Category Archives: Agents

Premium destination, Vienna is ready with its new luxury experiences for the travelers from the GCC as they announce some of their latest openings from the airport to hotels etc. Summer is the main time of the year where GCC travelers explore and spend their family vacation in the lap of luxury in cooler areas in Europe. “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors from the GCC region, so that they can experience the premium destination Vienna first-hand. Vienna has a host of surprises for the luxury-loving guest from the GCC region, who prefer the more tasteful things in life. And it wouldn’t be Vienna if the extravagance were not accompanied by a hint of the city’s typical charm.” Matthias Schwindl, Media Manager Middle East at the Vienna Tourist Board In Vienna luxury can take a highly traditional form. Although the Austro-Hungarian monarchy ceased to exist in 1918, the high quality standards set by the former purveyors to the imperial court continue to have their place in the modern era. Around 500 companies were granted the royal k. u. k. (kaiserlichen und königlichen) warrant, making them Hoflieferanten. With this honor came the right to supply the Imperial Court with goods and services. Whether they had the imperial seal or not, in Vienna these long-standing local companies and their artisanal traditions continue to shape the city’s unmistakable appearance and fuel unique shopping experiences in the twenty-first century. Since 29 March 2022 Vienna International Airport put Terminal 2 once again into operation, ensuring a new travel experience for passengers. The oldest airport terminal was completely modernized and expanded to encompass new features. Travelers can take advantage of a modern and very exclusive …

Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road recently welcomed Tour Operators from East Europe as part of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s first familiarization trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In an aim to establish further business ventures and attract international travelers, the familiarization trip allowed participants from ten tourism agencies from across Eastern Europe. Participants experienced Riyadh’s rich culture and hospitality firsthand while discovering the city’s diverse landscape and unique offerings. The two-day itinerary included an in-depth personal hotel tour and sight inspection of the facilities and amenities by Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road’s General Manager, Mahmood Omar, and Director of Sales, Bashar Naji, followed by a trip to the city’s top attractions. Commenting on the visit, Mr. Mahmoud Omar said: “We were honored to have been the first hotel to welcome the Eastern European Tour Operators to Riyadh, allowing guests to receive their first experience of the city in the comfort of our hotel.” He continues: “This is a fantastic opportunity as the hotel is ideally positioned in the city, providing guests with ease in access to the city’s top attractions and shopping malls. We look forward to welcoming international guests in the future with the support of the Tourism agencies. The hotel is ready to create strong roots in the hearts of those across the globe.”  

As recovery of the travel industry picks up steam, payments technology company Mastercard and travel website Musafir have partnered to take travel bookings originating in the Middle East and North Africa, to new heights. The exclusive partnership will digitize end-to-end payment flows and launch new innovative payment products with attractive travel benefits to both consumers and corporates. According to an analysis by the Mastercard Economics Institute, if flight booking trends continue at their current pace, an estimated 115 million more passengers in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa will fly in 2022 compared to last year. The research reveals that global leisure and business flight bookings have surpassed pre-pandemic levels with an estimated 1.5 billion more passengers predicted to fly in 2022 compared to 2021. “At Mastercard we are committed to contribute to the continued recovery of the travel and tourism sector through insights, data analysis, innovative digital solutions and unique partner collaborations. We are continuously investing to innovate across the travel value chain. We are excited to partner with Musafir to provide digital-first experiences to their consumers,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard. “Our partnership with Mastercard is a testament to our belief that travel is back and our commitment to providing both consumers and corporates with technology-led travel solutions,” said Sachin Gadoya, Co-founder, and CEO of Musafir.com. Musafir.com is the UAE’s first online travel agency and is among the leading corporate travel management companies in the region. Mastercard and Musafir have signed an exclusive partnership to launch innovative payment products and solutions across the MENA region, benefiting both consumers and corporates. These will help digitize end-to-end payment flows, providing …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched a ‘Service Ambassador’ programme with the objective of improving the customer experience in Dubai and thereby reduce consumer complaints. The programme, developed by DET’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) Sector and Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) in cooperation with the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) features a specialised course designed to assist employees in businesses and commercial groups elevate the quality and efficiency of their customer service. The Service Ambassador programme is part of a series of innovative initiatives being launched by CCCP to support business and enable merchants to maintain cordial relations with their customers. The course content will be offered online on DCT’s smart learning platform. Merchants can subscribe to the programme and trainees can log in and start learning from anywhere, anytime. Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO of Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection sector stated that the Service Ambassador programme has been meticulously developed to address the most important aspects defining customer happiness, including service quality, warranty obligation as well as merchant-consumer relations and interaction. “Shopping being a major factor in driving growth of tourism and retailing in Dubai, it’s important for businesses and all commercial outlets to maintain an exceptional level of customer service. The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector and Dubai College of Tourism have jointly developed this programme drawing on our insights on the customer’s journey and expectations on shopping in Dubai,” Lootah said. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Dubai continues to grow its reputation as a top retail destination globally through an integrated shopping experience that features a broad spectrum of dining and entertainment. The new …

Wego and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BETA) launch a campaign to drive tourism to the country. Bahrain saw signs of recovery in the second half of 2021, which was impacted by the opening of King Fahad causeway. Wego and BTEA are working closely to attract more travelers to the country in line with the Government’s strategy for 2026 which aims to bring over 14.1 million tourists. The campaign will shed light on the things to do in the country for all types of travelers including solos, couples, and families as well as the key destinations to explore. It will be promoted on all Wego’s marketing channels and aims to convert searches to bookings. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, commented: “We continue to partner with tourism boards to promote tourism recovery and attract more travelers to the destinations in the new norm in 2022. We’re proud to collaborate with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority. This partnership further strengthens our commitment to our customers to offer them the best destinations to visit.” Dr. Nasser Qaedi, the CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said: “The launch of our partnership with Wego reinstates our drive to increase international footfall into the Kingdom and it comes at the right time as the island is filled with fantastic events and activities for tourists to enjoy.”  

Phoenix Marketing Services organised a special breakfast conference for travel trade from the GCC countries to introduce a country rich in heritage, culture and adventure – the beautiful Uzbekistan. The event, hosted by the National airline Uzbekistan Airways, was attended by Maksad Ikramov, Regional Manager, Gulf Countries and Shukhrat Mirsaidov, Head of Marketing & Network Strategy. Accommodation partner was Amirsoy, a beautiful mountain resort, represented by Davronbek Niyazov, Sales and Marketing Director, Amirsoy, along with Dolores Travel Group, a leading DMC headed by CEO Farkhad Rasulev. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, HE Abdulaziz Akkulov graced the occasion, along with Vladmir Jollibekov, Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of Uzbekistan. In his opening address, HE Abdulaziz Akkulov stated that the connection between the two countries mainly go back in time with its rich history, which places them as a must visit destination. The main fact is that both locals and residents of the UAE are able to travel with visa-on-arrival status, which is a positive sign in travel, as the visa is the first hurdle to discover any destination. Shukhrat Mirsaidov, Head of Marketing & Network Strategy, Uzbekistan Airlines, said that they are “very happy” to present the airline once again in the market and to be present at the Arabian Travel Market. “Most are not aware that we operate a direct flight seven days a week from Dubai and Sharjah connecting Uzbekistan with the Middle East,” he said. Davronbek Niyazov, Sales and Marketing Director, Amirsoy, shared, “We are bringing a unique product located in Uzbekistan, which is the winter and summer activity with skiing and the high luxury facility to stay in our resort which cater to larger families.” Farkhad Rasulev, CEO, Dolores …

Amadeus with its recent strategic tie-up with Microsoft will be looking at more flexibility and committing itself to adaptability in track with changing market dynamics. Ernesto Sanchez, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf shares with TravTalk Middle East, their plans and focus for this year at the 29th edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). Renew Travel enables us to communicate to a coherent story that is adaptable to shifting market environment, and reflects the challenges that everyone who works in travel has experienced over the last few years. What is the focus of Amadeus this year? This year Amadeus’s focus is on Renew Travel following last year’s Rebuild Travel initiative.  Renew Travel is a platform that provides Amadeus with the flexibility to adapt to changing market dynamics. It enables us to communicate to a coherent story that is adaptable to shifting market environment, and reflects the challenges that everyone who works in travel has experienced over the last few years. As global travel returns in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, it is clear that uncertainty remains. However by focusing on ways to support the industry to become more resilient, agile, and traveller-centric, Amadeus is committed to driving the industry renewal. We collaborated with the key industry player Microsoft to enhance the traveler experience and help facilitate the travel in a new dimension through breakthrough technologies. Source:  https://amadeus.com/en/topic/safe-travel-ecosystem   Could you share about the technologies currently developed by Amadeus and Microsoft? Amadeus’ tie-up with Microsoft last year has unlocked a plethora of opportunities that translate into value for the travel industry. The partnership includes joint innovation and product development to envision, design, and deliver cutting-edge travel solutions. We call this new dimension …

Spain Tourism Office in UAE signed an agreement with Wego, at the Arabian Travel Market. Through this collaboration, Spain Tourism & Wego to promote the ‘You deserve Spain’ campaign providing reassurance for travelers to visit the country again in the new norm. Spain is one of the top searched destinations for MENA travelers. The country is a year-round destination, packed with unique experiences, passionate people, and rich cultural traditions, not to mention its excellent dining scene, wine-making traditions and chic cities and multiple shopping avenues  across the country that is perfect for all types of travelers. Daniel Rosado, Spain Tourism, said: “We are very optimistic and with Wego as our partner, we are aiming to have a great summer and are eagerly waiting to welcome all travelers from GCC.” Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are thrilled to offer another stunning destination for our users to visit. Spain is on the MENA’s top travelers’ list with over 316,000 searches in Q1 2022. This partnership is in line with our efforts to provide more choice to our users and boost tourism recovery.” Travelers are invited to experience the heritage and arts and culture of the city, the stunning beaches, the coasts, and authentic food, among many sports adventures that await all the types of travelers.    

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) launched the all-new rebranded business division for the airline; SAUDIA Business, specialising in B2B travel solutions for Corporate, Agency & MICE clients recently. SAUDIA Business provides unique solutions for each travel requirement for a diverse range of beneficiaries, including corporations, travel agencies, and event organisers. The new account management department will streamline the booking process and support corporate travel through a seamless online platform with multiple functions and tools to serve SAUDIA’s business clients from A to Z. SAUDIA Business will have a dedicated meetings and events team that assists with specific corporate travel needs and event organisation worldwide. The new division will serve and support clients with busy schedules who frequently go on business trips, whether for meetings, incentive travel, conventions, or exhibitions (MICE). Hazem Sonbol, Vice President of sales at SAUDIA, said, “This is not just a new service department; it is an extension to the SAUDIA brand, a show of dedication to pursuing excellence. SAUDIA Business respects our guests’ time and understands the corporate standard with a service that will live up to it. We are looking forward to serving our business partners and taking care of their travel needs through SAUDIA Business.” Catering to corporate clients with custom solutions, SAUDIA Business will be offering new incentives exclusively for corporate clients through SAUDIA Business Loyalty. This unique rewards programme that allows for the redemption of points with every booking and spend. SAUDIA Business retains a stellar repertoire of regional and international clients from various industries, including Saudi ARAMCO, SABIC, SNB, BAE Systems, Amazon, and many more, that have put their trust in the new business department.  

As part of its participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2022, the Royal Commission for AlUla announced today the launch of its first Travel Agent Training Programme & Trade Information Hub – AlUla Specialist. The bespoke online hub will drive awareness of AlUla as a new and unexplored heritage and culture destination of global significance. The training platform will facilitate global travel agents to learn, market and sell trips to the vast desert region in North West Saudi Arabia. The course will lay-out five training modules in English and Arabic languages: Introduction to the destination of AlUla; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra; Dadan and Jabal Ikmah; AlUla Old Town and Oasis; and Nature and Adventure attractions. The content will educate and support the trade highlighting key messaging, positioning and unique AlUla experiences to travel partners. As well as the dynamic five-module trade training programme, features include a trade toolkit including downloadable factsheets, brochures and visitor guide, video and training webinars, trade rewards and incentives, regular news and product updates as well as the opportunity to attend upcoming events. Participants who pass the final exam of the training programme will become an AlUla Travel Specialist and be profiled as a premium AlUla operator that can provide world-class service and up to the minute information on AlUla, to increasing travel bookings to a unique destination of a 200,000-year of unexplored human history. “With AlUla Specialist we have developed what we hope is best in class programming to support our global network of valued trade partners. AlUla is an incredibly rich and inspiring destination and we look forward to introducing AlUla to our trade partners, first digitally and then in person,” …