Limestone Lab, an experience-driven hospitality group, with a vision of launching new and innovative hospitality concepts to the social and dining scene, announces plans to develop six more unique concepts in the UAE with a new seed funding round. Limestone Lab, the tech-enabled experiential hospitality group, which creates, builds, and manages unique concepts, has presently raised an amount of $1 million through a pre-seed round of investment, following raising $6 million in their initial round, which was used to develop their pilot projects,Social Distrikt, and their latest concept launching in 2022, Peaches and Cream. The current funding was used towards the conceptualization of four concepts, including the company’s pilot project, Social Distrikt, the newly launched urban food & bar hall located at The Pointe at the Palm Jumeirah.This was achieved by owning stakes as retained capital as development fee by fully funding the initial two concepts. As part of the development fee, the hospitality group has thus far doubled the initial investment raised of the two concepts, making it an attractive opportunity for future investors. Continuing to leverage their success, the innovative hospitality group has announced its plans to launch its Seed round in February with the aim of raising $2 million, to which the company will develop a second team to establish 6 additional, unique concepts to the market, with a disruptive approach to the traditional brick-and-mortar models for the F&B sector. Commenting on this, CEO and Co-Founder, Hassan shares, “Since the launch of Limestone Lab, we have witnessed a growing appetite from investors who resonate with our passion and vision, and as a result we have had the ability to raise investment at an exponential rate on our …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has announced the formation of a new division focused on the regulation of integrated resorts. These include hotel operations, convention space, entertainment, restaurants and lounges, spa, retail and gaming facilities. Following global best practices in the regulation of gaming that operate as part of integrated resorts across various jurisdictions worldwide, the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation within RAKTDA will consider the social, cultural, and environmental landscape of the Emirate and cover licensing, taxation, operational procedures, and consumer safeguards. The foremost priority of this new division is to create a robust framework that will ensure responsible gaming at all levels. The regulatory structure will address the entire gaming enterprise within integrated resorts, requiring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including financial crime laws) from operators, suppliers and employees. Additionally, the regulations will cover marketing, advertising, and financial transactions, ensuring that these areas comply with the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation.

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) revealed that the performance of its cultural assets in Dubai showed a remarkable recovery following a difficult year imposed by the repercussions of COVID-19 on the world. The Authority’s museums, heritage sites and public libraries attracted more than 521,000 visitors in 2021. Statistics conducted by Dubai Culture showed that museums, heritage sites and public libraries in Dubai are still gaining momentum as touristic, cultural and educational destinations for the public, including UAE citizens, residents and visitors. In 2021, the total number of visits to these sites was 521,753; heritage sites topped the list, recording 50% of total visitors, followed by libraries, with 39%, and museums at 11%. Muna Faisal Algurg, Director of the Museums Department and Acting CEO of the Culture & Heritage Sector at Dubai Culture, affirmed that despite the conditions and repercussions imposed by the pandemic on the cultural and creative sector around the world, Dubai Culture adopted an effective methodology in dealing with the imposed challenges through digital offerings such as virtual tours, workshops, activities, and educational lectures across those sites. Following the lockdown period, Dubai Culture succeeded in reigniting the cultural movement in the emirate and keeping the audience in touch with the history of Dubai and its cultural landmarks. The Authority also ensured the implementation of all the precautionary measures and precautions to guarantee workers and visitors of those sites the highest levels of protection. Algurg indicated that the performance of museums and heritage sites in the emirate is on its path towards a full recovery at a time when the world’s museums are still suffering from the repercussions of the pandemic. Based on a report issued by …

Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, and talabat, the region’s leading food, and q-commerce delivery platform, are expanding their partnership with the Etihad Guest ‘Miles on the Go’ programme to include carbon offsetting until December 2023. The original agreement was signed in September 2021 and allowed Etihad Guest members to earn and redeem miles when ordering food, groceries, and other essentials on the talabat platform in the UAE. Today, Etihad Guest members can also contribute to the Conscious Choices sustainability initiative recently launched by the airline. In partnership with CarbonClick, the project will offset each ride made by a talabat rider through the Miles on the Go programme, helping to contribute to the overall effort by the airline to offset its carbon footprint, making it the first in the world to reward its guests for adopting more sustainable practices. Kim Hardaker, Director Loyalty and Partnerships, Etihad Airways, said: “We are very proud of our Conscious Choices initiative and our venture with talabat through the Miles on the Go programme is an example of our constant strive to find new and innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint. This partnership enhances our commitment and that of our guests towards making a positive impact to a more sustainable future.” Onur Elgun, Vice President of Strategy at talabat, added: “As a company, we are stepping up our efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future focusing on offsetting and reducing our carbon footprint. Therefore, the timing of this couldn’t be better, and it’s an opportunity to positively contribute to projects that create clean energy, a key driver in reducing global carbon emissions”. “We’re very proud to continue expanding our partnership with …

SiteMinder, the world’s leading open hotel commerce platform unveiled the lists of distribution channels that over the past year brought the highest booking revenue to hotels in the Middle East and more than 20 other of the world’s most popular tourism destinations. The list for the Middle East—in line with global trends—reveals a more holistic online commerce strategy, consisting of both new and established methods, is being taken by hotel businesses to reach new customers and produce revenue. This holistic commerce strategy consists of a greater balance between direct and indirect revenue streams, with direct bookings retaining the third position in the Middle East. Globally, direct bookings now rank as one of the top two revenue drivers in more than half (12) of global markets—up from five markets last year and two in 2019—driven by increased investments in booking engines, hotel websites, metasearch, frictionless payments, support from hotel consultants and specialist applications designed for conversion. This year’s lists also feature 29 new distribution channels—including TBOHolidays and Airbnb in the Middle East—reflecting the current aptitude among hotels to embrace new revenue streams in their pursuit of new customers. Additionally, the lists increasingly feature Airbnb, which debuted in the Middle East’s list and two others, and rose in 12 additional markets, in spite of the channel being made available to traditional hospitality businesses only four years ago. Other major findings supporting a greater adoption of a holistic hotel commerce strategy included: The maintained relevance of regional channels, particularly in locations with ongoing reduced international travel. This was exemplified in the Middle East by Dubai-headquartered Destinations of the World by WebBeds. The ongoing importance of wholesalers for many accommodation providers, with leading bedbank …

Majid Al Futtaim and Dreamscape Immersive, the location-based immersive virtual reality company, has announced that it will launch its newest interactive experience MIB: First Assignment at its flagship location at Mall of the Emirates on 27 January. Thanks to the creative minds at Dreamscape and Sony Pictures Virtual Reality (SPVR), Men in Black fans will suit up as agents, swap sunglasses for a VR headset, and step into a heart-pumping, alien-fighting adventure as they free-fly on intergalactic hoverbikes to save the planet from the extraterrestrial world. Advance tickets for the epic adventure go on sale on  14 January and can be purchased on dreamscapeimmersive.com. Walter Parkes, co-founder and CEO of Dreamscape and executive producer of the Men in Black film franchise said, “We are thrilled to partner once again with Majid Al Futtaim, which is at the forefront of entertainment in the Middle East. MIB: First Assignment is launching almost 25 years after the film, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the franchise and, this experience fully immerses fans in an iconic cinematic world, making them the star of their own intergalactic adventure. Since debuting in Los Angeles, it has received rave reviews and we look forward to bringing this new adventure to audiences across the region for the first time.” Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas added, “We are extremely excited about expanding our offering at Dreamscape with the launch of a MIB: First Assignment, which transports guests to an immersive new world and allows them to be at the heart of the action. In today’s ultra-competitive landscape, it is essential to provide something extraordinary to attract customers and, at Majid Al Futtaim, …

Amidst optimism and hope in reviving the tourism sector, Botswana Pavilion, on 19th January 2022, held official press briefing to announce the Botswana Tourism Month at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Set to be on display until the 8th  of February 2022, the one-of-a-kind showcase promises to highlight the Southern African country as a globally competitive force in tourism with a rich natural resource base and investment potential. The exhibition will shine a spotlight on Botswana’s diverse culture, its food, song, dance and the long-standing principles of sustainability. Participating delegates included Botswana’s Honourable Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms. Philda Kereng, her Permanent Secretary Dr Oduetse Oldman Koboto alongside Botswana Tourism Organisation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer – Ms. Tshoganetso Carl-Ponoesele. Also present on the occasion were officials from Botswana’s government entities and Botswana’s finest tourist operators hoping to share the travel packages on offer and potential investment projects with investors and travellers seeking to learn about the country’s opportunities first-hand. Speaking at the engagement, The Honourable Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms. Philda Kereng said, ‘Botswana is known for its exclusive experiences, dramatic wildlife encounters, picturesque landscapes and off-grid vacations. The country boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Tsodilo Hills with the rock art filled spiritual sites, and the Okavango Delta which is the desert’s unexpected wetland wonder.’’ It is not by coincidence that Botswana hosts the world’s largest elephant population. The country’s high-value and low-volume tourism escapades are focused on minimising the negative environmental impacts. Botswana has also seen substantial growth in business and investment opportunities due to its stable political environment. Furthermore, in the advent of COVID-19, the Government of Botswana together …

Oman Air announced that it has been granted ‘Airline Retailing Maturity status’ under IATA’s ARM Index Program. The certification recognizes that Oman Air uses Shop/Order capabilities compliant with the standard Enhanced and Simplified Distribution message schema, version 18.2 and the ARM index Capabilities Verification Guidance. Commenting on the certification, Mr. Umesh Chhiber, Senior Vice President Revenue Management, Pricing and Distribution at Oman Air, said “Receiving this status is a proud moment for Oman Air as we now join the first few airlines to have attained the ARM Index certification. Airline retailing has been one of the biggest industry disruptors in recent years and Oman Air is working towards developing additional enhanced retailing capabilities on our NDC channel. These new capabilities, once developed and verified by IATA, will be published in our ARM Index Registry.” Oman Air’s new strategy is focused on becoming an omni-channel airline that gives its customers the freedom to choose when and how they interact with the airline. “As a customer-centric airline, Oman Air is committed to providing greater freedom of choice to our customers,” Mr. Chhiber added, “This is irrespective of whether or not they choose traditional GDS distribution channels, OTAs, aggregators or the cost-optimal NDC Channel, which will help Oman Air reduce its distribution costs significantly. I commend IATA and other airlines who alongside Oman Air are fully committed to the NDC journey by offering more freedom of choice to the customer.”

Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Service of The Bahamas to explore joint initiatives to promote tourism to the island nation. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive and The Hon Frederick A Mitchell MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service, The Bahamas at the Emirates Group Headquarters. Also present at the meeting were Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer; Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior VP Commercial Operations for the Americas; and HE Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive said: “Across the world, Emirates plays a key role in boosting tourism to various destinations by providing travellers with reliable, convenient and comfortable flight options for travel. We are delighted to work with The Bahamas to strengthen transport links and to support the country to welcome tourists from around the world. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” The Hon Frederick A Mitchell MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service, The Bahamas, said: “We are happy to be working together with Emirates to promote The Bahamas as a destination of choice for travellers from across the world. The Bahamas is truly an unmatched destination offering a wide variety of leisure experiences that can appeal to every visitor. We are grateful to the support offered by Emirates and we look forward to welcoming tourists from the UAE and other global markets to The Bahamas.” Spread across 16 major islands and boasting more than 100,000 sq. miles of the world’s clearest …

Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) in collaboration with New Dimension Productions (NDP), a leading motion picture and hologram entertainment production agency, will launch the world’s first ‘Dubai Hologram Universe’ at Al Habtoor City Theatre, home to its resident production, the famous long-running ‘La Perle’. The joint initiative by DFRE and NDP will feature state-of-the-art hologram concerts for legendary singers and musicians twice a week, complemented by spectacular live entertainment performances brought to life by Al Habtoor City Theatre awe-inspiring special effects, and will cater to various music genres of all ages throughout the year. Produced by NDP, the first show will kick off during the last week of Dubai Shopping Festival on 30 January with an exquisite ‘Sawwah’ dubbed evening, in which hologram technology will bring Abdel Halim Hafez back to perform on stage accompanied by performers and musicians, with some of his most famous romantic songs, all set to dazzle the audience for 90 minutes. Commenting on the launch, Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment (DFRE) said: “We are delighted to partner with NDP in launching such an innovative initiative as the ‘Dubai Hologram Universe’ that will turn the spotlight on legendary music icons through hologram technology. Across our annual line-up of festivals and events, we have always created stimulating activations and experiences for residents and visitors to enjoy, and we are excited that the launch of the first ever ‘Dubai Hologram Universe’ series, is taking place just as the latest edition of Dubai Shopping Festival draws to a close, reaffirming Dubai’s position as a year-round international entertainment hub”. Hasan M. Hina, Founder and Executive Producer & Director of NDP, said: “We are proud …