Latest news with #FutureStage
Zawya
01-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Club escapade the 2025 winner of the ATM start-up Pitch Battle
The live competition took place today on ATM's Future Stage, where Club Escapade outlined its exclusive membership model and weekly drop system which creates demand-driven bookings, offering private, time-limited rates on unoccupied rooms Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Club Escapade has won the 2025 edition of the ATM Start-up Pitch Battle, which was held in association with Intelak, overcoming stiff competition from some of the region's leading travel innovators and disruptors. This year's competition received entries from 40 travel start-ups, including finalists ChatDMC, Penguinpass, SparkleHaze (Woohoo), TravStack, and WROXAI. During the Pitch Battle, Soufiane Alimi, Founder and CEO, outlined how Club Escapade helps hoteliers optimise occupancy during quieter periods while preserving their prestige and brand image. The company offers private, time-limited rates on unoccupied rooms to its Club Members, helping to boost hotel revenues while delivering the ultimate luxury on-demand vacation experience. Alimi said: 'Club Escapade targets luxury hotels looking to optimise occupancy without compromising their brand prestige, as well as UAE residents and locals who crave premium, on-demand staycations but lack the time to travel. We leverage an exclusive membership model and a weekly drop system, creating excitement around luxury staycations. By curating themed experiences and offering private, time-limited rates, we drive consistent, high-value bookings for hoteliers. Our commission-based model and last-minute filling of the empty rooms ensures hotels generate revenue with zero upfront costs.' The competition forms an integral part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, by inviting start-ups with innovative products, services, and technologies. The competition was open to pre-seed and seed series start-ups. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market said: 'Congratulations to Club Escapade, this year's Start-Up Pitch Battle winner. Their success reflects the dynamic shift we're witnessing across the travel and tourism sector, where fresh thinking and agile innovation are increasingly driving industry transformation. The Pitch Battle is more than just a competition – it's a launchpad for ideas that can reshape the future of travel. The calibre of entries this year has been outstanding, and we're excited to see what the next generation of travel pioneers brings to the stage.' As part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, the competition, presented by Sabre, hosted start-ups with innovative products, services, and technologies. The competition was open to pre-seed or seed series start-ups, enabling them to access the resources to take their businesses to the next level. Entries were reviewed by Intelak, a Dubai-based technology and innovation hub dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the travel, tourism and aviation industries, and fellow judges Ismail Issa, Head of AI & Web3, Emirates, and Hassan Qannati, Head of Business Development, Sabre. To further support entrepreneurial growth in travel, all shortlisted start-ups received complimentary pod space in the new Start-Up and Innovation Zone at ATM 2025, enabling them to showcase their solutions and network with industry leaders. The largest edition of ATM to date will close today following four days of impactful industry discussions and unrivalled networking opportunities across the business events, leisure, luxury and corporate travel sectors. Th Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. With over 48,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors, including over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries during last year's show, ATM remains a pivotal gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East's travel and tourism sector, it includes the all-New Business Events @ATM focusing on MICE, Start-Up Competition, influencers' events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. It also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums. About RX RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. About RELX RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are: WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes. Next event: 5 to 7 November 2024 at ExCel London. WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. Next event: 14 to 16 April 2025 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil. WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019. Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
Trade Arabia
29-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
ATM explores food waste reduction to drive circular tourism
As travel companies face a growing array of challenges, from operational inefficiencies to increasing demand for sustainability, food waste has surfaced as an unavoidable issue within the travel and tourism industry. During the 'What a Waste! How to Better Manage Food Waste in Tourism' session on the Future Stage at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, experts highlighted how operational inefficiencies, shifting consumer expectations, and the growing demand for sustainable business practices reshape hospitality management. Delegates learned that two critical areas, food waste and energy generation, offer immediate opportunities for companies to achieve significant environmental and economic benefits. Enas Sobhy Ali, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Tadweer, discussed how hotels can drive food waste initiatives: 'I believe that one of the key challenges that facing in the hospitality industry is the disconnection between operation and impact. As the priority for the hospitality industry is customer satisfaction, this can lead to overproduction and significant food waste from hotels. One of the most effective and simplest ways to address this is to start introducing waste auditing and enhancing the system for recycling bins.' According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, the world wasted an estimated 1.05 billion tonnes of food in the combined retail, food service and household sectors. Out of the total food waste in 2022, 60% happened at the household level, with food services responsible for 28% and retail for 12%, underscoring the urgent need for more efficient and sustainable food waste practices. Speakers highlighted that reducing food waste can drive a circular economy in the hospitality sector. Additionally, new models for sustainable energy generation are assisting operators in lowering their carbon footprints. The session also offered practical solutions for hotel owners, operators, and investors eager to incorporate environmental stewardship into their main business strategies. Dr Amal Albedwawi, Senior Food Safety Specialist, UAE Food Bank, said: 'As the UAE Food Bank, the main challenge we face when it comes to rescuing and recycling food from hotels and hospitality entities is the many different management approaches within the industry. Each hotel operates separately from one another, so we need to explain the merits of recycling food waste to each manager individually. We try to make them understand that we work closely with the Food Safety Department to ensure that the participating hotels will not undertake any risk by participating in our food bank programmes." Reflecting the broader ATM 2025 theme of enhanced connectivity and innovation, the Future Stage continues to host transformative discussions on technology and entrepreneurship. Elsewhere on today's agenda, Cassie Kozyrkov, CEO of Kozyr, delivered an address entitled 'AI Adoption: From Buzzwords to Business Strategy', exploring how travel businesses can successfully leverage artificial intelligence to drive growth and innovation.
Zawya
21-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Sabre sets the pace for travel innovation at ATM 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), a leading global travel technology company, is set to take center stage at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, reaffirming its commitment to transforming the future of travel through intelligent retailing, hyper-personalization, AI-driven innovation, and sustainable practices. With Sabre and its hospitality division, Sabre Hospitality, participating in five high-impact panel sessions, the company will showcase how its technologies are redefining the travel and hospitality landscape—across the region and around the world. As a sponsor of the ATM Future Stage for several years—ATM's hub for travel technology thought leadership—Sabre continues to lead the industry dialogue, hosting key debates and discussions on the transformation of travel retailing, operational efficiency, and the smarter adoption of emerging technologies across airlines, hotels, and travel sellers. 'ATM is a key platform for Sabre to share our vision for a smarter, more connected travel ecosystem,' said Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. 'From AI and automation to personalized offers and seamless servicing, our focus is on helping travel businesses in the region grow stronger, more agile, and be future-ready.' Among the featured sessions is 'Turning Fragmentation into Opportunity for Smarter Retailing,' on Tuesday, April 29 from 15:15–16:00 at the Future Stage. Frank Trampert and Ramzi Al Qassab will be joined by senior leaders from Saudia, Jumeirah, and Almatar to discuss how the industry can overcome technology and content fragmentation. The panel will highlight how collaboration and innovation can turn complexity into opportunity—delivering seamless and connected travel experiences. 'Today's guests are no longer just booking rooms—they're booking experiences,' said Frank Trampert, Global Managing Director, Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality. 'At Sabre Hospitality, we're empowering hoteliers to rethink how they retail, personalize, and engage with travelers across the journey.' Another must-attend session is 'Selling More Than Just a Room: The Impact of Experience on Hoteliers in the Middle East,' taking place on Monday, April 28 from 13:15–14:00 on the Global Stage. Frank will explore how intelligent retailing is enabling hoteliers to move beyond selling rooms by curating personalized, value-added experiences. He will discuss how this approach not only enhances guest satisfaction but also opens new avenues for revenue generation. Also on Wednesday, April 30 from 16:00–17:00, Amy Read, Vice President of Innovation, Sabre Hospitality, will speak on 'Human-Centric Technologies Changing the Face of Travel Tech.' Amy will share how AI—particularly generative AI—is revolutionizing guest interactions. She will spotlight Sabre's SynXis an intelligent automation tool that delivers real-time, personalized guest support while maintaining the essential human touch in hospitality. Sustainability will also take center stage at ATM 2025 for Sabre. Jess Matthias, Senior Director of Sustainability, will speak on two thought-provoking panels. On Tuesday, April 29 from 16:25–17:00, on the Future Stage, she will join 'Reimagining ESG in the Middle East: A Woman's Perspective' to explore the vital role women play in shaping ESG strategies and driving sustainable transformation in the travel sector. Then on Wednesday, April 30 from 12:00–12:40, Future Stage, Jess will participate in 'Smarter Sustainability: The Role of Tech in Sustainable Tourism' to discuss how travel companies can harness technology to achieve environmental goals and operate more sustainably. From sustainability and AI to guest personalization and smarter retailing, Sabre's strong presence at ATM 2025 underscores its role as a technology leader and strategic partner in the evolution of global travel. About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is a leading technology company that takes on the biggest opportunities and solves the most complex challenges in travel. Sabre harnesses speed, scale and insights to build tomorrow's technology today – empowering airlines, hoteliers, agencies and other partners to retail, distribute and fulfill travel worldwide. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, with employees across the world, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries globally. For more information visit Media contact: Fatin Said sabrenews@
Trade Arabia
12-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle invites region's travel innovators
Providing a platform for the regional entrepreneurs who will shape the future of travel, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will host the ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle in association with Intelak during the show's upcoming edition. Taking place on May 1 at ATM's Future Stage, the competition invites startups to present their innovative and industry-changing business pitches in front of an expert panel of judges, including Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director Middle East at Sabre, and Njood Alkhaldi, Innovation Specialist at Intelak Hub. As part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, the competition invites start-ups with innovative products, services, or technologies to take advantage of this unique opportunity. The competition is open to pre-seed or seed series start-ups, enabling them to access the resources to take their businesses to the next level. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: 'ATM's primary mission is to unlock business potential for the travel and tourism industry, and entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly crucial to the sector's future. The ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle has emerged as one of the event's major highlights, showcasing inspiring ideas and the remarkable talent this region has to offer. We look forward to receiving a diverse range of entries for this year's competition.' Last year's winner, InterLnkd, secured the top spot with their innovative approach to monetising travel bookings. The winning start-up for this year's competition will receive dedicated exhibition space at ATM 2026 and marketing and public relations support during the event. The winner will also have an exclusive opportunity to be part of a panel at ATM 2026, enabling them to share their insights with a wider audience and engage in meaningful industry discussions. Start-ups eager to compete for the top prize must submit a brief summary of their business and its mission by Friday, 21 March, via this link. Applications will be reviewed by Intelak, with assistance from Ahmad Alwaly, Senior Robotics Engineer at Emirates and a member of the Technology Innovation Lab. They will choose the most innovative solutions to present live at the event. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by March 31. Intelak is a Dubai-based technology and innovation hub dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the travel, tourism and aviation industries. Backed by leading industry partners, Intelak gives early and late-stage start-ups access to programmes, mentorship and a community of like-minded individuals to launch, grow and scale their start-ups. To further support entrepreneurial growth in travel, all shortlisted start-ups will be highlighted at the show this year. They will receive complimentary pod space in the new Start-Up and Innovation Zone at ATM 2025, located in Za'abeel Hall 3, enabling them to showcase their solutions and network with industry leaders. The ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle is presented by Sabre and will be held from 12.30 to 2 pm on May 1 on ATM's Future Stage. ATM 2025 will take place from April 28 to May 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will focus on the theme: 'Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity'. The event is expected to welcome over 47,000 attendees and will showcase more than 2,600 exhibitors.
Zawya
12-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Final call for entries: ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle seeks the region's top travel innovators
The live competition will take place on ATM's Future Stage on 1 May Start-ups must submit their entries by the final deadline of 21 March Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Providing a platform for the regional entrepreneurs who will shape the future of travel, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will host the ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle in association with Intelak during the show's upcoming edition. Taking place on 1 May at ATM's Future Stage, the competition invites startups to present their innovative and industry-changing business pitches in front of an expert panel of judges, including Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director Middle East at Sabre, and Njood Alkhaldi, Innovation Specialist at Intelak Hub. As part of ATM's commitment to entrepreneurship and connectivity, the competition invites start-ups with innovative products, services, or technologies to take advantage of this unique opportunity. The competition is open to pre-seed or seed series start-ups, enabling them to access the resources to take their businesses to the next level. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market said: 'ATM's primary mission is to unlock business potential for the travel and tourism industry, and entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly crucial to the sector's future. The ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle has emerged as one of the event's major highlights, showcasing inspiring ideas and the remarkable talent this region has to offer. We look forward to receiving a diverse range of entries for this year's competition.' Last year's winner, InterLnkd, secured the top spot with their innovative approach to monetising travel bookings. The winning start-up for this year's competition will receive dedicated exhibition space at ATM 2026 and marketing and public relations support during the event. The winner will also have an exclusive opportunity to be part of a panel at ATM 2026, enabling them to share their insights with a wider audience and engage in meaningful industry discussions. Start-ups eager to compete for the top prize must submit a brief summary of their business and its mission by Friday, 21 March, via this link. Applications will be reviewed by Intelak, with assistance from Ahmad Alwaly, Senior Robotics Engineer at Emirates and a member of the Technology Innovation Lab. They will choose the most innovative solutions to present live at the event. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 31 March. Intelak is a Dubai-based technology and innovation hub dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the travel, tourism and aviation industries. Backed by leading industry partners, Intelak gives early and late-stage start-ups access to programmes, mentorship and a community of like-minded individuals to launch, grow and scale their start-ups. To further support entrepreneurial growth in travel, all shortlisted start-ups will be highlighted at the show this year. They will receive complimentary pod space in the new Start-Up and Innovation Zone at ATM 2025, located in Za'abeel Hall 3, enabling them to showcase their solutions and network with industry leaders. The ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle is presented by Sabre and will be held from 12.30 to 2 pm on 1 May on ATM's Future Stage. ATM 2025 will take place from 28 April to 1 May 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will focus on the theme: 'Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity'. The event is expected to welcome over 47,000 attendees and will showcase more than 2,600 exhibitors. Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2025's strategic partners include Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner; and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner. The latest ATM news stories are available at Register as media here to secure exclusive access to press materials and valuable insights for ATM 2025. -Ends- For more information, log on to Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. With over 48,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors, including over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries during last year's show, ATM remains a pivotal gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East's travel and tourism sector, it includes the all-New Business Events @ATM focusing on MICE, Start-Up Competition, influencers' events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. It also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums. About RX RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit About RELX RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are: WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes. Next event: 5 to 7 November 2024 at ExCel London. WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. Next event: 14 to 16 April 2025 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil. WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019. Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. Media contact: TRINA QUINTANA Account Manager Indigo Icon Tower, Jumeirah Lakes Towers Dubai, United Arab Emirates E-mail: Website:
