Malaysia has officially reopened its borders to international tourists starting 1st April 2022. Targeting to attract more than 2 million international tourists this year, Tourism Malaysia, the promotional board under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), will embark on a continuous effort to showcase the country’s unique blend of “Truly Asia” heritage to the Middle East and the world. Earlier during the pandemic, Tourism Malaysia launched the campaign #WeMissYou, which was targeted at the Middle East region to invoke feelings of nostalgia among travellers on the magnificent attractions that Malaysia has to offer. Recently, Tourism Malaysia participated in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, where it signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Dubai-based Emirates Airline as part of the recovery and development of traffic to Malaysia from key markets across the airline’s network. Through this strategic agreement, Tourism Malaysia will work with Emirates to explore mutually beneficial initiatives that will drive tourism into Malaysia, and offer Emirates more opportunities to serve the market, which include familiarisation trips, workshops, seminars, digital campaigns, in-flight marketing campaigns and other marketing programs. The mission’s goal at the ATM is to re-establish and strengthen the region’s commitment to good tourist cooperation, future partnerships and better cooperation with the travel and tourism industry. Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Malaysia’s Tourism Arts and Culture Minister said: “We will continue to place strong emphasis and focus on the Middle Eastern market in terms of outbound tourism. Hence, we will be stepping up our promotional efforts here. “It is indeed a huge relief for the tourism industry as we welcome more international tourists, newcomers and regulars alike, to further boost our economy. Therefore, we hope for …

The Ritz-Carlton announced the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Amman, ushering in a new standard of refined hospitality in the heart of Jordan’s vibrant capital. Rising elegantly above the West Amman skyline, and centrally situated on the prestigious Fifth Circle, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman welcomes guests to enjoy thoughtfully tailored experiences that capture the spirit of Jordan’s beauty and hospitality. “We are thrilled to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Amman, embodying our commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences and creating meaningful memories in the world’s most exciting markets,” said Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International. “From exquisite culinary craftmanship to treasured family moments, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman will embrace guests with its legendary service, and offer a unique lens on this charming capital city.” Soaring 20-stories high, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman features 228 guest rooms – the most spacious of any hotel accommodations in Jordan – including 34 opulent suites, spread across seven different categories. All guestrooms and suites have been intricately designed and elegantly furnished, with a sophisticated ambiance felt throughout the property. Led by Wimberly Interiors London, the hotel’s design is inspired by the culture and history of Jordan, which is reflected in the hotel’s bold interior architecture, tailored lighting, Art Deco touches and contemporary artistry. Artistic elements within the hotel draw inspiration from the landscape of the Kingdom, from natural rifts of the sea and saturated colors of the earth to the deep crevices of caves and mountains. The breathtaking structures of Petra are reflected in a series of vignettes, while Roman and Nabatean architectural features are given modern reinterpretations throughout the hotel. The floor finishes in the guest corridors pay homage to Jordan’s desert landscape, and the guestrooms …

flydubai announced that Match Day Shuttle flights between Dubai and Doha for the upcoming football tournament in Qatar are now available to book on its website. These Match Day Shuttle flights are offered in partnership with Qatar Airways and other partner GCC national carriers and will provide football fans with convenient travel options to the football matches that will take place from 21 November to 18 December 2022. For the duration of the tournament, flydubai will offer up to 30 daily return flights between Dubai and Doha providing passengers with maximum convenience when selecting their flights. This service will allow match ticket holders to move freely from Dubai, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a football match in Doha, and return to Dubai all on the same day. Commenting on the announcement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we are pleased to partner with Qatar Airways and the other partner GCC national carriers to facilitate travel during the upcoming football tournament. By coming together, we are able to offer football fans from around the world the opportunity to experience the warm hospitality and rich culture of our region as they explore the sights and sounds of two countries. We are honoured to enter into this partnership which will enable more people to travel between Dubai and Qatar to share in their love for football as this sporting event comes to the Middle East and Arab World for the first time.” Return Match Day Shuttle flights will be available from USD 258 in Economy Class and from USD 998 in Business Class. To ensure a seamless travel experience, these fares include a hand baggage allowance, a snack on …

Following the ongoing success of Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Palladium Hotel Group has aligned once again with the world-renowned Hard Rock International to operate Hard Rock Hotel Marbella that will open its doors in July. The hotel will feature 383 exclusive rooms and suites, exceptional leisure facilities, and one of the largest meeting and event centres in Marbella with an extension of 1000m2. Gastronomy is a key part Hard Rock Hotel Marbella with a varied and unparalleled culinary offer that will excite even the most exquisite palates. Hard Rock Hotel Marbella offers unique music-inspired design featuring a curated collection of music memorabilia, the best gastronomy, and incredible swimming pool surrounded by a lush and oasis-like garden, musical events and exclusive wellness facilities and services designed to allure superstars. Located in Puerto Banús, the most exclusive place on the Costa del Sol, is designed to accommodate couples and groups of friends who want to enjoy unique experiences and “wow moments” every day. Parties and music become protagonists, being just another part of the incredible services that the hotel offers. A new concept of hotel where fun, music, service, and attention to detail come together to offer a perfect and unique experience for all guests. The countdown has begun for the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella experiences!

New travel package options have been released by Qatar Airways for fans travelling to Doha to cheer on their team during the intercontinental play-offs this June. The matches will feature four national teams competing in ‘winner-takes-all’ matches to determine the final two teams for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which will take place in the Middle East region for the first time this November. The fight for the final two qualification spots are set to be high-octane encounters and will serve as yet another prelude to display Qatar’s preparedness ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Fans traveling to Doha for the intercontinental play-off matches are encouraged to purchase their travel packages before tickets sell out, and to capture the sights, sounds and excitement of Doha prior to the mega event. The games will feature four teams from different global football confederations. Australia or United Arab Emirates (UAE) will face-off with Peru on 13 June 2022, followed by Costa Rica versus New Zealand on 14 June 2022 for the final spots in the tournament. The intercontinental play-offs will be preceded by an AFC Fourth Round Match between Australia and UAE on 7 June 2022, also in Doha, to determine the fourth team in the final qualifiers. The extended travel packages to Doha include round-trip flights with Qatar Airways, match tickets, and a minimum of two-nights accommodation. Fans have the option to book their hotel with Al Messila Luxury Collection, Hilton Al Rayyan Curio, or Holiday Inn Business. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways welcomes the competing nations and their fans to Qatar and wish the best of luck to the …

Minor Hotels announces an upcoming addition to its Anantara portfolio in the United Arab Emirates. Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel will be the brand’s third property in the thriving global leisure and financial hub when it joins the portfolio on 1 July. The property, which is owned by Aujan Group Holding, has 252 guest rooms and suites, each with views of Downtown Dubai – some including the Burj Khalifa, of the Dubai skyline or the hotel pool, a wide variety of food and beverage options, a dedicated wellness floor including a spa, gym and swimming pool, meeting and events spaces and car parking. With the hotel’s central location amidst Dubai’s Downtown and Business Bay areas, close to DIFC the city’s financial district, and with easy access to the central attractions of Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera and the recently launched Museum of the Future, Minor Hotels plans to position Anantara Downtown Dubai as a lifestyle hub with a range of exciting food and beverage outlets, an Anantara Spa with Thai treatments giving a nod to the brand’s Thai roots and additional wellness offerings. Anantara’s exceptional experiences and luxury touch points will gradually be introduced over the coming months, and a series of property enhancements will commence later in 2022. The addition of this hotel is part of the brand’s strategic expansion into city properties, adding to the existing portfolio of city hotels including Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel and the growing portfolio of city hotels in Europe including Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel and most recently added, Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam. Minor Hotels kicked off …

The Swiss region of Graubunden, is aiming to attract record numbers of GCC visitors this summer, with a focus on luxury and value-based offers, aimed at family outdoor fun, health and wellness. Graubunden’s summer campaign highlights a range of hotels and serviced apartments, Michelin starred restaurants and immersive cultural experiences, making it the perfect destination for GCC families this summer. “Quite apart from enticing promotional offers this summer, the fresh air, outstanding natural beauty, mild climate and healthy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and sailing make Graubunden, an ideal location for families wanting to get away from it all,” said Head of Business Development at Visit Graubunden, Tamara Loeffel. For example, The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, is offering a seven-night detox and health cleansing package, which holistically detoxifies your body under medical supervision. Their treatments support the gentle removal of toxins while simultaneously boosting your metabolism and immune system. Relaxation and healthy nutrition play an important role in this process and includes wellness rituals and detox full board. The Valbella Resort in the Grison Mountains is offering a mountain summer package. Accommodation covers a wide range of rooms located in three buildings on the Lenzerheide, with an extensive culinary offer, wellness facilities, mountain railway tickets and a forest kindergarten. The Pradas resort in Brigels, has a ‘stay seven nights, pay for six nights’ offer, which is geared towards families, staying in holiday apartments. The offer includes free use of the Brigelser hiking bus, and a summer guest card which allows free use of mountain railways, minigolf and various museums. Nature awaits at The rocksresort Design Hotel™ in Laax, with adventure for all the family with their new family summer …

Wizz Air Holdings Plc signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“the MoU”) together with the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA” or “the Kingdom”), supported by the Saudi National Air Connectivity Programme (a Ministry of Tourism initiative to support the development of the Saudi Tourism Sector). The purpose of the MoU is to explore airline market development opportunities in the Kingdom. The Kingdom has launched a strategic and ambitious vision to triple passenger traffic in the Kingdom by 2030 as part of the Vision 2030 programme. This will provide unprecedented opportunities for airlines and the aviation supply chain. Wizz Air’s innovative and sustainable ultra-low-cost-carrier model is proven to develop markets by making air travel affordable for more people than ever before. The MoU reflects a shared vision between the parties on the potential Wizz Air could bring to the Kingdom to stimulate new demand, thereby making a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia’s planned growth. The parties will work together to enable potential investment and operating models to benefit and add to the Saudi Arabian aviation ecosystem, boosting its tourism industry and significantly increasing its connectivity.  

ATS Travel has extended its partnership with Amadeus as the UAE-headquartered travel management company embarks on an ambitious expansion plan across the GCC. The deal cements a long-term digital transformation partnership between the two companies, adding new value to ATS Travel’s offering and helping position it as a leading travel management company in the Middle East. With the new solutions, ATS Travel will gain new efficiencies by fully automating its ticketing system through Amadeus Auto Ticketing Solution. Meanwhile, Amadeus Remote Ticketing Solution will deliver a fully automated solution for managing pricing, price comparison, and ticketing at remote points of sale. ATS Travel will also benefit from Amadeus Hotels, a one-stop-shop search platform that pulls together content from top hotel aggregators and the world’s leading hotel chains and representation companies into an intelligent single screen solution. Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, commented, “The pandemic has led to accelerated demand for digital solutions across the customer journey, particularly for touchless experiences. Amadeus technology will allow ATS Travel to automate many of its functions, delivering superior customer service and cutting costs.” Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director at ATS Travel, said: “The travel industry is one of the biggest contributors to regional economies. Therefore, improving efficiencies streamlines our business and helps us deliver better value to the markets we operate in. Amadeus and ATS Travel have a relationship that goes back many years, and based on the strength of its solutions, our long-term plan is to standardize our technology stack on Amadeus technology.” ATS Travel is the UAE representative of ATG – one of the largest, independently owned business travel management companies globally – with offices in Saudi Arabia and India. The …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the launch of the Concierge Navigation to Success Program (NTS), a new learning programme designed for Saudi professionals working in the hospitality industry. The initiative launched at Park Inn by Radisson in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with key stakeholders from the Radisson Hotel Group supervised by Ministry of Tourism (MOT) that was represented by Princess Noura bint Khalid Al-Saud, the Learning & Development Partnership Manager at the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia. The Concierge Navigation to Success Program launched for Saudi professionals is part of the group’s ongoing expansion strategy in the Kingdom and further cements its intensive recruitment efforts in one of its key market feeders of the region. Designed to upskill the concierge team at Radisson Hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the NTS programme will equip the concierge agents with the tools and resources needed to grow in their career and succeed. This initative is also aligned with the Saudi 2030 vision to raise the contribution of the tourism sector to the domestic product to more than 10% and to provide one million additional job opportunities. Princess Noura Al-Saud said: “We’re delighted to see international hotel groups focus on further development in the Kingdom in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. This only speaks to the group’s commitment to inspiring young adults and the new generations with tailored learning programmes to ensure career growth and the delivery of world-class services. The Human Capital Development Deputyship at the Ministry will always support such an initiative where it comes to develop and uplift the skills within the sector”. The NTS programme aims to enrich the team’s skills needed to tailor guests’ experiences and create …