Tag Archives: Arabian Travel Market 2019

Participating for the third time at the Arabian Travel Market 2019, the St. Petersburg, Russia pavilion highlighted all aspects of leisure, MICE, luxury, recreational and health and wellness tourism. As a special focus this year, St. Petersburg showcased their foray into its new ‘Luxury Russia’ offerings that centered around the symbolic, historical and cultural aspects of Russia. ‘Luxury Russia’ had a range of specially curated tours and activities. These included a bespoke museum premium hour tours with a personalised guide, gala receptions at the legendary Cruise Aurora shipyard; now converted into a museum and the Catharine Palace. Also included is the exciting experience to set off a cannon while touring the historic Peter and Paul Fortress and getting a helicopter tour of the presidential palace also known as the Konstastinosky Palace. “The Middle East is soon becoming an important part of our tourism business and we understand the need to be present at Arabian Travel Market. More so, this year we are targeting high profile travellers from the luxury segment as our research indicates that they contribute quite heavily to the frequency as well as the spending habits while visiting St. Petersburg,” said, Olga Redino, Deputy General Director & Vice Head of Saint Petersburg Convention Bureau. “Our Luxury Tourism Association is a unique project in Russia which creates the platform for premium and luxury customers to avail of exclusive experiences and truly customised service of an exceptional quality while travelling in Russia,” said, Marina Morozova – Head of National Tourism of Russian Federation in the Middle East Dubai UAE / CEO Luxury Travel Association. “Arabian Travel Market provides a perfect platform to reach out to the B2B and B2C sector …

TIME Hotels, the UAE-headquartered hospitality company and hotel operator, is set to announce plans to open five new properties across the Middle East during 2019 – as it targets 35 properties by 2025. The properties, which will see the growth and launch of existing as well as new TIME Hotel brands to key territories throughout the region, were unveiled during Arabian Travel Market 2019. Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, said, “We currently have 15 properties in operation across the UAE and wider GCC with new additions in Dubai, Sharjah and Saudi Arabia scheduled for this year as well as extending our presence to Egypt — further supporting our strategic business plan to increase our total portfolio to 35 properties across the Middle East by the end of 2025. ” TIME Hotels will debut its TIME Express Hotels brand with the opening of a property in Sharjah, during the third quarter of 2019. The three-star TIME Express Hotel Al Khan will feature 55 keys in total. In Dubai, TIME Asma Hotel is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2019. The four-star property, located in Al Barsha, will feature 232 rooms including 12 suites. TIME Hotels opened its second property in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of April. Featuring 28 deluxe apartments — comprising four one-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units – TIME Dammam Residence is located 35 minutes from King Fahad International Airport and just minutes from various shopping and dining destinations in Dammam. Joining TIME Dammam Residence in the kingdom will be TIME Golden Tower Al Khobar. Scheduled to open in August 2019, the 65-key property will be strategically located on Al Khobar Main Street and within close proximity …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) continues to remain on track to drive the emirate’s tourism sector after its major 2018 accomplishments revealed a steady rise in the number of visitors and improved hotel revenues. SCTDA made the announcement ahead of its upcoming participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2019 to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. During the event, the Authority will promote its tourism projects and initiatives to raise global awareness of the emirate’s distinctive, all-year-round tourist attractions.  The total number of hotel guests in 2018 reached 1,738,543, their combined revenue totaled AED 633 million. Hotels and hotel apartments witnessed 65 per cent and 60 per cent occupancy rate, respectively.   H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “The Sharjah Government’s vision is to attract 10 million visitors by 2021, in time for the UAE’s 50th founding anniversary. Thanks to the unlimited efforts and the cooperation of all partners with us, we have already achieved at least 70 per cent of this vision, which is the equivalent of 7 million visitors who have come to Sharjah. This number is divided into leading exhibitions, events, museums visitors and tourists through the Sharjah International Airport—a quality focused achievement that we are proud of and it has also inspired us to continue moving forward. The continuing efforts to improve and enhance the tourism sector plays a large and important role in helping achieve the objectives of this vision. Moreover, the positive performance of the local tourism sector is an important addition to successful achievements of Sharjah, which has also been named World Book Capital 2019 by the Director-General of UNESCO.”

Dubai-based hospitality and travel group company First and Foremost Travel Connections, is launching a dynamic B2B hotel booking system at Arabian Travel Market 2019, having recently signed a partnership agreement with UK hotel and travel distribution company Centrium Systems. “We will market Centrium’s cloud-based software, throughout the Middle East, Indian Ocean, SE Asia and Africa. Through its XML gateway, we can provide direct connectivity between hotels and resorts and contracted blue chip tour operators, many of which feature international brands. In addition, we can offer real time availability, instant, dynamic rate adjustment, up-to-date inventory control, along with instant reservation and confirmation,” commented Michael Scully, Managing Director, First and Foremost Hospitality Group. “The travel industry is a highly fragmented market with an overwhelming number of wholesalers and tour operators, each with their own specifications, policies and procedures. As such it is Centrium’s simplicity and effectiveness that are the keys to its success,” added Scully. Centrium accommodates a much simpler and most importantly, a cost-effective and time sensitive shortcut to integrate disparate channels, by acting as a single hub or gateway for multiple hotel wholesalers. The gateway requires minimal installation and can also be connected to any existing booking engine or GDS.  “Centrium’s distribution model reaches over 100 tour operators, 6,000 travel agents and through more than 100 direct connections interfaces with major tour operators such as British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays and dnata, to name but a few,” said Scully. With increased visibility and direct connectivity between hotels and tour operators, hotels can offer tour operators an open inventory, giving them access to the hotel’s inventory through their property management system (PMS) to make direct bookings from their allocation or to free-sell …

In the run up to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, Jannah Hotels & Resorts, the UAE’s leading luxury halal hotel brand, has announced that it is expanding its footprint in the UAE by adding two new properties to its current portfolio. Jannah Dubai Creek, a new four-star upscale hotel in Dubai is scheduled to open its doors to the public in September 2019. The 138-room hotel will feature five food and beverage outlets, a private swimming pool, gym and spa as well as a multitude of innovative features, including a seamless check-in experience, highlighting Jannah’s continued focus on technology. The popular hotel chain is also opening a 57-storey property in Sharjah in 2022.  Located in one of the most exciting areas of the city, world-class amenities at Jannah Ras Al Khor will include a private swimming pool, state-of-the-art health club, children’s play area, cafes and restaurants. These strategic and exciting developments will be showcased at the Jannah stand at ATM 2019, according to Richard Haddad, CEO of Jannah Burj Al Sarab Hotel. “Strategic locations, coupled with Jannah’s unparalleled Arabian hospitality and some very symbiotic partnerships, have helped the brand register phenomenal growth in the past few years. At ATM 2019, we look forward to the opportunity to network with colleagues near and far to build new relationships whilst showcasing the niche hospitality services that have stood us in good stead,” Haddad said. “Be it Sharjah’s growing reputation as a cultural, tourism and leisure centre or the phenomenal growth we have seen in the Dubai Creek area, we are certain that our new properties will be just as successful in attracting discerning business and leisure travellers looking for five-star services, and …

Set to be held from April 30 to May 1, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa 2019 is expected to bring together airline specialists, aviation authorities, tourism boards, airports and tour operators, as well as other travel-related industry professionals. Fourteen airlines have already confirmed their participation at CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – co-located with Arabian Travel Market 2019 and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre. Senior network planning teams from Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia, Air Asia, EgyptAir, flyadeal, Ethiopian Airlines, Global Airways, Atlas Global, Germania, Mahan Air, Royal Air Maroc and Titan Airways will attend the inaugural route development forum. Throughout 2018, GCC airlines have added 58 new flight routes – focusing on areas of consistent and substantial growth – according to research from Colliers International – based on a sample of 10 airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Salaam Air, Oman Air, Gulf Air, Saudia, flyadeal, Air Arabia and IndiGo airlines. Karin Butot, CEO, The Airport Agency, said, “2018 has been an exciting year for new flight routes both to and from the GCC, underscoring Dubai as the ideal location to bring together professionals from the aviation and tourism industry for the inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa forum. With up to 400 delegates, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa 2019 will include unlimited one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments, a conference programme, panel discussions and airline and  industry briefings as well as an exhibition area dedicated to airports and suppliers.” Nick Pilbeam, Divisional Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, said, “It is an ideal base for exploring some of the world’s most interesting and previously inaccessible corners of the world. And the GCC’s airlines are making it even easier with the …