I've been to Disney World more times than I can count, and I always stay on the property. I love the convenience of being in the Disney bubble for the whole trip.
08.05.2024 - 08:11 / breakingtravelnews.com / Burj Al-Arab / Ras Al-Khaimah / Jumeirah Al-Naseem / Graham Cooke / Mina Al-Arab
World Travel Awards – the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in travel and tourism – has revealed its Middle East 2024 winners. The announcement coincides with the start of Arabian Travel Market, the region’s leading industry event.
Notable winners included Saadiyat Island named ‘Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination’, with Abu Dhabi voted ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination’. Dubai claimed ‘Middle East’s Leading Destination’ and Doha declared ‘Middle East’s Leading City Destination’. Saudi Arabia’s tourism ascendancy was recognised with wins as ‘Middle East’s Leading Heritage Destination’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Cultural Destination’, with AlUla named ‘Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project’. Bahrain was voted ‘Middle East’s Leading Wedding Destination’.
In the fiercely-contested hospitality sector, Jumeirah Al Naseem won the coveted title of ‘Middle East’s Leading Hotel’. The enduring popularity of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah was acknowledged with victory as ‘Middle East’s Leading All-Suite Hotel’. Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach took ‘Middle East’s Leading Luxury Resort’, with The Royal Mansion @ Atlantis The Royal stepping up to collect ‘Middle East’s Leading Hotel Suite’.
Brand winners included Jumeirah (‘Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand’); Address Hotels + Resorts (‘Middle East’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Brand’); and The Ascott Limited (‘Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’).
In the newcomer categories, Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay won ‘Middle East’s Leading New Hotel’ and Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort claimed ‘Middle East’s Leading New Resort’.
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Aviation winners included Qatar Airways claiming the coveted title of ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline’. Etihad Airways took ‘Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’, while Emirates secured ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline – First Class’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Brand’ and Middle East’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme’ for Skywards.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “Our winners represent the very best of the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. They are all playing starring roles in leading the region to even greater heights.”
Lumi Rental is the leading mobility provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a key partner of World Travel Awards. Through cutting-edge technology and personalised services, Lumi brings new energy and dynamism to transportation.
Azfar Shakeel, CEO, Lumi Rental says: “Lumi Rental is proud to be a key sponsor of the World Travel Awards, an esteemed platform that celebrates excellence in the travel and tourism industry.
I've been to Disney World more times than I can count, and I always stay on the property. I love the convenience of being in the Disney bubble for the whole trip.
Train travel will never be the same again: in an Australian first, Vivid Sydney today announced Tekno Train by Paul Mac, a one-of-a-kind event that will transform a Sydney Trains service into a moving, sensory sound and light experience for 23 nights only. Exclusive to Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, and in collaboration with Sydney Trains, Tekno Train by Paul Mac is set to radically reinvent the experience of train travel as a thrilling musical adventure for a limited time only.
World Spa Awards – the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in the spa and wellness sector – has opened voting for its landmark 10th annual programme. A wealth of new entries feature this year, reflecting the momentum of the global spa and wellness sector. Voting runs for 12 weeks and closes 13 August. Industry professionals, the media and spa consumers are eligible to vote for the brands they consider the very best in spa and wellness.
Disney World is expensive, and it doesn't seem like a trip to the parks will be cheaper anytime soon.
The Q1 2024 report from Lodging Econometrics shows a notable rise in the Middle East’s hotel construction pipeline, with a 5% increase in projects year-over-year. The region now boasts 612 projects totaling 144,222 rooms, reflecting robust growth in the hospitality sector.
The first Club Med in the Gulf States.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts drives growth in the Middle East with new openings, midscale market focus, and sustainability initiatives, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
It might be whisky (with no ‘e’) when referring to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits, but when it comes to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States – it’s whiskey (with an ‘e’). Regardless of how it’s spelled, today, Saturday 18 May the world will unite to celebrate World Whisky Day - the annual day celebrating whisky, inviting everyone to try a dram and celebrate the water of life, but do you know the history of whiskey in Illinois? Kentucky and Tennessee might be the states that come to mind when thinking of whiskey in the United States however, Illinois and more specifically Peoria, located along the Illinois River160 miles southwest of Chicago, was known as ‘The Whiskey Capital of the World.’
Disney World is famously busy around the holidays and spring break, which can make it difficult to find a hotel room on the property.
Following fruitful discussions with Senior Executives of Emirates Airline, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says plans are underway to include Jamaica as one of the hubs for the airline in the Caribbean. Emirates Airline, based in Dubai, is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines that connects its customers to a network of over 150 destinations.
Discussions are underway to strengthen the relationship between Jamaica and Saudia Holidays, the official tour operator of Saudia Airlines that operates flights to over 100 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett lead the discussions on Tuesday with his Senior Tourism team and head of Saudia Holidays, Omar Kwarjah. “Getting an arrangement in place with Saudia Holidays is critical to enabling us to promote the destination and fill airline seats through the multiple code sharing partnerships available.
Couples can easily spend $4,000 (or more) on a weeklong trip to Disney World, but my husband and I have found a few ways to save money.