Category Archives: Agents

Bedsonline has unveiled its new loyalty programme, Bedsonline Rewards, designed to reward and recognise the hard work of travel agents around the world. This new reward programme, which will substitute the prior Star Rewards programme in some markets, will integrate seamlessly with Bedsonline’s existing booking engine and will allow agents to earn points for any of their purchases, whether it be accommodation, experiences or other products. Designed with travel agents in mind, Bedsonline Rewards is built on a tier-based structure. Starting at Bronze level, agents new to the programme will be awarded a 2,000-point welcome bonus. As agents earn more points through each booking, they can move up to higher tiers, each offering more valuable rewards. The higher the tier, the greater the benefits agents receive. Bedsonline has designed the programme to be easy for agents to join and use. They can quickly sign up through the booking engine and, once enrolled, can access their personal dashboard to track their points, view their current tier and explore the rewards available to them. The platform also provides regular updates to keep agents informed of their progress and new opportunities to earn more points. The programme offers a wide range of rewards designed to appeal to different preferences and needs. Agents can redeem Amazon vouchers or other gift vouchers depending on the market. They can also opt for Bedsonline vouchers for future bookings, allowing them to reinvest their rewards directly back into their business. Bertrand Sava, Managing Director of Bedsonline, said: ‘We are delighted to launch Bedsonline Rewards as a way of thanking our agents for their dedication and support. This pro- gramme has been created to be flexible and accessible, providing …

In a vibrant tribute to the UAE’s Eid Al Etihad, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel – managed by Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) will present the “TESLAM – UAE” art exhibition, a captivating showcase of artistry in collaboration with The Paintbrush Art Community and Ajman Department of Tourism Development. The exhibition celebrated the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and modern achievements through breathtaking artworks by 26 talented artists, offering a unique blend of tradition and innovation. “Our aim is to celebrate the spirit of UAE and provide a platform for artists to showcase their creative expressions,” said Mr. Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel. “Hosting this exhibition until December 7 allows our community and guests to engage with the UAE’s radiant art scene at their own pace.” The initiative reflects Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel’s commitment to cultural enrichment and supporting local communities, aligning with its broader vision for responsible hospitality.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) concluded its Annual Overseas Conference, a significant event bringing together representatives from DCT Abu Dhabi’s international offices and key global tourism partners from Abu Dhabi. The conference served as a platform for collaboration, strategy alignment, and information-sharing aimed at driving Abu Dhabi’s tourism growth across various international markets. The Annual Overseas Conference provided a dynamic platform for key tourism stakeholders in the emirate to engage with DCT Abu Dhabi’s overseas representatives from key international markets, including the UK, India, Germany, and the GCC, with a focus on optimising Abu Dhabi’s global presence. DCT Abu Dhabi shared strategic insights into the emirate’s Tourism Strategy 2030 and presenting new initiatives and offerings which will support long-term tourism growth. Attendees participated in market-specific networking sessions, fostering tailored collaborations that address the unique needs of each target region. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Annual Overseas Conference enables DCT Abu Dhabi to strengthen relationships with our valued partners, align on strategic objectives, and explore new avenues for enhancing Abu Dhabi’s appeal globally. Through these interactions, we are committed to delivering compelling experiences and ensuring Abu Dhabi remains a top destination for travellers worldwide.” This event underscores DCT Abu Dhabi’s dedication to meaningful partnerships and accelerating tourism industry growth, aligning with the emirate’s goals to position Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for culture and leisure.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) recently hosted its first-ever Discover Jamaica Webinar for travel trade professionals in the GCC region, marking a significant step in promoting Jamaica as a premier destination to this key market. The event, held in collaboration with JTB’s GCC trade representative office, Buzz Travel Marketing Middle East, attracted an impressive registration of over 400 travel trade professionals from across the region. The webinar featured insights from Torrance Lewis, Jamaica Tourist Board’s District Sales Manager, alongside expert presenters from Buzz Travel Marketing. Participants were introduced to Jamaica’s world-class tourism offerings, highlighting the island’s luxurious resorts, vibrant culture, adventure experiences, and authentic culinary delights. “Together with our team on the ground, engaging with the GCC travel trade through this webinar highlights our commitment to building meaningful connections in the region. By showcasing Jamaica’s luxurious accommodations, rich cultural heritage, and thrilling adventures, we aim to position our island as a top-tier destination for GCC travelers seeking unforgettable experiences,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism of Jamaica Tourist Board. “The Discover Jamaica Webinar demonstrates our dedicated efforts to establish Jamaica’s presence in the GCC travel market. It provided an ideal platform to present the diverse tourism offerings of the island, that is tailored to the GCC audience with its appreciation of extraordinary travel experiences, exclusivity, and rich culture,” said Torrance Lewis, District Sales Manager of the Jamaica Tourist Board. To close the event, a raffle was drawn among attendees, with the grand prize valued at AED 19,000. The package for two included stays at the prestigious Round Hill Hotel and Villas and Half Moon Resort, access to VIP Attractions Lounge in Montego Bay Airport, meet-and-greet services, a catamaran cruise, and …

In a special interview with TravelTVMiddlee East, HE Khaled Jassim Al Midfa –  Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority shared that the United Arab Emirates 2031 vision is doubling the number of hotel guests by the year 2031 from 20 million to 40 million. And relatively the contribution to the economy from 200 billion dirhams to 450 billion dirhams by 2031. HE Midfa reiterated, “today we launched the 11th edition of the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum. And this forum every year as we see, we have a big group of international speakers as well as local entities from both the government and the private sector. We discuss the main topics that are very important to the sustainability of the tourism sector. This is a vital sector that contributes to more than 10% of the international GDP. And it’s really important that we see how our country, the United Arab Emirates, is focusing on developing the infrastructure and developing all the other aspects that are within the ecosystem of tourism such as hospitality, adventure tourism, attractions, infrastructure, airport development, airline expansion programs and plans. This is really important for us and we launched also the United Arab Emirates 2031 vision which is doubling the number of hotel guests by the year 2031 from 20 million to 40 million. And relatively we have the contribution to the economy from 200 billion dirhams to 450 billion dirhams by 2031. So we see how this is a main and vital sector and how the government of the United Arab Emirates has given it a lot of importance and has a lot of scope for development. In Sharjah as well, under the …

At the recent Arabian Travel Awards, Pluto Travels secured the title of most promising travel company in 2024. Celebrating its 7th year, the Arabian Travel Awards acknowledge significant contributors to the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors in the UAE. This prestigious event lauds the tireless efforts of specialists that have bolstered the UAE’s flourishing travel and tourism industry. As a testament to its dedication to service, Pluto Travels has been operating for the last 17 years and has been serving a number of clients, including some very prominent names. Pluto Travel specialises in corporate and HNI travel. Further enhancing the travel experience for its patrons, Pluto Travels places an emphasis on 24 X 7 services to their customers. Bharat & Sapna Aidasani, founder and marketing director at Pluto Travels, expressed their joy at receiving the prestigious award and said,”This award is a testament to our collective effort. It’s your dedication and hard work that made this achievement possible. Together, we shine and succeed!”

Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the 11th edition of the Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum (SITTF) scheduled to take place on 25th November at the Expo Centre Sharjah. Held under the theme “The Future of Tourism: Digitisation, Health, and Safety”, the forum will gather experts from the travel and tourism industry, sharing insights on how digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping the tourism industry, through a series of panel discussions and engaging workshops to further delve into the challenges and opportunities that exist within the travel and tourism sector. The anticipated forum is set to feature notable keynote speakers, welcoming the likes of Abdalla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, SCTDA Chairman, Ahmed Al Qaseer, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), HE Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East, United Nations Tourism, and other industry representatives. The forum will address the transformation of consumer behaviour driven by digital platforms and the importance of data-driven decision-making for understanding market trends and elevating travel health and safety protocols and governance. Additionally, the event will cover trends and innovations in the use of artificial intelligence machine learning to personalise travel experiences while ensuring compliance with health measures. It will emphasise collaboration among various stakeholders to integrate new travel protocols goals and share success stories from the sector, including how travel and tourism entities can be better prepared to mitigate health and safety challenges in a sustainable way. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)  launched the second edition of its groundbreaking Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism, revealing the number of global Travel & Tourism businesses setting climate targets has surged by 27% in the past three years, with more than half now actively committed to emissions reduction. Launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the report reveals, 53% of the 250 leading Travel & Tourism businesses analysed have now set climate targets, a significant increase from 42% in 2021, when the first Net Zero Roadmap was created. Among these businesses, one third have committed to Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals, underscoring their dedication to meeting rigorous emissions reduction benchmarks. Notably, the number of companies adopting SBTi targets has more than doubled since 2021, signalling an accelerated effort by the sector to align with global climate standards. Developed in collaboration with Accenture, endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and supported by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this second edition of the roadmap underscores the urgency of climate action as the sector works towards net zero by 2050. Building on the foundation of the original roadmap launched in 2021 at COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, the latest edition addresses the escalating environmental impacts on tourism. It introduces an enhanced decarbonisation framework, including new target corridors to guide Travel & Tourism businesses in setting ambitious, actionable climate targets. The roadmap highlights that there is no ‘one size that fits all’ solution, as each industry faces its own challenges, with some able to meet their net zero targets earlier than others. A major focus of the updated roadmap is improving sector alignment and transparency, particularly as demand …

Kuwait Airways participated in the 7th edition of the Bahrain International Airshow held recently, as part of the delegation from the State of Kuwait, represented by the President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Eng. Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, and in the presence of Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan and an accompanying delegation of KAC officials. The airshow was attended by exhibitors and partners from across the aviation industry, including around 223 civil and military delegations representing more than 56 countries and 60 regional and international companies. Additionally, more than 135 local, regional, and international companies showcased exhibits across exhibition halls, airport spaces, chalets and five international pavilions. The Kuwait Airways pavilion during the exhibition witnessed successful participation and attendance from visitors, hosting various officials and aviation enthusiasts. This provided a platform for the company to showcase its latest products and services, in addition to the extent of development of technology and methods adopted in KAC’s fleet. The pavilion also highlighted KAC’s role as a distinguished national carrier with its legacy of notable achievements since 1954 to the visitors and attendees present. The President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Eng. Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah emphasized on the importance of the Bahrain International Airshow and its significant role in bringing together large number of aviation companies and experts in the industry from the region and around the world under one platform. At the same time, he congratulated His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the tremendous success achieved by the exhibition and attaining the highest levels of excellence, whether in terms of organization, or the presence …

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) is all set to host the emirate’s first-ever e-Games Championship from November 21 to 24 2024 at the Ajman Police Sports and Shooting Club. The move comes as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to embrace technological advancements and ensure the engagement of younger generations – a vital demographic within the community. The championship will bring together leading professional gamers and enthusiasts aged eight or above for three days of gaming competitions, interactive networking, and knowledge-sharing activities, showcasing Ajman as a growing hub for e-sports and digital innovation. The event reflects the ATDD’s dedication to promoting innovative initiatives aimed at ensuring youth participation across diverse age groups. It offers a creative platform for participants to exhibit their skills and talents, and drive youth participation in programs that are in line with their passion and the latest digital advancements. H.E. Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of Ajman Tourism Development Department, said: “At ATDD, we are delighted to organise the debutant e-Games Championship in Ajman. This move reflects our goal to offer a dynamic platform that boosts youth engagement, who are key drivers of our mission to shape a prosperous and innovative future for the emirate. We aim to provide young people of all age groups with novel and innovative opportunities that cater to their interests and help them achieve their long-term goals by creating an atmosphere that fosters creativity and development. This championship also demonstrates our steadfast dedication to enhance Ajman’s standing as a vibrant hub for entertainment and technology events and support its tourism sector.” The championship will feature a wide range of competitions appropriate for all age groups, including FIFA25, Tekken, Street Fighter, Assetto …