Category Archives: Agents

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has successfully concluded its 2025 roadshow in India, with events held in Mumbai on September 3 and New Delhi on September 5. The initiative aimed to strengthen Sharjah’s position as a preferred destination for Indian tourists and expand strategic partnerships with key players in India’s tourism sector. The roadshow featured events at Mumbai’s St. Regis and New Delhi’s Leela Palace, attended by around 90 Indian business partners in each city, alongside media representatives. The Sharjah delegation included leading public and private sector partners such as Air Arabia, Emirates Airlines, Al Zajil Tourism, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA), Shurooq, Golden Tulip Hotel, and Centro Sharjah Hotel. The tour highlighted Sharjah’s top attractions and showcased its refreshed tourism brand, “Visit Sharjah,” through a promotional video and interactive experiences, including virtual reality displays. SCTDA announced four strategic partnerships with Indian tourism companies—Royal Tours, Riya Holidays, Thrillophila, and TravClan—and launched consumer campaigns with platforms like Amazon and Inshorts.Sharjah continues to see growing interest from India, recording a 38% increase in Indian hotel guests in the first seven months of 2025, reinforcing its status as a top tourism market.

The investment, valued at OMR 1.81 million ($ 4.7 million), comes as part of OMRAN Group’s efforts to drive innovation in the tourism and hospitality sector and expand alternative accommodation options in the Sultanate of Oman. Commenting on the investment, Shabib bin Mohammed Al Maamari, Managing Director of Visit Oman, said: “This strategic investment reflects OMRAN Group’s commitment to adopting innovative solutions that support the diversification of the tourism sector and strengthen digital innovation. Through this partnership with UnderTheDoormat Group, we aim to empower property owners, licensed units, local communities, and SMEs by opening new avenues for business and reinforcing the Sultanate’s position as an attractive global tourism destination, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.” Merilee Karr, Founder and CEO of UnderTheDoormat Group said, “The OMRAN Group investment into UnderTheDoormat Group is a major milestone for the company. It supports our growth strategy in the Gulf region and further enables our global technology expansion in the short term and flexible rental sector globally. Within Oman, combining OMRAN’s vision for tourism growth with our expertise in technology, compliance, and operations, we can create a robust short-term rental framework that empowers property owners, SMEs and communities. Together, we will set new standards for quality and innovation in the region and beyond.” Through this partnership, OMRAN Group will roll out a fully integrated digital infrastructure for short-term rentals in Oman. The framework will ensure quality standards and full legal compliance, while enabling SMEs to benefit from advanced digital solutions offered by Hospiria and TrustedStays, enhancing competitiveness and creating growth opportunities locally and internationally. The investment also paves the way for property owners and local hosts in Oman to list their …

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Sabre’s EmQuest have officially launched Season 3 of their Exclusive Promotion to reward outstanding travel agents across the UAE. Running from 01–30 September 2025, this exciting campaign offers travel professionals the chance to win a trip for two to either the Philippines or Bali, Indonesia, complete with tickets and accommodation. The promotion is designed to recognize the hard work of travel agents and encourage them to showcase PAL’s world-class service and connectivity to their customers. “Travel agents are an integral part of our success story in the Middle East and across the EMEA region,” said Josh Vasquez, Regional Head–EMEA, Philippine Airlines. “Through this partnership with EmQuest, we are not only rewarding excellence but also inspiring agents to continue promoting the beauty of the Philippines and beyond. This campaign reflects PAL’s commitment to building stronger relationships with our valued trade partners.” Andrew Dowling, General Manager of Sabre’s EmQuest, added: “EmQuest and our good partners at Philippine Airlines are pleased to launch the 3rd Season of our popular promotion to give our valued travel agency customers the opportunity to experience the excellent in-flight service onboard PAL to a destination in the Philippines and Bali by simply booking and issuing PAL tickets through Sabre.” Campaign Highlights: • Sales Period: 01–30 September 2025 • Travel Period: No restrictions apply • Prizes: • Top seller to the Philippines: Trip for two with tickets and accommodation in Manila • Top seller to beyond Philippines: Trip for two with tickets and accommodation in Bali • Eligibility: Applicable for all new tickets issued via Sabre under UAE PCC during the sales period, including deal fares. Winners will be announced by 10 November 2025, with prizes …

Returning to London’s iconic Excel from 4-6 November 2025, WTM London is now open for registration. Building on last year’s hugely successful turnout, which saw an 11% rise in qualified buyers and 34,000+ meeting taking place, the 2025 edition of WTM London is on track to be the largest in its history. In line with the continued expansion of Excel London, the show is poised to grow by 25,000 m², offering increased space, enhanced content, higher level engagement and the introduction of WTM Trend Fest, a brand-new cultural programme spotlighting immersive global experiences spanning live performances, themed activations and daily presentations. Early indicators suggest record-breaking growth for exhibitor numbers, with destinations, experiences, transport, accommodation and tech solutions number continuing to rise. To elevate the exhibitor experience even further, WTM London will debut its very own TV channel this year, WTM TV, designed to educate, engage and connect audiences. Levelling up its already unparalleled conference programme, WTM London recently revealed a unified theme across all six conference tracks – ‘reimagining travel in a changing world’ – to maintain focus and clarity throughout the entire event. With the show’s expansion of stage and floor capacity, as well as a continued rise in conference session attendance (up by 29% last year), comes the opportunity to introduce new educational and entertainment experiences, including a series of bookable, fee-based masterclasses hosted by experts and exhibitors which will debut this year. With the programme already taking shape, renowned sessions such as the Ministers Summit at WTM, Sustainability Summit, Geo-economics Summit, Marketing Summit, WTM Global Travel Report and ITT Future You Forum, have all been confirmed to return to the stages of WTM London this year. Please book your free …

Almosafer announced a strategic partnership with Marka, a prominent local event management company specialising in high-impact corporate, cultural, and business events. This collaboration reflects Almosafer’s ongoing commitment to enriching the Kingdom’s growing event and tourism landscape and delivering world-class experiences that resonate with both domestic and international audiences.  

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has officially announced the theme for the 2026 edition: “Travel 2040: driving new frontiers through innovation and technology.” Taking place from 4–7 May 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), ATM 2026 will explore the forces reshaping the global tourism landscape and highlight how innovation is transforming every stage of the traveller’s journey. The period leading up to 2040 is expected to be one of the most transformative eras in the history of global tourism, with research from the World Economic Forum highlighting that the travel and tourism sector is projected to serve 30 billion tourist visits and contribute $16 trillion to global GDP by 2034. In parallel, technological advancements, including AI-driven personalisation and immersive digital experiences, alongside green aviation and smart mobility, are set to redefine how, where, and why people travel. Against this backdrop, ATM 2026 will provide a vital platform for the global travel community to explore new opportunities, accelerate technological adoption, and build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive industry for the future. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The next ten years and beyond are going to be crucial for the travel and tourism industry. We are at a significant turning point where factors such as climate change, digital advancements, and evolving consumer expectations are all coming together to create both challenges and opportunities. By showcasing how innovation can enhance the travel experience, improve operational efficiency, and promote sustainability, ATM 2026 will provide an important platform for the global industry to prepare for what lies ahead, while ensuring the Middle East remains at the forefront of this evolution.”

As part of its growing economic and industry partnerships with India, one of the organisation’s priority growth markets, Visit Qatar held two high-level dialogue sessions in Mumbai, engaging the country’s leading tour operators and wedding planners as the two nations look to deepen tourism and industry ties. During the interactive sessions, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar, spoke alongside a number of representatives who highlighted key upcoming initiatives and potential opportunities for further collaboration between the two countries and attract more travellers and event organisers to Qatar. Through presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, recognition ceremonies, and networking, the events showcased Qatar’s world-class hospitality, seamless connectivity, and diverse offerings, reinforcing its position as the luxury destination of choice for Indian travellers and wedding celebrations.

MSC Cruises will be repositioning MSC Euribia for Winter 2025/2026 season and MSC World Europa for Winter 2026/2027, to homeport in Dubai. MSC Cruises seven-night Gulf itinerary offers a rich tapestry of experiences across iconic ports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Doha, Qatar.  A highlight of the Gulf itinerary is access to Sir Bani Yas Island. Guests can relax on MSC Cruises’ private beach with full-service catering, or explore the island’s Arabian Wildlife Park on a guided safari, a one-of-a-kind experience managed in partnership with local organisations.

The coveted Arabian Travel Awards will kick off on 25th November 2025 as an invitation only event recognising the visionaries transforming travel, tourism and hospitality across the Middle East. Now, in its 8th edition promises a powerful gathering of leaders, disruptors, and unsung heroes from across the region. At its core, the Arabian Travel Awards has always been about people. The dreamers, doers, and disruptors who’ve reimagined what travel can be. This year, as the Middle East cements its place as a global tourism powerhouse, the awards return with deeper purpose and stronger emotion. It’s not just another event, it’s a tribute to resilience, innovation, and the sheer will to keep going in an industry that never sits still. Each year, the awards recognise those who shape the way we experience the world, whether it’s a travel advisor who’s earned the trust of thousands, a portal that makes booking easier, or a hotel that redefines hospitality. San Jeet, Mentor, Arabian Travel Awards, shares, “These awards are not about fame. They’re about impact. They honour those who show up, step up, and bring change, no matter the odds. And that’s what makes them special.” Winners are chosen through a transparent, digital voting process. The 2025 edition will present honours across Personal, Business, Trending, and Partner categories, each spotlighting a different kind of contribution, but all equally powerful. And while the voting has begun, the call for nominations is still open. From Best City Hotel to Best B2B Travel Portal, this is the moment to put forward the names that deserve to be celebrated.

Commissioned by the Al Ain Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), the China Visitors Summit (CVS) connects the Chinese travel trade with leading tourism suppliers from across Abu Dhabi and the UAE on 28 – 29 August with TravTalkME as media partners. With over 300 delegates expected, CVS is more than an event — it’s a an important network opportunity. To date, 156 top-tier travel industry buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have been confirmed. This makes the CVS the largest China inbound travel industry workshop ever produced outside of China. “The China Visitors Summit is more than a business event — it’s where relationships are built, partnerships are formed, and destinations open their doors to one of the world’s most important travel markets. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain provide the perfect stage for connecting Chinese travel buyers with the region’s best hospitality and tourism offerings.” Alexander Glos, CEO, China i2i Group. Since 2017, we have been building lasting partnerships through 39th editions of the CVS in destinations worldwide. In addition to Abu Dhabi, the CVS will also take place in Baku, Azerbaijan and Barcelona, Spain later this year. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2026 global schedule.