Sabre Corporation  and Royal Jordanian Airlines announced the renewal and expansion of a long-term distribution and technology agreement to continue to distribute the carrier’s content through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS) and to utilize Sabre’s leading technology to achieve its strategic goals. Under the expanded agreement, Royal Jordanian will continue distributing its content to the large network of travel agents and corporations worldwide connected to Sabre’s GDS. Furthermore, the airline will be deploying a set of Sabre leading technology including Sabre’s Dynamic availability and Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer. The adoption of these products can help Royal Jordanian Airlines move toward a more flexible and modern environment, while supporting its growth. “We have ambitious plans to double our fleet and operations within the coming 3-5 years and to position Royal Jordanian as the carrier of choice connecting Jordan and Levant with the world,” said Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Royal Jordanian.  “Our extended technology partnership with Sabre will help us deploy the most robust and advanced technology to enable our growth plans, help us drive profitability and improve our efficiency while staying on top of today’s ever-changing airline landscape. We are excited to continue partnering with Sabre at this exciting time.” Dynamic Availability empowers airlines to gain better control of their pricing position by leveraging shopping data, automating fare changes, and enabling dynamic pricing capabilities to generate recommendations that help drive incremental revenue opportunities. Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer, on the other hand, brings integrated end-to-end automation and intelligence to airline pricing to increase analyst productivity and improve revenue opportunities. “As a key building block for personalized retailing, our dynamic pricing engine enables airlines to optimize availability at scale and …

Turespaña in partnership with Emirates Holidays conducted a B2B activation at the newly launched Emirates World store at the Town Centre Mall ,Jumeirah. This is first of a kind activity at the store and had around 25 select HNWI clients of Emirates Holidays to whom Daniel Rosado – Director , Spain Tourism presented the many offerings from Spain to the Emirati clients in particular . The event started off with the guests  experiencing zero alcohol grape beverages from Bodegas Torres- a renowned Spanish winery that has been quite popular with Middle Eastern clients followed by some light entertainment for the guests who won various prizes like Spanish goodie bags and gift hampers.” Speaking with Tourism breaking news Daniel Rosado, Director Spain Tourism GCC, reiterated, “ It’s always great to interact with direct customers and understand their viewpoints and expectations about Spain as a destination . It was a good turn out and we were very happy to learn that most of the customers have been to Spain at least once and have Spain on their mind for the upcoming holidays “ Namratha Rose, Marketing Manager Spain tourism shared, “ We have been trying to conduct different kinds of activities to promote Spain and this collaboration with emirates holidays is definitely a good one as this is the first time we had an in store activity and it was good to see everybody experience a bit of Spain and enjoy their time at the store . We will be having more of these activities for our B2C clients in the coming months as well  “  

The Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has announced the soft opening for the 1,800-metre dual zipline project in the Wilayat of Khasab, in the Governorate of Musandam. This project is part of an integrated adventure centre designed to offer tourists unique experiences that combine adventure and exploration. An exciting zipline project is the first activity offered by the Oman Adventure Centre, which is being developed as part of a comprehensive development plan for the region. Through this plan, the Musandam Governorate will be able to diversify its tourism market by providing a wide variety of quality products and experiences. This will enable it to draw out its potential and highlight its position as a prominent tourist destination in the region. The Oman Adventure Centre was designed to accommodate a broad range of facilities, providing visitors with an integrated tourism experience. It has a waiting area and more facilities. Additionally, the zipline project will be managed and operated by LEOS, a specialist operator that runs adventure and entertainment projects on a regional and international scale. On this occasion, Mubarak bin Ali al Rahbi, Head of the Musandam Governor’s Office said, “The Musandam Governorate has a wealth of tourism offerings that can be utilised to develop a wide range of tourism projects. This project illustrates our ongoing efforts to utilise these elements for tourism development.” He added, “We are confident that the zipline project will encourage businesses within and outside the Governorate to develop more tourism-related services. In doing so, they will contribute to the sector’s growth, aligning with our vision to place Musandam on the local and regional map of the most prominent tourist destinations, especially in the areas of …

Amaala and The Red Sea, announced a partnership with leading longevity clinic and wellness brand, Clinique La Prairie. The partnership involves the development of a high-end 36,115 sqm Clinique La Prairie Health Resort within Amaala, which is located on Saudi Arabia’s north-western coastline. The exclusive resort will offer 13 villas, as well as housing 52 rooms and suites. “Clinique La Prairie’s world-renowned facilities and health and wellness experiences, set against Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary natural landscapes, will take our visitors on transformative personal journeys inspired by arts, wellness, and the purity of the Red Sea. The resort’s subtle beauty – a product of Islamic architecture and modern craftmanship – will deliver a serene place in which to unwind, meditate and rejuvenate,” said John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global. Clinique La Prairie’s approach to wellbeing prioritizes longevity. This is symbolized by the central “Longevity Plaza” leading to four distinctive areas of the resort corresponding to each one of the property’s pillars – medical care, nutrition, movement and wellbeing. These sections will host a vast array of activities and facilities, including all the latest technologies developed over 90 years by Clinique La Prairie to enable clients to live a longer, healthier, and fuller life. The resort also features a diagnostics lab, museum, beach club, workshop and training rooms, private dining space, and even a cooking school, ensuring visitors can embark on an inimitable journey of rejuvenation and self-discovery. Landscaping around the property is vital to architect John Heah’s vision for the resort. Idyllic gardens are used to establish a sense of place and tranquility and add to the connected journey for visitors. Clinique La Prairie has a unique approach to wellbeing, combining …

Collective Retreats, a pioneer in outdoor experiential hospitality, has announced a partnership with NEOM to open a next generation, ultra- sustainable retreat in Trojena, the snow-capped mountain destination located in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Slated to open at the start of 2026, Collective Trojena will re-imagine the outdoor hospitality experience – offering guests unprecedented access to discover and explore the region’s spectacular and incomparable beauty located 50km from the Gulf of Aqaba. The retreat will feature approximately 60 open-air guest rooms and innovative meeting space concepts as well as dramatic water features, communal campfires and inspired culinary experiences, evoking the intrepid spirit of the Collective Retreats brand while showcasing a masterstroke blend of natural and developed landscapes. Collective Trojena will also offer direct access to the development’s full array of year-round and world-class outdoor activities including skiing and snowboarding, high altitude training, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, and water sports as well as culture-forward programming around film, art, music, and food. “We founded Collective Retreats with the singular goal of changing the way people travel.  We want travelers to see the world with renewed curiosity and a greater appreciation for conservation of the extraordinary natural beauty that surrounds us,” said Collective Retreats CEO and Founder Peter Mack. “Trojena provides the ultimate backdrop to achieve this mission in ways we never imagined.  In addition to giving a global audience a new perspective on this spectacular mountain setting, we are committed to demonstrating that luxury travel should not be extractive and it’s possible to both preserve the environment  and deliver extraordinary guest experiences.” Set within NEOM, Trojena is paving the way for the next frontier in sustainability by powering the mountain destination with a …

Continuing its ambitious and dynamic strategy of fleet and network expansion, Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has unveiled its summer schedule for 2023. The schedule specifies significant frequency increases on existing routes, and the addition of four destinations—representing a 60% increase in the number of flights from its hub in Muscat compared to the previous year. This will provide the market with approximately 60,000 more seats weekly across its network and provide greater convenience and connectivity for Oman Air guests. The four additional destinations being introduced for the summer schedule are: four-weekly flights from Muscat to Chittagong (from March end); four-weekly flights from Muscat to Maldives (from June end); twelve-weekly flights from Muscat to Lucknow and five-weekly flights between Muscat and Thiruvananthapuram (from August). Due to popular demand, the new summer schedule will see frequency increases to the following regions:     Far East Indian Sub-Continent Europe GCC Daily flights to Phuket (from March end, wide-body) Double-daily flights to Mumbai (from March end, wide-body) Daily flights to Moscow (from March end, wide-body) Double-daily flights to Kuwait (from June) Ten-weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur (from June) Double-daily flights to Chennai (from March end) Six-weekly flights to Paris (from March end) Five-daily flights to Salalah (from July)   Double-daily flights to Cochin (from March end) Daily flights to Trabzon (from March end)     Double-daily flights to Kozhikode (from March end) Double-daily flights to Istanbul (from June)     Double-daily flights to Hyderabad (from March end)       Daily flights to Dhaka (from March end, wide-body)     The expanded network and schedule for 2023 demonstrates Oman Air’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the economy of …

In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued Decree No. (5) of 2023 amending some provisions of Decree No. 25 of 2013 pertaining to the eLicensing and eTicketing System for events in Dubai. Under the provisions of Decree No. (5) of 2023, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism has waived the collection of 10% of the actual or estimated value of a ticket sold, or up to AED10 per guest, as stipulated in the previous Decree. However, it will continue to levy the fees for the annual subscription to the E-Permit and E-Ticketing system. The new Decree is one of a series resolutions issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum aimed at raising Dubai’s economic competitiveness, creating a pro-growth business environment, and further raising standards across sectors. Recently, His Highness issued a resolution to establish new corporations affiliated with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism to enhance key economic growth drivers including business attractiveness, development initiatives, ease of doing business, consumer protection and sectoral governance. By helping enhance Dubai’s position as an international events destination, the move supports the objective of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate the emirate’s position as one of the world’s top three cities and the leadership’s vision to transform Dubai into the globe’s best city to live, visit and work. The new Decree is part of Dubai’s initiatives to constantly enhance its legislative and regulatory frameworks to improve its economic capabilities and competitiveness. It is also aligned with the emirate’s efforts to provide various incentives to strengthen Dubai’s economic ecosystem and enhance growth. Ahmed …

Oman and Etihad Rail Company, the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, signed a cooperation agreement with Mubadala Investment Company, a sovereign investor in Abu Dhabi, to support the development of the 303km railway network, which connects Oman and the UAE, with an overall investment value of USD 3 billion. The UAE-Oman Rail Network will increase market competitiveness and reduce the overall cost of supply chains, due to its increased efficiency compared to other modes of transport. The Network will also provide trade and investment opportunities for the private sector, providing new and diverse job opportunities, training national human resources, enriching tourism activities, improving the competitiveness of the two countries in global trade and establishing their position as logistics hubs that serve as gateways to regional markets. The network will employ the highest international security, safety, and environmental standards to provide safe and fast passenger and freight services. Passenger trains will run up to 200 km per hour, reducing the time of the journey between Sohar and Abu Dhabi to 100 minutes, and between Sohar and Al Ain to 47 minutes, while the freight train speed will reach 120 km per hour. The partnership comes in line with the two parties’ efforts to explore investment opportunities in the railway sector and strengthen cooperation to support the Oman and Etihad Rail Company in accelerating the planning and execution process of the UAE-Oman Rail Network. The cooperation agreement includes formation of working groups and joint committees to benefit from the shared expertise and knowledge, joint efforts in developing economic and financial feasibility studies, in addition to joint investments in the development of the UAE-Oman railway network and cooperation to enhance …

Etihad Airways is expanding its European network this summer with the introduction of a new direct service between Abu Dhabi and Lisbon, effective from 2 July 2023. The airline will be connecting Abu Dhabi to Portugal’s capital city right in time for the summer holidays, with three weekly flights scheduled to be operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. “We’re excited to introduce flights to Portugal for the first time and provide our guests with convenient travel options to one of the most popular summer destinations for 2023,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “As one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, the coastal city of Lisbon is a great entry-point to exploring the rest of the country, with perfect beaches, historic castles, fantastic nightlife and a warm and welcoming people. “Our new direct connection will enhance the trade and tourism ties between the UAE and Portugal, and we are grateful for the support of the Portuguese authorities in establishing our new air link.” As well as introducing flights to Lisbon, Etihad Airways will be returning to Málaga on the Spanish Costa del Sol and the popular Greek island of Mykonos this summer. Etihad Airways will be flying to Málaga twice-per-week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, from 18 June 2023. Lying on a wide bay with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most visited coastal cities in Spain, Málaga is famous for its miles-long sandy beaches, culture and food. Travellers can also look forward to Etihad Airways launching flights to Mykonos, lying in the deep blue waters of the Aegean sea, with twice-per-week services on Mondays and Fridays from 16 June 2023. With world-class …

Kuwait Airways sponsored the eighth annual international conference titled ‘Practical Solutions for Dyslexia & ‏Dyscalculia, as an official airline of the event, organized by the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences – KALD during the period from 10-12 February 2023, in the presence of numerous attendees consisting of specialists and experts in the field. ​ The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations department at Kuwait Airways, Mr. Khalid Al-Bustan stated, “Kuwait Airways is honoured to participate as an official airline in the eighth international conference on Dyslexia & ‏Dyscalculia. This comes within the framework of its relentless endeavour to support and encourage such important and significant initiatives that aim to educate and enlighten the community about the problems faced by learners with dyslexia.” Al-Bustan added, “Kuwait Airways is keen to implement its social responsibility programs and policies, as the Blue Bird is an integral part of Kuwait’s society and is committed to its role towards initiatives directed towards social responsibility and to contribute to the advancement of these humanitarian programs.” Al-Bustan added that Kuwait Airways considers social responsibility as one of its most important responsibilities and is committed to these objectives that create a lasting impression on the society thereby contributing to improving the lives of others. Al-Bustan concluded his statement by extending his sincere appreciation to those in charge of the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences for their relentless efforts in achieving their objectives and was hopeful that these initiatives would continue for the benefit of all. In this regard, the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences honoured Kuwait Airways’ representative, Mr. Hamad Al-Hmaimeedi for the company’s role in sponsoring the conference.