Hyatt announces continued global growth of it’s luxury brand portfolio with a robust pipeline of highly anticipated openings over the next three years across Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME). The 13 hotels set to join Hyatt’s esteemed brands including Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Thompson Hotels, Miraval Resorts & Spas, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will debut in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations including the U.K., Spain, South Africa, Austria, Finland and more. By 2026, these hotels will increase Hyatt’s luxury brand footprint in EAME by over 30% in key growth markets that matter most to guests, World of Hyatt loyalty program members, customers and owners. As leisure travel continues to drive recovery in many parts of the world, Hyatt remains committed to catering to high-end travelers to meet the rising demand for luxury travel experiences. Following a strong year of luxury hotel openings in 2022, including La Zambra, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in Costa Del Sol, 7Pines Resort Sardinia, part of the Destination by Hyatt portfolio, and the debut of the Thompson Hotels brand in Spain with Thompson Madrid, Hyatt’s luxury inventory currently accounts for approximately 25% of Hyatt’s distribution in EAME. Hyatt’s anticipated openings through 2025 signal its commitment to creating more story-worthy experiences and unforgettable stays that exceed the expectations of the luxury traveler. “Hyatt’s heritage is luxury; it is in our DNA. Our luxury brands across Europe, Africa and the Middle East set a global benchmark for delivering personalized and engaged service, and world-class offerings that cater to the high-end traveller,” said Javier Águila, Group President, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Hyatt. “The global luxury travel …

Under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO), hosted the 23rd session of the Conference of Arab Culture Ministers on, Wednesday (December 7, 2022) in the city of Riyadh. Ministers and officials from 20 Arab countries, as well as representatives of the League of Arab States and international and regional organisations were present at the event. His Highness the Minister of Culture said: “This year’s session, centred around the main theme, ‘Culture for a Green Future,’ aims to make the cultural sector more sustainable. We seek to be a launchpad for global efforts that include culture in all its forms and extend it to cover all elements of its value chain. His Highness added: “Employing culture towards a green future contributes to its consolidation in the global development debate, which is something that the Saudi leadership give their full attention to. The main theme of the conference, ‘Culture for a Green Future’, is also in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Hence, the Kingdom supports collective efforts to enhance knowledge, skills, and practices related to making the cultural sector more sustainable and environmentally friendly.” During the conference, the Arab Culture Ministers stressed the importance of giving new impetus to the role of culture in achieving sustainable development, while working to develop effective policies for sectors that provide added value in the collective efforts to shift towards a more creative and sustainable future. Four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were also signed to further …

The special webinar titled, Feel Good Germany promoted the destination as an year round sustainable touristic destination and also showcased Berlin’s strength in medical tourism. Yamina Sofo, Director German National Tourist Office, opened the session, sharing the numbers from the Gulf region which stands out especially during the covid era, and the positive recovery of the region which led to Germany reaping good numbers from the region. “Germany as a traveller destination has the ideal ingredients for an exceptional and sustainable holiday experience and it also helps to protect our climate and the environment. A sustainable holiday conserves natural resources strengthens, intercultural understanding and supports regional businesses. The destination and the providers of destination Germany is committed to this goal and are developing an increasing number of resource saving offers that are good for the environment as well as for the hosts and the guests. Many offers and recommendations can be found in our website, Germany.travel. In our 2022, market studies we can see the growing interest and attitudes of the guests towards environmental protection.” She shared some figures from UAE in terms of the interest shown in sustainable travel which was quite spell bounding. Michaela Kehrer Director of Medical tourism VisitBerlin shared the offerings the city in itself has with the many public parks and hidden gems in the city itself which cater to the GCC clientele. She reiterated that Berlin medical tourism is popular due to availability, affordability and accessibility and Germany ranks 5th in world medical tourism destinations, mainly due to infrastructure, specialised hospitals, with multi lingual staff who could cater to the requirements of the GCC clientele. She shared the new marketing initiatives conducted to promote …

As part of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Riyadh, Hilton has announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) – as well as agreements with several public and private developers for new hotels in destinations across Saudi Arabia. In the coming years, Hilton expects to grow its portfolio to more than 75 hotels in the Kingdom across multiple award-winning brands. H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, said: “Saudi Vision 2030 has set the bar high for the Kingdom’s travel and tourism industry and we are committed to making Saudi Arabia one of the world’s top tourist destinations in the years to come. We are leaving no stone unturned to work on innovative projects with globally leading industry partners and look forward to achieving milestones through our collaboration with Hilton.” Chris Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton, said, “It was incredible to be back in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the WTTC Global Summit and to meet with important partners. Hilton has operated in the Kingdom for more than 25 years, providing world-renowned hospitality and helping to shape an exciting future for tourism with new hotels in exciting destinations. The strength of Hilton’s partnerships in Saudi Arabia is testament to the government’s strategic vision and the incredible progress being made to develop the country’s tourism infrastructure, paving the way for a new golden age of travel.” During WTTC, Hilton and TDF signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop family-friendly leisure destinations across several Saudi locations in alignment with the National Tourism Strategy. These destinations will have one or more of Hilton’s brands, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by …

Marriott International announced that Delta Hotels by Marriott® has opened its 100th property – Delta Hotels by Marriott, Dubai Investment Park – bringing the brand’s seamless travel experience to the city’s gated enclave surrounded by landscaped gardens and near one of the world’s most important trade centers. Delta Hotels by Marriott – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands – now offers two properties in Dubai and three overall in the Middle East, providing travelers with more opportunities to explore and immerse themselves in the destination. “From its beginnings in Canada to its current growing diverse portfolio around the world, this opening marks an exciting milestone in the Delta Hotels by Marriott journey,” said Manny Rappenecker, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, Delta Hotels by Marriott. “A testament to our strategic growth, we’ve been able to strike a chord with our seasoned travelers by offering the seamless experience guests crave when on the road. Delta Hotels by Marriott, Dubai Investment Park is another exceptional example of our brand’s distinction, demonstrating the bright future for Delta Hotels as we look forward to our next 100 properties.” Once a portfolio of 37 properties in Canada, Delta Hotels by Marriott has grown into a global and diversified brand since its acquisition in 2015, redefining premium hospitality in key business and leisure destinations. Focusing on the details that really matter, the brand is rooted in simplicity and concentrates on perfecting the small details that make all the difference during travel. Thoughtful design, complimentary water, a fully stocked Delta Pantry for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members, as well as warm and efficient service, are just a few of the elements that bring the …

According to new research commissioned by Arabian Travel Market (ATM), and conducted at the end of September 2022 by hotel market intelligence and global benchmarking company STR, the GCC region now has over 170,000 hotel rooms under active development (planning, final planning & under construction). This is equivalent to 40% of the GCC’s existing hotel room inventory, a figure almost four times greater than the rest of the world which currently lags behind at an average of 11% under active development compared with existing supply. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Between EXPO 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision2030 strategy, the GCC’s hospitality sector development pipeline remains robust in contrast to global hotel development, which is slowing, due to weak economic growth forecasts. “While the hospitality sector’s growth does highlight the region’s increasing popularity on the global stage, it is also indicative of regional government strategy, to diversify GDP growth away from hydrocarbons into tourism, that will help to drive demand still further, over the coming years. The STR report estimates 135,560 existing rooms in Saudi Arabia with an active pipeline of 82,639 rooms, with total room inventory projected for 2030, at over 218,000 rooms. Similarly for the UAE, STR currently tracks more than 202,000 existing rooms with an active pipeline of 48,910 rooms, a combined total of almost 251,000 rooms by 2030. “Interestingly, Ras Al Khaimah, is second only to Dubai, with 5.076 rooms in its pipeline, almost the same amount as Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah combined,” said Curtis. The UAE’s historic occupancy performance provides a blueprint of what the region can expect as new rooms enter the market. Rooms supply …

Outletcity Metzingen; Europe’s largest luxury retail outlet has appointed AVIAREPS Middle East as its Destination Marketing & Public Relations Representative in the Middle East. The representation, which comes into immediate effect, will see AVIAREPS promote Outletcity Metzingen to consumers and outbound travel industry professionals located in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, through targeted marketing and public relations activities. A dream city for fashion lovers, and a trendsetter from its inception, Outletcity Metzingen provides a comprehensive range of services and tourist offerings making it a pioneer of factory outlet centres in Europe. Today it attracts over 4.2 million visitors every year, representing 185 nationalities, with an increasing number of those visitors hailing from the Gulf Countries. In order to support and grow this trend, the decision was made for Outletcity to further commit to the market with an opening of a representative office, located in Dubai, to serve the region and provide real time, on the ground support to its Gulf region travel industry partners. Says Angela Rieger, International Partnership Manager, Outletcity Metzingen: “We are very pleased to work with AVIAREPS Middle East and to finally have a permanent physical presence in the GCC market. We see a huge opportunity and potential to further grow this region and see AVIAREPS as our trusted partner to achieve those goals.” She added: “With over 150 premium and luxury brands, endless selection of styles and reduced prices by up to 70%* throughout the year, Outletcity Metzingen is destined to become a must-visit destination for all shopping and fashion enthusiasts as well as general travellers from the Gulf Countries who are planning a visit to Europe.” Metzingen is based …

Dubai Airports is introducing a comprehensive new programme to ensure the delivery of a sector leading, inclusive, and seamless travel experience for all People of Determination (POD) with hidden disabilities that travel through Dubai International (DXB). As part of Dubai Airport’s shared values ‘We all meet the world differently’, this new initiative will contribute to the UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 vision for Dubai to be the world’s leading disability-friendly city and barrier-free community that empowers and welcomes all POD travellers. This new programme will roll out in two phases over two years and unite service partners across the DXB community to elevate the travel experience for passengers with hidden disabilities such as autism, chronic fatigue, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In an effort to integrate recognisable and accessible options for POD travellers, Dubai Airports will be introducing a travel planner for pre- travel preparation and an Autism Friendly Route, with a prioritised route through check-in, passport control, security check point and boarding, which can be availed when wearing the sunflower lanyard. Specially trained staff equipped to support POD travellers will be easily identifiable wearing sunflower pins, allowing for increased visibility, communication and support throughout the airport journey. A comprehensive educational campaign to drive awareness around autism, specifically relating to socially acceptable language and empathy will be undertaken as part of the programme, complemented by the distribution of key training materials across all airport entities, ensuring that POD travellers are met with consistent support and a positive customer experience.  Dubai Airports has been accredited by the Dubai Autism Centre as an Autism friendly environment. The second phase of the roll-out will see additional, innovative solutions, including connected airports, …

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,100 hotels across more than 95 countries, announces the reintroduction of direct franchising and management rights for its Ramada by Wyndham brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, replacing exclusive master licence agreements for the brand in the country. With more than 900 hotels globally, Ramada is Wyndham’s largest brand in Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), with over 200 hotels in approximately 40 countries in the region, of which over 30 in the Middle East and Africa region alone. The move is aligned with Wyndham’s’ strategy to expand the brand in the wider Middle East and Africa region, where the Company’s development pipeline includes approximately 26 hotels, of which nearly 60% are under the Ramada portfolio. Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Ramada by Wyndham is not only our biggest brand in EMEA but also one of the most well-known brands by travellers around the world. This strategic move marks an important step in helping us further expand in a high-potential market like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where there is a significant need for high quality mid-scale hotels. We are committed to contributing to the development of the Kingdom’s tourism through the expansion of our mid-market and economy presence, to help bring even more accommodation options to suit all visitors to the Kingdom.” As part of the Company’s expansion plan in the Saudi Arabia, Wyndham has recently opened Ramada by Wyndham Riyadh King Fahd Road, its 13th hotel in the country. The new hotel boasts 189 rooms and suites, providing warm hospitality and comfort right in the heart of the city. Alongside contemporary …

His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, inaugurated the MT Unified Platform, which is the latest government service platform in the Kingdom, during the Digital Government Forum 2022 themed “Towards a Promising Digital Horizon.” The forum was organized by the Digital Government Authority recently in Riyadh, while several government agencies participated in the presence of Their Excellencies, as well as experts, specialists, and decision-makers in the field of digital government locally and internationally. In its first edition, the forum aims to showcase digital government achievements and success stories locally and internationally. It also seeks to enable digital community elites to meet, communicate, exchange experiences, build partnerships, discuss challenges and best modern technological practices, review future digital governments directions, and discuss investment opportunities within the Saudi digital sector. The forum also included a presentation of the most prominent digital government products, in addition to several new publications, most notably MT’s Unified Tourism Platform. The platform aims to attract investors and provide services to job seekers and tourism service providers as part of MT’s efforts to activate the Digital Tourism Strategy launched by His Excellency the Minister at the beginning of this year. The Unified Platform has an attractive design and a smart user interface that provides MT’s various services in a user-friendly fashion. It also provides information on each service as well as step-by-step explanations to ensure the users get the best experience. The Ministry was also keen on supporting the platform with the best technological services and allocated a technical support team for it to provide assistance. The Unified Platform development is part of MT’s efforts to enhance the digital transformation process in the Kingdom and contribute …