The RoyalJet Group – the Abu Dhabi owned and operated award winning global leader in premium private aviation –  has again expanded its growing fleet with the acquisition of yet another Boeing Business Jet. The purchase transaction was completed recently and this pristine, low time aircraft is currently undergoing technological and communications upgrades in Basel, Switzerland.  It is expected to enter into service with RoyalJet and be available for charter globally in April 2022. Rob DiCastri, CEO at RoyalJet said:  “Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, demand in the past 6 months has exceeded supply in our sector of the aviation industry and in our region.  The overall health of the global private jet market has now been strong for an extended period of time, and growth is expected to continue.” “Fleet expansion, renewal and upgrade are integral elements of our ongoing customer experience transformation, allowing us to continue to provide an even more exceptional experience to our guests,” he added. This Boeing Business Jet boasts 23 passenger VVIP interior with a forward crew rest area for long journeys, an aft private master bedroom with private lavatory and shower, and a mid-cabin open plan VVIP lounge.  It has been finished with state of the art materials and a custom configuration designed for functionality and maximum comfort and can sleep up to 12 in VVIP lie-flat seats and its queen sized bed. It has also been previously upgraded with special soundproofing to reduce in-flight noise levels, along with a low cabin altitude modification, special humidifiers and a HEPA filtration system, all designed to optimize health and comfort, leaving passengers more relaxed and fresher upon reaching their destination. To further …

Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2022 appointing Khalid bin Touq as CEO of Tourism Activities Sector and Classifications at the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai (DET). The Resolution is effective from the date of issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Emirates has signed a new agreement with Amadeus, extending their partnership to offer the travel trade community more flexibility, choice, and future capabilities. From 1 February 2022, all trade partners on Amadeus will be able to access Emirates’ content free of surcharge. The new agreement will also see Emirates’ NDC (new distribution capability) content integrated into the Amadeus Travel Platform, with NDC content being made available to travel sellers over the course of 2022. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are pleased to refresh our partnership with Amadeus. This is another step forward in our goal to empower our trade partners in delivering even better customer experiences. In today’s environment, and particularly as the industry rebuilds post pandemic, everyone in the travel services chain will benefit from flexible models of engagement, multiple means to access to dynamic rich content, and the ability to offer differentiated products and services.” Decius Valmorbida, President, Travel, Amadeus, said, “This renewal is another major milestone in our distribution strategy and our ongoing retailing journey. With this new agreement with Emirates, we start 2022 building on the momentum made over the years to support modern retailing and once more demonstrating our commitment to continue offering through the Amadeus Travel Platform more travel content globally and at scale.” Catering to a dynamic marketplace, Emirates aims to provide its trade partners with a choice of connection options and differentiated products and benefits across channels, including via its own NDC-enabled direct connect platform, Emirates Gateway.

The Philippines will start to accept fully-vaccinated foreign leisure travelers from visa-free countries   beginning February 10. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat made the announcement today January 28 (Friday) after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the proposal of the Department of Tourism (DOT). “We at the DOT are very thankful to our partners in the IATF-EID for approving our proposal to allow the entry of foreign leisure travelers. The Department sees this as a welcome development that will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that have earlier shut down during the pandemic,’’ Puyat said. “With years of coordination between national agencies, industry stakeholders, and the various local government units (LGUs) to prepare our destinations for tourism in the new normal, we are confident that we will be able to keep pace with our ASEAN neighbors who have already made similar strides to reopen to foreign tourists,” added the tourism chief. Puyat clarified that the recent IATF-EID decision will cover only leisure travelers from countries whose nationals are allowed visa-free entry to the Philippines. It can be recalled that, last year, the IATF-EID approved the entry of fully vaccinated tourists from Green List countries/territories/jurisdictions starting Dec. 1, 2021 but was temporarily suspended due to the omicron variant. Earlier today, the IATF-EID announced the suspension of the country classification system starting Feb. 1, 2022. Also starting Feb. 1, fully-vaccinated returning overseas Filipinos will no longer be required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure from point of origin.   Likewise, …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced the 11th edition of the Sharjah Light Festival, which will take place from February 9-20 across nine sites in the emirate. With its tagline ‘Echoes of the Future,’ the festival will feature dazzling light and music shows designed to shine a light – quite literally – on Sharjah’s main landmarks and prominent architectural features. The announcement was made during a press conference hosted by the authority yesterday evening in Hamriya municipality, Sharjah, in the presence of His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA and a number of officials, department directors and employees of government institutions from the Emirate of Sharjah, in addition to representatives from the local and international media. The Sharjah Light Festival is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and is an initiative of the emirate’s tourism sector to encourage visitors to Sharjah. Aiming to support the course of development and progress in the emirate with artistic representations of its illustrious past, its dynamic present, and its bright future, the event has been curated to commence a new phase of post-pandemic tourism growth in Sharjah. “Over the past decade, the Sharjah Light Festival has contributed to the consolidation of Sharjah’s name as a leading destination for premium events that attract all categories of visitors from around the world. Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s strategic partners from the public and private sectors are vital to the success of this event, with the contribution of government departments and commercial agencies instrumental in promoting the Emirate of Sharjah as an integrated tourism …

Marjan, RAK Hospitality Holding and Wynn Resorts, Limited, the US-listed international developer and operator of luxury resorts, have announced a multibillion-dollar integrated resort development on the man-made Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The spectacular Al Marjan Island, already a leading tourism destination, is only 15 minutes from the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and 45 minutes from the Dubai International Airport. Comprising four islands, Al Marjan Island delights visitors with over 7.8 kilometers of sparkling beaches and 23 kilometers of waterfront in addition to world-class hotels and residential developments. Al Marjan Island spans an area of 2.7 million sqm of reclaimed land extending into the Arabian Gulf. The new integrated resort on one of the exclusive islands, which covers an area of almost 250,000 sqm, will offer a pristine setting with spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf as well as sandy beaches and a marina. The development is the first beach resort being developed by Wynn Resorts globally. The current scope includes a circa 1,000 + room hotel, high-end shopping mall, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention facility, an exclusive spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices, a gaming area, and other amenities. The integrated resort will be developed with significant foreign direct investment by Wynn Resorts. As the largest project of its kind in the Emirate’s growing hospitality sector, it will create substantial value to the local economy by accelerating tourism, creating jobs, and energising the growth of related sectors.  Set to be completed in 2026, the entire project will be developed to the highest standards of sustainability best practices. Eng. Abdulla Al Abdooli, CEO of Marjan, said the …

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Marriott International for two new hospitality projects set in Sharjah’s scenic East Coast. The agreement, signed by Shurooq’s Sharjah Collection & Hotels Management, marks the debut of Marriott’s Autograph Collection in Sharjah. Two of Shurooq’s new hospitality projects in Kalba and Khorfakkan under Sharjah Collection & Hotels Management will operate under the Autograph Collection brand. The announcement was made today (Wednesday) during an official signing ceremony held at the House of Wisdom, Sharjah. H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq, and Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East for Marriott International signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from Shurooq and Marriott International. Talking about the new partnership, H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq, said, “The new franchise agreement ties in with Shurooq’s vision to foster strategic global partnerships with reputed bespoke brands to add value to the world-class personalised service and care offered throughout Shurooq’s destinations. Joining the exclusive fold of Marriott’s Autograph Collection brings us closer to our long-term goal of empowering Sharjah’s diversified economy and cementing its position as a magnet for global brands.” Al Sarkal added: “The proposed hospitality projects in Kalba and Khorfakkan, strategically located in two of the most picturesque and dynamic cities in the Eastern region, will cater to the ever-growing demand for tourism and leisure experiences and seeks to bolster the emirate’s touristic appeal. The new agreement builds on our ever-expanding portfolio of developments in the East Coast and will further enhance investment opportunities across a variety of sectors to drive its future growth and urban development.” …

Russia has grown to become the second-largest source market for Dubai’s travel and tourism sector in 2021, climbing from eighth place in last year’s rankings. This is according to data released ahead of the next edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 9-12 May 2022. Commissioned by Reed Exhibitions (RX), the organisers of ATM 2022, the Colliers report concluded that the UAE is also likely to retain its status as the preferred GCC destination for Russian visitors over the longer term, accounting for more than 90% of inbound arrivals in 2026. In addition to the volume of inbound visitors to the UAE, the average spend of Russian travellers is expected to grow significantly between 2021 and 2026, increasing by $85 to reach approximately $1,280 per person during this period. Consequently, the Russian market is on course to surpass $1 billion for the Emirates within the next four years. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “The latest figures from Colliers demonstrate that visitors from Russia are playing – and will continue to play – an important role for our region’s travel sector, especially when it comes to the UAE. “The fact that Dubai was among the first destinations to open its borders to Russian travellers without the need to quarantine has no doubt been a significant factor in the sustained levels of visitation, with 296,000 inbound arrivals to the emirate in 2020. “Encouragingly, 2021 numbers look set to surpass that figure, with Dubai having welcomed 256,000 visitors from Russia as of the third quarter of the year.” The Russian market’s average length of stay (ALoS) saw a …

Accor expands its luxury footprint in Egypt with the signing of Sofitel Cairo New Capital Hotel & Residences, a new flagship property for the group that will strengthen the Sofitel brand in Egypt. The new property will be located in the heart of the New Administrative Capital (NAC) of Cairo, a city designed on its own and featuring hospitality, residential, entertainment, commercial, retail components and government entities, including the presidential palace, parliament, cabinet, supreme court, all ministries of Egypt and various foreign embassies. The property will introduce two towers, and a podium, in which the first tower will feature 200 hotel keys and 280 branded residences, from one to four bedrooms, while the second tower will include offices and commercial spaces. The group is collaborating with Edge Holiding, an Egyptian real-estate developer created by Al Borouj Misr Developments and Al Mashariq KSA as a joint venture in 2018. “Edge Holding Urban Development is the first and largest Egyptian-Saudi business investment that took place in the New Administrative Capital. It has introduced 20 years of experience and because of its congregated experience, it has been able to undertake two booming projects under the umbrella of the Egyptian government” mentioned Mr. Hazem El-Sherif, Chairman of Edge Holding. “Each project has its unique aesthetic tailor-made design providing a smart lifestyle within an unrivalled community, supported by Edge Holding’s dedicated team of community management. Edge Holding made sure to provide the NAC with two projects that meet the exact needs and demands of clients with the OIA compound and OIA towers. OIA Towers, a conventional development with remarkable views and outlooks; unique 30 storey East and West twin towers meticulously designed with international quality …

Dubai-based independent hotel management company, Aleph Hospitality, has announced that it has signed a company-wide agreement with Medallia to further enhance the customer journey and elevate the guest experience across all of the group’s hotels in the Middle East and Africa. As pioneer and market leader in Experience Management, Medallia is trusted by the world’s best hotel companies. Its bespoke feedback analysis platform for hotels provides AI-powered text analytics and data on the customer journey that enables hotel teams to focus on the critical customer touchpoints and use these insights to further elevate the guest experience. Commenting on the partnership Bani Haddad, Founder & Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, said: “Whilst Medallia is not new to Aleph as the platform has been in place in several of our hotels, we believe now is the right time to move to a group-wide partnership to support the rapid growth of our hotel portfolio in the Middle East and Africa.” “Through the extensive functionality and reporting available in Medallia Go, we will be able to further advance our understanding of the group’s performance with the ability to continually refine the hotel guest journey and further strengthen the service delivery and quality for our owners.” Aleph Hospitality currently operates 10 hotels and has earmarked a pipeline of 50 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2025.