Abu Dhabi Airports has started its annual ‘Beat the Heat’ campaign in support of the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety & Health Centre (OSHAD)’ Code of Practice 11.0. The informative campaign aims to boost awareness among staff and contractors on the effects of heat stress and how to safely cope with the extreme weather conditions expected during Ramadan and the succeeding months. The programme, which takes course until September, features Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi training sessions across the Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport and Al Bateen Executive Airport. The sessions detail important methods on controlling heat stress such as taking more breaks in extreme heat, drinking water frequently to avoid dehydration, being mindful of their own physical condition and that of their co-workers, and wearing light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing instead of non-breathing synthetic fabrics. Campaign posters and dehydration awareness charts are displayed in each workplace, providing participants with safety bulletins that outlines mandatory requirements and educational materials needed to recognize and remedy illnesses caused by high temperatures. Heat-relieving gears such as sun hats, water bottles, and hand towels are also distributed throughout the program. Further equipping employees with the necessary knowledge, the Abu Dhabi Airports’ Environment, Health & Safety team in coordination with the Gulf Center for Aviation Studies (GCAS), the company’s training arm, has carried out heat stress train the Trainor lectures to a selected number of staff and contractors as potential health and safety instructors to drive awareness from department to department and to carry out specific practices required by each team.

After its launch in April of ‘Aquaventure After Dark’, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm announced that it will once again open its doors to excited nighttime revelers. Attracting 3,500 teens and adults first time round, the ultimate slide and dance party will make its triumphant return on June 16th from 8pm, offering guests even more fun. In partnership with Coca-Cola and 104.8 Channel 4 radio, Aquaventure After Dark entry tickets will start from only AED 123 when pre-purchased online, offering party-goers a fun-drenched evening from 8pm to 12am mid-night. Featuring pumping music zones and stacks of inflatable fun, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark will offer visitors the chance to take on 20 of the region’s craziest waterslides, made all the more exhilarating by night. Hungry thrill-seekers can also feast throughout the evening at the various food stations. Shark Bites and Barracudas will offer indoor and outdoor seating and something for every taste, including Arabic mezze, freshly baked pizzas, shawarma, falafel, dosa, fish & chips and barbeque hot off the grill. Situated on the apex of the Palm in Dubai, and known for its terrifying and record-breaking waterslides, Aquaventure Waterpark is the only attraction in The Middle East that offers marine animal experiences, water slides and over 700 metres of beachline. The waterpark also boasts some record breaking slides including the world’s largest circumference water ride ‘Aquaconda’ and the first twin racing tube rides ‘Slitherine’.

Tivoli Hotels & Resorts has announced its first property in the Alentejo region of Portugal in the historic city of Évora, joining the brand’s other timelessly elegant properties in Portugal, Brazil and Qatar. The Tivoli Évora Ecoresort, scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2018, will be a nature retreat boasting gorgeous scenery and unique cultural experiences. Currently operating as the Ecorkhotel, Évora – Suites & Spa, the property is located on the lush plains of Portugal’s south-central Alentejo region, just a five-minute drive from the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a one-hour drive from the capital Lisbon. Surrounded by age-old cork oak and olive trees, the property is designed in sustainable contemporary style. Soft architectural lines blend perfectly into the verdant landscape, with 56 suites carefully placed around the 38,000 square metre grounds, providing ultimate privacy and tranquillity for guests. All suites are warmly decorated with natural elements such as wool and cork, with outside areas for relaxing amidst the sounds of nature. As part of a refurbishment programme, an exclusive new villa with nine guest rooms and a private outdoor swimming pool will be added to the resort. The ecoresort also has a spa providing pure serenity for the senses. Treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and fully equipped fitness room will be available for guests to enjoy. Making the most of relaxing inspirational surroundings, the hotel will also focus on personalised wellness programmes, incorporating both traditional and innovative treatments with healthy eating, exercise and nature-based activities.

The 2018 edition of the Dubai HeliShow is all geared up for its run from November 6-8 at the Royal Pavilion, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai South under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The show is expected to be participated in by over 60 exhibitors and visitors coming from more than 30 countries. Now on its seventh edition, the three-day event will feature leading global speakers and top companies from Hungary, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Lithuania, Egypt, Russia, Bahrain, Switzerland, Romania, Lebanon, France, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Korea, Colombia and UAE to showcase their products, services and technologies for defence, homeland security, commercial and military helicopter sectors and explore future partnerships. Dubai HeliShow 2018 will also host strategic networking opportunities for participating companies, which include meetings and interactions between the international helicopter industry, as well as the defence and security sectors and prospective buyers.” Ahmad Abulhoul Managing Director, Domus Group, organisers of Dubai HeliShow 2018, said, “In addition to highlighting recent advancements in helicopter technology, this year’s edition of Dubai HeliShow is set to explore the segment’s regional growth potential by bringing industry leaders, pioneers and other industry stakeholders under one umbrella to discuss strategies and roadmaps to effectively improve defence and homeland security capabilities. The show will be marked with three exciting days of exhibitions, product demonstrations and networking opportunities—all designed to increase awareness on the major trends and developments that will impact the market’s future at both regional and global levels.”

Emirates will reinstate two weekly flights between Luanda and Dubai, increasing capacity to five flights per week between the two cities, starting from July 1, 2018. Customers can look forward to a daily service starting from the winter schedule. These additional flights will give passengers more travel choices and address the growing demand for connectivity on Emirates’ global network, especially to destinations in Asia, USA and Europe. The flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER with eight seats in First Class, 42 in Business Class and 310 in Economy Class, with 360 seats on offer in a three-class configuration. With the increased frequency to Luanda, Emirates will offer passengers even more convenient access to other destinations in its network, including 35 destinations in the Middle East, 18 in Asia and more than 20 destinations in the Americas and Australia. In addition to an increase in passenger capacity, the new flights will offer up to 23 tonnes of cargo per flight, giving companies and merchants the opportunity to increase imports of electronic equipment, construction and pharmaceuticals products. The flight EK793 departs from Dubai at 09:55hrs and arrives in Luanda at 14:40hrs. The return flight EK794 departs from Luanda at 18:15hrs and arrives in Dubai at 05:00hrs the following day. The daily service starting in winter, flight EK 793 will depart Dubai at 10:10hrs, and arrive in Luanda at 15:10hrs. The return flight EK794 will depart Luanda at 18:15hrs and arrive in Dubai at 04:55hrs the following day.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C has announced the opening of reservations for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to its guests onboard and transform the luxury cruising industry. Reservations are now open for the inaugural season of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, set to take the seas in February 2020. With several distinct itineraries available in 2020, guests have the option to book back-to-back voyages without repeating ports, allowing them to explore a wider range of destinations and delve into the local culture at each port. “As the first luxury hotel company to bring the legendary service and ambience of its resorts to sea, we are thrilled to offer guests a new way to create memories with The Ritz-Carlton,” said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “From the yacht’s design, to programming onboard and ashore, every aspect of the voyage has been carefully created to embody the signature service and casual luxury of a Ritz-Carlton resort. We look forward to officially welcoming guests onboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection as we open reservations.” The opening of reservations marks an exciting milestone for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which is set to redefine luxury at sea,” said Doug Prothero, CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “Whether you are looking for culture, adventure, or the chance to go off the beaten path, we are thrilled to be able to invite guests to explore the world with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.”

Thuraya Telecommunications Company and its long-standing service partner, IEC Telecom have joined forces to showcase Thuraya’s maritime product portfolio and provide a preview of the latest Thuraya maritime VSAT service at this year’s international shipping exhibition, Posidonia 2018, in Greece. Visitors to the Greece Metropolitan Expo had the opportunity to engage with senior executives from Thuraya and IEC Telecom on Thuraya’s new VSAT service and terminal that are due to be launched later this year. Speaking at the Expo, Ricky D’Souza, Manager, Market Development Maritime, Thuraya, said, “The growing demand for data in the maritime sector coupled with other requirements such as crew retention, remote offices, remote monitoring and maintenance has pushed us to develop our VSAT service. We were pleased to meet our valued customers to give them a sneak peek of our new dedicated VSAT+ terminal that provides communication support for a wider range of applications.” Thuraya displayed a wide range of products from its maritime portfolio including the Thuraya Orion IP broadband terminal, the SF2500 voice satellite terminal and the newly launched Thuraya Atlas IP+. Easy to install, Thuraya Atlas IP+ offers managers and crew seamless access to the Internet, enhanced connectivity, and high-speed onboard efficiency with best-in-class data rates, as well as driving operational efficiency. The terminal features a single cable connection to the stabilised antenna, direct bulkhead mounting, and built-in Wi-Fi. Through its RJ11 port, it can be connected to any standard analog or cordless phone.”

Amadeus has said that it is the first to receive level-3 certification on the latest version (18.1) of  New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard. Since 2016, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has had a certification process in place for the NDC standard, for the different industry stakeholders to show their capability to support NDC messaging. Amadeus has now renewed its level 3 certification for Altéa NDC, which was released in March this year. The version 18.1 is generated based on the new aviation industry data model, which IATA has been working on with Amadeus and other industry partners. This new data model aims to provide a consistent industry repository and methodology to help define the use and structure of new and existing standards. “We’ve been working hand in hand with IATA and other industry partners to test and improve this latest version of the standard, which will help to drive industrialization and adoption. Version 18.1 and the new data model means that NDC messages between airlines and third parties – whether aggregators, travel sellers or corporations – now have a more defined structure. We’re pleased to be the first company to be certified on the 18.1 version, as proof of our ongoing partnership with IATA and our commitment to making NDC work for the industry,” said Gianni Pisanello, VP, NDC-X programme, Amadeus. This certification as an IT provider follows on from Amadeus’ previous level 3 certification as an IT provider and level 1 certification as an aggregator in 2016 and 2017. Amadeus is also on track to achieve level 3 certification as an aggregator later this year.

Abu Dhabi Airports has announced the transformation plans for Al Ghazal Golf Club and Sports resort that will present a revamped new recreational offer to the residents and visitors of Abu Dhabi. The renovation and development plans will turn the emirate’s only sand golf course to a nationwide recreational sporting hub. The transformed golf destination expects to debut its enhanced look towards the mid of 2018. The property is currently undergoing cutting-edge refurbishments on five of its star facilities; 18-Hole golf course and training centre, sports recreational center, administration building, and its Food & Beverage Outlets. The finished facility will boast a prestigious sand golf course, an assortment of recreational activities for adventure seekers, locker room expansions, new gaming facilities, and improved continental dinning venues. Al Ghazal Golf Club and Sports enjoys a strategic location lying in close proximity to the Abu Dhabi International Airport and some of the most sought-after attractions of the Emirate that includes the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World, Yas Island. Commenting on this development, Saoud Al Shamsi, Acting Chief Commercial Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “Al Ghazal Golf Club and Sports will be the most luxurious and exciting resort for sport lovers and families seeking an adventurous escape, or to unwind after a long day of work. This renovation project has been designed to create a wider golf club membership that ultimately establishes a big and prominent Al Ghazal Community. In line with its vision and values, Al Ghazal Golf Club & Sports Resort will be a leader of innovation, hospitality and quality by the end of 2018”.

Abu Dhabi has decided to cut tourism and municipality fees to boost tourism and spur investments in the hospitality sector. HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said, “The Executive Council’s decision to adopt the proposal, put forward by the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), to reduce tourism and municipality fees will enhance the Emirate’s international tourism competitiveness by strengthening Abu Dhabi’s value proposition, and by encouraging investments in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Abu Dhabi’s hotel establishments will be further able to record high occupancy rates compared to the regional and global tourism markets. “With this decision, hotels and hospitality establishments can achieve more growth and stay in line with the continuous development of the emirate’s infrastructure and its wide variety of cultural and leisure attractions. The adoption of the proposal will enhance Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness to investors and support the development of additional tourism projects and hotels. It will also strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading tourism destination for both business and leisure.” HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said, “The adoption of the new tourism and municipality fees is driven by the leadership’s vision to support the hospitality and tourism sectors and encourage further economic diversification. This move will attract further investment to the capital and underpin Abu Dhabi’s aim to expand its tourism proposition and increase visitor numbers.”