Wego and Azerbaijan tourism board invites travelers to discover Azerbaijan in all seasons.  The two companies will join forces for a new campaign aiming to showcase Azerbaijan’s incredible attractions to MENA travelers. Building on the successful previous partnership, this collaboration will leverage Wego’s extensive reach and innovative marketing strategies to showcase Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality. In Azerbaijan, both summer and winter offer a wide range of exciting activities for each type of traveler. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said: “As we renew our partnership with Azerbaijan Tourism Board, we aim to inspire and guide travelers to explore the wonders of Azerbaijan and create a seamless and inspiring travel experience. We recorded over 830,000 searches globally to Azerbaijan this year and we are expecting to see an increase in the searches towards the summer.” During the summer months, the country’s beautiful coastal areas become a haven for beach lovers. Travelers can indulge in water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing. Additionally, the picturesque mountainous regions of Azerbaijan, such as the Greater Caucasus range, provide fantastic opportunities for hiking, trekking, and exploring scenic trails that lead to breathtaking vistas and hidden waterfalls. Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said: “In winter, Azerbaijan transforms into a winter wonderland, providing excellent opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. The country has premier ski resorts and offer world-class skiing and snowboarding facilities with a range of slopes suitable for beginners to advanced skiers. Additionally, the picturesque village of Gabala, located in the Tufandag Mountains, offers a charming winter retreat with opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and even enjoying horse-drawn sleigh rides through snowy landscapes.”

Dubai’s stature as a global meetings incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination continues to soar with the city registering a strong year-on-year growth of 44% in business event bid wins in the first half of 2023. The outstanding growth in the number of global events being hosted by the city contributes further to its economic growth in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, worked with partners and stakeholders to win 143 conferences, congresses, meetings and incentives in the first six months of 2023. These events – which will take place over the coming years – are expected to bring over 94,000 additional visitors to the city, including global experts and leaders in their respective fields. The surge in event wins serves as a testament to the dynamic momentum of growth witnessed not only within Dubai’s business events sector but also across its broader economy in recent years. The events captured include 24 association conferences, congresses and meetings, which are set to contribute to driving Dubai’s knowledge economy forward. Renewed growth from China alongside ongoing momentum from India contributed to 84 incentives won by the city. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, our focus on capturing business events that bring value to the city continues to deliver strong results. Dubai’s robust proposition, built not only on world-class business events infrastructure and …

Dubai Aviation City Corporation through its affiliated corporation Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate, announced the signing of an agreement with Dubai Insurance Co. PSC (DIN) to initiate a comprehensive Employee Protection Insurance programme for the employees of all Dubai South licensees registered under the Dubai Aviation City Corporation. This will come into effect starting August 2023. The agreement, which took place at Dubai South HQ, was signed by HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Abdellatif Abuqurah, CEO of Dubai Insurance, in the presence of senior executives from both entities. Dubai Aviation City Corporation as the licensing and the regulatory body of Dubai South Free Zone aims to create a protected environment for employees working within Dubai South. As such, this programme is designed to provide a safety net for employees in instances where Dubai South licensees may not meet their obligations, covering aspects such as unpaid salaries and end-of-service gratuities, repatriation costs of return for its employees or their mortal remains, and unreimbursed expenses. The programme will also be mandatory on all new employment visas and work permits, whereby employers must adopt this scheme to protect their employees. In contrast, for existing visas, this scheme will be mandatory during the renewal of residence visas. HE Khalifa Al Zaffin said: “This partnership aligns with the UAE’s strategic vision for employee rights and corporate governance. The implementation of the Employee Protection Insurance programme will significantly boost the confidence of our licensees, showcasing our unwavering dedication to fostering an exceptional working environment and reaffirming our commitment to upholding Dubai’s competitive position on the global stage.” …

Dubai Chambers has announced the launch of the Service Excellence Programme, a new initiative aimed at promoting an exceptional customer service culture, encouraging best practices within the private sector, and elevating customer service performance across the emirate. The programme is designed to evaluate the quality of customer experience delivered by private sector companies through mystery shopper reports. The initiative marks another significant milestone that advances the chambers’ role in supporting Dubai’s drive to achieve excellence in customer service and ensure the implementation of global best practices within the emirate’s business community. The Service Excellence Programme recognises the outstanding contributions of companies that embody Dubai’s vision for the future by delivering value-added services for their customers. The evaluation process includes a brand performance service category and a branch performance service category. Companies registered in the programme will receive surprise visits from mystery shoppers, with the results shared as part of a comprehensive report on a quarterly basis. His Excellency Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, commented: “The Service Excellence Programme represents a quantum leap in our efforts to foster excellence in customer service within the private sector and develop standards that align with Dubai’s vision for the future of business. The mystery shopper visits aim to drive a culture of continuous improvement and empower companies to excel in serving their customers, ultimately enhancing their brand reputations and ability to retain customers. In today’s business landscape, world-class customer service is a key pillar of success and a prerequisite for companies looking to boost their competitiveness in the market.” His Excellency added: “Our programme is a unique initiative that combines personal mystery shopper visits to the branches and headquarters of …

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) entered a landmark partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This exclusive agreement marks the first time a cruise line has partnered with GHA, bringing together two leading luxury brands in the travel sector. GHA DISCOVERY members, who have access to 800 hotels, resorts and palaces operated by 40 hotel brands in 100 countries, are rewarded with the program’s innovative rewards currency, DISCOVERY Dollars (D$1 equal to US$1). Through this exclusive partnership, the program’s 24 million members will now enjoy the additional benefit of earning D$ by reserving a voyage with Regent and will be able to redeem those benefits in any GHA hotel, resort and palace. GHA DISCOVERY members who reserve a Regent cruise will also be fast-tracked to GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status, which provides a number of benefits at GHA hotels and resorts worldwide. In addition, GHA members will receive a special welcome gift of champagne and chocolates to be enjoyed once on board their reserved voyage. “We are the perfect match, with Regent Seven Seas Cruises being the world’s leading luxury cruise line, offering itineraries that connect key cities across the globe, and GHA DISCOVERY uniting the world’s largest collection of luxury hotel brands, with some of the best hotels in the world in those same destinations,” said GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “This strategic partnership will expand our reach, provide more choice and rich new benefits to our customers; and for GHA, it will drive significant enrolments notably from key markets such as the U.S., generating incremental revenue to our hotel brands.” “We are delighted to partner with GHA to bring Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ unrivaled luxury experiences to even more discerning guests around …

“Dubai further consolidated its status as the world’s leading tourist destination in the first half of 2023. We welcomed more than 8.5 million international visitors in the first six months of the year while Dubai Financial Market (DFM)-listed companies recorded a total market value of AED652 billion. Dubai also strengthened its status as one of the world’s top three hubs for wealth owners, and one of the fastest-recovering cities since the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far this year, and the confidence that we have inspired in the global community,” His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, said Dubai continues to reinforce its position as a major global economic hub, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Emirates is celebrating 30 years of operations to Muscat, Oman. Since the inaugural flight in 1993, Emirates has carried 4.8 million passengers to and from the Sultanate on more than 37,200 flights, connecting travelers to and from 140 global destinations. Emirates first began operations to Oman with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with a four weekly services.  In 2019, Emirates launched the world’s shortest scheduled A380 flight, flying a distance of 340 kilometers each way from Dubai to Muscat, offering travelers the chance to experience Emirates’ iconic products and services, defined by comfort, luxury and flexibility. Over the years, Emirates SkyCargo has served as a facilitator for global trade, transporting over 155,000 tonnes of cargo to international markets. Emirates SkyCargo is supporting Omani businesses by exporting key local goods such as threads for garments to Amman, Nairobi and Pakistan as well as fresh produce such as fish, beans and vegetables to various destinations across Europe and US, in addition to the seasonal fresh beans to Japan. Creating further career opportunities within Oman, the Emirates Group employs over 40 Omanis, in multiple roles including cabin crew, pilots and other parts of the business such as Emirates Engineering, Emirates Airport Services and Airport Operations. Half of these employees have been with the Emirates Group for over 10 years, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a wide range of development prospects enabling employees to gain world-class expertise. Fahad Al Hassawi, Country Manager Oman at Emirates said: “Oman has been an important market for Emirates since the beginning of operations, providing flexible connections through Dubai to the wider world, for both passengers and air freight. Over the last three decades, we are …

The first-ever vertical urban resort from ultra-luxury hospitality brand One&Only is set to welcome guests from 1 December 2023. An architectural icon, One&Only One Za’abeel represents a captivating duality – a place where the untold charms of Dubai meet the palpable energy of the most futuristic city on Earth; where the garden meets the sky; and where the traditional horizontal resort has been reimagined into a vertical masterpiece. “Kerzner International has always challenged conventions – and our first One&Only Urban Resort is no exception. One&Only One Za’abeel redefines what it means to provide ultra-luxury hospitality in the heart of a city,” says Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “Our Urban Resorts have all the elements of One&Only’s DNA – life and energy, space and privacy, curated experiences and exceptional service – translated to a dynamic urban setting. Found in the most inspiring destinations on Earth, each One&Only resort is an exceptional one-off, celebrating the unique charisma of its location. Perpetually altering Dubai’s skyline, One Za’abeel is a landmark architectural development not just for the UAE, but for the world – and we’re thrilled to introduce our first Urban Resort in such a spectacular setting.” Rising above the city’s exclusive Za’abeel neighbourhood, overlooking Dubai’s glittering skyline, the resort is located in the One Za’abeel development by acclaimed architects Nikken Sekkei. A bold new vision of innovation and aspiration, One Za’abeel’s dual skyscrapers are dramatically intersected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link – a futuristic boulevard floating 100 metres above the street. In keeping with the unrivalled space and seclusion you’d expect from a One&Only resort, One&Only One Za’abeel’s expansive rooms, suites, and Villa One penthouse are amongst the largest …

Saudi Arabia (US$71.75) was the only other market to show a higher GOPPAR index over the previous month, at 102% of the 2022 comparable. Jordan’s GOPPAR level reached US$66.77 in May, showing a significant month-over-month increase (+34.1%). That level was 106% of what was seen in May 2022, but was down from the 369% index reported in April. Qatar reached a GOPPAR of US$37.95, down 20.9% year over year. The market, however, saw a month-over-month jump of 39.0% and was one of the only markets to show an improvement in the index (at 79% of May 2022 levels). Among key hotel markets in Middle East & Africa, Jordan and Qatar realized the only month-over-month  gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) improvements, according to STR’s May 2023 P&L data release. Key profitability metrics: TRevPAR – Total revenue per available room GOPPAR – Gross operating profit per available room EBITDA – Earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation, and amortization LPAR – Total labor costs per available room

Qatar Tourism has released the third edition of Qatar Now, a bi-annual edition that aims to enhance the visitor experience, encourage them to explore the destination, and give them a holistic view of the destination. This edition of the Qatar Now guide is divided into two parts , each focusing on a distinct aspect of Qatar. The first section of the guideline is titled “Vibrant Traditions,” where readers are taken on a captivating journey to learnabout Through it they learn about Qatar’s ancient heritage, and explore the customs and traditions of its people. The second section of the guide, titled ‘Modern Vision’, presents a diverse mix of content on innovation, mega projects and the workforce that have contributed to the evolution of Qatari society towards modernity. On this occasion, Mr. BeerWHold Trainkel, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, said: “The Qatar Guide now captures the depth of Qatari culture and highlights the destination’s tourism offerings to travellers from around the world. This edition of the guide is designed to reflect Qatar’s unique blend of authenticity and modernity, and highlights the innovative steps Qatar is taking to continue its progress.” The third edition of Qatar Now features a collection of inspiring stories by prominent local figures, offering a glimpse into the lives and experiences of Qataris who have made significant contributions to Qatar’s cultural and artistic scene. Prominent among these are Mr. Nasser Al-Attiyah, Qatar Tourism Brand Ambassador, Mr. Khalifa Haroun and Mr. Mubarak Al-Malik, who have left a distinctive mark on the creative scene in the country. The Qatar Guide is now an inspiration for families of young people coming to Qatar from around the world to design their trips, …