This partnership aims to enhance hotel guest experience and create cultural awareness among residents, tourists and students. Guests can now book the experience at the hotel’s reception desk. For guests coming in groups of ten and above, the trolley bus can be arranged with Heritage Express for pick up and drop off back to the hotel. The experience takes guests in a tour of Old Dubai in a customized Heritage Express trolley with fully trained and experienced Emirati Cultural Ambassadors. The route touches on the historical landmarks, from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, Al Seef, Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai Abra, Al Shindagha Museum, Etihad Museum: Union House to Jumeirah Mosque. The cultural experience also includes a visit to the Bedouin camp to meet the camels and falcons, a taste of authentic Emirati dishes, and open conversations with Q&A where the Emirati Cultural Ambassadors share their stories too. Heritage Express guarantees the safety of the whole experience. The trolley bus is equipped with advanced visibility, horizontal seatbelts, CCTV monitoring, first aid kit, first aid certified drivers, GPS tracking, fire extinguisher, and firefighting certified drivers. It has a dedicated door for people of …

Hamad International Airport (DOH) commemorates this year’s Qatar National Sports Day by hosting a variety of engaging fitness related activities across its terminal. A diverse range of interactive fitness activations are featured throughout the airport for departing and transfer passengers of all ages, including a Leopard Crawl, Tyre Challenge, Sack Race, Hula Hoop Competition, Tennis Tetherball, Paper Plane Competition, Hang & Squat Challenge, and Runway Dash. As Qatar’s gateway to the world, Hamad International Airport takes pride in reflecting the country’s celebrations and initiatives to the millions of passengers traversing its terminals. In line with the goals of Qatar National Sports Day, this initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of sports and fitness in fostering a healthier lifestyle. The airport’s transformation into a hub for sports enthusiasts of all ages aligns seamlessly with the nation’s overarching initiatives and celebrations. Hamad International Airport plays a crucial role in extending the spirit of Qatar National Sports Day to the millions of passengers travelling through the airport, offering them with an opportunity to engage in the nation’s activities and experience the vibrant celebrations. Hamad International Airport extends a warm invitation to all travelers to actively participate in the various activities and join in spreading awareness about the significance of health and fitness. Since its inauguration in 2014, Hamad International Airport has been consistently ranked among the best in the world due to its passenger-first approach. Functioning as a versatile lifestyle destination, Hamad International Airport boasts an array of offerings, including exquisite fine dining options, captivating art collections, world-class retail, entertainment areas, sports facilities, and relaxation spaces.

KlasJet has entered a 3-month-long contract with US-Bangla Airlines Ltd.This partnership involves the leasing of a 737-800 aircraft, which will be based at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, operating flights to multiple destinations across the Middle East and Asia. Augustinas Riskus, Deputy CCO at KlasJet, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: “One of our main long-term strategic goals at KlasJet is to cater to a variety of regions worldwide. The new partnership with US-Bangla Airlines is giving our company a chance to serve the needs of the Middle East and Asia regions and learn the business specifics of this part of the world that was untouched by KlasJet until now. We are dedicated to delivering a seamless experience for our clients and their passengers, placing great emphasis on quality and professionalism in all aspects of our operations,” Bulka comments. Jitendra Pandey, Head – Commercial & Contracts at US-Bangla Airlines, commented: “We believe KlasJet has the capability, and they can support US-Bangla Airlines to cater to the ever-growing demand for air travel from Bangladesh. We are confident of expanding this partnership further shortly” says Mr. Pandey. KlasJet is a family member of Avia Solutions Group — the world’s largest ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) provider with a 199 aircraft fleet, operating on all continents in the world. The group also provides various aviation services such as MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), pilots and crew training, ground handling, and other interconnected solutions.

Air Arabia announced record financial results for the full year ending December 31, 2023. The airline has achieved double-digit growth in profitability and passenger numbers, showcasing its commitment to growth plans and exceptional financial and operational performance. Air Arabia has reported a record net profit of AED 1.5 billion for the full year ending December 31, 2023; representing a 27 per cent increase compared to the AED 1.2 billion recorded in 2022. Moreover, the airline’s turnover for the same period reached AED 6 billion, reflecting a 14 per cent increase compared to the AED 5.2 billion registered in 2022. Full Year 2023 Performance: AED FY 2023 FY 2022 % Revenue AED 6 billion AED 5.2 billion 14% Passenger Numbers*all hubs* 16.7 million 12.8 million 31% Seat Load Factor 80% 80% – Net Profit AED 1.54 billion AED 1.2 billion 27%   Air Arabia’s Board of Directors proposed a dividend distribution of 20 per cent of share capital, which is equivalent to 20 fils per share. This proposal was made following a meeting of the board of directors of Air Arabia and is subject to ratification by Air Arabia’s shareholders at the company’s upcoming Annual General Meeting.   Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “2023 has been a remarkable year for the airline. Air Arabia has successfully maintained its growth momentum from the previous record-breaking year and achieved exceptional financial and operational results. The significant milestones attained in terms of growth, revenue, and profitability serve as a testament to Air Arabia’s robust business model, competent management team, and effective growth strategy.” He continued: “Despite the numerous geopolitical and economic challenges faced by the global aviation industry, the …

Riyadh Air announced a fundamental collaboration with Sabre Corporation to underscore Riyadh Air’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and driving incremental revenue gains through Sabre’s end-to-end Network Planning and Optimization solutions. Sabre Network Planning and Optimization solutions empower collaborative and intelligent decision-making, ensuring airlines can optimally design their networks, accurately forecast demand, and profitably schedule and allocate available capacity. Under this groundbreaking deal, Riyadh Air has chosen Sabre’s comprehensive suite of solutions, including Sabre Schedule Manager, Sabre Slot Manager, Sabre Profit Manager, and Sabre Market Intelligence – Global Demand Data (GDD) to achieve its strategic goals and drive its vision. “Sabre’s technology provides a new level of insight that will enable Riyadh Air to make informed network planning and commercial decisions, ensuring greater revenue returns, allowing us to invest more in enhancing the overall passenger experience,” said Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer, Riyadh Air. “We have carefully selected a stable of world class technical suppliers to power Riyadh Air towards its maiden flight in 2025, and this collaboration is a key milestone in our journey to achieve operational excellence and scale our business efficiently.” Sabre Schedule Manager is an industry-leading scheduling solution that increases aircraft utilization by optimizing the schedule development process from planning to distribution, thereby increasing revenue potential. This solution seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party solutions and has globally assisted airlines in achieving incremental operating margins and increases in productivity, while maintaining robust and operationally feasible schedules. Sabre Slot Manager is another integral component of Sabre’s suite that automates the slot process and efficiently manages an airline’s critical slot portfolio with improved asset utilization. It stands out as the industry’s most comprehensive slot management solution …

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) announced a new partnership with Formula E to build the world’s first Formula E branded indoor karting attraction across multiple SEVEN entertainment destinations across the Kingdom. Formula E was created to disrupt elite motorsport with a bold vision of using electric racing to accelerate sustainable human progress. What followed was the development of never-seen-before electric racing technology and pioneering race formats to create a sport unrestrained by tradition or expectation. Abdulla Nasser AlDawood, Chairman of SEVEN, commented: “Our strategic partnership with Formula E to bring never seen before Formula E branded racing tracks within our Entertainment destinations, strategically complements our mission of creating a Multiverse of entertainment offerings that cater to the different needs of our future guests that build and nurture their skills and evokes growth. We aspire to have the 1st Saudi car racing champion coming from our Formula E attraction. Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, said: “We are thrilled to be working alongside SEVEN, the entertainment champion in KSA. Our objectives and goals align in bringing the excitement of Formula E to the kingdom and taking fans closer to real racing action through the Formula E Karting experience across the SEVEN destinations. I am confident this incredible initiative will accelerate the potential of Saudi Arabia’s promising young drivers and create a future world champion.” The license agreement was signed by Eng. Essam Othman Al Jubair, Chief Operating Officer at SEVEN and Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E. The Formula E Karting attractions are set to be built at four of SEVEN entertainment destinations located in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha. Each attraction will offer a diverse selection of …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, and its subsidiaries, Visit Oman and Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC),  announced the launch of MASARAT 2.0. This ground-breaking initiative, falling under the umbrella of the #IAmTourism strategy, marking a significant stride towards Oman’s Vision 2040 for youth empowerment. MASARAT 2.0, an expansion of the successful inaugural MASARAT programme launched last year. marking a significant step forward, the program boasts an expanded network of participating entities, solidifying the group’s unwavering commitment to fostering young talent and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in the tourism industry. Said Al Manji , head of initiatives and projects section at Ministry of Labour emphasised, “The MASARAT 2.0 programme is a prime example of effective public-private partnerships. It aligns seamlessly with the Ministry’s goals to create sustainable employment opportunities for Omani youth, thereby contributing to our nation’s long-term economic prosperity.” Wiam Al Marhubi, Human Capital Generalist at OMRAN Group, commented, “Through MASARAT 2.0, we are not just offering jobs; we are crafting careers. We are equipping our talented youth with the necessary skills to excel and lead in the tourism sector, as well as broadening its horizons. OCEC’s CEO, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, remarked, “Integrating fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from the youth is vital for our growth. MASARAT 2.0 provides us with an opportunity to bring in fresh talent who will drive the future of the MICE industry in Oman.” Shabib Al Mamaari, Managing Director of Visit Oman, added, “Our participation in MASARAT 2.0 reflects our commitment to the future of tourism in Oman. By fostering fresh talent, we ensure the continued growth and prosperity of …

In 2023, Dubai hotels occupied room nights soared to a record high of 41.70 million, marking a 11% increase compared to 2022 (37.43 million). This growth also represents a substantial 30% rise from the pre-pandemic figures of 2019, which saw 32.11 million occupied room nights. Reflecting the commitment of the city and hospitality sector to offer competitive pricing, the 2023 ADR of AED536 matched the ADR in 2022. The hotel sector’s robust performance is also evident in its RevPAR growth – an increase of 6% compared to 2022 (AED415 vs. AED391) and a growth of 33% over the pre-pandemic period of 2019 (RevPAR of AED312). Guests’ Length of Stay was 3.8 nights in 2023, a 10% increase from 3.4 nights in 2019. His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “As Dubai continues its exponential growth in alignment with the D33 Agenda set forth by our forward-thinking leadership, we remain committed to further elevating our standards and to advancing with innovative and distinctive world-class infrastructure, experiences and attractions. The extensive range of offerings and Dubai’s reputation as a secure, inclusive and accessible destination have been consistently recognised across multiple global indices, culminating in the city being crowned the No.1 global destination for an unprecedented third year in a row in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024.   Hotels outperform pre-pandemic levels across all metrics Dubai’s hospitality sector, which is integral to the emirate’s destination promise and overall growth of the tourism industry, continued to perform strongly, surpassing pre-pandemic levels across all hospitality metrics – Occupancy, Occupied Room Nights, Guests’ Length of Stay, Average Daily Rate (ADR), and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR). Occupancy remains …

Etihad Airways published its preliminary traffic statistics for January 2024 where the carrier welcomed more than 1.4 million guests onboard and saw its load factor average out at 86.04 per cent across the month. “In January 2024 we saw a 35 per cent year-on-year growth in customer numbers and were flying to five more destinations than the same period in 2023, making us one of the fastest growing airlines in the world,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “We are meeting customer demand by adding more flights to key destinations, and Etihad is now offering almost 27% per cent more weekly departures for Summer 24 compared to last summer. “We began the year by launching daily flights from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India taking our total number of Indian gateways to 10. “We are proud to have welcomed 1.4 million guests to our new home, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, and we eagerly anticipate introducing more of the world to both the new airport and the onboard Etihad experience throughout 2024, as our network and frequencies continue to expand.”

It was revealed that Spain recorded 56% increase of GCC travellers in 2023 compared to 2019 with a 33% increase compared to 2022. Saudi Arabia can be presented as the prime example of this growth, with more than 100% increase 19-23 and with a 92% increase in 23-22, the total number of Saudi tourists has surged up to 182 thousand, surpassing UAE as the main GCC market for Spain, and consolidating its status and the country’s vision for 2030. United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait follow after with this trend. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434 thousand, with an average stay of 8.6 days and a notable increase in expenditure. Factors such as good weather, family-friendly environments, and cultural resonance including the great arab legacy attract GCC travelers to Spain. Looking ahead to 2024, Spain aims to further consolidate its position as a top destination for Middle Eastern travelers through marketing campaigns, strategic alliances and multiple events. In line with this, Spain Tourism recently concluded a successful roadshow across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, showcasing various regions and offerings of Spain to travel trade partners. The event facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, emphasizing Spain’s commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers. Commenting on the success of the roadshow,Daniel Rosado, Director/Tourism Counsellor at Spain Tourism, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted with the positive response and engagement we received during our roadshow in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. These regions hold immense potential for Spanish tourism, and our collaboration with travel trade partners has strengthened our commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers.” The roadshow aligns with Spain Tourism’s broader …