Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Grand Hyatt Kuwait – the first Grand Hyatt hotel in the country. The 302-room luxury hotel is situated at 360 Mall – one of the nation’s most immersive luxury, leisure and lifestyle complexes. Grand Hyatt Kuwait is the second Hyatt branded hotel in Kuwait, the sixth hotel under the Grand Hyatt brand in the Middle East, and the twenty-ninth Hyatt branded hotel in the region, all of which participate in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. Infusing regionally inspired art with modern interior design, the iconic hotel is the ideal destination for guests to discover the country’s cultural, entertainment, and artistic offerings. “Grand Hyatt Kuwait offers global travelers superior hospitality services against a backdrop of majestic architectural design coupled with world-class culinary, leisure and entertainment experiences under one roof; a truly distinctive proposition,” said Federico Mantoani, general manager at Grand Hyatt Kuwait. “We are thrilled to open the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Kuwait, and we look forward to welcoming guests seeking a memorable experience from this magnificent destination.” Grand Hyatt Kuwait represents a new era of progression and innovation in luxury tied to the government’s Vision 2035, which aims to boost tourism through innovative and sustained investment in hospitality infrastructure. Offering business travelers, leisure guests and locals a superlative selection of world-class culinary and leisure experiences the hotel features four unique restaurants, a fitness center, a premium spa and a variety of elegant event spaces. In addition to being centrally situated in the heart of the 360 Mall extension, the hotel also conveniently connects to one of the country’s premier event venues, The Arena Kuwait, which features 38,750 square feet (3,600 square …

Hatta Resorts by Dubai Holding opens today for its much-awaited Season 5 with captivating stay propositions, exciting new adventure attractions, and an expanded calendar of activities. Poised to drive record levels of local, regional, and international visitors to the scenic Hajar mountains, where temperatures are regularly several degrees cooler than the city, the eco-tourism hub’s diverse mix of accommodation, activities and dining options is now open to welcome visitors throughout the season. After attracting more than 1.25 million visitors in 2021, including more than 200,000 visitors from 125 countries who stayed overnight at Hatta Resorts, the exhilarating region is launching an all-new, multipurpose adventure ropes course catering to thrill-seeking children and adults. This season, yoga enthusiasts can also enjoy sunrise and sunset yoga sessions at the destination. In addition to the new rope course and yoga experiences, this year’s all-action attraction roster of activities includes ziplining, mountain biking, four-wheel electric off-roading ‘Rovers’, horse and camel riding, rock climbing, paragliding, hiking, kayaking, pedal boating, football zorbing, archery, axe throwing, and water slides ‘Hatta Drop-in’, just to name a few.   “As a major jewel in the crown of the emirate’s holistic tourism, Hatta’s position as a multi-faceted sustainable tourism destination perfectly complements the urban appeal of Dubai,” said Roudi Soubra, Executive Director – Asset Management, Dubai Holding. “Ahead of Hatta Resorts and its Wadi Hub Season 5 activities, the secret is well and truly out, and our year-on-year growth in overnight guests highlights the area’s undeniable appeal to adventure and relaxation seekers. We look forward to another record-breaking visitor season further cementing the destination’s unique potential,” Soubra added. Go-getting experiential travellers searching for unique overnight stays can now enjoy inclusive breakfast …

Marriott International announced that its unique hospitality training program, Tahseen, celebrated its first graduating class in Egypt. Developed in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation, the company created the unique programme for Egypt in 2018 to support its commitment to further enhance tourism education in the country. The inaugural graduating class featured 80 students who completed the first of its kind Bachelors of Hotel Operations Management Degree. The celebration took place at The St. Regis Cairo with all 80 students accompanied by their families. The milestone event was hosted by Satya Anand, President, Europe Middle East & Africa, Marriott International and was attended by Professor Dr. Hosam Refai, Acting President, Helwan University and Mohammed Farouk Hafeez, Chairman, Professional Development Foundation, along with other senior officials from the organizations. Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International said, “We are excited to celebrate the first group of graduates as part of our Tahseen programme in Egypt.  Tahseen is focused on providing young people with the skills and experience to grow and thrive in the hospitality business and to be part of the success of Egypt’s travel and tourism sector. As a company, we remain committed to enhancing tourism education in Egypt and developing the next wave of exciting and impactful local hospitality leaders in the country.” Tahseen was launched in 2018 in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation to focus on fast-tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders by providing them with firsthand experience of the industry and a springboard to launch successful careers in hospitality. In 2019, the programme received the Ministry of Higher Education’s approval in Egypt and earned bachelor’s degree accreditation. Today, …

Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Oman conducted a special promotional roadshow in five major source cities in India recently. The roadshow comprised a delegation from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Omani tour operators, hotels, and airlines. These roadshows were held in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. The aim of this five city roadshow was to showcase outstanding experiences in Oman’s unique destinations and promote unique travel experiences for leisure, weddings, conferences and exhibitions. In July alone, the number of visitors, including those from India to Oman reached 36,087, the highest in the last decade. This year, arrivals from India reached 167,678 between January to July. Commenting on the launch of the promotional roadshow, Ms Asma Salim Al Hajri, Deputy Director General for Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said: “India is one of the most important source markets for the Sultanate of Oman under our marketing and promotional strategy for all target segments. The roadshow will showcase the unique selling points (USPs) of destinations in Oman that will pique their interest to inspire Indian tourists to travel.” “We also seek to promote the Sultanate as an attractive destination for weddings as this is one of the growing tourism segments, especially for visitors from India. With its pristine nature, picturesque beaches and unique architecture, Oman has seen many Indian weddings for its exceptional capabilities in terms of logistical facilities and accommodation,” she added. Al Hajri also said that the Sultanate of Oman is a multi-season destination known for its natural beauty, cultural heritage and hospitality. It has been attracting tourists of all categories for years. “We want to attract more high-income travellers from around …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi  announced the launch of its new route from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait city. The new direct flights will connect both cities daily from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Kuwait International Airport, starting from October 31,2022. Schedule to Kuwait, effective October 31,2022 (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency 3L 020 Abu Dhabi 09:05 Kuwait 09:50 Airbus A320 daily 3L 021 Kuwait 10:30 Abu Dhabi 13:10 Airbus A320 daily Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia said: “We are glad to welcome Kuwait to our growing network from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The addition of Kuwait City to Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s network reflects our commitment to support the travel and tourism sector in Abu Dhabi while providing our customers with a new and affordable option to travel between both cities”. Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Since inception in 2020, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has expanded its network to reach 26 routes across the region which includes, Kuwait, Beirut, Egypt, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Nepal, Sudan, Pakistan, Oman, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia served directly from Abu Dhabi International Airport. As the carrier continues with its expansion plan, with a growing fleet from just 2 Airbus A320 aircrafts at launch to 8 new aircrafts today, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is continuously working on serving its passengers with exceptional quality. The aircraft is configured with 174 seats and therefore providing added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a …

flydubai announced the launch of flights to Namangan from 24 September with a twice-weekly service, becoming the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights from Dubai. The addition of flights to Namangan makes it the third point in Uzbekistan including Samarkand which launches on 20 September, and the capital, Tashkent. Flights to Namangan International Airport (NMA) will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With the launch of operations to Namangan, flydubai grows its network in Central Asia to seven points, enabling passengers from the UAE and the GCC to explore more of the region. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “Uzbekistan has become an emerging market for flydubai and we are delighted to see our network expand there with the start of flights to Namangan and, launching next week, Samarkand. The commencement of our 10 weekly flights to the market will strengthen trade and cultural links between the UAE and Uzbekistan.” After Samarkand and Tashkent, Namangan is the third largest city in Uzbekistan and has established its importance as a trade and craft centre. Situated in the Fergana Valley, it is well-known for its ancient sites, traditional craftsmanship and magnificent architecture. Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “Central Asia has become a fast-growing market for flydubai where we have seen sustainable demand for travel since starting operations. We look forward to welcoming more travellers from Namangan as they connect to other points in the flydubai network including Jeddah, Madinah and Male.” The airline operates flights to seven destinations in Central Asia including Almaty and Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan, Bishkek in …

Leading UAE-based smart and green FM company Farnek, has discovered that four and five-star hotels in the UAE could potentially be saving up to 10% annually on their utility bills. Put into perspective that is the equivalent of more than 835 room nights, according to STR figures for the average daily rate (AED 594) of Dubai hotels in 2021. The analysis which was conducted by Farnek’s in-house team of sustainability consultants, used data from its own hotel clients, as well from the EGBC Hotel Benchmarking Study. The team found that on average these hotels could potentially save AED 373,000 and AED 125,000 on energy and water consumption respectively, as well as additional costs for waste disposal. “On average four and five-star hotels in the UAE spend AED 4.98 million per annum on their utility bills. By measuring, analysing and benchmarking their performance, hotels have the potential to cut their utility bills by up to 10% or AED 498,000. Of course, these are only average figures and are relative to the size of the hotel. Larger five-star resort hotels will save significantly more money than a boutique city hotel,” said Nadia Ibrahim, Associate Director – Consultancy & Sustainability at Farnek. To help address the situation, Farnek through its innovative FM solutions company HITEK, has launched a new and upgraded version of its state-of-the-art online remote monitoring tool ‘Hotel Optimizer’ which has been helping hospitality businesses for the past 20 years in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. The digital solution supports hotel operational efficiency, by identifying potential savings through monitoring, analysing and benchmarking energy and water consumption, as well as waste generation. “The key upgrade feature of this tool is …

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has taken a significant step forward by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading global payment services provider UnionPay International. The agreement will support the development and strengthening of Saudi’s positioning as a tourism destination for UnionPay cardholders from China and around the world as Saudi drives forward its ambition to welcome even more Chinese visitors to the authentic home of Arabia. The MoU aims to enhance Saudi’s comparative advantage in attracting Chinese travellers to the country with STA and UnionPay International promoting Saudi as a UnionPay-friendly destination for the global Chinese community. UnionPay already has extensive partnerships with banks in Saudi, including Al Rajhi, SNB, Al Inma, Riyad, and are actively expanding with the acceptance rate of UnionPay cards in Saudi expected to increase to more than 70% by the end of 2022. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “Today’s announcement is another significant step in our journey to position Saudi as a leading global tourism destination for the Chinese traveller. As Saudi accelerates its China-readiness program across the different visitor touchpoints, this exceptional partnership will ensure Saudi is top-of mind for Chinese travellers and UnionPay cardholders wanting to explore and experience the authentic home of Arabia.” James Yang, Head of UnionPay International Middle East, said, “This signing is an important part of UnionPay’s internationalization strategy, and we hope that through continuous and in-depth cooperation, we can drive the development of tourism in Saudi. Together with Saudi Tourism Authority, we are creating opportunities for growth and creating greater convenience for our Chinese and global UnionPay cardholders.” UnionPay has accelerated its regional business in recent years, to better …

Global Village has announced the much anticipated on-sale dates of Season 27 VIP Packs. Available exclusively online from September 24 on the Virgin Megastore Tickets website, each pack contains a host of benefits and offers as well as a range of premium experiences. Exclusive for Season 27 a Golden Coin will be hidden inside one VIP Pack, with the lucky recipient winning a cash prize of AED 27,000. The VIP packs offer exceptional value and are available in limited numbers, so demand is expected to be very high. A small proportion of the VIP Packs are available for pre-booking for AED 70 from September 17 until September 22, before the official sale starts on September 24. Customers are encouraged to register on the Virgin Megastore Tickets website prior to the online sale to save time and have the best chance of securing their desired Packs. Guests can choose between Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver VIP Packs. All Packs include VIP entry tickets, VIP parking privileges and VIP Wonder Passes which gives access to Global Village attractions including Ripley’s Believe it or Not!®, the Aqua Action stunt show and the ever-popular Carnaval® funfair. All Packs also include an exclusive, limited edition perfumed candle created from Global Village’s new signature scent called ‘Wonders’. The ambient fragrance embodies the spirit of Global Village and is a tribute to the wonders of the world and its many exotic scents and aromas. Another new VIP Pack benefit for Season 27 will be complimentary or discounted access to a range of new premium experiences including the beautifully designed private Cabanas with butler service for up to eight people and the new Star Seating for the Aqua …

Emirates will increase the frequency of its services to Algiers with the addition of a fifth weekly flight, effective 7 October. The newest service will complement Emirates’ existing operations between Dubai and Algiers, currently running at four flights a week. The latest addition of services to the airline’s schedule will provide additional connectivity for customers traveling to Dubai and onwards to Emirates’ global network. Emirates will utilise its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between Algiers and Dubai, and the newest service will operate on Friday, in addition to the airline’s flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flight EK758 departs Algiers at 15:45hrs, arriving in Dubai at 01:05hrs the next day. EK757 departs Dubai at 08:45hrs, arriving in Algiers at 12:55hrs. With the addition of the new flight, Emirates continues to be the only airline serving Algeria with private, enclosed First Class cabins, offering premium customers its industry-leading onboard experience with a line-up of elevated menus and refreshed amenities. Travellers flying with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can sit back and relax with more than 5,000 channels of carefully curated global entertainment content featuring Arabic movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. In addition to carrying more passengers, Emirates’ fifth weekly frequency between  Dubai and Algeria  will provide around 30-40 tonnes of cargo belly-hold capacity for businesses, further opening global trade lanes through enhanced import and export opportunities. Emirates started operations to Algeria in 2013, and will be celebrating 10 years of serving the …