Tag Archives: Middle East

SEVEN  announced its plans for global franchise expansion. Since its inception in 2019, SEVEN has become synonymous with redefining the wellness experience through its integrated approach. Nestled in the heart of Dubai, SEVEN Wellness Club distinguishes itself by seamlessly blending physical fitness, mindfulness, relaxation, lifestyle, beauty, nutrition and recovery into a unified experience. SEVEN transcends traditional gym and spa concepts, offering a comprehensive and personalised approach that fits effortlessly into everyday life. Global Franchise Expansion: In a strategic move to share its unique wellness concept with the world, SEVEN has partnered with Francorp Middle East, a leading franchise development firm renowned for its expertise in expanding brands globally. Established in 1976 in Chicago, Francorp has been instrumental in the success of over 6,000 brands worldwide through its robust franchise development programme. Imad Charaf Eddine, Chairman and CEO of Francorp Middle East, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, saying, “SEVEN Wellness Club presents a distinctive concept in the wellness industry. Their comprehensive and innovative approach to wellness, coupled with their exceptional business model, makes them a standout. We are excited to support SEVEN in their journey to bring their unparalleled wellness experience to a global audience.” Invitation to Prospective Franchisees SEVEN is extending an invitation to potential investors, wellness enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs to join their growing family through this exciting franchise opportunity. With a proven track record and a reputation for excellence, SEVEN offers franchisees the chance to lead a thriving business while making a significant impact on the wellness industry. Prospective franchisees will have the opportunity to be part of an innovative and proven franchise model, enjoying substantial returns on investment while championing a transformative approach to wellness. The …

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM) has secured top positions globally among the most revered cultural and historical landmarks, according to the 2024 report of leading travel and tourism platform TripAdvisor. Recognition in the report, derived from the analysis of more than eight million data points provided by travellers of diverse nationalities, is a testament to the mosque’s universal appeal and the rich experiences it offers. SZGM’s unique cultural and historical experiences have earned it 10th place globally and the first position in the Middle East in the Top Attractions category among 25 world-class attractions. In the Top Experiences category, SZGM secured 17th place globally and second in the Middle East for the travel experience from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, which includes Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, and Etihad Towers. Furthermore, in the Cultural and Historical Experiences category, it ranked third globally, showing significant progress compared to 2023, with improvements of five ranks in the Attractions category, three in Experiences, and four in Cultural and Historical Experiences. His Excellency Dr Yousif Alobaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC), said: “The mosque’s realisation of this global milestone reflects the vision of our leadership. This accomplishment is the fruit of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre’s five-year strategic plan to enhance its services and offer visitors new experiences. These results also underscore the centre’s success in training over 250 young UAE Nationals in the field of cultural tour guidance and visitor services. These individuals are staff of the centre and graduates of the Ibn Al Dar programme, which is part of the AL Shabab AL Banie initiative. They are responsible for delivering more than 5,000 cultural tours annually within …

The China Visitors Summit (CVS) with TravTalkME as media partner, scheduled for September 5-6 in Dubai, is set to provide a pivotal platform for hotel properties across the UAE. This unique event will welcome over 120 Chinese travel agents, tour operators, MICE managers, corporate travel planners, wholesalers, luxury agents, and media representatives. This year, the summit has expanded its program to include an extensive schedule of hotel site inspections. These sessions are designed to give Chinese buyers a comprehensive, firsthand look at the participating hotel properties’ amenities and services. Groups of buyers, typically ranging from 20 to 25 individuals per session, will have the exclusive opportunity to be hosted by hotels, offering them an in-depth onsite experience. Since its inception in 2008, CVS has successfully attracted highly qualified Chinese travel buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. These paying delegates actively seek to establish connections with local travel suppliers including hotels, attractions, museums, shopping centers, and other destinations. Unlike traditional conferences and exhibitions, CVS facilitates direct, experiential interactions between travel buyers and suppliers at the actual hotel properties. This immersive approach is unparalleled in its effectiveness for showcasing hotel offerings directly to decision-makers in the travel industry. There is no better way to market and promote your hotel property than to demonstrate its value firsthand to this select group of influential buyers.

Dubai is among the highest demand cities globally joining London, Paris, New York and Barcelona, according to the latest insights shared by MarketHub Europe, by HBX Group. Among the travel trends from Middle East: the relevance of last-minute bookings. Markets such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France continue to be key outbound markets for tourism to the region. Last-minute bookings are crucial in this market, where they account for more than 40% of the total. The average stay is around 3 nights, and Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Mecca are among the most popular destinations. Among the top ten favourites, Doha shows up as one of the fastest growing options. Türkiye. Regaining its position as an issuing country. Antalya and Istanbul are the most popular destinations in Türkiye. According to data from HBX Group, in addition to domestic tourism, the main source market for Türkiye is the Middle East and, from Europe, Germany is particularly strong. Bookings made by travellers from Türkiye have grown by more than 50% compared to 2019 and already exceed the bookings recorded last year. Among the most popular choices are domestic destinations, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France in Europe, as well as the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. Carlos Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer of HBX Group, highlighted the increasingly important role of Gen Z and their consumer habits in defining travel trends: “With a clear focus on last-minute bookings and a preference for package tours, Generation Z is already reshaping the way the industry operates. In addition, their high awareness of sustainability clearly shapes their travel choices.” HBX Group has registered a 25% increase in searches on its platforms, now totalling …

dnata Travel Management is partnering with International SOS to introduce its pioneering duty of care services to its hundreds of clients across the region. The ‘Travel Risk Management Program’ by International SOS is now available as an add-on service to dnata Travel Management’s regional client base. Organisations can benefit from International SOS’ comprehensive travel risk management programs, from assessing processes for travel risk management to mitigating any risks associated with travel. Companies will also have access to its 24/7 global assistance, medical and security evacuations, intelligence and monitoring tools, location-based alerts, and much more. Since 2019, dnata Travel Management surveys have consistently indicated that employee wellbeing and engagement are top priorities for corporate clients in the Middle East. Other priorities included savings and cost control, sustainability, and expense management. Savio Vaz, Vice President Government and Corporate Travel at the dnata Travel Group, commented: “Our service requirements as a Travel Management Company (TMC) have grown significantly. The post-pandemic reopening of more countries and a growing preference for in-person meetings has fuelled a growth in corporate travel. Heads of businesses travelling across the region and beyond are ensuring now more than ever that employee wellbeing, engagement, and duty of care remain at the top of the agenda. We continue to evolve our offering to meet the needs of our corporate traveller base.” Sebastien Bedu, General Manager Middle East at International SOS, added: “We are delighted to partner with dnata Travel Management and extend our robust preventive programmes to its corporate travel clients across the Middle East. Post-pandemic, the health and wellbeing of employees has become a business imperative and a top priority for the leadership agenda with a growing awareness around Duty …

UN Tourism’s member states in the Middle East have looked to the future, coming together to focus on boosting investments into the sector and growing new products to build resilience and expand inclusivity. The Regional Commission for the Middle East welcomed high-level delegations from 13 Member States, including eight Ministers of Tourism. Welcoming delegates, UN Tourism Secretary-General invited all Members to join him in celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Commission, noting that, over the course of 50 meetings, they have worked together to grow tourism both in size and in impact right across the region. Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili provided Members with an update on the Organization’s work since the Commission last met (Jordan, June 2023), with special attention to key priorities of tourism education, jobs and investments. Opening the meeting he said: “Now, we can confidently say that the Middle East is a true global tourism leader. Not just in terms of arrivals, but the region is influencing our sector’s development everywhere in the world. It is a hub of tourism innovation and education. And it is a leading investor, backing big ideas and ambitious projects with the power to transform tourism at every level.” Now, we can confidently say that the Middle East is a true global tourism leader. Not just in terms of arrivals, but the region is influencing our sector’s development everywhere in the world. More diverse, more innovative tourism Following the reports of the Secretary-General and the Regional Director for the Middle East, the focus switched to building a more diverse, resilient and innovative sector. Reflecting UN Tourism’s commitment to build resilience and create opportunities through diversification, the significant potential of wellness tourism for the region …

UN Tourism has presented a new volume of its “Tourism Doing Business: Investment Guidelines”, this time with a focus on the investment potential of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The report was launched at the Conference “Investing in Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Financing”, part of the 50th UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East. Elaborated in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan, the guide provides a comprehensive overview of the socioeconomic reality of the Kingdom, its tourism performance, and investment opportunities. In front of an audience composed of high-level officials, investors, and experts from across the region, UN Tourism highlighted the appealing value proposal of the country, which counts with globally recognized UNESCO World Heritage sites, a New Wonder of the World, Petra, and unique natural attractions with celebrated therapeutic benefits. H.E. Mr. Makram Queisi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, affirmed: “One of Jordan’s driving forces of recovery is the active and solid partnership we have with the private sector. The government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has embarked on legislative reforms targeting investment as a whole by introducing a new investment law and also significant reforms in the tourism law. These reforms are the result of direct and continuous dialogue with the private sector. We are taking solid steps into transforming Jordan into a haven for investors, and with the help of our formidable partnership with UN Tourism and the introduction of the UN Tourism investment guide of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan we are on the right track”. Natalia Bayona, UN Tourism Executive Director, who presented the report’s content at the conference, stated: “Jordan …

Middle East government policy and its pivotal role in the growth of tourism and hospitality sectors globally fell under the spotlight on the second day of The Hotel Show, the undisputed flagship event for the Middle East’s hospitality industry. Speaking during the opening session of the Hospitality Leadership and F&B Forum, Nadeem Zaman, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Rua Al Madinah Holding in Saudi Arabia, explained his company, which is PIF-owned, has a mandate to build 47,000 keys over the next 10 years. The Kingdom as a whole expects to add around a quarter of a million keys by 2030, while the objective is for international tourism to triple from around 26 million to 75 million within that same period. Such goals are impossible without intricate collaboration between government and developers, be it in terms of legislation, policy, or even societal development in general. “It’s all about understanding how we can align interests to make this a win-win situation for everyone,” said Zaman, whose company is partnering with local universities and vocational training hubs to help Saudi citizens earn qualifications and enter the hospitality industry. “Hilton, who we’ve also signed with, have as of today 55 per cent of their workforce Saudi nationals and the first female GM of Hilton was put into Makkah. Imagine that, even five years ago, that was never something that anyone could even contemplate, so it’s about keeping an open mind.” Later in the afternoon, the subject of government policy was raised again during a session on sustainability in hospitality. Highlighting last year’s COP 28 summit and the UAE Government’s engagement, John Timson, Accor’s Vice President for Sustainability and Safety – Premium across the Middle East, …

According to IATA’s outlook report, the Middle East benefits from the strength of both the region’s economies and its global hubs. The United Arab Emirates continues to benefit from its attractiveness to both leisure and business travellers.  Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s massive investments in infrastructure and tourism are delivering robust growth in passenger and cargo volumes. Although airlines continue to add capacity, yields remain healthy and the demand for travel remains buoyant and looks set to continue apace. Geopolitical risks are the main threat, especially to the Levant carriers. The Gulf carriers are relatively less impacted unless tensions between Iran and Israel escalate.   2023 Net Profit (e) (margin) (per passenger) 2024 Net Profit (f) (margin) (per passenger) 2024 Demand (RPK) 2024 Capacity (ASK) $3.1 billion (4.9%) ($12.70) $3.8 billion (5.3%) ($15.20) +9.3% +10.8%

According to IATA’s latest April research data, Middle Eastern airlines saw a 14.2% year-on-year increase in demand with capacity increased 9.9% year-on-year and the load factor increased +3.0ppt to 79.3% compared to April 2023. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), was up 11.0% compared to April 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 9.6% year-on-year. The April load factor was 82.4% (+1.0ppt compared to April 2023). International demand rose 15.8% compared to April 2023; capacity was up 14.8% year-on-year and the load factor improved to 82.2% (+0.7ppt on April 2023). Domestic demand rose 4.0% compared to April 2023; capacity was up 2.1% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6% (+1.5ppt compared to April 2023). “Passenger demand has been growing for 36 consecutive months. As we enter the peak northern summer travel season, there is every reason to feel optimistic for a strong summer with airlines offering a wide range of travel options. 97% of passengers asked in our recent survey said they were satisfied with their last flight. Every part of the travel value chain needs to be focused on maintaining that,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. The IATA Passenger Survey also revealed 88% agreement that ’air travel makes my life better’. “That’s an important motivation as our members gather for the IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai next week. This strong endorsement of the power of air connectivity to transform lives and boost economies brings with it a challenge that will also be on the minds of all attending. It is critically important that we achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 so that people can continue to …