Swiss-Belhotel International has announced the de-branding of Swiss-Belhotel Doha owned by the Al Majid Family of Qatar. Effective from 1st February 2022, the hotel is no longer part of the Swiss-Belhotel International portfolio. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President – Operations & Development, EMEA & India; Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources & Talent Development, Swiss-Belhotel International, stated, “Swiss-Belhotel Doha had joined our portfolio in 2009 and had remained as a franchised property for the past 5 years. But unfortunately, it no longer measures up to our brand standards which is detrimental to our image and brand promise. Hence, we were compelled to part ways based on a mutual understanding between the two parties.” Swiss-Belhotel International is well-positioned in Qatar and is known to deliver world-class service and memorable experiences with great value. “Moving forward”, Laurent stressed, “Qatar is an extremely important market for us and we will continue to serve our guests with our other hugely successful hotel, the Swiss-Belinn Doha. The hotel has recently expanded its facilities with the addition of The Swiss Sports Bar and Lounge. We are also negotiating some fantastic new projects in the country to expand our footprint in the country.” Laurent stressed, “Qatar is enjoying one of its best moments in history and tourism there has a lot of potential for growth. In preparation of the FIFA World Cup, we have seen a dramatic development of infrastructure projects in the country including the massive expansion of the airport all of which will positively contribute to the tourist experiences as well as create significant economic advantages. We are looking ahead with a great deal of optimism and eager to make most of the …

flydubai announced that it will resume flights to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) from 02 March with five flights a week.  With flydubai’s daily flights to Istanbul Airport (IST), the airline will increase its flight frequency to Istanbul to 12 flights a week. flydubai’s network in Turkey also includes the capital, Ankara, where it operates two weekly flights. Commenting on the relaunch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “flydubai remains committed to making travel more accessible by providing more choice for our passengers. Istanbul remains a popular destination on our network and we welcome the resumption of our operations to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, an airport that provides another convenient option for those travelling to Istanbul. We look forward to welcoming our passengers as they travel with flydubai onboard our Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.” Istanbul offers a wonderful mix of Europe and Asia, with plenty of options for shopping, dining and sight-seeing. It remains one of the most visited cities in the world and continues to be an important economic hub. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, offering more options for passengers travelling to and from the city. Emirates will codeshare on this route offering travellers more options for connections through Dubai’s international aviation hub to more than 190 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks. Passengers travelling on a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft can enjoy more comfort and an enhanced travel experience. The new cabin offering features a flatbed in Business Class and in addition to the extra space and privacy, passengers can sleep comfortably during their flight. Economy Class offers new RECARO seats, which …

Air Arabia Egypt announced the introduction of a new service to Gassim, city in Saudi Arabia with direct flights from Sohag International Airport to Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, commencing on February 24, 2022. Gassim is considered the seventh route that Air Arabia Egypt flies to after Riyadh, Jeddah, Tabuk, Taif, Al Jouf, and Hail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All passengers traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required to download “Tawakkalna” mobile application before departure and upload their vaccination status. Passengers are also urged to check the travel update on Air Arabia’s website before departure. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sohag and Buraidah by visiting Air Arabia’s website, calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Since COVID-19 outbreak, Air Arabia’s customer journey has been upgraded to include all safety measures that are in line with the highest international measures. Air Arabia’s entire fleet is fitted with HEPA cabin air filters, which help to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers. Customers are always requested to comply with the conditions and requirements of the countries of departure and destination.

Paramount Hotel Midtown opens adding pizzazz to the Business Bay skyline with its contemporary Hollywood-chic styles and impressive views. Situated at the heart of Dubai’s bustling commercial haven, the urban hotel offers a glamorous living experience with interiors that match the comforts and sophistication of tinseltown nestled in the neighborhood of some of Dubai’s most famous destinations, the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and Sheikh Zayed Road. Retro artworks, marble floorings, plush interiors and a splash of gold décor welcomes guests at the lobby of the hotel. With 281 contemporary rooms and suites to choose from, patrons have a range of accommodation options to choose from. Individuals, couples and families can all enjoy the luxuries of state-of-the-art amenities and views of the Burj Khalifa to awe at. Across five bespoke restaurants, guests can enjoy an array of cuisines, whipped up by chefs of caliber. Paparazzi Tuscan offers authentic Italian charm with its open-plan kitchen and Chef’s table, while CineScope serves an international mix of multi-ethnic cuisine, compared to be as eclectic as the flamboyant city of Las Vegas. With a 25ft long bar and leather armchairs, Melrose Bar & Lounge provides for a comfortable evening in a fashionable, and urban ambience. Meanwhile, perched 235m up, the Malibu Sky Lounge and Pool Bar offers panoramic views of Dubai. In collaboration with French brand Château Berger, the hotel offers a relaxing and holistic experience at PAUSE Spa, offering a wide range of therapies as well as bath, body and beauty products for purchase. Furthermore, PAUSE Fitness Center offers a comprehensive range of fitness equipment for fitness enthusiasts. The Kids Studio Club offers a safe and fun place for children to be entertained …

The MEBAA Show, the Middle East’s leading business aviation platform, is set to return to Dubai, taking place on 6 – 8 December 2022 at DWC Airport. The event will showcase the latest trends, insights, innovation and commercial opportunities shaping the future of business aviation and private flying in the Middle East and across the globe. A number of international companies have already signed up and confirmed their attendance for the MEBAA Show 2022 including Gulfstream, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer Executive Aircraft, Empire Aviation Group, Honeywell International, CAE and VistaJet International. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) commented: “Business aviation has shown tremendous resilience and growth in recent years and it is an exciting time for the sector. The MEBAA Show will demonstrate the latest advancement in business aircraft, technologies and predictions for the industry, which looks set for further growth in coming years. We look forward to welcoming local, regional and international companies for the event once again in Dubai, a leading hub for business and private aviation.” The business aviation industry had a significant representation in the recent Dubai Airshow, with 30% of the event’s business and private aviation exhibitors highlighting huge interest from buyers looking to take to the skies in executive jets for increased privacy and less exposure. Providing a platform for the entire business aviation community the MEBAA Show will convene again to build partnerships and take advantage of the enormous growth predicted for the sector. Business jet activity in the Middle East witnessed some of the strongest growth in demand in 2021, notably in the United Arab Emirates, which grew 73% compared to …

Young travellers flying Emirates as unaccompanied minors can now relax and wait for their flight in a newly upgraded lounge dedicated for them at Dubai International Airport, located next to Emirates’ First Class Lounge in Concourse B. Emirates’ lounge for unaccompanied minors is open 24/7, and the newly upgraded facility offers fun video games, drinks and snacks, comfortable seating areas, free wi-fi, and washrooms designed for kids. Parents or guardians who have pre-booked Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minor service, can drop off their young flyers at Dubai Airport Terminal 3, where Emirates’ airport team will check them in for their flights in a special lounge area for unaccompanied minors. This  facility is located in between the Economy and First/Business Class Check-in halls. After check-in formalities are completed, one of Emirates’ friendly airport services team members will escort the young flyers through immigration and security, onward to their dedicated departure lounge in the airside concourse, and later, from the lounge to the boarding gate. Young flyers enjoy priority boarding, and Emirates cabin crew will be waiting to welcome young flyers at the aircraft door, and help them to find their seats and settle in for their flight. Onboard, young flyers can look forward to delicious meals and snacks designed for their palates, toys and activity packs, and kid-sized headsets to enjoy the selection of over 50 Disney movies and 130+ TV channels for young travellers. Emirates is currently offering young flyers cool take-home toys and bags onboard, inspired by Expo 2020 Dubai and featuring little Emirates characters. All toys and bags use recycled material and bags are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Young solo flyers with a connecting flight in Dubai are …

SAUDIA delighted guests with a series of festival-themed surprises during a special flight from Paris to Riyadh on 8 February 2022. The initiative came as part of the airline’s efforts to promote the popular cultural and entertainment event among guests arriving in the Kingdom. Passengers found themselves on board a fully decorated aircraft featuring Riyadh Season’s official colors on the plane’s seats, safety instruction cards, and meal wrappers. Cabin crew members also wore brooches bearing the official logo of the festival. Guests enjoyed a promotional video highlighting the main attractions of the cultural and entertainment event, which was shared on the aircraft’s inflight entertainment system. Passengers also received special branded gifts and free tickets for several of Riyadh Season 2021’s most prominent events, including Riyadh Boulevard.. Commenting on SAUDIA’s role as Strategic Partner and Official Carrier for the festival, Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer at SAUDIA, said: “We are proud of our initiatives to promote Riyadh Season among our Guests and highlight Saudi Arabia as a major global tourist and entertainment destination. We hope that these activities and the special gifts provided to our passengers will encourage them to visit the festival and discover its many unique events and attractions. Our sponsorship of Riyadh Season comes as part of our commitment to serving as the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’ by supporting the growth of travel, tourism, and entertainment in the Kingdom, in line with our ambitious target of welcoming 100 million visits annually by 2030.” SAUDIA’s participation in Riyadh Season 2021 follows the national carrier’s major success in supporting the previous edition of the festival. This year, several companies under the SAUDIA Group including SAUDIA Air Transport, Saudia Cargo, …

Sabre Corporation and Eihab Travels, Oman’s leading IATA accredited travel agency, have announced a new multiyear technology agreement to help transform the travel experience in Oman. While travel is showing signs of recovery in Oman, this new long-term agreement will see Eihab Travels deploy Sabre’s latest technology and best solutions to drive growth, boost revenue and transform its business. The agency will now use Sabre’s next-generation travel agency desktop, Sabre Red 360, to deliver an intelligent and consultative service to travellers, create compelling shopping experiences for customers and provide an enhanced level of expertise to respond to evolving travellers demands. “The travel landscape has evolved dramatically following the pandemic, and that required a fresh outlook at our digital transformation and technology investments,” said Dinesh Poojary, General Manager, Eihab Travels.  “Sabre has the technology and innovation strategy to support our goals, advance our technology and operations and enable our digital transformation to compete on a global level.” As part of its strategic plans to transform the future of travel, Sabre recently announced multiple intelligent solutions, such as Sabre Travel AI and its intelligent retailing engine, which will be infused across its technology platform to power the future of personalized travel. “We have been working to empower our customers to be ready for recovery,” said John Mathew, Oman County Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “We are excited to partner with such a committed, forward-thinking partner like Eihab Travels that clearly understands the role technology plays in travel’s recovery – and we remain committed to equipping the agency with the most innovative solutions to achieve its goals” Sabre has been working with many leading travel companies in The Sultanate of Oman to …

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maldivian, the national airline and leading domestic carrier in the Maldives, to explore codeshare, interline, and joint holiday package opportunities. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Maldives is one of the most popular leisure destinations in Emirates’ network and we are very pleased to be exploring a partnership with the nation’s local carrier. A codeshare and interline agreement will immensely benefit both carriers. For Emirates customers, its enhanced connectivity to and from the Maldivian archipelago. For Maldivian travellers, it’ll ease access to our extensive network of more than 120 destinations, via Dubai. We look forward to continue strengthening our partnership and to offering customers a seamless travel experience.” Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Maldives, said: “Emirates’ impact to the Maldives’ tourism industry is significant, with the airline ranking first in terms of international passenger traffic. The possible partnership between the two airlines will benefit the Maldivian economy and strengthen economic ties between the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates.” Mohamed Mihad, Maldivian’s Managing Director, said: “The opportunity to explore a partnership with the largest airline in the world brings about endless opportunities for Maldivian. The growth prospects that could follow such a partnership is key when we look to expand our operations and develop partnerships that will allow us to position ourselves in the post Covid aviation industry. The interline and codeshare arrangement being explored would enable both Maldivian as well as Emirates to enhance the connectivity and expand on the service offerings.” The two carriers are reviewing a codeshare agreement that will enable Emirates’ customers to conveniently book and connect from Male’ to more than 15 …

The Spanish region of Extremadura will have its day in the Spain Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai this week. A wide range of activities have been organised starting on Tuesday 15 February, the Day of Honour of Extremadura. In attendance will be the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara, the Spanish ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Iñigo de Palacio, the President of Acción Cultural España and Commissioner of the Spanish Pavilion, José Andrés Torres Mora, and Executive Commissioner Carmen Bueno will participate. Fernández Vara will also have an institutional agenda, meeting representatives from the political, economic and commercial fields of the United Arab Emirates. The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is located strategically in the ‘sustainability area’ close to the nerve centre of the Expo, the Al Wazl plaza, which makes it highly attractive to visitors. The common theme will be: ‘Spain, Intelligence for Life’, which embodies the country’s communication objectives: to highlight Spain’s capability in innovation and creativity and its efforts to ensure a good quality of life on the planet for us and future generations. On 15 February there will be a presentation of Extremadura before a range of representatives from the field of Emirati tourism and society, in which the region will be projected as a tourism destination and a good place live and invest in. The commitment to sustainability and tourism as a connecting link between Extremadura and the United Arab Emirates will be the central theme of this event, in which two videos of Extremadura will be shown. One is focused on sustainability and archeoastronomy, i.e. the importance of the stars in the construction of monuments by different …