Ctrip.com International (Ctrip), one of China’s largest integrated travel services companies, has signed an agreement with Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) to develop a global distribution strategy promoting MHR properties to Ctrip’s 300-million strong customer base. The agreement was announced jointly at ITB Berlin by David Zhou, Chief Business Officer—Accommodation Business Unit, Ctrip and Nayan Peshkar, Senior Vice President – Digital, Distribution & Revenue Strategy, MHR. It marks the start of an alliance enabling Ctrip to offer MHR’s iconic portfolio of hotels in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia to its China-based business and leisure travel clients. Zhou said, “Chinese outbound tourists reached nearly 150 million in 2018, and the growth for this year remains strong. By signing this China–focused distribution agreement with MHR, we are continuing to offer 300 million members the best hotel experience worldwide whilst enhancing MHR’s presence and boosting new business opportunities for them in the China market.” Through the aegis of a strategic collaboration agreement, MHR will partner with Ctrip’s membership programme, which will certify its properties as ‘Chinese-Friendly Hotels’ and enable them to benefit from Ctrip’s influential ranking system. MHR and Ctrip will also work towards customer initiatives such as the launching of a flagship store on Ctrip’s digital platforms, joint marketing campaigns as well as knowledge sharing and cross exposure programmes for team members. Ctrip is the number one platform for Chinese nationals travelling overseas. About one in four Chinese citizens use Ctrip to book and search for outbound flight tickets, making it the world’s largest outbound travel platform. Peshkar said, “We are delighted to be raising the profile of our hotel offering in the fast-growing China travel market. Asia …

Messe Berlin, a leading trade fair and event organiser , has been awarded membership of World Tourism Alliance (WTA). With ITB China set to take place from May 15 to 17  in Shanghai, the partnership will help strengthen communication between the global and the Chinese travel industry. Sustainable tourism growth from China can be fostered through deep cooperation and support of WTA. “In this multi-layered world, WTA truly plays a unifying role in the drive for global cooperation and development in tourism. Its message of integration and cooperative dialogue has convinced us in the same way as leading tourism representatives, destinations and institutions around the world, said Dr Martin Buck, Senior Vice President, Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin.” Liu Shijun, Secretary General, WTA, attended multiple events at ITB Berlin and met with David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China and Dr Martin Buck to talk about possible initiatives and projects. “We are extremely honoured that Messe Berlin has joined WTA and confident that with its expertise and experience, we can build a more competitive and responsible tourism industry for the benefit of all,” said Liu Shijun.  

The S Hotel Al Barsha has confirmed its participation at Arabian Travel Market 2019 to be held from April 28 to May 1 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Shailesh Grover, General Manager, The S Hotel Al Barsha, said, “As the region’s leading travel fair, Arabian Travel Market offers us a fabulous platform to introduce and showcase our first The S Hotel in the Middle East, The S Hotel Al Barsha.” A recent research report released by Arabian Travel Market ahead of the major event reveals that the UAE is set to welcome 8.92 million visitors from top five source markets by 2023. The report says that the country’s top three source markets for inbound tourism are India, KSA and the UK. The number of Indian visitors travelling to the UAE will increase at a CAGR of 7% to 3.01 million in 2023, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia and the UK will witness an increase of 2% and 1% to 1.76 million and 1.28 million respectively over the same period. “Our marketing efforts are geared towards attracting guests from these high-growth segments. Our focus is to get a bigger slice of the inbound tourists from India, KSA, the UK, China and Russia. We’re also targeting the GCC & Middle East, Southeast Asia, Far East Asia, Europe and Latin America,” Grover explains.    

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International’s most global brand continues its transformation journey with a nod to its timeless pioneering legacy, as it unveils a new logo that pays homage to its past and depicts its vision for the future. The new design reflects the brand’s holistic vision for the future, making Sheraton the central gathering place of communities around the world, welcoming guests and locals into a public space that embodies the modern town square vibe. “The logo’s evolution reflects the renewed energy and firm commitment we are making to our owners and guests to the resurgence of this iconic brand.  More than a logo, this is a symbolic statement of Sheraton’s vision for our new guest experience,” said Mara Hannula, Vice President, Global Brand Marketing, Classic Premium Brands. “This was the final piece of the redesign puzzle and offers a modernized look and feel to match our reimagined spaces while maintaining the powerful equity and recognition of the original logo.” The new Sheraton experience will be available to guests later this year in Phoenix. The transformed 1,000-room Sheraton Grand Phoenix hotel which the company purchased in 2018 will bring to life the first of Sheraton’s full on-strategy hotel along with other exciting innovations. “We are excited to introduce the new direction of the brand’s iconic symbol in the Middle East and Africa, where Sheraton has nurtured long-standing relationships with guests, owners and communities for over 50 years,” said Sandra Schulze–Potgieter, Vice President Premium & Select Brands, Marriott International Middle East and Africa. “In line with the transformation of the brand, we are excited to showcase our early adopter properties soon, the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel and Sheraton Grand Hotel, …

From June 1, 2019, Etihad Airways will introduce a new two-class Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, the largest variant of the technologically advanced aircraft, on its scheduled daily morning service from Abu Dhabi to Rome, complementing the second overnight 777-300ER departure. On July 1, the airline will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its two daily services to Frankfurt. The two-class 787-9 features Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy Class cabins, configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats. The 336-seat 787-10 features 32 Business Studios and 304 Economy Smart Seats. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Rome and Frankfurt are two very important cities on the Etihad global network and have been popular with business and leisure customers alike. The introduction of more state-of-the-art 787s to our fleet is allowing us to further enhance the inflight experience, giving our guests the opportunity to enjoy the most highly customised Dreamliner cabins in the world, upgraded entertainment systems and connectivity, and our acclaimed service and hospitality.”

flydubai inaugurated its new service from Dubai to Tashkent becoming the first carrier based in the UAE to offer direct flights to Uzbekistan.  The inaugural flight departed on March 11 from Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB) and was welcomed on arrival at Tashkent International Airport (TAS). On board the inaugural flight was a senior delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy in the UAE. The trade delegation included the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, other business entities and members of the UAE media.  On arrival at Tashkent, the delegation was received by Shuhrat Vafaev, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan and Mohammed Al Mehairbi, H.E. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the UAE to Uzbekistan. H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, emphasized on the importance of this step, further pointing out that the country maintains a leading position in the global air transport map and serves as an important centre for enhancing global connectivity through its sophisticated international airports and air carriers with world-class reputation and a wide network of destinations. Commenting on the occasion, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said, “Uzbekistan is an important trade partner for the UAE and the start of flights to Tashkent represents a significant milestone in helping to strengthen commercial ties between us.  We are pleased to be the first UAE carrier to launch direct flights between Dubai and Tashkent, opening up another underserved market in Central Asia and supporting Dubai’s vision of creating flows of travel and trade.”

Turkish Airlines and Oman Air have revised the codeshare agreement signed earlier. Under the revised agreement, Turkish Airlines will codeshare on Oman Air operating flights to Salalah while Oman Air will codeshare on Turkish Airlines operating flights to Rome, Copenhagen and Algiers. The codeshare agreement allows guests to benefit from the outstanding products and services offered by both carriers on these routes. Bilal Ekşi, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Turkish Airlines expressed, “Witnessing Oman Air’s direct flights to Istanbul within the scope of our existing codeshare agreement has always pleased us. Now extending this agreement in order to increase the travel opportunities offered for our passengers through our networks made us more delighted. We believe that this codeshare enhancement with Oman Air will exposure further cooperation opportunities for both airlines together with growing relations between our countries.” Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air commented, “Oman Air is happy and proud to be associating with Turkish Airlines which is a globally recognized network carrier. It is an ideal partner for Oman Air, which has justifiably attracted a reputation for offering the highest levels of comfort, luxury and outstanding service. As we continue to expand globally, codeshare agreements such as this help us spread our wings to newer destinations and bring us more partners and guests.” Turkish Airlines and Oman Air currently operate one daily flight each on the Muscat-Istanbul route under the reciprocal codeshare agreement. The schedule of these flights are designed to complement each other by allowing same day return trip at Muscat and Istanbul.

Etihad Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) announced positive growth in traffic since their codeshare partnership began in November 2018. Jointly, Etihad and Saudia have flown over 16,000 guests across the partnership, solidifying the airlines’ commitment to growing inbound business and tourism in their respective markets. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group said, “The close and expanding partnership between Etihad and Saudia is giving us a unique opportunity to build on the deep ties that exist between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. With greater choice now available, more flexibility across both our schedules, and world-leading products and services, together, we now fly approximately 150 guests per day across each other’s networks. Our plan is to grow this number considerably through expansion of the codeshare agreement in the coming months, and to deliver more benefits to our customers.” The codeshare agreement has seen ‘EY’ and ‘SV’ codes already placed on 14 routes with the addition of Vienna this week. In the coming months, Etihad will place its ‘EY’ code on, Tunis, Sharm El Sheikh and Alexandria. At the same time, Saudia will place its ‘SV’ code on Etihad flights to Tokyo, Nagoya, and Baku. Phase two for the ‘EY’ code will include Algiers, Dhaka and Erbil. And Phase two for the ‘SV’ code will include Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Moscow, Dusseldorf, Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Lagos, Minsk, Rabat, Astana, and more points in India. His Excellency Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, Director General, Saudi Arabian Airlines commented, “The codeshare partnership with Etihad Airways enables greater connectivity and access to destinations for our guests. By leveraging each of our networks, we are able to provide a wide array of …

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, inaugurated Premier Inn Al Jaddaf, the seventh property of the brand within the UAE. During the opening ceremony, His Highness unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and toured the guest rooms, restaurants and public areas. The event was also attended by Gary Chapman, President Group Services & dnata, Emirates Group; Adam Nicholls, Managing Director, Premier Inn Middle East and other senior officials. Premier Inn Al Jaddaf offers a mixed inventory of spacious guest rooms from double occupancy to those which can accommodate a family of up to four. The 389 stylish rooms come with a working desk space and Premier Inn’s signature Hypnos bed paired with a pillow menu and black out curtains fulfilling the hotels’ brand promise of a guaranteed good night’s sleep. Remaining true to its heritage, the new hotel utilises contemporary design while embracing British charm and local culture. Adam Nicholls, Managing Director, Premier Inn Hotels Middle East, said, “We’re really pleased to add Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf to our portfolio, our strongest proposition in the UAE and our largest hotel in the region. Dubai is a city that continues to grow, and our investment into the region doesn’t stop here, with further hotel openings on the horizon. We’re continually looking at ways to enhance our guest experience to offer a market leading product and provide a proposition that represents excellent value for money.” A joint venture between Emirates Group and Whitbread, the flagship property signals a new era for Premier Inn Middle East, with greater emphasis on guest experience alongside convenience for mid-market business and leisure travellers. The partnership …

Citizens and expatriate residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can apply for Schengen visas to Belgium at the new Visa Application Centres jointly launched by the Embassy of Belgium in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and VFS Global. The new centres provide outbound travellers from Al Khobar and Jeddah a very convenient visa application platform, ensuring enhanced quality of services and seamless procedures. Applicants also complete their biometric enrolment at the same application centre. With the launch of these new centres, applicants no longer need to visit the Embassy of Belgium and instead need to submit their visa applications at the VFS Global centres in Al Khobar and Jeddah. During the official inauguration of the Visa Application Centre in Al Khobar, H E Dominique Mineur, Ambassador of Belgium to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said, “The recent opening in Jeddah last month has already resulted in an increase in the number of visa applications received for Belgium from the Kingdom. We hope the Al Khobar Centre will also generate the same interest, and we thank VFS Global for their support. This will undoubtedly strengthen the relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Belgium.” The first Visa Application Centre for Schengen visas to Belgium started its operations in December 2016 from the capital city of Riyadh. Commenting on the new centres for visas to Belgium, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO—Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said, “The number of applications for Schengen visas applied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has increased significantly and continuously over the years. The positive economic environment in the Kingdom and the high level of economic growth has created more opportunities for business …