Category Archives: Agents

Utravel announced the launch of Jovial Travels, a dedicated B2C subsidiary focused on crafting bespoke luxury holidays. This strategic expansion into the leisure travel market addresses the growing demand for personalized, high-end experiences among discerning travelers in the GCC. Built on the foundation of Utravel’s 20+ years of GCC expertise, Jovial Travels offers a seamless blend of innovation, exclusivity, and cultural insight. The brand’s user-friendly platform simplifies the planning of luxury vacations, providing access to exclusive resort stays, private villa retreats, and meticulously curated itineraries. With an initial focus on destinations like the Maldives, Jovial Travels aims to transform ordinary holidays into extraordinary experiences tailored to the unique preferences of each traveler. Vinoli Obeysekara, Head of Sales, commented: “The modern traveler is increasingly seeking experiences that reflect their individuality. Jovial Travels is our response to this shift, blending Utravel’s decades of GCC expertise with a fresh, client-focused approach. We are excited to bring this vision to life and set a new benchmark for luxury travel in the GCC and beyond.” To ensure every journey is as unique as the traveler, Jovial Travels has established exclusive partnerships with world-class resorts and hotels, granting clients access to unique packages and unparalleled luxury. Additionally, the brand offers 24/7 personalized support, with a dedicated team of travel designers ensuring seamless experiences from the first inquiry to the final farewell. Whether it’s a private island escape or a culturally immersive retreat, Jovial Travels goes above and beyond to deliver unforgettable moments. The launch of Jovial Travels underscores Utravel’s commitment to innovation and excellence, marking a significant milestone in its journey to redefine high-end travel. By combining personalized luxury with regional insights, Jovial Travels is poised to …

EaseMyTrip.ae has announced significant expansions that further solidify its presence in the Middle East. The company has launched Easy Trip Planners Limited in Saudi Arabia, establishing it as a fully owned subsidiary and marking its official entry into this pivotal market. This new venture enhances EaseMyTrip’s global footprint, underscoring its strategic commitment to growth in key international regions. As part of its expansion, EaseMyTrip’s UAE subsidiary is also poised to strengthen its Middle East presence through a strategic investment in two new Dubai-based entities: Ease My Trip Tours L.L.C. (EMT Tours) and Ease My Trip Holiday Homes L.L.C. (EMT Holiday). EMT Tours will focus on both inbound and outbound tour operations, while EMT Holiday will cater to the growing vacation home rental market. These new initiatives not only broaden EaseMyTrip’s service offerings but also enhance its regional diversification, positioning the company for continued success and growth in the Middle East. Mr. Nishant Pitti, Chairman and Founder of EaseMyTrip, said, “This is a significant milestone in our growth story as we expand our global presence and diversify our services. Our entry into Saudi Arabia and expansion in the Middle East, reflects our commitment to offering seamless travel experiences across the globe. We are confident that our technological expertise and customer-centric approach will help us grow rapidly in these regions and contribute to the growth of the global travel and aviation sectors.” He further added, “As we continue to scale, our focus remains on leveraging innovation to create unmatched value for our customers and stakeholders. We are determined to strengthen our position in the global travel ecosystem, foster economic growth, and enhance connectivity in both emerging and developed markets.” EaseMyTrip is set …

Celestyal has launched four new 14-night repositioning cruises, as part of its winter sun season in the Arabian Gulf. The sailings feature two new countries for the brand, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and four maiden calls: Aqaba in Jordan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman and Sharm El Shiekh in Egypt. The itineraries also mark the cruise line’s return to Egypt after a two-year break. A new 14-night ‘Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi’ itinerary will be available across the two-ship fleet. Celestyal Journey will depart Athens on 22 November 2025, calling at Port Said, with maiden calls to Sharm El Shiekh, Aqaba, Jeddah and Muscat, followed by Dubai, arriving back into Abu Dhabi on 6 December 2025, in time for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. She then departs on her ‘Desert Days and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’ sailing on 07 December, taking in the race weekend before embarking on the first ‘Desert Days’ itinerary of the season. Celestyal Discovery will depart Athens on 28 November 2025, charting the same course with an additional call at Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving for her maiden call into Abu Dhabi on 13 December 2025, ahead of its inaugural winter season sailing the new-to-2025 three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ itineraries and homeporting in the Arabian Gulf for the next three years. The two returning 14-night ‘Amazing Abu Dhabi to Ancient Athens’ cruises will also feature across both ships. Celestyal Discovery will cruise from Abu Dhabi on 6 March 2026, charting the same return course and arriving back into Athens for the summer Greece and Mediterranean season. Meanwhile, Celestyal Journey will depart Abu Dhabi on 21 March 2026. All four cruises …

India’s tourism industry is experiencing notable growth, fuelled by rising disposable incomes, a widening middle class and improved global connectivity. Reflecting the country’s growing influence in international travel and hospitality, India’s inbound and outbound offerings will be in focus during the forthcoming edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which takes place from 28 April to 1 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. According to Future Market Insights, India’s outbound tourism market is projected to reach USD55 billion by 2034, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.4% over the next decade. This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand for international travel, particularly among millennials seeking diverse experiences abroad. Furthermore, research from STR suggests that India has increasingly become one of the most targeted source markets globally, with many destinations intensifying their efforts to attract Indian travellers. In 2024, Dubai welcomed 3.14 million overnight visitors from South Asia, with India factoring predominantly, significantly contributing to the overall 18.72 million international visitors who made a trip to the city, representing a nine per cent year-on-year increase. STR’s findings also reveal that hotel supply in India has increased by a CAGR of just over 3% in the past decade, with 114,000 new rooms added since 2014. Developer interest remains high, with hotel occupancy rates increasing in eight of the last ten years, reflecting sustained demand. This will be underscored by the country’s participation at ATM this year, which is expected to grow 41% year on year, driven by a strong presence from exhibitors such as the India Ministry of Tourism, airline carriers Air India and Air India Express, and an expanding representation from the regional tourism boards of Goa, Karnataka, …

Satguru Travel and Tourism won the title of ‘Fastest Growing Travel Management Company – Bahrain’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Fastest Growing Travel Management Company 2024 award is a proud milestone for Satguru Travel. It boosts our credibility, showcases our dedication to excellence, and enhances marketing efforts to attract new clients. The award also opens doors to networking opportunities, fostering collaborations for further growth. As this is our first time receiving this prestigious award, it has greatly enhanced our credibility and visibility in the market. This recognition validates our commitment to excellence and inspires our team to continue setting benchmarks for innovation and customer satisfaction in the travel industry.” – Jacob Mathew, Head of Bahrain Branch, Satguru Travel & Tourism WLL – Bahrain

Sabre Corporation announced that SalamAir has extended its multi-year partnership with Sabre’s Radixx solutions to support its continued growth and operational efficiency. This renewal will see SalamAir continue using Radixx Res for its reservation system and Radixx Insight for reporting, further reflecting the airline’s confidence in Sabre’s Radixx solutions. This long-term agreement provides stability and positions SalamAir for continued growth and success in an increasingly competitive airline industry. “This renewal is an important step in our partnership with SalamAir,” said Darren Rickey, Senior Vice President of Airline Sales at Sabre. “As SalamAir continues to grow in the region, we look forward to supporting their journey with the tailored solutions Radixx offers. This extended collaboration reflects SalamAir’s trust in our ability to provide reliable, scalable technology that aligns with their operational needs and strategic goals, including the transition to Offers and Orders. We are proud to be part of their growth and success.” SalamAir, known for offering affordable fares without compromising on service quality, has quickly become an important player in the aviation industry. With both domestic and international flights, the airline makes air travel more accessible to a wide range of customers. SalamAir’s focus on efficiency, customer satisfaction, and network expansion has fueled its rapid growth and positioned it as a preferred choice for budget-conscious travelers across Oman and beyond. “We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Sabre and their Radixx solutions,” said Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer of SalamAir. “The Radixx reservation system (Radixx Res) and data and insights platform (Radixx Insight) have been instrumental in supporting our growth, helping us innovate and deliver a seamless travel experience to our customers. This renewal reaffirms our confidence in Sabre’s …

Book your Voyage wins ‘Fastest growing B2B Travel Portal’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Receiving this award is a tremendous source of motivation and appreciation for all BYV team members. It will boost our confidence to work even better together. The impact has been very positive for me personally, as it has strengthened my capabilities to take the company to the next level. For the company, it has brought significant recognition in the market. As an industry, we proudly express our gratitude to our suppliers and partners for their mutual support and collaboration.”- Ajay Sinh Atalia, CCO, Book Your Voyage

Wego released exclusive insights into Kuwaiti travelers’ destination preferences for Ramadan 2025.  Top Ramadan Destinations for Kuwaiti travellers are Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan retain their positions as the most-searched international destinations, reflecting cultural ties and family-centric travel. Bangladesh, Jordan, the Philippines, Nepal, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, round out the top 10 with Nepal emerging as this year’s standout growth market. Wego’s Ramadan data reveals a blend of steadfast loyalty and surging interest in different destinations, alongside notable airfare fluctuations shaping travel decisions. Flight searches to Nepal for travels during Ramadan have seen more than a fivefold increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, searches to Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and Jordan have more than doubled this year. Even the destination with the most modest growth of the lineup, Türkiye, saw YoY 54.51% increase in searches on Wego. Wego data showed that airfares for top Ramadan destinations from Kuwait have risen by an average of 17.51% YoY, attributed to high seasonal demand. Ramadan airfare spikes for the United Arab Emirates (+64.63%) Nepal (+43.65%), and Pakistan (+36.70%) have been observed to be among the highest compared to last year.

Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group signed a strategic partnership with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to provide industry-led and reliable data-driven insights that support the sustainable growth of the travel industry as Knowledge Partner. As part of this collaboration agreement, in which The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group also takes part, both companies will give WTTC access to their comprehensive travel intelligence databases, offering in-depth data analysis and insights on key industry trends: air connectivity, traveller’s sentiment and interests, demand profiling, accommodation supply, and event impact analysis, among others. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications at WTTC, commented on the partnership, highlighting “Data-driven insights are critical to the sustainable growth of the Travel and Tourism sector. We are delighted to welcome Mabrian as a Knowledge Partner and look forward to leveraging their expertise, as well as The Data Appeal Company’s, to enhance our research and advocacy efforts.” “Joining this partnership with WTTC is a significant step in our mission to empower the travel and tourism sector with data-driven insights,” says Mirko Lalli, CEO at The Data Appeal Company. “It is also an opportunity to help industry leaders anticipate trends, optimise strategies, and drive more sustainable tourism development worldwide.” Under the agreement, signed by Mabrian with WTTC representatives in the most recent edition of ITB Berlin, WTTC’s research team will have access to the travel intelligence databases from both Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group and Mabrian, and their experienced pool of in-house analysts and consultants. These insights will support WTTC’s industry research initiatives, policy development, and thought leadership efforts, contributing to WTTC’s mission of fostering informed decision-making …

Al Naboodah Travel was honoured with the title ‘Fastest Growing Travel Agency, KSA’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 smartly, 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 and better for the coming years. I am overexcited, and I am looking forward to winning more than three awards next year.”- Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies