DUBAI : The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Google announced today the launch of Map Your Dubai: Insider Edition, an initiative to support the local F&B sector. Local guides, a global community of volunteers who write reviews on Google Maps, will be sharing their favorite lists of restaurants and cafes, followed by public voting to drive more visits and growth to local businesses. The initiative was launched during an exclusive Breakfast Club experience at the historic Etihad Museum, attended by Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development…
Author: Eat ‘N Stays
The 655-room hotel builds on its first Hajj season with direct access to Al Masjid Al Haram, group support, multilingual service, and practical pilgrim assistance. Makkah : Following a Hajj season that welcomed more than 1.7 million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, Rotana Jabal Omar Makkah has completed its first Hajj season recording occupancy of more than 95% just months after opening in December 2025. With the new Umrah season now under way, the hotel is strengthening its year-round readiness for pilgrims through direct access to Al Masjid Al Haram, group support, multilingual service, and practical assistance throughout the guest journey.…
EMEA CHRIE 2026 will bring together world‑class tourism and hospitality experts under a shared vision for the future Dubai : Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is set to host the inaugural EMEA Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education Conference (CHRIE) in Dubai. Held in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Foundation, the event will take place at the Library from 9 to 12 November 2026. The event will bring together leading minds from the tourism, hospitality, and education sectors across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. EMEA…
By Fayez Saad Saudi Arabia’s specialty coffee industry has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, transforming from a niche interest into one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing food and beverage sectors. Today, Saudi Arabia coffee brands are redefining cafe culture, with artisanal roasteries, specialty cafes, and independent concepts becoming an essential part of the nation’s evolving hospitality landscape. The Growing Popularity of Specialty Coffee in Saudi Arabia Coffee has always been deeply rooted in Saudi coffee culture, where traditional Arabic coffee symbolizes hospitality, generosity, and social connection. However, modern consumers are increasingly exploring specialty brewing techniques, single-origin beans, and curated…
Proofpoint research shows reject-level DMARC enforcement among Saudi Arabia’s top travel sites has risen from 30% to 45% year-on-year Riyadh : As Saudi Arabia’s travel sector enters its biggest domestic tourism season on record, new research from Proofpoint reveals 100% of the Kingdom’s top 20 online travel sites have now published a DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) record, up from 95% in 2025, reflecting rapid progress across one of the region’s fastest-growing digital travel markets. Reject-level DMARC enforcement among the Kingdom’s top 20 online travel sites has risen from 30% in 2025 to 45% in 2026, a 15-percentage-point…
Dubai – Hyatt has recently appointed Geoffray Maugin as Vice President Marketing & Loyalty for its Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME) region, a newly created role that reflects the company’s continued evolution into a more brand-focused and insights led organisation. Geoffray brings more than 25 years of international experience across luxury hospitality and premium brand strategy, with senior roles at Accor (where he led guest experience and business performance across 5,000+ hotels globally), LVMH’s Moët Hennessy and Coca-Cola. His mandate is clear: to strengthen brand differentiation and activate loyalty as a high‑value growth engine, creating sustainable value for both guests and…
As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek invites football enthusiasts to experience every moment of the tournament at The Pub English Bar, one of Dubai’s longest-standing and most characterful British-style pubs. Established in 1975 and deeply woven into the social fabric of Deira Creek, the venue will transform into a dedicated football zone from 11th June to 19th July, broadcasting every televised fixture live and loud on the big screen. Positioned within one of the city’s most storied hospitality addresses, the tournament experience at The Pub combines the spirited atmosphere of match-day…
As football fans from across the GCC prepare to travel to North America for this summer’s global tournament – and with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar competing – many affluent families are extending tournament stays into longer summer holidays, combining matchdays with leisure travel, family time and multi-city California itineraries across the host countries. For many travellers from the region, this summer’s tournament is becoming as much about where families spend time between fixtures as the matches themselves. With Los Angeles hosting key games at SoFi Stadium – and the tournament spread across multiple destinations and time zones – travellers…
STORY Hotels & Resorts’ guests gain access to GHA DISCOVERY, Global Hotel Alliance’s (GHA) award-winning loyalty programme with more than 35 million members. Members can enjoy exclusive member rates, flexible rewards, and elevated privileges at more than 1,000 hotels globally. STORY Hospitality, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered international lifestyle hospitality group, is launching STORY DISCOVERY – part of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme – unlocking premium and experiential stays worldwide. Joining the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands means that STORY Hospitality can now offer all its guests access to an exciting world of recognition, rewards and memorable experiences across GHA’s…
Ashok Kumar is a seasoned C-suite executive and aviation industry specialist with over 30 years of experience United Arab Emirates : RoyalJet, the Abu Dhabi-based global premium private jet operator, has announced the appointment of Ashok Kumar as Vice-President for Resources and Transformation. Ashok Kumar is a seasoned C-suite executive and aviation industry specialist with over 30 years of experience spanning financial leadership, corporate services, and operational excellence. A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a Chartered Financial Analyst, he brings a rare combination of deep financial expertise and sector-specific knowledge that has made him…