This strategic partnership provides ADNEC-owned Tourism 365 and its travel management company subsidiary, Capital Travel, with exclusive representation rights in managing OACIS’ off-airport check-in services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The partnership also involves Abu Dhabi’s flagship carrier, Etihad Airways, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).
Roula Jouny, CEO of Tourism 365, tells us: “We are delighted to collaborate with OACIS and look forward to a long-standing and fruitful alliance. OACIS provides state-of-the-art technology-first services that offer travellers innovative solutions and their proposition ultimately aligns with our values to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position within the travel industry.”
“Keep investing in people: it really is the way forward“
– Roula Jouny
OACIS is the pioneer and the world’s only full functionality off-airport check-in, bag drop and delivery service provider. Its off-airport check-in service eliminates the check-in processes and offers travellers a seamless start to their journey, enhancing the overall travel experience. In addition, the company’s revolutionary off-airport check-in technology has successfully empowered several airlines and many airports to significantly reduce the strain on their operational resources by managing passenger check-in and bag drop-off functions remotely.
By using this service, travellers can indulge in bag-free experiences at airports before taking off and after landing. Customers will also have access to an intuitive mobile app to book services and track their luggage journey. All operational, logistics, governmental, customs and security requirements and permissions, baggage escort and transportation requirements will be the sole responsibility of OACIS. Other benefits include multiple check-in facilities, easier group check-in processes, and card/mobile app payments.
Earlier this year, Tourism 365 announced its strategic partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Holidays. The strategic partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi and Etihad Holidays looks to enhance Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector throughout the summer and in the coming year.
“Tourism 365 will continue its mission in nurturing Abu Dhabi’s compelling tourism sector, as well as providing innovative travel solutions in collaboration with (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Holidays,” Tourism 365’s Chief Executive Officer tells TTN.
Tourism 365 is responsible for the operational role for Etihad Holidays to enhance its current position as a travel platform for the local market, to an all-encompassing tour operator for all regional and international travel pursuits. This will allow them to supply online and traditional travel agencies with Etihad network holiday packages for multiple key source markets including Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Austria and Russia. In addition, Etihad Holidays will function as a business-to-business tour operator, working with retailers and OTAs to boost tourism to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Roula brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector. A dynamic, driven and results-oriented leader, she is recognised for her wide-ranging expertise and accomplishments in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors. A visionary leader with more than 30 years’ experience, she successfully spearheaded the launch of Tourism 365 in 2021, and since then has overseen the overall development of Tourism 365 and its brands Capital Travel and Capital Experience into formidable industry leaders and key players in the outbound and inbound tourism sectors.
“The core strength of this company is our very talented, very skilled team. Even in a world where everybody’s talking about digitalisation – nothing can replace human capital in our industry. Keep investing in people: it really is the way forward.
“Our colleagues have been doing this business in different parts of the world for a while now - we are bringing the best practices of all the destinations together to Abu Dhabi.”
Roula’s role at Tourism 365 has focused on securing major contracts and agreements with tourism boards and private partners across the entire travel spectrum, as well as leading the efforts of promoting tourism and facilitating the growth of the tourism industry in Abu Dhabi, aiming to increase number of visitors to the Emirate.
Tourism 365 was launched last summer to enhance the regional and global positioning of Abu Dhabi in the wider tourism sector by showcasing all that Abu Dhabi has to offer. It is part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s (ADNEC’s) strategy to develop Abu Dhabi’s leisure tourism sector.
“Tourism 365 has ambitions of development,” she tells us. “Abu Dhabi and the UAE are not going to be the only market for us: Saudi Arabia and Oman are part of our expansion plans in the future.”