Category Archives: Agents

Commissioned by the Al Ain Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), the China Visitors Summit (CVS) connects the Chinese travel trade with leading tourism suppliers from across Abu Dhabi and the UAE on 28 – 29 August with TravTalkME as media partners. With over 300 delegates expected, CVS is more than an event — it’s a an important network opportunity. To date, 156 top-tier travel industry buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have been confirmed. This makes the CVS the largest China inbound travel industry workshop ever produced outside of China. “The China Visitors Summit is more than a business event — it’s where relationships are built, partnerships are formed, and destinations open their doors to one of the world’s most important travel markets. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain provide the perfect stage for connecting Chinese travel buyers with the region’s best hospitality and tourism offerings.” Alexander Glos, CEO, China i2i Group. Since 2017, we have been building lasting partnerships through 39th editions of the CVS in destinations worldwide. In addition to Abu Dhabi, the CVS will also take place in Baku, Azerbaijan and Barcelona, Spain later this year. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2026 global schedule.

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will host the 68th Annual Convention & Exhibition of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) from 17 to 19 September 2025, further deepening its strategic partnership with one of the emirate’s most important source markets. Held under the theme “Business with Goodness,” the convention will bring together a wide cross-section of India’s travel trade industry, including travel agents, tour operators, airlines, hospitality leaders, and tourism boards, to explore new growth avenues and reinforce bilateral ties. As one of the year’s most significant industry events, the convention highlights Abu Dhabi’s rising profile as a global hub for tourism, trade, and business events. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “India continues to be a key priority market for us, not only in terms of visitor volume but also in long-term strategic collaboration. We are honoured to welcome TAAI’s esteemed members to Abu Dhabi and look forward to showcasing our destination’s remarkable evolution across world-class cultural icons, family attractions, luxury, adventure, and business travel offerings. This convention is an opportunity to build shared value and lasting partnerships across both our markets.” Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), said: “It is a proud moment for TAAI to bring the 68th Annual Convention to the dynamic city of Abu Dhabi in collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi. Our theme, “Business with Goodness,” reflects our shared vision of building meaningful partnerships rooted in trust, purpose, and progress. This convention will not only provide an enriching platform for knowledge-sharing and networking but also offer our members an immersive experience into Abu Dhabi’s diverse cultural, leisure, and business landscape. We …

One of the travel industry’s most highly-regarded events, The Phocuswright Conference, returns this November unveiling a fresh and ambitious theme: “Game On.” This marks a bold new direction for the event, inviting C-suite leaders, innovators, and investors to tackle the most pressing challenges transforming global travel. The “Game On” theme signals a defining moment; a fast-moving, competitive landscape fueled by breakthrough technologies, seismic shifts in consumer behavior, and a renewed demand for strategic clarity. The 2025 event – taking place from 18-20 November  confronts these forces head-on, offering curated insights, unscripted exchanges, and data-backed perspectives to propel the industry forward. “This is not business as usual,” said Eugene Ko, Marketing and Communications Director at Phocuswright. “‘Game On’ is a defining statement; it’s an invitation to push limits and boundaries, rethink strategies, and challenge every assumption. We’re gathering the minds who won’t settle for predictable – they’re the ones with the power to transform travel. This is where the next era of travel gets written.” This year’s agenda features a dynamic mix of research-driven strategic sessions, startup and investor networking, and off-the-record discussions designed to provoke fresh thinking and build actionable strategies. Phocuswright has already secured some of the leading names in travel as speakers, with many more to be confirmed:

Riyadh Air has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus, a global technology provider for the travel industry. The strategic partnership will enable Riyadh Air access to one of the largest global networks of travel sellers, supporting the airline’s ambitious growth plans and playing a key role in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s broader transformation agenda under Vision 2030. By joining the Amadeus Travel Platform, Riyadh Air will connect to travel agencies and sellers in more than 190 countries, ensuring that its offers are accessible to travelers worldwide. This will be instrumental in attracting inbound tourism, promoting Saudi Arabia as a compelling global destination, and helping position the Kingdom as a leading aviation and tourism hub. Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer at Riyadh Air, commented, “Our mission is to create a truly world-class airline that reflects the ambition of Saudi Arabia. Partnering with Amadeus gives us the global reach, distribution power, and retailing capabilities needed to support our goal of flying to over 100 destinations by 2030. This partnership is not only about enabling seamless travel experiences, but also about contributing to the broader national vision of economic diversification, tourism growth, and enhanced global connectivity”. As part of the agreement, Amadeus will also distribute Riyadh Air’s future NDC (New Distribution Capability) content, allowing the airline to deliver more dynamic, personalized offers to travelers and to take greater control of its indirect sales strategy. These advanced capabilities will further optimize Riyadh Air’s ability to deliver modern, flexible, and customer-centric retailing. Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus, said “The launch of Riyadh Air represents a major milestone for the Kingdom’s aviation industry, and we are proud …

Oman Air has launched its new digital platform, Oman Air Holidays, in collaboration with TUI. Oman Air Holidays enables guests from Oman to explore over 20 countries while also allowing international travellers to experience Oman as a distinctive and accessible destination. The announcement was made during a press conference in Muscat, marking a significant step in the airline’s initiative to improve the travel experience and boost inbound tourism to Oman, reported Times of Oman. The platform aligns with the airline’s broader strategy to enhance inbound tourism, which includes a stopover program with Visit Oman, efforts to increase direct traffic, and an expanding network, with Amsterdam and Rome being the latest additions. Additionally, in June, Oman Air joined the oneworld Alliance, providing access to a vast global network covering over 170 countries and territories through partner airlines. Michael Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air, said, “This platform is a natural extension of the work we’ve been doing to drive tourism into Oman, bringing together the elements we’ve been building: greater accessibility, stronger partnerships, and more compelling reasons to visit. It also marks an important step in our digital journey, as we continue to invest in more connected, guest-centric experiences. With TUI’s global reach and Oman Air’s renowned hospitality and service, we’re setting a new standard for holiday planning—whether in Oman or beyond.” David Schelp, CEO of TUI Markets + Airline, added, “Partnering with Oman Air allows us to bring our holiday expertise to a new market with huge potential. Oman is a remarkable destination, and this platform makes it more accessible to international travellers. We’re proud to support Oman Air in expanding their offerings while delivering the high-quality experiences TUI …

The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) has launched the Germany Halal Travel Guide, a dedicated resource designed to support Muslim travellers in planning seamless, culturally respectful journeys throughout Germany. Available in both English and Arabic, the guide can be downloaded free of charge from a dedicated microsite hosted on the official Germany Travel website. Created with the expectations of GCC visitors in mind, the guide features practical information and curated recommendations. It highlights halal dining, prayer spaces, and culturally considerate stays that help visitors from the region feel comfortable and confident while exploring Germany. Germany continues to grow as a preferred destination for travellers from the GCC, supported by a well-developed infrastructure, strong hospitality standards, and an inclusive approach to tourism. In cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf and Munich, visitors can enjoy a wide selection of halal restaurants, Arabic-speaking staff, and accessible prayer spaces, all contributing to a sense of ease and belonging. The Germany Halal Travel Guide offers valuable insights for Muslim travellers seeking experiences aligned with their lifestyle and travel preferences. Whether visiting for leisure, medical care, education, or retail tourism, the guide introduces options that support spiritual needs and cultural expectations. It also showcases Germany’s natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and world-class wellness facilities in a format that makes trip planning both efficient and rewarding. Yamina Sofo, Director of the Marketing and Sales Office, GNTO GCC, said: “The launch of our Halal Travel Guide reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring Muslim travellers feel informed and welcomed in Germany. The guide presents clear, accessible information to support planning and create a worry-free travel experience. We are committed to showing guests from the GCC that Germany is a destination …

A new global study commissioned by Sabre  reveals that more than 91% of agencies operate with four or more booking systems, and over half are managing seven or more – a sprawl that is directly impacting productivity, profitability, and agent satisfaction. Travel agencies are facing growing pressure from fragmented content systems that are increasing operational costs and making it harder to deliver a consistent customer experience.  As a direct response to these mounting challenges, Sabre is introducing SabreMosaic™ Travel Marketplace, which brings together the industry’s widest breadth of travel content in one place, with built-in AI efficiencies and flexible connectivity. “Every industry faces fragmentation in the digital age,” said Jen Catto, Chief Marketing Officer at Sabre. “In advertising, it’s fragmented attention. In broadcasting, it’s fragmented programming. In finance, it’s fragmented data. Travel has never been simple, but in today’s multi-sourced content environment, fragmentation is creating new levels of complexity — and it’s starting to take a real toll. Agencies told us clearly: they want simplicity. They want unified access. And they want technology that helps them serve travelers, not slow them down.” Highlights from the survey include: 75% of agencies say the number of content connections has grown over the past three years 80%+ believe unified access through a single platform would reduce technology costs Nearly 90% manage four or more API integrations, with over half citing the tech burden as a challenge At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a powerful remedy, with 91% of agencies believing it can enhance both productivity and the customer experience. Yet, 41% remain concerned about AI’s long-term implications for the workforce, reinforcing the need for smart, responsible implementation. With the evolution …

SAUDIA has taken a step forward in its digital transformation journey by moving to more guest-centric operations by translating traditional booking records (PNRs) and electronic tickets into Orders. This paves the way for a more personalized and smooth travel experience. An Order is a single, dynamic record of everything the traveler has purchased for their journey. It provides a real-time, consolidated view of all services, enabling the airline to better serve the traveler at every touchpoint – from booking and payment to fulfillment and servicing. By adopting Order capabilities, SAUDIA is fast-tracking its ability to deliver more flexible offers, tailor-made pricing, and fully digital servicing. This transformation marks a foundational step in the airline’s broader ambition to redefine guest experience and operational agility through data-driven retailing. The milestone was achieved using Amadeus’ smart bridging capabilities, which translate traditional records from SAUDIA’s existing Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) into single order records in its new Amadeus Nevio environment. Performing Smart bridging means SAUDIA can begin to operate with orders, accelerating the benefits of the airline retailing transformation in the new Amadeus Nevio environment for its guests while ensuring business continuity with existing traditional infrastructure. “SAUDIA is committed to delivering the highest standard of guest experience and technology innovation is crucial to this objective. Moving to single Orders means we can gain a better understanding of our guests, what they’ve purchased from us, and our partners across the entire journey. Orders are the foundation for a more connected travel experience.” Arved von zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer, SAUDIA, “SAUDIA is one of the airlines leading the industry with its ambitious transformation program. Moving to Orders with smart bridging is an important milestone that …

Seychelles Tourism, in partnership with TravTalk Middle East, hosted an exclusive power breakfast in Dubai, bringing together leading figures from the UAE’s travel trade sector. The event served as a strategic platform to strengthen ties with the region’s key industry stakeholders. Ahmed Fathallah, Regional Manager for Tourism Seychelles, revealed strong performance figures, stating that “the GCC region has recorded an increase of 16% in visitor numbers during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.”  The informal gathering allowed for open dialogue, networking, and alignment on future collaboration between Seychelles and GCC travel partners.

Jordan rolls out the red carpet this year to an eclectic lineup of activities that will delight visitors and residents alike. Revel in the rhythm of memserising concerts by world-renowned artists. Celebrate the richness of culture and have unlimited fun with family. Transcending the realm of music, poetry and art, Jordan is bringing a never-before-seen lineup of artists and cultural programmes that are not just designed to inspire hearts and minds. There is an extraordinary breadth of events, including the Jordan International Food Festival and the Amman International Film Festival, which will bring a horde of celebrities to the city. No celebration of Jordanian culture would be complete without honoring the kingdom’s extraordinary culinary heritage. The Jordan International Food Festival, from 6 to 11 August brings together the finest flavors of the Levant and beyond. And with such a delectable range of food comes soulful melodies by Ahmed Saad (on 7 Aug ), who blends modern pop with traditional Arabic music and evokes the pangs of love, heartbreaks and separations through his renditions. “The extraordinary lineup is an open invitation to experience Jordan’s soul. In venues where our rich history lives and breathes, under skies that have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, contemporary artists will find their perfect stage. This underlines our commitment to providing seamless and rich cultural experiences for all visitors in 2025,” said Dr. Abdelrazzak Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board. “The country’s diverse attractions and easy access ensure that whether visitors come for leisure, business or cultural exploration, they will discover our kingdom’s extraordinary hospitality and vibrant cutlural experiences.” Headline acts include musical performances by Sami Yusuf – performing for the first …