Travel agencies made payments worth at least $236 Billion to airlines in 2017 alone, according to IATA. Yet, today’s approach to making such payments remains costly and complex. It’s against that backdrop that Amadeus, Elavon and Mastercard have partnered to deliver an innovative payments approach that benefits both travel agents and airlines. The Amadeus business-to-business Wallet Partner Pay solution is already reducing the cost and complexity of receiving and making payments for Thai Airways and Select Travel, a travel agency based in Sweden, as part of an on-going trial. When the agency initiates a payment on a Thai Airways booking…
Author: holidayweekly
FAISALABAD: Travel agents association of Pakistan (TAAP) leader Hafiz Shafiq Kashif has said that arrangements have been made to send Umrah Zaireen next year from the month of Moharram as in groups. The purpose of this is to give Umrah zaireen best services and arrangements and to train them by Islamic teachings. After returning from Saudi Arabia Shafiq said that the Pakistan will prepare such people who not only change themselves but also the society after hajj and umrah. He said Islamic training of Aazmeen hajj and umrah is the first priority, for that purpose we will use all the…
LAHORE: A committee headed by Punjab Governor Ch. Muhammad Sarwar to promote religious tourism and national heritage has given approval to the annual celebrations according to the master plan on the 550th birth-anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. A conference of the committee to promote religious tourism and national heritage was held at Governor House with the governor in chair. Punjab Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht apprised the committee about the unhindered delivery of funds for the payments of acquired Land in Kartarpur and for promotion of religious tourism including preservation of national heritage. The committee advised the completion of…
SYDNEY: Light installations are beginning to be finalised throughout the Harbour City in preparation for the upcoming launch of Vivid Sydney, the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the southern Hemisphere. With just one week until Lights On – on Friday, May 24th, artists and event staff are working on the transport and final assembly of the 50 or so light features and projections. New South Wales minister for tourism, Stuart Ayres, said it was the perfect time for visitors to start planning their Vivid Sydney itineraries. “Anticipation is building for the eleventh annual Vivid Sydney and now…
PARIS: Paris has offered Ubeeqo the management of 850 on-street parking spaces with the aim of creating a new Mobilib service. These new spaces will enable Ubeeqo to expand its fleet of self-service vehicles, enhancing mobility for Parisians. They will feature vehicles of all categories, with a large proportion of electric and hybrid cars. As a result, Ubeeqo will be providing a total of nearly 1,100 vehicles by the end of 2019, thereby consolidating its leadership position in the French capital. Active in Paris since 2015, Ubeeqo has achieved ever-growing success since the introduction of its service. To meet the…
MADINAH: Marriott International has announced the opening of Marriott Executive Apartments Madinah, marking the brand’s debut in the holy city. The re-branded property is the third Marriott Executive Apartments in Saudi Arabia and appeals to the rapidly growing demand for an extended stay both with business as well as leisure travellers. “Our growth and focus on Saudi Arabia is aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020 to support the country’s growing tourism and hospitality sectors. Religious tourism plays a key role as the government plans to attract 30 million pilgrims by 2030. Marriott Executive Apartments…
LAS VEGAS: The 26th Las Vegas International Tourism Safety and Security Conference in 27 years was concluded last week. Next year a whole new concept of tourism security conferences is in the making. The new face in 2020 will reflect the changing times as tourism security continues to be an issue around the world. The weekly riots in Paris and the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka demonstrate once again just how sensitive the tourism and travel industries are to the needs of security and safety (S&S). Professionals in S&S debate these issues with a great deal of emotion not…
SHARJAH: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier, has announced plans to launch a direct flight from Sharjah to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, starting from July 4. The new flight will operate four times a week; on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flights depart Sharjah International Airport at 21:30 hours local time arriving at Manas International Airport in Bishkek at 03:20 hours local time. The return flights depart Manas International Airport in Bishkek at 04:20 hours arriving in Sharjah at 06:40hours local time. Adel Al Ali, group chief executive officer, Air Arabia, said: “Ensuring affordable…
COLOMBO: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has called on the global community to offer support to Sri Lanka through tourism at this critical time. In a video message posted at Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Official Facebook page, UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili offering condolences to the victims of the Easter Sunday suicide attacks on churches and star class hotels in the island said continued support through tourism can help the island nation to recover from the devastation. “I call on the global community to offer its unwavering support to Sri Lanka at this critical moment. The country’s…
GWADAR: Hashoo Group hosted a special Iftar dinner at Zaver Pearl-Continental Hotel Gwadar on Wednesday, 15 May evening to honour the five men martyred last Saturday and to thank the brave servicemen who took part in the successful operation to stop the assailants and secure the hotel before more catastrophic damage could be done. Several senior leaders of Hashoo Group joined the hotel manager and staff to thank the police and members of the armed forces and break their fasts together. Hashoo Group also announced that the five-star hotel is now open and ready to welcome guests once again. The…