Selling Travel Connect: Indian Ocean and Middle East events were held in Bristol, Chester and Leeds during May. A total of 140 travel agents attended.
39 were at the first event at Ashton Gate Stadium on May 13. A day later, 45 agents were present at The Grosvenor Hotel Chester. 56 attended the event at the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds.
Here’s an overview of the key points made by the suppliers present:
Adaaran Resorts
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo is a premium all-inclusive (PAI), adults-only escape, 15 minutes from Malé. It is romance-focused with private overwater villas offering plunge pools, spa treatments, sandbank dining, stargazing and sunset excursions. It has three restaurants, one of which is fine-dining, and two bars.
Adaaran Select Meedhupparu is a family-friendly resort in Raa Atoll, a lush, mature island. It has a house reef, a kids club and offers stargazing, snorkelling under the jetty and immersive 24-hour PAI dining with four restaurants, four bars and a café. The exclusive water villa wing has a private restaurant and is adults-only. Along with the properties above and below, it’s ideal for weddings and vow renewals.
Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi has laid-back, natural charm. It is 30 minutes from Malé and offers 24-hour PAI in three restaurants and four bars. It’s an ideal destination for people looking to participate in water sports, unwind in the spa and stargaze. Lohis offers world-class surfing.
Adaaran Club Rannalhi is an accessible all-inclusive retreat with one main restaurant and two bars near Malé. It is ideal for thrill seekers, couples, groups and adventure enthusiasts. Guests can participate in island hopping, dolphin viewing and beach activities or enjoy bare-foot relaxation.
Address Beach Resort
Address Beach Resort is one of the most iconic properties in Jumeirah Beach Residence. The breathtaking beachfront property features two 77-story towers connected by a sky bridge and has incredible views the Arabian Gulf, Bluewaters Island, and the magnificent Ain Dubai from all the world class guest rooms.
The property boasts direct beach access and some of the finest F&B outlets including Li’Brasil and the outdoor oasis, Zeta Seventy Seven. It also features the Guinness World Record ‘Highest outdoor infinity pool in a building in the world’, and unparalleled facilities from a state-of-the-art gym to the award-winning The Spa at Address. The superb property is the pinnacle of luxury in the heart of Dubai.
Cara Hotel Marketing
Angsana Velavaru is in the idyllic South Nilandhe Atoll. An oasis of tranquillity, this desert-island resort has undergone an extensive refurbishment, offering guests an enhanced level of luxury in authentic Maldivian surroundings. The main pool and decking area overlooking the ocean and the resort has one of the best-preserved house reefs in the Maldives, with over 30 dive spots.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is a five-star barefoot luxury resort on its own tiny island in the North Male Atoll that is well-known for its popular wreck diving sites and award-winning spa led by the Banyan Tree Spa Academy. It’s an eco-luxury property with a focus on sustainability.
Dhawa Ihuru is a tropical Maldivian paradise on one of the most picturesque islands in the Indian Ocean. With palm-fringed beaches, clear waters and one of the best-preserved house reefs in the Maldives, with its own shipwreck, this all-inclusive resort is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving.
Barut Hotels
The four Barut Collection hotels and two villa collections offer a luxurious ultra-inclusive concept with unlimited access to several exceptional a la carte restaurants and an extensive choice of leisure activities and entertainment.
The Barut Hotels app enables guests to tap into everything they need to know and reserve spa treatments and a la carte restaurants. Entertainment schedules are updated daily and guests have direct access to the customer relations team.
The Anda Barut Collection opened in May last year and offers three distinct zones: adult, community and family in a spectacular beachfront location. Ten pools are available and ultra all-inclusive is standard.
Several Olympic medallists participated in Anda Barut Collection’s Wellness Week which offered a timetable of activities including gymnastics, running and yoga.
Emaar Hospitality Group
Emaar Hospitality Group have a strong footprint in Dubai. The group owns and manages a portfolio of hospitality assets including Address Hotels + Resorts, a premium luxury hotel and residences brand. Vida Hotels and Resorts; an upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand. And Rove Hotels are our midscale brand perfect for families and urban travellers.
Emaar also own and operate popular attractions in Dubai and entertainment experiences which include:
- The Burj Khalifa – The world’s tallest building.
- The Dubai Fountain – World’s largest choreographed fountain system, located at the base of Burj Khalifa.
- Downtown Dubai – A flagship mega-development that includes Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, hotels and more.
emaarhospitality.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/
Hilton Seychelles
Redefining barefoot elegance, the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island is an ultra-luxury, eco-conscious resort that opened in 2023. With 50 secluded villas and six signature dining concepts it has a private airstrip and a turtle conservation programme.
Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels and Resorts is positioned as an intimate and expressive home-style escape. The recently introduced Wild Spirit culinary journeys feature wine pairings and collaborations with local artisans such as Seyramics.
The first Canopy resort in Africa, Canopy by Hilton Seychelles brings a vibrant energy to Mahé with an urban-inspired beach resort feel. Guests can now enjoy Tiger Bite, an Asian-fusion restaurant and curated cultural experiences at Sega Bar.
Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa is an all-villa, adults-only hideaway. It is enhancing wellness offerings, including cliffside yoga, and offers sunset dining at Wave.
In a national park on Silhouette Island, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa offers a ‘jungle-to-ocean’ adventure. It has new guided nature experiences and a spotlight on local Creole culinary traditions.
JA Resorts
JA Ocean View has a summer offer of a dine-around all-inclusive and kids up to 14 staying free up. Ideal for sundowners, its new Oia restaurant – on the pool deck – serves Greek food and has views of Blue Water Island. The new Il Motto pizzeria serves pizzas and Italian dishes.
JA Manafaru’s foraging lunch with the executive chef involves selecting ingredients, cooking from scratch and dining in the garden. There’s also a Maldivian cooking class.
JA The Resort, JA Palm Tree Court, JA Lake View Hotel and JA Beach Hotel’s summer offer includes an upgrade from full-board to al-inclusive.
A state-of-the-art sports complex is planned at JA The Resort with facilities for football, and cricket, indoor jogging and cycling tracks and a premium indoor shooting range.
Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is running a summer campaign to convey the emirate’s 7,000-year history and spread the word about its varied landscapes, which range from rugged mountains suited to outdoor activities to pristine beaches and sand dunes.
The emirate’s three-, four- and five-star hotels are ideal for family summer holidays. There’s a ‘Kids Go Free’ offer at hotels.
Ras Al Khaimah will operate a Guess Where campaign from 15 June to 15 September, 2025. Visuals will highlight unique offerings and highlights within the emirate.
Access Ras Al Khaimah’s training site online. Agents who complete the course by 30 June have the opportunity to win one of two four-night stays, on a bed and breakfast basis, in Ras Al Khaimah.
Rotana Hotels and Resorts
Rotana operates 79 hotels throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye, welcoming over six million guests annually. The company has six brands, including 32 international properties and three upcoming hotels in the UAE.
Rotana has announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with Global Hotel Alliance. The GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme expands guest loyalty benefits across six hotel brands in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye. Integration is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.
Rotana Rewards Select members will transition to the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme, unlocking access to an extensive global portfolio of nearly 950 hotels in 100 countries. This move enhances the guest experience through benefits such as earning and spending DISCOVERY Dollars at any GHA DISCOVERY property.
Members will enjoy immediate rewards from their first stay, alongside VIP privileges, such as room upgrades, flexible check-in and check-out, exclusive services, complimentary Wi-Fi and local offers, which grant member-only access to hotel facilities even without an overnight stay.
Sunlife
Sunlife focused on its Come Alive experiences and new spa concept GLOW during the Selling Travel Connect: Indian Ocean and Middle East events.
GLOW is described as “an entire universe anchored in natural products crafted in Mauritius, available in the hotels’ spas”. The concept is a fresh, purpose-filled take on wellness, drawing its energy from the sun, inspired by the brilliance and vitality that define Mauritius and is a nod to travellers who seek a sense of renewal. GLOW represents what truly matters to Sunlife, where wellness is a guiding principle.
Participating in crazy croquet or the L’Atelier des Sens perfume-making workshop are among the options at Sugar Beach. At La Pirogue Sega Zumba gets people moving. At Long Beach, which has a bio-diversity trail, local talent performs at Transforming the Piazza, where local handicrafts and artworks are offered for sale.
Sun Siyam Resorts
Sun Siyam Olhuveli opened the longest swimming pool in the Maldives in March. Ocean-facing, it is 210 metres long. The resort’s Beach Pavilion and Sunset Beach pavilions also underwent complete refurbishment.
Beach pavilions start from £250 on a bed and breakfast basis and £438 per night on an all-inclusive basis. They sleep up to two adults and one child. Children (up to 15 years old) stay and eat for free on the same board basis as adults sharing the pavilion or villa.
Meanwhile, Siyam World was recognised among Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards Top Ten Hotels in the World. It was the only resort in the Maldives included.
Travelpack
Travelpack continues to see strong growth across the Indian Ocean and Middle East, with high-performing destinations including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Dubai. It has expanded product offerings and improved booking tools to help agents sell these regions more effectively.
The newly revamped Travelpack website includes enhanced hotel search, multi-centre functionality and Viator integration, allowing agents to easily add excursions and experiences in-destination, from desert safaris in Dubai to island-hopping in the Maldives.
The company has also broadened its selection of Indian Ocean and Middle East packages, including family-friendly, adult-only and luxury options for 2025 and 2026 departures.
Visit Dubai
Visit Dubai, the official tourism body of Dubai, helps audiences discover what Dubai has to offer by showcasing the city’s diverse offerings, rich culture, incredible attractions and experiences.
In the UK, the Visit Dubai team works with agents to spread excitement and knowledge about the destination.
Visit Oman
Online training about things to do and see in Oman is available via the Oman Tourism Hub.
Read about Oman’s tourism offerings on the Oman Hub on the Selling Travel website.
Prize-winning travel agents
Travel agents attending Selling Travel Connect events have opportunities to drop their business cards and enter prize draws with fabulous prizes.
The winners in Bristol were Nicola Meah, Charlee Lane, John Wilson, Tracey Adams-Gill, Tim Potter, Steve Jones, Debbie Applegate and Charlotte Hingston.
The cards selected in Chester were those of Stephanie Byrne, Mary Dillon, Heidi Phillips, Suzanne Hodgson, Amelia Stalker, Emily Lythe, Craig O’Brien and Lynne Woodward.
In Leeds, the winners were Carli Holden, Aimi Donohue, Mollie Atkinson, Yusuf Seedat, Diane Argent, Jayne Lomax, Ania Briggs, Rachel Brake, Rebecca Harvey, Bettina Mawson and Gillian Polyhos.
Selling Travel Connect
See the Selling Travel Connect Calendar to find out about planned events and to register. The next event has Luxury as its theme and will be in Newcastle upon Tyne on June 19.
We look forward to seeing you at a Selling Travel Connect event soon.
Bristol winners
Chester winners
Leeds winners
