Pluto Travels was recognised as the ‘Most promising TMC’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. “This award is a testament to our collective effort. It is your dedication and hard work that made this achievement possible. Together, we shine and succeed!”-Sapna Aidasani, Marketing Director, Pluto Travels

 The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amadeus to facilitate a city-wide ecosystem for the rapid prototyping of travel tech solutions, and further enhance Dubai’s capabilities as a leading hub for travel innovation. Building on their well-established collaborative relationship, the two entities will focus on advancing travel technology, enhancing visitor experiences, and strengthening Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, creating a platform to build on the record 18.72 million international overnight visitors that came to the city in 2024. The MoU was signed by His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, and Maher Koubaa, EVP Travel Unit and MD EMEA, Amadeus, and is poised to contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. DET and Amadeus currently cooperate across multiple areas including Strategic Travel Data and Analytics, Programmatic Travel Advertising, and B2B Travel Marketing, and the MoU establishes a framework for expanding this collaboration. It also paves the way for Amadeus to set up a Centre of Excellence in Dubai to promote initiatives in key areas such as enhancement of the traveller journey experience, with a focus on leveraging biometrics, airport experience optimisation, access management, touchless payments, and air capacity development. Furthermore, it will support local and global start-ups and enhance travel intelligence reporting for hospitality and destinations. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), comments: “This partnership with Amadeus marks a transformative step in our journey to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a multifaceted innovation hub and reflects our …

As UAE travellers prepare for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr and spring break, dnata Travel is seeing a significant rise in international bookings, with 90% of customers opting for trips abroad in 2025. This marks a sharp increase from previous years, and highlights a growing preference for overseas travel during holiday periods. For Eid Al Fitr 2024, bookings were more evenly split, with 60% of travellers choosing international destinations and 40% opting for staycations in the UAE. dnata’s travel experts attribute this surge in outbound travel to Eid Al Fitr aligning with the two-week spring break, allowing families to extend their holidays and explore further afield. Overall bookings – both international and domestic – have increased by 65% compared to the previous Eid holiday. The most popular destinations include the Maldives, Spain, Mauritius, France, and Sri Lanka, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland are seeing the highest year-on-year growth in demand. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “One of the key travel trends for 2024 and 2025 is growing demand for long-haul destinations. Travellers are booking longer stays in more distant locations, with many looking for unique and less-explored parts of popular travel hotspots. “For Eid Al Fitr and the extended spring break in 2025, we’re seeing strong interest in cities like Madrid in Spain and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. More travellers are approaching our experts this year to check off bucket-list destinations, while making the most of longer holiday periods with family and friends.” To meet this rising demand, dnata Travel has launched a range of bespoke holiday packages for UAE travellers with availability still open for Eid Al Fitr …

Rotana is working on its strategies to attract more visitors this Ramadan and beyond. Timur Ilgaz, Area Vice President – Dubai & Northern Emirates, Rotana Hotels & Resorts shared in an exclusive interview with TTME. What is your strategy for attracting visitors during Ramadan and the Eid holiday, particularly from Abu Dhabi and the GCC? Tailored Offerings: We design special packages that include iftar and suhoor experiences, showcasing a mix of traditional and contemporary cuisine, while ensuring the ambiance reflects the spirit of Ramadan. We also offer flexible booking options, ensuring guests can enjoy extended stays with exclusive rates. Emphasizing Cultural and Local Traditions: At Rotana, we prioritize integrating local culture and customs into our experiences. During Ramadan, we focus on promoting the values of generosity, family, and togetherness, which resonate with our guests. This can include activities such as traditional storytelling sessions, local music performances, and showcasing regional crafts. Exclusive Eid Celebrations: Eid is a time of joy and celebration, and we create memorable experiences for families and business travellers alike. From lavish Eid brunches to special events and entertainment, we ensure that our offerings are both exciting and culturally relevant. Community Engagement: We emphasize the importance of giving back, so we partner with charitable organizations to host events that support local communities, ensuring that our guests can participate in meaningful initiatives. Enhanced Customer Experience: Our focus is always on service excellence, so we ensure that staff are well-trained to cater to the specific needs of Ramadan and Eid guests. This includes offering special touches, such as pre-arrival communications and thoughtful amenities that enhance the guest experience. By delivering a balanced combination of cultural sensitivity, exclusive offers, and high-level …

Air France-KLM has selected Amadeus as its technology partner for native order capabilities. With Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution, the Group aims to pursue the broader transformation of its retailing capabilities. Air France-KLM will work closely with Amadeus to define the needs for modern airline retailing transformation. Customers stand to benefit from a best-in-class traveller-centric retailing and servicing experience. “We are pleased to welcome Air France‑KLM as the latest customer to subscribe to Amadeus Nevio. This new generation of airline technology helps airlines deliver the best possible retailing experience to customers across all their operations, and at every touchpoint. We are dedicated to supporting Air France‑KLM in its retail transformation and, more generally, to accelerating the pace of the industry’s move to customer‑centric retailing.” Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus. Air France-KLM and Amadeus have signed a landmark agreement to bring airline retailing into a new era through Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution for” Offer and Order” native capabilities. At the heart of this transformation is the adoption of the IATA “ONE Order” standard, which will elevate the customer experience to meet the evolving needs of digitally savvy consumers. Today, customers typically need to juggle multiple documents such as the Passenger Name Record (PNR), the Electronic Ticket (ETK), and Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMDs) for each booking. The partnership with Amadeus, based on Modern Airline Retailing principles, will simplify operations and the customer experience by putting in place a single, streamlined source of truth – the Order – much like how e-commerce operates today. This partnership advances Air France-KLM’s ambition to update its current systems and move to a modern,” Offer and Order” native system. This multi-year effort will be orchestrated …

Emirates has unveiled an exciting new offer for travellers planning a trip to Dubai this winter. Travellers flying from select regions who book a return ticket in First Class or Business Class to Dubai, or with a stopover in the city, will receive a complimentary stay at the luxurious JW Marriott Marquis. Travellers flying in Premium Economy or Economy Class can enjoy a complimentary one-night stay at either Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira or Holiday Inn Festival City. Furthermore, those flying to Dubai from select regions with Emirates can also get complimentary access to Sky Views Observatory with access to the Sky Glass Slide and Fountain boardwalk. * This offer is available on emirates.com, Emirates contact centre, retail and ticketing offices or travel agencies. Located just minutes away from Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Opera, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel offers an exceptional base to experience the best of Dubai. As a bustling and dynamic 5-star property, this iconic hotel is among the tallest in the world, featuring two towers, 1,608 luxurious rooms, and breathtaking views of the water and city skyline. Guests can enjoy a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, energise at the state-of-the-art fitness centre, or unwind with a soothing massage at Saray Spa. The hotel also offers 12 restaurants and lounges, offering Japanese, Italian, Indian, and Thai cuisine. For travellers in Premium Economy or Economy, Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira provides a comfortable stay in the heart of Dubai’s vibrant Deira district. The Deira district is home to traditional souks, modern malls, and cultural landmarks all within walking distance. Alternatively, the Holiday Inn, Festival City is situated in one of Dubai’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs, and …

To reinforce its position and network in central Asia region, flynas opened its office in the capital, Tashkent. The opening aligns with flynas growth and expansion strategy, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030 and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. In the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Yousef Algahrah, and Uzbekistan’s Vice Minister of transportation, within its plans to expand its international network especially during the Umrah and Hajj seasons. flynas has been operating 5 weekly flights to Tashkent from Jeddah since 2022, in addition to 4 weekly flights to Namangan, the third largest city in Uzbekistan, also from Jeddah. Furthermore, flynas is the largest Saudi carrier operating direct flights from the Kingdom to Central Asia, including Almaty in Kazakhstan and the two cities of Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan. flynas operates 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, and in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

Taj Dubai walked away winning the title of ‘Best Luxury Hotel’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Best Luxury Hotel in Dubai at the Arabian Travel Awards is a prestigious recognition that highlights the hotel’s commitment to unmatched service, worldclass experiences, and excellence in one of the world’s most competitive luxury markets. This award not only strengthens its position as an industry leader but also enhances its reputation, guest trust, and market visibility while motivating the team to set new benchmarks in luxury hospitality.”-Saurabh Tiwari, Area Director, Middle East & CIS, Taj Hotels.

Mövenpick Hotel Wa’ad Al Shamal has officially opened its doors, marking a significant milestone as the first five-star hotel in Saudi Arabia’s Northern region. Mövenpick Wa’ad Al Shamal features 245 rooms and suites, including two Presidential Suites that offer an exceptional blend of comfort and modern design. The hotel also offers 18 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and expansive banqueting facilities, creating the ideal destination for conferences, corporate gatherings, and special celebrations. For relaxation and wellness, guests can enjoy dedicated male and female spa areas featuring indoor swimming pools, separate fitness centers, steam rooms, saunas, and rejuvenating massage services. Whether for business or leisure, Mövenpick Wa’ad Al Shamal delivers a seamless experience, offering comfort, convenience, and authentic Saudi hospitality in one of the Kingdom’s most promising emerging destinations. The grand opening was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan Bin AbdulAziz, Governor of the Northern Borders Region, in the presence of His Excellency Minister of Industry and Minerals Bander Al Khorayef, and His Excellency Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, Khaled Al Modaifir, alongside Moustafa Manoon, Vice President of Operations, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Accor, and other distinguished guests. To mark the occasion, His Royal Highness, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony underscoring the hotel’s contribution to the region’s growing tourism sector and alignment with Vision 2030. Owners Abdullah Al Jaber and Abdulrahman Al Jaber presented a specially crafted key to Naseer Thodi, General Manager of Mövenpick Hotel Wa’ad Al Shamal, as a symbolic gift, celebrating the hotel’s debut. Guests were welcomed with a vibrant cultural experience, beginning with the traditional Arda dance, a symbol of Saudi heritage and unity. The celebrations continued into the evening …

Dubai International (DXB) is set to welcome more than 2.5 million guests between 20 and 28 February, averaging 280,000 daily and peaking at over 295,000 on Saturday, 22 February. A mix of global events and school holidays across key markets will make this one of DXB’s busiest travel periods. Guests are urged to use Dubai Metro to and from the airport and between Terminals 1 and 3. For those arriving at Terminal 1, the Arrivals bus stop will be out of service from 21 February and alternative transport options and updated bus schedules are available via the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) website. The oneDXB community, spanning airport teams and stakeholders, is working in sync to keep operations running smoothly and journeys flowing seamlessly through the world’s busiest international hub.