Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of the Wyndham Garden brand in Turkey with the opening of the 346-room Wyndham Garden Lara, a stylish property located in one of the country’s most desired seaside destinations. The brand is set to further expand with an additional Wyndham Garden opening in Diyarbakır, the largest city in South East Turkey, expected next month. With amenities that are designed for ultimate comfort and convenience, cosy lounges, abundant natural light and flexible meeting spaces, Wyndham Garden takes care of all the little details to give guests peace of mind. The latest addition marks the ninth brand entry by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Turkey and further cements the company’s position as the largest international hotel company by number of properties in the country, with over 90 operational hotels. Wyndham Garden Lara offers a wide range of amenities including well-appointed guest rooms with balconies, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre with a tennis courts, access to the nearby Lara Beach and all-inclusive dining. The new hotel opened in April and is conveniently located to explore many attractions in Antalya, also offering easy reach of the international airport. Slated to open later this month, Wyndham Garden Diyarbakır will boast 182 guest rooms, a terrace with  beautiful views of the city,  a Turkish bath, a fitness centre with a spa and outdoor pool. The hotel will be located within walking distance from the city’s attractions such as the historic city walls and Ulu Mosque, while also providing convenient access to Diyarbakır Airport. Dimitris Manikis, President Europe Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, said: “With the debut of our ninth brand in Turkey, …

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is celebrating 6,000 open hotels by unveiling the ‘6,000 Club’ and announcing partnerships with major sports and entertainment events. The 6,000 Club features a collection of stunning newly opened hotels from IHG’s iconic portfolio, showcasing the global reach of its 17 brands and the many ways its hotel teams delight owners and guests by delivering True Hospitality for Good, every day. The milestone was commemorated by IHG CEO, Keith Barr, at the New York Stock Exchange on June 7 when he rang the bell to signal the close of trading, alongside local hotel General Managers and colleagues. In the past five years, IHG has broadened its appeal to owners and guests by acquiring or launching six exciting brands to take the portfolio to 17 – providing more choice and amazing experiences than ever before. The new additions include Luxury & Lifestyle brands Six Senses, Regent and Vignette Collection; Premium brand, voco hotels; Essentials brand, avid hotels; and Suites brand, Atwell Suites. IHG is set to grow its portfolio by a further 30 percent, with more than 1,800 hotels already signed in its development pipeline, illustrating how much owners value the strength of IHG’s scale and brands. To thank guests, the company recently reinvented its loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, to offer members more choice, value and richer rewards than ever before – all powered by leading technology on a new mobile app. The company is also announcing a series of exciting multi-year sports and entertainment partnerships for IHG One Rewards members that will connect travellers at events around the world, including Major League Soccer, European Professional Club Rugby and music festivals across the US and …

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has today launched a new program to equip 100,000 young Saudis with the key hospitality skills needed to pursue careers in the Kingdom’s flourishing tourism industry. Launched by His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia at the 116th session of the World Tourism Organization’s Executive Council in Jeddah, ‘Tourism Trailblazers’ will provide in-depth global experience to the tourism industry’s future leaders. The program aims to train 100,000 Saudis as the ministry’s continous efforts after the launch of a new human capital development strategy in the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism industry, which aims to attract more Saudi nationals to the sector. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia, said: “It is vital that we invest in our youth now. Creating a skilled workforce with the talent and ambition to support and drive the tourism sector regionally and globally is key to realising Vision 2030. This program demonstrates our commitment to empowering young people by providing them with right skills, support and opportunities to shape the future of the tourism industry.” According to His Excellency, the program has three main objectives that aim to nurture, develop and support talent in the industry. It seeks to spread a culture of professionalism, help nascent professionals gain the knowledge and qualifications needed to break into the industry, and support their success through refinement of their skills. The program will help trainees to secure jobs within the sector, including seasonal, part-time, or full-time opportunities across the Kingdom. His Excellency further stressed that this and other initiatives are geared towards delivering on the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030 targets, including the creation of one million …

The 116th session of the Executive Council was held in Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time. It was the largest meeting of the Executive Council since the start of the pandemic, with more than 200 participants and 32 countries represented. Members noted that the meeting came at a pivotal point for the sector as it learns from the lessons of the pandemic while at the same time looking ahead to a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. Tourism is united and determined like never before, and UNWTO is guiding it forward, with inclusivity and sustainability at the very heart of all our work “We have faced up to a triple crisis: an ongoing pandemic, a climate emergency and now the return of war in Europe,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said. He stressed that “tourism is united and determined like never before, and UNWTO is guiding it forward, with inclusivity and sustainability at the very heart of all our work”. In his report to Members on achievements since the previous Council meeting six months ago, the Secretary-General illustrated how UNWTO is seizing tourism’s unprecedented relevance, including within the United Nations, in national recovery and growth plans and within the wider public and media conversation. UNWTO laid out its plans to keep advancing the priorities around fostering sustainability, promoting tourism jobs and education, growing tourism investments and accelerating its digital transformation. The Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and host of the Executive Council, Ahmed Al Khateeb, said: “Tourism’s restart in many countries around the world offers a unique chance to rethink tourism governance, communications and beyond. We have an incredible opportunity to set a new way forward, to …

The Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta held a workshop in the presence of a group of Hatta residents, in order to present the development initiatives being implemented in Hatta, and to take the opinions and suggestions of the people of the region, during which the executive team for the development of the Hatta region and the representatives of the sub-teams presented a list of projects and a road map for the region. The meeting also included a discussion session during which the team members listened to the suggestions and observations of the people of Hatta about the existing initiatives and projects aimed at developing the area. The supreme committee is keen to engage the residents of Hatta in the development process, which would create promising work prospects. Undertaking such projects responds to the directives of leaders aimed to bring happiness to citizens and support the youth to harness their energetic and innovative ideas in the prosperity of the area. The overall aim is to boost the social and economic capabilities of Hatta and make it a favourite destination for tourists, especially for recreational, health and eco-tourism. “We were delighted to meet a diverse group of Hatta residents of different age groups to have their views and feedback and discuss the demands that support the efforts of the Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta. The gathering aimed to ensure the development of the area while serving the interests of residents in line with the directives of our leaders,” said Nasser Bu Shehab, Head of the Executive Team of Hatta Development, Member of the Supreme Committee. “The review of the development initiatives witnessed clear interaction from Hatta …

As the holiday season gets under way, Qatar Airways is making it easier for customers to enjoy the Greek Isles with the launch of its new service to Santorini (JTR), and the resumption of flights to Mykonos (JMK). The first flight from Doha to Santorini on Tuesday 07 June, was operated by an A320 aircraft featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class and was welcomed by Senior Executives from Fraport Greece as the aircraft landed at Santorini International Airport for the first time. The airline marked the occasion by creating a bespoke in-flight food menu, designed to embrace traditional Greek cuisine, with specially decorated cutlery bands for all passengers, and an illustrated menu card for Business Class customers. Passengers were also gifted celebratory cupcakes to mark the occasion. The inaugural flight from Doha was operated by Qatari Captain Abdulaziz Al Kaabi and Greek Captain Andrew Evlambides, in honour of the first flight to Santorini. The island destination joins Athens and Mykonos to become the third Greek gateway to be served by the national carrier of the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The Greek Isles are a leading tourist destination and an important market for Qatar Airways. There is high interest from across our network for flights to Santorini, specifically in the leisure segment. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. I am sure visitors from the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Americas will be pleased to have Santorini served by our airline.” Mr. Alexander Zinell, CEO Fraport Greece said: “We feel honored that Qatar Airways’ has …

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flights to Izmir, in the Republic of Turkey, with two flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. This coincided with the launch of the first scheduled commercial flight to the city of Mykonos, in the Republic of Greece, with two flights per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, both commencing from 6th June 2022. The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Mr. Khalid Al-Bustan, expressed his happiness on this important launch, which is in response to the significant and growing requirements of customers in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region. He pointed out that Kuwait Airways had recently launched operations to Casablanca, Manchester, Sohag, Alexandria, Sharm El-Sheikh, Trabzon and Bodrum, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, Madrid and Malaga in Spain, Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in the coming months. Al-Bustan added that the Airbus A320neo, which was recently included to Kuwait Airways’ fleet of aircraft, was selected to facilitate the travel of passengers to the cities of Izmir and Mykonos, due to its unique technological features and characteristics, and in accordance with its latest features present in the air transport sector. Al-Bustan explained that Kuwait Airways was steadily progressing towards digital transformation, and to attain the best levels of excellence. Moreover, he pointed out that customers could make their reservations through different channels, …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveils its speakers for the upcoming Sustainability and Investment Summit in Puerto Rico, including environmental activist and filmmaker, Alexandra Cousteau, and 41st Treasurer of the U.S., Rosario Marin. Taking place on June 14 in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the event will bring together world leaders in the field to analyse the challenges facing the sector. Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau, is a sustainability and environmental activist with the unique ability to inspire audiences on the weighty issues of policy, politics and call to action advocating for the importance of restoration and sustainable management of water sources. As Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency, Marin was tasked with greening California through defining standards, improving waste management and supporting hospitality sustainability. At this one-day event, WTTC, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, will endorse the sector’s commitment to preserve the planet, its biodiversity and reduce climate change. It will focus on building resilience in Travel & Tourism through investment, sustainable growth and the development of communities. Also taking to the stage at the Sustainability and Investment Summit will be Tourism Ministers from around the Caribbean and other destinations, including Argentina, Barbados, U.S. and Bahamas, amongst others. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are delighted to have such influential speakers at our summit in Puerto Rico. It is an honour to have Alexandra Cousteau and Rosario Marin addressing delegates, where they will be able to share how sustainability has shaped their work and share lessons learnt on how to bring about sustainable change. Puerto Rico is a strategic destination for the Caribbean region. …

Qatar Executive is set to introduce a new Air Ionisation System on its state-of-the-art G650ER aircraft. The active system is capable of eliminating potentially harmful pathogens and allergens, including bacteria, viruses, and mould spores. The eco-friendly technology has a minimum impact on the environment and adds an additional layer of hygiene onboard by eradicating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), visible smoke and undesirable odours. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Executive is always at the forefront when it comes to introducing the latest safety and hygiene innovations. Enhancing the comfort and well-being of our passengers throughout their journey is paramount, therefore, we are pleased to be retrofitting our G650ER fleet with this cutting-edge Air Ionisation System. Qatar Executive will continue to adopt and introduce meticulous on-board safety measures which offer an unparalleled private jet experience each time.” Qatar Executive has already retrofitted two of its G650ER jets with the pioneering Air Ionisation System, and will continue installing the new device across the fleet within the next three months. Qatar Executive is the world’s largest owner-operator of the Gulfstream G650ER, one of the most sought-after jets due to its exceptional range capabilities, industry-leading cabin technology, fuel efficiency, and unrivalled passenger comfort. The G650ER is the industry’s fastest ultra-long range business jet. The jet is known for its incredible 7,500 nautical mile range, cutting-edge cabin technology, and unrivalled passenger comfort. Last month, Qatar Executive’s flagship G650ER jet operated to and from Geneva, Switzerland using a high blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); reflecting Qatar Airways Groups’ commitment to working on its environmental sustainability goals. The ultra-modern aircraft was on display for spectators to tour and experience …

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flight to the city of Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, with two flights per week on Saturdays and Tuesdays, commencing from 7th June 2022. The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Khalid Al-Bustan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first direct flight to Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, one of the new destinations launched by the Blue Bird, as part of its plans to expand its network around the world, in line with KAC’s objectives which are directed towards achieving the best levels of excellence in the quality of services provided to customers, and offering them comfortable and convenient facilities that meet their requirements.” Al-Bustan added that Kuwait Airways’ selection of Salalah as a destination came after comprehensive research of the feasibility of this destination in general and the extent of its demand, which is very high especially during the summer season, due to various attributes of Salalah, such as its moderate climate, touristic attractions, historical and cultural landmarks, as well as its greenery and picturesque nature.” Al-Bustan explained that Kuwait Airways had recently launched numerous destinations, which are in line with its objectives to launch short and medium haul routes such as Casablanca, Manchester, Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Sohag, Trabzon, Bodrum and most recently Mykonos and Izmir, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, Madrid and Malaga in Spain, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in …