Category Archives: Agents

Al Tayer Holidays (a division of Al Tayer Travel) will represent Crystal in the Middle East. This partnership was announced to a selected group of travel agents who cater to the niche luxury cruise market in the UAE at an event where Matthew Boutwell, Senior Director Charter & Incentives of Crystal shared details on the two new ships that will sail in the GCC by October this year. The route will include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha etc. Speaking with Tourismbreakingnews, Boutwell shared the exceptional offerings especially for the GCC and Middle East region, in terms of  accommodation which will include connecting rooms, larger spaces, more suites, a host of food options from halal and kosher, not just packed food but with a whole kitchen. This partnership will enhance and enrich Al Tayer’s niche cruise offering and a completely new cruising experience to their valued guests. Crystal Cruises has been synonymous with the word exceptional, it is known for its award winning voyages for over three decades and offers some of the most amazing itineraries and destinations around the world. Last year Abercrombie and Kent (A&K) Travel Group acquired the Crystal brand and its two most beloved vessels; Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony ushering in a brand new era. Boutwell reiterated that both their ships have been renovated by A&K Travel Group to bring in exceptional design, comfort and a whole set of modern features. One of the most unique features notable would be that the ships have 14 different dining options Crystal Symphony offers nearly one staff member per guest and accommodates 606 guests whereas Crystal Serenity accommodates 740 guests.  

Rail Europe announced the addition of the Berner Oberland Regional Pass to its comprehensive range of products on Rail Europe’s B2B website and API, allowing travel professionals to easily access and book this pass. Rail Europe’s commitment to extending its product offerings remains unwavering as it introduces the Berner Oberland Regional Pass. This pass showcases the unique and captivating Berner Oberland region, renowned for its stunning landscapes, charming towns, and unparalleled alpine experiences. With the pass, travellers will gain the freedom and flexibility to explore this enchanting region at their own pace. “As Rail Europe continues to expand its product range, we are delighted to offer the opportunity to introduce our B2B partners’ customers to the Berner Oberland Regional Pass, one of the most visited areas in Europe. This pass provides an unlimited access to the captivating Berner Oberland region, allowing travellers to make the most of its breathtaking landscapes and iconic activities. We are fully committed to supporting our partners in delivering exceptional experiences to their customers and are very excited to further collaborate with them to promote this unique pass and region,” says Björn Bender, CEO & President, Rail Europe. One of the standout features of the Berner Oberland Regional Pass is its seamless integration with other train travel across Europe. Travellers can easily combine this pass with their European itinerary, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to discover multiple destinations in one trip. As Switzerland remains a top destination for travellers from all over the world, the Berner Oberland Regional Pass is also an ideal addition to the Swiss Travel System tickets and passes offered by Rail Europe. Beyond convenience, the Berner Oberland Regional Pass …

Air Astana has opened ticket sales for a new direct flight from Almaty to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, which will commence on 1st October 2023. Services will initially operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, with additional frequency to be introduced at a later date. The flight will depart Almaty at 18:40 and arrive in Jeddah at 22:30, with return flights at 23:30 and arrival in Almaty at 08:15. All times local. The duration of the flights will be 6 hours 50 minutes outbound and 5 hours 45 minutes inbound to Almaty. “Saudi Arabia has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, which will be interesting not only for the pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, but also for tourists looking to visit cultural, historical and natural sites on the Red Sea,” said Adel Dauletbek, VP Marketing and Sales, Air Astana. “Passengers traveling to Jeddah are offered convenient connections from other cities in Kazakhstan, as well as from Tashkent, Dushanbe and Bishkek. We also expect tourists coming from Saudi Arabia to explore the natural beauty of Kazakhstan.” The cost of a round-trip economy ticket starts from US$734 and round trip business ticket starts from US$1584. Ticket booking for the new flight is now open on the airline’s website, at ticket sales offices, accredited agencies and in the Booking and Information Center.  Citizens of Kazakhstan need to obtain an e-visa prior to traveling to Saudi Arabia. Issued on behalf of Air Astana Group by Euro Asia Communications, Singapore

Traxo, Inc., announced the launch of NDCtracker.com. This site provides a centralized source for news, deadlines and information intended to aid corporate travel managers and their partners in adapting to the imminent NDC-related changes in airline retailing. The complimentary Traxo NDCtracker.com offers an updated catalog of airline NDC status, progress, and dates. Traxo, whose patented ‘Filter’ technology automatically captures out-of-channel booking data and provides corporations with full travel visibility, has proactively curated NDC-related details and news from various public sources including ARC Direct Connect, IATA Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM), BTN, The Company Dime, PhocusWire, Duffel, Accelya, and more presenting them on the NDC dashboard for each global airline. Visitors concerned about how NDC will affect their own travel programs should sign up for periodic email updates from Traxo. These updates will contain new information about NDC rollouts as they are announced, important changes as part of airline rollouts (e.g., fare availability, new EDIFACT fees), as well as notable news on migrations and seller relationships. Andres Fabris, CEO and Founder of Traxo, remarked, “We’ve established this site to serve the entire industry, offering an efficient, up-to-date resource to assist travel managers. Traxo is dedicated to helping TMCs and corporate travel organizations avoid the detrimental effects of leaked bookings, including supplier-direct NDC bookings, by capturing and consolidating complete, real-time travel booking data from all sources. We support all travel program strategies whether it’s a managed program requiring information on leakage or an open booking program intent on capturing all bookings regardless of source.” Suzanne Boyan, Global Meetings and Travel Manager at ZS Associates, commented, “We are so impressed with Traxo for creating this valuable resource. While the industry’s NDC discourse has largely …

Cozmo Travel and MBank signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the aim to provide exceptional travel services to MBank’s staff and customers, offering exclusive deals and personalized experiences. The collaboration between Cozmo Travel and MBank will create a seamless travel ecosystem, ensuring hassle-free and memorable journeys for MBank employees. In addition, MBank customers will gain access to exclusive offers on Cozmo Travel’s extensive range of travel services, including flights, accommodation, visa assistance, and more. On this occasion, Cozmo Travel’s CEO Jamal Abdulnazar stated “We are excited to partner with MBank, a pioneer in the digital banking industry. Together, we will redefine travel experiences for MBank’s staff and customers, providing them with exceptional service and exclusive benefits. This collaboration reflects our shared vision of revolutionizing the way people travel in the region.” Mohammed Wassim Khayata, CEO of Al Maryah Community Bank, commented on the collaboration: “This partnership is a testament to Mbank’s commitment in bringing more choice and providing the UAE community with daily convenient financially-feasible solutions at the comfort of their fingertips whereby they can browse, choose, and pay for exclusive offers and travel services such as flights, accommodation, and visa assistance facilities through the first National digital wallet, the Mbank Wallet”. This partnership combines Cozmo Travel’s renowned quality and personalized service with MBank’s digital expertise, offering customers a comprehensive suite of travel services at their fingertips. By embracing innovation and technology, both organizations are committed to enhancing customer satisfaction and convenience.

The past few weeks saw a hike in airfares especially in the UAE. As an expat populated destination, the short breaks are always popular, and this continues year on year. Hitherto known destinations, have become the best escapes for the UAE travellers over the past few years. Georgia started off this campaign offering visa on arrival for residents of the UAE. Following them, other destinations too wanted a piece of the business, hence employed similar tactics to attract this huge expat market by ensuring they provide either visa on arrival or visa free for any nationality with a resident visa from the UAE. However, connectivity is a concern with the rise of the air ticket pricing, yet the number of travellers hasn’t really reduced, especially in the case of the Asian sectors. When it comes to holiday destinations such as Turkey which is a key outbound getaway for UAE travellers the pricing went up to almost 6k return, and Asian destinations, especially India was at a staggering 3k plus. Many travellers opting to spend time with their families back in India over the Eid holidays, are seen to be taking smarter ways by checking in from Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. No matter the price, travellers in the UAE would always take a chance to travel. Some travellers have also become smart in the sense that they pre-plan their travel dates almost six months prior so that they can partake in some of the best deals. What are the criteria for all this drama? What becomes of the families who wish to travel? Is there a balance between supply and demand? Well, we spoke with some of the key agents who …

Sabre Corporation has signed a multi-year agreement with dnata Travel Group. The partnership will see Sabre support the travel company’s strategic goals as its preferred technology partner.  Sabre and the dnata Travel Group already share a long-term commitment to innovation through travel technology, and the new deal will represent an extended, broader relationship between the two companies in the Middle East. Additionally, under this agreement, the dnata Travel Group’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Partner Network will continue to access Sabre’s portfolio of innovative technology and its intelligent platform Sabre Red 360, allowing it to harness more data, content, and offer clients more choice from more than 400 airlines, 1.6 million lodging options, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers. “With evolving customer expectations and complex market dynamics, Sabre has been our partner of choice for over 12 years,” said Simon Woodford, VP Global Air Services, dnata Travel Group. “Sabre’s deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities offered by the dynamic global travel eco-system enable us to identify and embrace new technology to strengthen our position, improve efficiency and respond to evolving customer expectations with personalized experiences. This partnership will lead to accelerated innovation, operational simplification and enhanced digital user experience.” For many years, Sabre has provided a broad portfolio of technology and solutions to dnata Travel Group brands in the Middle East as well as key markets in Europe. This strategic agreement builds upon that history with new initiatives that will help expand dnata’s business and reinforces Sabre’s role as a key distribution partner. “We are excited to continue our successful collaboration with the dnata Travel Group,” said Andy Finkelstein, senior vice president – Global Agency Sales …

Qatar Tourism hosted the British Travel and Tourism Institute (BITC) Conference in Doha again two decades later. Sponsored by destination partner Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways as official airline partner, the three-day conference was held at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail Hotel Doha, in the presence of more than 200 senior representatives of the UK travel industry including government officials and major international airlines. The conference included a series of panel discussions during which the growth prospects of Qatar’s tourism industry were reviewed, with the participation of prominent figures in the travel and tourism industry, including Gary Wilson, CEO of easyJet Holidays, and His Excellency John Wilkes, British Ambassador to Doha. Bertold Trinkel, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, said: “Qatar Tourism is delighted to host this important conference in Doha and showcase Qatar’s key tourism offerings and benefits to some of the UK’s leading travel industry. The relationship between Qatar and the UK is gaining great importance and vitality, not only in terms of tourism, but also through the common history that unites the two countries. As we continue to participate in such travel and business events, we look forward to strengthening Qatar’s position as a leading destination for hosting global business events.” The BITTI’s member-only conference follows a series of high-profile business events hosted by Qatar Tourism since the start of the year, including the World Association of the Exhibition Industry Middle East and Africa conference in May. The UK is one of Qatar Tourism’s 15 priority markets as per its National Tourism Strategy 2030 and has always been among the top 10 countries in the list of source markets. to Qatar.

For the first time, the Spanish Tourism Office in the Middle East together with the Tourism Board of Andalusia came together to organize Middle East Meet in Andalusia with Lufthansa Airlines as the official airline partner. Andalusia Tourism has emerged as a captivating destination with a rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. Located in southern Spain, Andalusia offers a unique blend of history, art, and natural beauty that has attracted travelers from all over the world, including the Middle East market. From the vibrant city life of Seville and Malaga to the tranquil beaches of the Costa del Sol, Andalusia provides a variety of experiences that appeal to different travel interests. Additionally, the region’s cuisine, characterized by flavorful dishes such as paella and tapas, can also entice Middle Eastern visitors seeking culinary delights Andalusia’s accessibility and excellent transportation infrastructure have made it easier for Middle Eastern tourists to explore the region. The presence of direct flights and convenient connections from major Middle Eastern cities has contributed to the increasing number of visitors from the region. Lufthansa Group airlines have a strong network into Spain, with 17 cities .with the Premium Economy a very popular segment for family travel, 2 PC Free baggage allowance in both directions & with extremely competitive fares , it is a great option for those looking into flying into any of the 17 Spanish cities in their network. The event was conducted in 2 parts in Cordoba & Marbella , from June 11-15th , 2023 at the Eurostars Palace Hotel & El Fuerte Marbella hotel respectively. 15 buyers from across GCC – KSA, Qatar, Kuwait , Oman , UAE met with the representatives of local tourist …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Emirates will host the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 2-4 June 2024. “We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Dubai for the 80th IATA AGM in 2024. Dubai is a dynamic city and a major aviation hub connecting the world. The UAE’s positive approach to aviation has built a strong airline with a strong hub airport. Together, these make an enormously powerful and positive contribution to the society and economy of the UAE. Holding the AGM in Dubai will be a showcase of what can be achieved by aviation with supportive government policies and decisions,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Emirates is delighted to host the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We look forward to welcoming all our aviation industry colleagues to Dubai in 2024,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. The decision to host the 80th IATA AGM was made by the 79th AGM in Istanbul.  This will be the first time the UAE and Dubai will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders.