Category Archives: Agents

For more than 50 years, Zahara Travel has become renowned for demonstrating an entrepreneurial and pioneering approach to corporate travel. This strategy has helped the company gain prominence as a premium service-oriented organization, resulting in winning the “Oman Award for Excellence” in Tourism six times. Thanks to its collaboration with Amadeus, the corporate travel specialist plans to boost its level of automation to deliver an enhanced and more personalized customer service. Zahara Travel has chosen to implement the latest cloud-based Amadeus Selling Platform, which delivers fast access to a comprehensive range of travel services using real-time connectivity for the most up-to-date inventory and pricing. To benefit customers further, Zahara Travel will deploy Amadeus Productivity Suite, which is a behind-the-scenes set of tools that enable travel consultants to focus on delivering the best customer service rather than the administrative processes that need to be managed. Amadeus Web Services is another key component of the agreement between the two companies. Gautam Broota, CEO of Zahara Travel and Service Bureau LLC said, “As a pioneer in the Travel and Tourism business in Oman, we strive to offer our customers the most efficient and seamless award-winning service. Our partnership with Amadeus ensures we are using highly advanced products and services that enhance our ability to deliver customer service in a comprehensive and personalized manner. We are excited about the expanded range of solutions included in this agreement as it elevates our offering to the next level for all our stakeholders.” Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, adds: “Amadeus’ travel solutions will help enhance the services offered by Zahara Travel and is backed by our commitment to support our customers every step of the …

Closing the year on a high note of achievements Cozmo Travel recently opened its 20th branch in the UAE at City Center Ajman. This will serve the customers as the travel agency and a city check in service for Air Arabia customers. The Cozmo Travel and Air Arabia City-Check in Outlet in Safeer Mall Ajman was inaugurated by Cozmo Travel CEO Jamal Abdulnazar and Chief Guest Salah Zainal – Head of Ground operations at Air Arabia. Cozmo Travel winner of many awards and accolades including the Arabian travel award for the most trusted travel partner in the Middle East. Speaking on the occasion, Jamal Abdulnazar CEO Cozmo Travel reiterated, “Cozmo Travel has had a great year, even with the risks and adversity towards travel which was pandemic induced, we managed to persevere and come out stronger than ever with the inauguration of our newest branch in Safeer Mall Ajman, UAE. Additionally, ending the year with a bang, Cozmo Travel has started operations in Armenia & Pakistan, with plans to open up more branches in the two countries while also being a GSA for Fly Jinnah & FlyArna the latest joint ventures of Air Arabia. These expansions bring up the Cozmo Travel global network to cover thirteen countries with multiple branches including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, Oman, Jordan, Iraq, India, China & Egypt. This brings about the Bounce Back of tourism and Cozmo Travel’s role in facilitating travel in the region.”  

Visionize Technology, is helping pave the way for hotels and resorts around the region to reach new heights with the implementation of a state-of-the-art automation technology which facilitates internal staff operations, enhances the guest experience using in-room apps, lower overall business costs and generate more revenue within the F&B sector. The properties have estimated a staggering increase in the average spent per guest after the implementation of Visionize, mainly due to built-in smart marketing and upselling features, along with fantastic visual experience and a seamless multilingual interface. Visionize Technology Founder & CEO Mazen Chedid stated, “With the future of hospitality gearing towards a more seamless and data-driven experience, the implementation of our systems across numerous hotels around the region seems to be opening new doors to achieving higher revenue, faster operations and an improved guest experience.” Moreover, as the system’s artificial intelligence entirely tracks and analyzes F&B operations including the staff, kitchen and clearances, hotels have witnessed a significant decrease in human error and delivery time.

As travel picks up, travellers seek new destinations, understanding this need Al Rais Travel will be introducing a very special destination to agents, known as the Land of 1001 Delights, Tatarstan. A special B2B event will be conducted on Wednesday 14th December 2022 at 7pm at Sofitel Dubai the Obelisk. The agents who will attend would have the opportunity to engage with the key partners who will be present to share the many offerings of the destination followed by a presentation to understand more of the beautiful land of 1001 delights. Speaking with Tourismbreakingnews.ae, Mohamed Jassim Al Rais Deputy Managing Director Al Rais travel reiterated, “We have seen post covid, not just the increase of travel, but travellers opting for new destinations which they can explore, we at Al Rais travel ensure that our clients are given more bucket list opportunities, to tick off their boxes to new experiences, unique locations etc. Tatarstan has a lot to offer our travellers from the UAE, from historical wonders, to traditional locations, natural beauty of the destination with its many rivers, lakes, hills and not forgetting the culinary journey to be explored. We want our agents from the UAE to familiarise themselves with the destination and personally speak with the team from Tatarstan about every aspect necessary for their travellers.” Please RSVP using the following link, and do let me know in case you are facing challenges to access the page: Please click here to confirm your participation   Event Program Item​ Details Start​ End​ Arrival & Registration ​ Guests arrive to the venue 19:00​ 19:30​ Al Rais Welcome address, explanation of the format of the event ​ Guests and participants make their way to the ballroom …

dnata facilitated the transportation of over 150,000 football fans between Dubai and Doha in the opening two weeks of the world’s largest football tournament. As football fever grips the globe, dnata’s highly trained teams of ground handlers, passenger and ramp agents have ensured that fans make a smooth passage through Dubai World Central airport (DWC). With airlines introducing ‘shuttle flights’ operating between Qatar and nearby Gulf states, Dubai has become a popular transiting destination for fans attending tournament games. dnata’s services between DWC and Doha have enabled more than 600 safe aircraft movements in the first fortnight of the competition. To execute this, over 270 customer oriented and ramp agents have been re-positioned from existing positions at Dubai International airport (DXB). A total of 90 pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) are used to service aircraft, including zero-emission electric baggage tractors, conveyor belts and a push-back tug. For those fans wishing to take their experience to another level, a warm greeting will be received in DWC’s marhaba lounge. Supporters can keep up to date with the tournament with super-fast Wi-Fi and enjoy complimentary international cuisine before they make their trip. marhaba’s Meet and Greet services are also available for fans who wish to further improve their experience. Jaffar Dawood, Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations, dnata, said: “We are dedicated to ensuring an excellent journey for all football supporters by providing a swift and efficient service at DWC, so that they can enjoy their fan experience for as long as possible. We thank our airline partners for their trust in our services, and will continue to support their initiatives.” dnata offers ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services …

Dubai Airports is introducing a comprehensive new programme to ensure the delivery of a sector leading, inclusive, and seamless travel experience for all People of Determination (POD) with hidden disabilities that travel through Dubai International (DXB). As part of Dubai Airport’s shared values ‘We all meet the world differently’, this new initiative will contribute to the UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 vision for Dubai to be the world’s leading disability-friendly city and barrier-free community that empowers and welcomes all POD travellers. This new programme will roll out in two phases over two years and unite service partners across the DXB community to elevate the travel experience for passengers with hidden disabilities such as autism, chronic fatigue, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In an effort to integrate recognisable and accessible options for POD travellers, Dubai Airports will be introducing a travel planner for pre- travel preparation and an Autism Friendly Route, with a prioritised route through check-in, passport control, security check point and boarding, which can be availed when wearing the sunflower lanyard. Specially trained staff equipped to support POD travellers will be easily identifiable wearing sunflower pins, allowing for increased visibility, communication and support throughout the airport journey. A comprehensive educational campaign to drive awareness around autism, specifically relating to socially acceptable language and empathy will be undertaken as part of the programme, complemented by the distribution of key training materials across all airport entities, ensuring that POD travellers are met with consistent support and a positive customer experience.  Dubai Airports has been accredited by the Dubai Autism Centre as an Autism friendly environment. The second phase of the roll-out will see additional, innovative solutions, including connected airports, …

Arabian Adventures, a leading UAE-based destination management company, tour and safari operator, is expanding its camp accommodation and service offering to further improve its popular ‘Overnight Safari’ experience. Also known as the brand’s ‘Luxury Desert Camping’, the popular experience in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) offers permanent tented accommodation with wooden decking amidst a natural green enclave, with a communal dining area, gazebo and bonfire set-up for gatherings at the centre. Now open for the winter 2022/23 season, new accommodation options are located at a nearby viewpoint higher on the dunes. From here, guests can access from their deck panoramic, uninterrupted desert views for the ultimate Arabian sunrise and sunset, and an additional element of privacy amongst the tranquil surroundings. Food and beverage options as part of the all-inclusive desert camping experience are also expanding for the new season. New menu items have been added to the line-up prepared for guests by the in-house culinary team, including unlimited soft drinks and premium beverages at a private bar, alongside a BBQ dinner and breakfast on the grill. Mohanad Malhas, General Manager at Arabian Adventures, commented: “An Overnight Safari in the Dubai desert offers a back-to-nature experience like no other. In the pristine surroundings of the protected DDCR, our guests can get up close to local wildlife and be assured that everything will be taken care of by our team of destination experts. We are witnessing increased demand for our full range of UAE experiences this winter, and a stay in the desert remains high on the wish list of residents and visitors alike.” Arabian Adventures’ camp now has a total of eight deluxe tents. Each accommodation can be booked by …

Sabre Corporation  celebrated the opening of a new office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last week in the presence of representatives from travel companies and partners.  “We are excited to continue delivering our investment plan in Saudi Arabia and celebrate the opening of the second new office in the Kingdom this year,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “This reflects our commitment and continuous efforts to expand our operations and team to support the increasing needs of our customers in the Kingdom. We have invested in building a knowledgeable and diverse team to give our customers the support they require.” “We believe our efforts in the Kingdom are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. We provide the technology and infrastructure to equip travel companies with the tools and solutions they need to help maximise their potential, provide exceptional customer experience and attract travellers from all around the world,” added Iyer.

Sabre Corporation and Conferma Pay announced a new partnership with Mastercard to accelerate the use of virtual cards for business-to-business (B2B) travel payments. The announcement builds on Sabre’s August 2022 acquisition of Conferma Pay.  The collaboration with Mastercard is the next step in advancing Sabre’s goal to create an open and independent travel payment ecosystem. Digitization of travel payments with virtual cards helps address the historic challenges associated with B2B leisure and corporate travel payments.  The securely generated, single use card numbers provide a link between booking and associated payments to third party suppliers.  Travel buyers and suppliers are therefore able to easily track and reconcile payments, as well as benefit from flexible pricing, financing options, and enhanced security through card payment guarantees. “The payments industry is in the midst of a revolution and there is an increased need for travel companies to better manage the whole payment experience,” said Roshan Mendis, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Sabre Travel Solutions.  “Companies in the travel space – including travel management companies, travel agencies, corporations, issuers and technology partners – need sophisticated solutions and seamless connections.  Sabre is taking strategic steps to fulfill the needs of our industry, beginning with the acquisition of Conferma Pay.  Now, the new partnership with Mastercard will help Conferma Pay to build new and enhanced digital capabilities in virtual cards, transforming the payment experience for issuers.” As part of the agreement, Mastercard has agreed to make a minority investment in Conferma Pay, which will continue to operate independently and serve the entire travel industry and beyond. “A combination of experience, technologies and capabilities will accelerate travel payment innovation and drive inclusive and sustainable growth for …

The Emirates is one of the most easily accessible countries in the world, and every year hundreds and thousands of UAE residents undertake international journeys. While we may all be fans of last-minute, impromptu bookings it might not always seem feasible. But we can make it possible for you. Want to catch a quick break and sneak away for a vacation? Here are the 7 countries that are easily accessible from the UAE, where all you will need is a flight ticket and minimal pre-travel preparations. Oman UAE’s neighbour is one to reckon with when it comes to selecting a country for your international trip. It surely surpasses the expectations of every visitor with its grand mosques, spectacular mountain views, vibrant souks and white-sand beaches. Due to their proximity, non-stop flights are easily available to and from Oman, operated by Emirates, Etihad, Oman Air, Air Arabia and more. The flight duration is just one hour, while connecting flights could take longer. Roundtrip tickets from the UAE to Oman are readily available starting from AED 797. In a historic agreement, both countries have signed a deal to establish a rail network between Oman and the UAE, which will further facilitate travel. The passenger trains are expected to reach 200 kph, running between Sohar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes, and between Sohar and Al Ain in 47 minutes. Saudi Arabia Another country sharing land borders with the Emirates is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is frequently visited by millions every year for what Saudi has to offer for every type of traveler all year round. Multiple direct flights are available every day, starting from airfares as low as AED 1,300. …