Category Archives: Agents

Lumi announced a strategic partnership with WalaOne which allows Lumi customers to earn a designated number of WalaOne points for each rental transaction. These accumulated points can then be exchanged for an array of rewards and benefits available through the WalaOne platform.  The partnership was officially signed at a ceremony attended by Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne; Khaled Almangour, Partnership Manager, WalaOne; and Abdulrahman Alshehri, Customer Success Specialist, WalaOne, in addition to a distinguished group of senior executives from Lumi, marking a pivotal moment in Lumi’s ongoing dedication to expanding its loyalty program offerings and enriching customer satisfaction. Syed Azfar Shakeel, CEO of Lumi, said: “Lumi is committed to continuous innovation and enhancing the customer journey. In a proactive move to meet the demand for rewarding loyalty programs, we’ve partnered with WalaOne to offer seamless integration and enhanced benefits. By providing WalaOne points with every rental, we are reinforcing our dedication to customer loyalty and satisfaction.” Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne, said: “At WalaOne, we strive to provide our users with more ways to maximize the value of their everyday transactions. Our partnership with Lumi marks an exciting step in expanding our ecosystem of rewards and benefits. By integrating Lumi’s mobility services into WalaOne, we are giving customers even more opportunities to earn and redeem points, making their journeys more rewarding.” The addition of WalaOne marks the fourth loyalty program within Lumi’s portfolio, complementing existing programs such as Qitaf, AlFursan, and Mokafaa. By partnering with WalaOne, Lumi aims to deliver even greater value and choice to its customers, rewarding them with points redeemable for tangible benefits.

Al Naboodah Travel bagged the ‘Best Corporate Travel Agency’ Award for the seventh consecutive year at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It is a wonderful experience. It is a moment of pride and recognition for all those who have worked hard, who have worked smart, who have performed well. And I think this recognition will add a lot of value, confidence, and inspiration for all of us to do even better for the coming years. I am overexcited and looking forward to winning more than three awards next year.”-Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies.

Visit Qatar and Microsoft strengthened their collaboration to drive digital innovation in the tourism sector by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Qatar Web Summit. The MoU was signed by Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, and Lana Khalaf, General Manager of Microsoft Qatar, marking the beginning of a new phase of partnership between the two sides. Building on the success of Visit Qatar’s Smart Travel Assistant powered by Microsoft Azure, OpenAI 4o and 4o mini technologies, the two entities will explore the latest technologies to enhance visitor experiences and improve workflows. Visit Qatar’s Smart Travel Assistant is a pioneering innovation that seamlessly integrates text, voice, content, a conversational virtual assistant, maps and an interactive layout interface, setting new standards in digital excellence in tourism. Visit Qatar and Microsoft are developing a comprehensive technology roadmap to drive digital transformation in the tourism sector and enhance visitor experiences through integrated smart and digital solutions.

VFS Global launched a new Generative AI-powered chatbot to enhance customer support for travellers to the UK in 141 countries including the GCC. The AI-Powered Chatbot not only utilises advanced Generative AI technology to offer human-like, conversational support, but does so through both voice and text commands, providing instant, accurate, and accessible information for customers travelling to the UK. Developed by VFS Global’s AI team, headquartered in Dubai, the AI-Powered Chatbot addresses the increasing demand for efficient customer support, allowing users to easily access the information needed to navigate the application process. Jen Vidler, Deputy Director, Cross Cutting Service Operations, Visa, Status and Information Services, Customer Services Group, UK Visas and Immigration, said, “The rollout of VFS Global’s AI-powered chatbot demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all customers. Providing instant access to accurate information about the visa application process will ensure we continue to offer the best service to our customers.” Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “Technology and innovation have always been the cornerstones of our operations at VFS Global, and we are pleased to launch this AI-powered information solution which will significantly enhance the visa application experience for our customers travelling to the UK from across the globe. We are developing a range of AI and digital technology driven products to drive the next transformation in visa and consular services for our Client Governments and customers. We remain deeply committed to the responsible development of AI in accordance with the policies and requirements of our client governments.” The AI-Powered chatbot was developed using advanced Generative AI technologies, each trained exclusively on publicly available data …

Pluto Travels was recognised as the ‘Most promising TMC’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards. “This award is a testament to our collective effort. It is your dedication and hard work that made this achievement possible. Together, we shine and succeed!”-Sapna Aidasani, Marketing Director, Pluto Travels

As UAE travellers prepare for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr and spring break, dnata Travel is seeing a significant rise in international bookings, with 90% of customers opting for trips abroad in 2025. This marks a sharp increase from previous years, and highlights a growing preference for overseas travel during holiday periods. For Eid Al Fitr 2024, bookings were more evenly split, with 60% of travellers choosing international destinations and 40% opting for staycations in the UAE. dnata’s travel experts attribute this surge in outbound travel to Eid Al Fitr aligning with the two-week spring break, allowing families to extend their holidays and explore further afield. Overall bookings – both international and domestic – have increased by 65% compared to the previous Eid holiday. The most popular destinations include the Maldives, Spain, Mauritius, France, and Sri Lanka, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland are seeing the highest year-on-year growth in demand. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “One of the key travel trends for 2024 and 2025 is growing demand for long-haul destinations. Travellers are booking longer stays in more distant locations, with many looking for unique and less-explored parts of popular travel hotspots. “For Eid Al Fitr and the extended spring break in 2025, we’re seeing strong interest in cities like Madrid in Spain and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. More travellers are approaching our experts this year to check off bucket-list destinations, while making the most of longer holiday periods with family and friends.” To meet this rising demand, dnata Travel has launched a range of bespoke holiday packages for UAE travellers with availability still open for Eid Al Fitr …

Air France-KLM has selected Amadeus as its technology partner for native order capabilities. With Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution, the Group aims to pursue the broader transformation of its retailing capabilities. Air France-KLM will work closely with Amadeus to define the needs for modern airline retailing transformation. Customers stand to benefit from a best-in-class traveller-centric retailing and servicing experience. “We are pleased to welcome Air France‑KLM as the latest customer to subscribe to Amadeus Nevio. This new generation of airline technology helps airlines deliver the best possible retailing experience to customers across all their operations, and at every touchpoint. We are dedicated to supporting Air France‑KLM in its retail transformation and, more generally, to accelerating the pace of the industry’s move to customer‑centric retailing.” Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus. Air France-KLM and Amadeus have signed a landmark agreement to bring airline retailing into a new era through Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution for” Offer and Order” native capabilities. At the heart of this transformation is the adoption of the IATA “ONE Order” standard, which will elevate the customer experience to meet the evolving needs of digitally savvy consumers. Today, customers typically need to juggle multiple documents such as the Passenger Name Record (PNR), the Electronic Ticket (ETK), and Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMDs) for each booking. The partnership with Amadeus, based on Modern Airline Retailing principles, will simplify operations and the customer experience by putting in place a single, streamlined source of truth – the Order – much like how e-commerce operates today. This partnership advances Air France-KLM’s ambition to update its current systems and move to a modern,” Offer and Order” native system. This multi-year effort will be orchestrated …

Emirates has unveiled an exciting new offer for travellers planning a trip to Dubai this winter. Travellers flying from select regions who book a return ticket in First Class or Business Class to Dubai, or with a stopover in the city, will receive a complimentary stay at the luxurious JW Marriott Marquis. Travellers flying in Premium Economy or Economy Class can enjoy a complimentary one-night stay at either Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira or Holiday Inn Festival City. Furthermore, those flying to Dubai from select regions with Emirates can also get complimentary access to Sky Views Observatory with access to the Sky Glass Slide and Fountain boardwalk. * This offer is available on emirates.com, Emirates contact centre, retail and ticketing offices or travel agencies. Located just minutes away from Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Opera, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel offers an exceptional base to experience the best of Dubai. As a bustling and dynamic 5-star property, this iconic hotel is among the tallest in the world, featuring two towers, 1,608 luxurious rooms, and breathtaking views of the water and city skyline. Guests can enjoy a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, energise at the state-of-the-art fitness centre, or unwind with a soothing massage at Saray Spa. The hotel also offers 12 restaurants and lounges, offering Japanese, Italian, Indian, and Thai cuisine. For travellers in Premium Economy or Economy, Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira provides a comfortable stay in the heart of Dubai’s vibrant Deira district. The Deira district is home to traditional souks, modern malls, and cultural landmarks all within walking distance. Alternatively, the Holiday Inn, Festival City is situated in one of Dubai’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs, and …

HBX Group  and Minor Hotels have announced the global expansion of their preferred distribution partnership. The expanded partnership builds on the success of Minor Hotels and HBX Group’s existing collaboration in Europe and the Americas. Under the agreement, Minor Hotels will add 181 properties from Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Middle East to its distribution partnership. The group will also designate HBX Group as a preferred B2B distribution partner, enabling streamlined distribution, optimised operational costs, and greater control over rates and inventory. HBX Group’s global network, which connects 60,000 travel distributors across over 190 source markets, will now have access to over 560 Minor Hotels properties across 58 countries. These include renowned brands such as Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, Tivoli, NH, NH Collection, nhow and Oaks. Looking ahead, Minor Hotels announced its intent to add nearly 300 properties to its portfolio over the next three years, which will also join the preferred distribution partnership. Carlos Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer at HBX Group, commented: “This global partnership represents a significant milestone in our collaboration with Minor Hotels. By consolidating distribution efforts and reducing operational complexity, we are enabling Minor to streamline its strategy and focus on reaching high-value markets where we can add real value. HBX Group becomes an extension of Minor’s commercial arm, bringing their brands to markets and customers that would otherwise be out of reach. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for what a true partnership between a hospitality group and a distribution tech platform should look like.” Ian Di Tullio, Chief Commercial Officer of Minor Hotels, added: “Our partnership with HBX Group has been instrumental in maintaining our agility and efficiency, allowing us to leverage best …

Discover Saudi has been appointed the first DMC from KSA to become a valued member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the global community and knowledge hub for the international association and governmental meetings industry. The move will enable Discover Saudi to leverage its status as the Kingdom’s Destination Management Company (DMC) of choice and further enhance Saudi Arabia’s thriving MICE sector, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. As a member of the International Congress and Convention Association, Discover Saudi will gain access to a global network of event organisers, enabling them to boost KSA’s flourishing convention and congress industry. Discover Saudi will also leverage Almosafer’s digitally advanced and integrated platforms to further engage ICCA’s extensive network of partners and collaborators to provide various opportunities for travel and tourism services. The membership will help amplify Discover Saudi’s leading position as a DMC and promote the Kingdom as the destination of choice for MICE tourism. Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA said about the partnership; “We are delighted to welcome Discover Saudi (part of Almosafer) as the newest member of ICCA in Saudi Arabia. Their commitment to enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a premier business events destination aligns perfectly with ICCA’s vision of fostering global collaboration and industry growth. As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its MICE sector, we look forward to supporting Discover Saudi in leveraging ICCA’s global network, resources, and expertise to drive impactful and sustainable business events.” Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, addressing the significance of this partnership, stated; “With our membership in ICCA we aim to redefine the landscape of interconnected businesses through collaboration and innovation, to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s ever-growing conferences and conventions sector. Supporting Saudi Arabia’s …