Cruise Saudi Managing Director Fawaz Farooqui shared about Aman at Sea, Cruise Saudi’s joint venture with Aman, which is a new ultra-luxury yacht aimed at Very High Net Worth (VHNW) travellers. “Aman is a truly unique brand, it’s authentic intent is to provide a level of service, which is a home away from home, that is peerless in every way.” The 183-metre superyacht Aman at Sea will have 47 spacious suites along with a full spectrum of luxury amenities including an Aman-style spa with Japanese relaxation garden, several international Michelin-quality restaurants, and an on-board beach club, giving guests access to the water from the stern of the yacht. Aman at Sea is expected to be ready for cruising by 2027. Fawaz revealed the new Aman at Sea ultra-luxury yacht will have a 2:1 crew ratio to guests, placing a priority on the guest space ratio, along with creating the biggest suites in the industry. Speaking about what makes Saudi a premium destination, Fawaz said it was Saudi’s warm hospitality, authenticity, culture, and nature that made it such a valuable proposition. “We are sitting on thousands of years of heritage. Saudi used to be part of the Incense Route and we have a civilisation that goes back four or five thousand years BC,” Fawaz added.

Colliers in their latest research paper shared about Ras Al Khaimah 2023 and beyond, where the emirate is on its way to expanding opportunities and game changers. In the report it is revealed that the 2030 vision of Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) is to attract over 3 million visitors and increase the overall attractiveness of the emirate, making tourism one of the most important sectors and focus for Ras Al Khaimah’s (RAK) GDP growth. This paper looks at the emirate’s growing hospitality market, its resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and the announcement of the Wynn Al Marjan Island Resort. In order to achieve the emirate’s target of attracting over 3 million visitors by 2030, a number of strategies have been implemented including financial stimulators, multimillion investments in Jebel Jais projects and the introduction of the region’s first integrated resort – Wynn Al Marjan Island. Looking ahead, RAK has already announced approximately 5,000 keys to open in the next 5 years, in addition to the 1,200 keys that will be offered by the Wynn resort following its opening in 2026. The introduction of the Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to bring multiple benefits including job creation, increased visitation and global image enhancement. The region’s first integrated resort may act as a gateway to further develop the emirate’s alternative tourist segment, inviting more investment in eco-concepts with themes of sustainability and conservation. During the COVID-19 period, RAK was able to shift its focus to domestic tourism, thus minimising the impact of the pandemic on hospitality performance. In 2022, with the return of inbound tourism and growing competition from other destinations, occupancy was impacted and post-COVID-19 performance has yet …

Continent Worldwide Hotels announced the signing of a management agreement between Continent Worldwide Hotels and Bin Daajam Hotel Company to operate existing Al Ertiqaa Hotel Jeddah. The hotel will be upgraded and renamed as the Continent Al Ertiqaa Hotel, Jeddah, and will be a full-service hotel.  “This is the second agreement signed with Bin Daajam Hotel Company, as the Riyadh property is already being operated as the Continent Al Waha Hotel since December 2022” said Shady Boueiry, Managing Director MENA & Principal of Continent Arabia C/O S.H.S LTD, Lebanon, who holds the Exclusive Master Franchise rights of the Continent Hotels & Resorts brand in the region, said, “It is the proof of trust in our brands and services provided to our stakeholders in the region” The new Continent Al Ertiqaa Hotel Jeddah is located in the Hera Street district, just a 13-minute drive from King Abdulaziz airport. Guests can access Al Tayebat International City within 6 km from the hotel, while Mandarin Avenue is around 15 minutes’ walk away. The hotel is also 4.3 km from Billy beez and other main attractions of Jeddah. The hotel has 80 rooms with a mini-kitchen and a dressing room. A flat-screen TV with satellite channels and wireless Internet along with a mini bar fridge and coffee/tea makers are provided. Self-catering facilities include a microwave oven and kitchenware. Offering comforts like hair dryers and shower caps, the bathrooms also feature a bidet, a roll-in shower and a sink. The hotel will have various dining options such as Continent’s trademark fine dining restaurant “People” and at the “Aromas Coffee Shop” including Turkish and Western Cuisine, open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner both buffet and a …

Emirates has now restored its full Japanese network with the resumption of its passenger services to Tokyo-Haneda on 2 April 2023, further building on the airline’s continued expansion in the Southeast Asia region. Operated by one of Emirates’ latest Boeing 777 “Game Changer” aircraft, flight EK312 departed from Dubai on 2 April at 7:50hrs, and arrived in Haneda at 22:35hrs. The return flight EK313 departed from Haneda on 3 April at 00:05hrs and arrived in Dubai at 06:20hrs. All times are local time. Satish Sethi, Emirates’ Country Manager in Japan, said: “We’re very excited for the continued development of our Japanese network and are especially thankful to the local authorities and our partners for their support and for working with us on providing seamless global connectivity for Japanese travelers.  We’ve been present in the market for more than 20 years and are thoroughly pleased to finally return to Tokyo-Haneda, as we look forward to supporting the increasing demand for international travel. The night flight from Haneda offers valuable connectivity for travellers to access Emirates’ points beyond Dubai, in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East regions.” In addition to Tokyo-Haneda, Emirates also operates daily services to Tokyo-Narita and Osaka. From these points, the airline offers passengers access to 24 additional domestic cities in Japan through its codeshare partnership with Japan Airlines. Japanese travellers can also benefit seamless access to more than 130 destinations across 6 continents via Dubai, including popular destinations such as Italy, Spain, US, France and UK. Tickets can be booked on www.emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via travel agents. Travellers are also encouraged to check the latest entry requirements. From First Class through to the Business and Economy …

JW Marriott  announced the opening of JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Sitting within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge is a sophisticated and thoughtful sanctuary from which to discover nature and breathtaking vistas in harmony. Exhilarating guided game drives offer guests the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” that Masai Mara is home to, including lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants. Between June and September, the reserve is host to the annual great wildebeest migration, which sees more than 10 million animals travel a distance of 1,800 miles from the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania. “Fostering meaningful connections and nourishing the soul is at the heart of the JW Marriott brand, so entering the luxury safari segment is a natural next step,” said Bruce Rohr, Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “Offering our guests once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a deep connection to place, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge balances the thrill of a game drive with thoughtful opportunities to switch off and take it all in. We are excited to welcome travellers to a transformative and wellness-forward stay delivered with JW Marriott’s legacy of extraordinary hospitality.” The lodge’s elegant interiors, designed by Kristina Zanic Consultants, seamlessly blend the savannah inwards, drawing inspiration from the elements with soft, warm tones, natural materials and textures, and native colours thread through its design. Each of the lodge’s 20 private tents provide a peaceful sanctuary to recharge and reset, and feature terraces overlooking the River Talek, a water source and habitat for many wildlife. The tented honeymoon suite offers a private plunge …

Adrenark Adventure, the largest adventure park in the region located in Al Qana, is set to open on the first day of Eid, offering a wide range of exciting physical activities for visitors of all ages. Adrenark Adventure features over 20 thrilling activities across a 54,000 square feet area, including the UAE’s first multi-level e-karting track, LED slides, treasure caves, bungee trampolines, and much more. The park is designed to provide a fun, interactive, and exciting experience for the whole family, with activities catering to people of all ages and fitness levels. Some of the most spine-tingling activities include the ‘Through the Roof’ drop tower that literally transports you through the roof, a Stunt Bag jump from a height of 10m, Climbing Walls for rock climbing, and mixed-height obstacle Rope Courses. Aerial adventure seekers can glide through the air on the Speed Glider at Adrenark Adventure.  In this fun-filled adventure activity, participants wear a harness and sit in a roller glider, which is attached to the cable. Other key attractions at Adrenark include the kaleidoscopic ride with LED slides and treasure caves. “We are thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of Adrenark Adventure, the region’s largest indoor adventure park, which will offer a diverse range of thrilling activities for visitors of all ages. From our multi-level e-karting track to our climbing walls to the treasure caves, each activity offered by Adrenark Adventure confirms our commitment to providing visitors with a fun, interactive, and immersive experience. We are confident that Adrenark will quickly become a must for thrill seekers and families alike,” says Paul Hamilton, General Manager of Adrenark Adventure. There is plenty for the little ones as well, with rides, …

Sabre Corporation and American Airlines announced the availability of American’s NDC offers through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS). Starting on April 3, Sabre-connected travel buyers, agencies and developer partners will be able to shop, book, and service American’s NDC content, including paid seats, through Sabre’s Offer and Order APIs, the agency point-of-sale tool, Sabre Red 360, and the online booking tool, GetThere. “We are committed to providing our customers with a modern, seamless retailing experience across all channels,” said Thomas Rajan, vice president, global sales at American Airlines. “Through Sabre’s network of travel retailers, we’ll be able to provide our enhanced, rich NDC content to travelers worldwide. This will open new business opportunities to American as well as our travel retail partners, and deliver a better, more tailored experience to the customers we all serve.” Travel buyers connected to the Sabre GDS will be able to choose enhanced offers from American such as the Main Select and Flagship Business Plus fares, ancillary products and the lowest fares available in these channels. They will also have access to more descriptive information on American’s flight offers as well as seat selection enabled in the booking path. “We are excited to reach this milestone with American Airlines and look forward to our ongoing collaboration to provide travel buyers with the offers and services their travelers want,” said Kathy Morgan, Vice President, NDC and Airline Supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. “While it is still early days for NDC bookings, making this rich NDC content from the world’s largest airline available in Sabre channels is an important step towards the maturing and scaling of NDC distribution.”

With its prime position on the pristine northern Mediterranean coast, Rixos Alamein is pleased to announce its reopening this summer season 2023, and welcome guests with modernity and elegance while still associating the rich culture and heritage of El Alamein. This opulent resort provides guests with breathtaking panoramic views with a vibrant splash of colors of the desert with glittering blue sea and pristine white sands, perfected with lush gardens and green palm trees.  Apart from the relaxing scenery, Rixos Alamein offers an exquisite line-up of activities and leisure to bask in, sophisticated rooms and suites to loosen up, private cabanas, and commendable restaurants with top-class chefs creating flavors to take you on a spectacular gastronomic journey. Youngsters can have a blast too! As the Rixy Kids Club offers them a haven where they can create the best memories, make friendships, and wallow in endless hours of activities under the watchful eye of the specialist staff. Mr. Erkan Yildirim, Managing Director of Rixos Hotels Egypt, said, “We are thrilled to announce that one of our luxurious properties, Rixos Alamein is ready and looking forward to welcoming its guest once again with more state-of-the-art facilities and well-curated entertainment and activities awaiting ahead. And we always aim to serve our guests with world-class hospitality service and to be a curator of memorable experiences.”

After most of the multi-billion dollar airport construction projects were put on the back burner or temporarily curtailed over the past three years, operators and investors have been racing down the tarmac as the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions are expected to account for 58 per cent of the global air passenger demand in 2040. The CAPA – Centre for Aviation, one of the world’s most trusted sources of aviation market intelligence, says there have been 425 major construction projects at existing airports, with US$450.7 billion in total committed expenditure globally, each of which is at various stages, from preparatory to about to conclude, along with 225 new airport projects and airport investor numbers swelling to 1074, including 258 airport operator groups or consortiums. Its database has region-wise listed the total numbers of the airport project and the volume of investment include 155 in Middle East worth US$209.4 billion. The Middle East region, positioned at the strategic crossroads of major economies of Asia, Africa and Europe, has transformed into a major international hub and continues to be an inspirational growth story. With over 110 airports, this is already among the fastest growing in the world, accounting for 170 million of the global traffic. Airports in the Middle East will need to invest US$151 billion in capacity expansion as the global air passenger demand is expected to increase more than two-fold in 2040. “This necessitates an investment totaling US$2.4 trillion for Middle East and Asia-Pacific airports until 2040 to accommodate this growth,” the Airport Council International said.  The ACI forecasts close to 19.7 billion passengers are expected to traverse the world’s airports by 2040 and the Middle East airports will handle …

The Dubai International Boat Show 2023 concluded recently at Dubai Harbour, after showcasing the latest sustainable innovations and advancements in the yachting industry. The 29th edition of the show saw prominent yacht manufacturers accelerate efforts to promote environmental sustainability, in line with the increasing demand for greener yachts and an industry-wide movement towards protecting our oceans. The Middle East’s largest and most established boat show was a proud industry changemaker attracting exhibitors showcasing eco-friendly materials and electric engines, as well as other solutions aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the yachting and water sports industries. Prominent distributors and brands leading the charge include Silent Yachts, as well as the JLS Training Institute, OKTA core, Magonis, Cummins Arabia, Sunkiss, Ocean 360, and the GEMS Education network. While some emerging energy technologies are still in various stages of development, a number of options available today can make a big difference. Silent Yachts, which exhibited at Dubai International Boat Show 2023 for the first time, produces the first ocean-going production yachts in the world powered by solar energy, which is used to charge the batteries and run the electric motor. According to General Manager Ahmed Almousawi: “This makes them carbon-free and the process is as sustainable as can be. They are called Silent Yachts because they truly are silent; you won’t hear any noises or feel any vibrations as you would from a traditional yacht fuel engine. Not only does this make the yachting experience more pleasurable, but it also protects the coral reefs and the marine life.” As the exclusive UAE dealer for the Ferretti Group brands, including Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing and Itama; Ocean 360 has seen greater integration of …