Category Archives: Agents

Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group signed a strategic partnership with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to provide industry-led and reliable data-driven insights that support the sustainable growth of the travel industry as Knowledge Partner. As part of this collaboration agreement, in which The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group also takes part, both companies will give WTTC access to their comprehensive travel intelligence databases, offering in-depth data analysis and insights on key industry trends: air connectivity, traveller’s sentiment and interests, demand profiling, accommodation supply, and event impact analysis, among others. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications at WTTC, commented on the partnership, highlighting “Data-driven insights are critical to the sustainable growth of the Travel and Tourism sector. We are delighted to welcome Mabrian as a Knowledge Partner and look forward to leveraging their expertise, as well as The Data Appeal Company’s, to enhance our research and advocacy efforts.” “Joining this partnership with WTTC is a significant step in our mission to empower the travel and tourism sector with data-driven insights,” says Mirko Lalli, CEO at The Data Appeal Company. “It is also an opportunity to help industry leaders anticipate trends, optimise strategies, and drive more sustainable tourism development worldwide.” Under the agreement, signed by Mabrian with WTTC representatives in the most recent edition of ITB Berlin, WTTC’s research team will have access to the travel intelligence databases from both Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group and Mabrian, and their experienced pool of in-house analysts and consultants. These insights will support WTTC’s industry research initiatives, policy development, and thought leadership efforts, contributing to WTTC’s mission of fostering informed decision-making …

Al Naboodah Travel was honoured with the title ‘Fastest Growing Travel Agency, KSA’at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It is a wonderful experience. It is a moment of pride and recognition for all those who have worked hard, who have worked smartly, who have performed well. And I think this recognition will add a lot of value, confidence, and inspiration for all of us to do even better and better for the coming years. I am overexcited, and I am looking forward to winning more than three awards next year.”- Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies

ATS Travel and Payhound announced a groundbreaking understanding to enable ATS Travel to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for all its services. This new development marks a significant milestone in the Middle East’s travel industry, making ATS Travel the first large-scale travel management company in the region to adopt cryptocurrency for both corporate and leisure travel transactions, informed Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director of ATS travel on the sidelines of the travel industry leading event Private Luxury Barcelona, from Private Luxury Events. Under this historic arrangement, ATS Travel’s clients – many of whom are high-net-worth individuals from across the Middle East – will now have the flexibility to pay for a wide range of travel services, including airline tickets, luxury travel, holiday packages, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions, and Events) services, and more, using leading cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others, informed Sharif. This initiative is poised to be a game changer in the travel industry and reflects the region’s growing interest in digital currencies and blockchain technology, added Sharif. This collaboration is the first of its kind for a company of ATS Travel’s scale and prestige in the Middle East, setting a new benchmark for the industry. With a focus on innovation and forward-thinking business solutions, the understanding with Payhound enables ATS Travel to meet the demands of a tech-savvy, digital-first clientele, particularly those accustomed to high-end services. The implementation of crypto payments is expected to significantly enhance the customer experience by providing seamless, instant, and secure payment options while eliminating the delays and costs typically associated with traditional banking methods, informed Sharif. Payhound, headquartered in Malta, is a fully regulated crypto payment provider with a proven …

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) announced that its 19th annual conference will take place in Abu Dhabi  18-21 November 2025, at the iconic Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. This milestone event is being held through a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Gate (ADIG) and Shura Global Consultancy (SGC) and with support from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. Bringing together government leaders and industry visionaries, the 2025 Global Wellness Summit will solidify Abu Dhabi’s position as a prominent global wellness hub, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. This year’s Summit will introduce new platforms for collaboration and investment, and transformative ideas that will shape the future of the wellness economy worldwide. The Middle East’s wellness economy has been one of the recent global growth leaders, with the UAE playing a pivotal role as the largest market in the region. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the UAE’s wellness economy reached $34 billion in 2023, contributing approximately 5.5% to the national GDP and affirming its leading and collaborative role in the global wellness industry. “We’re thrilled to partner with Abu Dhabi Investment Gate and Shura Global Consultancy to bring this prestigious event to the UAE,” said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of GWS. “Abu Dhabi is a natural choice to host our most ambitious Summit to date, and we look forward to giving delegates the opportunity to experience the rich landscape of the UAE, a country that has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty, pioneering preventative health and wellness solutions, and new luxury destinations.” The region’s momentum in wellness is so eye-opening that the GWS named “The Middle East’s Wellness Ambitions” as one …

TravTips Travel and Tourism bagged ‘Best Leisure Tour Operator’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It reassures our company as a trusted, safe and reliable leisure travel brand in the region. It also validates the hard work and commitment of our team, boosting morale and encourage to achieve excellence in service delivery. Winning the award for second consecutive year shows our commitment to deliver exceptional services and build customer loyalty. We would like to enhance customer experience through product innovation, technology and value-added offerings.” Suraj Mainat, Founder & CEO, TravTips

SPARK in partnership with EYouth and with support from Google.org, has launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub in Egypt – a pioneering platform designed to equip 25,000 individuals across the MENA region with essential skills for the tourism industry. The launch event, held at the Triumph Plaza Hotel in Cairo, welcomed over 100 stakeholders, including representatives from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism, industry leaders, and digital learning experts. The initiative aligns with Egypt’s national priorities to enhance workforce competitiveness and drive tourism sector growth. With the tourism sector rapidly evolving, Maharat for Tourism offers free, high-quality training tailored for both aspiring and experienced professionals. The platform provides interactive courses on digital skills, business management, and customer service, ensuring users stay competitive in a dynamic job market. By bridging the skills gap and building a digitally empowered workforce, this initiative directly contributes to Egypt’s economic resilience and job creation in one of its most vital industries. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism is an active supporter of the platform, recognising its role in modernising workforce training and driving long-term industry sustainability. “We are proud to launch the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, which will provide thousands of individuals with the opportunity to develop essential skills for success in the tourism sector,” said Dina Almasaeid, SPARK’s Regional Programme Director “The support from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism further emphasises the industry-wide commitment to fostering talent and innovation.” Join the Movement The Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub is now live and available in both English and Arabic, offering tourism professionals and job seekers the opportunity to advance their careers in the industry. To learn more and enroll in courses, visit: https://maharat.spark.ngo/.

Emirates announced that it is expanding its long-standing partnership with Trip.com to focus on exploring growth avenues to capture emerging opportunities in new markets and customer segments. In the next phase of its expansion, the partnership will Emirates and Trip.com will collaborate on expanding Trip.com’s global presence through strategic partnerships and activations, leveraging Emirates’ extensive international network, and coordinating promotional efforts in Asian and European markets, which remain a strategic focus for both Trip.com and Emirates. The agreement was formalised at ITB Berlin by Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales & Country Management for Emirates and CT Ooi, VP of Flights Business, Trip.com Group. Nabil Sultan commented on the newly expanded partnership: “We very much look forward to extending the breadth and depth of our cooperation with Trip.com. The next phase not only strengthens our position to provide more of our products to Trip.com’s customer base, but also unlocks traveller demand for air and hotel packages, enables us to integrate offers across both of our loyalty programmes and tap into a variety of consumer segments with specialised promotions. We look forward to empowering Trip.com customers with options to customise their travel with ease on Emirates.” CT Ooi added: “At Trip.com, we are excited to take our partnership to new heights, integrating a wide range of flight offerings with an expanded portfolio of hotels and travel services. By combining Emirates’ world-class network with Trip.com’s innovative travel ecosystem, we are creating more opportunities for travellers to access exclusive flight and hotel packages, tailored promotions, and enhanced loyalty rewards.” Product integration and exclusive promotions: Emirates and Trip.com will work closely on boosting customer conversion by integrating a variety of Emirates flight offerings …

Concierge One Tourism wins ‘Best debut Luxury Tour Operator’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “Winning the Arabian Travel Awards is a tremendous honour, validating our commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences to the UAE market. It reflects our dedication to quality, innovation, and meeting the unique needs of our clients, especially in the luxury travel sector. This recognition elevates our brand, inspiring trust and credibility among clients and partners. It motivates our team to excel further while showcasing the UAE’s and Bulgaria’s potential as premium travel destinations.”-Ivan Mavrov, Business Development Manager, Concierge one Tourism

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways have  launched the new Abu Dhabi Pass at ITB Berlin. The new Abu Dhabi Pass transforms the visitor experience into a fully digital journey, simplifying access to the emirate’s offerings. Etihad passengers will receive an email with a link to access the Abu Dhabi Pass through a dedicated website, with no additional cost or app download required. The free Abu Dhabi Pass unlocks a range of benefits for Etihad passengers and all visitors to the emirate. These include a tourist SIM card with 10GB data to stay connected, unlimited access to public buses, and 24-hour unlimited access to the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network exploring key city attractions. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The launch of the new Abu Dhabi Pass reflects our commitment to enhancing the visitor experience by providing seamless access to the emirate’s diverse, world-class attractions, cultural landmarks, and entertainment offerings. Through this partnership, we aim to introduce Abu Dhabi as a top global destination to a wider audience, making it easier for our travel and tourism stakeholders to showcase the very best the emirate has to offer.” Aysha Al Kaabi, Vice President Commercial Enablement & Engagement at Etihad Airways, said: “Our collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi makes experiencing the emirate’s attractions more appealing than ever. By combining transport, connectivity, and attraction discounts in one digital pass, we’re making it simpler for visitors to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s diverse experiences, from cultural discoveries to family entertainment.” The agreement builds on the success of Etihad’s stopover programme, which welcomed 85,000 international visitors in 2024, compared to 12,000 in 2023. …

Lumi announced a strategic partnership with WalaOne which allows Lumi customers to earn a designated number of WalaOne points for each rental transaction. These accumulated points can then be exchanged for an array of rewards and benefits available through the WalaOne platform.  The partnership was officially signed at a ceremony attended by Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne; Khaled Almangour, Partnership Manager, WalaOne; and Abdulrahman Alshehri, Customer Success Specialist, WalaOne, in addition to a distinguished group of senior executives from Lumi, marking a pivotal moment in Lumi’s ongoing dedication to expanding its loyalty program offerings and enriching customer satisfaction. Syed Azfar Shakeel, CEO of Lumi, said: “Lumi is committed to continuous innovation and enhancing the customer journey. In a proactive move to meet the demand for rewarding loyalty programs, we’ve partnered with WalaOne to offer seamless integration and enhanced benefits. By providing WalaOne points with every rental, we are reinforcing our dedication to customer loyalty and satisfaction.” Obadah Khaled, Chief of WalaOne, said: “At WalaOne, we strive to provide our users with more ways to maximize the value of their everyday transactions. Our partnership with Lumi marks an exciting step in expanding our ecosystem of rewards and benefits. By integrating Lumi’s mobility services into WalaOne, we are giving customers even more opportunities to earn and redeem points, making their journeys more rewarding.” The addition of WalaOne marks the fourth loyalty program within Lumi’s portfolio, complementing existing programs such as Qitaf, AlFursan, and Mokafaa. By partnering with WalaOne, Lumi aims to deliver even greater value and choice to its customers, rewarding them with points redeemable for tangible benefits.