Arabian Travel Market 2022 - Official Show Daily - Day 4

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The world meets at ATM An enthusiastic travel industry embraces the opportunity to do business once again

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Welcome

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Contents 06 | Exhibitor news 15 | Standing out from the crowd

Winners of the Best Stand Awards

16 | In the frame

Highlights from ATM 2022

20 | Seminar schedule 22 | Taking responsibility

Discussing responsible tourism

24 | Trending now

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, toured Arabian Travel Market yesterday

New trends emerging in travel

Hotels adapt to a changing world The path to recovery has not been easy for the hospitality industry following the pandemic.

Yet, the region’s hotels demonstrated their agility over the last months and performed remarkably. The high occupancy rates witnessed in the Middle East in 2021 and thus far in 2022 were a result of the industry’s efforts to implement innovative changes to meet their guests’ needs and expectations.

At the show yesterday, a panel of experienced hoteliers discussed new trends shaping the sector and the steps taken to reinvent their hospitality offerings. Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group, highlighted that, among new trends gaining traction, sustainability and wellness were at the top.

He said: “Wellness has seen a lot of growth in our portfolio. Last year, coming out of COVID-19, we launched several beach resorts in the region as people are really looking for these retreats, and it’s not just domestic travellers searching for staycations but also international travellers wanting to book a holistic summer break.”

When it comes to sustainability, Kirby emphasised that consumers today are increasingly looking to associate themselves with brands that take saving the environment seriously. He added that sustainability involves more than just conserving water and electricity. It also encompasses CSR initiatives, such as tying up with food banks and running no plastic campaigns.

Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, added: “Sustainability is

essential, but it’s an unregulated part of our industry. So, we need to build a framework around what sustainability means in hospitality.”

Cordon also stated that while it’s important to discuss the future of the hospitality landscape, businesses also need to focus on who these future guests will be, as they will drive the changes yet to be witnessed in the industry.

Christopher Lund, Director, Head of Hotels MENA, Colliers International, noted that another interesting trend taking shape in the industry is that hotels today are being used differently. They no longer only serve the purpose of accommodation. People are using hotels as meeting places and remote working spaces and these trends need to be taken into consideration while developing future concepts.

He said: “In the future, this will be very important because there are 170,000 hotel projects in the pipeline in the GCC, so the demand and the competition will definitely increase. It is

very important to stay on the cutting edge of these facilities.”

Another component accelerating recovery in the industry is the integration of new technologies to make the guest journey as seamless as possible. From developing user-friendly websites in different languages to facilitate bookings to allowing guests to check in and upload their documents online before arrival, technology is changing the way hotel businesses operate.

However, one challenge remains, as pointed out by Judit Toth, Founder & CEO of Vivere Hospitality. She shared that one of the challenges faced while setting up business operations was dealing with several different systems and software.

She explained: “Today, everything is accessible with the tap of a button, so why can’t this be done to streamline hotel operations? This could greatly enhance the guest experience.

There is a lot of room for improvement and technology can be a great asset here.”

26 | Destination profiles 30 | Vox pops 22

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The Arabian Travel Market show dailies are published on behalf of: Built by

ln the business of building businesses

Gateway House 28 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1DN, United Kingdom  +44 (0) 20 8271 2158,  arabian.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk  www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com The Arabian Travel Market logo, ATM and Hosted Buyer are trade marks of Reed Exhibitions Limited. RELX Group, RE symbol, Reed Exhibitions and Reed Travel Exhibitions are trade marks of RELX Group plc.

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PO Box 500573, Office 704, Executive Heights, Barsha Heights, Dubai, UAE +971 4 4243640  enquiries@npimedia.com  npimedia.com © Copyright The Arabian Travel Market show dailies are published by npimedia under licence from Reed Exhibitions Limited. The copyright in the design and content of the Arabian Travel Market show dailies is owned by npimedia, Reed Exhibitions Limited and its licensors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic, photocopying or otherwise - without the prior written permission of Reed Exhibitions Limited.

VISIT NPI AT THE SHOW DAILIES OFFICE: ROOM 3.1, DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE ATM 2022 session: The Future of the Region’s Hotel Industry

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All images from npimedia archive, Shutterstock Images or supplied

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News

Yas Island to host NBA preseason games The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that the reigning NBA champions, Milwaukee Bucks, will face the Atlanta Hawks in the inaugural NBA Abu Dhabi Games in October.

The teams will play two preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Thursday, October 6, and Saturday, October 8, 2022. The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 will mark the league’s first games in the UAE and the region.

Ralph Rivera, NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director, said: “Bringing the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks to Abu Dhabi in October is an important milestone in the NBA and basketball’s global growth. In addition to the games, we look forward to engaging fans through a variety of interactive events and giving back to the local community through NBA Cares initiatives and youth development clinics that will teach the sport and its values to young boys and girls.”

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 are part of a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that earlier this year saw the launch of the first Junior NBA Abu Dhabi League, a youth basketball league for 450 boys and girls from 11 to 14 years of age from local schools across Abu Dhabi. The partnership also includes a

variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness and an NBA 2K League exhibition event at the Middle East Film & Comic Con. His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, DCT Abu Dhabi Director General, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the first NBA games in Abu Dhabi, the first to be hosted in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf, and look forward to welcoming the Atlanta Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks and basketball fans from across the world to discover this incredible city and experience our authentic Emirati culture for themselves.

“Basketball has the ability to unite communities, and the spirit of the game will be felt by players and visitors, both on and off the court. The unveiling of the NBA teams marks an important milestone in our wider partnership with this world-class sports organisation.”

The partnership also sees DCT Abu Dhabi, under Visit Abu Dhabi (the tourism promotion initiative of the UAE’s capital city), serve as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and China.

Tickets for the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 will go on sale later this year.

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AlUla launches online travel training hub The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the launch of its first travel agent training programme and trade information hub – AlUla Specialist – at ATM. The online hub will drive awareness of AlUla as a new and unexplored destination and will teach international travel agents to market and sell trips to this vast desert region in Saudi Arabia.

The course will comprise five training modules in English and Arabic, including an introduction to the destination, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra, the areas of Dadan and Jabal Ikmah and AlUla Old Town and Oasis. The content will also highlight the destination’s key messaging and offer insight into unique AlUla experiences to travel partners.

The training programme includes a trade toolkit with downloadable factsheets, brochures, visitor guides, videos, training webinars, trade rewards and incentives, regular news and product updates as well as the opportunity to attend upcoming events.

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Participants who pass the training programme will become AlUla Travel Specialists and be profiled as premium AlUla operators.

“With AlUla Specialist, we have developed what we hope is best-inclass programming to support our global network of valued trade partners.

AlUla is an incredibly rich and inspiring destination and we look forward to introducing AlUla to our trade partners, first digitally and then in person,” said Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla. “We need to train and prepare the next generation of tourism professionals who we know we can trust to provide an on-demand expertise to travellers and industry partners as we concentrate our efforts to attract 180,000 visitors by the end of this year and 250,000 visitors in 2023.”

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11/05/2022 9:48 PM

News

Radisson to expand resort portfolio in Morocco

views. Located just 20 minutes from Al Hoceima’s international airport, the resort provides a convenient getaway for all travellers.

Adjacent to Radisson Blu Resort, Al Hoceima and its facilities, Radisson Blu Residences, Al Hoceima offers direct access and boasts panoramic ocean, garden and pool views from the terraces of the apartments and bungalows. The resort is a welcoming seaside home base, offering world-class service in the coastal region of Al Hoceima, which boasts a rich history, well preserved historic buildings and traditional blue and white houses, drawing from the city’s Spanish and Moroccan influences.

Radisson Blu Resort, Saïdia Beach is ideally situated on the shore, alongside the Med-Saïdia Marina and Golf Course,

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offering 397 spacious and bright rooms and suites with modern designs inspired by authentic Moroccan architecture.

Located in an eco-friendly village, Radisson Blu Resort, Taghazout Bay Surf Village is steps away from the country’s best surf spot, Taghazout, known as Africa’s surfing paradise. Designed with an integrated and sustainable approach, visitors will be spoiled for choice with the local activities on offer, from surfing and water skiing, to golf and jeep rallies.

In line with Morocco’s commitment to sustainable tourism, the hotels are operated in respect of their close proximity to natural wonders and aim to implement Radisson Hotel Group’s leading responsible business initiatives.

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Radisson Blu Resort, Taghazout Bay Surf Village

Radisson Hotel Group is growing its Moroccan footprint. Last year, the group opened four hotels in beloved tourist destinations like Al Hoceima, Taghazout Bay and Saïdia. Located in Morocco’s south, north and northeast, the four hotels consist of three resorts and a seaside residence.

Situated on one of the most scenic Mediterranean bays, Radisson Blu Resort, Al Hoceima is surrounded by 64 acres of cedar forest and is ideally located on the Sfiha beachfront.

The hotel features 432 luxury rooms and suites with modern décor and breathtaking ocean and garden

Qatar Tourism set for landmark year In what’s set to be a landmark year for tourism in the country, Qatar is witnessing its visitor numbers steadily scale up. His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: “Our strategy is to triple our visitor numbers to six million by 2030, making Qatar one of the world’s fastestgrowing tourism destinations.”

It is an exciting time for tourism in Qatar, with many firsts for the Gulf country, including becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. While this mega sporting event is a milestone in the country’s tourism growth journey, sports will continue to feature heavily in the 2030 strategy as one of four key contributors to driving tourism in Qatar.

Beyond 2022, the country is working on building its calendar of events to continue attracting athletes, amateurs and professionals in various fields.

As part of the nation’s efforts to offer exciting experiences outside sporting arenas and stadiums, there are 205 hotels and resorts, including a raft of cultural and retail attractions – such as Place Vendôme and Winter Wonderland – due to open in time for the influx of fans expected to visit Qatar later this

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year. Simultaneously, more than 80 projects are in the pipeline, bringing the total up to 291 hotels and resorts.

Qatar is also capitalising on its geographic location for the growth of its cruise tourism sub-sector. In the past decade, the Arabian Gulf has risen to the top three cruise destinations worldwide during the winter months. While hosting cruise ships for overnight stays, Doha has also become a turnaround port, allowing visitors to enjoy longer stays before and after their cruise.

As a step towards enhancing the experience for cruise guests, the fully renovated Doha Port terminal will be inaugurated this spring. A new gateway to the country, located in Doha’s cultural district, it is in close proximity to the capital’s key attractions With rapid development underway in the country, Qatar Tourism recognises its responsibility to ensure that all its tourism products and services deliver an unparalleled visitor experience.

The Service Excellence programme was, therefore, recently launched in order to empower its partners from across different sectors to enhance the experience at every touchpoint along the visitor journey.

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News

Robust tourism development underway in Sharjah

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) unveiled the emirate’s latest tourism developments and future plans at ATM. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “Our leadership’s constant support paved the way for Sharjah to make immense progress in recent years in terms of major tourism projects across cities and villages in the emirate, including major infrastructure projects to connect the Heart of Sharjah to the central and eastern regions.

“The emirate’s strategic location is an added value for its tourism sector, playing a key role in the development of the tourism industry and its diversity

and offering an array of experiences to meet all interests and cater to every age group. The emirate boasts worldclass tourism capacities, offering an annual agenda full of events, exhibitions, and major festivals – all of which work together to meet the aspirations of visitors from all categories.”

He explained that Sharjah has developed its hotel sector to include more than 100 facilities with over 10,000 keys, featuring beachside resorts, properties based in the heart of the city and retreats that make the most of their natural surroundings, from mountains to sand dunes.

Sharjah has also worked hard to enhance its eco-tourism offering, with

destinations providing experiences for adventure lovers with activities such as camping, water sports, desert safaris and mountain excursions, in addition to experiences catering to heritage, arts, history and archaeology enthusiasts.

“Sharjah supports development plans that are designed to ensure the sustainability of its key sectors, including tourism – one of the pillars of the national economy.”

The total number of guests in hotel establishments in Sharjah during Q1 2022 exceeded 350,000, marking a growth rate of 26 percent compared to the same period last year. The UAE ranked as the first source market for hotel guests in

Q1 2022, followed by India, Russia and Oman, underlining Sharjah’s appeal to both international tourists and visitors from around the UAE. Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA), shed light on the Sharjah Safari project – the largest safari outside the African continent. She said: “Sharjah Safari places Sharjah and the UAE at the forefront of attractive destinations for nature and wildlife tourists and contributes to promoting various other sectors, from aviation to hospitality.”

His Excellency Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, said: “We look forward to highlighting the services and smart solution features that we have recently launched, in addition to demonstrating the quality of our safety standards and operational efficiency, which has been enhanced to provide customers and travellers with a more comfortable experience.”

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), announced the group’s two new luxury hospitality projects, Najd Al Meqsar Retreat and The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid bin Ibrahim.

He said: “These projects offer residents and travellers more choices in the ways they wish to explore Sharjah and complement the other eco- and heritage-inspired hospitality projects developed by Shurooq in the emirate.

“Through these new undertakings, we reiterate our commitment to enhancing Sharjah’s tourist landscape, encouraging diversified investments through local and global partnerships, and developing projects all across Sharjah as part of an inclusive, community-focused development plan.”

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Best Western strengthens Middle East portfolio BWH Hotel Group announced the signing of three new hotels in the region while highlighting its current portfolio of properties at ATM. The new openings will include Best Western Plus Dubai Academic City with 600 rooms, Best Western Ajyad in Makkah with 201 rooms and Best Western Plus Airport Riyadh with 99 rooms.

A leading global hospitality network, BWH Hotel Group comprises three hotel companies, including World Hotels Collection, Best Western Hotels and Resorts and Sure Stay Hotel Group.

The network boasts approximately 4,700 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. With 18 brands

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across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotel Group suits the needs of developers and guests in every market. With the new signings, BWH Hotel Group underscores its strong focus on development in the Middle East market.

Dilip Waghaye, Director of Development Middle East: “I am very proud to announce these new additions to BWH Hotel Group’s portfolio of hotels in the Middle East. We have built a strong development pipeline and there are new openings scheduled in key Gulf markets for 2022.”

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11/05/2022 9:48 PM

News

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TI Infotech showcases latest developments at ATM Making the most of the slower pace of the travel industry over the last two years, TI Infotech used the time to enhance its flagship products. The India-based technology provider added new features to their Travel Cloud Suite and Travel Assist products.

“We developed our new feature ‘Make Your Own Package - MYOP’ which is a true dynamic packaging feature.

Also, we enhanced our split stay feature for island-focused packages. With these features in place, it became a lot easier for tour operators and their end clients to search, explore, book and manage holiday bookings,” said Nitin Chaudhry, Business Consultant - Global Sales.

The company has been participating in ATM since 2009 and the team is optimistic about the year ahead, with travel on the road to recovery.

“The show and the region it covers primarily are both important for us and caters to our purposes of branding, new business and networking along with meeting with our existing clients and suppliers.

“A successful ATM for us means increased business from new and existing clients and enabling them to do more business. Also, we are looking forward to meeting and syncing with other global industry players in person.”

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ISO Travel Solutions highlights new software at ATM ISO Travel Solutions GmbH has launched ‘Travel:up Video’, a new software solution for travel companies. The intelligent software introduced by the Germany-based technology company allows travel and tourism businesses to create and send personalised videos to customers in order to raise upsell rate and customer satisfaction.

Demonstrating its functionality, the tool, if used by an airline, can be used to offer passengers additional services, such as in-flight catering, more legroom or additional baggage, via short video sequences. For hotels, services such as room upgrades, a meal or a spa treatment can be highlighted.

Each video is created by the software individually and personalised for each customer. With its interactive ability, viewers can click on each additional service in the video and make a direct booking. The tool receives information about the customer’s chosen services directly from the company’s reservation

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system along with additional services that match those already booked.

The tool then sends an email with an online link to the customer.

Markus Kretschmer, Managing Director, ISO Travel Solutions GmbH, said: “With this solution, customers can book upsells directly out of the video. As soon as the customer clicks on the link, the video is individually compiled, personalised and played for the customer. Furthermore, the tool combines the video sequences of all the relevant additional services into one seamless video.”

German airline Condor has already used the software, which has reportedly tripled its upsell rate.

Moreover, at the show, ISO Travel Solutions GmbH is showcasing all its software solutions, which include reservation systems, internet tools and video solutions for tourism companies, attractions, amusement parks, cruise lines, airlines and airports.

“We have worked on several projects in the Middle East with many companies, including Emirates, Etihad and Kuwait Airways, among others. Our most recent project is the delivery of an online

booking portal for VisitOman.om, the national travel operator of the Sultanate of Oman,” highlighted Kretschmer.

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11/05/2022 9:48 PM

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News

Miral unveils strategic plans for Abu Dhabi

Yas Bay Waterfront

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, unveiled its forwardlooking strategic roadmap at ATM. The group announced its upcoming projects and demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the UAE capital’s leisure and entertainment offering.

During its first decade, Miral invested over US$2 billion into developing worldclass attractions and experiences on Yas Island, in partnership with global industry giants such as Ferrari and Warner Bros.

Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral, said: “We are delighted to take part in ATM 2022, which provides us with the perfect opportunity to showcase Miral – past, present and future. From the evolution of Yas Island into a global

destination, a continuous source of pride, to our recent appointment to oversee Saadiyat’s destination management strategy, we look forward to building more immersive attractions, worldclass destinations and enhanced guest experiences as we contribute to Abu Dhabi’s tourism growth and position it as a global destination for visitors from all around the world.”

In 2011, Miral embarked on a mission of prompting a shift in the UAE capital’s leisure and entertainment landscape on Yas Island. The group developed worldclass attractions and cultural landmarks and also created top-tier guest experiences like no other. Consequently, Yas Island re-emerged in the everdynamic global tourism ecosystem as

one of the UAE’s biggest touristic draws, attracting visitors from all over the world with its diverse mix of award-winning leisure and entertainment experiences.

In 2020 and 2021, Miral delivered multiple projects on the island, expanding its portfolio of world-class destinations. Located on the southern end of Yas Island, Yas Bay is an iconic mixed-use development that comprises three distinct but integrated areas: Yas Bay Waterfront, The Residences at Yas Bay and Yas Creative Hub. Also located on the waterfront and developed by Miral is Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest stateof-the-art indoor entertainment venue and the new five-star resort, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

Miral’s hospitality offerings also include DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences and the WB Abu Dhabi Hotel, the world’s first Warner Bros.-branded hotel.

As part of its efforts to enhance the customer experience and create a seamlessly connected destination of world-class theme parks and attractions on Yas Island, Miral set forth on a digital transformation journey in 2018 with the launch of MyConnect, a foundational digital platform that provides robust digital capabilities, enabling a hyper-connected and immersive visitor experience.

In 2021, Miral launched FacePass, a cutting-edge contactless technology that utilises facial recognition to streamline guest experiences and its Decision Analytics strategy, the Noor Initiative. This initiative aims to enhance the company’s investment in predictive data analytics and integrate innovation across its operations, bolstering its contribution to Abu Dhabi’s position as a data-driven capital.

The most recent growth journey has begun with Miral’s appointment by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to oversee Saadiyat Island’s destination management strategy in 2022.

Further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a destination of distinctive cultural developments on Saadiyat Island, Miral has partnered with DCT Abu Dhabi to conceive and develop the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, set to be completed in 2025.

Looking ahead, on Yas Island, a partnership between Miral and SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment will see the expansion of Abu Dhabi’s leisure and educational offering with the opening of SeaWorld® Abu Dhabi, which is set for completion in 2022.

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Batumi presents year-round offering At ATM this year, Batumi, the capital city of Georgia’s Adjara region, has seen an increase in enquiries about its year-round offering for tourists from the Gulf region.

With 70 direct flights per week between Georgia and the GCC countries, the city offers a diverse range of options for travellers, from beachside breaks during the summer to ski holidays during the winter.

Tinatin Zoidze, Head of the Department of Tourism and Resorts of Batumi, Georgia, said: “As Batumi is situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, we attract visitors from both European countries and our neighbours in the Middle East. You can explore our beautiful city and surrounding villages,

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enjoy our exquisite cuisine, listen to Georgian polyphonic singing or visit our incredible mountains within a flight time of just two hours and 15 minutes.”

As the majority of Batumi’s GCC tourists currently visit during the summer months, Zoidze and her team are looking to raise awareness of the activities and locations that can be enjoyed during other seasons.

“We have high-quality ski resorts and the longest period of snow in Georgia until April, which means you can go from enjoying the sunshine on one of our beaches to skiing in the mountains within only a two-hour drive.”

In addition to promoting their yearround tourism offering, the Batumi

team is using ATM 2022 to meet with a selection of GCC tourism leaders.

“Our team and Paata Kalandadze, Georgia’s Ambassador to the UAE, have had a series of high-profile meetings, including the Area Manager of Air Arabia, for example, where we discussed prolonging the flight season from GCC countries to Batumi,” said Zoidze.

“We also had a very productive meeting with Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

The tourism authorities here in Dubai are a great example for us to follow.

Mr. Kazim shared his experience with us and advised us on some steps we could consider taking. We have

Tinatin Zoidze

also met with senior representatives from Flydubai, Abu Dhabi’s tourism authorities and some of the largest tour operators in the region,” she concluded.

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11/05/2022 9:49 PM

News

Welcome to the World wins ATM Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition

Welcome to the World has been named the first-ever winner of the ATM Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition, which saw a selection of the region’s most innovative travel and tourism start-ups deliver pitches on the ATM Travel Tech Stage for the chance to secure up to US$500,000.

A total of 15 finalists pitched to the panel of five industry judges, including Alaa Ismail Al Haija, Founder and CEO of AladdinB2B, SalesMENA and the DraperAladdin Startup Competition, Hadi

Saeed AlShakhori, Business Incubation Manager at Wa’ed, Walid Tarabih, Founder and CEO of PLATX and former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, Matthew Gardiner, Founder of A1 AI, and Bashar Sami El-Khasawneh, Associate Professor at Khalifa University.

The judges assessed pitches from a range of start-ups, which also included AirportAssist.com, Elves, Gauvendi, Hotailors, Lykos, Octoos, OnArrival, Road.Travel, SmartGuide, SLF, S-Rate, Teamatix, Telgani and Travelexic.

Welcome to the World aims to solve the problem of the high rates of commission charged by online travel agencies. Described by Founder and CEO Stefanie Schachtschabel as “YouTube for tourism”, the platform enables tourism businesses and travel influencers to drive direct bookings free of commissions by sharing videos.

Commenting on the win, Schachtschabel said: “We are very happy. We have been working hard to reach where we are today and

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having the confidence of so many investors means the world to us.

“We are in the midst of our seed round, which means we are onboarding investment. These funds will be used to build in state-of-the-art technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to monetise our data and also to scale our business to the 48 destinations that we are currently targeting.”

Welcome to the World currently boasts more than 185,000 monthly users, having already attracted brands such as Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Address Hotels + Resorts, W Hotels, Radisson Blu and The Ritz-Carlton Dubai.

The investment gained as part of the first-ever ATM DraperAladdin Startup Competition follows US$264,000 already secured as part of the firm’s pre-seed round.

After taking first place at the ATM Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition, Welcome to the World will now have the opportunity to compete for a further US$500,000 of investment as part of the hit TV show, Meet the Drapers.

Digital tour guide platform SmartGuide and route marketplace Road.Travel came in second and third place, respectively.”

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME for Arabian Travel Market, said: “The ATM Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition is a fantastic initiative, which we believe will act as a springboard for innovative travel and tourism companies that are working to reshape our industry for the better.”

HyperPay introduces HyperBill at ATM HyperPay, the MENA region’s leading payments platform, announced that it achieved an Oracle Validated Integration with Oracle Hospitality’s Opera, the property management system for hospitality businesses.

HyperPay is, therefore, showcasing HyperBill’s Hospitality Payment Solution for the first time at ATM. The integration will allow hotels across the MENA region to benefit from HyperPay’s e-invoicing payments platform (HyperBill) without the need for long and complex integration processes.

HyperPay recently launched a production Oracle Marketplace app, the first of its kind that combines the power of Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP), Oracle Hospitality Industry Connector (OIC) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

The Oracle system partners with brands that can share their expertise and offer solutions to some of the most complex problems of running a business.

This now includes handling all of the billing for even the biggest companies.

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“Hotels and hospitality professionals from around the world can benefit from the integrated hospitality solution.

Combining Oracle Hospitality’s Opera with HyperPay’s powerful e-invoicing system, HyperBill will deliver a frictionless, unified customer experience.

This will enable guests to secure their reservations and hotels to seamlessly collect their payments,” said Products Development Manager, Obaida Khaleel.

The announcement of HyperPay’s invoicing solution, HyperBill, and Oracle’s partnership comes as welcome news for hoteliers in the MENA region.

Opera centralises data and makes it available on the cloud whenever it is needed. Now, with HyperBill, it is even more straightforward to manage relationships and payments, ensuring nothing gets missed and that customer data is safe and secure.

There are multiple ways for a customer to pay their bill and for the vendor to manage their invoices and payments. Using HyperBill, hotels can collect payments overseas with

no issues and complications and at the same time, make it easier for guests and their reservations, with a streamlined checkout and check-in.

Customers will notice the difference when it comes to quick, secure payments, and clear and accurate invoices. Vendors will enjoy a quick and intuitive interface for customising and generating invoices and the option

for either one-time or recurring billing.

HyperPay is now available across the MENA region, totally integrated with a hotel’s Oracle Hospitality’s Opera system. Hotels can start the process now and move forward with an invoicing solution that can streamline internal operations and guest reservations.

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News

Deutsche Hospitality eyes Middle East growth Germany-based hotel company Deutsche Hospitality has its sights set on further expansion in the Middle East following a successful 2021. The hospitality group, which has been active in the region since 2015 and participating in ATM since, will showcase its diverse offering to the international travel trade.

The brand is present in key markets in Europe and the Middle East and will be announcing expansion plans across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

One of the group’s major expansions will include the launch of Deutsche Hospitality’s new luxury lifestyle brand.

Siegfried Nierhaus, Vice President, Deutsche Hospitality, Middle East, said: “Deutsche Hospitality has been very active in growing our different hotel brands in the Middle East. We have shown a strong commitment to our presence in the area and have shown great capabilities in adapting our management performance with our existing and new partners.

As a result, November 2021 saw the successful opening of the new Steigenberger flagship hotel in Doha and the first franchise hotel IntercityHotel Jaddaf Waterfront Dubai with a great partner in the region.

“In March this year, we announced our partnership with Al Hamra,

the leading lifestyle developer and investment company in Ras Al Khaimah, to take on the management of two properties: Al Hamra Village Hotel and Al Hamra Residence.

“Deutsche Hospitality was able to reopen Al Hamra Residence within a record time of 25 days from the date of signing the hotel management agreement. Al Hamra Village Hotel will reopen in Q3 2022 and both properties will be managed as white label within the Deutsche Hospitality brand portfolio.

“After renovations, Al Hamra Residence will be branded as Steigenberger Residence and Al Hamra Village Hotel as Maxx by Deutsche Hospitality. Further, 2022 will see our new flagship, IntercityHotel Muscat in Oman.”

Across Europe, Nierhaus stated that the group has witnessed a spike in bookings from the region. “We have seen a huge demand in bookings coming from this part of the world for our portfolio of hotels in key destinations, especially in the German-speaking European countries (Germany, Switzerland and Austria), following the lifting of travel restrictions around the world.

We are looking forward to welcoming our guests from the Middle East.”

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CodeGen introduces new product at ATM Innovative travel technology provider CodeGen introduced its latest product for travel and tourism businesses at Arabian Travel Market this year.

Touted as the ultimate digital experience for DMC operations and servicing, the UK-based company has released a smart and efficient application for supplier and resource allocation.

Mark Melzack, Head of Global Sales, CodeGen Ltd., said: “We are promoting our all-in-one solution for end-to-end travel sales. It is an AI-driven platform for call centre, B2C and B2B sales that increases online conversion rates and improves operational efficiency.”

CodeGen has been participating in ATM since 2018 and it has become an integral event on the company’s calendar with the team’s representatives meeting industry professionals at its busy ATM stand.

“We have several large clients based in Dubai and the UAE, including airlines, DMCs, tour operators as well as resort and park operators. We see huge potential in this region for the future and invest heavily in R&D to ensure we can offer our clients here the very latest travel tech to give them the competitive edge.”

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News

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Emaar aims high for wellness tourism With wellness tourism a powerful segment of the international travel industry, the UAE is on track to becoming a global wellness destination for tourists.

Emaar Hospitality Group is aligning its premium hospitality services with the needs of the new era of travellers.

“As the UAE is set to become a global wellness destination in the new era of hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group is setting new standards of wellness with specially designed experiences and retreats. From innovative spa treatments to in-room fitness products, our hotel properties are well-equipped to meet the demands of travellers,” said Mark Kirby, Head of Emaar Hospitality Group.

The recent launch of the brand’s beachfront properties, including Vida Umm Al Quwain and Address Beach Resort, gained high popularity amongst wellness travellers, and this will remain the key focus of the group’s development pipeline into 2023. “Our beachfront properties have been key in offering holistic wellness experiences and we will continue to expand our products and practices to match the

needs of wellness travellers in the UAE and across the region,” he added.

Additionally, Address Hotels + Resorts is introducing a new spa menu that adds healing and wellness to its premium spa services to further enhance customers’ experiences. With holistic spa offerings that are redesigned to improve the state of wellness at the cellular level, guests can unwind and enhance their well-being in a unique atmosphere. The facilities are also tailor-made, catering to the needs of the new wave of travellers.

With the awareness of fitness and well-being becoming more widespread than ever before, Address Sky View has launched dedicated wellness suites that provide guests with fitness equipment in the comfort of their rooms. This experience is designed to ensure that guests can continue their wellness and fitness routines during their stay with in-room fitness experiences, along with facilities like the spa, fitness centre and infinity pool that add to the overall wellness experience.

leading source of experiential offering to travellers from across the globe.”

Sarai Alderhali, Founder of Bondai, said: “Zahid Travel is one of the kingdom’s first and most respected travel solutions providers, with decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge

and international contacts. We look forward to working with them in creating dynamic experiences and developing innovative means of promoting the best that our kingdom has to offer travellers.”

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Zahid Travel invests in travel tech start-up Zahid Travel, a Zahid Group company that delivers travel and destination management solutions to both businesses and individuals, announced that it has recently completed a strategic investment in Bondai, a travel technology start-up founded by Saria Alderhali, a young Saudi Arabian entrepreneur passionate about travel and technology.

Launched in July 2020, Bondai, which is based in Jeddah, is the first double-sided marketplace in Saudi Arabia that guides experience-seeking travellers in discovering and booking curated experiences across the kingdom.

Bondai also offers an online Software as a Service (SAAS) solution to tourism companies that allows them to automate their processes and grow their businesses. Bondai currently holds the largest database of travel experiences as well as travel service providers in Saudi Arabia who are using Bondai’s software in Saudi Arabia.

Bondai was previously funded by notable venture capitalists in the region like 500 Global, Impact46, Hala Ventures and Zayani VC in its seed round. With this new round of investment led by Zahid Travel, Bondai will launch new products and distribute its listings across global channels, making it the leader in the full digitisation of the tours and experiences sector across the MENA region.

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This round of investment is the latest of many accomplishments for the start-up. Bondai was one of the 15 high potential start-ups to be selected out of a pool of 1,000+ start-ups to be part of the first tourism accelerator in the region, which is run by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism in Riyadh. Bondai gained access to a rigorous capability building program aimed at helping tourism start-ups scale up, get access to key decision makers and stakeholders in the ecosystem as well as a service grant during their time in the accelerator.

Daniel Ponzo, Managing Director of Zahid Travel, said: “Our investment in Bondai is based on three factors: First, our commitment to Vision 2030 and being an active participant in accelerating the kingdom’s travel and technology sectors. Second, our passion for promoting the kingdom’s unique touristic offering to the world. Third, our appreciation for Saria’s passion and belief in her vision for Bondai.”

Samir Mehta, General Manager, GoZahid Destination Management, said: “Saudi Arabia is a new and unique destination, which has much to offer.

We look forward to working with Bondai and in creating significant synergies in the destination management sector, to be technology driven, and becoming the

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News

Swiss-Belhotel partners with Odyssey Group Swiss-Belhotel International and Odyssey Asset Management Limited have signed a joint venture agreement for Odyssey to identify attractive hospitality opportunities to allow Swiss-Belhotel International to expand its Asian hospitality portfolio in Japan and other Asian countries.

Swiss-Belhotel International’s stronghold in the Asian markets over the last 34 years allows for the group to establish itself across Japan and offer services that are appealing to local Japanese and international travellers alike.

Gavin Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said: “This is an exciting development and we are delighted to partner with a well experienced asset management group, Odyssey Asset Management.

Our commitment towards hospitality is reflected in our determination of our global expansion plans, and with Odyssey, we are even more confident on achieving our goals.

“We are excited to expand to newer territories with our unique proposition of a winning partnership philosophy, working hand-in-hand with our owners and investors to achieve the desired business objectives. SwissBelhotel International has plans to double the number of hotels under management to 300 by 2025. Our

partnership with Odyssey is part of this aggressive expansion plan.”

Odyssey’s Co-Founder and CEO, Alex Walker, said: “We are pleased to be able to partner with Swiss-Belhotel International and to help them further expand their extensive Asia Pacific hospitality portfolio into Japan and across the Asia Pacific region. Odyssey’s expertise in the Asian hospitality real estate market and Swiss-Belhotel International’s desire to provide highquality hospitality experiences for their guests, complement each other.

Our mutually shared principles and dedication to providing value and quality lay the foundation for future shared success. Odyssey is confident that with the expertise and experience of Swiss-Belhotel International together with their proven brand standards will be well received by the Japanese and Asian hospitality sector.”

The number of developers and existing building owners in Japan are eager to partner with international hospitality groups like SwissBelhotel International and leverage their brand quality, service offering and international capability for an ever-growing domestic market with huge potential for international growth after COVID-19 recovery.

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Greek National Tourism Organisation announces key partnerships The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) celebrated a successful return to ATM this year, with the exclusive announcement of two high-profile strategic partnerships.

The announcements were made by the General Secretary of GNTO, Dimitrios Fragakis, who shared that the national tourism body is stepping up its efforts to promote Greek tourism across the region ahead of the summer travel period.

GNTO’s first announcement was its partnership with Qatar Airways to promote a new direct route to Santorini, which becomes the airline’s third destination in Greece. Qatar Airways already has flights to Athens and Mykonos. The first flight to Santorini is scheduled to depart from Doha in June.

Fragakis said: “Greece is looking forward to a dynamic comeback to ATM and the Arabian market which is set to be a priority for Greek tourism over the years. We have had the pleasure of meeting up with several leading travel brands during the fair and stressed that

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Greece offers many unique year-round experiences beyond the world-renowned sea and sun products. Greece also offers a variety of quality accommodation and an excellent city break opportunity for the Arabian audience.”

Furthermore, GNTO has inked an exclusive deal with WEGO, an online travel website, to further build on the destination’s appeal to GCC travellers.

Fragakis added: “GNTO is excited to work with WEGO, one of the most influential platforms for the Arabic audience, to promote Greece as a destination ideal for couples, solo travellers and also for family vacations.

The mainland and islands are top of the mind for leisure holidays or relaxation and are also home to some of the historic monuments of the world. We are happy to be able to welcome Arab travellers looking to combine more than one destination and experiences during their trip planning on the WEGO platform.”

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Standing out from the crowd This year’s Best Stand Awards at Arabian Travel Market recognise the creative design, people skills and business-friendly appeal of exhibiting companies SAUDIA

Jumeirah

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

TBS / V Booking

Ishraq Hospitality

With over 1,500 exhibitors pulling out all the stops to showcase their creative and business flair during the 29th edition of Arabian Travel Market, the competition for this year’s Best Stand Awards was tough and it was no easy task for the judges to decide who would take top honours.

The categories this year included Best Stand Design, Best Stand for Doing Business, Best Stand Feature, Best New Stand, Best Stand at ATM Travel Tech and the People’s Choice Award. The awards recognise the creative design, people skills and business-friendly appeal of exhibiting companies’ stands at the annual showcase. And the winners are...

BEST STAND DESIGN SAUDIA’s mesmerising staircase (ME4310) has been one of the most talked-about features at the show, and it came as no surprise that the airline won the award for the Best Stand Design.

The stand’s futuristic and striking layout made it a popular spot, not only for meetings but also for its Instagramworthy appeal, with visitors spotted taking several selfies and pictures at the foot of the stairs throughout the show.

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BEST STAND FOR DOING BUSINESS Jumeirah’s buzzing stand (HC0330, HC0310) bagged this coveted prize. The design and signature hospitality of the brand seamlessly incorporated networking and business throughout the busy show days.

Alexander Lee, Chief Commercial Officer, Jumeirah Group, said: “As a leading luxury hospitality group, we are very proud to be recognised as having the Best Stand for Doing Business at ATM 2022. Surprising architecture and design is one of our key brand differentiators and our stand reflects our prowess in crafting unique experiences and designing exceptional spaces.”

BEST STAND FEATURE With its intuitive and interactive display and video content, Abu Dhabi (ME2350, ME2310) won the award for the Best Stand Feature.

Attendees were amazed by the immersive tunnel that was converted into a massive projector putting the spotlight on Abu Dhabi’s various cultural landmarks and iconic attractions.

It was also the stage for several events at the stand, such as the announcement of the inaugural NBA

Abu Dhabi Games 2022 that will take place this October and see reigning NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks face the Atlanta Hawks in two preseason games.

BEST NEW STAND Ishraq Hospitality’s stand (HC0210), which prominently featured greenery and a wooden design reminiscent of the desert landscape, was a big hit.

Alexander Suski, Acting CEO and Commercial and Business Development Director, Ishraq Hospitality, said: “Winning the Best New Stand award at ATM 2022 feels great, especially knowing that the exhibition attracted thousands of visitors.

“I think ATM is one of the most dynamic platforms to be a part of.

We are here at the show to announce our expansion in the UAE, Egypt and Oman. So, the event was a great platform for us and winning this accolade makes it even more special!”

BEST STAND AT ATM TRAVEL TECH TBS/V Booking’s stand (TT1279) caught the eye of visitors as it took travel services to the virtual world by combining blockchain and metaverse technologies.

Omrei Abumadi, Founder & CEO, TBS/V Booking, said: “We feel very proud to have won this award. But it does definitely put pressure on us to do even better next year. We are launching our system next month, so participating in Arabian Travel Market 2022 was very important to us.

“We were able to give visitors a sneak peek into how this new technology works and how it’s set to transform the travel industry.”

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD Yesterday, after the winners were selected, they were put to the public vote for a chance to walk away with the coveted People’s Choice Award. Calls for votes were made via social media, with the winner to be announced later today.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Arabian Travel Market would not be the huge success it is without the incredible amount of effort and investment that goes into creating and manning the exhibitor stands at the show. Since its inception, the award programme has not only recognised exhibitor’s efforts but has also encouraged exciting, fresh and creative stands.”

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ATM 2022 Highlights

Best of show

As Arabian Travel Market 2022 draws to a close, we provide a snapshot of highlights from this year’s event

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ATM 2022 Highlights

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Insight - Loyalty Programmes

Talking loyalty Travellers are acting on their pent-up wanderlust, but are points and miles enough to keep them loyal?

When travellers stowed away their suitcases during the pandemic, airlines, hotels and other travel businesses scrambled to extend loyalty statuses and offer incentives on upcoming trips to keep their customers happy. Now, with the world easing back into travel, members are cashing in their benefits.

In a survey conducted by GlobalData last year, it was found that travellers considered their main obstacles to be quarantine requirements, travel restrictions and the fear of contracting the virus, followed by financial concerns.

This study reflected that economic constraints are going to be a key consideration when planning future trips.

Travel and hospitality providers have taken note, revamping their loyalty programmes to not only offer customers more value for their money but also appealing benefits to stay ahead of the curve. And to differentiate their loyalty programmes, many travel and hospitality companies are now leveraging customer data to deliver experiences that are memorable, valuable and customised to a member’s preferences.

Folker Heim, Chief Operating Officer, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), said: “It is paramount to be customer-centric in today’s market. Customer centricity is a driver of growth and a competitive

differentiator. That is achieved by the smart use of technology and taking a loyalty data-driven approach.

“Gathering and using advanced behavioural insights allows us to recommend relevant offers to our members in our online touchpoints, target a specific segment or individual by sophisticated personalisation and engage with our members with relevant communications.”

At GHA, Heim is responsible for the group’s global technology platform, which supports the GHA Discovery loyalty programme, bringing together

It is clear that loyalty programmes will play a key role in the recovery of travel and tourism

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a collection of independent hospitality brands to offer loyalty benefits to their customers. Discussing new consumer trends in the current travel landscape, Heim said: “We see that today’s travellers, influenced by the circumstances of the last few years, are booking supersized holidays to bucketlist destinations, often at a much higher average daily rate than in 2019.

“Travellers are also opting for multiple days and staycations discovering close-to-home hotel experiences with a preference for sustainable travel. Booking patterns have changed, too, resulting in much shorter lead times, and customers are demanding more flexible and convenient ways to book and pay for travel. Techsavvy and health-conscious travellers, weary of pandemic-related red tape, will value convenience more than ever and hotels investing in technology to make their guests’ lives easier.”

But how are these changes impacting loyalty programmes? Heim explained: “We are taking a very forwardlooking approach to loyalty, not only meeting the needs of today’s consumers but also giving them a good reason to spend, supporting the organic rebound of travel and hospitality as a key part of the global economic revival in 2022.

“An feedback study conducted with members of GHA Discovery showed that travellers are asking to be rewarded instantly and fairly, not just for nights stayed but also for spend. With Discovery Dollars, GHA introduced the industry’s first digital rewards currency, enabling members to cash in on their loyalty from the very first stay and to earn and redeem on a wide range of offerings, including upgrades, stays and exclusive experiences.

“With the launch of GHA Discovery, we are putting millions of Discovery Dollars (D$1 = US$1) into our members’ wallets in 2022. In return, our members will be motivated to spend. Supported by the introduction of our new digital rewards currency, GHA anticipates that the programme will generate some US$1.5 billion in room revenue alone.”

With technology shaping every aspect of travel, the impact of new innovations can also be felt in the sphere of loyalty programmes. Heim explained: “Loyalty programmes are highly dependent on technology and require adaptation to the everchanging landscape. We have, therefore, used the time during the pandemic to invest in the backbone of GHA. “Supported by our technology partner Oracle, who is also one of our shareholders, we focussed on enhancing functionality and processes in our systems and applications to improve guest recognition on property, enable seamless experiences on every online touchpoint and provide a direct booking channel with an appealing customer journey and attractive rates.

“Then, a very visible new trend is actually linked to the tremendous revival of an old technology: QR codes. Scanning QR codes is a native functionality in most smartphones nowadays and has enabled a lot of the touchless interactions we are seeing in hotels and restaurants. Patrons are directed to restaurant menus and other landing pages, which provide the opportunity to enrol new customers to GHA Discovery or prompt existing members to sign in and earn and redeem their Discovery Dollars.”

Heim agrees that the revival of loyalty programmes will play a key role in the recovery of travel and tourism.

He said: “Beyond rewards and benefits, our loyalty programme, GHA Discovery, better leverages the emerging role of hotels and resorts as community and lifestyle hubs, tapping into consumer appetite for connecting to people and places and encouraging them to spend more, also without an overnight stay, giving a much-needed boost to the hospitality sector and local economies.

“Ultimately, the new GHA Discovery programme will help the revival of popular international destinations while building local travel communities.”

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Saudi Arabia - Advertorial

Beacons of the future The giga-projects currently taking shape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are being designed to create a new tourism landscape while transforming the country’s economy The Red Sea destination

Saudi Arabia is in the midst of massive changes and gaining ground are some of the world’s most ambitious gigaprojects. From theme parks and metro lines to untouched islands, the country’s biggest projects taking shape are rooted in its past with a focus on its future. Key to attracting foreign investment, the projects reflect the reforms taking place as Saudi Arabia moves away from its oil-dominated economy.

NEOM Planned for completion in 2025, NEOM was first announced as one of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s showcase projects in 2017. Set to become a city of the future, the US$500 billion project is key in Saudi Arabia’s post-oil diversification plan, expected to contribute at least US$100 billion to the country’s GDP by 2030.

Located in north-western Saudi Arabia, the smart city will span 26,500 square kilometres, which is 35 times the size of Singapore, and will feature 450 kilometres of coastline. A hub for innovation, NEOM will also become home to future technologies, such as biotech and future food.

Gaining ground in Saudi Arabia are some of the world’s most ambitious gigaprojects

untouched islands, home to mountains, volcanoes and a wealth of wildlife.

The first wave of visitors is set to arrive by the end of 2022, with several hotels gearing up for a soft opening.

Upon completion in 2030, it will be home to 50 resorts, offering 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties spanning 22 islands and six inland sites. While contributing to the thriving economy is a key priority, the destination also aims to set a new standard in sustainable development.

AMAALA Intended to complement and sit alongside NEOM and the Red Sea destination is Amaala on the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia.

Encapsulating three sites located within the Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve – Triple Bay, Coastal Development and The Island – the development will cover an area of more than 3,800 square kilometres. It is expected to have around 2,000 hotel keys, 800 residential villas, apartments and estates, plus 200 retail spaces.

ALULA AlUla’s US$15 billion master plan, Journey Through Time, aims to transform the ancient Nabataean region into a destination of art, heritage, culture, tourism and nature. With goals to attract two million visitors to the region annually, new direct flights and an array of new hotel openings show that things are more than underway. The country hopes to transform the region into a living museum, utilising its rich natural and human history to attract the world’s curious travellers. A low-carbon tram line, connecting the region’s five districts, will cement its commitment to sustainability, following a similar route to the ancient Hijaz Railway traversed by pilgrims for centuries.

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from a 20,000-seat cliff-top stadium to a Formula One-standard racetrack. The US$8 billion project has been underway since 2019 and phase one is due to open next year. There will be more than 300 recreational facilities and the area will be divided into five major themes: parks and attractions, sports and wellness, nature and environment, arts and culture, and motion and mobility.

ASEER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT As part of the tourism strategy for Vision 2030, the redevelopment of the southwestern Aseer region hopes to attract more than 10 million visitors by 2030.

The US$13 billion project will transform the mountainous area into a year-round destination featuring hotels, residential units as well as commercial and entertainment attractions.

DIRIYAH GATE PROJECT Set to become the world’s largest culture and heritage city, the US$50 billion Diriyah Gate project will see the redevelopment of the birthplace of the kingdom. All construction of the luxury development will be in the traditional Najdi architectural style and it will include an array of museums, galleries and shops. The area is already home to the At-Turaif District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was a 15th-century trading hub made up of mud-brick structures and became the seat of power for the House of Saud in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

VISIT STAND ME4410, ME4440 Diriyah

QIDDIYA Set to become the kingdom’s entertainment, sports and arts capital on the outskirts of Riyadh, the Qiddiya project will span 334 square kilometres, offering a mix of attractions ranging NEOM

NEOM recently announced a mountain tourism project, Trojena, that will join the city as a year-round tourist destination, with facilities such as a ski village, ultra-luxury resorts, retail stores, restaurants and sporting facilities.

THE RED SEA DESTINATION Merging the goals of sustainability and tourism, The Red Sea Development Company was established in 2018 to transform 28,000 square kilometres of coastline to the kingdom’s west. The destination is an archipelago of over 90

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Seminar Schedule

ATM Global Stage

THURSDAY 12TH MAY 10:30 - 11:15 THE INDIAN TRAVELLER: WRITING THE GLOBAL RECOVERY SEQUEL Pent-up demand and eagerness to travel are terms that are very often used for Indian outbound travel.

Yes, the Indian traveller is raging to go and wants to travel the world.

This segment is quick to rebound, remains strong, and has the spending capacity. Luxury has become the new mantra for the Indian traveller. Research shows that the frequency of travel has increased and spending is going up. Will the Indian outbound traveller replace the Chinese traveller from the pre-pandemic world? What does the Indian traveller now expect and what can international brands do to welcome them with open arms?

Let’s discuss this further with stalwarts from the Indian outbound sector who can highlight these new trends and redefine the new and evolved Indian traveller.

Moderator: Mr. SanJeet, Founder and CEO, DDP Group and Buzz Travel Marketing Speakers: Deepak Rawat Senior Vice President – International Markets, MakeMyTrip (India) Ltd; Jaal Kalpesh Shah, Group Managing Director, Travel Designer Group; Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient Pvt Ltd

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11:45 - 12:30 RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM The tourism industry – travel, hospitality and attractions – has developed a bewildering range of tech solutions. For this panel, we have chosen speakers who can look behind the brochures and the sales pitch to share what they have learnt about what works, what doesn’t and why? Globally is about supporting businesses in taking sustainable action.

Globally urges businesses to take a fresh look at technologies many of which can improve bottom lines as well as reducing environmental footprints.

Keith and his colleagues in Globally share the aspirations of the Responsible Tourism movement; together we can change the world for the better.

Moderator: Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally Speakers: Hugo Domingues, General Manager, Enernouva; Russell Impiazzi, Executive Chef, Sofitel Dubai, The Obelisk; Iftikhar Hussain Shah Hamdani Syed, Area General Manager, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel

rapidly on the rise and an increasing number of countries scrapping Covidrelated restrictions to ease travel, city tourism is steadily returning.

We bring together key city tourism boards from around the globe to discuss their sustainable rebuilding and growth strategies post pandemic, and the growing importance of cultural festivals and sporting events in motivating travellers.

Moderator: Rashi Sen, Editor, TTN Middle East Speakers: Deveekaa Nijhawan, Global Head of International Market, Qatar National Tourism Council; Bahruz Asgarov, Deputy CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board; Emily Jenkins, General Manager, Dnata Travel; Tom Kiely, President and CEO, West Hollywood Travel and Tourism Board

14:15 - 15:00 THE RETURN AND RISE OF CITY TOURISM With international airline re-connectivity

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Seminar Schedule

ATM Travel Tech Stage

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THURSDAY 12TH MAY 10.30 - 11.15 HOW IS DATA CHANGING AIRLINE RETAILING? Travel tech start-up Atlas is redefining what it means to be data-led. Moderated by industry authority Brian Staunton, serial travel entrepreneur Mary Li will share her insights on how to build a data-led organisation and why harnessing every parameter of travel data is the future of travel technology.

They’ll be joined by a panel of experts providing agency, airline and technology perspectives to help you better understand the practicalities of data infrastructure and customised analysis, and the skills and experience we can take from other industries and apply to travel.

We’ll get under the hood of what it means for you and your customers to be dataled, the alignment of in-house technical and commercial capabilities, and what skills next generation executives will need to hone to remain relevant and compete.

Moderator:Brian Staunton, Chief Commercial Officer, Atlas Speakers: Ashish Kumar, Director Commercial, Flights Booking, Wego Middle East; Mary Li, CEO, The Atlas Pte. Ltd.

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11:45 - 12:30 EMBEDDED INSURANCE AND THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: HOW CONVENIENCE IS CHANGING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY Speakers: Peter Smith, VP, Strategic Partnerships – Travel, Cover Genius; Sriram Jayanthi, Product Manager, Merchandising, Omio Travel GmbH 13:00 - 13:45 PAYMENT SOLUTIONS FOR WORLDCLASS GUEST EXPERIENCES Attend this session to learn more about how HyperPay is helping leading hospitality brands to automate internal daily operations and deliver highquality services to guests with the power of Online Payment Solutions.

Speaker: Aziz Khan, Director of Payment Solution, HyperPay

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Feature - Responsible Tourism

Taking responsibility

Industry experts offer insight into strategies adopted by travel and tourism businesses to be more responsible and discuss how modern technologies are helping the industry achieve sustainability in their day-to-day operations Responsible tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” It requires operators, hoteliers, governments locals and tourists to take responsibility and take action to make tourism more sustainable. Slightly different from sustainable tourism, responsible tourism focuses on what people, businesses and governments can do to achieve sustainability.

This could mean minimising negative economic, environmental and social impacts. Taking the right steps towards responsible tourism generates greater economic benefits for host communities and also makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and to the maintenance of the world’s diversity.

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Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor, said: “Despite the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), during the COVID-19 pandemic, attention shifted away from the threats posed by climate change. However, the recent invasion of Ukraine demonstrated the consequences of rising fuel prices to the travel industry and our societies.

Decarbonisation and reductions in water consumption and plastic waste are now urgent priorities for our sector.”

RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY Many travel and tourism industry businesses are already doing their part, with hotels, in particular, revamping their operations as part of their commitment to a greener future for the industry.

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Responsible Tourism - Feature

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Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC, said: “Hotels fully understand the benefits of embracing sustainability and, therefore, are actively looking at ways to reduce their impact on the environment. One option is providing filtered water from their taps. There are companies that provide hotels with glass water bottles and a bottle cleaning washer. This will enable hotels to move away from providing plastic water bottles.

“Waste management is also very important. In many hotels today, wet waste is converted into compost, where companies are willing to procure the compost from hotels.

Hotels can start to create their own vegetable gardens, providing organic homegrown vegetables, which many guests appreciate and support.

“These are all positive steps, but to make a real difference, hotels need to put a long-term environmental strategy in place. As the old adage goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure, and employing an expert consultancy to measure and benchmark energy and water consumption and a property’s carbon emissions is absolutely essential.”

Certification is the next stage, as Knight believes. “Through international organisations such as Green Globe, this is now critical. Last year Google introduced a new ‘green leaf’ feature that allows hotels and resorts to promote their sustainability certifications by highlighting these achievements in their search engine. This enables travellers to differentiate hotels and resorts that are genuinely eco-friendly and have audited sustainable practices.

Booking.com has a similar Travel Sustainable Badge initiative.”

SUSTAINABILITY SIMPLIFIED Although a host of new technologies have been recently introduced, businesses are still experimenting with and researching new solutions in order to adopt options that could positively impact the way people travel, without compromising on their responsibility to the planet.

Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally, argued: “Technology has not yet transformed the way we travel. On the contrary, the travel industry has been slow to innovate, partly because

Hotels fully understand the benefits of embracing sustainability and, therefore, are actively looking at ways to reduce their impact ATM 2022_FEATURE_Responsible Tourism.indd 23

of the difficulties involved in, for example, making transportation more sustainable, and partly because budgets are constrained and habits, both of staff and customers, change slowly.

“That said, the last decade has seen technological revolutions in energy management, renewable energy and water treatment and reuse. These three areas offer significant opportunities for most hospitality venues to reduce resource consumption and hence costs with a two-to-six year ROI.” Bradley, who will be moderating the session – Responsible Technology for Travel & Tourism – at ATM today, believes that the pandemic has had a mixed impact on the landscape of responsible tourism. “Many hospitality venues have had to put on hold or reverse steps to reduce single-use plastic. Venues that had eliminated plastic water bottles have brought them back. Water refill stations, even where guests bring their own bottles, remain the exception rather than the rule. Which is one reason why Dubai

has launched DubaiCan. Budgets have also inevitably been constrained, with delays in investments in energy and water conservation and renewable energy.

“On the other hand, the pandemic has seen rapid growth in technological innovations, including tech companies providing apps to allow online check-in and check-out. Some, such as the UAE-based IOL Pay, are going further and automating payment processing, so that paper is removed, not only from the front but also from the back office.

“The pandemic has led to a significant increase in consumer interest in more sustainable living and has also put a lot of barriers in the way of people travelling. The hospitality industry should capitalise on these changes, first and foremost by creatively encouraging longer, less-frequent holidays.

“Brands could, for example, encourage travellers to book second and third hotels within a specific geographical area and offer complimentary transfers.

This would increase overall brand revenue

whilst encouraging customers to stay for longer (and potentially fly less often).”

Bradley further stated that technological innovators have been big indirect beneficiaries of the pandemic with far greater interest from investment funds in sustainable innovations. As a result, the opportunities open to hospitality providers to improve the guest experience and reduce resource consumption are growing exponentially.

“In many ways, there has never been a more opportune time for action; consumer concern is higher than ever and technology offers a greater array of solutions for all budgets.

“One small step any business can take is to register for a place on Living Business. This is a complimentary programme offered by Globally in partnership with HSBC. “The programme team works with participant businesses on a one-onone basis to identify simple steps and appropriate technologies, to make their operations more sustainable.”

09/05/2022 8:09 PM

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Feature - Travel Trends

Trending now

What do guests want from their travel experiences? We speak to industry experts who highlight the top trends that are shaping travel and tourism today

While coming to terms with the impact of the pandemic, the travel and tourism industry is also acquainting itself with a new wave of travellers. Expectations have altered and demands are now higher, as most industry experts point out. But what is it that guests truly want?

Among new trends taking shape, experiential travel, eco-conscious breaks and wellness experiences that go beyond spas are leading the way. With travellers now becoming more aware of their choices than ever before, they are seeking experiences that transform them, are not detrimental to the environment and offer them the most value.

ECO-CONSCIOUS BREAKS Even before the pandemic, travellers were becoming more environmentally

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aware and conscious about the impact of their trips. With tourism contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions, more and more travellers are choosing eco-conscious breaks as a way to mitigate their role in the issue.

And the industry has taken note.

When Chris Nader cofounded ENVI Lodges, it was in response to the strong spotlight that the pandemic shone on the environmental impact of travel and tourism. He noted that there was a psychographic shift taking place in the industry, led by Gen Y and Z, who valued experiences and sustainability above everything else and were choosing hotels that left a positive impact on the environment in which they operated.

Nader said: “Travellers are making greener choices; they are choosing

Travellers are making greener choices; they are choosing responsible properties that operate in a way that matches their beliefs

responsible brands and properties that operate in a way that matches their beliefs and they want to make sure that there is accountability and monitoring.

“They need to know how their stay is contributing to the wellbeing of the locals. They also need to know that their efforts are supporting the regeneration of the environment or the protection of local heritage,” added Nader.

“We, therefore, developed our sustainability standards with the help of various experts in design, engineering and operations. These standards are included in our sustainability programme – C.A.R.E. – and are based on seven pillars: respect the land, build with a sense of place, protect wildlife, support local communities, be mindful of resources, eat responsibly and engage guests.”

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Travel Trends - Feature

EXPERIENTIAL STAYS Nader noted that transformative experiences are also top of mind for today’s travellers. He said guests are now seeking “experiences that change them, transform them and leave a lasting impact and memory”.

He added: “Often, they do not really know what they want to achieve during their trip or what they hope to take away. As an experiential lodge brand, it is our aim to not only deliver what guests think they want but also what they never thought to ask for.

“We think of our guests as a group of people who share the same mindset and have the same values. We do not follow the traditional segmentation method that is typical in our industry. It doesn’t matter to us if you are a couple, a family or an individual, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. What matters is for us to know what experiences you are seeking, what transformation you hope to achieve and what higher purpose is driving you to stay with us.

“All our guests have three things in common: they want to be immersed in nature, they seek transformative experiences and they care about the environment. So, we develop our lodges based on a pre-defined guest journey that suits predominately one of our guest profiles: the adventurer, the spiritual or the explorer. Each profile has different needs and expectations and, therefore, requires different experiences and facilities.”

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session or meditating at night on the beach and witnessing bioluminescent plankton lighting up the ocean.”

ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY In a reshuffling of traveller priorities, all-inclusive resorts are beginning to shine. And guests looking to dip a toe into today’s all-inclusive offerings are finding a host of getaway options packed with amenities that allow them to leave their wallets in rooms.

The idea of experiencing travel – especially luxury travel – at a predetermined price and at a time when pandemic-related uncertainties can complicate travel budgets is appealing.

In the region, Rixos Hotels has championed the trend of all-inclusive stays by becoming one of the first brands to offer a premium hospitality experience to guests at a predetermined price.

Cenk Unverdi, Regional General Manager, Rixos Hotels UAE, said: “There is a growing demand for all-inclusive holidays, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era and guests nowadays are looking for experiences more than just hotel stays. They want worry-free vacations and we leverage this idea with our luxury offerings during their all-inclusive stays.

“While the word ‘all-inclusive’ only used to be associated with unlimited dining experiences, Rixos has elevated the concept with its premium offerings to include exceptional entertainment

options for everyone and tried to monopolise the luxury stays market.

Our all-inclusive offering includes fitness and spa facilities, fine dining at gourmet restaurants, adult-only pools with swim-up venues, 24-hour butler services, on-premises nightclubs and unlimited premium beverages.”

LOCAL ADVENTURES On the rise since the pandemic first grounded travellers in 2020, domestic tourism is in demand now more than ever.

The closure of borders forced travellers to explore their local world with a fresh set of eyes and fully immerse themselves in everything their region had to offer. “The pandemic highlighted the importance of

‘domestic tourism’ which I believe is here to stay. Tourists understand that there is much to see, explore and enjoy, that is available on their doorstep, without the stress of flights and long-distance travel,” said Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC. This trend is quite evident in the UAE, thanks to the ease of travel between the seven emirates. With varied experiences available in each and the wide choice of resorts offering a range of settings, staycations are now more popular than ever. And several properties are catering to this demand by offering special rates for residents and curated packages to help staycationers make the most of their breaks.

WELLNESS TRAVEL The pandemic brought about a sharp rise in the demand for wellness experiences, with physical and mental health becoming a significant part of public discourse. Unsurprisingly, in the last few months, wellness-focused resorts have blossomed around the world.

Responding to the demand for wellness experiences, Dubai-based female entrepreneurs, Sophia Bakkal and Rachel Dowes, founded Beyond Wellness to make wellness-focused retreats more accessible to guests in the region. “It has been promising,” they said as they continue to tailor wellness experiences in some of the world’s most awe-inspiring locations, from Dubai to the Maldives and Zanzibar.

“Our retreats offer a 360-degree mind, body and spirit experience encompassing physical, mental and spiritual wellness in its entirety. And our retreats are set in some of the world’s most tranquil locations.

“We believe that being close to nature is important for self-healing, so all our experiences are held within natural beauty. For instance, our Maldives retreat is the most popular simply because there’s nothing quite like seeing dolphins swimming by during a yoga

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09/05/2022 8:12 PM

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Destinations

India

India Tourism / AS2430

The land where one visit is never enough, India is one of the most diverse tourist destinations in the world. From its tropical southern coastline to its mountainous north, the country is a world of marvels.

Tourism is big business and, fortunately, India never disappoints.

The cosmopolitan cities of New Delhi and Mumbai are the most popular destinations for international travellers and a look at pre-pandemic figures reveals that Bangladesh, the USA, the UK, Sri Lanka, Canada and Australia are among the top source markets.

With its history dating back thousands of years, there is something to learn at every turn. Architectural wonders, from the Taj Mahal to Mysore Palace, make it no wonder that the country is known as one of the world’s most mystical and enchanting lands.

Its people are as diverse as its cuisine and its landscapes. Lush green jungles in the country’s heart contrast with dramatic snow-capped mountains in the north, while secluded, palm-fringed beaches on both coasts are juxtaposed against some of the most hectic cities.

Each state has something different, from its architecture to its gastronomy. While the south revels in

simplicity, with daily dishes consisting of the likes of fish curries and rice, the north offers a mix of flavours as the Mughal influence becomes more evident with rich and meaty delicacies to match the changing climes.

Whether wandering through the Himalayas, exploring monasteries and seeking new realms of spirituality in one of the thousands of ashrams around the country, or going upscale for a touch of Indian city life, there is something for every traveller and budget. Some of the world’s most magnificent hotels and service to rival more developed countries make India an experience one never forgets.

Often touted for its otherworldly feel, Kerala’s backwaters offer a peaceful retreat into nature, while a camel ride through Rajasthan seems like a world away from urbanity.

The Holy Ganges attracts those looking for a more spiritual escape,

Secluded, palm-fringed beaches on both coasts are juxtaposed against some of the most hectic cities

something more soulful than the hustle and bustle of the likes of Mumbai or Delhi. But most of all, this is a place where everyone can find their way.

Rail trips offer a scenic way to see the vast country, while a massive network of internal flights allows visitors

to hop between some of the major destinations affordably and easily.

As India opens up again, 2022 feels full of promise for international visitors, while the country’s citizens are preparing to take off to new destinations to steer the outbound travel market forward.

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Bulgaria

Ministry of Tourism of The Republic of Bulgaria / EU1330

Bulgaria is located in Southeast Europe and in the eastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula. A fascinating country at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, it is now one of the region’s up and coming destinations; a mix of old and new; a destination with a difference.

Over the centuries, the country has passed through the hands of many an empire, from the Roman to the Russian, and present-day

Bulgaria was a cradle of some of the earliest civilisations in Europe.

Ancient cultural monuments include an array of fascinating UNESCOlisted sites. The list features the likes of the Kazanlak Tomb, the Thracian Tomb by the village of Sveshtari near Razgrad, the Madara Horseman, the Boyana Church, the Ivanovo Rock Churches near Ruse, the Rila Monastery and the Old Town in Nessebar.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

Sozopol, Bulgaria

Lifestyles and cultures in Bulgaria have developed over thousands of years, drawing on diverse influences from Thracians to Greeks, Romans to Slavs, meaning the nation is a rich tapestry of civilisations. Travelling around the country offers an insight into this historic legacy of the melting pot nature of Bulgarian heritage.

Its natural beauty is one of its biggest attractions for nature and outdoor adventure lovers. The natural landscape is as diverse as it is breathtaking, consisting

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Bulgaria’s natural beauty is one of its biggest attractions, with plenty to do for nature and outdoor adventure lovers of lowlands, plains, foothills, plateaus, river valleys, basins and mountains of varying elevations. From hiking or horse riding through the mountains in summer to skiing in winter or a trip to the country’s healing thermal springs, there is never a shortage of things to do.

With its fascinating gastro heritage, the cuisine is another reason to come, while for beach lovers, the Bulgarian Black Sea or many of its dramatic rivers dotted by magical forests offer the perfect escape, with activities such as fishing and watersports also available.

Most visitors come from the European Union and arrivals are slowly on the up, but a long way to go from 2018 numbers when statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development revealed that 12.4 million foreign visitors travelled to the country.

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Destinations

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Cyprus

Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism / EU1430

Known to be one of Europe’s sunniest islands, Cyprus is the perfect yearround destination offering everything from gourmet tourism to natural beauty, heritage to nightlife.

Travelling around, the island’s landscape changes from its mountainous south to its terraced Limassol vineyards. The quaint city of Limassol offers a truly authentic experience of the island while outdoor adventurers will love the rocky south where hiking, biking and more abound.

Drawing its main influences from Greece, the country’s tavernas are the best way to soak up the local cuisine, whether meat or fish caught fresh from the sea.

Though known for its nightlife, the town of Ayia Napa also just recently opened its underwater sculpture park, set as an underwater forest with over 130 works of art in a newly protected marine area.

Tourism arrivals in 2021 hovered just below the two million mark.

But with a vast array of historical sights, miles of beautiful coastline, a warm, welcoming population and delicious food, the destination will no doubt bounce back in 2022.

Cyprus offers an array of historical sights, miles of beautiful coastline, a warm, welcoming population and delicious food

Paphos

Cape Greco

Arrivals from the United Kingdom were the main source of tourism for December 2021, with a share of 19.8 percent (19,199) of the total arrivals, followed by Greece with 12.8 percent (12,420), Russia with 9.5 percent (9,234), Poland with 7.2 percent (6,989), Germany with 6.8 percent (6,618) and Ukraine with 6.4 percent (6,169).

Spain

Spain Tourism Office / EU1550

One of the world’s most visited destinations, Spain has continued to attract tourists decade after decade.

Its diverse landscape and cultural offerings appeal to travellers of all ages, nationalities and budgets, and its accessibility from all corners of the globe makes it a timeless favourite.

Casa Mila, Barcelona

Alhambra, Spain

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An easy country to navigate, Spain has become popular for motorbike and driving tours, while hiking its landscapes allows a close-up view of its natural beauty Though Spain experienced an annual drop of over 70 percent in the number of international tourists in 2020, this figure went up by more than 40 percent in the following year. In comparison to 2000, the 36.5 million foreign visitors recorded in 2021 represented a decline of roughly 30 percent. However, Spain was the world’s second most popular international destination at the end of the past decade.

France and Germany were the main countries of origin for international tourism in Spain in 2021, accounting for more than 11 million travellers combined, followed in third place by the United Kingdom, which, since the beginning of 2022, has shot to number one.

Travel and tourism have become one of the leading engines of growth for the Spanish economy. The tourism sector’s contribution to GDP in Spain has been increasing over the last years and, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), was projected to reach approximately

US$192 billion. The industry also plays a key role to boost the Spanish employment market, which had been experiencing a significant improvement before the outbreak of COVID-19.

An easy country to navigate, it has become a favourite for the likes of motorbike and driving tours, while for others, hiking its undulating landscapes allows a more close-up view of the country’s natural beauty, where the likes of lakes and waterfalls dot the landscape.

The birthplace of some of art’s greats, such as Picasso, visitors can immerse in arts and culture, with a wealth of museums and galleries in hubs such as Barcelona and Madrid, while heritage sites are found all over the country, from forts to churches and historic cathedrals.

Action and adventure is plentiful for the outdoor lover with activities such as surfing in Valencia and kitesurfing in the Balearic Islands, while gastronomy is on tap for those seeking the country’s local delights.

09/05/2022 8:14 PM

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Destinations

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority / AF5101

Though the first thing one thinks of when picturing Zimbabwe is its extensive wildlife reserves and game safaris, there is much more to do.

The largest of the country’s game reserves is Hwange, home to more than 400 bird species and 100 species of mammals. It is followed in close second

by Gonarezhou, which is connected to the wider ecosystem of South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s Limpopo, with the animals migrating freely between the three spaces.

Another of the country’s highlights is the city of Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Formerly the royal capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe between the 13th and 15th centuries AD, it has been inhabited for over a thousand years.

History fans must visit Matobo, the nation’s oldest national park. It pays homage to the country’s rich human history, with over 3,500 sites dating back at least 13,000 years, showing off the ancient rock art which tells the story of

a bygone age. The city of Bulawayo is a perfect stopping point for some arts and culture in this eclectic destination. It is home to the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe and it is also a great base for day trips, including Hwange National Park, the Matobo Hills and Victoria Falls.

The majority of tourists who travelled to Zimbabwe in 2019 were from neighbouring African countries, nearly 1.9 million people, with Europe the second leading region of origin of international tourists.

Victoria Falls

Hwange National Park

The largest of the country’s game reserves is Hwange National Park, which is home to more than 400 bird species and 100 species of mammals

Thailand

Tourism Authority of Thailand / AS2120

Wiang Kum Kam

Famous for its temples, mystical eastern culture, world-class gastronomy and hospitality, there is something to do for every traveller in this giant of a destination. Whether exploring the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, where cuttingedge architecture sits seamlessly alongside a country rooted in centuries of cultural heritage, or escaping to one of its many serene islands, it is a destination to keep coming back to.

Ao Nang

Shopping at the country’s many street markets or floating markets is the perfect way to soak up the authentic Thai flavours and not least, its gastronomy. In addition to the royal temples, the country is awash with gilded Buddhist temples, which show how rooted Thailand remains in its beliefs.

The country’s nightlife offers an array of things to do, from clubs and lounges to the famed Thai boxing,

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which, for fans or novices alike, offers an insight into the ancient Thai tradition.

Water sports and adventure activities are easy to come by, wherever in the destination, with scuba diving sites found in plenty, in addition to pursuits such as trekking, camping, zip lining and more.

Thailand has taken a cautious approach to reopening its borders, with only limited opening in certain destinations from November 2021. In

Water sports and adventure activities are easy to come by in Thailand the first 10 months of 2021, Thailand saw 106,117 foreign tourists, a drop from 6.7 million in 2020. Before the pandemic, Thailand received almost 40 million tourists across its plethora of destinations.

09/05/2022 8:15 PM

Destinations

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Poland

Polish Tourism Organisation / EU1323, EU1325

The medieval university building of Collegium Maius has a unique collection of astronomical instruments while the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz features a wealth of Jewish heritage, with its 16th-century cemetery and seven synagogues, of which one is now the Jewish Museum.

The Małopolska Province is where one finds some of Poland’s most visited sites. This varied region stretches from the snowy peaks of the Tatra Mountains to the rugged limestone cliffs of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and the scenic, low-lying Vistula River Valley.

The historic centre of Warsaw offers an exception to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, the only urban complex almost entirely reconstructed after WWII. The careful reconstruction was so well done that the international community demonstrated its appreciation by putting the historic city centre on the list of unique world heritage sites.

Another highlight while in Poland is a visit to Czocha Castle, first designed as a fortress in the 13th century. After centuries of political turbulence, followed by a fire which destroyed the castle in the 18th century, the construction was restored to its former glory.

One of the world’s up-and-coming destinations, Poland has seen a massive increase in visitors in recent years. In 2019, the country welcomed around 35.7 million arrivals, its record, and twice as many as the 18 million in 2006. Germany, Ukraine and the USA have been the country’s major source markets as Poland is so well connected by air, land and rail.

Gothic castles and dramatic landscapes make this a destination for history and culture lovers Its gothic castles and dramatic landscapes make this a magical destination for history and culture or outdoor lovers alike. The medieval urban layout of Kraków’s Old Town has not changed for centuries. The city, now on the UNESCO World Heritage list, still boasts Europe’s largest medieval market square with its Cloth Hall, the Church of the Holy Mary, with its gothic pentaptych altarpiece carved from limewood, Wawel Hill and its royal castle and the Wawel cathedral with its outstanding Renaissance chapel.

Warsaw

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau / AS2250

From its idyllic Indian Ocean coastline to the verdant jungles, hilly highlands and tea plantations of its inland, Sri Lanka is a natural wonder in spite of its modest size. The country’s size helps travellers traverse its diverse terrain more easily, however, and so, whether watching whales off palm-fringed beaches, seeing elephants walking on the plains or hiking through the hilly countryside, there is much to do in this Asian wonder.

With more than 2,000 years of recorded history, there are plenty of monuments and places of interest, such as colonial forts – including the much-loved Galle Fort – dotted around the country. Due to its geographical position, it still bears the memory of passing settlers, including the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British.

A more relaxed rival to neighbouring destinations, Sri Lanka is safe, clean

Devinuwara

From its idyllic Indian Ocean coastline to the verdant jungles, hilly highlands and inland tea plantations, Sri Lanka is a natural wonder in spite of its modest size

Nine Arches Bridge

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and as vibrant as any other tropical island destination to be found nearby.

According to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Authority, visitor numbers in December ended 2021 on a high with the total number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka at 89,506 during the year. Though vastly improved from the same time in 2020, when borders were mostly shut, it is yet

to return to its January 2020 high of 228,434. Europe became the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka as of December 2021, contributing to 54.4 percent of the total arrivals.

Asia and Pacific accounted for 37.2 percent of total arrivals, the Americas accounted for 5.4 percent of the total traffic while the Middle East accounted for 2.5 percent.

09/05/2022 8:15 PM

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Vox Pops

What the exhibitors say...

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A selection of exhibitors share their goals and ambitions for this year’s show

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PRATEEK KUMAR Senior Vice President – Operations

SIEGFRIED NIERHAUS Vice President

JOSÉ CANALS Managing Director – Middle East and Asia

GLOBAL PASSENGER NETWORK “For Global Passenger Network, it is important to enhance its brand awareness in this region and connect with travel agents, tour operators and MICE organisers that need reliable transportation providers around the world. Our aim is to build strong, long-lasting relationships that will enable us to grow our businesses together. Consequently, we believe that transportation providers in this region will acknowledge the value of a Global Passenger Network membership and will express their interest in joining us.”

DUSIT INTERNATIONAL “As travel restrictions continue to ease worldwide, we return to ATM with much excitement and we’re delighted to showcase how we have reimagined our services to position Dusit Hotels and Resorts for maximum value creation in the new normal. Alongside celebrating our strong presence in the MENA region, we look forward to highlighting our ongoing expansion, both internationally and across the lodging spectrum, as well as our unique developments in hospitality education, food business, property development, and hospitality-related services.”

DEUTSCHE HOSPITALITY “Arabian Travel Market has become one of the most important travel exhibitions globally and Deutsche Hospitality, as one of Europe’s leading hotel groups, is naturally present to showcase our company, values and hospitality management strength to the different stakeholders in the Middle East. We are looking forward to meeting existing and future partners to develop our business and exchanging market insights to help hotel investors, owners and operators during the post-pandemic hospitality landscape in the Middle East.”

BARCELÓ HOTEL GROUP “Arabian Travel Market 2022 promises to be a spectacular conference as the region’s biggest platform for hospitality and tourism news. At Barceló Hotel Group, we aim to support the growth of the hospitality and tourism industries in the Middle East and African markets.

Arabian Travel Market offers the ideal platform to exchange ideas, market insights and emerging technologies with industry leaders and other players in the industry that will enhance market growth and innovation.”

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AGNES PASTUSZAK Chairman

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RANJIT PHILLIPOSE General Manager & Area Director - ME

ALEXANDER BLAIRE General Manager

JOCHEM-JAN SLEIFFER President, Middle East, Africa & Turkey

MOHAMED MAHMOUD General Manager

TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA, THE PALM, DUBAI & THE INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY LIMITED “For Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, this is our first ATM. Travel has changed significantly and a variety of measures have been adopted to keep up with the times. Taking part allows us to share our knowledge, explore opportunities and highlight our expertise as one of the leading hotels worldwide. We are excited to be part of a reinvigorated industry while we make our mark in this region with the launch of the first Taj Exotica brand in the Middle East.”

SHANGRI-LA JEDDAH “With the worst of the pandemic behind us, I am really looking forward to connecting personally with our valued partners, old and new, to showcase the recently opened Shangri-La Jeddah, the luxury landmark anchored on the waterfront. Shangri-La Jeddah is exhibiting at the Saudi Tourism Authority stand and we are proud to play our part towards the kingdom achieving its goal of becoming a leading global tourist destination by 2030.”

HILTON “Sustainability is top of mind for our clients and therefore, at Arabian Travel Market 2022, Hilton will be showcasing its efforts to operate and grow sustainably in line with Travel With Purpose – our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to drive responsible travel and tourism globally. We look forward to welcoming show attendees and highlighting the work we are doing to reduce food waste, recycle, plant trees, source locally and more.”

INTERCONTINENTAL RAS AL KHAIMAH MINA AL ARAB RESORT & SPA “As a new resort, we’re most of all looking forward to showcasing ourselves at Arabian Travel Market 2022 and sharing what makes our island living resort so special. We’ve already had some incredibly positive feedback and can’t wait to meet with both buyers and also our peers within the industry at the show and tell them how we’ve brought the InterContinental brand to life in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.”

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11/05/2022 9:01 PM

Destinations

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ATM 2022 SHOW DAILY - DAY 4 - VOX POPS.indd 32

09/05/2022 8:17 PM