Latest news with #Griffiths
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
DXB remains world's leading airport for global passengers
Dubai International (DXB) has maintained its position as the leading airport in the ACI's 2024 Air Connectivity Ranking for the Asia-Pacific & Middle East (APME). Commenting on the achievement, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, 'Connectivity is the cornerstone of relevance in global aviation, and we are pleased to see Dubai International (DXB) recognised once again as the region's leading hub in ACI's 2024 Air Connectivity Ranking. 'What sets DXB apart is not only the scale of our network, but the consistency and quality of the connections the airport provides.' The airport currently serves more than 265 destinations across six continents, reinforcing its contribution to global trade, tourism, and the creation of sustainable economic opportunities. 'But connectivity at this level only matters if it is delivered with precision. Our strength lies in combining reach with efficiency, ensuring fast, seamless and secure journeys for tens of millions of guests each year,' he added. Griffiths continued, 'This recognition reflects the oneDXB spirit - a shared commitment of our airline partners, the broader airport community and the city of Dubai. Together, we are shaping a model of airport connectivity that is agile, guest-focused and economically significant, not just for the region but for the world.' Dubai International (DXB) has set a new benchmark in global aviation, welcoming 92.3 million guests in 2024 – the highest annual traffic ever recorded in its history. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 89.1 million achieved in 2018 and coincides with a landmark achievement: a decade of DXB leading the Airports Council International's (ACI) list of the world's busiest international airports. This record-breaking performance was driven by sustained growth throughout the year, capped by an extraordinary final quarter that highlighted Dubai's magnetic appeal as a global destination for travel, business, and investment. December emerged as the busiest month of 2024, with 8.2 million guests choosing DXB as their gateway and destination, reaffirming its position as the airport of choice for millions worldwide. Commenting on the achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said, 'Dubai International (DXB) is a global success story that reflects the UAE's ability to transform bold ambitions into reality. Consistently ranked as the world's busiest airport for international passengers, its record annual passenger traffic this year is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence that continues to shape the UAE's progress.' 'Our sustained investment in enhancing the airport's capabilities contributes to our ability to achieve ambitious goals such as the Dubai Economic Agenda D33's targets of becoming one of the world's top five logistics hubs and doubling foreign trade by expanding connections to 400 new cities globally.' Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid commended the teams behind this remarkable success led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. 'Beyond gaining accolades, this achievement reflects our determination to set new global benchmarks. Under Sheikh Ahmed's guidance, Dubai continues to redefine what a world-class airport experience means, inspiring travellers and industries alike.' Sheikh Mohammed further said, 'Our focus goes beyond rankings, we aim to provide exceptional value to the world. In the years ahead, we seek to strengthen Dubai's position as a global bridge between markets and cultures and a hub for connectivity and innovation. The future promises even greater milestones, each a step closer to realising Dubai's bold vision.' Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, 'Crossing the 92 million mark is a monumental achievement for DXB and for Dubai. It reflects the relentless drive, collaboration, and passion of the oneDXB community – our people and partners – who work together to deliver seamless, world-class experiences that leave a lasting impression on every guest. This year's results exceeded our forecast by almost 200,000 in guest numbers, underscoring the strength of DXB's global appeal. Looking ahead, we are confident in reaching the milestone of 100 million annual guests by 2027. Our $35 billion expansion plans for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) will ensure we not only accommodate this growth but also allow Dubai Airports to redefine what it means to travel. This mega-project will give us the opportunity to incorporate the latest thinking in 21st-century airport design, gleaned from delivering the very best service to the more than 700 million customers that have passed through DXB over the last decade. We will ensure that the experience gained from 10 years as the world's largest international airport will make Dubai an even more compelling destination.' WAM
AU Financial Review
3 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
AI transforms customer journeys with personalised experiences
At the coalface of this evolution is Sundeep Parsa, vice president of Adobe Experience Cloud, who has been integrating AI into the firm's suite of marketing and creative applications. 'When we say orchestration, we mean intelligence with some autonomy,' Parsa says. This marks a shift from simple automation to more intelligent, adaptive interactions that enhance every stage of the customer journey. From automation to intelligent marketing AI-powered tools are enabling Australian businesses to significantly enhance customer engagement. Kenny Griffiths, managing director at digital marketing leader Monks APAC, says that AI's transformative power is already reshaping how marketing and creative teams operate. 'One of the big challenges is the fragmentation of tools and use cases,' Griffiths says. 'At Monks, we've now mapped out a full lifecycle of processes, from insights and strategy to creation, adaptation, delivery, and performance.' This approach helps businesses overcome challenges like data validation, compliance, and integrating AI across various touchpoints, areas where AI-powered tools are making a substantial impact. In Griffiths' experience, AI is enabling marketing teams to evolve beyond traditional advertising models. 'Marketing goes beyond just ad campaigns into pretty much anything that produces high-volume, quality data and involves decision-making that has been influenced, including ad spend and segmentation,' he says. 'The impact of AI tools has been incredibly disruptive to marketing departments.' This disruption is evident in the results. For example, Griffiths notes a significant case study where AI-driven content generation led to impressive results for a global fashion retailer: 'We have one public case study of an apparel company (Forever 21) - they recorded a 66 per cent increase in ROI and a 72 per cent uplift in CTR.' Griffiths also touches on the balance between AI and maintaining brand authenticity. 'Authenticity is key,' he says. 'We are still at a stage where all experiences need to be compliant with brand guidelines. Within AI, we can now add compliance checks throughout the production workflow.' Griffiths sees potential for even more transformative applications. 'The future of AI in customer experience is incredibly exciting. We're looking at real-time story generation. If this can be data-driven, there's a real opportunity for brands to create one-to-one conversations.' The evolution of AI-powered solutions has also led to changes in how businesses measure success. Griffiths highlights how AI tools have led to efficiency gains across the board. 'Once you have something in motion, we can scale it, but it takes weeks and months to get something to market,'' he says. 'By introducing a simple chat-style interface, we make it easy for anyone to ask questions. This is how we achieve disintermediation and greater agility.' On balancing automation with human oversight, Griffiths says: 'Ultimately, a human will be required to sign off campaigns, but catching and addressing issues early makes the overall process more efficient.' As AI tools continue to evolve, Griffiths emphasises the importance of understanding customer intent in real-time. 'If you combine conversation intent with behavioural intent, the unlock is massive for brands,' he says, illustrating the potential for brands to predict and meet customer needs before they even express them. Griffiths also notes that privacy and data security will continue to be major challenges for businesses leveraging AI. 'Respecting privacy, consumer privacy, has to be a top priority,' he says. 'With consumers becoming increasingly conscious of how their data is used, organisations must ensure they are transparent in their AI practices, fostering trust and confidence.' Griffiths acknowledges that while the AI revolution is underway, there are still hurdles to overcome. 'Change is hard, and I don't think anybody should say we figured it out,' he says. 'You're still doing the mundane tasks that can slow everything down, but AI will streamline that.' As AI continues to mature, businesses are discovering the power of generative AI to streamline content creation and automate repetitive tasks. 'Once you have something in motion, we can scale it, but it takes weeks and months to get something to market,' Parsa says. 'By introducing a simple chat-style interface, we make it easy for anyone to ask questions. This is how we achieve disintermediation and greater agility.' Anticipating customer needs in real time For organisations seeking to optimise customer journeys, the focus has shifted from simply providing personalised content to understanding and anticipating customer needs in real time. Personalisation has become a critical component of the customer journey, especially in industries like retail, banking, and hospitality. 'Everything needs to be plus hyper-personalised across multiple channels,' Parsa says. 'That's a skill problem in how you actually deliver and execute on the need for personalisation.' As AI tools continue to evolve, businesses are finding new ways to refine these personalised interactions, ensuring they meet individual customer needs more effectively. However, with these advancements come new challenges, particularly around privacy, data security, and ethical AI use. 'Respecting privacy, consumer privacy, has to be a top priority,' says Parsa. With consumers becoming increasingly conscious of how their data is used, organisations must ensure they are transparent in their AI practices, fostering trust and confidence in the technologies driving customer interactions. As AI allows businesses to gather and analyse vast amounts of data, brands are better positioned to anticipate customer preferences and provide more relevant recommendations. 'You know exactly which hotels I prefer. Just give me the answer,' Parsa says, illustrating the power of AI-driven personalisation. Customers expect relevant and timely interactions, and AI enables brands to meet those demands, offering customised solutions without overwhelming the customer with choices. This shift towards AI-powered customer engagement is not just about automating processes but also about enhancing creativity. With AI taking over repetitive tasks, human teams can focus on strategic, value-added activities. 'Most of the upfront planning is informed by all of the engagement data history that's locked up in our applications,' Parsa says. By using AI to analyse customer behaviour and preferences, businesses can gain real-time insights, allowing them to make faster decisions and improve the overall customer experience. As AI continues to mature, the potential for AI-driven personalisation to transform customer journeys is enormous. The ability to integrate AI into every touchpoint along the journey - from initial interaction to final conversion - will help businesses stay competitive and deliver greater value to customers. This transformation is already underway in Australia, with local businesses leading the charge in adopting AI to optimise their customer journeys. From automating content creation to predicting customer preferences, AI is allowing Australian companies to deliver more personalised, relevant experiences than ever before. The next step will be ensuring that these innovations are used responsibly, with a focus on transparency, privacy, and ethical AI practices. The future of AI in customer engagement is bright, and the potential for businesses to create truly seamless, personalised journeys is enormous. As Parsa says: 'If you combine that conversation intent with behavioural intent, the unlock is massive for brands.' AI is no longer just a tool for automation - it is a key driver of business growth, enabling companies to create customer experiences that are as intelligent as they are personalised.
Hi Dubai
3 days ago
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai International Tops ACI Air Connectivity Rankings for 2024
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again secured the top spot in the Airports Council International's (ACI) 2024 Air Connectivity Ranking for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, reaffirming its status as a global aviation leader. The ranking reflects DXB's expansive reach, with the airport currently connecting passengers to over 265 destinations across six continents. This global network continues to play a key role in facilitating international trade, tourism, and economic growth. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, hailed the recognition as a testament to the airport's strategic importance. 'Connectivity is the cornerstone of relevance in global aviation,' he said. 'What sets DXB apart is not only the scale of our network, but the consistency and quality of the connections the airport provides.' Griffiths emphasized that DXB's success goes beyond numbers, highlighting its operational efficiency. 'Our strength lies in combining reach with efficiency, ensuring fast, seamless and secure journeys for tens of millions of guests each year,' he added. The accolade also highlights the collective effort behind the airport's performance. Griffiths credited the 'oneDXB spirit' — a unified commitment from airline partners, airport staff, and the broader Dubai community — for shaping a model of connectivity that is agile, guest-centric, and globally impactful. As international travel rebounds and global mobility continues to evolve, DXB's consistent top ranking signals Dubai's continued influence in shaping the future of aviation. News Source: Emirates News Agency
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Casualty star to join Emmerdale for dog attack storyline
Griffiths will play the role of tenant farmer Celia on Emmerdale, making her debut in June. She will be involved in a storyline that will see fellow character Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt, taken to hospital following a dog attack. Griffiths has already starred in various other TV shows, including Death In Paradise (DI Karen Flitcroft), Silent Witness (Janet Mander) and The Bill (DI Sally Johnson). The 61-year-old has also appeared in BBC soaps EastEnders (Helen Stritch), Casualty, Holby City (Elle Gardner) and Doctors (Elizabeth Croft). Top 10 best British TV series Jaye Griffiths to join Emmerdale as part of dog attack storyline Griffiths will play the role of tenant farmer Celia on Emmerdale, a neighbour of Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb). Celia is renting from Kim Tate, played by Claire King, and her arrival could spark a rivalry with the established farming families of Barton's and Sugden's, Emmerdale teased. Jaye Griffiths has appeared on several TV shows throughout her career, including Death in Paradise (DI Karen Flitcroft), EastEnders (Helen Stritch), Doctors (Elizabeth Croft) and Casualty (Elle Gardner). (Image: BBC) The new character is said to have a "bad reputation" and will be seen on screen for the first time in June, where she calls on Moira to ask if she can rent two of her fields.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Emmerdale's Paddy Kirk to be victim of dog attack as new character introduced
Griffiths, who has starred in crime shows Death In Paradise and Silent Witness as well as BBC soaps Casualty and Doctors, will play tenant farmer Celia, a neighbour of Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb), in the Yorkshire-set drama.
