Qatar Airways and RwandAir have signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement to offer travellers more choice, enhanced service and greater connectivity to more than 65 destinations across Africa and the rest of the world. As part of the deal, the Rwandan flag carrier will also launch new non-stop flights between their Kigali hub and Doha from December. The agreement benefits travellers from across the globe who fly with both airlines, which expands each carrier’s route network. Passengers can enjoy the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one seamless reservation system, that simplifies ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check processes for the entire journey. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said “We share a very close and collaborative bond with Rwanda and welcome RwandAir’s new non-stop service between Kigali and our home in Doha. With this comprehensive codeshare agreement, we are committed to deliver greater choice and connectivity to our customers in Africa and around the world. The new partnership will help position Qatar Airways in the region and complement our African expansion strategy. As we brace ourselves to meet significantly increased demand for long-awaited travel, I see dynamic partnerships like this one helping to steer travel, tourism and trade firmly on the path to recovery.” RwandAir Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Yvonne Makolo, said: “This is a major milestone for RwandAir and marks the beginning of an exciting new journey with Qatar Airways. We are also immensely proud to welcome Doha to our route network, connecting customers with Qatar’s hub and further expanding their flight map.   “This codeshare agreement will give our customers significantly more choice and flexibility, allowing RwandAir to strengthen its global presence …

Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), which has a dedicated Industry Nationalisation division, Medyaf, and Al-Futtaim Group recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will help further enhance cooperation between the two entities, specifically in training and providing employment to national cadres in the hospitality and retail sectors. The MoU was signed by Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism and Mrs. Mira Al Futtaim, Board Director, Al Futtaim Education Foundation and Group Emiratisation Ambassador at Al-Futtaim Group at a ceremony held at the Innovation Hub at Al-Futtaim Festival Tower, and which was also attended by several senior officials and executives from both DCT and Al-Futtaim Group. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism, commented: “The Dubai College of Tourism welcomes this cooperation agreement with the Al Futtaim Group that will further strengthen and highlight the role of Medyaf and its continued support to the Emiratisation programme across the tourism ecosystem. This MoU is considered an essential step for establishing a mutually beneficial partnership, primarily to highlight the many advantages of working in this industry and assist national cadres looking to grow within the tourism and retail sectors.” Commenting on the partnership, Mrs. Mira Al Futtaim, Board Director, Al Futtaim Education Foundation and Group Emiratisation Ambassador at Al-Futtaim Group, said: “Al-Futtaim Group continues to support the UAE Vision 2021 and its 50 project government plans by attracting and promoting UAE talent within our group. We are honoured to partner with DCT as it actively introduces UAE nationals to the private sector, equipping them with the right skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers, as well as bringing a hospitality mindset to our retail …

Tourism Ireland officially announces the launch of the ‘Green Button’ campaign as the island rolls out the green carpet to holidaymakers and opens its doors to tourists in the coming months. By encouraging residents to press the ‘Green Button’, the campaign delivers the message to ‘book now’ and creates a commitment to travel by pressing a green button – green being the colour of ‘go’ and the colour universally connected with the island of Ireland. Having prepared a wide range of health and safety standards, put the finishing touches to new hotels and other unique accommodations, cooked up unforgettable culinary offers and developed a host of great new experiences and activities, the island gears up to welcome Middle East residents once again. By availing of travel offers and ‘only in Ireland’ experiences on Ireland.com, visitors can look forward to exploring amazing coastlines and mountains, discovering authentic cultural life, and experiencing gourmet secrets. There are exciting ways to plan a trip to take in all of this and more on Ireland.com alongside a wealth of accommodation, outdoor and wellness, luxury, activities, foodie and other travel offers. Nial Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “We are delighted to roll out our ‘Green Button’ campaign in the Middle East to re-start tourism. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the island of Ireland again to explore a multitude of unique experiences on an island that is easy to get to and easy to get around. There is so much to see, do and experience. Travellers can find inspiration for their next trip by visiting our website, Ireland.com, for a variety of offers on restaurants, hotels, leisure and outdoor activities such as golf.” …

MyHotels announced it had received final approval from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia to serve as an official Umrah OTA. MyHotels® Founded in Saudi Arabia in January 2016, headquartered in Makkah. MyHotels® is Saudi leading Online Travel Agency – OTA providing worldwide travel services, MyHotels® Achieved ISO 9001:2015 Certification for Quality Management System in Travel and Tourism,  MyHotels® providing accommodations reservations (Covering more than 1,000,000 properties “hotels, villas, apartments” across 80,000 destinations worldwide), and offers other travel-related services such as transportation arrangement (air, bus, car, transfers), also tours and activities package. MyHotels® prices include taxes and fees without hidden fees, enabling customers to make international tourist reservations at premium prices; now MyHotels® added Umrah Services in their services lines to be an Approved Umrah Online Travel Agency – Umrah OTA to serve both Business B2B and Individuals B2C. YouTube: https://youtu.be/9JiJhwkI0L4 “We are happy and proud to receive this official designation,” said Emad Alabbas, CEO of MyHotels®. “We have invested a lot and still investing in developing the infrastructure of the MyHotels® to deliver the fastest Umrah platform possible, and best customer services in the sector of Approved Umrah Online Travel Agency – Umrah OTA, we expand our partnership in Umrah hotels reservations and Umrah transportations reservations sectors and offering all discounts received directly to our partners, this will be allowing our partners to avoid the stress of commissions targets and incentives policies, letting our partners focusing on their core business.”   MyHotels® Umrah: MyHotels® Umrah – B2C – https://umrah.myhotels.sa/: Issues an immediate electronic Umrah e-Visa for individuals allows them to enter Saudi Arabia. The package includes hotels in Makkah City and/or Madinah City, transportations, and ground …

In GCC the UAE was the biggest climber across Q3 2021, moving up four places to the number one spot. Over the last quarter other GCC nations remain in similar rankings. As the UAE opens its doors to the world for the start of Expo 2020, the world’s ultimate real-time tool on global mobility, the Passport Index, has revealed a 14.8 per cent increase in the World Openness Score (WOS) at the start of Q4, since the beginning of the year. While up nine percent on the last quarter, the average global mobility score (MS), across all 199 states measured by the index, is 89; based on a total of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access provided. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect travel and mobility and it is testament to the many countries around the world that have managed to take a lead in seeing the world opening up once more. In July 2021, Bloomberg’s Covid tracking data reported that the UAE was the most vaccinated country, in the world, with over 73.8 per cent of the population vaccinated. The UAE has not one but two powerful passports – the yellow “Expo 2020 passport,” which gives you access to 191 countries – but only at Expo 2020 Dubai and over the next six months. Expo 2020, dubbed the World’s Greatest Show hosted a lavish opening ceremony on Oct 30, 2021.   Based on a mobility score that totals the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries a passport currently grants the holder, the Passport Index also notes Covid-related restrictions that are changing by the day. This allows travellers and governments to have the most up to date information on …

With its winning combination of excellent safety measures, competitive packages and record-breaking attractions, Experience Hub demonstrated Yas Island’s position as one of the preferred destination for GCC travelers at the third virtual iteration of the Gulf Travel Show. Joining six stakeholders at Yas Island’s special virtual pavilion, Experience Hub, the trade and promotion arm of Yas Island Abu Dhabi, engaged with the attending travel trade to reveal Yas Island’s enhanced product offerings aimed at attracting regional travelers. At the pavilion, attendees are able to access the latest content, products and pricing. Liam Findlay, General Manager, Experience Hub said: “We are delighted to be participating in Gulf Travel Show (GTS) and look forward to connecting with our valuable travel trade partners throughout this important virtual event. In light of the recent Abu Dhabi announcements, it is crucial for Yas Island to work together with the travel trade industry to highlight our shared appetite and ability to welcome new and returning visitors.  We are dedicated to being a competitive family fun destination and so travel agents can now book Yas Island hotel stays, inclusive of theme parks access, with savings of up to 45% until December 2021.” “Now with smooth access via land or air, Yas Island makes for the perfect destination for hassle-free vacations and convenient short breaks, as Abu Dhabi is now quarantine free for fully vaccinated travellers. With around 95% of employees vaccinated, Yas Island is one of the safest places in the world for travel and has also proven popular for extended stays thanks to its diverse mix of award-winning leisure and entertainment experiences.” As recognition of the Yas Island’s exemplary safety enhancements and commitment to its visitors, …

Sabre Corporation and Emirates have signed a new multi-year, worldwide distribution agreement. The new agreement will provide Sabre-connected travel buyers and agencies with access to Emirates’ content, through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS), with immediate effect.  Further to this, Emirates will create and distribute NDC offers through the Sabre GDS. “We are delighted to reestablish our long-standing partnership with Emirates,” said Roshan Mendis, Chief Commercial Officer, Sabre Travel Solutions.  “The agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating a sustainable distribution model that benefits all constituents across the travel value chain.  Resulting from thoughtful discussions between both parties, our new agreement will provide both Emirates and travel buyers with immense value, removing complexity in the buying process, which is crucial to the recovery of the industry.” The new contract will connect Emirates to a global network of travelers, while supporting its global vision to provide travel buyers and travelers with personalized offers. “We are pleased to have reached this distribution agreement with Sabre,” said Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates. “The new contract will support us to meet the needs of our agency partners. Providing agencies with flexibility, choice and efficiency will help them to thrive in the current climate and will help us drive revenue and growth.” In addition to the new agreement, Sabre will continue to partner with Emirates on advanced retailing, data and analytics capabilities through a number of its industry-leading solutions in areas such as network planning, revenue optimization and market intelligence.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA announced the opening of its second property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Grand Millennium Gizan.  The hotel was inaugurated by His Royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of Gizan Region, in the attendance of His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Minister of Education and Chairman of Higher Education Fund, and His Excellency Dr. Marie bin Hussein Al-Qahtani, president of Gizan University and the Secretary-General in charge of the Higher Education Fund Turki Al-Zamie and the Deputy Emirate of Jazan Region, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sager and a number of officials. Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are thrilled to open this new hotel in Gizan in line with Saudi vision 2030. We at Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA are always keen on our expansion plans in the region and we trust that we are filling a market gap with Grand Millennium Gizan.” Jalal Nasser, General Manager of Grand Millennium Gizan, said, “We look forward to welcome our esteemed guests in our new hotel right in the heart of this new fascinating area. And with the offerings we have, we are confident that we will be the hotel of choice for family and business travellers alike.” The new hotel is conveniently located on the beach within the Gizan University Complex. Those traveling between the hotel and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport can enjoy a 20 minute drive along a straight road. The hotel is also only 10 minutes away from the shopping centres in the city. Grand Millennium Gizan will be the biggest hotel in the vicinity …

Dubai Airports launched an exciting new customer proposition, set to revolutionise the DXB guest experience. DXB&more is a regional first mobile food, beverage and retail ordering service that provides a smooth, convenient alternative to dining in or waiting for an order to go, without the need to download an app. The development of DXB&more has been in partnership with US-based Servy, an enterprise self-service platform for hospitality which launched in 2015 as an airport digital commerce solution. The company provides technology which aims to enhance the hospitality experience, not replace it, and has been adopted by a number of companies including airports, railway stations and sports arenas across North America. For Dubai Airports, the creation of DXB&more was in direct response to the ever-evolving needs of the busy traveller, providing a convenient alternative to shopping and dining before a flight. The service is available to guests of DXB’s Terminal 3 and can be accessed via the WiFi landing page, through QR codes around the airport or by visiting DXBmore.com. Plans to extend the offering to the airports other terminals are in place and will be announced in 2022. Eugene Barry, EVP Commercial at Dubai Airports, who championed the implementation of the proposition said; “At Dubai Airports, we are focused on improving our guests’ experience across all physical and digital touchpoints through DXB. Clearly, the events of the past 18 months have accelerated key consumer trends and raised customer expectations around choice and convenience.   He continued; “Our objective is to create and test new ways of communicating with travellers before, during and after their journey with us, and raise awareness of the full range of shopping, dining, and hospitality experiences …

Club Med announced its return to Spain after over 20 years, with its new resort, Club Med Magna Marbella. The property, which will be nestled at the foot of the Sierra Blanca Mountains, will open its doors to guests on May 14, 2022. Conveniently located near Spain’s south coast, in the region of Andalusia, which is often referred to as “the garden of Europe”, Magna Marbella is just a 20-minute walk from both sandy Mediterranean beaches and Marbella’s city centre. It is also just a one-hour drive from Gibraltar, Ronda, and Malaga or two hours from Granada, Seville, and Cadiz, making it the ideal base to explore the rich Arab-Andalusian history and natural wonders of the region, including the Doñana Natural Park and Caminito del Rey. Club Med Magna Marbella boasts 14 hectares of lush garden, five swimming pools including a family waterpark and adult-only Zen Zone, two restaurants, Suenos and the Tierra Gourmet Lounge, and three bars for guests to try local food and drinks. The resort will also offer Club Med’s world-class children’s clubs for all ages (from 4 months to 17 years of age), where kids will be able to enjoy Andalusian inspired art and culture activities. The Family Fun Zone will feature water games, a playground, mini-golf and a zipline with Magna Marbella offering a wide array of activities, including golf, archery, tennis, flying trapeze, and more. Six padel tennis courts will be available within the resort’s grounds. For those looking to relax and unwind, a wellness area with 14 treatment rooms, including a double indoor-outdoor relaxation room and steam room, will feature treatments at Spa by CINQ MONDES. Guests will also be able to enjoy fresh …