Kuwait Airways announces the signing of a partnership agreement with Air Europa by which both companies will increase their cooperation and provide better flight options to their valued customers. The outcome of this agreement which comes into force in the coming months, enables Kuwait Airways to also add Air Europa’s code on the three direct weekly flights Kuwait Airways operates between Kuwait and Madrid, as well as in Kuwait Airways operations in other European cities such as Amsterdam, Rome, Frankfurt, and Munich. On its part, Kuwait Airways reinforces its presence in the Americas by placing its code on Air Europas transatlantic flights that connect Madrid with Cancun, Miami, Cuba, Sao Paulo, and Bogotá. Moreover, Kuwait Airways will have its code on Air Europa flights between Madrid and the Portuguese cities of Porto and Lisbon, Moroccan city Marrakech, and on all domestic routes within Spain. Speaking on this occasion, the Director of Network Planning and Distribution, Mrs. Shorouk Al-Awadhi, expressed her happiness over the signing of this partnership agreement which will strengthen the commercial relationship between both sides. She said, “Kuwait has a very strong, long-standing relationship with Spain and this agreement with Air Europa comes at a time when the industry is trying to overcome the pandemic and I am sure this relationship will not only benefit both the airlines, but also the people of the Americas, Europe, and the Gulf. Moreover, the agreement will add 18 new destinations to the Kuwait Airways network, 10 of which are in Spain and a further 8 international destinations into Europe, North & South America, and Mexico.” Al-Awadhi added that its flights into Madrid currently stand as three flights a week, moreover, this …

Stella Stays announces its expansion into Egypt, introducing a prime location in New Cairo city, through its agreement with Tameer. The agreement that Mr Mohammed Al Ghussein, Chairman of Stella Stays and Mr Saad Al Wazzan, Chairman of Tameer signed in a ceremony on September 27th, 2022 and will mark the joint endeavour between the two companies to build communities rather than general structures, a new living experience rather than dull spaces, to create life and stories within the development. Through this agreement, Stella Stays aims to disrupt Egypt’s residential real estate sector landscape alongside Tameer, Egypt’s well-established residential developer driving the pulse and progression of the housing market since 1954. The highly-anticipated Stella Stays AZ Homes, strategically located in a prime spot in the midst of the bustling New Cairo city, is within fifteen minutes from Cairo International Airport, ten minutes from both downtown Katameya and walking distance from the American University in Cairo; making it highly attractive not only foreign travellers and expats but also local residents. In line with Stella Stay’s modern approach, the property will offer ready-to-live, smart apartments with open kitchens, as well as modern recreational and commercial amenities. The project is unique as it encourages an ever-so-inviting, community-driven lifestyle and provides a social neighbourhood where residents enjoy large open kitchens, outdoor deck and lounge, a swimming pool, an outdoor gym, a cinema theatre and co-working spaces. Stella Stays EZ Homes are well-crafted with facilities that fit every lifestyle, all at the residents’ fingertips. Residents and guests will be able to use the Stella Stays app to navigate the entire journey – from finding, booking and managing their stays, checking in, controlling smart home systems, …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched the inaugural Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report, a comprehensive study of the city’s gastronomy scene, further reinforcing Dubai’s position as a much sought-after global destination for food tourism. The special report was unveiled at the first gastronomy industry briefing hosted by DET at the W Dubai  Mina Seyahi, and was attended by more than 100 restaurateurs, culinary specialists and key stakeholders from the food and beverage sector, to share seasonal highlights in relation to the ever-expanding gastronomy sector, and reveal industry insights from the city’s inaugural gastronomy report. The event was hosted as part of Dubai’s efforts to build upon the destination’s year-round programme of key foodie events, gourmet showcases and culinary platforms, to further strengthen the city’s dynamic ecosystem of around 13,000 restaurants and cafés. During the briefing, opportunities in the gastronomy sector and forthcoming calendar highlights were shared with partners to get their support to further enhance the city’s reputation as a year-round global gastronomy hub. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) revealed key findings from the newly commissioned annual industry report during the event, showcasing the gastronomy activities and initiatives which continue to be a driving force behind the steady growth in both domestic and international tourists, in line with the visionary leadership’s goal to make Dubai the world’s best city in the world to live in, work and visit.  This insightful research has reaffirmed Dubai’s standing as an international hub for gastronomy, and a beacon for visionary restaurateurs, chefs, discerning foodies, epicurean travellers and culinary aficionados. The inaugural ‘Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report’ highlights that Dubai’s vibrant and stimulating food scene is a direct reflection …

Mustafa Sultan Enterprises signed an agreement with Marriott International to debut the first Four Points by Sheraton in Oman, scheduled to open in early 2024. Operated by Valor Hospitality Partners, a third-party hotel management and development company, Four Points by Sheraton Muscat will offer a centralized location for both business and leisure travellers in Qurum. “It gives me great pleasure to announce our first franchise collaboration with Marriott International in the Middle East as we expand our full-service hotel management services in the region. We are honoured to have Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, a trusted and established owner, for our first property in Oman,” said Julien Bergue, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Valor Hospitality Middle East & CIS. “We are working closely with the ownership and Marriott International on the full renovation plan,” Bergue continued. Expected to feature 201 guest rooms, the hotel will also offer visitors ballroom and conference facilities, leisure and fitness amenities, and multiple food and beverage venues. Four Points by Sheraton Muscat is anticipated to reflect the brand’s promise of ‘travel reinvented’, providing everything that matters most to today’s travellers seeking balance on the road, including timeless style and comfort with genuine service. Shabeer Mustafa Sultan, Chairman of Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, said, “We are thrilled to work with Valor Hospitality Middle East and Marriott International to bring the Four Points by Sheraton brand to Oman.  This collaboration points to a full renovation and rebranding investment that supports our mission to create long-term value for the tourism, real estate and leisure sectors across Oman. It also supports the vision of Oman’s leaders, particularly in the upscale hotel segment.” Saahil Lalit, Vice President, Development – UAE and Oman, Marriott International …

Thynk announced its partnership with Saudi Arabia-based Dur Hospitality, a leading Saudi hospitality company recognized for its extensive record in managing, developing, and operating a broad portfolio of hotels and residential compounds across the Kingdom, at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. Developed by hoteliers for hoteliers and powered by Salesforce®, the world’s largest Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Thynk.Cloud is designed to simplify and automate sales, operations, decision making, and data management for hotels of any size. The partnership will enable the sales organization at Dur Hospitality to further enhance the way they manage their B2B business relationships and maximize their sales productivity and efficiency. Pascal Petit, Co-founder & CEO at Thynk.Cloud, said: “We are excited to be working with Dur Hospitality, a company at the forefront of our industry when it comes to modern hospitality, agility and innovation. Together, our goal is to deliver a smart, modern system that not just streamlines processes and drives efficiency but enables hotel teams to deliver a unique guest experience, whether that’s in one of the Group’s branded hotels or in an independently managed property.” Commenting on the announcement, President of Hotel Operations at Dur Hospitality, Hassan Ahdab, said: “Our collaboration with Thynk provides an immense opportunity to interconnect our processes further and accelerate enhanced customer experiences. Thynk’s innovative digital ecosystem will drive personalization across our properties, amplifying our customer-centric approach and empowering our team members to make data-driven decisions in real-time while communicating with ”one voice”. Together, we will take customer-focused service to the next level”. “We have a shared vision to make hospitality an attractive and rewarding career for the next generation of hoteliers. We are committed to providing hotel …

The first day of Tfest Dubai kicked off with Tourism Ireland showcasing their luxury offerings to the most influential buyers across the globe in Dubai. 14 iconic luxury island of Ireland industry partners joined in the event, including Adare Manor, Ashford Castle, Cashel Palace Hotel, Galgorm, Culloden Estate, Hayfield Manor, K Club, The Merrion Hotel, The Shelbourne Hotel, MHL Collection, Trump Hotel & Golf Resort Doonbeg, Irelands Blue Book, By Appointment DMC and Luxurious Ireland. As part of their afternoon Experiences on the Tourism Ireland stand in the Global Village they brought in their concept to life showcasing Ireland through unique experiences under the title – ‘Awakening your senses in Ireland’ and they brought in friends from Ireland who brought this to life. Speaking to Tourism breaking news Olivia Frawley – Executive Pan Market Luxury, Tourism Ireland shared,” we are very excited to be here at Tfest this year as we elevated our partnership with the event, as we felt that  it provided us a great opportunity to highlight the 14 wonderful partners we brought with us to Tfest with our luxury messaging and warm hospitality. We have a mixture of beautiful five star luxury hotels, DMCs, experiences and the most amazing is the fact that we have 14 of them and all situated in the same area, the global village and everyone is busy with their B2B meetings. We are showcasing our products ranging from castles to iconic city center hotels to luxurious hotels and properties in the countryside. What we love about Tfest that they provide us the opportunity for our partners and Tourism Ireland to really create relationships and that one on one time to network with …

Qatar Airways and British Airways have completed the latest phase in the expansion of their partnership, offering global connectivity between more countries than any other airline joint business. The airlines have added 42 new countries to their shared network, including Italy, the Maldives, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden — giving passengers enhanced access between destinations in Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Customers will now benefit from even greater choices in prices and schedules with options for direct flights as well as connections via hubs in London and Doha. This is all part of Qatar Airways and British Airways’ plan to “Move Further Together” by enhancing the joint network and providing passengers with the best of both airlines. The expansion will enable seamless connecting journeys on single tickets through Doha, the World’s Best Airport, and London, bringing the total number of destinations served by the two airlines to 185 across more than 60 countries. The complementary networks uniquely access dozens of countries that no other alliance or joint business provides. The partnership also ensures access to more cities around the world than ever before, continuing to support global trade, tourism, investment, and cultural connection. Additionally, customers will have more freedom to engage with both airlines’ loyalty programmes, earning and spending Avios, their common currency. Customers are able to seamlessly link their Qatar Airways Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club accounts to transfer Avios between the two, and combine balances to claim rewards offered by each programme. The collaboration also offers access to both airline’s exclusive lounges, and cabins to suit all budgets and needs, including British Airways’ new Club Suite and Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite. Qatar Airways …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, has hosted a special roadshow event in Barcelona, Spain in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Ehab Mohammed AlNajjar, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Saudi Embassy in Spain, on behalf of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Spain, Mr. Azzam Al-Qain, with the goal of promoting the Kingdom as a leading global tourist destination. The roadshow, which comes as part of the global campaign Fly to Your Next and was held in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program, showcased Saudi Arabia’s numerous exciting travel and tourism projects and invited travel agencies to learn more about the world-class attractions visitors can experience in the Kingdom. The special event highlighted the latest marketing campaigns for tourism events and programs, including both current and planned initiatives. The Saudi Tourism Authority and tourism megaprojects including NEOM took center stage during the presentation. Invited guests were also familiarized with the benefits SAUDIA provides through its SAUDIA Holidays platform, which offers full packages including flight tickets and hotel reservations, as well as opportunities to book vehicles, tours, and excursions. The national flag carrier’s campaign comes as part of its ambitious plan to bring the world to Saudi Arabia. As the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’, the airline aims to take the campaign to many countries across Europe, as well as the United States and other key markets. SAUDIA highlighted its continuing collaborations with the Ministry of Tourism, the General Entertainment Authority, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Sport. The airline is a strategic partner in transporting participants and visitors from across the globe to leading events in the Kingdom and operates a …

Vistara inaugurated non-stop, daily flights between Mumbai (India) and Abu Dhabi (UAE) over the weekend. The inaugural flight departed from Mumbai at 1910 Hours (IST) and arrived in Abu Dhabi at 2040 Hours (GST), making Vistara the first-ever carrier to offer the choice of Premium Economy class on the route, in addition to Business and Economy class. Commenting on the start of the new international route, Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We have been steadily strengthening our presence in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf region, and are excited to add Abu Dhabi to our growing international network. UAE’s flourishing business, trade, and tourism make Abu Dhabi a perfect fit in our network. We are confident that travellers will appreciate the choice of flying India and South Asia’s best airline on this route.“ Schedule of flights to/from Abu Dhabi, UAE effective from 1 October 2022: Sector   Flight No.             Days of Operation            Departure           Arrival Mumbai – Abu Dhabi      UK 0255                Daily      1910 Hrs              2040 Hrs Abu Dhabi – Mumbai      UK 0256                Daily      2140 Hrs             0235 Hrs (+1) * All timings shown are in local time zones *+1 indicates next day arrival   Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings. Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The airline has recently been recognized as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the …

Saudi held meetings in Central Asian countries with roadshows in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The delegation participating in the official visit was led by H.E. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Saudi’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the committee of the Pilgrim Experience Program. As part of Vision 2030, the aim of the visit was to promote Saudi’s new and enhanced arrival procedures that will enable pilgrims all over the world to complete their religious journeys with comfort and ease. In addition, these new procedures will enrich visitors’ religious and cultural experiences. The roadshows witnessed the signing of several agreements with the aim of facilitating procedures and developing greater air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the two countries. These agreements and partnerships were made in line with improving the quality of services under the Pilgrim Experience Program, an initiative of Vision 2030. The Nusuk e-platform offers a wide range of options and various solutions for accommodation and flight reservations for all Muslims visiting the Two Holy Mosques, including visitors and Umrah performers. Nusuk has been developed in partnership with an accredited and elite selection of travel companies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, along with Umrah specialists to better serve visitors and Umrah performers. Fahd Hamidaddin, Nusuk Managing Director, stated, The launch of Nusuk is one of the most significant announcements since the Saudi eVisa in 2019. These trade partner agreements and new procedures will increase the number of visitors and pilgrims that Saudi will be able to welcome from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In addition, partnerships with national and low-cost airlines will make travel to Saudi more accessible than ever.