Category Archives: Agents

Akbar Travels secured the title of Best Travel Portal Middle East at the 8th edition of Arabian Travel Awards. Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East market to appreciate the efforts of those travel specialists owing to whom the travel and hospitality industry is booming as ever. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting tourism in the region. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by TravelTV.news, TravTalk Middle East and TravTalk India, the premier media partners for extensive coverage.

Alaa Al Ali with over three decades of experience in the travel and tourism industry, leading Nirvana Travel and Tourism since its establishment in 2007, is a highly respected figure in the UAE’s travel sector. Ali has been instrumental in establishing Nirvana as a regional powerhouse in the tourism market. Under his visionary leadership, the company continues to evolve each year, striking a seamless balance between exceptional customer service, operational efficiency, technological innovation, and groundbreaking product development. His remarkable contributions to the industry have earned him a well-deserved feature on ‘The Most Creative Business Leaders in the Arab World’. Guided by an in-depth understanding of the region and a clear business vision, Ali has steered Nirvana to the forefront of the UAE’s travel sector, earning prestigious awards and widespread industry recognition. He now heads NG9 Holding, a dynamic conglomerate comprising Nirvana Holding, Gewan Holding, and 9Yards, operating locally and regionally across 10+ countries in multiple industries with a diverse business portfolio.

RezLive.com hosted a vibrant roadshow in Muscat bringing together leading hospitality brands and over 180 plus travel agents from across Oman. The event spotlighted RezLive.com’s commitment to empowering travel agents through technology, curated content, and strategic partnerships. Attendees gained insights into RezLive’s expanding global footprint and product innovations during an engaging presentation. The roadshow featured active participation from top hotel partners, including:  Tulip Muscat, Ramada Encore Muscat Al-Ghubrah, Kyriad Hotel Salalah, Tulip Inn Hotel MaJan, Hilton Salalah Resort and  Jumeirah Muscat Bay. Each partner showcased their offerings and contributed to the excitement by distributing exclusive lucky draw vouchers, adding a celebratory touch to the evening. The event was graced by Mr. Jaal Shah, Founder of RezLive.com and Group Managing Director of Travel Designer Group, whose presence reinforced the brand’s strategic focus on regional growth and agent engagement. The evening concluded with a gala dinner and cocktails, fostering meaningful connections and celebrating the spirit of collaboration in B2B travel.

TOURISE Destination Initiative (TDI) brings together global leaders from government, international organizations, academia, and the private sector, to transform destinations into living laboratories for tourism innovation. Guided by its Declaration of Principles, TDI champions safety, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community-centered development through responsible technology and multi-sector collaboration. TDI’s first project, “AI for Tourism Safety,” aims to promote the responsible deployment of AI in TDI member destinations. The project builds on insights from Surveillance or Safety? How Cities are Rewriting Tourism, a white paper by the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR). Authored by Mauricio Rodas—Visiting Scholar at Penn IUR and former Mayor of Quito—the paper explores the ethical and operational challenges of AI in urban tourism and was launched alongside TDI. “As destinations, we carry the responsibility of protecting what makes us unique, our people, our heritage, and our future,” said His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Aseer Province and Co-Chair of the TOURISE Destination Initiative. “Through TDI, we are creating a shared space for cities to lead; by embracing innovation rooted in ethics and empathy, we ensure that tourism becomes a force for safety, dignity, and sustainable development.” TDI is co-chaired by Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Aseer Province, and Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor of Venice, and founding members include: • Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, Republic of South Africa • Mateo Julián Estrella Durán, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Ecuador • Mateo Julian Estrella Duran, Ministier of Touirsm, Republic of Maldives • Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami, United States • Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco • Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN …

The Agentic Tourism Initiative was unveiled at the inaugural TOURISE Summit, introducing the world’s first Agentic Protocol for Tourism, a universal digital framework set to transform every stage of the traveler’s journey. Launched in partnership with TOURISE and Globant, the Initiative builds on the momentum of the acclaimed whitepaper Tourism’s AI Takeover: Reinventing Travel through Agentic Tourism to create a landmark application of AI. It directly answers the whitepaper’s call to create an Open Protocol for Tourism AI, defining how AI agents interact from inspiration to return. The result: intelligent, seamless, and sustainable travel experiences across the global tourism ecosystem. The Initiative brings together a diverse coalition of founding members across technology, infrastructure, aviation, and destination leadership, including: Globant, Red Sea Global, HUMAIN, Riyadh Air, King Salman International Airport, World Travel & Tourism Council, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Hollibob, and Trip.com. This collaborative approach ensures the Agentic Protocol is technically robust, inclusive, and adaptable to the evolving needs of travelers, operators, and destinations worldwide. “We are proud to see the Agentic Tourism Initiative take flight from the Kingdom, reflecting our commitment to shaping the future of global travel through innovation and collaboration. This protocol represents a bold step toward harmonizing technology with the human spirit of exploration. By anchoring AI in empathy and cultural intelligence, we are not only enhancing the traveler’s experience, we are empowering destinations to grow sustainably, inclusively, and with purpose,” said His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Guided by the principle “Digitize the expected. Humanize the unexpected,” the Initiative aims to amplify, not replace, human creativity, empathy, and connection. AI will serve as an enabler, empowering the people and places …

The Jamaica Tourist Board continues with its “Discover Jamaica” webinar series for GCC-based travel professionals. The next session will take place on the 19 November at 13:00 UAE Time. Designed exclusively for travel agents in the Gulf region, this session provides a comprehensive overview of Jamaica as a viable destination, equipping agents with the knowledge they need to confidently sell the island. The webinar will cover essential facts about Jamaica, including its key resort areas – Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Kingston, Port Antonio, and the South Coast, highlighting their unique selling points, top hotels and resorts, and must-see attractions, from Dunn’s River Falls to the Blue Mountains. This webinar is a valuable resource to help travel agents design unforgettable Caribbean itineraries for their clients.

The Forum will be held on 19 November 2025 under the theme “New Waves of Tourism Spectrum”, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. This year’s forum will bring together senior government officials, global experts, and leaders in the tourism, travel, and technology sectors to discuss key issues and innovative solutions shaping the future of tourism. The event is organized in strategic partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). This year’s forum will focus on the pivotal role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in transforming the tourism sector, while striking a balance between leveraging these technologies and preserving authenticity in innovation. Attendees will gain valuable insights from leading experts worldwide on the impact of digital platforms on consumer behavior and the importance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing visitor and traveler experiences. The sessions will also feature case studies and research highlighting how AI technologies can improve visitor services. Additionally, discussions will emphasize the importance of investing in strategic partnerships between government entities, private sector organizations, and technology companies to foster innovation and ensure sustainable tourism practices that support the sector’s growth. The forum will also explore the importance of investing in tourism innovation and its role in supporting the growth and expansion of startups. Leading experts will share their perspectives on the challenges faced by startups in the tourism and travel sector, as well as opportunities to drive innovation and achieve success. Discussions will focus on key factors that startups need to expand, including access to funding and support, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging modern technologies. The forum will also highlight the …

Almosafer and Amadeus have strengthened their partnership with a renewed commitment that sets a new benchmark for AI-powered innovation, automation, and content exchange across the travel ecosystem, which was announced at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh. This new phase of collaboration will focus on pushing the boundaries of travel technology to deliver smarter, more personalised, and touchless journeys, reinforcing both companies’ support for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s ambition to establish itself as a global tourism hub. At the heart of the partnership is the use of Amadeus’ AI and data analytics capabilities to unlock hyper-personalised offers, predictive recommendations, and tailored travel options for Almosafer’s customers. Enhanced content distribution will ensure that global travellers can access rich, localised inventory curated by Almosafer, matched to their preferences and powered by AI-driven insights. In hospitality, the collaboration will strategically activate Amadeus Value Hotels (AVH), enhanced with machine learning for dynamic hotel content curation to deliver more accurate, transparent, and high-quality accommodation options. In parallel, airport services will evolve with opportunities to integrate AI-enabled digital check-in, smart boarding passes, and predictive disruption management directly into Almosafer’s platforms – creating a seamless end-to-end journey. The companies are also advancing innovation in payments through Amadeus Outpayce, collaborating to bring virtual card solutions to scale across the ecosystem. By leveraging Outpayce’s capabilities, the renewed partnership aims to deliver greater efficiency, trust, and automation in travel payments, unlocking new value for both suppliers and partners. Building on years of collaboration across distribution and advanced travel solutions, Almosafer and Amadeus are now taking their partnership further with an ambitious focus on NDCX adoption. Almosafer intends to lead the way in the Kingdom by scaling NDC …

After the huge success of Air India Express’s excess baggage promotion during the month of October, we’re pleased to announce the extension of the festive promotion on excess baggage from all Gulf countries to India with a few modifications. As part of this limited-time offer, customers can now enjoy 10 kgs of additional baggage allowance for a nominal fee of just AED 11 in the UAE, with similar pricing available across other Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain).  

Saudi Arabia-based Adeera has signed a new agreement to use transformative travel technology, Amadeus Digital Media. Through advanced omni-channel advertising strategies, Adeera’s brands will be able to better target travelers at the moments they are most likely to book, across paid search, display, and social media. Thomas Grunder, Chief Commercial Officer at Adeera, says: “Using Amadeus’ market intelligence, we will be able to refine our outreach and offer travelers more compelling reasons to choose Adeera. The ability to integrate marketing, distribution, and data insight into a single platform stands out as a significant advantage. “Beyond the product, we appreciate the partnership approach with Amadeus and the opportunity to grow together as Adeera’s brands are being built. This mix of technology and collaboration provides us with the foundation we need to achieve our ambitious growth goals.” Adeera is working to transform hospitality in Saudi Arabia, showcasing the kingdom’s rich tradition of hospitality through locally inspired brands. As hospitality marketing evolves, the brand, backed by the Public Investment Fund, will harness data and technology, not just to reach travelers, but to truly understand and inspire them. Jan Tissera, President, International, Global Accounts and Destinations, Hospitality, Amadeus adds: “By using the data-driven marketing capabilities of Amadeus Digital Media, Adeera can seamlessly launch and optimize campaigns across multiple channels, ensuring its properties are visible to travelers at key decision-making moments. “Recent campaigns using Amadeus Digital Media have helped hotels and destinations achieve double-digit growth in direct bookings and occupancy, while lowering marketing costs. Together, we can set new benchmarks for excellence by creating meaningful, personalized experiences that connect with each traveler.”