Etihad Airways will start flying non-stop four times a week from 23 April 2024 to Bali. Conveniently timed to connect with flights from across Etihad’s growing global network, guests will arrive at the island’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) refreshed and ready to transfer to their resort. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “We are thrilled to announce our first-ever flights to Bali. This exciting development follows closely on the heels of our dynamic Summer 24 schedule, reinforcing our dedication to expanding our network in tune with the needs of our customers so they can travel to their desired destinations in comfort and style. “Bali is the quintessential tropical escape, enchanting travellers with its verdant surroundings, vivid culture, and dreamlike beaches. From jade-green rice terraces to pristine white sands, the island balances exquisite beauty with deep tradition, offering a bewitching escape for those looking for tranquility and excitement alike. “We have timed the flights so guests can even enjoy a long weekend if they choose. We can’t wait to go there.” Visitors travelling from Europe and North America will also find the timings convenient for combining their trip with a stopover in Abu Dhabi to enjoy the legendary hospitality and remarkable attractions of the UAE’s capital. Etihad will operate flights to Bali four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, flying its state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s award-winning service, delivering a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience year-round.

Wego  announced a new collaboration aimed at promoting Morocco as a premier travel destination. This partnership combines Wego’s innovative travel technology with the rich cultural heritage and diverse offerings of Morocco, creating an unparalleled experience for global travelers. Wego, a pioneer in the online travel space, connects millions of users to a vast array of travel options, making trip planning seamless and enjoyable. The partnership with Moroccan National Tourist Office signifies a shared commitment to enhancing the visibility of Morocco on the global stage and driving tourism growth for the country. This partnership will showcase the beauty, history, and unique attractions of Morocco to MENA travelers. With its stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and warm hospitality, Morocco is poised to become a must-visit destination for travelers seeking diverse experiences. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “At Wego, we are dedicated to inspiring and facilitating travel experiences. Our collaboration with Moroccan National Tourist Office is a testament to our commitment to promoting exceptional destinations. Morocco’s rich cultural tapestry, historical landmarks, and diverse landscapes align perfectly with what our users seek. We are thrilled to bring the magic of Morocco to the fingertips of travelers around the world.” The partnership aims to leverage Wego’s extensive reach, data-driven insights, and user-friendly platform to elevate Morocco’s visibility and attract a broader audience of travelers. Through joint marketing initiatives, curated content, and exclusive promotions, the collaboration seeks to position Morocco as a top destination for adventure, culture, and relaxation. As part of the partnership, Wego will feature dedicated sections on its platform highlighting Morocco’s key attractions, travel tips, and exclusive offers. Users will have access to comprehensive travel information, …

TravTips Travel and Tourism won ‘Best Leisure Tour Operator’ title at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Suraj Mainat –  Founder and CEO – Travtips Travel and Tourism shared, “Thank you for putting together an exceptional event! The success of Arabian Travel Awards is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by everyone involved & especially attendance from travel and tourism industry veterans. We were honored to receive the award for Best Leisure Tour Operator in the region. We strongly believe in our tag line “trust us to make your dream holiday reliable, safe and value for money. As we accept this award, we also recognize this responsibility it bestows upon us. I strongly believe “we could win this award due to tireless effort of our professional team members & trust of our guests”.  This award isn’t just a milestone; it is a motivation to explore new horizons, craft new innovative leisure product lines and deliver pleasant experiences to every guest who travel with us on a holiday.”

According to Goldstein Research analyst forecast the UAE luxury goods market is set to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period 2017-2025. Moreover, the market is projected to reach USD 7.8 Billion by 2025 owing to rapid urbanization and development of shopping centres and malls in order to expand their tourism industry and the; government aims to develop UAE as one of the biggest shopping destinations across the globe. A hidden or niche market which has always been overlooked but bring in the revenue to the destination is luxury re-sale retail travellers. This is a market which has always been on the sidelines as it is a trend only for those high-end travellers. From London to Dubai, the famous family-owned pre-loved store opened recently in Dubai to make it easier for high-end travellers to purchase or re-sell their goods in the luxury space. London’s leading luxury re-sale retailer ‘Love Luxury’ now opened in Dubai, located in Business Bay, the family-run store specialises in high-end pre-loved designer bags, jewellery and watches. As one of the UK’s largest retailers of pre-loved Chanel, Hermès, Van Cleef & Arpels and Rolex, Love Luxury has expanded to the UAE, bringing their expertise, and second-to-none service to the people of Dubai. As well as sourcing the most in-demand high end accessories from the world’s leading luxury fashion houses, Love Luxury also offer same day pay-outs for those looking to sell or trade their pre-loved designer products, as well as offering a consignment option. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Adam and Emily Abraham shared with TTME their reason to select Dubai and how this venture would bring in many clientele from GCC as they all select …

Qatar Airways landed its first resumption flight at Yanbu, the airlines’ eighth connection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The non-stop service will operate two weekly flights on Wednesday and Sunday. To mark the resumed operations, passengers onboard the aircraft received special menu cards with exclusive design that reflects the distinctiveness of the occasion. Upon touchdown at Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, water cannons saluted Qatar Airways flight QR1216 with showers of affection, signifying the renewed connection between Yanbu and Doha. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Yanbu back into our extensive network, comprised now of eight Saudi cities. This highlights our commitment to increasing travel options for passengers in the Saudi market, which remains one of the key global markets for Qatar Airways. We look forward to connecting travellers to and from Yanbu to over 170 destinations across the globe, while offering them an unrivalled travel experience onboard our state-of-the-art aircraft and through our multiple award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport.” Offering two weekly flights to Yanbu, the new route aims to facilitate both business and leisure travel, further reinforcing Qatar Airways’ dedication to connecting travellers from six continents to some of the most sought-after destinations across Saudi Arabia. The addition of Yanbu operations compliments the airlines’ over 120 weekly flights to eight Saudi cities including AlUla, Dammam, Gassim, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, and Taif, Yanbu. Located on the Western Coast of Saudi Arabia, Yanbu, a coastal gem on the Red Sea, is renowned for its rich history, archaeological sites, and serene beaches. Known as the “Capital of Diving”, Yanbu represents a haven for all divers thanks to the vibrant underwater world …

STR data year-on-year up to September 2023 shows that average hotel occupancy in Manama is up by 5.9% compared to the same period in 2022, with RevPARs also up 4.9% YoY. This is despite average daily rates (ADRs) falling slightly at 1.0%. In July, it was announced that Edamah broke ground on two boutique hotels at Bilaj Al Jazayer – the four-star Avani and five-star Tivoli, both scheduled to open in 2025. Upon completion, the Bilaj Al Jazayer mixed-use 1.3 million square metre development master plan will also comprise residential villas and apartments, retail and F&B, entertainment and offices along the 3km beachfront. Fraser Suites is expanding its offering in Bahrain, signing with Seef Properties to operate in Al Liwan in Hamala. The new offering will provide 63 serviced apartment units, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, over three floors. The serviced apartment component is expected to open in Q4 2023. Heather Longden, Director – Advisory & Transactions, at CBRE in Bahrain comments: “We’ve seen slight uplifts in Bahrain’s hospitality and residential sectors in Q3 2023. In the residential market, although performance was mixed and quoted apartment sales rates dropped marginally year-on-on year, average quoted residential rents increased along with villa sales rates across the geographies. In the hospitality sector, occupancy rates increased by 5.9% compared to the same period in 2022 and RevPARs also grew by 4.9% in Manama. Other aspects of the market remained stable, as the commercial office and retail sectors continue to witness development with prominent projects due to complete soon, which will add to existing stock.”

Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel won ‘Best Luxury Halal Hotel’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Philistine Kharbouch – General Manager – Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel shared, “From the warm welcome to the meticulously planned program, every detail was handled with care and professionalism. It was evident that a tremendous amount of effort and dedication went into organizing such a successful event. Winning an Arabian Travel Award is a significant achievement and can instil a sense of pride. It reflects recognition for the hard work, dedication, and excellence of service performed by Jannah Burj Al Sarab Team. Definitely winning such Award is powerful motivator to strive for setting high standards, benchmark for excellence , responsibility which is driven by a commitment to maintaining and enhancing this positive image and reputation.”

Virgin Atlantic and Travelport announced a renewed agreement. The deal includes distribution of all Virgin Atlantic content, including, subject to implementation, future distribution of NDC through the Travelport+ platform. This renewed agreement strengthens the ongoing travel retailing relationship between Travelport and Virgin Atlantic, ensuring that Travelport-connected agencies have continued access to Virgin’s most robust, enriched content in the Travelport+ platform. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic is using Travelport’s complete branding solution to enhance the way products and ancillaries are displayed on agents’ screens with rich graphics and detailed descriptions, so that agents can seamlessly shop, compare and personalize options for travelers. “Our renewed agreement with Travelport, along with Virgin Atlantic’s future delivery of NDC content, illustrates our commitment to drive value and deliver modern retailing experiences for the agency community and our travelers,” said Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic. “Travelport+ offers retailing and merchandizing capabilities that ensures travel retailers can provide our customers with more choices and the best options from Virgin Atlantic.” “With this new deal, we will support Virgin’s modern retailing strategy with NDC collaboration and Travelport+ capabilities that make it easy for agents to search, sell and service the best offers,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “Our long-standing partnership with Virgin Atlantic will bring more value to the industry as we focus on delivering the seamless experiences agents need to provide travelers with personalized offers and the superior service that they expect.”

NEOM unveiled an exclusive tourism escape Siranna a sustainable regional development evolving in northwest Saudi Arabia. This ultra-luxurious destination will be home to a 65-key hotel and 35 exclusive residences. Siranna is a space where elegant and innovative living meet to facilitate a lifestyle without compromise, situated on the Gulf of Aqaba coastline. The destination offers uninterrupted views of the Red Sea, with its tiered design offering diverse views and perspectives. Emerging from the rugged coastal terrain, the hexagonal pillars are distinctive, yet complementary to the surrounding mountains and flora. Arriving via waterborne transportation to the secluded bay, guests will journey through the natural rock formations before reaching the enchanting entrance of the property. With a focus on fostering original thinking and relaxation, Siranna will offer visitors and residents the opportunity to escape the noise and disruptions of everyday life and surround themselves with like-minded people in an effortlessly chic setting. A signature beach club, spas, and state-of-the-art wellness facilities will be on offer for visitors to unwind. Those seeking a connection with the landscape during their stay will enjoy the winding discovery trails via foot or horseback to explore where the sea, mountain, and wadi meet. Sophisticated dining and entertainment options will also satisfy a wide range of tastes and interests among guests. The guiding principle underpinning the development is to ensure minimal intervention in nature, where thoughtful and deliberate techniques will be used to preserve the surrounding landscape. The architecture will pay homage to the heritage of the local area and seamlessly blend into the adjoining mountain and wadi. Siranna is another example of NEOM’s uncompromising efforts to create spaces in nature that support sustainable future living and …

McArthurGlen Group’s Serravalle Designer Outlet presented on 6th December the closing forecasts for the year 2023, with outstanding results that confirm the Center as an internationally significant shopping and tourism destination. The estimated data shared anticipate a return to pre-pandemic levels with an influx of 6 million visitors and a double-digit growth forecast in turnover compared to 2019. Building on these results, McArthurGlen Group has announced a new investment plan of 20 million euros for the 2024-2025 biennium, dedicated to the Piedmont Center. The funds, in line with the Group’s values and a focus on continuous improvement, will be primarily allocated to enhancing the visitor experience and further reducing the Outlet’s environmental impact, demonstrating an increasingly deep and explicit commitment to sustainability. Among the projects in the new investment plan, to make the tourist experience more enjoyable and fulfilling, a new Tourism Hub will be built to welcome international guests and facilitate tax refund procedures. Significant expansions of the existing hospitality areas are also planned, including tripling the size of the Guest Lounge, introducing a dedicated space for conventions, and enhancing Guest Services through the extension and creation of a specific area for organized groups. The planned works also include the refurbishment of parking lots, with the aim of optimizing traffic flow and guiding guests to available parking areas through the implementation of digital signage. The “Green Oasis and Urban Furnishing” project, already initiated in 2023 to facilitate guest orientation and enhance storefront visibility, will be further implemented in a sustainable manner by reducing paved surfaces in favor of green spaces. Five squares have already been completely renovated with the addition of numerous trees and perennial plants, as well as …