Experience Abu Dhabi, Find Your Pace will feature at World Travel Market (WTM), welcoming visitors and bringing the destination to life alongside 36 stakeholders and partners, from 7–9 November. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will sign a number of strategic partnerships during WTM, and delegates will have the opportunity to maximise their business potential by meeting partnering hotels and attractions. Visitors can unwind and enjoy Abu Dhabi’s living culture, with a celebration of Emirati craftsmanship at the House of Artisans zone, including a perfumery experience that introduces visitors to the fragrances of the emirate. There is also traditional Arabic coffee in the Bait Al Gahwa zone and the Abu Dhabi Senses Journey at the stand’s Cultural zone. Abu Dhabi will enable WTM visitors to experience the top sites and attractions throughout Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Ain, Al Dhafra region and beyond. Attendees will experience how Abu Dhabi offers something for every visitor, available 365 days a year, at your own pace – with rich cultural history, natural beaches, unrivalled family fun and world-class sports offerings. Enriching destination experiences that excite, inspire and restore are showcased within an immersive stand experience that will host Q&As with global sports partners, including Manchester City and the UFC – with a special guest appearance from Batman, courtesy of Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi. Also on display, Abu Dhabi Calendar has partnered with the world’s best artists, entertainers and sports franchises for a 2022/2023 winter season to remember. Events range from live concerts with international stars Sting and Andrea Bocelli, as well as urban music festival Wireless, making its Abu Dhabi debut in March 2023. Other exciting …

Air Canada is further expanding its service between Dubai and Toronto, with flights initially increasing from four to five times weekly from 31 October 2022. This expansion represents an additional 60% capacity, with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft replacing Boeing 787-9 aircraft on the route. The airline is set to further increase its Dubai to Toronto service from five to six times weekly from 8 January 2023 and then to daily from 26 March 2023. Air Canada flights from Dubai to Toronto are operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that can accommodate 400 passengers, with a choice of three classes of service: Air Canada Signature Class featuring lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Seats are available for booking at aircanada.com, via the Air Canada App, Air Canada’s Contact Centres and travel agencies. “We are excited to announce this increase in our services between Dubai and Toronto,” said Deepu Cyriac, Air Canada, Country Manager UAE. “These additional frequencies will provide even more flight options for our customers in the UAE and the possibility to connect via our Toronto hub to 69 onward destinations across the Americas. We look forward to welcoming our customers on board.”   Dubai – Toronto Schedule   Flight From Departure To Arrival Frequency Dates of Operation   AC 057   Dubai   01:30   Toronto   07:20 Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat Until January 7, 2023   AC 056   Toronto   21:25   Dubai   19:35 (+1) Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun Until January 7, 2023   AC 057   Dubai   01:30   Toronto   07:20 Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun January 8 – March 25, 2023   AC 056   Toronto   21:25   Dubai …

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel, managed by Hospitality Management Holding (HMH), reopened officially on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 following a four-month transformation program. Speaking with Travel TV at the inauguration,  H.E. Mahmoud Khalil Ahmed Al Sayed Al Hashemi, Director-General of the Ajman Tourism Development Department added, “we are very happy that the iconic Bahi Ajman palace is open once again, we are now able to show the visitors the five star luxury experiences we can offer them. We look forward to further enhancing experiences for our visitors.’ ‘We are delighted to announce the reopening of one of our leading hotels in the region,’ said Patrick Antaki, Chief Operating Officer at HMH. ‘I would like to congratulate the team on a great upgrade to guest experience, with the fantastic, improved efficiency of the hotel’s cooling systems demonstrating our commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism.’ Sustainable tourism pioneer and champion Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager – Northern Emirates. ‘We look forward to welcoming guests once again after four months with a new cooling system among other facilities to ensure that we generate more revenue with sustainable practices. As we open to guests, we are happy to reveal that we are starting on a very positive note with full occupancy as our travel agent partners have shared many clients who were eager to return to this hotel. We have the biggest ballroom and with Ajman tourism development department we will be promoting as a destination wedding hotel with one of the biggest venues in the emirate and also will be taking part in various trade shows and road shows conducted by the ATDD.” Set on a private beach, Bahi Ajman Palace hotel provides its guests …

Marriott Hotels and Resorts, the flagship of Marriott Bonvoy’s 30 plus extraordinary hotel brands, announces plans to open the first Marriott Resort in the UAE in December this year. Located along Dubai’s golden coastline on the world-famous Palm Jumeriah, Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah is set to become a beachside haven, perfectly located for guests to explore the vibrant city and its globally renowned attractions, while offering a place to escape. Spread across 7,000 square meters of pristine private beachfront, the resort is designed as ‘a place for all’, appealing to families, couples, solo travelers and business guests alike. A prime location whether travelling for leisure or business or a blend of the two, Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah will offer destination dining experiences, extensive recreational facilities, sophisticated spaces and signature services. Exemplifying Marriott Hotels’ continued evolution, guests will be welcomed into contemporary and intuitive spaces. The resort will feature 608 thoughtfully designed guestrooms and suites each boasting expansive floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private balconies, and extensive in-room comforts. With a deliberately eclectic mix of new-to-the-region global brands, born-in-the-UAE concepts and core Marriott offerings, the 10 exceptional dining venues will encompass flavors, influences and ideas from Japan, Korea, Peru, Italy, the Levant and more. The carefully curated selection of the distinct brands and concepts will redefine the dining landscape in the UAE for both resort guests and residents alike, bringing a new energy, excitement and cutting-edge sophistication to the restaurant scene. Saray Spa, the resort’s opulent Middle Eastern-inspired spa will be a sanctuary for self-care, rejuvenation and relaxation. Additional facilities will include an ocean-view pool, Kids Club, state-of-the-art Marriott Fitness Centre, M Club Lounge, fully equipped business center, and flexible event spaces designed …

Hilton celebrates the opening of Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa, a beautiful beachfront resort with breath-taking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Located in Taghazout Bay, 14 kilometres from the centre of Agadir, the resort offers the perfect escape for guests wanting to enjoy a stay in paradise filled with sun, sea, and sand. Named after the legendary Amazigh village of Taghazout, the resort is a fusion of contemporary style and Moroccan inspired design, with each of the 170-guest rooms featuring private balconies and ocean views. Families can book and confirm reservations with  Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton and the resort’s prime location provides access to local tourist attractions, including CrocoParc, the Argan Tree Museum – as well as the Paradise Valley Tazegzout Golf Course. Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa is part of Morocco’s new sustainable Taghazout Bay Resort complex. The spectacular resort contributes to the Moroccan government’s ambitions to establish the country as one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world, through the ‘Plan Azur Initiative’ and the Taghazout Resort Development & Promotion Strategy. The new Hilton property implements various initiatives to improve its environmental footprint including water efficiency and energy saving, tracked via Hilton’s LightStay technology. Hilton has a strong heritage of hospitality in Morocco and has operated across the African continent for more than six decades,” said Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Hilton. “We are excited to open Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa as we enter new destinations across Morocco – providing world-class hospitality and incredible guest experiences whilst supporting local communities with our Travel with Purpose programme.” Accompanying the resort’s unique architecture is a broad range …

Cepsa, a Mubadala group company, and Etihad signed an MoU to accelerate the decarbonization of air transport by researching and producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Both companies prioritise the development of these sustainable fuels as a tool to further reduce the carbon footprint of air transport and contribute to the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the fight against climate change. These fuels will be produced from circular raw materials that do not compete with food resources, such as used cooking oils, non-food animal waste or biodegradable waste from various industries, and will make it possible to reduce aircraft emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional kerosene. The partnership, announced at the ADIPEC Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi, will also work on the development of new energy alternatives such as renewable hydrogen and the electrification of Etihad’s ground fleets, which include supply vehicles, baggage loading and unloading operations and aircraft assistance. During the signing event, Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Cepsa, said: “Decarbonising air transport is one of the major challenges of our times and Cepsa is committed to playing a critical role in meeting that challenge alongside important partners like Etihad. Partnerships like the one signed today reinforce our determination to transform air travel into a more sustainable mode of transport.” Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Aviation decarbonization is the biggest challenge facing our industry and the development of commercially viable sustainable aviation fuel is a key requirement to meet the industry sustainability target. Our MoU with Cepsa allows us to tackle the first challenge, building demand for SAF, which in turn encourages further production and increases availability to eventually …

Emirates and IATA hosted a training workshop on the safety of the industry both crew and passengers to share the best practices, especially after the pandemic as  travel surges across the globe. An aircraft flight deck can be a complex, challenging and high-threat environment that requires pilots to have intense focus and the ability to react and take informed decisions with agility, aided by technology. As demand for air travel increases phenomenally and airlines expand their operations, pilot training is once again sharply in focus, as they are responsible for the safety of millions of passengers and crew every single day, on every flight, on every route globally. Now more than ever, the aviation industry must use the latest best practices to train its workforce for peak performance. In the first-ever forum of its kind, Emirates and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) jointly held a workshop on pilot training and flight safety for the aviation industry. Hosted by Emirates’ Flight Operations Training together with IATA, the Evidence based training – Competency Based Training Assessment Workshop was organized at the Emirates Aviation College in Dubai on 28 October, 2022. Training experts from airlines, including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Iceland Air, UAE Presidential Flight, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Indigo and civil aviation authorities, such as General Civil Aviation Authority, UAE (GCAA) and the Irish Aviation Authority, attended the workshop. Aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, as well as the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and training institutions, including Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) and CAE, were in attendance. Hosted by Emirates’ Flight Operations Training together with IATA, the Evidence based training – Competency Based Training Assessment Workshop was organized …

Emirates and Air Canada announced the launch of their codeshare cooperation. The new partnership will allow customers of the carriers to enjoy seamless connectivity to 46 markets spanning three continents, including to destinations across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Beginning now, codeshare tickets will be available for sale to 35 markets for travel effective December 1 with 11 additional markets to be added pending final regulatory approval, and the potential for more markets to be included beyond that. Tickets are available via the carriers’ websites at emirates.com and aircanada.com as well as via major GDS systems and travel agencies. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “We are delighted to establish a partnership with Air Canada, to expand our reach into more points in North America. Partnering with Canada’s flag carrier enables us to offer customers seamless connectivity when flying to domestic points within Canada via Toronto. Besides the added-value benefits and rewarding experiences that leisure and business travellers of both airlines can look forward to, the partnership allows Air Canada’s customers to travel to destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, thanks to our expansive network via our hub in Dubai.” “This exciting new partnership with Emirates will allow Air Canada to meaningfully broaden the choice of flight options for our customers. It will create easier connections between Canada and destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. As well, it will allow us to draw more connecting traffic through our Toronto global hub and expand our presence in these dynamic regions where demand for global travel is expected to grow,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief …

Qatar Airways is set to further boost its growing network with increased flight frequencies to multiple popular destinations across the globe to meet travel demand during the peak winter holiday season. This increase is part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to provide greater choice and seamless connectivity to passengers as they discover the world, via the airline’s home and hub Hamad International Airport (HIA). Qatar Airways is also launching its inaugural services to Dusseldorf, with daily flights starting from 15 November 2022, the airline’s fourth destination in Germany. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways continues to enhance its schedule and network by increasing frequencies to many key destinations across the world. This increase will provide even greater choice to our business and leisure passengers, who can connect seamlessly via the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport, to more than 150 global destinations. With Qatar Airways developing its network with greater frequencies while also recently adopting Avios as its loyalty currency, passengers are positioned to benefit from travelling with the World’s Best Airline to key destinations around the globe.” Qatar Airways network increases: Singapore – from 14 weekly to 21 weekly effective 30 October 2022 Bali – Increased from seven weekly to 14 weekly effective 6 December 2022 Abu Dhabi – increased from 21 to 28 weekly flights effective 21 December 2022 Amsterdam – Increased from seven to 10 weekly flights effective 21 December 2022 Almaty – Increased from four to seven weekly flights effective 1 January 2023 Dublin – increased from 11 to 12 weekly flights effective 3 January 2023 Cape Town – Increased from 10 to 14 weekly effective 6 January …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with OQ to explore potential opportunities in the areas of research, training, exchange of expertise and knowledge, human resource development and to discover various initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable practices, as well as promoting activities related to In-Country Value and empowering SMEs in the tourism sector. The agreement was signed by Hashil bin Obaid al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, and Ashraf bin Hamad Al Mamari, Chief Executive People, Technology & Culture in OQ, in the presence of several officials from both parties at OCEC. The MoC covers exploring collaboration opportunities in training and capacity building through knowledge and experience transfer between parties. It aims to boost sustainability through social, economic, environmental, and cultural initiatives‏. The MoC also covers cooperation in research development and the exchange of expertise in projects. Furthermore, the MoC focuses on social investment projects, local community development activities, boosting ICV and sponsoring SME development programs. Commenting on the MoC, Hashil Al-Mahrouqi said, “The OMRAN Group seeks to implement the principles of sustainability and enhance ICV through strategic initiatives and partnerships as well as empower national competencies and SMEs. We believe that a collaborative approach such as this plays an effective role in achieving national development; therefore, we are keen to leverage it to achieve our goals in line with the National Tourism Strategy and Oman Vision 2040.” Ashraf Al Mamari, Chief Exec. People, Technology & Culture in OQ, said, “The OQ Group seeks to cooperate with the OMRAN Group in key research and development areas within the OQ Group to establish initiatives that boost economic diversification and sustainable practices.” He added, “We strongly believe …