Sharjah Executive Council issued Decision No. (13) of 2022 amending its previous Decision on regulating the tour guide profession in the emirate. The amended law mandates Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) with overseeing and managing tour guides in the emirate, offering training programmes and refresher courses with a clear breakdown of fees. The Authority is also entitled to suspend or revoke a permit in case of violations, and has been tasked with examining the regulations in place in neighbouring emirates to hold accountable any individual practising the profession without the needed permits. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “As the government body entrusted with developing and leading the tourism sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority welcomes these new amendments by Sharjah Executive Council to regulate the tour guide profession in the emirate; they come at the perfect time as the  domestic tourism sector is enjoying a notable boom and the post-pandemic recovery continues to gain traction, promising even greater numbers of visitors in the stages ahead.” “We are committed to our mandate to ensure quality and excellence in Sharjah’s tourism offerings and services,” H.E. Al Midfa continued. “With that in mind, we will maintain and upgrade our procedures to implement the Executive Council Decision and the newly issued amendments, upholding our end of the responsibilities, as always. This creates a supporting and empowering environment for tour guides in Sharjah – most notably UAE citizens – to not only carry out their role, but also promote a positive and authentic image of the Emirate of Sharjah in the process.” The amended Decision prohibits any entity or organisation from employing …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced the launch of an enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives 2.0 programme at IMEX Frankfurt, the key industry-leading exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. The announcement made today unveiled the latest part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategy to further stimulate the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) sector in the emirate post-pandemic. With global destinations increasingly bidding and attracting corporate groups, the enhanced programme builds on the existing Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme, which was launched in 2019, to provide additional value-adds and benefits to meetings and incentives organisers looking to host events in the capital, in order to remain competitive as the MICE industry continues to reopen. The programme encourages organisers to ‘Get The Advantage’, leveraging the UAE capital’s reputation as delivering unrivalled hospitality in the world’s safest city, a place which offers extensive support alongside strategic initiatives, and a destination with a packed calendar of thrilling events. The revamped programme forms part of a wider, ongoing strategy to increase Abu Dhabi’s MICE market share and further establish the emirate as one of the world’s leading business events destinations. It follows the launch of several new initiatives, including a recent collaboration with Etihad Airways to offer benefits to corporate groups looking to hold business events in the capital, such as discounted air-tickets, group booking discounts, complimentary flights and special flight rates for inspection trips to Abu Dhabi. Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are delighted to launch our enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives programme which will enable us …

flydubai announced that it will resume operations to Abha in Saudi Arabia commencing 23rd June with a daily service. flydubai has built a network of more than 100 destinations in 50 countries served by a young fleet of 64 Boeing 737 aircraft. The carrier has recently resumed its operations to Gassim, Ha’il and Tabuk, and has launched its twice-weekly flights to AlUla; its newest destination in the Kingdom. flydubai has taken delivery of five new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this year with a further 17 to be delivered by the end of the year; supporting the airline’s growing network. The carrier will start operations to 10 additional routes from 22 June onwards and this includes flights to new destinations, Izmir and Pisa, as well as the resumption of operations to popular seasonal summer destinations such as Bodrum, Mykonos, Santorini and Tivat. Flights to Abha International Airport (AHB) will operate daily from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) from 23 June 2022. Return Business Class fares from DXB to AHB start from AED 3,800 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1,500. Return Business Class fares from AHB to DXB start from SAR 3,800 and Economy Class Lite fares start from SAR 1,500.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a leadership change positioning Hyatt for continued strategic growth in the Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME) region. Javier Águila has been appointed incoming group president EAME, following the planned retirement of Peter Fulton who looks back on an impressive 39-year career at Hyatt. Águila and Fulton will work together through a smooth and thoughtful transition and Águila will officially assume the role in the next several months. “The Hyatt family is grateful for Peter’s leadership and impact throughout a career that spans almost four decades and three global regions. In his latest role as group president, EAME/SWA, which Peter assumed in 2013, he has presided over operational excellence and unprecedented growth for the region,” said Chuck Floyd, global president of operations, Hyatt. Águila is an internal successor, hailing from Apple Leisure Group (ALG), which Hyatt acquired in 2021. He most recently served as ALG’s group president, AMResorts Europe and Global Strategy. Águila joined ALG in 2019 as part of the acquisition of Alua Hotels & Resorts, which Águila founded and led as chief executive officer. Águila brings a broad set of experiences and perspectives informed by more than 20 years in hospitality, tourism, private equity and strategic consulting. “Javier’s appointment is yet another milestone in bringing Hyatt and ALG’s joint vision to life,” continues Floyd. “Adding ALG to our portfolio increased Hyatt’s European brand footprint by 60% and I am confident Javier is the ideal candidate to continue the region’s positive trajectory and lead the team to new heights.” This transition comes with a planned geographic realignment for the region, moving oversight of the Indian subcontinent under the leadership of David Udell, group president Asia …

AVIAREPS launched its Digital Ecosystem, an all-in-one marketing hub for the travel industry. The AVIAREPS Ecosystem empowers everyone to market their brand and product to a global community online via a platform that combines several digital marketing solutions into one unified hub. With only a few clicks, customers can promote their destination, hotel, airline, car rental, cruise line or attraction and reach potential trade partners around the world. The AVIAREPS Ecosystem brings digital marketing solutions such as landing pages, campaign websites, webinars, online press conferences, e-learnings and virtual events under one umbrella. The platform lets clients reach travel trade professionals and media all over the world with specific market campaigns, a multi-country approach or a global campaign. All campaigns are fully customizable to the client’s CI and the user-friendly interface of the AVIAREPS Ecosystem allows the user to easily adjust multiple design themes and components. Users benefit from a single sign-on and from easy access to the browser-based digital marketing services, provided by state-of-the-art technology partners to ensure the best-in-class solutions. Thomas Drechsler, COO Tourism at AVIAREPS, said: “Our digital ecosystem offers easy access to a variety of digital marketing services for the travel industry. By bringing webinars, websites, e-learnings and virtual events under one global umbrella, we simplify digital marketing and expand the potential reach of digital marketing campaigns. Our competent local trade marketers at AVIAREPS help clients design the perfect campaign and assist in selecting suitable content for the campaigns. Thanks to the user-friendly design and browser-based technology, the AVIAREPS Ecosystem empowers everyone to market their brand and product to a global community online – no technical expertise is necessary! Be it a landing page, a campaign website, …

Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is celebrating sustainable practices across the city to mark the 50th World Environment Day, as it strives to further enhance Dubai’s position as a leading sustainable destination. From desert conservation reserves, to sustainable restaurateurs and eco-hotels, to cultural pursuits and eco-tourism attractions, DET is shining a light on 50 of the city’s pioneering initiatives in environmental conservation and sustainability across the tourism ecosystem on the occasion of World Environment Day, that was created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as “a global platform for inspiring positive change”. They are divided among conservation and nature, sustainable hotels and resorts, sustainable gastronomy, leisure and wellness and sustainable culture. Dubai’s unique ecosystem has made for generations of sustainable conservations and a distinctive connection with nature. From Bedouin practices, to nature reserves and safaris, Dubai has long had a harmonious connection with its surroundings. Environmental protection is ingrained into the very DNA of Dubai’s natural landscape and is something that continues to be enhanced and celebrated.

Saudis want the global tourism sector to learn the lessons of the pandemic, and to change for the better, a brand-new global survey has found. The Future of Tourism Survey explored attitudes to travel and the expectations of consumers in 11 countries around the world. Globally, the survey found that: 44% of respondents called for greater harmonization of health protocols and the use of technology to enable seamless travel. 34% wanted to see greater sustainability at the heart of tourism. 29% wanted to see health and sustainability prioritized over profits for the travel sector. 33% called for greater financial protections for travelers – likely in response to the experience of the pandemic. People from China, India, and South Korea were most in favor of greater harmonization of safety protocols and use of technology to make travel simpler. They survey also found that Saudis, who are in the midst of creating a new tourism industry that plans to contribute 10% to GDP and provide 1 million new jobs, were most supportive of putting health and sustainability before profit. Conducted by YouGov and commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, almost 14,000 people were polled, across China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, Spain and Sweden. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia said: “The pandemic has a profound impact on the global tourism sector. It has shown us all – travelers, tourists, businesses and governments, that we can do things differently. “The Future of Tourism Survey shows that the public want us to learn the lessons of the pandemic and to make changes that put health, sustainability, …

A spectacular art installation of more than 80,000 red carnations accompanies the highly anticipated grand opening of the main heart of the new international icon of luxury in the capital, Galería Canalejas. On 3 June, the historic doors of the monumental Galería Canalejas buildings will open for the first time to celebrate the opening of new boutiques for the most prestigious international brands in the world. This grand opening has attracted internationally prestigious fashion and beauty brands to Spain for the first time. For example, the famous Aquazzura brand is opening its first boutique in Spain. Galería Canalejas is also the incomparable setting in which the emblematic Swiss watchmaker OMEGA inaugurates in Spain the new international concept of the firm´s boutiques. Joining these brands will soon open new boutiques at Galería Canalejas for Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Giorgio Armani, which is returning to Madrid – at this unbeatable venue – after eight years without a store in the capital. “We are hugely proud to be joined by brands of such great prestige and tradition, and which represent a vision of luxury that is so closely in tune with the one we uphold at Galería Canalejas. The opening of these brands at Galería Canalejas confirms not only the enormously attractive nature of our project for international luxury brands but also the potential of Madrid as a shopping destination, as well as an indisputable benchmark in culture and gastronomy. Galería Canalejas has already become a benchmark in international luxury and has put Madrid on the map of luxury shopping destinations alongside such capital cities as London, Milan or Paris”, said Isabel Antolín, Director of Galería Canalejas. Crossing the threshold of the …

With a significant shift in what tourists are seeking from international travel post-pandemic, more and more individuals are yearning for holiday travel that guarantees meaningful, off-the-beaten path, sustainable and wellness-focussed experiences.  There are also vacationers who are looking to make up for lost time due to the pandemic such as multi-generational family travellers, in addition to ‘bleisure’ tourists or business travellers seeking to extend their stay beyond participating at a business event to enjoy the destination’s leisure offering.  Another category of travellers that Dubai continues to welcome are the remote workers or ‘digital nomads’. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is working closely with stakeholders and partners to ensure Dubai’s tourism ecosystem is aligning with and adapting to these trends, especially by highlighting and providing an opportunity for UAE residents and international travellers to enjoy the ever-growing diversity of the destination offering, further reinforcing the city’s position as the global travel destination of choice. Holiday-makers are planning longer vacations as they come out of a prolonged period of travel restrictions and catching up on lost time following postponed celebrations such as weddings, honeymoons and family vacations, Located within the turtle lagoon in Jumeirah Al Naseem, Il Borro Tuscan Bistro  is the perfect destination for some of the finest Tuscan cuisine in Dubai. With ingredients including organic honey, olive oil and vegetables sourced directly from the Il Borro estate in Tuscany, the restaurant celebrates seasonal Italian cuisine. Guests can choose to dine al fresco on the large wooden terrace overlooking the water surrounded by olive trees lit up by twinkling lights, complemented by the gentle breeze from the water. A uniquely exclusive and multi-sensory dining experience awaits diners at Sublimotion …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall, bringing its Middle East portfolio to 74 hotels in operation and under development. With construction already under way, the hotel is scheduled to open by the summer of 2023. Amman is Jordan’s capital and largest city as well as the country’s economic, political, and cultural center. The newly built hotel will be located inside the Galleria Mall, which is one of the biggest shopping malls in Jordan, located in the heart of Amman, and only a 30-minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport. “We thank the partners of Al Yaqout Real Estate for their trust in Radisson Hotel Group in Jordan, an important destination in our expansion strategy. The presence of the Radisson Blu brand in the country’s capital will be a steppingstone for further development in key cities and locations in Jordan, says Elie Milky, Vice President Development for the Middle East, Pakistan, Cyprus and Greece. “The signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall showcases our faith in the Radisson Hotel Group and Jordan’s bright future. It is an important partnership with countless benefits to all stakeholders in the most strategic commercial district of Amman. The hotel will be a state-of-the-art hotel concept that is perfectly designed to complement our corner stone property “The Galleria Mall””, said H.E. Samer Al-Tawil, Chairman and CEO of Amwaj Properties, the holding company of Al-Yaqout Real Estate Company. Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall will perfectly complement Radisson Hotel Group’s growing portfolio by introducing the core, upper-upscale brand to the country. The hotel will consist of 178 keys across various room types, including one-bedroom suites and two-bedroom apartments offering …