Red Sea Global (RSG) and Four Seasons announced the development of a new luxury wellness resort and Private Residences at Triple Bay AMAALA. Marking a new chapter for comprehensive wellness tourism, Four Seasons is the latest luxury hospitality brand to be announced at Triple Bay, the pinnacle of luxury wellness tourism along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast. Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA at Triple Bay will feature 220 keys comprising of rooms and suites, as well as villas with their own private pools, and 26 branded residential villas, all thoughtfully designed to offer breathtaking bay and sea views, setting the stage for Four Seasons renowned luxury service and experiences for guests and residents alike. “AMAALA is creating a new category of coastal lifestyle with regeneration and wellness at its core. With uninterrupted views of the Hijaz Cove, Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA at Triple Bay is designed to allow guests and residents to get back to nature, recharging their mind, body, and soul,” says John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Aligned with AMAALA’s commitment to sustainability and wellbeing, wellness is a central pillar supporting the destination’s vision of people and planet first. Ideally complemented by the company’s Four Seasons For Good program, and its longstanding commitment to wellbeing across the entire guest and resident experience, Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA at Triple Bay will focus on building highly personalized itineraries dedicated to wellness seekers worldwide. “Our new Resort and Residences in AMAALA at Triple Bay will perfectly complement Four Seasons growing collection of properties within the Kingdom’s dynamic destinations, and marks our second collaboration with Red Sea Global,” says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development, Portfolio Management …

Amazon Payment Services announced a partnership with luxury tourism developer Red Sea Global (RSG). Through this partnership, Amazon Payment Services and Red Sea Global are collaborating to enhance the online payment experience for international and local travelers in Saudi Arabia. The agreement will see Amazon Payment Services deliver its all-in-one suite of payment solutions tailored to Red Sea Global’s customer needs. Through this partnership, Amazon Payment Services is extending its core payment processing services to enable Red Sea Global travelers to seamlessly book and pay for their holidays online. Amazon Payment Services is dedicated to providing security and convenience through its innovative payment methods to customers, from the moment they decide to book a stay at any Red Sea Global property. Peter George, Managing Director, Amazon Payment Services, commented: “We are excited to support Red Sea Global, and their customers, through this new partnership that allows us to enhance the payment experience for luxury travelers through our innovative and tailor-made payment solutions. Our payment methods fully and seamlessly integrate with Red Sea Global’s infrastructure, making their offering even more accessible, reliable, and easy-to-use.” Bringing the ease and versatility of digital payments to sectors that are well-established such as online retail, Amazon Payment Services continues to support Saudi Arabia’s digital economy and ambition of becoming a cashless society. Through collaborations of this nature, Amazon Payment Services continues to partner up with industry leaders to empower Saudi Arabia’s citizens and businesses in the process. Through its efforts, the company continues to contribute to a diversified financial sector, in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030 aim to support the Tourism & Heritage sector. Commenting on the partnership, the Executive Director of Information Technology …

Wego and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority are partnering to promote Bahrain as a leading travel destination. This strategic partnership combines Wego’s cutting-edge travel technology with Bahrain’s abundant cultural heritage and diverse attractions, promising an unmatched experience for travelers worldwide. Wego, renowned for connecting millions of users to a wide array of travel options, is excited to join forces with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to showcase the Kingdom’s unique attractions, historical landmarks, and warm hospitality. This collaboration signifies a shared commitment to enhancing Bahrain’s visibility on the global stage and driving tourism growth for the Kingdom. The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, recognizing Wego’s extensive reach and user-friendly platform as key assets to promote Bahrain’s beauty and charm. With its blend of modernity and tradition, Bahrain has much to offer, from vibrant markets and cultural festivals to historical sites and pristine beaches. “Wego is delighted to collaborate once again with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to spotlight the incredible offerings of Bahrain,” said Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego. “Our platform is dedicated to inspiring and facilitating travel experiences, and we are eager to showcase Bahrain’s rich tapestry to our global audience. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to promoting exceptional destinations and creating memorable journeys.” The co-marketing initiative will leverage Wego’s digital platform to feature dedicated sections highlighting Bahrain’s key attractions, travel tips, and exclusive promotions. The collaboration aims to position Bahrain as a top destination for travelers seeking a blend of culture, adventure, and relaxation. Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority is confident that this partnership will contribute to the Kingdom’s tourism goals and foster positive …

Old Doha Port has forged a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement with Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to bolster maritime tourism and excursions through a series of unique offers and benefits under a mutual advantages program for members of both marinas, ensuring an unparalleled experience for yacht owners and maritime enthusiasts. Marina members at Old Doha Port, the region’s latest maritime tourist destination and Qatar’s nautical gateway for visiting yachts and large cruise ships. Together with Yas Marina members, are now entitled to a week of complimentary docking every three months at both marinas, effective as of yesterday. Additionally, they will benefit from a 20% discount at various restaurants and cafes, alongside reductions on hotel accommodations and the Port’s boat repair and maintenance services provided in the container yard. Mr. Mohammad Abdullah Al Mulla, CEO of Old Doha Port, expressed that this collaborative endeavor with Yas Marina aligns perfectly with the strategic vision of Old Doha Port to draw a greater influx of yachts and to spotlight its newly enhanced amenities designed to elevate Qatar’s allure as a prime tourist destination. This partnership is not merely about increasing visitor numbers; it’s about curating an exceptional maritime experience that sets a new standard for yacht owners and marine vessels across the region. The port’s second appearance at the Dubai International Boat Show concluded successfully on Sunday, March 3, witnessing significant interest from the exhibition’s attendees, marking it as one of the standout events in the region. Looking ahead, the port plans to participate in various international exhibitions to further its marketing strategies and initiatives.

Travelport and Qatar Airways  announced that Qatar’s NDC content and enhanced servicing capabilities are now available in the Travelport+ platform. Travelport customers can easily search and compare NDC offers from Qatar Airways, as well as service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations. Travelport+ enables agency customers to access a wide range of rich content, fares, and unique offerings from Qatar Airways all in one place, enhanced by the Content Curation Layer (CCL). This Travelport+ feature minimizes manual tasks using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) capabilities to provide agents and travelers a more modern retailing experience with faster search response times, highly relevant results, and greater accuracy. “Our NDC collaboration with Travelport ensures that travel agents around the globe can effortlessly shop and book our growing repertoire of NDC offers and provide exceptional service to our customers, including post-ticketing,” said Matt Raos, Senior Vice President, Global Sales at Qatar Airways. “Qatar Airways has long been committed to bringing our agency partners along on the NDC journey, so we’re pleased to extend our NDC offers to Travelport subscribers.” “Now that Qatar’s NDC content is available on Travelport+, our agency customers will have the ability to view and compare more dynamic offers and ancillaries from Qatar Airways so they can create a more streamlined, personalized experience for travelers,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “We’ve built our NDC solution to empower travel agents to operate as modern retailers and provide the level of service that travelers need beyond the point of booking, so that our partners benefit from more upsells and greater loyalty from their customers.” Travelport’s NDC content and servicing solution for Qatar Airways has …

Solidifying Dubai’s place as a major maritime tourism hub, Emirates and AIDA Cruises have renewed their partnership for a further two seasons. The renewed partnership was signed on the sidelines of the first day of ITB Berlin and is in line with Dubai’s efforts to significant grow its cruise capacity. Dubai continues to attract the biggest players in the industry through offering a seamlessly integrated maritime hub, with state-of-the-art handling facilities supported with unrivalled air connectivity. Emirates will explore a number of opportunities with AIDA Cruises for joint marketing, operational alignment and strategic planning around flight schedules from across its network, in addition to enhanced transportation solutions between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. The partnership will continue to focus on sharing relevant data and insights to improve service delivery, providing dedicated support teams for cruise passengers, and facilitating a smooth check-in process at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. The airline will also dedicate capacity for the next two seasons to ensure continued momentum to meet the demand for cruise packages to Dubai. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline; and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. Adnan Kazim commented on the renewed partnership: “We’re proud of AIDA Cruises’ long-standing commitment to Dubai, when they were one of the first cruise liners to home port in 2006. We are readying the business for another robust cruise season in Dubai, and through the support of partners like AIDA Cruises anchoring in our home city and hub, we’ll continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as an attractive gateway for winter cruising.” “The Arabian Gulf is one of our most popular winter destinations due to its …

Cozmo Travel celebrated the inauguration of their largest retail outlet in Ras Al Khaimah. This not only marks a significant expansion for Cozmo Travel but also introduces the first Air Arabia City Check-in facility in the Emirate. Located strategically in Ras Al Khaimah, the new outlet showcases a seamless integration of Cozmo Travel’s comprehensive range of travel services with Air Arabia’s City Check-in Facility as well as their growing network of flights out of the Ras Al Khaima Hub. The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Sagr Al Qasimi the Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al-Khaimah and Mr. Adel Ali the CEO, Air Arabia Group; as well as other honorable dignitaries in the Emirate. “This new outlet reflects the shared commitment between Cozmo Travel and Air Arabia to enhancer the travel experience for our customers within the Emirate and the region by offering innovative travel solutions and unparalleled convenience with the City Check-in facility that will make traveling much smoother.” Said Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO Cozmo Travel. The ceremony also saw the attendance of representatives from various sectors, including the travel and tourism industry, airline, and media. Their presence highlights the collective effort to revolutionize the travel industry and provide travelers with unparalleled access to a comprehensive suite of services. With the establishment of this new office, Cozmo Travel continues to make strides in revolutionizing travel experiences, ensuring that every journey is not just a trip but a memorable adventure. The Cozmo Travel network is spread over 56 branches in 9 countries including UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Egypt & India; To ensure that the reach of Cozmo’s large …

Dubai Mall welcomed a record 105 million visitors in 2023, a jump of over 19% on the previous year’s 88 million; sales were also exceptionally strong in 2023. New figures released by the mall today also show a staggering 20 million people visited the mall in the first two months of this year alone, with 2024 set to be another record year. “These numbers reflect Dubai Mall’s impressive status and mirrors the forward-thinking leadership and strong economy of Dubai. Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and dedication to excellence, turning the leadership’s vision into a reality. Being an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation,” said Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar. The new figures also show how the mall has become a global draw, attracting visitors from every corner of the world. “This wide range of nationalities not only underscored the mall’s worldwide charm but also reflected the cosmopolitan culture of Dubai itself,” Alabbar added. Global Retail and Leisure Icon The mall’s events and promotions in 2023 and the beginning of 2024 were a key driver of its foot traffic, as well as essential festive occasions and international celebrations. Major events like the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai Food Festival and the acclaimed 3 Day Super Sale further demonstrated the mall’s ability to draw and engage massive crowds. The mall’s digital footprint expanded significantly, with an Instagram following currently at 1.3 million. The mall’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the high customer satisfaction scores, which averaged 4.6, reflecting positive feedback from thousands of customers. Elevating Shopping to an Art Form In 2023, Dubai Mall redefined luxury retail. The “Retail Relation” programme …

His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, today opened MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2024. Running until 6th March, the co-located events are welcoming leaders from across the global aviation supply chain at a time where the industry is on a strong upwards trajectory, particularly in the Middle East. According to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast, the region’s commercial aircraft services market will more than double in value by 2042, growing from $12 billion to $28 billion and registering a 4.4% average annual growth, surpassing the global average growth of 3.6%. Set to contribute to this growth, the show has seen a 20% increase in footfall, and more than 240 exhibitors and 120 airlines have gathered to explore new avenues of collaboration, commercial opportunities and showcase industry-leading products and services. Key announcements and signings during the first day of MRO Middle East and AIME included Joramco announcing a new maintenance agreement with TUI, and HAECO announcing the induction of Emirates’ first Airbus A380 aircraft at its airframe facility in Xiamen, marking a new base maintenance contract between the two entities. The Go Live! Theater welcomed a host of global experts for sessions on key industry themes. The ‘Capacity Issues on the Horizon?’ panel discussed fleet expansion plans, collaboration and what MROs, OEMs and other suppliers must do to ensure they have enough bandwidth to sustain the new fleet size in the region. During the session, Justin ODonnell, Director Technical Operations at Riyadh Air, said: The transient nature of seasonal passenger traffic influences airlines to behave in ways that create a surge in MROs, especially during the winter period, …

PIF and ATP announce multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate the growth of global tennis. This new partnership focuses on enhancing global tennis and its long-term future, elevating youth and unlocking opportunities for tennis’ next generation. PIF to serve as the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings. Partnership incorporates PIF’s four sponsorship pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ATP today unveiled a new multi-year strategic partnership, marking a significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and stakeholders at all levels of the sport. The major partnership will see PIF become the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings, celebrating players’ journeys and progress across the season and championing excellence as the Year-End No. 1, presented by PIF, is crowned at the Nitto ATP Finals which will take place in Turin, Italy until 2025. PIF will partner with ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing and the Nitto ATP Finals, in addition to the Next Gen ATP Finals, hosted in Jeddah until 2027. Following the launch of ATP’s Baseline program earlier this year, PIF has further committed to develop and unlock new opportunities for young players and player pathway initiatives, providing a significant boost to the game’s next generation of stars. The ATP partnership forms part of PIF’s broader sponsorship platform, investing in people, projects and partnerships with an emphasis on the brand’s four pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. Together, PIF and ATP will also collaborate to elevate the long-term future of tennis. PIF will actively contribute to ATP’s OneVision Strategic Plan which focuses on driving unity, enhancing fan experiences and leveraging scalable growth opportunities across the …