Tag Archives: luxury travel

As the holy month of Ramadan dawns, the Maldives extends a warm invitation to travelers seeking a distinctive and serene Ramadan experience. During these 30 days, observed across the archipelago of the Maldives, individuals engage in fasting, prayer, reflection, and community activities. Exploring the Maldives during holy month of Ramadan or during Eid Holidays offer a unique chance to immerse oneself in its rich history and culture, featuring a diverse array of museums, historic sites, and cultural landmarks. Take part in community events and experience the genuine hospitality of the Maldivian people. Find your own piece of soul soothing experiences in a well-deserved getaway in the Maldives. Its selection of luxury resorts provides a serene and reflective atmosphere ideal for mindfulness and meditation. This peaceful escape offers travelers a break from their bustling lives, allowing them to reconnect with themselves.   Combine this with an exploration of the many secluded islands and stays in private overwater villas for a private and intimate Ramadan retreat. Discover properties with exclusive prayer spaces, iftar experiences, and serene surroundings for reflection and spiritual rejuvenation. Ayada Maldives – discover peace and serenity on this private island and receive 20% discount on stays booked before 29 February 2024. Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi – Located in Shaviyani Atoll, its 120 luxury villas connect you to the natural beauty of this secluded island. Book your stay by 29 March and get 10% discount on a minimum of 2 nights stay. Noku Maldives – Experience an adventure at Noku Maldives in Noonu Atoll by booking directly to enjoy benefits for two, including seaplane transfers, guided snorkeling tour, a dolphin or fishing trip, a massage, and a 15% discount …

The value of the global luxury travel sector stood at an estimated $1.28 trillion in 2022, according to figures from Grand View Research. The market is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% during the period 2023-30. This upward trend is reflected in the Middle East, where the majority of respondents from both the UAE (74%) and KSA (69%) told researchers from Marriott Bonvoy that they were planning to spend more on their vacations in 2023 compared to previous years. High-spending travellers are willing to pay extra for experiences that do not detrimentally impact the communities or ecosystems in which they are located, according to YouGov’s Global travel & tourism whitepaper 2023: Luxury travel post-pandemic. More than three-fifths (61%) of UAE residents say they are willing to pay a premium for responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences, demonstrating that consumers no longer see the luxury segment as being limited to indulgence. With brands such as Kerzner International’s Atlantis The Palm, Mandarin Oriental Dubai (BVI) Limited, Jumeirah International LLC, Air Charter Service, Hyatt International, Mayfair Jets, Minor Hotel Group, Nirvana Holding, The Leading Hotels of the World and Desert Gate Tourism having already confirmed their attendance, ATM 2024 will welcome a diverse selection of luxury travel exhibitors from across the Middle East and beyond. The exhibition will provide an ideal forum for attendees from every corner of the globe to explore the shifting landscape of luxury travel, including future trends and innovations, entrepreneurial drivers and opportunities for growth. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “By incorporating luxury travel as a sub-theme at ATM 2024, we are aligning our event with the future of travel. This …

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration within the Middle East’s luxury travel sector, especially in the UAE where 61% of residents say they are willing to pay a premium for more responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences. Trends and opportunities within the high-end travel segment will represent key focuses throughout the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will run from 1-4 May 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). According to YouGov’s Global Travel & Tourism Whitepaper 2023: Luxury travel post-pandemic, one in 10 consumers has stayed in luxury eco-friendly accommodation during the past three years. This trend is especially prevalent among high-income travellers, whose sustainable luxury hotel stays have increased by 50% during the same period. The UAE topped global rankings in terms of the value placed on exploring, with almost two-thirds (58%) of respondents reporting that travel has become more important to them since the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of luxury travel priorities, a quarter of those living in the Emirates are looking for great entertainment, whereas 19% place the biggest emphasis on premium-quality accommodation when booking trips. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The Middle East has developed an unparalleled international reputation for luxury tourism, with consumers across the region placing a high value on bespoke, memorable and environmentally responsible experiences. This is especially pertinent given ATM 2023’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’. Industry leaders will be showcasing the innovative ways in which they are delivering luxury, sustainable travel experiences across the Gulf and beyond.” In addition to sustainable luxury travel, consumers’ appetite for authentic excursions is also on the rise within this segment. Over half (51%) of affluent tourists have …

KlasJet and an ACMI leasing service provider, recently introduced the Boeing BBJ2 to the Middle East market and now is continuing its expansion in the region. The company has announced plans to operate a luxurious Boeing 737 from a base in Dubai, catering to the growing demand for exclusive private and corporate air travel in the area. With the Middle East being one of the fastest-growing business aviation markets in the world, KlasJet has identified a potential niche in the region. “The Middle East market was dominated by smaller business jets and 2-class configuration aircraft,” explains Lukas Petrauskas, CCO at KlasJet. “However, there was a lack of options for larger groups or delegations. Therefore, we are confident that our luxury Boeing 737 will be an ideal choice for extended families, sports teams, business travellers, and political delegations who require a comfortable and convenient mode of travel for their group.” The Boeing 737, exclusively designed by KlasJet, features 68 spacious and comfortable business-class seats, ensuring a luxurious and high-quality experience for all passengers onboard. The aircraft is meticulously crafted with attention to detail, offering subtle yet luxurious touches throughout the cabin to enhance the travel experience. Aside from a unique aircraft interior layout, KlasJet also offers exceptional passenger care. “We believe in delivering an all-encompassing experience that surpasses our clients’ expectations. We pay attention to even the smallest details, both inside and outside the private jet, to create a personalised and exceptional travel experience. Our crew members are well-trained in various fields such as human psychology, fine dining, sommelier courses, protocol-related behaviour, professional presentation, and culture-specific nuances, including tailored cabin crew uniforms that adhere to specific cultural norms,” he explains. In …

Malta’s delegation at the AVIAREPS Travel Caravan included DMC’s that promote luxury and MICE travel. Middle East is an emerging market to Malta at present, but once the borders opened, there had been a surge from this market towards Malta. Speaking with Travel TV, Chris Micallef, General Manager Avon Brockdorff Services Limited, “This is a relatively a new market for us, we represent an agency Malta DMC where we specialise in MICE, Events, groups and conferences, meetings as well as luxury travel so it was nice to meet people and showcase what Malta offers in this sector and it does offer quite a lot in this sector and value for money. A lot of people are not aware of the many offerings available in Malta so basically the agents asked questions about what you can do for incentives, is there enough conference space, facilities, hotels, also what I explained was that Malta is a small country its only 27km long and you don’t spend more time there. We also spoke about cuisine which is another attraction of the destination.” Damon Camilleri Allan, Exclusively Malta, a luxury DMC in the Maltese islands shared, “It’s a privilege to be here, it’s a unique situation as we represent luxury travel as well as small group travel what that means is when we say luxury it doesn’t always mean the price tag rather the exclusivity, uniqueness and private nature of the experiences for guests. The uniqueness of our storyline is Malta is the ultimate Mediterranean experience because of our relationship with partners, artisans, farmers etc we can offer exclusivity which no one else can have which we believe our clients from this region would really …

Yango, an international ride-hailing app, has launched in Dubai, marking the company’s first foray into the GCC market.  The service received all necessary permissions and was approved by local authorities to operate in the emirate. The service already operates in more than 20 countries across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. “We are delighted to officially announce the launch of our service in Dubai, one of the most influential economic centres in the region, attracting investments and people from all over the world. We believe there is high demand for a premium, high-tech, ride-hailing service, and the highest standards of service, attention to detail and smart technologies that Yango brings to customers can really make a big change. We are excited to present users in Dubai with an advanced ride-hailing service like no other,” said Islam Abdul Karim, general manager for Yango GCC. To hail a car, all users have to do is download the app, launch it, and select their destination. Using the customer’s geolocation, the service will alert the nearest drivers. Users have a choice of two tiers to choose from for their rides: Comfort, granting them pick-ups in premium cars, such as Lexus ES, and Premier tariff, ensuring users luxury cars, including GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes S-class, BMW 7 Series cars as well as promising a supreme level of customer service for a slightly higher price. Vehicles from both tiers will provide phone-charging cables and bottles of water, while the Premier tier also offers passengers dates. Unlike other players, Yango provides quick car dispatches thanks to its exclusively developed technologies that help reduce the time a driver spends seeking a customer or driving to …

Two in five intend to take an international trip in the next 12 months as compared to three in ten who want to travel domestically. As global travel opens up after two years of restrictions amidst the pandemic,  YouGov’s latest report “Youth of Today, Travel of Tomorrow” reveals more than two in five Gen Zs (those aged 18-24 years) in the UAE (43%) said they intend to travel abroad for leisure in the next 12 months, with intent for international travel within this cohort being one of the highest across the globe. The report aims to understand Gen Zs globally, explores what matters to them as well as uncovers their expectations from travel, and identifies the best ways to connect and engage with this generation of travellers. Data from the whitepaper shows that three quarters of Gen Zs across the globe plan to undertake some form of travel in the next 12 months (75%). By comparing Gen Z’s future intent to take domestic or international vacations across 25 surveyed markets, we find that those in Asian countries like Indonesia (57%), Thailand (55%) and Malaysia (54%) have a greater desire to vacation domestically in the next 12 months. On the other hand, those in Europe, particularly Germany (50%), Denmark (47%) and France (43%), are more inclined to go for an international vacation. Gen Zs in the UAE stand out in terms of international travel sentiment, with a higher proportion planning to take an international trip than domestic in next 12 months (43% VS 30%). For this study we connected research from our syndicated solutions including, YouGov Global Travel Profiles, YouGov Global Profiles, and YouGov BrandIndex whilst also leveraging YouGov Custom Research. …