Category Archives: Agents

Dubai-based AA Al Moosa Enterprises has announced the rebranding of one of its four-star hotel properties located in a strategic area in Sharjah. Previously managed by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts under Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah, the property’s rebranding comes in line with AA Al Moosa Enterprises’ new strategy to strengthen its own local brand Golden Sands, which has been successfully present in the market for 30 years. Entering into force on July 1, 2019, the property’s new contract was signed during the opening of the Arabian Travel Market exhibition by Nayef Al Moosa, Director, ARENCO Real Estate, representing the owning company; and Mohammad Khoori, General Manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments. HE Khalid Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, was present at the signing ceremony. He commented, “We are grateful to AA Al MOOSA for believing in Sharjah as an attractive tourism destination, and we are looking forward to support Golden Sands throughout its new venture.” “There is no doubt that the UAE hospitality industry is constantly evolving, therefore we must be flexible and adapt our strategies to meet the ever growing market needs,” Nayef Al Moosa said. “We maintain a friendly relationship with Wyndham, and are confident that Golden Sands management will achieve our aspirations for this property.” For his part, Khoori noted, “The emirate of Sharjah has recently witnessed a vast transformation in its tourism sector, and we are delighted to be here to support the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s vision for the emirate with a renowned local brand that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.” He concluded, “We are extremely pleased to be selected by the owners to manage this fine …

Kanoo Travel has signed an agreement with Cvent, a market leader in meetings, events and hospitality technology, at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to utilise the latter’s complete suite of event management solutions. Cvent’s event technology solutions will offer ATM attendees enhanced engagement and networking opportunities and will allow Kanoo Travel to manage and deliver a more impactful and memorable overall event experience. The partnership is a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Kanoo Travel as it becomes one of the first corporate travel management companies in the region to benefit from Cvent’s integrated technology solutions which include online registration, onsite badging and check-in, mobile event apps and feedback and reporting solutions. In addition to using Cvent’s onsite event technology, the company will also utilise Cvent’s venue sourcing platform – the Cvent Supplier Network (CSN) which will help to simplify and automate the event venue selection process. Featuring more than 260,000 hotels, resorts and special event venues, the CSN is one of the world’s largest databases of detailed venue information. “Kanoo Travel is embracing the digital transformation in the travel and hospitality industry and it’s serious about adapting the latest technology solutions which add value to its customers,” said Nabeel Kanoo, President, Kanoo Travel. “By partnering with Cvent we will be providing our customers with a comprehensive event management platform which will handle the entire event lifecycle and we will be able to offer them venues and hotels with competitive prices,” he said. Speaking on the partnership, Gokul Bajaj, Head of Sales & Partnerships and General Manager, Cvent Dubai,“We are excited to be working with Kanoo Travel, a market-leading organisation that recognises the importance of digital transformation and automation and we’re proud to partner with …

Emirates Holidays, part of travel services provider dnata, is set to establish a local presence in Denmark and Sweden in Spring 2019. The new branch in Scandinavia will cater to Danish and Swedish travellers, offering them unique travel experiences. The operations will be based in Copenhagen and supported by a team of local travel experts. “We are pleased to be expanding the Emirates Holidays footprint to Denmark and Sweden. Both markets are very valuable to us and we look forward to giving travellers more options for a bespoke premium travel experience to Dubai,” said Kenneth Andersen, General Manager, Emirates Holidays Scandinavia. Emirates Holidays, which has been in operation for over 20 years and operates in 38 source markets globally, exclusively supports the Emirates Airline and offers fully inclusive premium leisure packages to Dubai and beyond. The core Emirates Holidays proposition is based around providing exceptional value premium holidays, through close relationships with key supplier partners, as well as delivering a clearly differentiated quality of service and expertise. Emirates Holidays Scandinavia are already established members of the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund and will apply to be part of the Swedish Travel Association and Danish Travel Association. The expansion of its network into Scandinavia will help to support further growth for its flagship destination, Dubai, which expects to receive over 20 million international visitors by 2020 when it hosting Expo 2020.  

Orient Travel, one of the leading travel agencies in the UAE, has teamed up with Rail Europe to create an association to meet the experiential needs of the UAE travellers. The partnership aims to provide unparalleled access to a comprehensive array of rail products complementing the itineraries of vacationers from the UAE. It comes at a time when many travel companies are struggling amid fierce competition, sedentary travel losing appeal and cookie cutter package tourism. Analysts, however, say that in the long run, there is room for growth if agencies recognise that people are searching for unique and original travel combinations that will give them unforgettable experiences. Speaking about the association, Asim Arshad, CEO, Orient Travel, said, “This partnership delights us. We are happy it came through as it gives us the opportunity to surf the wave of experiential travel and meet the needs of our clients. We understand that travel in this age is no longer so much about where the client goes, but more about how they want to feel. By introducing Rail Europe as part of our products, we give our customers flexibility and personalisation across a variety of authentic experiences. Now, we can construct each holiday around a client’s needs and preferences; and end up with an imaginative personalised itinerary centered on individual interests.” By partnering with one of the leading global providers of rail products, Orient Travel has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for planning and booking European train travel and sightseeing products. Now, the UAE travellers can book both point-to-point journeys in Europe, and get Eurail, Swiss, Japan, and Korea passes. The company also said it will guarantee easy access to human support, after-sale …

Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series announces the 2019 Silver Cup Tournament Fixture at a Live Draw at the Habtoor Palace Hotel. UAE Polo (Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum) and Ghantoot Polo (Patron: HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan) among the participating teams.The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open), an 18-goal handicap competition celebrating its 10th year anniversary under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler, Dubai, launched its 2019 season on January 21, 2019 where the organising committee conducted a live draw for the Silver Cup 2019 fixture at the Habtoor Ballroom, Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Five tournaments fall under the umbrella of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series: the Silver Cup (18 goal handicap), which will run from January 25 to February 8; the Polo Masters Cup (10 goal handicap) from February 10 to 15 ; the Julius Baer Gold Cup (18 goal handicap) from February 18 to March 8; the Dubai Challenge Cup (18 goal handicap) from March 15 to 30 and the Dubai Cup (6-8 goal handicap) from April 2 to 12, 2019. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series held in the UAE, is one of only five tournaments in the world played in the WPT Championship Cup category, on a par with world-class events held in Argentina, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and Al Ansari Exchange, a UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer firm, have signed an agreement to facilitate payments for a range of tourism and travel-related services. Under the agreement, partners of Dubai Tourism including hotels, event organisers, tour operators and tourism companies will be able to make payments for services through 183 branches of Al Ansari Exchange across the UAE. The agreement was signed by Ahmed Khalifa Alfalasi, CEO, Corporate Services and Investments, Dubai Tourism and Rashed Ali Al Ansari, General Manager, Al Ansari Exchange. Commenting on the agreement, Alfalasi said, “Dubai Tourism is pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with Al Ansari Exchange, a renowned and respected name in the UAE’s money transfer sector, which will take our payment system to the next level of reliability and convenience. This is also a reflection of the strong spirit of collaboration that exists between the government and private sectors in Dubai for the provision of world-class services to both our residents and visitors, guided by the directives of the visionary leadership. As we continuously invest in upgrading our systems and processes to ensure a seamless and satisfying experience for all our customers, this agreement means that our partners no longer need to visit Dubai Tourism offices to make payments. The new method will supplement our online payment channels that were established as part of our contribution to the Smart Government initiative.” Al Ansari said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Dubai Tourism to enable their customers to pay the travel and tourism services fees through our wide branch network across the UAE and take advantage of its convenient and …

The Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), an institution established by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) welcomes the first batch of students as part of the ‘City of Gold’ scholarship, awarded to first-year applicants enrolled for the Certificate of Retail course. As part of the programme, 20 Emirati and expatriate students have received fully-funded academic grants to cover their tuition fees throughout the year. Successful completion of the course will open doors to exciting career opportunities within the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG), a partner for this project, for all candidates, allowing them to enter the tourist-facing workforce with practical experience and valuable industry knowledge. The ‘City of Gold’ scholarship is part of DCT’s ongoing industry collaborations and partnerships, providing students with hands-on training and access to industry expertise. Commenting on the success of the scholarships, Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager, Dubai College of Tourism, said, “The ‘City of Gold’ scholarship programme is the first in a series of scholarships that DCT is committed to introduce to help build and nurture young talent. We are delighted with the success of the programme and hope to continue with our endeavour to further train young, eager Emirati nationals and expatriates and help them succeed in Dubai’s rapidly evolving tourism industry.” The ‘City of Gold’ scholarship programme combines classroom learning with real-world experiences, offering students direct industry application in Dubai’s expanding retail landscape. This works in line with DCT’s overarching commitment to attract talented Emiratis and expatriate residents and help them explore rewarding career options in the tourism industry.

VFS Global has opened new Slovakia Visa Application Centre in Kuwait city in the state of Kuwait. The new centre offers residents of the state of Kuwait travelling to the Central European country greater convenience in accessing professionally-managed visa application submission services. In a statement, VFS Global said the Slovakia Visa Application Centre in the state of Kuwait is the first to be opened in the Middle East region and the fifth Slovakia Visa Application Centre to launch globally. Some of the key features of the Slovakia Visa Application Centre in the state of Kuwait include longer operating hours, professionally-trained staff fluent in the local language, an automated queue-management system for seamless submission procedures and a premium lounge for a more personalised application submission experience. Inaugurating the new Visa Application Centre, Martin Kardoš, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the state of Kuwait, said, “We believe that in close cooperation with professionals from VFS Global, Kuwaiti and other residents will find services at the new Visa Application Centre more comfortable, helpful and convenient to submit their visa requests.” Under the contract signed with the Slovak Republic, VFS Global will provide outsourced visa processing services in the state of Kuwait, Belarus, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Palestine, P R China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, through 38 Slovakia Visa Application Centres. Also commenting on the launch of the new Slovakia Visa Application Centre in the state of Kuwait, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said, “With the opening of the new centre, our steadfast endeavour is to provide residents with seamless visa application submission services in a …

Festive season is the perfect time to share the joy and happiness of giving. The Novotel,  ibis World Trade Centre and ibis One Central team organised a special Christmas Tree-lighting event for children with determination recently to share their love. The festive carols resounded throughout were a delight to the children and their parents alike. The joy of the children resonated within the establishment when Santa Claus walked out bearing gifts for one and all. Rest-assured, this memory shall be cherished and be spoken about for years to come. The countdown to the Christmas Tree Lighting was the finale to the event and who better than Santa, to magically light up the Christmas tree along with the faces of ecstatic children and their loved ones. The festive season is special for everyone, the Novotel and ibis team ensured that each and every single individual left the event with a pleasant memory embedded deep in their hearts.

VFS Global has opened a new China Visa Application Center (VAC) in Kuwait, marking the opening of a third such visa submission facility in the Middle East after the launch of similar centers in Dubai and Beirut. A joint statement from the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait and VFS Global said residents applying for a visa to PR China need not visit the embassy to submit their visa applications going forward. The China Visa Application Center in Kuwait City, managed by VFS Global, will proficiently facilitate the end-to-end visa application submission process. Officially inaugurating the new China Visa Application Center, Zhao Liang, Charge d’Affaires —AI, Chinese Embassy in the State of Kuwait, said, “The State of Kuwait is the first Arabian country in the Gulf area to establish diplomatic relations with PR China and in recent years, the cooperation between the two countries in all fields have grown rapidly, thus encouraging the development of robust bilateral relations. To further facilitate and enhance people-to-people exchanges and to promote visa application service standards, PR China has established this new, professionally-managed China Visa Application Center in Kuwait. The new centre will offer the residents of Kuwait a more convenient and highly-efficient visa application service. We believe that the China Visa Application Center in Kuwait City will bring residents greater convenience when applying for a Chinese visa through its comfortable environment, well-equipped facilities and warm and thoughtful service”. Commenting on the center in Kuwait, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO — Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said, “Ever since we began our partnership with the Government of PR China in 2008, we have steadily expanded the Visa Application Centre network across the Middle …