Latest news with #JohnBevan
Khaleej Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
From Coldplay to the Swifties: Why UAE is becoming a global hotspot for music tourism
A new wave of travel is sweeping across the UAE, driven not by beaches or luxury shopping, but by booming concert tourism. The region, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is becoming a magnet for global music lovers who are now booking trips specifically to attend mega concerts and festivals. This was revealed at this year's Arabian Travel Market which is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 'I think the biggest one that we see making a big difference here in the region has been 'concerts',' said John Bevan, CEO of Dnata Travel Group, noting the dramatic impact of live music on tourism. 'We're going to see festivals moving into this part of the world, especially Dubai…and I think it's generating that reason (not only) to travel, reason to travel back.' Post-pandemic recovery and aggressive entertainment programming have elevated the UAE's status as a destination not just to visit once, but to return to repeatedly. 'Dubai is super popular. Nowadays, who hasn't been here at least once?' added Bevan. Travel experts emphasised Abu Dhabi has already seen the impact, with global acts like Coldplay drawing in international fans, while the so-called 'Swifties phenomenon', a reference to Taylor Swift's devoted fanbase, has underscored the rise of travel tied exclusively to concerts. 'People now will literally book a concert, go somewhere, and then stay on a few nights.' Yet, it's not just music. Formula 1 in the Capital continues to be a massive draw. 'That's been happening for a while…the F1 in Abu Dhabi. With the recent takeover by the Americans (artists), they've built the popularity, added fun, and it's bigger than ever.' Bevan said, describing a growing trend where leisure and live entertainment are blending seamlessly into longer, more meaningful travel experiences. Challenges However, this explosive demand doesn't come without its hurdles. 'The challenge with that is the real peak in demand. The bigger the event, the bigger the challenge,' he acknowledged. Yet, the UAE's infrastructure is proving up to the task. 'What's very impressive about this part of the world – it handles that really well. So, when we look at events happening in Abu Dhabi, it spills over here to Dubai very easily.' While current transport options still rely primarily on cars, industry observers are optimistic. 'Transport links are simple, still by car, not by train yet,' the expert noted. 'So, I think the challenges will be around if they really do put on -- as we see more of these events happening-- how do we plan that, and how do we celebrate?' Other industry heads also concurred that concerts and global sporting events are reshaping travel behaviour in the UAE, along with 'digital nomads' flocking to countries like the UAE, Mexico, and Portugal, where relaxed visa policies make long-term stays easier and more appealing. In light of this momentum, they pointed out the focus on responsive infrastructure becomes essential. 'Flexible supply that can support both the actual accommodation and the affordability of the accommodation during mega events is critical, especially when there's a supply squeeze and the region is in a growth mode. Keeping on top of demand with supply that can expand quite quickly is important. We see a lot of strength in this region with Gen Z travellers and with families for events. That's a microtrend," Amani O'Neill, Senior Public Policy Manager Middle East at Airbnb, tourism professionals underlined that keeping pace with demand through quickly scalable supply is key. However, they reiterated there remains a need to move beyond iconic landmarks and major city hubs to address dispersal, ensuring tourism and development spread more evenly across lesser-known areas. Rise in 'Home' segment A rising microtrend within the tourism industry is the growing preference for the 'Home' segment -- accommodation options like vacation rentals, homestays, and short-term apartments. Foud Talaat, Regional Manager said, 'Home' is an important segment, still smaller compared to the rest of the segments, but it's outpacing the other segments in terms of growth. This is because consumers are looking for something different, maybe specific amenities, more spacious rooms, or even going and staying at a place that is less tourist like compared to the other hotels.' Slow travel As modern travel evolves, luxury train travel is emerging as significant lifestyle choices, not just fleeting trend. Gen X and Millennials, in particular, are seeking more meaningful, slower-paced journeys that blend work and leisure. Experts highlighted that experiential train travel is making a strong comeback, offering both scenic routes and immersive stopovers that drive spending and satisfaction. Leila Serhan, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) said, 'Global train travel is on a rise, and if we look at the different ways people travel, it's probably the fastest growing, at 59 per cent in terms of spend. This 'slow travel' ethos reflects a desire for deeper cultural experiences, wellness, and a break from the burnout cycle.'
The National
29-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Gulf states look to collaboration over rivalry to boost visitor numbers
Easing visa restrictions and flight access has allowed countries in the Gulf to market the region as one destination rather than several states competing with each other, tourism experts have said. They were speaking on the first day of Arabian Travel Market, which is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre this week. 'We are absolutely seeing a rise in multi-GCC trips, particularly as the region becomes more interconnected through easier flight access, smoother visa processes and a growing number of world-class attractions across borders,' John Bevan, chief executive of dnata Travel Group, told The National. 'Travellers today are no longer just visiting one Gulf country, they're building multi-stop itineraries, combining the futuristic experiences of Dubai with the cultural heritage of Oman and Bahrain, or the mega-projects in Saudi Arabia.' Greater collaboration is key to sustaining that momentum, he added. This includes initiatives such as the GCC unified tourist visa and GCC grand tours visa scheme, which was expected to be launched early this year but has faced delays. The region would also benefit from co-ordinated marketing campaigns and improved transport links, Mr Bevan said. 'Travel operators also have an important role to play by curating seamless, multi-country packages that highlight the diversity of the region," he said. "By offering travellers easy access to cross-border experiences, we can help unlock the full potential of the Gulf as a connected, multifaceted destination.' Earlier in the day, Mr Bevan referred to that as the 'multi-centre affect', as part of a panel discussion on the mega and micro-trends reshaping the travel industry in the Middle East. The more activity happening in one country can benefit another, he said. 'It creates a reason [for tourists] to move to another country in the area," he said. "The more that happens here, the more diversity and reasons to come, and that will create longer stays.' Carlos Cendra Cruz, a partner at travel and tourism data intelligence company Mabrian, said its insights show the Gulf had 'significant strategic opportunities as it develops into a major global tourism destination'. 'Our data insights indicate that continued investment in infrastructure, collaboration across sectors, and particularly neighbouring countries, in planning, specialisation, product development and promotion, will enable the GCC to achieve its tourism goals and generate long-term value and stay attuned to changing traveller preferences and destination development dynamics," he told The National. One of the biggest challenges to this is cost and accessibility. There is an urgent need for Gulf states to introduce more midscale properties. 'To achieve sustained growth, overall satisfaction with accommodation is essential for increasing leisure arrivals and encouraging longer stays," he said. "This guest satisfaction must extend beyond the luxury segment, particularly in upper midscale and upscale hotels. If the guest experience does not meet international standards, it may discourage travellers from considering GCC destinations as viable long-stay holiday options.' According to Mabrian's Tourist Product Satisfaction Index, the Gulf average is lower than competing tourist destinations including Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the Seychelles. 'The good news is that all GCC destinations are showing an upward trend in this index, indicating they are on the right path and should continue to build on this progress in the months and years ahead," Mr Cruz said. Bleisure travel – the trend of combining business trips with leisure – is also a key driver for Gulf tourism. 'Travellers to GCC destinations display a distinct behavioural pattern that sets them apart from other markets: business travellers consistently record longer average stays than leisure visitors,' Mr Cruz said. 'This trend, observed over the past two years, suggests that these destinations are successfully capitalising on the bleisure opportunity among international travellers.' Jack Thomas Taylor, a museum curator in Doha, has seen this in action. The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar this month co-hosted the Gulf's first International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art, alongside NYU Abu Dhabi. Almost 100 delegates from the global museum industry travelled to Doha for the annual congress, which then took them to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, where they spent time at Art Dubai and the Sharjah Biennale. 'Some extended their stay and had a couple more days in the UAE,' said Mr Taylor, who also often travels in the region for work. 'Each country has a competitive advantage; they all have a unique selling point, but they could work together more for people to travel around,' he added. 'But we also have to be realistic. If we have this transient, fast-paced travel, they won't get a true feel of the countries. It's also expensive for people to travel around here.' Aleix Rodriguez Brunsoms, director of strategy at Skift Advisory, part of global travel resource Skift, which publishes its annual megatrends report, said live tourism was also driving growth in the region. Traditional sightseeing is being replaced by the idea of 'experiential travel', where people book trips around major events such as music concerts and sports. 'Our own data shows 62 per cent of travellers book their vacation around a specific event,' he said at a panel discussion at ATM. 'In Abu Dhabi, during the Coldplay concert, the city was buzzing, hotels and restaurants were full. Live tourism can increase hotel [average daily rate] from 300 to 500 per cent during peak events … and the Middle East is becoming a stage for the world's biggest moments.' The challenge is in transitioning the high value of events into long-term visitor loyalty and driving higher brand equity, he added. Mr Bevan said that was where tourism operators could make the biggest difference. 'I think we'll see a lot more of that – and festivals moving into this part of the world, especially Dubai," he said. "It gives people more reasons to travel back.'
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dnata Travel Group showcases its world-class range of travel products at ATM
Dubai, UAE: dnata Travel Group, a division of leading global air and travel services provider dnata, returns to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 - the region's premier travel and tourism trade event - with an expanded presence and a refreshed stand design. This year, the group will spotlight the latest updates to its distinctive UAE-based products and services, designed to inspire and attract travellers from across the globe. A key highlight for the Group this year is The Fort – Lisaili, a newly launched desert entertainment destination in Dubai. Operated by destination management company and tour provider Arabian Adventures, the immersive venue offers a variety of experiences set against an iconic backdrop of a desert fort. At ATM 2025, a scaled-down replica of The Fort will be on display at dnata's stand, giving visitors a unique 'taste of the desert' from the Dubai World Trade Centre. Located just 45 minutes from the event venue, Arabian Adventures is also inviting attendees to experience The Fort in person while in the city. Making their ATM debut with their dedicated spaces at the dnata Travel Group stand are Destination Asia, a leading destination management company specialising in bespoke travel experiences across East and Southern Asia, as well as dnata Representation Services - Land, which offers tailored sales, marketing, PR, infrastructure, and call centre solutions to some of the world's most prominent travel brands. Other dnata Travel Group brands at ATM this year include airport hospitality services provider marhaba, leisure accommodation wholesale specialist Yalago, digital B2B attractions marketplace priohub, and travel consolidator Gold Medal. Representatives from across the wider dnata Group will also be on hand throughout the event to meet industry partners and customers. John Bevan, CEO, dnata Travel Group commented: 'ATM Dubai is an opportunity for us to spotlight the innovation and ambition driving our UAE-based travel brands. With strong growth in both inbound and outbound travel, we're seeing travellers seek out deeper, more personalised experiences, and our offerings are built to meet that demand. From the heart of the desert to the heart of Asia, our goal is to enhance every step of the journey - before, during, and beyond the trip itself." Representatives from the dnata Travel Group will also share insights and experiences in the following conference sessions during the event this year: John Bevan, CEO, dnata Travel Group , speaking on a panel at the ATM Future Stage on ' Beyond 2025: The Microtrends Redefining Travel ' (28th April); and , speaking on a panel at the ATM Future Stage on ' ' (28th April); and Sébastien Doussin, Senior Vice President – Global Travel Services & Destination Management, dnata Travel Group, speaking at the ATM Business Events Stage, on 'The Big-Ticket Events: Global Impact and Learnings ' (30th April).
Zawya
30-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Amal Mohammed Ahmed promoted to lead dnata Travel Group's global operations from the UAE amidst plans for growth
Dubai, UAE: dnata Travel Group, a leading global travel services provider, announced the promotion of Amal Mohammed Ahmed to Divisional Vice President – Global Operations, to support ambitious plans for regional and international growth from its UAE headquarters. In her enhanced role, Amal will lead the dnata Travel Group's Operations function as a centre of excellence, driving automation and simplification of manual processes, and continued innovations in customer service. Amal manages a team of more than 2,000 travel professionals located across dnata's Global Contact Centres in the UAE, UK, Serbia, Philippines, and India. Its teams provide customer service support to millions of travellers worldwide for the dnata Travel Group, and third-party companies including global airlines. Amal will continue to be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and report to John Bevan, CEO of the dnata Travel Group. John Bevan commented: 'Amal has been instrumental in the growth of dnata's Global Contact Centres, supporting an increasing number of travel businesses across the world in providing 24/7, multi-channel and multi-lingual support solutions to millions of travellers. We are redefining our operating model to bring our brands together under new lines of business to drive their global strategy across geographic locations. We are delighted that Amal will support the Operations function, providing essential customer support solutions for our businesses – and others across the travel industry.' An Emirati national and highly experienced in customer service, Amal has been part of the Emirates Group for more than 20 years. In her most recent role, Amal was responsible for leading the delivery of dnata's Global Contact Centre solutions, as Vice President – Global Shared Services. Her previous positions included Vice President – HR Shared Services for the Emirates Group, while educational accolades include an MBA with Distinction in Aviation Management from Coventry University, UK. In the past three years, Amal and her teams have grown the international footprint and number of clients for dnata's Global Contact Centres, with plans for future expansion. In her enhanced role, Amal will support with growth plans for other verticals of the business as they seek to grow their customer base, with innovative customer service solutions across booking and reservations, sales and after sales, contract loading, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, project management, business intelligence, and more. The dnata Travel Group represents the travel division of dnata, one of the world's largest air and travel services providers. Part of the Emirates Group, the group's history is rooted in Dubai and the growth of its pioneering travel industry, evolving to comprise more than 15 leading international travel brands with coverage across the world. Its global businesses cover all aspects of the travel industry from local travel agencies to global travel consolidators, corporate travel, sports travel, destination management and attractions, airline representation services, and more. Find out more about the dnata Travel Group and its range of global travel businesses, headquartered in the UAE and with a growing presence across the world, at
