WSP Middle East announced the next phase of The Red Sea Project’s Multimodal Operational Readiness Plan as momentum shifts gear towards embedding new mobility solutions within the regenerative tourism destination. With a view to inspiring uptake from the world’s and the region’s top mobility operators, this phase involves expressions of interest from operators to ultimately supply and operate transportation modes across three modal packages throughout the project – in addition to one package for a Mobility Operations Manager – as it prepares to open to guests in early 2023. The latest step of The Red Sea Project’s sustainable mobility journey follows the creation of a blueprint for decarbonized future mobility to help enable sustainable, seamless journeys for guests, employees and logistics to the flagship tourism destination. As a global leader in mobility, sustainability, digital-integration, and commercial advisory, WSP Middle East’s industry-leading advisory and mobility experts are engaged in helping The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) identify land, sea and air transport requirements for the development and its operations, underpinned by the latest advances in green mobility. Andreas Flourou, Executive Director, Operations – Mobility at The Red Sea Development Company, said: The Red Sea is the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project. The destination is on track to be powered solely by 100 percent renewable solar energy, saving upwards of 500,000 tons of C02 entering the atmosphere every year. As such, we’ve set out to be equally ambitious in our mobility operations and are seeking the very best industry partners to help us in realising this vision. Our portfolio of projects on the Red Sea coast is expanding, least of all with the equally ground-breaking AMAALA, and as such, the partnership …

Brown Hotels announced an official partnership with Israir Airlines. The partnership is based around an investment worth approximately €40million for Brown Hotels and Israir to co-purchase and co-own properties throughout mainland Greece and the Greek Islands, as well as the launch of new packages combining hotel stays and flights at attractive rates. As part of the new partnership, Brown Hotels will provide unique vacation packages in Greece combining direct flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to Athens International Airport via Israir Airlines with stays at Brown Hotel’s new collection of properties in Greece. Israir will also have airline exclusivity over the sale of vacation packages and Brown Hotels rooms. After the crisis that the global tourism industry endured during the Coronavirus pandemic, with Greece particularly hard-hit, both sides are anticipating that the rapid recovery of the industry will help promote the Brown Hotels collection and Israir through strategic marketing and sales initiatives by both sides. The hotels are located in strategic tourist destinations throughout Greece, with various facilities for guests, including restaurants and bars, all in the modern design aesthetic of the Brown Hotels brand. The partnership marks the first time that a real estate investment collaboration has taken place between Israir and a hotel brand. The joint investment will include the purchase, renovation, improvement, operation and marketing of the properties that will be operated by Brown Hotels. Amongst the first property to be opened under the partnership is a new Brown Hotel in Chania, Crete, one of the most coveted and sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean. The hotel, aptly named “Isla Brown Chania,” will open at the end of 2022 under the Brown Hotels Resorts label, and …

Kuwait Airways announced the signing of an agreement with Qatar Airways, enabling match ticket holders to attend the World Cup 2022, by providing direct, daily match day shuttle service to and from Doha within 24 hours, to attend the match on the same day and enjoy an exceptional experience. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan said, “We are pleased that Kuwait Airways is part of this monumental global event, especially since it is being held in Qatar and we are proud to facilitate the travel of fans to and from the State of Qatar for this event. Not only does this agreement enhance the connectivity among the countries of the GCC, but also facilitates the social and economic growth emphasized by the government of the State of Kuwait.” Al-Dukhan was confident that Kuwait Airways would play a prominent role as a distinguished carrier in linking Kuwait to the world, providing comfort and convenience for fans in Kuwait and the GCC countries, as they choose the Blue Bird for their flights to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. On his part, Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “The historic bilateral agreement between Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways is part of an ongoing partnership between the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, who share numerous common goals at all levels. Football fans from Kuwait will have plenty of options and choices to travel between the countries at any hour of the day, during the FIFA World Cup 2022 season in Qatar.” Razouqi added, “This agreement with Kuwait Airways is in accordance with KAC’s transformation program to provide comfort to our valued customers and achieve their aspirations to attend …

To coincide with World Environment Day, Anantara announced its signing of all its resorts and hotels with the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge. Launched in 2019 in Thailand, The UNESCO Pledge in partnership with Expedia has since expanded to create a globe-spanning travel ecosystem which supports sustainable tourism. An award-winning luxury hotel brand developed by Minor Hotels, Anantara has focused its efforts on social, economic and environmental areas of priority since the brand’s foundation in 2001, changing the definition of purposeful travel for generations of holidaymakers along the way. By signing up to the pledge, Anantara is adding a portfolio of over 45 hotels across the world to the roster of over 4,200 properties committed to concrete, transparent and achievable climate action. “As the world moves towards climate resilience, the role of inclusive partnerships, such as Expedia Group and UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge, will only grow,” said John Roberts, Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation for Anantara. “At every Anantara property sustainable tourism drives our choices, and over the years we have compiled a blueprint of best practices that we now hope to share in a streamlined manner with other pledge signatories to encourage the adoption of an ever-more sustainable business model.” “The UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge aims to promote sustainable travel, community resilience and heritage conservation globally,” said Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture. “By signing the Pledge, we are pleased that Anantara Hotels and Resorts publicly commit to actions that will reduce the environmental impact of their businesses, raising awareness to travelers and helping them make more sustainable travel choices.” In each country where the brand operates, Anantara teams and guests contribute to social and environmental projects …

iCoupon, the leading digital vouchering platform in airports worldwide, is continuing to revolutionise the world of digital vouchering with its new service, iCoupon AutoPay. The iCoupon system already organises all airline vouchers by flight, date, airport and creates draft invoices automatically, and now the retailer will no longer have to spend time sending the auto-generated bill to each individual airline and chase for payment. Instead, iCoupon’s billing system, for those who select the service, will automatically submit the invoices directly to iCoupon, which will pay the bills directly to the retailers on payment dates and terms selected by the retailer. Airlines will only have one bill to pay to iCoupon for their consolidated AutoPay retailer bills, yet still have full visibility of every passenger transaction for audit, EU261 and validation purposes. In addition, the entire billing process takes place automatically in the iCoupon billing engine, meaning that retailers and airlines do not need to make any changes manually and everything carries on as normal from their perspective. By automatically generating billing documents at the end of each month, iCoupon AutoPay will eliminate the time retailers and airlines are putting into billing administration. The billing documents will be fully compliant with local legislation of each country, and with VAT compliance such as EU112 directives. After generating the document, iCoupon will automatically pay the retailer on its selected credit terms. Retailers using iCoupon AutoPay can select which package best suits their needs and will be paid depending on that choice. New and existing retailers and airlines will be able to opt-in to the solution and iCoupon will do the rest, with just the flick-of-a-switch. Non-iCoupon AutoPay clients will be able to continue …

Oman Air welcomes all guests to the Sultanate of Oman on board its award-winning flights. All remaining COVID-19 precautionary safety measures and procedures in place at airports across Oman have been lifted. Arriving international travellers no longer need to register through the eMushrif portal or undertake a PCR test before or upon arrival, as previously required. Furthermore, authorities have removed all quarantine requirements as well as the requirement to download the Tarassud+ Track & Trace application prior to departing for Oman. Guests departing Oman should ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations, Kuwait Airways launched of its first scheduled commercial flights to Casablanca, Morocco, commencing from 1st June 2022, with two flights per week on Sundays and Wednesdays. Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first flight to the city of Casablanca in Morocco. This destination has always been of immense preferential importance to our customers, due to its popular touristic attractions, as well as its historic and cultural landmarks.” Razouqi said, “Choosing Casablanca as a destination complements the plans developed by Kuwait Airways to expand its network of routes around the world, and to new and preferred markets that meet the aspirations and requirements of its customers. The selection of this destination came after extensive and systematic research of the feasibility, effectiveness, and profitability of this route for the Company.” Razouqi indicated that Kuwait Airways is fully equipped with a young diverse fleet of the latest types of aircraft, with state-of-the-art technology, and the Airbus A330-800 was selected to facilitate the travel of passengers to and from Casablanca. The A330-800 is known for its unique features and characteristics that will enable customers to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant travel experience. He added 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, starting with the Kuwait Airways website and KAC application. In addition, customers can receive assistance or make enquiries through KAC’s WhatsApp, on 22200171, or by contacting the Call Center on 171. Customers can also visit the Company’s offices at the …

Sharjah Executive Council issued Decision No. (13) of 2022 amending its previous Decision on regulating the tour guide profession in the emirate. The amended law mandates Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) with overseeing and managing tour guides in the emirate, offering training programmes and refresher courses with a clear breakdown of fees. The Authority is also entitled to suspend or revoke a permit in case of violations, and has been tasked with examining the regulations in place in neighbouring emirates to hold accountable any individual practising the profession without the needed permits. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “As the government body entrusted with developing and leading the tourism sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority welcomes these new amendments by Sharjah Executive Council to regulate the tour guide profession in the emirate; they come at the perfect time as the  domestic tourism sector is enjoying a notable boom and the post-pandemic recovery continues to gain traction, promising even greater numbers of visitors in the stages ahead.” “We are committed to our mandate to ensure quality and excellence in Sharjah’s tourism offerings and services,” H.E. Al Midfa continued. “With that in mind, we will maintain and upgrade our procedures to implement the Executive Council Decision and the newly issued amendments, upholding our end of the responsibilities, as always. This creates a supporting and empowering environment for tour guides in Sharjah – most notably UAE citizens – to not only carry out their role, but also promote a positive and authentic image of the Emirate of Sharjah in the process.” The amended Decision prohibits any entity or organisation from employing …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced the launch of an enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives 2.0 programme at IMEX Frankfurt, the key industry-leading exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. The announcement made today unveiled the latest part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategy to further stimulate the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) sector in the emirate post-pandemic. With global destinations increasingly bidding and attracting corporate groups, the enhanced programme builds on the existing Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme, which was launched in 2019, to provide additional value-adds and benefits to meetings and incentives organisers looking to host events in the capital, in order to remain competitive as the MICE industry continues to reopen. The programme encourages organisers to ‘Get The Advantage’, leveraging the UAE capital’s reputation as delivering unrivalled hospitality in the world’s safest city, a place which offers extensive support alongside strategic initiatives, and a destination with a packed calendar of thrilling events. The revamped programme forms part of a wider, ongoing strategy to increase Abu Dhabi’s MICE market share and further establish the emirate as one of the world’s leading business events destinations. It follows the launch of several new initiatives, including a recent collaboration with Etihad Airways to offer benefits to corporate groups looking to hold business events in the capital, such as discounted air-tickets, group booking discounts, complimentary flights and special flight rates for inspection trips to Abu Dhabi. Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are delighted to launch our enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme which will enable us …

flydubai announced that it will resume operations to Abha in Saudi Arabia commencing 23rd June with a daily service. flydubai has built a network of more than 100 destinations in 50 countries served by a young fleet of 64 Boeing 737 aircraft. The carrier has recently resumed its operations to Gassim, Ha’il and Tabuk, and has launched its twice-weekly flights to AlUla; its newest destination in the Kingdom. flydubai has taken delivery of five new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this year with a further 17 to be delivered by the end of the year; supporting the airline’s growing network. The carrier will start operations to 10 additional routes from 22 June onwards and this includes flights to new destinations, Izmir and Pisa, as well as the resumption of operations to popular seasonal summer destinations such as Bodrum, Mykonos, Santorini and Tivat. Flights to Abha International Airport (AHB) will operate daily from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) from 23 June 2022. Return Business Class fares from DXB to AHB start from AED 3,800 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1,500. Return Business Class fares from AHB to DXB start from SAR 3,800 and Economy Class Lite fares start from SAR 1,500.