Saudi: Diriyah Company signs strategic travel trade deal with GoZahid
Saudi Arabia - Diriyah Company has signed a travel trade agreement with Saudi travel brand GoZahid to further enhance Diriyah as a global cultural and tourism destination.
The announcement comes as Diriyah Company participates in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) trade show in Dubai until 1 May 2025, featuring GoZahid as a trade partner. GoZahid is joined alongside other major trade partners at Diriyah Company's booth including Athaar Arabia, Abercrombie & Kent, 88 Destinations, Tetrapylon, and Bonjour Saudi.
The collaboration will build on its existing success as a destination that has already attracted over three million visits since opening its UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif and Bujairi Terrace dining precinct in December 2022 and opening its first hotel – the 134-room Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in December last year.
Under the agreement, Diriyah Company and GoZahid will collaborate to promote Diriyah, The City of Earth, to inbound cultural travelers. Their partnership will focus on enhancing destination marketing, training tour operators, hosting destination workshops, and developing training manuals for tour guides.
Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: 'We are delighted to have signed a travel trade agreement with GoZahid, a long-established and internationally recognized travel house in the Kingdom. Our collaboration will help ensure that travellers have an unforgettable cultural experience visiting The City of Earth as we continue to develop one of the world's gathering places with centuries of history at its core.'
Daniel Ponzo, Group Managing Director at the Zahid Travel Group, said: 'We are incredibly proud to partner with Diriyah Company to bring the story of Diriyah to life for travellers from around the world. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to cultural authenticity, exceptional service, and meaningful travel experiences. Together, we look forward to welcoming the world to this extraordinary destination and supporting its continued rise as a global icon.'
Diriyah Company's travel partner agreements aim to position Diriyah, The City of Earth, as an emerging must-visit destination on the global tourism map, leveraging the expertise of world-class, specialized partners.
With plans to develop many of the world's leading global hotel brands, the Royal Diriyah Opera House, and the 20,000 seat multi-purpose Diriyah Arena, among many other tourism assets, Diriyah, situated on the outskirts of the capital city of Riyadh, is set to become one of the greatest gathering places in the world. -TradeArabia News Service
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Broadcast Pro
9 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
Sony Music Middle East partners with LuxuryKSA to champion Saudi music talent
The move comes amid significant industry momentum in the MENA region, which recorded a 22.8% rise in recorded music revenues in 2024, according to the IFPI Global Music Report 2025. Sony Music Middle East has announced a strategic alliance with Saudi-based entertainment company LuxuryKSA, aimed at nurturing and promoting Saudi Arabian music talent. The partnership strengthens Sony Music's regional presence and aligns with its long-term vision to grow Khaliji pop artists across the Middle East and on the global stage. The announcement comes amid a boom in the region's music industry. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has emerged as the fastest-growing music market globally for the second time in three years, registering a 22.8% increase in recorded music revenues in 2024, according to the IFPI Global Music Report 2025. LuxuryKSA, headquartered in Riyadh, has carved a strong reputation in the local industry, developing artists like Ayed Youssef and Sultan Al Murshed for mainstream success. Ayed, who has garnered more than 500m views across digital platforms and received the 'Favorite Artist' award at the Joy Awards in both 2024 and 2025, recently topped the IFPI MENA charts with his single Tala'et Abeh. He currently has seven tracks charting in Saudi Arabia's IFPI listings. Sultan, another rising star discovered and nurtured by LuxuryKSA, has also made a mark in just three years, with several hit releases and his 2025 album entering the IFPI charts. Commenting on the collaboration, HRH Prince Khaled Bin Mansour Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of LuxuryKSA, said: 'Partnering with Sony Music isn't just a milestone; it's a powerful evolution for an already vibrant Saudi music scene. As a leading force in the market, we are dedicated to amplifying our exceptional local artists who reflect our rich heritage. Together, we will elevate their voices on regional and global stages and redefine the future of entertainment.' Shridhar Subramaniam, President for Asia and Middle East, Sony Music, added: 'The Middle East is a priority market for us, with Saudi Arabia at the centre of a cultural and creative transformation. Our partnership with LuxuryKSA is part of a broader strategy to deepen our roots in the region, champion local voices, and support sustained artist development. As the music industry in MENA continues to grow at pace, we are committed to working with partners to shape its future and bring the richness of the region's music to a global audience.' Rami Mohsen, Managing Director for Middle East, Sony Music, stated: 'LuxuryKSA is renowned for nurturing Saudi talent and positioning them on a regional and global scale. Through this partnership, we're working on building a talent incubator with LuxuryKSA in Saudi Arabia, designed to nurture and develop the next generation of stars. With artists' creativity our utmost priority, this partnership strengthens our local presence in Saudi Arabia and expands opportunities for our artists in a culturally rich and diverse region.' Ayed Youssef commented: 'I'm thrilled about this partnership with Sony Music and LuxuryKSA! It's an amazing chance to bring Khaliji pop to new fans everywhere. I can't wait to share my music and connect with people while staying true to my roots.'


Tourism Breaking News
15 hours ago
- Tourism Breaking News
Emirates forges interline partnership with Bahamasair to facilitate connectivity to The Bahamas
Post Views: 46 Emirates and Bahamasair have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an interline partnership benefitting customers travelling to The Bahamas. The partnership enables Emirates to expand its reach in the Caribbean, allowing customers to utilise the services of The Bahamas' national flag carrier from Florida to one of three destinations on the island country. Under the unilateral agreement, customers traveling on Emirates to Miami or Orlando will be able to connect to Bahamasair flights to Nassau, Freeport or San Salvador, with the added convenience of booking itineraries with both airlines on a single ticket. Additionally, Emirates' customers will enjoy generous baggage allowance when flying on Bahamasair to the three destinations. Commenting on the new interline partnership, Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: 'We are pleased to establish an interline partnership with Bahamasair to expand our reach to new and exciting destinations and offer travel options for our customers planning journeys to the Caribbean nation. The interline partnership offers customers the convenience of connecting in Florida for travel onwards to points across the islands of The Bahamas, while enjoying competitive fare pricing, the convenience of booking the entire journey on a single ticket and a generous baggage policy.' 'This partnership also supports our agreement with The Bahamas' Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the Caribbean destination across our network.' As part of the MoU, both carriers will also explore opportunities to enhance their cargo interline cooperation and potential partnerships under their frequent flyer programmes. Bahamasair Managing Director, Tracy Cooper said: 'This partnership significantly elevates Bahamasair's global profile and opens access to invaluable expertise and new markets. By aligning with one of the world's most respected airlines, we strengthen our capabilities and lay the groundwork for sustained international growth.' Florida gateways, Miami and Orlando, are amongst the 12 U.S. destinations that the world's largest international airline currently flies. Emirates serves Miami with daily flights with its Boeing 777, along with five-weekly services to Orlando, connecting travellers across its expansive network of over 140 destinations. On the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market, Emirates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote tourism to the Caribbean nation in a partnership aimed at further developing the country's tourism and trade industries.


Campaign ME
16 hours ago
- Campaign ME
Brand building needs more than just algorithms
Why have so many brands abandoned the dream phase of communications planning? For too long, brands have been chasing short-term wins, obsessing over conversions and putting brand building in the back seat. According to a survey by Ebiquity and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), 42 per cent of global advertisers plan to increase their share of performance marketing in 2025, up from 21 per cent in 2024. In contrast, only 24 per cent intend to increase their share of branding efforts. This shift is driven by the need for immediate results and the growth of retail media and connected TV. It is understandable. The lower funnel means numbers I can show in a boardroom full of big questions. I wish I could count the times I've heard, 'they're easy to measure', 'they're quick to optimise' or 'they build momentum'. Do you mean the illusion of momentum? Because real momentum means real growth. Real growth never comes from tactical wins alone. For decades, what has been – and most likely always will be – real growth comes from building brands that inspire, connect and endure. Take destinations, for example. They exist in people's imaginations for a long time before they watch a 'Top 10 Things To Do' video or visit People form a relationship with a destination long before they even get there, through billboards, videos, influencers and even films and TV shows. There's a deep connection that's forged through powerful storytelling and immersive brand presence over time. It's through emotional resonance that withstands the clutter of flash sale banners or retargeted ads and comes out on top. Why? Because a destination isn't just a place you're trying to sell; it's a feeling you're unlocking. Feelings aren't bought with performance metrics alone. They can, however, be earned through brand building. This isn't to say brand and performance are opposing forces. In fact, it's often overlooked that they are partners – and when they work together, innovation can thrive. Put simply, a brand builds desire; performance captures it. Having one without the other is like trying to ride a bicycle on one wheel – it's not impossible, it just won't get you there optimally. This is particularly important, given that we have entered a new media reality. To inspire and to derive action are no longer conveniently sitting in separate stages of the funnel. Look at today's audiences: they expect to be moved and motivated, often in the same scroll. Content needs to inspire and convert in one experience. Those who have crafted that balance are leading the way. In the past few years, Visit Saudi has done an excellent job of building a brand, a dream, a destination – and they've done this at speed. They have a clear vision statement: 'To inspire pride by sharing Saudi with the world, captivating their hearts, minds and imaginations.' In my opinion, they've delivered on that ambition. It's noticeable through their immersive content and unique messaging that have built a strong narrative. This transformed the tourism landscape and turned travellers' heads towards Saudi, creating the type of consideration that has taken other destinations an entire generation to build. It's evident when you look at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism data. Even with Covid pausing travel for two years, Saudi still saw 44.06 million inbound visitors in 2022 and 2023. This is a testimony to the 'bothism' that we see in industry commentary, and indeed to the large body of evidence that speaks to both long- and short-term investments. Companies that continue to invest in brand – especially during challenging times – are the ones that will bounce back faster, stronger and with greater loyalty from consumers who already feel emotionally connected. Without a strong presence to anchor the strategy, the funnel eventually dries up, and no amount of retargeting will save a brand people have forgotten – or never cared about in the first place. Many brands such as adidas, Uber and Airbnb have jumped back on the brand-building wagon and have reaped the rewards. These are brands that continue to build not just awareness, but advocacy. Not just bookings, but belief; not just visits, but lifelong memories. There are no shortcuts in this journey. To get to their destination in the best conditions, brands need to marry the performance focus in the lower funnel with activating the dream state in the upper funnel. Ephemeral sales may come from algorithms, but durable brand appeal is built on emotion. Brands need both to thrive sustainably. By Sara Daher, Executive Director, PHD Media