More than $23 billion worth of hotel construction contracts are scheduled to be awarded in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) between now and 2023, the third annual AHIC Hotel Investment Forecast revealed.

According to research conducted by regional project tracking service, MEED Projects, in Q4 2019, the hotel development sector will be most active in Oman, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia, making these the markets to watch in 2020.

Ed James, director of content and analysis at MEED Projects, said:"...

Travellers from across the globe representing all generations now have a common interest in activities and experiences that are now influencing, indeed in many cases driving their travel decisions, according to new research from Expedia Group Media Solutions.

The research underscores the notion that cultural and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, exploring new destinations and interactive activities, are ranked by all generations significantly higher than value or a discounted price.

Arabian Travel"...

Damascus, SANA_ Syria has embraced throughout the ages many schools that formed scientific and cultural edifices that enriched the Arab and Islamic heritage.

These schools were one of the enlightenment centers in the Middle East for those who seeks knowledge and higher education.

Damascus contains most of the ancient Syrian schools, most of which dating back to the Ayyubid"...

Hoteliers in Abu Dhabi enjoyed a 'sensational' year in 2019 as tourism numbers climbed on the back of a series of high-profile events, according to hospitality consultancy STR.

Revenue per available room (RevPar), a standard industry measure to gauge a hotel's performance, increased by 7.2 per cent in Abu Dhabi to Dh321 in 2019, as occupancy levels grew 2.3 per cent to 73.4 per cent. Average daily room rates charged also jumped by 4.8"...

The Hegra Conference of Nobel Laureates was officially launched today in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The conference takes place from 30 January - 1 February, bringing together 18 Nobel Laureates of Peace, Economics, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine alongside distinguished social and political leaders from 32 different countries, to discuss and offer solutions to improve the state of humanity and the world. It is hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and The Royal Commission of AlUla Governor His"...

In line with the UAE Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, Millennium Hotels and Resorts and Johnson Controls announced a Technology Alliance to drive energy savings and operational cost reduction applying latest energy efficiency product technology and digitalization concepts.

Kevork Deldelian, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Johnson Controls on sustainable energy"...

Lattakia, SANA_ The archaeological excavations in the region of Jableh discovered mass burials carved in rocks, funerary monuments and many finds and historical buildings dating back to different historical eras that highlight the importance of this region and its historical and cultural role.

Head of Department of Antiquities of Jableh, Masoud Badawi, told SANA recently that the excavations carried out last year in the northern side of the village"...

Requests for assistance for airline passengers with intellectual disabilities have seen an increase of 342 per cent in Middle East and Africa, following a 10-month long campaign to raise awareness of a dedicated Special Service Request (SSR) booking code by travel technology company, Travelport.

SSR codes are used in the airline industry to communicate traveller preferences or needs to airlines. They are delivered through standardised four-letter codes defined by the International Air Transport Association (Iata)."...