As the holy month of Ramadan dawns, the Maldives extends a warm invitation to travelers seeking a distinctive and serene Ramadan experience. During these 30 days, observed across the archipelago of the Maldives, individuals engage in fasting, prayer, reflection, and community activities. Exploring the Maldives during holy month of Ramadan or during Eid Holidays offer a unique chance to immerse oneself in its rich history and culture, featuring a diverse array of museums, historic sites, and cultural landmarks. Take part in community events and experience the genuine hospitality of the Maldivian people. Find your own piece of soul soothing experiences in a well-deserved getaway in the Maldives. Its selection of luxury resorts provides a serene and reflective atmosphere ideal for mindfulness and meditation. This peaceful escape offers travelers a break from their bustling lives, allowing them to reconnect with themselves.   Combine this with an exploration of the many secluded islands and stays in private overwater villas for a private and intimate Ramadan retreat. Discover properties with exclusive prayer spaces, iftar experiences, and serene surroundings for reflection and spiritual rejuvenation. Ayada Maldives – discover peace and serenity on this private island and receive 20% discount on stays booked before 29 February 2024. Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi – Located in Shaviyani Atoll, its 120 luxury villas connect you to the natural beauty of this secluded island. Book your stay by 29 March and get 10% discount on a minimum of 2 nights stay. Noku Maldives – Experience an adventure at Noku Maldives in Noonu Atoll by booking directly to enjoy benefits for two, including seaplane transfers, guided snorkeling tour, a dolphin or fishing trip, a massage, and a 15% discount …

Ministry of Heritage and Tourism Oman hosted the third edition of the “Global Travel Week – Middle East” with 94 tourism specialists from various countries and 31 Omani tourism establishments in addition to hotels. This B2B event is aimed at promoting luxury tourism in Oman. Haitham bin Muhammad al Ghassan, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said: “This event is a valuable addition to the list of luxury tourism companies and has proven through its previous editions that it adds high value to businesses and companies.” The Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism added that the hosting of this event will strengthen international cooperation in the field of luxury tourism, exchanging experiences and knowledge, and strengthening the position of the Sultanate of Oman as a luxury tourist destination on the global stage. This event enjoys wide participation from experts and specialists in the field of luxury tourism from various countries of the world. (Oman News Agency)

Gold partners for the first B2B event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Saudi Travel Mart Rezlive.com is on a journey to enhance business potential from the Saudi Arabian market. Speaking with TTME; media partner for Saudi Travel Mart, Rezlive.com’s Vice President Sales Zaheer Jeddy reiterated, “RezLive.com’s participation in the Saudi travel market marks a strategic move to expand its presence in the region. By engaging in this B2B event, Rezlive.com gains invaluable opportunities to network with key industry players, showcase its services, and establish lucrative partnerships. This participation promises fruitful business prospects and enhanced market penetration.” The event opened doors with 135 exhibitors from 20 countries seeking Saudi Arabia as a key source market due to its volume of business which has great potential in leisure, business, MICE catering to luxury and high spender travellers from the Kingdom. On the second day of the show, many visitors were seen from across the globe checking the various facilities and opportunities of business in the Kingdom.

The inaugural B2B edition of Saudi Travel Mart with TravTalkME as media partner kicked off in Riyadh yesterday with over 135 companies from 20 countries. It will provide a platform for key exhibitors from Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world to showcase their many offerings within a period of three days from 25th to 27th February 2024. Opening the event Naif A. Alrajhi – Vice Chairman of Board of Directors Riyadh Chamber of Commerce shared, “Today is an important event to have this first ever B2B event in Saudi Arabia, having 135 companies from 20 countries which shows the importance of being in Saudi  Arabia and this is very good for later stages as Saudi Arabia aims to achieve a high number of tourists from across the globe. Saudi Arabia has a lot of opportunities with thew commitment of the government as they have set a target with the vision 2030 aimed at attracting the highest number of  tourists by 2030 and with all the foreign investments happening in the Kingdom this will give rise to the tourism sector in the Kingdom.” Mohammed Al Harbi, Chief Executive Officer Saudi Travel Mart in his opening remarks shared, “we consider the Saudi Travel Market to be one of the important exhibitions through which we intend to place the Kingdom on the list of major tourist destinations in the coming years. As the first B2B exhibition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we aim to attract the largest international companies to the Kingdom and make it the first and best choice for everyone.”  

In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), H2O Hospitality (H2O) has established its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi. ADIO provided H2O, which operates in the accommodation and leisure sector, with a comprehensive range of growth-enabling support, including financial incentives, setup enablement and connections to the Abu Dhabi ecosystem and international trade opportunities. H2O’s solutions will also contribute to Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector. The company is connected to more than 85 online travel agencies, in addition to managing over 190,000 units and 680 properties. It provides solutions which automate the front and back-end processes of hotels by digitising the process flow, enabling paperless and contactless procedures that improve efficiency and profitability for operators. H2O’s solutions in Abu Dhabi will enhance guest experience with mobile-based booking, check-in, smart locks, in-room services and payments. John Lee, Founder and CEO of H2O, said: “Digital transformation has become an even more pressing matter for the hospitality industry. The move highlights the strong economic cooperation between South Korea and Abu Dhabi, which has become increasingly focussed on innovation and technology. In the past 10 years, South Korea has been ranked as the most innovative nation six times by the Bloomberg Innovation Index. Abu Dhabi was also named the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023 in the IMD Smart City Index, released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Badr Al-Olama, Acting Director General of ADIO, said: “Both Abu Dhabi and South Korea are globally known for their approach to innovation, sharing similar visions for digital transformation, and are natural partners to navigate the tech-enabled future. “At the same time, Abu Dhabi has become renowned for its diverse investment climate, …

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ unveiled plans to develop Ras El Hekma as a leading one of a kind Mediterranean holiday destinations and will invest USD35 billion in Egypt and acquire the development rights for Ras El-Hekma for USD24 billion to develop the region into one of the largest new city developments by a private consortium. The significant investment marks a pivotal step towards establishing Ras El-Hekma as a leading first-of-its-kind Mediterranean holiday destination, financial centre and free zone equipped with world-class infrastructure to strengthen Egypt’s economic and tourism growth potential. Ras El-Hekma is a coastal region in Egypt located approximately 350 kilometres northwest of Cairo. The Egyptian government will retain a 35 per cent stake in the Ras El-Hekma development. As part of this investment, ADQ will also convert USD11 billion of deposits that will be utilised for investment in prime projects across Egypt to support its economic growth and development. The signing ceremony was attended by Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Vice Chairman of ADQ, and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and CEO of ADQ. Spanning over 170 million square metres, Ras El-Hekma will feature tourism amenities, a free zone and an investment zone combining, among else, residential, commercial, and recreational spaces with connectivity domestically and internationally. ADQ, leveraging its expansive portfolio and partners, aims to unlock the appeal of Ras El-Hekma as a premium international financial and tourism destination adopting the latest cutting edge digital and technological smart city solutions. ADQ intends to leverage Egyptian and international partners as part of its development and investment plans. Work is expected to commence in early 2025. ADQ’s decision to invest in Ras El-Hekma is underpinned by …

Emirates Group has announced a slate of senior appointments as the organisation readies itself for its next phase of growth, promoting 19 executives including 8 UAE nationals, and 6 women. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “Keeping pace with Dubai’s vision for growth and prosperity, the Emirates Group has also set clear and ambitious plans for fleet, network, and business growth for the next 15 years. To effectively execute these plans, the Group is strengthening its executive bench, together with internal business and operational alignment. I am pleased to announce these senior appointments, all of whom are long-serving leaders within the organisation who continue to contribute to the growth and success of Emirates and dnata.” The appointments, effective 1 March 2024 are: Adel Al Redha Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer Adnan Kazim Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Steve Allen Chief Executive Officer, dnata Michael Doersam Chief Financial and Group Services Officer Boutros Boutros Executive VP – Marketing, Brand and Corporate Communications Nabil Sultan Executive VP – Passenger Sales and Country Management Oliver Grohmann Executive VP – Human Resources Richard Jewsbury Executive VP – Corporate and Customer Experience Planning Anand Lakshminarayanan Divisional Senior VP – Order Management and Revenue Optimisation Amira Al Awadhi Senior VP – HR Operations and Systems Amira Al Falasi Senior VP – Training and Development Hana Al Awadhi Senior VP – dnata Business Support Manal Al Soori Senior VP – Group Recruitment Masooma Hassan Senior VP – Airline Business Support Musa Faisal Senior VP – Operations Research and Effectiveness Valerie Tan Senior VP – Corporate Communications, CSR and Media Affairs Rogerio Leao Divisional VP – Fleet …

FHS Saudi Arabia, taking place in Riyadh from 29 April to 1 May, has a strong female focus this year, reflecting the rise of women in the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism industries, and encouraging more to embark on a career in the sector. With International Women’s Day (8 March) just around the corner and FHS Saudi Arabia less than two months away, female forces in the Middle East’s hospitality sector share their thoughts on what women already bring to the industry, and how hospitality and tourism businesses can turn KSA’s young women of today into the leaders of tomorrow. As part of its commitment to recognise the important role of women in the sector, FHS Saudi Arabia organiser, The Bench, has launched #FHSWomenPower, a new campaign for this year’s event. Under the initiative, The Bench is offering female Saudi nationals who hold leading positions in the country’s hospitality sector to attend FHS free of charge. Read on for insight and expert opinion from Marie-Louise Ek, Vice President Human Resources Middle East and Africa, Hilton; Shaikha Al Nowais, Corporate Vice President of Owner Relationship Management, Rotana; Marloes Knippenberg, Chief Executive Officer, Kerten Hospitality; Eng. Orobah Filfilan, Architect, Saudi Icon; Norah Al Tamimi, Chief Executive Officer, Baheej Company, and Aseel Bondagjy, Hotel Talent Development Manager, and Maryam AlQahtani, Brand Experience Professional, NEOM. What is your organisation doing to champion gender diversity and women empowerment in the hospitality industry in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the region’s social and economic aspirations? Marie-Louise Ek, Vice President Human Resources Middle East and Africa, Hilton: At Hilton we are in a business of people serving people. We lead with culture and we are committed to creating …

The Supreme Committee to oversee the development of Hatta announced the launch of the first ever Hatta Farming Festival. To be held from 23 to 27 February, 2024 at the Hatta Hall, the event will be organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and the Hatta Traders Council. The launch of the festival is an initiative of the Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta, aimed at enhancing Hatta’s economic and tourism development, supporting traders and small business owners, encouraging them to display their agricultural products, and celebrating the rich heritage and agricultural production of the region. The inaugural Hatta Farming Festival, which is free to enter, will run from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Bringing the community together in a vibrant setting that celebrates agricultural and environmental practices, the event offers a platform for local farmers to display their activities and produce. Over five fun-packed days, visitors can join in exciting educational workshops and sessions, go on tours to nearby heritage sites, and sample culinary delights from local businesses in Hatta, including six food trucks and pop-up cafes, in a coming-together of the area’s farming community. Open to guests of all ages, every visitor will find something to enjoy, with entertainment events being held throughout the festival including roaming performances by Dubai’s beloved characters, Modesh and Dana. The festival features more than 25 workshops on sustainability-focused topics such as food security, water purification, diverting food from landfill, and growing your own food. Guests can also learn how to keep and rear their own animals, such as chicken and goats. In sessions designed to ignite a …

Emirates A380 has returned to Vienna again after a break of nearly four years and carrying more than 400 passengers to the Austrian capital. Emirates has become the only air carrier to operate the double-decker at Vienna International Airport, a significant milestone in the history of the partnership between the two entities. The iconic aircraft landed on Austrian soil for the first time back in 2014 to mark the 10th anniversary of Emirates’ operations in Austria, followed by a scheduled A380 service in 2016 between Dubai and Vienna. “We are delighted to bring our A380 back on the Vienna-Dubai route and offer our passengers the incomparable experience on board the popular aircraft. The A380 is Emirates’ flagship aircraft and a fan-favourite among passengers around the world. The return of the double-decker marks a milestone for Emirates’ operations in Austria and demonstrates the significance of our market in Emirates’ global route network,” says Elisabeth Zauner, Country Manager Emirates Austria, on the resumption of the scheduled Emirates A380 operations to Vienna. Julian Jäger, Joint CEO of Vienna Airport, is also enthusiastic about the return of the Emirates A380: “I am delighted that the Emirates A380 is back in regular service to Vienna. The world’s largest passenger aircraft is a highlight for all travellers and a great enrichment for Vienna Airport. The associated increase in capacity is a further sign of the strengthening of connections to the Near and Middle East and is good for tourism to and from Austria.” The A380 is currently the largest passenger aircraft in the world and the flagship of the Emirates fleet. More than 90 A380s are currently in service on Emirates’ global route network, including the popular …