Emirates signed an interline agreement with West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, enhancing connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Nigeria. The partnership expands Emirates’ footprint to 13 new cities in Nigeria with frictionless single-ticket travel and simplified baggage throughput. Travellers booked on flights from Dubai to Lagos can access more of Nigeria, with onward connections to Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna and Owerri. The interline agreement will also benefit corporate travellers, connecting to additional cities in one of Africa’s major economic hubs, including its capital city Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Warri, further supporting the strong bilateral trade relationship between Nigeria and the UAE. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Emirates is a steadfast partner of Nigeria’s tourism, trade and aviation sectors. This partnership with Air Peace is the next step on this journey, bolstering our connectivity and introducing more travel options for corporate leisure, and travellers visiting friends and family to and from Nigeria. We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Air Peace in the future to enhance the benefits for our mutual customers.” Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace said, “We are excited about this strategic interline partnership between Air Peace and Emirates, which is a significant step towards enhancing global connectivity for Nigerian travellers. It aligns with our mission to provide seamless, world-class travel experiences while expanding our route network and international reach. This collaboration not only expands Air Peace’s international reach but also offers Nigerians arriving from Dubai seamless access to key domestic destinations, including Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, and Owerri. By improving ease of travel, we are boosting business, tourism, …

Wego walked away winning the ‘Best online travel marketplace, KSA’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Best Online Travel Marketplace in Saudi Arabia reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional value to travellers and partners in the Kingdom. This win will inspire us to continue evolving, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the industry and provide even greater value to our customers. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the organisers for this prestigious recognition.”-Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer, Wego

Qatar Tourism will be hosting the 51st UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in Doha on 12th February 2025. The meeting will bring together tourism ministers, senior officials, and experts from various countries in the region, as well as leadership from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). The selection of Doha as the host city underscores Qatar’s growing status as a regional and global hub in the tourism sector and its leadership role in promoting both regional and international cooperation. This is especially significant considering the country’s recent successes in hosting major global events, most notably the FIFA World Cup 2022™. During the meeting, the UN Tourism will present reports on the sector’s performance for the 2024-2025 period, and future policies and plans will be discussed. HE Mr. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, stated: “Hosting the 51st meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East reflects our steadfast commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and developing the tourism sector as a key driver of economic and social growth. Qatar has proven its capability to organise and host major international events, establishing itself as a global model for sustainable tourism. We are confident that this meeting will further advance regional cooperation in the tourism sector, and we look forward to exchanging ideas and expertise with partners from across the region to bolster the Middle East’s position as a unique global tourism destination.” In addition to the ministerial sessions and official meetings, the conference titled “Sports Tourism and the Tourism Industry Post-World Cup” will be held on February 13th at the Sheraton Grand Doha …

Hilton announced the opening of Signia by Hilton Amman in Jordan, marking the brand’s international debut and first property outside the U.S. Strategically located in the Shmeisani business district, the property offers a sought-after location for business and leisure travellers in the heart of Amman. Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “The opening of Signia by Hilton Amman marks a pivotal moment for Hilton in the region, as we debut the brand outside the U.S. Amman’s role as a central business hub, with its proximity to Jordan’s cultural landmarks, makes Signia by Hilton a great fit for this destination. The property offers guests a sophisticated stay, coupled with state-of-the-art meeting facilities and the personalised service the brand is known for. As we continue with our plans to double our footprint in Jordan in the coming years, this latest opening is an integral part of our robust strategy to expand in the Middle East and introduce more of our award-winning brands to the region.” Signia by Hilton Amman blends modern grandeur with sophisticated style, and is strategically located near some of the city’s main headquarters and banks. For visitors looking to explore the city’s cultural and historic venues, the popular Prince Hashem Bird Garden and Haya Cultural Centre are less than one kilometre from the hotel, and the UNESCO World Heritage sites Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre are a short drive away.

With the global events industry projected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% during the period 2024-35. According to Allied Market Research, the global events industry looks set to register impressive growth over the coming decade, with the total market value on course to pass $2.5 trillion by 2035. Conferences, trade shows and exhibitions are indispensable for many businesses, offering a vital opportunity to increase their visibility and meet clients and partners face-to-face. Research shows that corporate events, in particular, continue to support millions of jobs worldwide, delivering a staggering $1.6 trillion in global GDP annually. In Dubai alone, the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment grew by 25% in 2023, making ATM 2025 the ideal launchpad for IBTM@ATM. IBTM@ATM will provide a gateway to the lucrative business events sector throughout the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 28 April to 1 May 2025. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “This year’s theme of enhanced connectivity is particularly relevant to the evolving business events sector, which thrives on strategic partnerships, knowledge exchange, and innovation. Through IBTM@ATM, we are strengthening our commitment to adding value to our exhibitors and attendees by creating a dynamic community where suppliers and buyers can engage in meaningful networking, business exchange sessions, and a high-impact content programme. By leveraging our unique insights, we aim to facilitate connections and unlock new opportunities that drive long-term growth within this thriving market segment.” IBTM@ATM will bring together suppliers and buyers from across the business events sector, connecting meeting planners, association buyers, professional conference organisers, incentive buyers, destination management companies (DMCs), …

Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates a record-breaking 1,422,021 million visitors in 2024, marking its highest attendance since its grand opening and bringing the total visitor count to over 6 million. This achievement showcases the museum’s dedication to creating meaningful cultural connections through world-class exhibitions, engaging educational initiatives, and immersive visitor experiences. Reflecting its global appeal, international visitors made up 84% of total attendance, with UAE residents comprising the remaining 16%. Across all visitors—both international and residents—China and Russia led with 12% each, followed by India (7%), and France and the UK (6% each). This underscores the museum’s broad reach as well as its cherished role within the local community.

Visit Qatar successfully concluded its first roadshow in Kuwait, held in partnership with Go Beyond, the leading representative agency supported by Gulf Travel. The tour provided an exclusive platform to promote Qatar as an exceptional destination for leisure and business tourism, highlighting its distinctive offerings, including short breaks, winter vacations and stopover experiences. The tour brought together several key partners in Qatar’s tourism sector, including Qatar Airways and some of Qatar’s finest hotels. along with 150 industry leaders from prominent tour operators and travel agents in Kuwait. Attendees participated in productive networking sessions that contributed to building strategic working relationships. Attendees also witnessed a personalized presentation that showcased Qatar’s diverse tourism landscape, world-class attractions, and its growing role as a major travel hub in the region. To add to the excitement, the tour also included a special draw, where the winners received two nights at the participating hotels. Kuwait is one of the main markets for Visit Qatar, with Doha welcoming more than 170,000 visitors from Kuwait in 2024, looking for a world-class tourism experience with a family-friendly atmosphere. Qatar welcomes visitors arriving by land, air or sea, where citizens of 102 countries can enter without a visa. Just a short trip can allow visitors to enjoy Qatar’s winter season, spend time in luxury resorts and keep up with vibrant cultural offerings and experiences, all in close proximity to the heart of Doha. GCC travellers can also take advantage of exclusive offers and discounts on a variety of services and offers through the ‘Visit Qatar Pass’, available on the Visit Qatar app. Visit Qatar Pass offers its users discounts ranging from 30-50% across a wide range of categories, including food …

Dubai welcomed 18.7 million international visitors in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023. The hospitality sector continues to thrive, recording an average hotel occupancy rate of 78% across 832 hotel establishments, offering a total of 154,000 rooms. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE shared, “This achievement is the result of strong collaboration between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and our private sector stakeholders. Their concerted efforts have raised Dubai’s status as a premier global tourism hub and reinforced its position as the world’s best city to live, work, and visit – perfectly aligned with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”

Emirates Skywards and ALL  have taken their partnership to new heights, offering members additional benefits and opportunities to maximize their rewards through seamless conversions. Through this enhanced collaboration, Emirates Skywards members who are also members of ALL can now convert their Skywards Miles into ALL Reward Points, unlocking extraordinary experiences across Accor’s extensive network of over 5,600 hotels across more than 45 Accor brands and 5,000 Limitless Experiences. For every 4,000 Skywards Miles, members will receive 1,000 ALL Reward Points, which can be redeemed for stays, exceptional dining experiences, or exclusive Limitless Experiences available on ALL.com. In an exciting development, the partnership introduces seamless two-way conversions between the two loyalty programmes. This feature empowers members to maximize their rewards and enjoy unparalleled lifestyle and travel experiences with both brands. ALL Members can also convert their ALL Reward Points into Skywards Miles, with 4,000 ALL Reward Points equating to 2,000 Skywards Miles. Skywards Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on Emirates and partner airlines, flight upgrades, gift cards, hotel stays, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, tours, and money can’t buy experiences. Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “At Emirates Skywards, we’re constantly exploring new ways to help our members maximise the value of every Skywards Mile earned and redeemed. And our enhanced partnership with ALL – Accor’s loyalty programme will offer exactly that. Emirates Skywards members can now convert Skywards Miles to ALL Reward Points, and access exceptional hotel stays at more than 45 Accor brands worldwide, enjoy limitless experiences and more. ALL loyalty members can also convert ALL Reward Points to Skywards Miles, and enjoy fantastic benefits Emirates …

Royal M Hotel By Gewan Abu Dhabi won the title ‘Best Business & Leisure Hotel, UAE’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Arabian Travel Awards is an incredible honour and a proud moment for everyone at Gewan Hotels & Resorts. It is a testament to our team’s hard work, passion, and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. This recognition fuels our confidence and inspires us to aim even higher, constantly innovating to delight those who choose us. It is also a moment to reflect, grow, and push the boundaries of excellence.” -Ahmed Hassib, CEO, Gewan Hotels & Resorts