Sofitel Dubai Downtown was recognized as hospitality partner of the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. The award was received by Caroline Trichet, General Manager, Sofitel Downtown Dubai and the team. “Massive applause to the DDP Group team for flawlessly orchestrating the Arabian Travel Awards celebrating excellence in travel. It was a remarkable event! To be awarded the Best Luxury Hotel accolade is a humbling testament to our commitment to the art de recevoir, exceeding expectations and embodying the essence of “The French Way” hospitality excellence. It is a moment of immense honour for the entire team.” Caroline Trichet, General Manager, Sofitel Downtown Dubai

Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, with donor members including 27 world-leading hotel companies with a combined reach of over 50,000 properties, brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, such as owners, investors, and suppliers to address key challenges affecting people and places around the world related to hospitality. Through strategic initiatives and global networks, the organization develops practical programs to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that contributes to a positive net impact on destinations. As part of its membership, Amadeus will hold a permanent position on the Senior Advisory Council that was established to provide strategic advice, create a network of influential leaders and drive change towards Net Positive Hospitality. Key areas of focus for Amadeus include education, accessibility and helping travelers and guests make informed decisions. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “Having Amadeus’ broad, global travel expertise in the discussion with the Alliance is a game changer. Onboarding Amadeus to our Senior Advisory Council is an important step in tackling the challenges the hospitality industry faces. Having Amadeus as a member will help drive our collaborative approach on the journey to Net Positive Hospitality. The Alliance is built for the …

Emirates is welcoming the new year in Austria with great news: From 21 February until the end of the winter flight schedule (30 March 2024), the flights EK127 and EK 128 which are currently operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be upgraded to a three-class A380 aircraft, boosting capacity and adding more options for travellers to and from Vienna. Emirates’ flight EK127 leaves Dubai at 08:55hrs and arrives in the Austrian capital at 12:25hrs. The return flight EK128, departs Vienna at 15:10hrs and arrives in Dubai at 23:40hrs. All times are local. Emirates passengers travelling from Vienna will once again enjoy the unique experience offered by the world’s largest passenger aircraft, including First Class suites and shower spas, the onboard lounge and, of course, the best international and regionally inspired cuisine. The award-winning in-flight entertainment system ice offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment. Elisabeth Zauner, Country Manager Emirates Austria, is delighted about the return of the Emirates A380 to Vienna: “The deployment of our A380 until the end of the winter schedule is a great milestone for us, which emphasises the importance of Vienna as a destination and as a departure point. We naturally hope that our flagship will return permanently in the future.” Vienna has had to do without the Emirates A380 since August 2022. With this change in the winter flight schedule, an expression of the airline’s dynamic and demand-oriented fleet planning, Emirates will now be the only airline to serve Vienna Airport with the two-deck fan-favourite A380. The evening flights EK 126 and EK 125 will continue to be operated as usual with a B777-300 ER.. In order to guarantee a particularly high standard …

Emirates helped the iconic football club take to the skies in style and ‘fly better’ from Madrid to the Saudi capital on a specially planned charter flight, ahead of the Spanish Super Cup match. Onboard the special charter flight, Nacho Fernández, Eduardo Camavinga, Vini Jr., Luka Modric and other star players experienced bespoke inflight services to rest and recharge ahead of the match. A customized menu for the club featured creative culinary delights inspired by their trip. Specially branded touchpoints and meticulous attention to detail rounded off the inflight experience. The players were also spoilt for choice as they browsed their favourite shows, movies and music on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system. Emirates has been proudly supporting Real Madrid as its official partner since 2011, joining up fan experiences with the iconic club to reach its massive fanbase of over 500 million loyal followers around the world. The airline has helped connect Real Madrid on special flights for numerous tours, including sporting events staged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airline will continue as the Official Main Airline Partner of Real Madrid until 2026, making it the longest shirt sponsorship in the history of LaLiga.

Banyan Tree Group is evolving its corporate umbrella brand from “Banyan Tree Group” to “Banyan Group”. This brand shift reflects the Group’s evolution into a dynamic, multi-brand hospitality powerhouse. Celebrating three decades of creating exceptional experiences across hotels, spas, residences, food and retail. Since 2019, the Group has doubled its brand portfolio, bringing its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences, and purpose driven mission to new destinations, including Banyan Tree AlUla in Saudi Arabia, Garrya in Kyoto,  and Folio in Osaka, Japan, Dhawa in Ho Tram, Vietnam, Homm in Huzhou, China and Banyan Tree Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 2023 also marks a year of strong and steady business performance that has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Multi-brand Growth Continues in 2024 With 19 New Openings “As we celebrate the Group’s 30th anniversary and its evolution into Banyan Group, this milestone is not only testament to the Group’s enduring success in the hospitality industry but also sets the stage for an exciting future,” said Eddy See, President and CEO of Banyan Group. “This brand evolution reflects our portfolio transformation from a single luxury brand to the diverse offering we have today. Almost half of all countries we operate in carry a multi-branded presence, most of them high-growth travel destinations. With a keen eye on expansion, we are seizing new opportunities with our distinct brands, designed to meet evolving traveller preferences and needs in these dynamic markets.” Banyan Group currently manages 12 global brands, 75 hotels and resorts, over 60 spas and galleries and 14 branded residences across 22 countries. As part of a robust pipeline of properties, the Group’s expansion in 2024 will include 19 new properties and residences in Cambodia, China, Japan, South …

The Board of Directors of NEOM  announced Aquellum, a luxury and experiential mountain resort space embedded within the mountains, and the latest striking addition to the ongoing regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia. With its foundations steeped in cutting-edge technology, avant-garde architecture and forward-thinking concepts, Aquellum will offer guests a taste of futuristic living through its array of pioneering experiences. Concealed from the outside along the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, Aquellum is hidden within a breathtaking, 450-meter-high mountain range and represents a futuristic ecosystem that is harmoniously integrated into the natural surroundings. Crafted to inspire originality and imagination, Aquellum will push the boundaries of conventional design and construction possibilities. To access Aquellum, visitors will embark on an extraordinary journey, beginning at the world’s first floating marina. Here, guests will board a specially designed vessel to enter Aquellum through a concealed underground canal, unveiling a hidden community that offers an incredible sensory journey. Once inside, visitors will be treated to an exhilarating, 100-meter-high vertical experience with an impressive courtyard space stretching from the water to the sky. ​This subterranean digitalized community creates vibrancy and interconnectivity through seamlessly blending hotel accommodation, apartments, retail spaces, leisure and entertainment zones and innovative hubs. A dynamic boulevard winds through the courtyard, connecting diverse social spaces, world-class hospitality, immersive arts, events, shopping and dining. A signature space, dubbed ‘The Generator’, houses unique research labs for disruptors, innovators, and creative thinkers, offering a platform where the future is reimagined. An omnidirectional internal transit system facilitates easy access to upper floors, transporting residents and visitors to their homes and hotels, ascending to rooftop gardens with breathtaking coastal views. Guided by its unwavering commitment to crafting spaces in nature that …

Marriott International has signed an agreement with NEOM to bring Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy to Sindalah, the luxury island destination in the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast. Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy will offer premium and luxury apartment-style accommodations to meet the increased demand from families and younger travelers, who now seek more space and homely amenities when staying away from home. “Marriott International has deep insights into the continuously evolving preferences of global travelers. It positions them as a perfect partner for us as we look to develop an array of accommodation options to meet the needs of Sindalah visitors. We are excited to strengthen our partnership by introducing their new brand to the region, which will elevate the guest experience for a growing number of groups traveling together,” said Chris Newman, Executive Director, NEOM Hotel Division. “We continue to strengthen our collaboration with NEOM with the signing of our first Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy in the Middle East,” said Chadi Hauch, Regional Vice President, Lodging Development, Middle East, Marriott International. “We continue to see a growing desire for premium and luxury apartment-style accommodation among travelers. Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy will be a great fit for Sindalah which is anticipated to offer our guests and members exciting, year-long travel experiences on the island.” Designed to cater to travelers seeking more residential amenities, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Sindalah will feature units ranging from studios to one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, all equipped with a separate living room, full kitchen, and in-unit washer and dryer. The property, set to open in 2024, is also slated to offer a fitness center and swimming pool. “We are proud to be introducing the …

Kanoo Travel wins Best MICE tour Operator Middle East at the sixth edition of Arabian Travel Awards 2023. The award was received by Aamit Gupta, Divisional Head, MICE & Holidays, Kanoo Travel and Aubrey Heldt, Divisional General Manager, Travel Operations, Kanoo Travel. “It is an honour to accept this esteemed award. This recognition is not just for me but for everyone who believes in the power and beauty of exploration. We are all adventurers at heart, drawn together by the magic that unfolds when we discover new places and forge new connections. A heartfelt thanks to my community, supporters and fellow explorers,” shared Fawad Kanoo, CEO, Kanoo Group.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reports its best year for tourism ever, welcoming a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals to the nature Emirate in 2023, up 8% on 2022 numbers and bolstered by a significant 24% year-on-year pick-up in international visitors. The robust performance is underscored by RAKTDA’s strategic growth plans. From investment in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives to drive more visitors to the emirate, to developing an ecosystem rooted in sustainability, Ras Al Khaimah continues to reinforce its position as a destination of the future. Its key 2023 achievements include: • A 24% increase in international visitors, supported by over 2,200 international activities from roadshows, trade fairs to media events across 30 countries. • Cemented status as a business and social events hub with a 23% growth in MICE revenue and 103% increase in revenue from weddings. • Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s world-leading Sustainable Destinations programme – the only destination in the Middle East to receive this level of certification alongside more than 20 tourism partners from hotels and attractions. • Featured in CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023; Condé Nast Traveler’s best places to go in Asia 2024; Travel + Leisure India’s Forget Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah Is The Place To Be In The UAE; and Forbes’ Why You Should Visit Ras Al Khaimah Now. • Boosted international air connectivity with the introduction of direct flights with Qatar Airways, Indian carrier IndiGo’s, Smart Wings, Centrum Air and SmartLynx. • Launched borderless travel with Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) for cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives, boosting visitor arrivals to Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam. • Debut of Anantara Mina Al Arab …

Over 200 renowned international athletes, including 23 celebrated football legends, are participating in the inaugural ‘Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’, which kicked off on Wednesday, 10th January and will last till Saturday, 13th January, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council Organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the groundbreaking event, which features elite international retired football stars and legends from 23 countries, aims to elevate the emirate’s tourism landscape and boost its global tourism status by showcasing its attractions and cultural landmarks to a worldwide audience. The detailed program of ‘Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’ was unveiled during a press conference organised by the SCTDA on Wednesday, in the presence of HE Khaled Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, Nabil Ashour, Director of the Support Services Department at Sharjah Sports Council, and Steve Crane, Executive Director of Pro FootGolf Tours Joining the press conference also were Ali Abdullah Arif, CEO of World Padel Academy; Abdelrahman Bin Taliah, Director of Executive Affairs at Air Arabia; Massimiliano Suglia, Director General of the International Football Development Association (IFDA); Ukrainian football star Andriy Shevchenko; and Ziad Al Sharabi, General Manager of Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. The inaugural ‘Sharjah’s Week of the Stars’ will commence this evening with the ‘Legends Padel Tour’ featuring 16 international football stars and legends who will compete for the tournament held at the World Padel Academy in Sharjah. The premier event will continue on Thursday with an exclusive tour of Sharjah’s landmarks to offer football stars insights into the emirate’s dynamic development landscape, with a …