Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), the Sultanate’s executive tourism development arm unveiled VisitOman.om, the first authorised national online booking and information gateway for Oman’s travel trade sector. In its first phase, registration is now open for travel trade partners in international markets together with Oman’s travel and tourism players for future bookings. It is expected that by Q4 2021, VisitOman.om will become an all-encompassing resource for the travel trade sector, which will seamlessly connect the entire accredited Omani travel supply chain globally. The extended portal will include a live booking engine that allows for easy supply and demand integration with Trade Partners.

Taking place in Dubai from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 – the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region – Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo since the 1900s to have a stand-alone pavilion dedicated to women. Under the exhibition titled “New Perspectives”, the women’s pavilion, in collaboration with Cartier, will invite visitors to recognise the central role that women, known and unknown, have played throughout history, leading up to the present. Expo 2020 Dubai has reaffirmed a shared commitment to close the gender gap.

Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island, in Ras Al Khaimah opened its doors to guests. It is located on a 750-metre beach and guests can enjoy the brand’s signature free breakfast. As the largest Hampton by Hilton in the world, featuring 515 guest rooms – half of which are interconnected – the hotel is ideal for groups of friends or family.

Castle Howard, a stately home in North Yorkshire, is returning with an indoor Christmas spectacular. This year is set to be Castle Howard’s biggest festival celebration yet, with the house opening for even longer, November 13 to January 3. The visitors can enjoy the stunning Christmas displays, lighting effects and decorations as dusk falls as the historic house will be turned into the wintery, magical land of Narnia inspired by CS Lewis.

The ongoing Dubai Summer Surprises (until September 4), offers the very best sales, promotions, family fun, dining offers and entertainment across the city. New to this edition of DSS and getting underway from the first day of the summer-long event, the Dine & Win promotion will invite families and friends with an appetite for great deals and tasty food to visit more than 300 of the city’s best eateries.

Ultima Collection has announced the newest addition to its expanding portfolio, Ultima Cannes Le Grand Jardin, opening in 2022. The only private property on the island of Sainte-Marguerite, Ultima Cannes Le Grand Jardin is a historic, walled private estate that was previously home to royals such as Louis XIV and the world’s elite. Le Grand Jardin will feature state-of-the-art décor, facilities and the highest levels of service whilst offering a completely exclusive, secluded, and once-in-a-lifetime experience for a group on the Côte d'Azur. It will be exclusively accessible by boat (just 10 minutes from Cannes) or helicopter, with no cars on Sainte-Marguerite.

Functional design and a unique brand experience are about to merge at the very highest level as Porsche and Steigenberger come together to establish a new hotel brand Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels. Dr Jan Becker, CEO Porsche Design Group, and Marcus Bernhardt, CEO Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality, met at the Steigenberger Icon Hotel Frankfurter Hof to sign an agreement creating a joint hotel brand. Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels, positioned in the luxury lifestyle segment, will be launched in selected international metropolises in the future.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched its inaugural flight to Vienna, the City of Music, on July 18, 2021. It was the first of a new twice-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and the Austrian capital. The new service operates on Thursdays and Sundays using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which offers 28 seats in Business and 262 seats in Economy, entertainment systems, in-seat power, and in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.