Category Archives: Agents

Etraveli Group, the leading global technology provider for flights announced an eight-year extension of its existing and long-standing commercial partnership with Booking.com. Building on a successful collaboration first established in 2019, this renewed commitment will leverage Etraveli Group’s advanced technology to further strengthen and accelerate Booking.com’s global flights offering, today live in 57 countries. The extension reflects both companies’ ambition to deliver more ease, choice, and value to travelers and partners worldwide. “We’re excited to build on our collaboration with Booking.com, a partnership rooted in shared values, mutual benefit, and a commitment to innovation,” said Mathias Hedlund, Chief Executive Officer, Etraveli Group. “Together, we’ll continue to bring our deep flight expertise and advanced technology to further refine the flight booking experience and help shape a smoother, more rewarding travel experience for customers.” “We’re pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Etraveli Group, a trusted collaborator as we continue to enhance how people discover and book flights around the world,” said Glenn Fogel, Chief Executive Officer, Booking Holdings. “This next chapter will help us go further and faster in delivering the intuitive, flexible travel experience today’s travelers expect.”

Tourism Seychelles Middle East Office successfully held a targeted Travel Trade Networking Event recently in Bahrain. The event brought together 25 key attendees, including travel trade professionals. This event in Bahrain marks the beginning of a series of travel trade engagements organised by Tourism Seychelles across the Gulf region. Similar events are scheduled to take place in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Oman in the coming months as part of a wider strategy to maintain strong market presence and build meaningful partnerships with travel trade stakeholders throughout the GCC. The evening provided a valuable platform for open discussions on market developments, evolving travel trends, and upcoming opportunities to promote Seychelles as an attractive and accessible destination for Bahraini travellers. Led by Ahmed Fathallah, Tourism Seychelles’ representative in the Middle East, the event aimed to strengthen collaboration with the local travel trade through direct engagement and relationship building. “Staying connected with our partners on the ground is crucial,” said Ahmed. “By exchanging ideas and insights in a relaxed setting, we can align our efforts and develop tailored strategies that meet the expectations of the market while increasing destination awareness. This was also an ideal opportunity to engage with our partners as the second Eid holiday and summer travel period are fast approaching.” Tourism Seychelles looks forward to building on the momentum generated by the Bahrain event through continued outreach and collaborative initiatives with key industry stakeholders in the region.  

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at its first City Briefing of 2025 shared that Dubai welcomed 7.15 million international overnight visitors between January and April 2025, a 7% YoY increase. This builds on the 18.72 million people who visited in 2024, the second consecutive year of record-setting growth for the city. Dubai’s hotel sector offered 153,534 rooms at the end of April, with all key performance indicators demonstrating strong YoY growth. Beyond the data, the forum reaffirmed DET’s commitment to creating a resilient and future-ready tourism ecosystem. DET also highlighted the critical role that partners across the public and private sectors are playing in Dubai’s continued tourism performance. His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “The visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is reflected in the continued success of our tourism sector. Building on yet another record-breaking performance in 2024, the exceptional results achieved by the industry so far in 2025 is a testament to the resilience and steadfast support of our stakeholders and partners. From hospitality and aviation to retail and gastronomy, every sector has played a critical role in solidifying Dubai’s position as a global tourism leader. It is by coming together as a community that we have been able to navigate challenges, create compelling narratives about the city, and drive global trends. “In advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, our focus remains on strengthening the spirit of partnerships, embracing innovation, and creating future-ready experiences that enhance Dubai’s position as the world’s best city to visit, live …

KlasJet has signed an agreement with Air Cairo to provide chartered flights this summer. The agreement sees KlasJet operate charter flights for Air Cairo taking holidaymakers from Milan (Italy) and Sharjah (UAE) to Cairo (Egypt). The partnership between Air Cairo and KlasJet is helping meet an upsurge in tourism, a sector that is vital to Egypt. In the period from July to September last year, tourism revenue hit $4.8 billion, a significant uplift for Africa’s second-largest economy. “We have been able to get alignment on all operational and crew-related topics thanks to the flexible and proactive approach of our team – who flew out to Cairo to ensure everything progressed smoothly – and the strong commitment on both sides to clear communication and a partnership-based approach,” said Vytautas Mikuckas, Head of Wet Lease Department at KlasJet. “We are delighted to be partnering with KlasJet for these charters, and we know they will offer tourists to Egypt an excellent experience that will add to the overall enjoyment of their stay here.” The contract will run until 31st October. Air Cairo was founded in 2003 and is partly owned by EgyptAir, Egypt’s state-owned national airline. The carrier currently operates more than 30 aircraft, mostly A320s, and its main business focus is charter flights from Europe to Egypt’s most popular holiday destinations. KlasJet became the very first ACMI provider based in an EASA-regulated country working with Air Cairo. Despite the differences in procedures and regulations, KlasJet secured a three-day turnaround from signing the agreement to the ferry flight to Cairo on 30th May.  

marhaba has partnered with PRIME Health to provide premium travel services for passengers arriving in Dubai for medical treatment. Driven by a commitment to patient well-being, the partnership ensures a smooth and stress-free travel experience that complements the quality of care provided by PRIME Health. marhaba will provide its full airport hospitality offering to support medical travellers, including its signature Meet & Greet, Chauffeur and Lounge services. In addition, its recently announced Check-in Anywhere and Land & Leave solutions will further enhance the journey, enabling a smooth, hands-free experience from arrival to departure. Jaffar Dawood, dnata’s Divisional Senior Vice President – UAE Airport Operations, said: “We are pleased to partner with PRIME Health to further enhance the medical tourism experience in Dubai. With marhaba’s personalised service and Arabian hospitality, twinned with Dubai’s world-class infrastructure, we ensure medical travellers feel looked after from the moment they land. This partnership reflects our shared focus on care, comfort and service excellence.” Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director, PRIME Health, said: “At PRIME Health, we believe exceptional care starts well before a patient enters the hospital. Our partnership with marhaba ensures international patients receive a warm, stress-free welcome the moment they land. By combining world-class hospitality with trusted medical expertise, we are redefining the healthcare journey — making it as seamless and supportive as possible from arrival to recovery.” Dubai welcomed over 691,000 people for medical treatments in 2023, with spending on healthcare services exceeding AED 1.03 billion (US$ 280 million). The emirate is rapidly positioning itself as a leading global destination for medical tourism, combining advanced healthcare with world-class luxury and personalised care. According to PRIME Health, international patient flows to Dubai …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Rotana unveiled the first phase of their joint initiative to boost summer tourism to the emirate. This partnership aims to address seasonal travel lulls and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a dynamic, year-round destination. With Rotana’s strong regional appeal and global loyalty network, the collaboration is primed to drive bookings across Abu Dhabi’s diverse source markets, particularly the GCC. From June through August, guests staying at Rotana properties in Abu Dhabi can enjoy an exclusive ‘Stay 3, Pay 2’ summer offer. This campaign is a key activation of the DCT-Rotana partnership, designed to stimulate travel during the traditionally quiet summer months, reinforce Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a family-friendly destination, and encourage direct bookings through exclusive incentives. Eddy Tannous, COO, Rotana said: “As a homegrown brand deeply rooted in the region, we are proud to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi on a campaign that supports the broader vision of positioning Abu Dhabi as a year-round destination. Through this initiative, we are combining strengths to deliver both economic impact and exceptional guest value, reaffirming our commitment to driving tourism growth in the emirate.” As part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, the partnership with Rotana underscores the emirate’s commitment to sustained, collaborative growth. It is one of several recent alliances formed to enhance Abu Dhabi’s global profile, increase visitor numbers, and deliver seamless, tailored experiences across key international and regional markets. For every three consecutive nights booked, the third night is free. For longer stays, the offer continues (e.g., stay 6, pay 4), creating greater value the longer guests stay. The summer promotion also includes: • Free stays …

K.I.T. Group announced a strategic joint venture with GD+, a leading integrated communications and event management agency based in Dubai, operating as a division of Gulf Dunes. Through this alliance, K.I.T. Group will enhance its operational presence in the Middle East, delivering services through GD+’s extensive network of offices in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah), Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan, as well as in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. GD+, with 30 years of regional expertise will expand its portfolio of international conferences by leveraging K.I.T. Group’s PCO services, including delegate services, scientific content management and industry sales. This partnership combines K.I.T. Group’s international expertise, technological tools, and global client network with GD+’s in-depth local market knowledge, cultural fluency, robust infrastructure, and multilingual staffing capabilities. The joint venture is poised to offer comprehensive solutions for conferences and events, ensuring seamless experiences for clients and delegates alike. This collaboration, operating under the joint brand name “K.I.T. Group by GD+,” was officially unveiled at IMEX Frankfurt 2025, a leading global exhibition for meeting and event professionals. The partnership aims to deliver exceptional conference and event services across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The global sales team at K.I.T. Group will collaborate closely with GD+ to target the GCC market, sharing valuable business leads and jointly deciding on event bids. This cooperative approach aims to secure new business opportunities and deliver high-quality events that meet international standards while catering to regional nuances. K.I.T. Group will focus on its core PCO competencies, such as managing services like registration, scientific content management and exhibition/sponsorship sales, while GD+ will concentrate on delivering specialized production and hospitality management services. This clear division of responsibilities …

In a special interview with TravTalkME, Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Director International Promotion Division, North and East Asia, Tourism Malaysia shared that efforts are being made to intensify priority markets such as the GCC to drive more opportunities and that they are planning a special event to connect Malaysian sellers with international buyers and media in September this year on world tourism day to further promote about ‘Visit Malaysia 2026’. She added that Malaysia is ramping up its preparations for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, with major initiatives already underway this year. A national priority, the campaign brings together strategic partners from across the hospitality and tourism industry—including hotels, airlines, and media platforms—to amplify Malaysia’s brand on the global stage. “Among the key highlights is Global Meet, a business-to-business (B2B) platform taking place later this year. The event will connect Malaysian tourism sellers with international buyers and media, aiming to boost global awareness and drive business opportunities ahead of 2026. Additionally, Malaysia will host World Tourism Day in Melaka this September, further showcasing its readiness and commitment. Efforts are being intensified in priority markets. While neighboring countries remain strong contributors to tourist arrivals, Malaysia is expanding its focus to China, India, and notably the Middle East—aligning with the Prime Minister’s regional engagement efforts. Long-haul markets like Europe are also a renewed priority.” To drive this agenda, Malaysia has launched a series of sales missions and workshops. These include recent promotional tours in India, China, and the Middle East, such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and missions to Jeddah and Riyadh. Post-COVID, the push is clear: re-establish Malaysia’s presence in under-engaged regions and aggressively market the country as a top tourism destination. …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has officially selected the China Visitors Summit (CVS) to be held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on 28–29 August 2025. This landmark event will bring together 150 elite Chinese travel industry buyers, making it the largest B2B gathering of Chinese outbound travel professionals ever hosted outside of China. The CVS Abu Dhabi is a highly curated, by-invitation-only event. The attending Chinese buyers are carefully vetted and confirmed to be actively doing business with the UAE—specifically with travel products and services in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. Delegates include senior executives from: • Travel agencies and tour operators • Luxury agents, wholesalers and bespoke travel designers • MICE managers and corporate travel planners • OTAs and niche specialists in adventure, culture, culinary, wellness, and more Over the course of the two-day, face-to-face workshop, participating Abu Dhabi travel suppliers—including hotels, DMCs, attractions, museums, shopping malls, and transportation companies—will engage in pre-scheduled B2B appointments. Each supplier will have the ability to personally select the Chinese buyers most relevant to their product, whether focused on leisure groups, luxury FITs, or MICE and corporate segments. In addition to the business meetings, the CVS program includes local experience days in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, designed to give the Chinese delegates firsthand exposure to the products they may sell. These include hotel site inspections, cultural experiences, F&B showcases, and interactive destination briefings, allowing buyers to become more effective ambassadors for Abu Dhabi upon returning to China. This 2025 edition of CVS Abu Dhabi marks a return to the summit’s roots. Originally launched in Abu Dhabi in 2013, CVS has since expanded globally. With its initial …

In an exclusive interview with TravTalk ME, Datuk Manoharan Periasamy – Director General of Tourism Malaysia shared that they expect to close the year with one million visitors from the Middle East region. “Last year, Malaysia welcomed 194,000 visitors from the Middle East. Given our strategic initiatives, increased connectivity, and renewed market engagement, we are setting our sights much higher. Based on current airline capacity planning and market interest, we confidently project welcoming more than one million visitors from the Middle East by the end of 2025.” Speaking on some of the key initiatives that they are currently working on, Periasamy reiterated, “We recognise the growing need to introduce more B2C-focused programs tailored for the Middle Eastern market. We’ve observed that younger travellers from this region are increasingly exploring destinations other than Malaysia—possibly due to a perception that Malaysia lacks activities or products that cater specifically to their interests and lifestyles. In response, we have initiated collaborations with trusted local partners in the Middle East to develop “soft adventure” and lifestyle experiences that appeal to the younger demographic. While families from the region continue to choose Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination, we aim to re-engage younger travellers who are currently exploring alternatives in neighbouring countries. Our industry discussions and trade events with Middle Eastern operators have highlighted a key challenge: accessibility. While Malaysia receives a considerable number of Middle Eastern visitors—many of whom travel for religious purposes—the seat capacity between major cities in Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur remains limited. To address this, we are actively working with key airlines including Riyadh Air and flynas. We are optimistic about launching direct routes from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia—potentially as early …