Three Selling Travel Connect: Indian Ocean & Middle East events were held at the Caledonian Club in London (October 14), The Old Library in Birmingham (October 15) and Voco in Manchester (October 16).
In total, 130 agents attended for a fantastic mix of supplier meetings, delicious food, networking and giveaways.
Agents won some fantastic prizes ranging from a seven-night stay at RIU Turquoise, a five-night stay at Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, a four-night stay in a Water Villa at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, a three-night stay at JA Lake View Hotel, a three-night stay at Sunrise Attitude and more.
Here are the highlights:
Adaaran Maldives
- Most hotels are all-inclusive, with food, drinks and non-motorised water sports included.
- Guests staying two nights or more can claim two free excursions such as dolphin or sunset cruises.
- Hotels range from entry price to five-star luxury hotels.
Heritance Aarah
- Heritance Aarah offers activities for children, including a creche and kids club.
- There is a PADI Dive Centre for divers who want to venture further afield.
- The Medi Spa specialises in aesthetics, diet & nutrition, wellness, weight loss and nail services.
Attitude Hotels
- Attitude recently become B-Corp certified. Sustainability is a big focus, with the Made in Maurice label recognising localism and sustainability in Mauritius.
- There are plans to expand into Zanzibar next year.
- There are four adult-only properties and four family-friendly properties.
Ajman
- A 30-minute taxi ride from Dubai Airport but a world away, Ajman is the UAE’s hidden gem with world-class activities, untamed landscapes, pristine natural white sand beaches and luxurious resorts,
- Offering more value for money than some of the neighbouring emirates 4 and 5 star resorts come with their own slice of natural, sandy beach and offer a range of board options from room-only to fully all-inclusive.
- The Heritage District is designed to preserve, highlight and promote the rich Arabian culture and history of Ajman and includes Ajman Museum. Housed inside an 18th-century fort and once home to the ruler’s family. now the UAE’s largest heritage museum
- Al Zorah Nature Reserve are perhaps the most unexpected sight in the UAE. The mangroves and wetlands are a haven for wildlife, providing a sanctuary for more than 60 species of bird, including flocks of pink flamingo.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Dhawa Ihuru and Angsana Velavaru
- All three resorts are five-star and completely sustainable.
- Guests can embark on a twin experience to sister islands Banyan Tree and Dhawa. They are located 20 minutes from the airport by speedboat.
- Banyan Tree is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and has been named the Most Sustainable Resort in the Maldives.
- Angsana Velavaru is a 40-minute sea plane transfer from Male.
banyantree.com; dhawa.com; angsana.com
Denis Private Island, Carana Beach and Indian Ocean Lodge
- Denis Private Island Seychelles produces 90% of its food on the island. Wood from trees is also used for carpentry.
- Indian Ocean Lodge, its third property, has reopened on the island of Praslin. The 32-room hotel is four stars.
- Denis Private Island is family-run and independently operated.
Dubai Holding Entertainment
- Dubai Parks and Resorts are offering trade rates for single-day admittance to one or two parks.
- The resort is now home to MOTIONGATE Dubai, LEGOLAND Dubai, LEGOLAND Waterpark and REAL MADRID WORLD.
- The View at the Palm is now offering trade pricing and packages. This ranges from standard admission to lunch and dinner packages.
- There is a Halloween line up from until November 9.
Visit Jordan
- Most people will be familiar with the Jordan Trail which runs north to South, but lesser known is the Wadi Rum Trail which opened up last year.
- This year the Jordan Tourism Board will launch a new community-led website called TravelJordanian.com – it’s a fantastic resource to find local experiences and accommodation.
- This year Royal Jordanian launched flights from London Stansted and Manchester making access from the north easier.
- The capital Amman has a mix of café culture, street art and wine tasting right alongside ancient sites such as the Citadel and Amphitheatre.
Ras Al Khaimah
- 2025 will see the arrival of homegrown UAE brand, Rove Hotels to Ras Al Khaimah, located right on the waterfront in the heart of Al Marjan Island.
- The Westin Ras Al Khaimah set to open doors in 2025. Making its debut in the emirate, The Westin Resort will be a haven for wellness seekers.
- This winter, Ras Al Khaimah transforms into a vibrant hub of cultural, sporting and adventure events. From the region’s largest art festival to international music acts and sporting events like RAK Championship, RAK Half Marathon and HIGHLANDER Adventure.
Rotana
- Rotana’s latest property, Beach Bay Hotel – Mirfa – has opened in Abu Dhabi.
- The new property marks the seventh Edge by Rotana opening since the Edge brand launched in May 2022, with another six hotels in the pipeline across the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa & Turkey) region.
- Complete with a private beach overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the serviced apartment hotel offers a perfect blend of convenience and comfort for business travel, a long-term stay, or a family vacation.
RUI
- RIU has developed an upgrade service in select hotels called Elite Club. Guests can choose to pay a supplement to receive special Elite Club rooms, access to dedicated restaurants & private areas and enjoy an upgraded drinks package.
- The brand operate RIU Party´s in select resorts with a mixture of themed parties for families and adults.
- The new RIU app works as a “remote control from your sunbed!” Guests can check-in via the app up to seven days prior to arrival and once they arrive the app allows them to make dinner reservations, contact the reception team, restock the mini-bar and check out the timings for the days activities.
Sun Siyam Resorts
- Siyam World offers a horse ranch, good karting tracks and football camps.
- Guests can find a US $100 spa credit at Siyam Iru Veli. This can be swapped with three dives a week, a Jet Ski credit or a daily shi sha offering.
- Kids under 15 are free of charge at Siyam Olhuveli.
Sunlife
- Sunlife rebranded two years ago from Sun Resorts.
- The “Come Alive Collection” was introduced as part of the rebrand, offering a series of experiences to radiate the magic of Mauritius, from thrills to relaxation, culture to nature, gastronomy to golf.
- Sunlife offers a Unique Golf Experience in Mauritius; three Golf Courses – four Resorts with access to signature golf courses designed by world-class champions; Île aux Cerfs Golf Club, Anahita Golf Club and Tamarina Golf Club.
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