Accommodation and food services activities sector posted a growth of 3.8%, with a value of AED 4.7 billion. Its contribution to the GDP reached 4.1%, driving economic growth by 0.2 percentage points. According to data from the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai’s hotels maintained high occupancy levels, with an average hotel occupancy rate of 83%. Dubai welcomed 5.2 million international visitors during the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2023. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, reiterated that the emirate’s economy continues to grow steadily and showcase robust economic indicators that exemplify the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The strength of Dubai’s economy is amply demonstrated in the 3.2% economic growth it achieved in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, by adding more than AED 115 billion in GDP terms, Sheikh Hamdan said. His Highness said it is especially commendable that the emirate’s successes in this regard highlight the combined efforts and teamwork of various stakeholders to realise the objectives of the emirate’s comprehensive development plans for 2033, specially the Dubai economic Agenda (D33) and Dubai Social Agenda 2033, which serve to enhance overall standards of wellbeing and quality of life while consolidating Dubai’s standing as a global economic capital and its attractiveness as a destination for foreign investments. Sheikh Hamdan said: “Dubai is progressing in accordance with a clear vision whose …

Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok announced it has been awarded the exclusive and prestigious title of Best Culinary Experience in Thailand at the 2024 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards.This recognition, reserved for the finest in the industry, celebrates the hotel’s exceptional dedication to providing guests with an unforgettable dining experience. The Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, known for their stringent evaluation process, recognize the finest establishments within the hospitality industry. They focus on establishments that excel in guest service, high standards, and creating unparalleled experiences. Winners are chosen based on rigorous evaluations and firsthand guest experiences. “The hotels, spas, and restaurants revealed in 2024 truly represent the best in the industry,” said Marinique de Wet, President & Founder of Haute Grandeur Global Awards. “Their outstanding commitment to excellence sets them apart, making them the ultimate choice for travellers seeking quality experiences.” Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, a luxurious oasis, boasts various award-winning restaurants, each helmed by talented chefs who create innovative and delectable dishes. Embark on a journey through the vibrant flavours of Thailand and the Eastern Mediterranean at Flourish, savour the freshest seafood at Bistrot De La Mer, or unwind with delectable bites and Japanese-inspired small plates at Ki Izakaya. For those seeking a taste of Europe, Berthold Delikatessen offers a delightful selection of gourmet European fare and pastries. No night is complete without a visit to the intimate setting of Firefly Bar, where expert bartenders craft exceptional cocktails using only the finest selections of spirits. “We are incredibly delighted to receive this award from Haute Grandeur,” said Christian Ruge, General Manager, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, …

Air Arabia announced the launch of its non-stop flights between Sharjah and the Maldives. The new flights between Sharjah International Airport and Velana International Airport in Male will operate daily, starting 27 October 2024, providing travelers with even more convenient and affordable options to explore one of the most famous destinations in South Asia, the Maldives. Schedule from and to the Maldives, effective 27 October 2024 (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency G9 091 Sharjah 08:00 Maldives 13:20 Airbus A320 Daily G9 092 Maldives 14:20 Sharjah 17:55 Airbus A320 Daily   Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, stated, “We are delighted to add this enchanting holiday destination to our expanding network. The launch of our non-stop flights to the Maldives highlights our commitment to offering our customers more travel options and connecting them to some of the world’s most breathtaking locations.” He added, “This addition to our route network from Sharjah reaffirms our commitment to providing seamless connectivity and value driven air travel to our passengers.” The Maldives, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant marine life. Whether exploring vibrant coral reefs or relaxing on sun-drenched beaches, the Maldives provides an unparalleled escape in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings. Air Arabia operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. The cabin configuration across the fleet provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch compared to any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming service that allows passengers to stream a …

Mohamed Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral shared that last year was successful with Yas island receiving 34million visits and the recently opened SeaWorld welcoming over one million at the special collaboration between WB and Etihad Airways. Yas island is one of the key entertainment destinations for the entire family hence even during summer, they experience a good footfall of visitors from across the globe. One of the key reasons for the destination to receive visitors all year around is that all their parks are indoor which is an advantage making it one of the most visited places in Abu Dhabi.

Diriyah Company announced the awarding of a $2.13 billion (SAR 8 billion) joint venture construction contract to build four luxury hotels and the Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club as part of the Wadi Safar masterplan being developed by Diriyah Company. The joint venture contractors are Urbacon Saudi Co. and Al Bawani Co. Ltd with construction work set to commence shortly on what will be another major development milestone for Diriyah Company. Contracts were officially signed today at a ceremony held in Diriyah between Ramez Al Khayyat, President of Urbacon Saudi Co., Fakher Al-Shawaf, CEO of Al Bawani Co. Ltd and Group CEO of Diriyah Company, Jerry Inzerillo. The contract is the biggest single contract awarded to date by the Diriyah Company and follows the announcement of a more than $2.07 billion (SAR 7.8 billion) contract to build the Northern District earlier in July. Diriyah Company Group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo said: “This contract marks another major step in accelerating our exciting development plans for the Wadi Safar masterplan and includes four world-class hotels – Aman, Six Senses, The Chedi, and Faena – and our prestigious Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club. As a developer we are extremely proud of the momentum across all aspects of our project and are delighted to have two of Saudi Arabia’s leading construction firms on board to deliver this major part of the Wadi Safar masterplan.” “The hotels are among the 40 plus across our two masterplans, Diriyah and Wadi Safar as we gear up to deliver world-class luxury experiences to visitors from across the Kingdom, the region and the world. The Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club will create a true center of regional …

The share of hotels sold via the direct channel in Spain increased by an average of 18% during the summer of 2024 over other channels thanks to the determination of the hoteliers to improve the profitability of the hotels again, according to data from Mirai. Although during the initial weeks of the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 sales growth slowed down, probably also due to the bad weather in Spain, in the last few days the company has observed that growth is picking up again. This rebound suggests a potentially very positive last-minute booking trend in most tourist destinations. At a global level Mirai – which provides hotels with technology and operations support to sell in the direct channel – has experienced an 11% increase of direct hotel roomnights sales worldwide, with Spain surpassing this figure with a 12% rise and ADR increasing by around 7%. Spain’s primary inbound source markets, excluding the domestic market, have shown remarkable growth in nights booked compared to 2023. Specifically, the United Kingdom source market has seen a 12% increase, with source markets such as the United States at 18% and Germany at 14%. “2024 is proving to be a landmark year for Spain’s tourism sector, especially for hotels’ direct bookings and the increase in direct hotel sales share this summer” said Javier Delgado Muerza, CEO EMEA at Mirai. “This remarkable growth in direct hotel bookings is thanks to the hard work of hoteliers and our team’s commitment to boosting their profitability”. “To continue this positive trend, we advise hoteliers to focus on a few key areas. First, maintain a clean and organised distribution strategy to ensure seamless booking experiences for guests by offering the …

Turkish Airlines is working to provide all passengers with free, unlimited, uninterrupted and fast connectivity service within two years, starting from the end of 2025. They are committed to enhancing its in-flight experience through the integration of latest developments and innovative technologies. As part of this initiative, Turkish Airlines plans to retrofit its existing fleet with the latest in-flight connectivity (IFC) technologies and equip the new aircraft with the most efficient IFC technologies available. This will enable the carrier to extend the IFC service currently offered in the majority of its fleet to the entire Turkish Airlines’ fleet, providing all passengers with unlimited, uninterrupted, and faster IFC service free of charge. With the integration of the new IFC technologies, Turkish Airlines aims to meet the expectations of its passengers regarding their digital consumption habits during travel. Therefore, Turkish Airlines is open to collaboration with all suppliers, and the carrier is actively negotiating with local and international suppliers that can offer the best IFC service solutions for its entire fleet. In addition, Turkish Airlines provides support to Turkish companies in the development of solutions for this connectivity service. In this regard, Turkish Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TCI Aircraft Interiors, a certified aviation products provider, and Turksat, a regional leader in satellite technologies. The signing of the MoU highlights Turkish Airlines’ is considering leveraging national capacity and the carrier helps support Turkish companies in establishing a presence in the IFC sector. Following the necessary feasibility studies, all stakeholders will work to develop an understanding and endeavor to transform the MoU into a definitive agreement. Turkish Airlines remains committed to ensuring the highest level of passenger experience and advancing …

Dubai Municipality recorded a total of 16,391,748 visitors to major public parks, residential parks, playgrounds as well as recreational facilities in the first half of 2024, marking a substantial increase of 1.3 million visitors as compared to the same period last year. Visitors to residential parks in the Emirate reached 10,613,996, while those to the five major parks was 3,146, 480, distributed between Al-Mamzar Park with 1,000,755 visitors; Mushrif Park with 874,201 visitors; 583,508 visitors to Creek Park; Za’abeel Park with 545,335 visitors, and Al-Safa Park with 142,681 visitors. Furthermore, 1,037,402 people visited the Quranic Park, while the number of people visiting the Dubai Frame reached 827,000. As many as 623,904 people visited the bicycle, mountain, and pedestrian pathways at the Municipality’s parks and facilities. Additionally, 89,385 people visited stadiums, and 53,578 people visited Children’s City. Recreational Purposes H.E. Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, highlighted that the half-year statistics underline the significance and appeal of Dubai Municipality’s parks and facilities as a leisure and tourism destination for residents, visitors, and community members. He stated that the Municipality provides the parks with the best services and state-of-the-art equipment, considering it as an integral component of its work in the management and development of parks, leisure facilities, and tourist attractions in Dubai. Al Hajri said: “The Municipality is committed to offering exceptional services and experiences for visitors to enhance their quality of life and happiness. It offers integrated facilities, manages all related operations, and organizes leisure events throughout the year with the goal of developing new leisure spaces and options. This reaffirms our dedication to improving the quality of life and appeal of Dubai while also achieving the Emirate’s tourism …

As part of its robust international expansion strategy, Barceló Hotel Group has opened the doors of Barceló Cappadocia, its fourth hotel in Turkey. This new addition complements the three existing properties, which include two in the city of Istanbul –Occidental Taksim and Barceló Istanbul– and one in the capital, Occidental Ankara. The 5-star Barceló Cappadocia stands out for its privileged location in the picturesque town of Ortahisar, an exceptional base from which to explore all the charms of the Turkish region. This small town, situated in the deepest part of Cappadocia, is considered one of the most beautiful on Earth thanks to its characteristic excavated architecture and its rocky landscape formed by lava and volcanic sand. With an elegant design that harmonises with Cappadocia’s unique texture, the new hotel offers guests the experience of staying in an unforgettable setting amidst rich history and natural beauty. Its architecture responds to Cappadocian culture and tradition, where noble materials, colours characteristic of this region of Asia Minor, and carved stone details stand out. Its 170 rooms promise to captivate guests with the delicate beauty and tranquillity of the hotel’s surroundings. In a tribute to the region’s excavated architecture, Barceló Cappadocia offers 19 exclusive luxury stays in cave rooms carved into ancient rocks. The interior design of each suite highlights the region’s rich and historic architectural and cultural heritage through the stonework reflected in the walls, headboards, canopies, Turkish baths and private pools. The richness of the elements and materials can also be observed in the common areas, among which its impressive Wellness Centre with Spa stands out. The imposing relaxation setting offers an evocative design with a heated water area guarded by a stained-glass …

Red Sea Global (RSG) announced a partnership with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation (SCHF) to boost adventure tourism across the Red Sea region. The collaboration will be activated through Akun, RSG’s adventure sports brand, which is responsible for all hiking, climbing and adventure experiences across RSG’s destinations. The partnership will create opportunities to elevate the guest experience at The Red Sea, as well as provide training and certification pathways for climbing and hiking guides. “Modern luxury tourism is as much about adventure as it is about comfort. Our partnership with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation is ensuring that Akun can offer invigorating experiences that complement the elegance of our resorts in a safe and professional manner. Together, we are propelling the adventure tourism industry across the Red Sea region,” said Nicholas King, Group Chief Development Officer at Red Sea Global. SCHF is the national governing body for all aspects of rock climbing and mountaineering in Saudi Arabia. Through this partnership, SCHF trainees will have the chance to apply their skills in real-world settings through work placements and internships with Akun. In return, SCHF is providing qualified trainers for temporary training support as well as permanent recruitment. Yasmin Gahtani, Managing Director at SCHF, said: “Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, especially along the Red Sea coast. We want to help Saudis and the world discover this dramatic terrain by opening it to exhilarating, yet safe, climbing and hiking experiences. Through this partnership, we can make Saudi and the Red Sea a must-visit destination for the most avid climbers, hikers and thrill-seekers.” The collaboration will see RSG’s destinations activated through a range of local, regional, and international …