Category Archives: Agents

Travelport Worldwide Limited announced that a group of its existing equity holders and lenders have agreed to invest $570 million of new equity financing into the Company. The new financing will give Travelport a robust capital structure, enable further investment into Travelport’s technology platforms and pave the way for other innovations to deliver new and exceptional ways for the travel industry to serve customers. The new investment in Travelport is being made pursuant to an agreement that will significantly deleverage and strengthen the Company’s balance sheet (the “Transaction”). Following completion of the Transaction, Travelport will have a new ownership structure composed of Travelport’s existing equity and credit investors, including Elliott Investment Management, Davidson Kempner Capital Management, Canyon Partners, Siris Capital and other leading institutional investors. These investors will remain well positioned to provide strategic counsel and support to the Company’s management. “This investment demonstrates our investors’ support for Travelport and will advance our mission to reinvent a better future for the travel industry,” said Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Travelport. “With this new investment, Travelport will have a strong balance sheet with the least amount of debt amongst its peers, which we believe will put the Company in an even better position for long-term, profitable growth. Most importantly, this Transaction will further strengthen our operating business and accelerate our investments in Travelport+ and other initiatives that make us the most innovative and agile partner to all our customers. We thank our investors for their significant vote of confidence in Travelport.” In the last year, Travelport has undertaken several successful strategic investments and initiatives to enhance the technology, products and services it provides to customers. These include the acquisition of …

McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, a global leader in luxury outlet shopping, proudly acknowledged its top trade partners in the region for their exceptional contribution at the McArthurGlen Tourism Awards held on the 29th of November 2023 at Park Hyatt Dubai – Creek Resort hotel. This recognition is part of McArthurGlen’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships that have played a pivotal role in achieving remarkable success and record-breaking numbers throughout the year. Selected esteemed trade partners were presented with Certificates of Appreciation and McArthurGlen Tourism award trophies in highlighting their outstanding dedication to promoting the brand in the region. “We are thrilled to express our gratitude to our invaluable trade partners who have been instrumental in our success story in the Middle East. Their commitment, creativity, and collaborative spirit have significantly contributed to McArthurGlen’s strong presence and growth in the region,” said Matthias Sinner, Head of Tourism, McArthurGlen Group. The awards ceremony brought together industry leaders, partners, and stakeholders for an evening of celebration, recognition, and camaraderie. McArthurGlen Designer Outlets continues to set the standard for luxury outlet shopping worldwide, and these awards underscore the brand’s appreciation for the collaborative efforts that have contributed to its success in the Middle East.

The value of the global luxury travel sector stood at an estimated $1.28 trillion in 2022, according to figures from Grand View Research. The market is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% during the period 2023-30. This upward trend is reflected in the Middle East, where the majority of respondents from both the UAE (74%) and KSA (69%) told researchers from Marriott Bonvoy that they were planning to spend more on their vacations in 2023 compared to previous years. High-spending travellers are willing to pay extra for experiences that do not detrimentally impact the communities or ecosystems in which they are located, according to YouGov’s Global travel & tourism whitepaper 2023: Luxury travel post-pandemic. More than three-fifths (61%) of UAE residents say they are willing to pay a premium for responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences, demonstrating that consumers no longer see the luxury segment as being limited to indulgence. With brands such as Kerzner International’s Atlantis The Palm, Mandarin Oriental Dubai (BVI) Limited, Jumeirah International LLC, Air Charter Service, Hyatt International, Mayfair Jets, Minor Hotel Group, Nirvana Holding, The Leading Hotels of the World and Desert Gate Tourism having already confirmed their attendance, ATM 2024 will welcome a diverse selection of luxury travel exhibitors from across the Middle East and beyond. The exhibition will provide an ideal forum for attendees from every corner of the globe to explore the shifting landscape of luxury travel, including future trends and innovations, entrepreneurial drivers and opportunities for growth. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “By incorporating luxury travel as a sub-theme at ATM 2024, we are aligning our event with the future of travel. This …

Participating for the first time, Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays won ‘Best New Travel Booking Platform’ at the Arabian Travel Awards. Bimal Jain – General Manager – Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards were timely, relevant, and engaging, uniting the travel community in a well-planned and lively event that honoured contributions across the industry. We particularly appreciated the inclusion of all segments of the travel industry. Winning two awards at the ceremony was truly special. It’s a testament to our team’s innovation and hard work, affirming our position as a top travel company in the region. These awards are a confirmation that we are moving in the right direction as a business. We will continue to focus on creating a lasting impact through the further adoption of our travel technology platform and outbound travel solutions. We believe this is a market requirement and meets our growth aspirations as well.”  

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) recently launched the largest integrated travel campaign in China ‘Embark on a Journey of Discovery to Saudi’ at the Shanghai Bund Waterfront with 400 trade partners. The event was attended by Jin Lei, Deputy Director General of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC Markets including over 400 trade partners, media and influencers, and the Chinese public were invited to explore the rich and diverse tourism offerings of Saudi. The campaign marks the largest integrated travel campaign launched by Saudi in China, starting with a week-long Saudi Tourism Exhibition, a celebration of Saudi’s culture, heritage, and natural beauty on the Shanghai Bund waterfront, from 17 to 23 November, inviting guests to experience mystical Saudi through immersive experiences, storytelling, and live performances. So far, the exhibition has welcomed over 80,000 visitors. In addition to the consumer marketing campaign, a series of Saudi experience films have launched on national TV and all major digital China platforms such as Ctrip, Huawei, Mafengwo, and Tencent, reaching and connecting with over five hundred million Chinese citizens.  The films intend to showcase the rich experiences Chinese travelers can look forward to upon visiting Saudi and is further available on VisitSaudi.CN website and STA’s social media channel. Starting from November 17, destination experience videos were launched, enabling digital travelers to visit scenes such as a traditional Bedouin tent complete with camel caravans and stargazing; tour the historic Diriyah, Al Masmak Fortress, and the colorful Souk Al Zel; learn to create Arabian fragrances; fly over AlUla in a hot-air balloon; go on a cross-country adventure in a vintage Land Rover; and snorkel in the Red Sea. Also, how-to …

Al Naboodah Travel clinched Best GSA  and Best Corporate Travel Agency at the sixth edition of the prestigious Arabian Travel Awards. Speaking on the continued win, Nasir Jamal Khan, the CEO of Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies shared, “Al Naboodah Travel Marks 50 Years of GSA Partnership In 1973, Al Naboodah Travel embarked on a journey that has spanned half a century, starting with its ground-breaking GSA collaboration with Air France. We are proud in the company’s recognition at the Arabian Travel Awards 2023, winning the Best GSA award for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting its consistent dedication to serving UAE airlines. The travel and tourism industry’s excellence takes center stage as Arabian Travel Awards recognizes Al Naboodah Travel as the Best Corporate Travel Agency. We extend heartfelt thanks to the entire Al Naboodah Travel team, dedicating the award to their collective efforts. Gratitude is also expressed to Arabian Travel Awards for consistently organizing this impactful event. This accolade serves as a motivating force for Al Naboodah Travel to sustain and surpass current standards, meeting the expectations of valued clients and customers.”

On the sidelines of Qatar Travel Mart, Cozmo Travel signed an MoU with SAUDIA in order to boost tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cozmo Travel has been instrumental in carrying out various marketing campaigns to promote the kingdom across the GCC. This partnership will be enhancing the efforts put forward by Cozmo Travel.

Sabre Corporation announced a multi-year renewal agreement with lastminute.com N.V. Under the long-term technology agreement, lastminute.com expects to drive a better customer experience with Sabre’s advanced shopping and virtual payments solutions. Using Sabre’s rich GDS content and Bargain Finder Max shopping API, lastminute.com will be able to build and display compelling itineraries for travelers in seconds. This will help enable the OTA to customize booking experiences by tailoring search results for the most relevant fares, based on itinerary preferences. “Sabre is foundational to lastminute.com’s technology strategy, and the support of our shopping and payment capabilities are areas that are keys in our partnership,” said Luca Concone, CEO, lastminute.com. “We are in a strategic partnership that drives technology innovation to help travel companies increase customer loyalty and drive revenue, and in turn are creating a turn-key travel planning and booking experience for the end user.” As a B2B payments provider to lastminute.com, Sabre Virtual Payments technology offers increased flexibility and control, enhanced fraud protection and security, accurate reconciliation, and better payment automation and efficiency.   “Lastminute.com has the ability to provide a seamless customer experience from shopping, booking and payment and that translates into the ability to gain more share of wallet for the online travel agency,” said Roshan Mendis, Chief Commercial Officer for Sabre Travel Solutions.  “We help drive conversion with customer-centric technology and cloud-native microservices enabling more agility and shopping products to turbocharge the retailing experience.”   Through the Sabre GDS, lastminute.com will have access to more than 400 airlines, 1.6 million lodging options, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, and car rental providers to sell customized travel packages from suppliers around the world.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority will kick off its 10th edition of Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum under the theme “Sustainable Tourism: The Way to Improvement”will kick off today at Expo Center Sharjah. The forum serves as a nod to Sharjah’s efforts in developing environmentally and socially responsible travel practices, its thriving eco and adventure tourism sector, as well as the emirate’s growing reputation as a global example of sustainable solutions.  A highlight of SITTF’s dynamic agenda will be a series of engaging discussions, presentations and interactive workshops, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities within the travel and tourism sector. In the panel discussion ‘Sustainability Practices – Innovate for Impact, Collaborate for Change’, notable participants include HE Dr. Nawal Al Hosany, Permanent Representative of UAE IRENA, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Green Development and Climate Change at the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; and HE Ahmed Al Qaseer, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). These experts will share their insights on sustainable tourism trends, government policies, economic benefits, the role of technology, and the significance of collaboration in achieving sustainable tourism goals. The panel on ‘Strategies for Sustainable Travel and Tourism’ will bring together industry leaders, including Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of HMH Hotel Group; Koko Tang, GSTC Board Member, Founder of Colorful Earth Co-Founder of Vinetree Tourism; Paul Bridger, COO of Rove Hotel and moderated by Doug Lansky, Destination Advisor and Tourism Expert. The panel will explore eco-tourism, waste reduction, and the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable tourism, providing valuable perspectives on shaping the industry’s future. SITTF 2023 will feature several expert-led presentations by Koko Tang, GSTC Board Member, Founder of …

Tawfeeq Travel, Holidays and Ezytrip Qatar achieved triple crowning glory as ‘Fastest Growing DMC – Qatar,’ ‘Best TMC Qatar’ and ‘Fastest Growing B2B Online Travel Portal Qatar.’ at the sixth edition of Arabian Travel Awards. Rehan Ali – CEO – Tawfeeq Holidays 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.”