UPFRONT

IATA: 67 per cent of travellers say borders should open

AN INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) survey has revealed travellers are increasingly frustrated with COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Of the 4,700 respondents in 11 markets surveyed in September, 67 per cent felt most country borders should be opened, an increase of 12 per cent from the June 2021 survey.

Additionally, 64 per cent felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been e ective in containing the virus, an increase of 11 per cent, while 73 per cent said that their quality of life is su ering as a result of the restrictions – up six per cent from June.

Respondents supported the removal of quarantine if a person had tested negative for COVID-19 (73 per cent), or if a person had been vaccinated (71 per cent).

Additionally, 80 per cent agreed that vaccinated people should be able to travel freely by air, though two-thirds feel that it is wrong to restrict travel to just those who have been double jabbed. More than 80 per cent believe that testing before air travel should be an alternative for those who do not have access to vaccination.

Nonetheless, 75 per cent believe that the cost of testing is a significant barrier to travel, and 80 per cent think that governments should bear the cost of testing.

The survey also showed that, while 86 per cent felt safe on board due to COVID-19 measures, people were still confused by the COVID-related travel rules and requirements.

UAE business travel on bounce back brink: KPMG

BUSINESS TRAVEL IS on the brink of a major bounce back, with 71 per cent of UAE residents believing corporate travel is necessary for meetings in the future, despite the boom in online video conferencing usage, according to new KPMG research.

An even higher percentage (81 per cent) of respondents believe corporate travel will be justifiable for events like exhibitions and conferences, the first KPMG UAE Aviation Survey 2021 revealed.

Six in 10 (60 per cent) of UAE residents have flown out of the country in the past 12 months to meet their family or relatives, while four out of 10 (40 per cent) flew for leisure and just 13 per cent travelled for business, the survey found.

The most popular destination was South Asia, followed by the GCC states (30 per cent) and Europe (27 per cent).

Consumers also believe COVID-19 will leave an indelible mark on companies’ approach to business travel. About 78 per cent predict that company policy will dictate the countries or destinations for business travel, the survey said.

Germany adds Bahrain and UAE to safe list

THE GERMAN FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT has added Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the German safe list, reducing COVID-19 implemented restrictions for travellers. e news follows the previous inclusions of Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia on the list.

e li ing of restrictions applies to all travellers 12 years and above, regardless of individual vaccination status, with visitors now able to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel, a valid vaccination certi cate, or proof of recovery. For full entry requirements to Germany, refer to bmi.bund.de.

2025

The date when international business travel is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels

(Source: The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) BTI™ Outlook report)

Emirates and Qantas to extend joint business agreeement

EMIRATES AND QANTAS have signalled their intention to further extend their “cornerstone partnership” until 2028, with an option to renew for another five years beyond that.

The agreement between the Dubai airline and Australian carrier includes coordination of pricing, schedules, sales and tourism marketing on approved routes, with customers and frequent flyers of both airlines having access to “an expansive joint network, and millions of reward seats to travel across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK”.

In a statement, Emirates and Qantas said that “both airlines are making millions of reward seats available for frequent flyers to access more than 100 destinations to using their Qantas Points or Skywards Miles, which many have been stockpiling throughout the pandemic”. The carriers also said that the deal provides access to more than 55 Australian destinations for Emirates customers that the Gulf carrier does not fly to, while Qantas customers are able to fly on Emirates to Dubai and access more than 50 cities in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, that the Australian flag carrier does not fly to.

Emirates adds HBO Max to IFE options

EMIRATES HAS partnered with HBO Max to bring content including Friends: e Reunion, Mare of Easttown starring Kate Winslet, and the award-winning A Black Lady Sketch Show to the carrier’s ICE in ight entertainment system. e Warner Media streaming service was added to the carrier’s onboard options from the start of November. Customers can choose from 160 hours of content from 31 shows housed within a dedicated folder on the ICE system.

BA to reinstate A380 on Dubai route

BRITISH AIRWAYS will reinstate an A380 on its London to Dubai route from next month (December). Flights BA106 and BA107 will be operated by the double-decker from December 3. e aircra will also resume service on its ights to Miami and Los Angeles.

DXB LAUNCHES DUTY-FREE AND FOOD ORDERING SERVICE FOR PASSENGERS

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

(DXB) has launched an online duty-free and food ordering service, DXB&More. It means passengers can make the most of their time before catching a flight by ordering retail and restaurant items on their mobile, without needing to download an app, and having them delivered directly to them. Airport guests travelling from DXB’s Terminal 3, B and C gates can access the new service via the WOW-fi landing page, QR codes around the airport or DXBmore.com.

St Regis makes its mark in Downtown Dubai

THE ST. REGIS DOWNTOWN, DUBAI has opened for business, promising luxury and convenience.

Located along the Dubai Water Canal, guests are steps away from e Dubai Mall, a short drive from Dubai Design District and Dubai International Financial Centre, and 10 minutes from Dubai International.

Guests can choose from 298 lavishly appointed guest rooms and suites, each o ering the signature St. Regis Butler Service, while dining options include e Library for a ernoon tea, BASTA! Italian restaurant, Bleu Blanc Oysters & Grill for Mediterranean ne dining and the St. Regis Bar for the brand’s world-renowned Bloody Mary cocktail. e St. Regis Spa, tness centre and scenic outdoor in nity pool overlooking the Dubai Water Canal are among the facilities, while meeting and event space is expansive, with an elegant Astor Ballroom set to open in March 2022.

Ra es e Palm Dubai now open

RAFFLES THE PALM DUBAI – the second Ra les in the city and the brand’s first Middle East resort – has opened on The Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent, featuring 389 rooms, as well as Duplex Suites, Signature Ocean Suites, Premier One Bedroom Palm Suites, the Ra les Presidential Suites and Ra les Royal Suite.

All rooms and suites o er Arabian Gulf or Dubai skyline views, and every guest enjoys Ra les’ signature 24-hour butler service. Ra les The Palm Dubai is also home to a collection of villas.

Stand-out resort features include a 500-metre private beach, the award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa and the Ra les Club Lounge, accessible to guests staying in Club Rooms and Suites. Dining experiences include PIATTI, a seafood restaurant on the beach; afternoon tea at Blüthner Hall; the renowned Ra les Patisserie; and SOLA, a live jazz venue.

And the hotel bathroom amenities prize goes to… Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk

Look at this little line-up – good-sized containers that are easy to squeeze and last for more than one wash. Good quality Lanvin products too. Did I take some home with me? Yes, I did! For a full hotel review, see p61.

Is it wheely open?

AIN DUBAI, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel, located on Bluewaters Island, o icially opened last month (October) to much fanfare. Tickets to the mega attraction, which stands at more than 250 metres and has the capacity for 1,750 visitors at a time, are now on sale, priced AED130. Visit aindubai.com.

THIS HOTEL ROCKS

HOTELS ARE WOWING guests with a wide range of imaginative ‘immersive experiences’ these days, but The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia is taking it to the next level by carving a luxury hotel into a rock mountain. The Desert Rock resort, part of The Red Sea Project, celebrates Saudi Arabia’s spectacular natural beauty and Nabatean heritage. Inspired by the surrounding mountains, volcanoes and wadis, Desert Rock will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites, ranging from ground-level dwellings to crevice hotel suites midway up the mountain. It will also feature a spa, fitness centre, remote dining areas and a lagoon oasis.

HARLEYS FOR HIRE

VISITORS AND RESIDENTS in Saudi Arabia can now hire a Harley-Davidson bike with Lumi, Seera Group’s vehicle rental business. Through its partnership with Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Lumi has launched the first fleet of touring and cruiser motorcycles that enable bike aficionados to explore the kingdom in inimitable style. The bikes will first be available to rent at Lumi’s counter at the Harley-Davidson outlet in Riyadh.

Qatar to host its first F1 race in November

QATAR WILL HOST its rst Formula 1 race this month, marking the start of a 10-year deal between F1 and the Gulf state. e Qatar Grand Prix, which will take place from November 19-21, 2021, will become a permanent F1 calendar xture from 2023. is year, the twilight race at Doha’s Lusail International Circuit, which replaces the vacant slot le by the Australian GP’s cancellation, is one of seven remaining rounds of a hugely competitive campaign, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battling for the title. It will be staged before the Saudi Arabian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix races, which will take place on December 5 and 12 respectively.

GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI SET FOR 2025 COMPLETION

THE GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI is on track for a 2025 completion, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced. Set to be part of the growing community of cultural institutions in the UAE capital and the latest museum to join Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s international portfolio, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be dedicated to global modern and contemporary art and programming. Located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the museum will also be an architectural landmark inspired by the vernacular architecture of the UAE and the region. Other upcoming cultural institutions joining the Saadiyat Cultural District include Zayed National Museum dedicated to celebrating the life and achievements of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the Abrahamic Family House, a multifaith place of worship.