Category: News

Etihad Airways, the national airline of UAE, will be the first airline in the region to operate a flight without any single-use plastics on board, in a bid to raise awareness of the effects of plastic pollution. Flight EY484 departed Abu Dhabi on 21 April, landing in Brisbane on 22 April – Earth Day, the first airline in the world to operate a single-use plastic free flight on an ultra-long haul sector. “Sustainable and efficient transport is core to the government’s vision, and we commend Etihad’s proactivity in paving the way for sustainability and efficiency in air transportation. The investment ... Read more

Emirates and SpiceJet have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into a reciprocal codeshare agreement, which is set to open new routes and destinations for passengers travelling between India and popular destinations across Africa, America, Europe and the Middle East. Subject to necessary government approvals, the partnership will enable Emirates’ passengers to enjoy seamless connectivity on flights to India, leveraging SpiceJet’s strong domestic presence and adding six new destinations: Amritsar, Jaipur, Pune, Mangalore, Madurai and Calicut – to the nine existing cities in India served by Emirates. This will bolster Emirates’ already-extensive network adding a total of 67 ... Read more

Uday Samudra Resort in Kovalam, is offering a rich and splendid brunch buffet tomorrow, on the day of Easter. The buffet will have a live carving station which will serve various macroni servings, including spaghetti, penne with a wide variety of sauces. Greek Salad Bar, Organic Tomato Salad, Quinoa Salad, Black eyed Pea Salad and Balinese Red Rice Salad are sure going to be a feast for the salad lovers. The counter will also serve freshly baked hot cross bun and bread served with butter. Those who like to have it piping hot should definitely try rotisserie chicken with pommery mustard ... Read more

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has launched its new SureStay Plus Hotel Brand in India with the opening of a first SureStay Plus hotel in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Each of the 57 rooms spread across three categories and 8 suites of the hotel offers boutique-style charm with every modern comfort, complemented by excellent views of the city. “We are delighted to unveil SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Indore, an exciting midscale brand that will redefine the hotel landscape in Indore,” said Atul Jain, Best Western’s Chief Operating Officer for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “By combining the ease and ... Read more

Vivin Luxury Suites has opened the doors of its newest luxury hotel in the Thiruvananthapuram city’s vibrant and most happening place. Echoing the Kerala architecture, the 7-storey landmark hotel features an exquisite selection of spacious rooms with incredible city views. Nestled in the heart of the city and within walking distance to the newly opened Central Mall, and the city’s finest shopping and dining precincts, Vivin Luxury Suites offers a stylish urban retreat for leisure and business travellers. All the rooms at Vivin have the traditional Kerala style with custom designed furnishings, luxury bedding and ethnic surroundings. One of main attractions of ... Read more

Enchanting tourist attractions, unique diplomatic stature and a thriving airliner have placed Ethiopia, Land of Origins, on top of the world when it comes to tourism growth. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual review, the country saw the highest tourism growth in the world (48.6), surpassing the global average growth rate of 3.9 per cent and the African average of 5.6 per cent. During the period, the sector supported 2.2 million jobs and contributed US$7.4 billion to Ethiopia’s economy, an increase of US$2.2bn on 2017. The timeless charm of Ethiopia’s natural, cultural and historical tourist attractions ... Read more

Emirates is introducing seasonal treats to celebrate Easter on board and in select airport lounges worldwide. The Easter menu is available to customers in all cabin classes from 19 to 23 April when travelling from Dubai to destinations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Ghana and the Philippines. Emirates will also observe Orthodox Easter with special menus for customers travelling on flights from Dubai to Russia and Greece on 28 April. On board, customers can look forward to Easter buns handmade using Emirates’ signature recipe with spiced dough and orange peel, sultanas and currants; and children ... Read more

Berry Pudding Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, unveiled the most extensive and creative plant-based menus at sea as their latest OceaniaNEXT innovation. Remaining at the forefront of culinary development, the cruise line is featuring more than 200 new healthy menu selections. In addition to the current gourmet offerings, plant-based choices will be available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Grand Dining Room and Terrace Café and guests will also have plant-based options available upon request during dinner service in each of the specialty restaurants. “These new plant-based options are flavorful, colorful, bold, and creative. ... Read more

AKARYN Hotel Group, Thailand’s award winning luxury boutique hotel specialist, is embracing multi-generational travel by opening its extraordinary accommodation and amazing activities to all ages at its urban and resort destinations across Thailand. Multi-generation travel is one of the biggest trends in the world today, especially in Asia, as travellers focus on reconnecting with their loved ones and sharing life’s most memorable moments. With its choice of stylish city hotels in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and blissful beachfront resorts in Phuket and Hua Hin, AKARYN Hotel Group is perfectly positioned to create unforgettable experiences for extended families. Whichever destination guests ... Read more

The House of Musical Arts that recently opened its doors in the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman, is a remarkable addition to the opera house which was launched to promote the arts, intercultural dialogue and relationships with countries rich in heritage, and reveals Oman’s capacity to host world-class artistic and cultural events with the use of innovative technologies. Since the inauguration of the Royal Opera House Muscat, a wide repertoire of operas, concerts, musicals and other artistic and cultural events have been presented with huge success, both through collaborative relationships on an international scale and with the Royal Opera ... Read more

The travel and tourism industry is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in India. Capitalizing on this significant growth, Japan National Tourism Organization, is aiming at increasing Indian tourist inflow into Japan. In order to meet their goals, JNTO through its associate K&L Communications India, has appointed Blue Square Consultants, one of India’s leading destination representation firms, to enhance the trade & media outreach for destination Japan in India. Addressing the occasion, Kenichi Takano, Executive Director, Japan National Tourism Organization, Delhi office, said, “India has been an important source market for us owing to the emergent disposable income groups ... Read more

Tourism New Zealand has appointed Mindshare as global media agency partner responsible for activating campaign material in target markets globally. “Mindshare exhibited outstanding leadership and strategic thinking that will help to amplify Tourism New Zealand’s destination storytelling in an increasingly competitive global market place,” said René de Monchy, Tourism New Zealand’s Director – Commercial. “Through their world-class global network and best-in-class tools and systems, Mindshare will enable Tourism New Zealand to continue using innovative media targeting to ensure New Zealand is kept top of mind for potential visitors,” he said. Media strategy and buying spend is the largest single investment ... Read more

The government of Mexico is planning to launch its latest tourism campaign, called “Knocking at the Door,” to attract more Chinese tourists. The idea is to target countries with large tourism markets, such as China, and improve Mexico’s standing among global tourist destinations, Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco said in a press release. “There are 15 countries that outrank us in terms of generating foreign revenue (from tourism), whose governments and private sectors have been more creative in boosting their product so it impacts consumers,” said Torruco. “Mexico aims to attract more of China’s 124 million travelers this year, including 22 million ... Read more

The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism market in Sri Lanka  is expected to reach US$ 285 million by 2025, according to a report released recently. According to the Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2019 – 2025 report released by the Wise Guy Consultants, Sri Lanka is emerging as the fastest growing MICE tourism market. India, Maldives and China are the largest source markets for Sri Lanka MICE Industry. The report, “Sri Lanka MICE Tourism Market: Current Trends, Opportunity, Growth Potential and Forecast to 2025” offers the most up-to-date industry data on the actual market situation and ... Read more

In a move to offer a range of experiences and greater choice for its customers travelling for business and leisure, Emirates will be operating its latest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with the ‘Game Changer’ First Class suites from Dubai to Riyadh starting from 16 April 2019 and Kuwait starting from 1 June 2019. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will be the first countries in the Middle East and GCC to be served by the latest Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft featuring fully -enclosed private suites inspired by luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz. Deploying the newest Boeing 777 to both Riyadh and ... Read more