Category Archives: Agents

Kanoo Travel won the title as ‘Best Travel Management Company Middle East at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. The award was received by Zaeem Gama, Divisional CEO, Travel, Kanoo Travel and Aubrey Heldt, Divisional General Manager, Travel Operations, Kanoo Travel. Fawad Kanoo, CEO, Kanoo Group shared, It is an honour to accept this esteemed award. This recognition is not just for me but for everyone who believes in the power and beauty of exploration. We are all adventurers at heart, drawn together by the magic that unfolds when we discover new places and forge new connections. A heartfelt thanks to my community, supporters and fellow explorers.”

International SOS underscored the necessity to implement enhanced risk management strategies for travellers and organisations, amid the increasing international travel. While global travel regained momentum despite significant fluctuations throughout 2023, the evolving landscape raises concerns about the growing complexity of risks that both travellers and organisations need to navigate. International SOS data revealed a 59% increase in international travel and 48.4% increase in domestic travel during October 2023, as compared to the beginning of the year.1 These findings align with a recent report from The International Air Transport Association (IATA), emphasising the resurgence of global travel. According to IATA, global air traffic reached 97.3% of pre-COVID levels at the end of 2023.2 With the holiday season quickly approaching, IATA anticipates that this trend will continue into the New Year, despite economic and political uncertainties in parts of the world. For instance, the Middle East region anticipates to witness a substantial uptick in air passenger traffic, indicating a promising trajectory for 2024. Additionally, the industry forecasts indicate that the volume will reach 105% of 2019 levels, facilitating travel of around 429 million passengers. Michael Rogers, Chief Security Analyst at International SOS said: “The resurgence in global travel comes at a time in which the travel security landscape is increasingly being complicated by geopolitical events, natural disasters and other developments. More and more organisations are finding comprehensive risk mitigation strategies for their mobile workforce to be of upmost importance. Today, more than ever, travellers need to remain informed of prevailing risks and attendant mitigation measures. Beyond geopolitical issues and natural disasters, emerging diseases, social unrest and evolving crime dynamics require that travellers practice vigilance. Across a series of concurrent and overlapping crises, …

Travelport and easyJet, announced they have signed a new content distribution agreement that will bring more enriched easyJet content to all of Travelport’s agency customers – now including OTAs for the first time. The multi-year deal confirms that travel retailers using Travelport+ will have access to all easyJet fare types and bundles that the airline has made available to distribution partners, including ancillaries, without any agency channel restrictions. The addition of easyJet’s Standard Plus fare bundles (including seat selection and large cabin bag) and Essential fare bundles (including seat selection and checked bag) which complement the existing fares of Standard, Business Inclusive and Flexi, will significantly enrich the options available for both business and leisure travelers. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to shop and compare easyJet’s products all in one place, so they can easily upsell and personalize offers for their travelers. Travelport’s enhanced servicing capabilities also ensure agents can seamlessly manage easyJet bookings, including modifications and exchanges. “We’re bringing more easyJet content to Travelport+ so that travel retailers across the globe can create more personalized offers and provide superior service to our customers,” said Dominic Tucker, Senior Distribution Manager at easyJet. “Our partnership with Travelport helps us deliver more choice and connectivity to the market so that travelers flying easyJet can easily customize their experience and add-on extras when they book in any channel, whether they are traveling for leisure, business, or both.” “This new deal means that Travelport-connected agencies can access easyJet’s dynamic offers effortlessly, so they can book the best options for travelers based on their needs and preferences,” said David Gomes, Head of Regional Air Partners, EMEA at Travelport. “By opening up easyJet content to …

The second edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum will kick off from 22nd to 24th January 2024 at the Riyadh International and Conventional Center. It will be an important forum where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be promoted as a tourist destination, strengthen constructive collaboration among all stakeholders in the Saudi tourism sector, and deepen awareness about investment and development opportunities in this vital industry, This forum will serve as a platform for achieving remarkable successes and fostering a spirit of cooperation and partnership. There will be seminars and workshops conducted over the three day event to showcase the rich diversity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Hamad International Airport (DOH) stands poised to welcome visitors from around the globe, as Qatar hosts the prestigious 18th edition of AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. Set to take place from January 12 to February 10, 2024, the tournament will see twenty-four of the continent’s top teams competing in 51 matches across Qatar’s state-of-the-art stadiums. Drawing from the lessons and expertise gained during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 TM, the airport has meticulously planned its operations to ensure a seamless arrival experience for visitors entering the vibrant city of Doha. The comprehensive preparation includes seamless coordination and communication among all stakeholders ensuring optimal service delivery. Extensive collaboration with transport providers guarantees efficient connectivity to and from the airport, the city, and the stadiums, with multiple public transport options, including taxis, bus services, and the metro, available for visitors. Arriving passengers can access necessary amenities like foreign exchange services, food and beverage options, convenient stores, ATMs and purchase local sim cards, which are all conveniently located at the arrival hall. Passengers who have a transit time of more than 8 hours have the option of booking a Doha city tour through Discover Qatar, the destination management company of Qatar Airways, to experience the city during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 TM. Qatar Airways, the country’s national carrier, has partnered with the Asian Football Confederation to transform the fan experience at Asian football competitions in the coming years, including the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. The home and hub of Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport is set to bring the tournament experience to the terminal with a dedicated fan zone and exciting activations that will provide an immersive experience to …

Ezytrip, Qatar wins ‘Fastest growing B2B online travel portal’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023.  Rehan Ali Syed – CEO – Tawfeeq Travel shared, “The event was very well planned and organised. The overall setup was very lively and gave a good opportunity to network and connect with industry leaders across the region. These awards encourage business to continuously improvise and innovate. Travel awards can help acknowledge and promote businesses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism sector. This recognition can lead to increased visibility and credibility within the industry and among travellers. Winning an Arabian Travel Award is a thrilling achievement, signifying recognition for excellence in the travel industry and a sense of pride and accomplishment. This award works as a powerful motivator to excel in 2024 and maintain or surpass the award categories. This will help us to drive and provide better travel experiences to our travellers.”    

TravTips Travel and Tourism won ‘Best Leisure Tour Operator’ title at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Suraj Mainat –  Founder and CEO – Travtips Travel and Tourism shared, “Thank you for putting together an exceptional event! The success of Arabian Travel Awards is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by everyone involved & especially attendance from travel and tourism industry veterans. We were honored to receive the award for Best Leisure Tour Operator in the region. We strongly believe in our tag line “trust us to make your dream holiday reliable, safe and value for money. As we accept this award, we also recognize this responsibility it bestows upon us. I strongly believe “we could win this award due to tireless effort of our professional team members & trust of our guests”.  This award isn’t just a milestone; it is a motivation to explore new horizons, craft new innovative leisure product lines and deliver pleasant experiences to every guest who travel with us on a holiday.”

Al Rostamani Travel announced a strategic partnership with Cutting Edge FZ LLC to reshape the landscape of global sports travel. This partnership aims to redefine regional sports travel by providing sports enthusiasts with immersive and unforgettable experiences at premier global events. The collaboration is set to offer sports enthusiasts an all-encompassing sports travel solution, including hospitality tickets, full travel support, and coveted access to premier global events. The initial offerings have already garnered attention with exclusive travel packages for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, setting the stage for a series of exceptional sports travel experiences. By managing all travel arrangements, including tickets and access to VIP areas, customers can enjoy the events without the hassles of administration. It is about delivering unforgettable experiences that exceed expectations. Bimal Jain, General Manager at Al Rostamani Travel, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Our primary objective is to establish ourselves as leaders in sports travel services within the UAE. Collaborating with Cutting Edge FZ LLC, the official partner of sporting events ensures our customers an authentic and genuine experience, working directly with governing bodies. It creates a one-stop-shop for fans seeking the ultimate sports travel adventure.” Echoing this sentiment, Raj Khandwala, CEO at Cutting Edge FZ LLC, affirmed: “Our collaboration with Al Rostamani Travel is a natural fit for us. We are confident that this partnership will lead us to become one of the Global Leaders in Sports Tourism, setting new benchmarks of excellence and innovation.” Looking ahead, Al Rostamani Travel and Cutting Edge FZ LLC are dedicated to expanding their portfolio of sporting events. Their sporting events calendar already includes iconic events such as the Formula One Grand Prix and …

Rayna Tours has partnered with MoEngage to leverage data-driven insights for personalized customer engagement, improve user experiences, and boost loyalty. “Travel is a significant investment, and travellers seek confidence in their choices. Meaningful engagement, with personalized interactions and transparent information, builds trust. Engaging customers throughout their journey ensures their needs are met, leading to satisfaction, return bookings, and referrals. This is where we think our partnership with MoEngage will be fruitful”, said Rajkumar Gaikwad, Business Head, Rayna Tours. Using MoEngage’s intelligent platform, Rayna Tours aims to increase customer retention, drive higher booking conversion rates, and ultimately boost revenue. “Our experience with MoEngage has been positive, empowering us to optimize engagement strategies and drive better outcomes in the travel industry. By leveraging MoEngage’s insights and engagement capabilities, we anticipate a measurable impact on our bottom line”, said Rajkumar, Business Head, Rayna Tours. “We are stoked to be the proud partners of Rayna Tours. The brand has always kept a customer-centric approach and with the help of our partnership, we further plan to strengthen it”, said Sweta Duseja, Director of Customer Success at MoEngage. Rayna Tours joins the growing list of 1200+ global companies across 35 countries, such as Azadea Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Azadea, Jazeera Airways, Alsaif Gallery, Apparel Group, Airtel, Ola, Oyo, and Mashreq, that trust MoEngage to deliver a consistent experience across multiple devices and touchpoints.

Almosafer announced the signing of a strategic partnership with Talemia to provide and implement field trips ( by planes, buses) for school students in the Kingdom providing enjoyable and culturally enriching experiences. The collaboration builds on the mutual commitment of the two entities to nurture a profound understanding of Saudi Arabia’s rich natural and cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia among students. Under the three-year agreement, Discover Saudi, Almosafer’s destination management company, will be responsible for meticulously curating and expertly managing cultural field trips  that offer immersive cultural experiences for students from elementary to high school. The core objective is to offer a deep understanding of the cultural richness and achievements of the Kingdom through specially curated hands-on learning opportunities for public education. Commenting on the newly signed agreement, Fahad Mohammed Alobailan, Chief Tourism Officer at Almosafer, said: “We are excited to support “Talemia” and the Ministry of Education in taking education beyond the confines of classrooms and textbooks as we believe that every student should have the opportunity to explore, learn, and be inspired by their own heritage and culture. The partnership with Talemia allows us to perfectly blend culture with education and draws on the expertise of Discover Saudi in fostering a deep appreciation of our Kingdom’s heritage to create lifelong learners in the Kingdom with a passion for culture and history.” The trips, organized by Discover Saudi in collaboration with Talemia, will meet the requirements of the student activities specified by the Ministry of Education departments in the Kingdom. Students will embark on journeys to various cities, where these trips will bridge the knowledge derived from textbook knowledge with real-world experiences, and enable the students to explore and …