Category Archives: Agents

dnata is partnering with the Maldives’ Pulse Hotels & Resorts to bring its unique and expanding portfolio of properties across the Indian Ocean archipelago closer to the region’s traveller base. dnata Representation Services will become Pulse Hotels & Resorts’ exclusive sales and marketing representative in the GCC, showcasing its latest news, exclusive rates, and more to travellers across the region, as travel demand for the Maldives continues. According to statistics from the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, the UAE was placed in the top ten number of arrivals by country of residence in its latest reports, between January and May 2023, whilst tourist arrivals from other GCC destinations remain strong. Pulse Hotels & Resorts owns and manages three properties across the Maldives, each offering a unique experience. The Nautilus is an ultra-luxury private island and winner of multiple awards, known as one of the world’s most exclusive bohemian island hideaways. One of the newest resorts in the Maldives, Nova launched in 2022 with a modern take on all-inclusive with a vibrant ‘community’ concept. The largest of the offering, Kandima, is a stylish and game-changing island destination boasting 264 studios and villas, 10 dining venues, and a plethora of activities for leisure, corporate or MICE travel. The Maldives-based company, which launched in 2015 with an entrepreneurial mindset to re-imagine the hospitality offering of the destination, continues to enhance the current portfolio and further expand its resort portfolio with product launches scheduled for the coming years. Althaf Mohamed Ali, Chief Operating Officer at Pulse Hotels & Resorts, commented: “There has been an increase in interest and travel to our resorts from the GCC region in recent years. Our resorts cater to luxury travel …

SX Global announced that Yas Island, Abu Dhabi will host the penultimate round of the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) in 2023. Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “FIM World Supercross is a fantastic new event for Yas Island, bringing together 40 of the best riders in the world to battle it out for four world championship titles for the first time in the region, whilst being broadcast to 400 million homes across 180 countries. It underpins our pioneering approach in the major event industry, and with this exciting announcement, it is testament to our commitment to delivering unique experiences as well as further building our reputation for best-in-class sport and entertainment events. We are looking forward to welcoming WSX fans to the Etihad Arena in November and delivering unforgettable moments.” The WSX Abu Dhabi GP will be held over two days at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on 4-5 November 2023. The historic event will be the first time a World Supercross event has been held in the region. “We’re extremely proud to announce the WSX Abu Dhabi GP. Yas Island is known for the standard of excellence in hosting some of the biggest events in the region including other major events like Formula 1, UFC and NBA,” said SX Global’s CEO, Adam Bailey. “This event will mark the first-ever Supercross event held in the region and is a significant milestone for both WSX and the sport of supercross. The fact that Abu Dhabi is the home of our strategic investment partner in Mubadala Capital, makes it even more special.” Ethara is one of the region’s biggest event, entertainment, and venue management companies. In partnership with …

Sojern announced the acquisition of VenueLytics, the hospitality industry’s most integrated guest experience platform serving independent hotels, resorts, chains and casinos. Sojern will incorporate VenueLytics’ capabilities as an extension of the Sojern Travel Marketing Platform. Sojern has long been a direct bookings driver for hotels—providing comprehensive digital advertising solutions that help travel marketers find, attract and convert new travelers, re-activate existing guests to build loyalty, and maximize net revenue per available room (RevPAR). This acquisition expands Sojern’s Travel Marketing Platform to engage across the entire guest journey with VenueLytics’ cutting-edge technology that includes an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered virtual concierge, real-time guest feedback and digital reputation management tools, and a guest marketing suite for email and text promotions. VenueLytics’ solutions help marketing, operations, and front-desk teams better serve their guests with less resources required, drive incremental revenue, and maximize profit. With these additional features, Sojern can now help marketers find, attract, convert and engage travelers throughout their journey. “This is an exciting step forward for our customers as we can empower hoteliers beyond advertising alone, expanding our offerings to be a true end-to-end marketing platform,” said Mark Rabe, CEO of Sojern. “We are dedicated to providing the travel industry with innovative solutions that leverage data, AI and technology to drive results. VenueLytics’ expertise in analyzing, unifying and activating data from various hotel management and marketing systems will allow Sojern to deepen our relationships in hospitality. This addition helps us to advance toward becoming the #1 travel marketing platform.”   One of VenueLytics key customers is Grupo Posadas, the largest hotel company in Mexico with over 180 resorts and hotels. Posadas Director of Quality, Standards and Innovation, Leslie Gomez, commented, “By using …

Almosafer (part of Seera Group), has partnered with Al Rajhi Takaful to provide customers of its consumer segment in Saudi Arabia free trip insurance with every flight booking. The trip insurance will be automatically included with every international and domestic flight booking made across Almosafer‘s consumer touchpoints including the Almosafer app, the website, the call centre, WhatsApp and retail outlets, providing Almosafer’s customers with added assurance and confidence to travel. Al Rajhi Takaful Company is one of the leading companies in the insurance sector and provides various insurance solutions that include all products for individuals and Corporate. Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “We are continuously strengthening our offering to enhance the customer experience with products and services that are relevant to our travellers. With this new trip insurance from Al Rajhi Takaful, our Saudi customers will have peace of mind relating to their travel and enjoy a stress-free trip.” Mr. Saud Ghonem Bin Ghonem, Chief Executive Officer of Al Rajhi Takaful, explained that: “We are fully aware of the importance of comfort when traveling, consequently the travel insurance policy from Al Rajhi Takaful is issued to provide relief to citizens and residents from the risks of what may happen during travel “God forbid”, and to provide a safe and enjoyable travel experience. We are proud of this partnership with Almosafer, which is one of the leading travel companies in the Kingdom. In this agreement, we look forward to providing exceptional care and attention to all beneficiaries.” Almosafer continuously seeks strategic partnerships in order to enhance its offerings for its customers and ensure seamless user experiences. The free trip insurance will be available to travellers for a limited …

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 …