Category Archives: Agents

Dubai Travel & Tour Agents Group – DTTAG announced the appointment of Mohamed Al Rais, as its Honorary Chairman effective February 2022. Mohamed Al Rais, is the Deputy Managing Director of Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group) with extensive experience in the travel & tourism industry. Mohamed Jassim Al Rais is a young dynamic Emirati, who completed his graduation from American University, Sharjah in 2006. His initial introduction to the Al Rais Group of Companies was made in 2002 through a Management Development Program and thereafter in 2008 was given a Leadership role in Al Rais Holidays, Al Rais Online Services and Al Rais Rent – A – Car Company. Mr. Mohamed Jassim Al Rais is now the Deputy Managing director of Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group) and spearheads the Strategic Direction and Growth Plan of the Organization. Asim Arshad, President of DTTAG, added: That on behalf of the Executive Committee members, it is our sincere pleasure to welcome Mohamed Al Rais as our Chairman. Mohamed is a highly respected individual and is very actively involved in managing and running Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies (Al Rais Group). His experience and network will be an asset to DTTAG and we look forward to working with him in the near future.

Dubai-based Luxury Explorers’ Collection, a leading player in the premium holiday home market, has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia.  The firm’s first foray into investing outside the UAE will see Luxury Explorers’ Collection launching five new premium rentals in Mecca beginning next month. “Governments in the region have put a lot of efforts in diversifying the economy away from oil and a vital sector that has consistently been mapped in strategies for transformative development, particularly in the GCC, has been tourism,” said Mohammed Sultan, CEO for Luxury Explorers’ Collection.  “Taking our brand to Saudi Arabia is not only an important part of our strategic vision, but it is a testament as well to our commitment to support tourism and hospitality’s path to recovery, and ultimately, long-term growth.” Sultan revealed that introducing Luxury Explorers’ Collection to Mecca market will give them the right exposure in Saudi Arabia. “Our Mecca properties will have spacious apartments and penthouses accessible to Haram and with an uninterrupted Kaaba view. We will also offer full concierge services, including in-house chef, delivery attendants, butlers, and housekeeping staff,” he added. “On top of this, we are already developing a more forward-looking strategy for future investments in the Kingdom, in which we plan to expand in Riyadh to serve the corporate markets and families for holidays and weekends in the capital.  This is also in the hope of supporting the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which has set an ambitious target of 100 million tourists by 2030,” Sultan continued. Tourism and hospitality were among the sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, however, Sultan revealed that it was during these most challenging times that Luxury Explorers’ Collection …

Sabre Corporation and Eihab Travels, Oman’s leading IATA accredited travel agency, have announced a new multiyear technology agreement to help transform the travel experience in Oman. While travel is showing signs of recovery in Oman, this new long-term agreement will see Eihab Travels deploy Sabre’s latest technology and best solutions to drive growth, boost revenue and transform its business. The agency will now use Sabre’s next-generation travel agency desktop, Sabre Red 360, to deliver an intelligent and consultative service to travellers, create compelling shopping experiences for customers and provide an enhanced level of expertise to respond to evolving travellers demands. “The travel landscape has evolved dramatically following the pandemic, and that required a fresh outlook at our digital transformation and technology investments,” said Dinesh Poojary, General Manager, Eihab Travels.  “Sabre has the technology and innovation strategy to support our goals, advance our technology and operations and enable our digital transformation to compete on a global level.” As part of its strategic plans to transform the future of travel, Sabre recently announced multiple intelligent solutions, such as Sabre Travel AI and its intelligent retailing engine, which will be infused across its technology platform to power the future of personalized travel. “We have been working to empower our customers to be ready for recovery,” said John Mathew, Oman County Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “We are excited to partner with such a committed, forward-thinking partner like Eihab Travels that clearly understands the role technology plays in travel’s recovery – and we remain committed to equipping the agency with the most innovative solutions to achieve its goals” Sabre has been working with many leading travel companies in The Sultanate of Oman to …

Sabre Corporation and Fahad Express Travel & Tourism L.L.C, one of the leading travel companies in the Sultanate of Oman, have announced a new multiyear preferred GDS agreement to help elevate the traveller experience in Oman. Fahad Express Travel & Tourism has been working with Sabre for more than a decade, delivering on its vision “to offer the best and most satisfying services to holiday seekers and our corporate travellers”. Under the new agreement, Fahad Express will be exclusively using Sabre Red 360 to deliver highly personalised offers for its customers, by deploying intelligent and consultative services and features. Furthermore, it will continue to benefit from Sabre’s automated exchanges and refunds to drive operational efficiency and excellence. “We are excited to extend our longstanding relationship with Fahad Express as its preferred GDS partner,” said John Matthew, Oman Country Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “Online travel is playing a significant role in the industry’s recovery, and we will provide the technology and tools to allow Fahad Express leverage this growth and excel in both online and offline travel.”   Fahad Express Travel and Tourism will use Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, to sell customized travel packages from suppliers around the world. “We have been successful in building a brand that delivers the perfect balance of quality, reliability and service in the offline space,” said Ms. Juliet Irwin, General Manager, Fahad Express of Travel & Tourism. “Our partnership with Sabre will see us work together to empower the travel industry in Oman and transfer our expertise to excel in the online space. We will leverage Sabre’s …

Capital Travel, part of Tourism365, owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has been appointed as a promoter and distributor for Riyadh Season within the UAE, by the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA). Running until March 31 2022, Riyadh Season has welcomed more than 4 million monthly visitors since its opening in October 2020, providing visitors with the unmissable opportunity to enjoy a plethora of musical performances, concerts, cultural events and sporting activities as well as explore Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary capital. As part of its efforts to deliver exceptional and seamless experiences, Capital Travel has curated two exclusive packages for UAE citizens and residents. Starting from AED 3,150*, guests can stay at the 4 star Centro Olaya Hotel for four days and three nights with a double room, breakfast, return economy class air tickets, airport transfers and Riyadh Season tickets.  Starting from AED 3,600*, guests can stay at the 5 star Sheraton Riyadh Hotel for four days and three nights with a double room, breakfast, return economy class air tickets, airport transfers and Riyadh Season tickets. Riyadh Season offers visitors a diversity of entertainment experiences, for all ages and interests with 14 activity zones, 70 concerts, 350 theatrical shows, 18 Arabic theater shows, 100 interactive experiences, 6 international theatres, 200 international restaurant, 1 freestyle wrestling show, and 10 international expos taking place for the duration of the event. Roula Jouny, Executive Director for Tourism365 commented: “We are thrilled to have been appointed by the Saudi Tourism Authority as a UAE distributor for Riyadh Season, which showcases the very best of music, art, culture and sport, alongside a diverse mix of culinary and casual dining experiences.  This strategic appointment further cements …

Beyond luxury, RAWNAQ Tourism is one of the most ultra-luxurious tourism corporations based in Jeddah Saudi Arabia and opening its doors to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next month. Experience an unforgettable vacation; leave all the usual logistics at the door, RAWNAQ has you covered. Find a variety of services such as flights, private jets, elite hotels, yachts, villas and five-star personal services for luxury destinations all over the world. RAWNAQ is a leading supplier, wholesaler and ground handler for the Indian Ocean, specializing in the Maldives and surrounding islands in the Indian Ocean, since 2010. Operating from its Jeddah offices the team has felt the demand for offices in Riyadh. Expect warm Arabian hospitality, RAWNAQ’s main purpose to bring Saudi Arabia closer to the world, supporting the goal of the Saudi Vision 2030 and opening opportunities for travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia – with a warm welcome. “The Saudi 2030 Vision excites and inspires us, for its immense impact it will have on the tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. RAWNAQ is ecstatic in showcasing and welcoming nationals and residents from neighboring countries in the GCC and further afield to be blown away by Saudi Arabia’s beauty and raising awareness of the Saudi 2030 Vision” – Fahad Alsulami, General Manager of RAWNAQ Exuding a world of refinement, RAWNAQ brings friends and families together in magical ways that help you rediscover the most precious gift of all: time together. There are ample opportunities to reconnect with one another and make lifelong memories. Kick off your sandals and allow your toes sink in to the sandy white beaches, be present and allow RAWNAQ to handle every aspect of your vacation. The …

Seera Group is transforming its portfolio to create the largest travel business in the Middle East with the integration of its diverse verticals under the umbrella of Almosafer. Almosafer will serve as the single umbrella travel brand under Seera Group managing not only consumer travel but also dedicated corporate & government services. Further, Seera’s travel services in the UAE will now also come under Almosafer for further expansion across the region. Earlier, these two services were under elaa and tajawal, respectively. The strategic business integration is part of Seera Group’s transformation journey to enhance its business footprint, enhance customer service through advanced digital technology, and to strengthen operational efficiencies and enhance financial performance by optimising resources and leveraging the strong synergies of the different business units. As one cohesive brand with leading digital and consumer technologies, Almosafer will continue its investment in omnichannel products and services in an effort to enhance the overall customer experience in travel management for corporate & government entities in the Kingdom, as well as creating seamless travel experiences for customers across the Middle East. Majed Alnefaie, CEO, Seera Group, said: “Seera is synonymous with the Kingdom’s transformational journey, playing an instrumental role in driving Vision 2030 and aiming to fast-track the revival of tourism in Saudi Arabia. Our shareholders are of utmost importance to us and with this move, we are leveraging our biggest success story with opportunities to grow further – driving business objectives and sales. Adaptable, innovative, digitally driven, Seera will continue to transform, evolve and grow to meet market, customer and partner needs. The integration will address market fragmentation and help us continue to build dialogue in the wider GCC as well …

Araba Fenice Services Srl, a spin-off of Italy Emotion Tour Operator, captivated the attention of a selected group of the UAE’s best travel agencies and wedding planners with a presentation of undiscovered treasures of the Region of Campania, Araba Fenice’s home. EXPO 2020 has been chosen by yet another international company to introduce its services to the region, using Dubai as the main platform. Through a virtual tour among the charms of Capri, the mysteries of Pompeii and the exclusivity of Positano, Araba Fenice offered the local agencies a new perspective on the entire Campania region and instruments to communicate its beauty to the UAE travel lovers. Araba Fenice will partner with local travel agencies to get an accurate understanding of the UAE’s customers’ preferences, requirements and goals with the aim to offer unparalleled experiences to tourists coming from the UAE. “Our agency is poised to become a point of reference for professionals and private customers traveling to Italy and, especially, Campania” commented Domenica Sannino, the Director of Araba Fenice after his meetings with the local counterparts. “We are extremely happy with the welcoming response of our colleagues in the UAE and we look forward to welcome tourists and visitors from this amazing country” concluded Sannino.

Global travel management company FCM is inviting corporate travel managers to experience a preview of its new proprietary platform. Developed in response to a rapidly evolving business travel landscape, this latest initiative reflects the company’s accelerated investment in next-generation technology to address the future requirements of a multi-national customer base that stretches over 100 countries. Following a successful and productive testing phase, demos are now being offered to prospective clients. “As the world has changed, so have the challenges our clients face too. With geographically dispersed operations and a remote workforce the new norm, our travel management solution has been purposely designed for the digitally savvy workforce, offering a powerful suite of digital tools and dashboards that puts travel managers, arrangers, and travellers firmly in control,” said Marcus Eklund, FCM’s Managing Director. “We are excited to offer the global business travel community a first-look of our proprietary platform while introducing a few of its many innovative features.” Over the past 24 months, FCM worked with a representative cross-section of clients from different sectors and varying sizes and budgets, garnering feedback to help shape the new travel platform. This has resulted in a slick user experience delivering global consistency where needed, while offering a superior level of choice and flexibility that is built around their individual needs. “While it was important that we identified and addressed current pain points, it was even more critical that we future-proofed our offerings by anticipating and delivering the most adaptable business travel technology in the market. It has truly been a collaborative effort,” added Eklund.  FCM is keeping specific details around the full capabilities of the new omni-channel platform under wraps; however, those signing up …

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Al Rostamani Travels announced a partnership that will allow the Al Rostamani Travel to market NCL’s cruises across the Group’s multiple businesses and distribution channels. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership to grow NCL’s market share in the Middle East while enriching Al Rostamani Travels portfolio with the line’s renowned cruises that sail to more than 300 destinations worldwide, including Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Commenting on the agreement, NCL’s Regional Vice President Business Development Middle East & Africa, Nick Wilkinson, said: “We are delighted to partner with a dynamic and distinguished group such as Al Rostamani, who share our vision of innovation and putting customer experience first. We are seeing great demand for our cruises from the U.A.E and GCC markets and are striving to further strengthen our position in this high-potential region through strategic partnerships.” “We are excited to announce our partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and add sea-cruising to our diverse and growing products portfolio. NCL is a popular brand in our market, offering a wide range of cabins in different categories, so there is always something to suit every customer’s budget who wish to choose cruising as their holiday option. We have the NCL product offering ready for our B2C, B2B & B2E customers and this partnership will help our team to serve the passionate as well as new cruisers effectively and bring value for every dollar they spend. To book NCL cruises, travellers can contact us on email art-holidays@alrostamanigroup.ae or by phone 800-ART”, said Bimal Jain, General Manager of Al Rostamani Travels