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    Mohammed bin Rashid approves new futuristic masterplan for Palm Jebel Ali

    Palm Jebel Ali, twice the size of Palm Jumeirah, will mark a major new milestone in Dubai’s growth as a leading global lifestyle destination.
    Mohammed bin Rashid: Dubai will continue to innovate and deliver world-class lifestyle destinations that enhance its status as the globe’s best city to live, work and visit
    “Palm Jebel Ali will further strengthen our urban infrastructure and consolidate the city’s emergence as one of the world’s leading metropolises”
    Ambitious project forms part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan
    With a new growth corridor in the Jebel Ali area, the project supports the objective of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top cities for business and tourismADVERTISEMENTHis Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the new futuristic development masterplan of Palm Jebel Ali. Part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Palm Jebel Ali is one of a series of visionary projects being undertaken by world-leading Dubai-based real estate master developer Nakheel.
    His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, were present during the approval of the masterplan.
    HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said Dubai will continue to innovate and deliver world-class lifestyle destinations that enhance its status as the globe’s best city to live, work and visit. “We have vast ambitions for the future and we are confident that we can transform our grand vision for development into reality. Palm Jebel Ali will further strengthen our urban infrastructure and consolidate the city’s emergence as one of the world’s leading metropolises. This new groundbreaking project reflects our strategic development plan centred on raising the quality of life and happiness of residents.”
    His Highness further said: “Dubai has entered a new phase of development driven by innovation and creativity. By taking advantage of the opportunities arising from the evolving global environment, Dubai’s competitiveness and reputation as a thriving global business and tourism hub continue are set to grow further. We remain committed to shaping a brighter future both for our people and the world.”
    “The urban expansion that Palm Jebel Ali represents is a testament to Dubai’s economic dynamism. It also signifies Dubai’s exceptional outlook as a hub for talent and investment. The project will contribute to Dubai’s sustainable development by opening new avenues for growth in several sectors,” His Highness added.
    Also present during the approval of the new masterplan were His Highness 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; His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council; His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of His Highness The Ruler’s Court of Dubai, Managing Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai and Chairman of Nakheel; as well as members of the Nakheel Board and other dignitaries.
    Palm Jebel Ali will raise the global benchmark in waterfront living and offer an exceptional breadth of luxury lifestyle amenities for residents, families and visitors, supporting the objective of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top cities for business and tourism. The project also marks the beginning of a new growth corridor in the Jebel Ali area, underlining the expansion of the emirate.
    Spanning an area of 13.4 square kilometres and occupying an area twice the size of Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali will feature extensive green spaces and unique waterfront experiences. The project will add approximately 110 kilometres of coastline to Dubai that will provide approximately 35,000 families with unrivalled luxury beachside living.
    Palm Jebel Ali will feature over 80 hotels and resorts, and a wide choice of entertainment and leisure facilities that will contribute to Dubai’s tourism sector, while distinguishing the archipelago as an aspirational residential destination in the city.
    His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Shaibani said: “We are honoured to embark on a pathbreaking journey with the new masterplan of Palm Jebel Ali, which is unprecedented in magnitude and scale. The megaproject is inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and will mark a new milestone in the continued growth of the city.
    “Palm Jebel Ali will capture the spirit, energy and life of Dubai as a thriving, prosperous and sustainable waterfront community and a world class lifestyle destination and secure Dubai’s reputation globally as an innovator in waterfront developments, besides creating exceptional value for investors.”
    In line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Palm Jebel Ali will support the emirate’s vision to deliver the highest standards of urban infrastructure and facilities, increase beach destinations as well as support sustainable development and facilitate the expansion of the population, estimated to reach approximately 5.8 million by 2040.
    Setting a model in contemporary urban planning practices, Palm Jebel Ali will feature mixed-use walkable neighbourhoods, incorporate smart city technologies and sustainability practices, as well as provide a diverse range of mobility options for residents, visitors and communities. This will position Palm Jebel Ali as a global benchmark for waterfront living, as well as contribute to the transformation of the landscape of Dubai.
    Palm Jebel Ali has been designed keeping sustainability in mind, with plans including renewable energy resources being incorporated into its infrastructure design, allowing it to become almost completely self-sufficient in terms of power generation once complete.  As much as 30% of Palm Jebel Ali’s energy requirements will be obtained from renewable sources.

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    CIO Jason Momoa announces ‘Kids Go Free’ on Yas Island this summer

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    CIO Jason Momoa announces ‘Kids Go Free’ on Yas Island this summer

    Jason Momoa’s infectious energy continues to ripple around Yas Island as he shares his excitement in the latest ‘Kids Go Free’ summer campaign. Chief Island Officer Momoa takes matters into his own hands and declares that this summer, all kids can ‘Stay & Play’ for free on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.Following his exciting adventures onboard the world’s fastest rollercoaster and after attempting to become Batman for a day at Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi and honing his drifting skills at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit, Hollywood superstar Momoa never ceases to let out his playful personality wherever he goes, especially when showing fans how to #LiveitUpLikeMomoa with Yas Waterworld’s splash-tastic adventures.
    Yas Island’s Kids Go Free packages offer families a wide array of leisure and entertainment offerings that are made to delight every preference. With Yas Island’s ultimate summer package, guests and little ones can enjoy endless fun where they can stay, play and dine for free all summer long.
    Watch the video here[embedded content]
    Fans can tune to catch the series on Yas Island’s social media pages: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For more information, please visit: https://www.yasisland.com/
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    Turkish Airlines Rises to 8th Position in the Ranking of the Strongest Airline Brands More

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    Napa Winery, Darioush, Celebrates 25 Years as Visionary Leaders

    Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi, proprietors of Darioush in Napa Valley, are thrilled to celebrate the winery’s 25th anniversary. Bridging old world traditions with new world winemaking, Darioush’s portfolio of wines are known for their individualism, ambition, complexity, and gravitas. Since the winery’s inception in 1998, Darioush has set the standard for modern luxury, fine wine, and exceptional hospitality in Napa Valley—now with 120 acres of estate vineyards spanning the Mt. Veeder, Oak Knoll, and Coombsville AVAs.
    A visionary leader from the start, Darioush founded the winery to focus on Bordeaux and Rhone varietals grown in Napa Valley’s southern appellations, understanding early on that these diverse soils and cooler temperatures could bring complexity to the wines. Director of Winemaking, Hope Goldie, a Darioush veteran of nearly 20 years, carries out this vision with a soil-driven focus yielding varietally correct wines with great freshness and composure. Darioush brings these wines to members via elevated hospitality, with warmth, generosity, and service—all deeply ingrained in Darioush and Shahpar’s culture—and a legacy that will continue with the support of their daughter, Sally Khaledi. This commitment was put into practice through its hiring—the winery was early to employ a true in-house concierge to assist members with travel itineraries throughout the wine country and has always had an industry-leading commitment to both education and service Darioush now employs 30 hospitality hosts with WSET Level II and III certifications as well as multiple Diploma level sommeliers to complement their extensive culinary-tasting experiences. Over the last few years, the winery has added a commercial kitchen, an estate garden, and a robust culinary program to its list of on-site offerings and experiences.
    “It has been an incredible journey and a dream come true to build this winery alongside my family,” says proprietor Darioush Khaledi. “We came to the United States in the late 70’s and we remain so grateful for the opportunities we have been given. As we look back at the last 25 years, we are proud to honor and celebrate our team, the legendary vintners who blazed the trail before us, and those who believed in us.”
    As an important fabric of the community and true embodiment of the ‘American dream,’ Darioush Khaledi is a devoted advocate for education, healthcare, and performing arts, and has consistently supported the next generation of leaders in wine country. In 2022, Darioush pledged $100,000 to support the replanting of the Napa Valley College’s Teaching Vineyard. Over the last 25 years, he has played an instrumental role in fostering, building, and funding important community organizations and foundations like OLE Health and Festival Napa Valley, which supports a range of educational and social programs in the community.
    For those who’d like to celebrate this milestone with Darioush, the winery will be hosting a dinner series with dates available from June through September. Prepared by Executive Chef Sean Massey, the menu will feature inventive, seasonal dishes paired with some of the winery’s earliest vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and the estate’s crown jewel, Darius II. To reserve a seat and for more information, please visit www.darioush.com/special-events/estate-dinner-series.ADVERTISEMENT

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    New research reveals the best airline loyalty programmes

    A recent study showed the number of 2022 air passengers increased by roughly 47 per cent compared to the previous year. This is great news for airlines, whose bottom line deteriorated during global lockdowns and pandemic restrictions.
    Many are now upping the ante on their loyalty programmes to attract a wider range of clientele — even those who aren’t regular travellers — and to supply winning, timely experiences that consumers now expect.
    Leading business travel management company Good Travel Management has provided some destination inspiration by ranking global airlines in order of their best customer loyalty schemes.
    To accomplish this, it standardized the latest available data for each loyalty scheme in relevant categories like ‘average monthly Google searches’, ‘points expiry’, ‘lounge reviews’ and ‘minimum leg room’ to rank major airline schemes around the world out of ten.
    The top ten best global airline loyalty schemesADVERTISEMENT
    Of the 59 loyalty schemes analysed MileagePlus with United Airlines is in first position with an overall score of 7.85/10. Despite, its recent price increases on all tickets to Europe, MileagePlus still has a plethora of ways to earn and redeem miles for the best value, of all the airlines studied. It has over 100 million members and is well-known for its lucrative travel credit card offers.
    MileagePlus has the highest positive score for points expiry (10), with points on the scheme having no expiry date.
    It also receives a near perfect score for the number of destinations (9.75) it flies to, which is 342. It has one of the highest scores for legroom as well, with passengers being treated to a generous 75 inches to stretch their legs during a long-haul flight (9.22).
    In second position is Aeroplan with Air Canada (6.53). It regularly offers unique ways for members to earn points, with the company’s latest partnership enabling members to earn points by linking their account with their Uber/Uber Eats account in Canada.
    The Aeroplan loyalty programme also recently had the best showing in its history at the 32nd annual Freddie Awards, as it was named Airline Programme of the Year, and won Best Promotion and Best Redemption Ability.
    In Good Travel Management’s study, it has one of the highest global average monthly Google search volume scores of all the airlines studied (8.18), with over 368,000 monthly searches.
    It also has positive scores for lounge reviews (7) and provides the same generous leg room as MileagePlus. However, it misses out on the top spot due to a low points expiry (0.25) timeframe of only 18 months, and a lower number of destination options (222 in total).
    Completing the top three best programmes is Miles & Smiles with Turkish Airlines (6.23). It has the best lounge review score of the top three airlines (8.57) but loses points because of its limited points expiry of only 36 months. It has significantly less leg room than the top two airlines (6.27), of 60 inches.
    The loyalty programme with the poorest rating is Free Spirit (0.73) with Spirit Airlines. This might not come as a surprise as a recent survey asked which major U.S.-based carriers Americans would avoid flying with. Spirit Airlines had the dubious honour of finishing first with 21 percent of the votes. Spirit was also voted lowest in passenger satisfaction in the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index.
    Free Spirit receives low scores in all categories, with the poorest being 0 for the points expiry category, as they are only valid for 12 months. It also only receives a score of 1.2 out of 5 for its airline Trustpilot score and flies to just 83 destinations.
    Volare (0.86) with ITA Airways and myFrontier (0.88) with Frontier Airlines complete the bottom three.
    Richard Quelch, Group CMO of Good Travel Management commented on the findings:
    “It is positive to see the travel industry starting to recover from the impact of the global pandemic and interesting to observe what airlines are offering to entice more members to join their loyalty schemes.
    “We hope to see lots of exciting innovations and extras added to these programmes in the coming months, which will hopefully make flying even more memorable and pleasurable for travellers, whether they are on a business trip or heading off on vacation.”
    You can see the full findings from the study here.  https://blog.good-travel.co.uk/the-best-airline-loyalty-programmes

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    Sagarmatha Next uses crowdsourcing to remove 10,000 kgs of waste from Mount Everest

    200 tonnes of waste are generated in the Mount Everest region every year. That is why Sagarmatha Next, an experience centre at 3,775 meters on the foot of Mount Everest, is dedicated to raising awareness on the issues through art and design. Sagarmatha Next is now releasing a new film to help raise awareness and support for the important cause of keeping Mount Everest free from waste.
    “We are excited to celebrate our first anniversary and the release of our new film. The film shows how this remote region attracts thousands of visitors and how we must all come together to preserve it for future generations,” said Varun Saraf, Director at Saraf Foundation and founder of Sagarmatha Next. 
    With 80,000 yearly trekkers visiting Sagarmatha National Park, approx. 200 tonnes of solid waste are generated. Given the lack of infrastructure and connectivity, this waste is left behind in the mountains. Sagarmatha Next works with the local NGO SPCC to find innovative ways to remove and upcycle waste from the mountains. Started in 2019, carry me back is a crowdsourced waste removal system, that offers every trekker an opportunity to remove 1 kg of waste from the mountains. The program has successfully removed 10,000 kg with the help of 6,000 participants who have voluntarily carried them out of the national park.
    Powered by DELL Technologies, the high-altitude experience centre Sagarmatha Next has become a must-stop for visitors. Since opening, more than 15,000 visitors have been educated about the challenges in the region and the initiatives to solve them, and enjoyed the interactive digital exhibition and several VR experiences that transports visitors to the highest peaks.
    Sagarmatha Next is excited to announce the release of its new film that showcases the impact of tourism and waste in the region and hopes it inspires further action globally.      ADVERTISEMENT“The entire world comes to Everest, the highest place on earth and this is where the change begins. We wish to spread the message and replicate projects to remove waste to other environment-sensitive regions across the globe,” says Varun Saraf.
    More information about the film can be found here: https://youtu.be/Jgg8P2KGSMU.

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    VIP Aircraft Catering Palatum by Chef Helt Araujo Announces Expansion More

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    VIP Aircraft Catering Palatum by Chef Helt Araujo Announces Expansion

    Today, Palatum by Chef Helt Araujo, an Angolan-based VIP aircraft catering services provider, announced the expansion of its service offering to Europe through the opening of a facility in Lisbon by Q3, 2023.  Palatum is part of Grupo CHA, a renowned chain of fine dining restaurants and a VIP catering supplier based in Angola.“We have been delivering the highest quality ingredients and incomparable standard of gastronomic excellence to our clientele for many years.  Palatum expanded to the VIP aircraft charter market nearly five years ago, and we have since established ourselves as the only provider meeting critical requirements of the top aircraft charter operators in our market,” said Chef Helt Araujo, Managing Director of Grupo CHA.  “We have been very fortunate to work with Bestfly in all the markets it serves and to meet the requirements of their top clients.  We are very pleased to be working with Bestfly as our launch point to establish Palatum Europe.”
    “Bestfly has always looked for the highest level of service from all its suppliers and service providers.  This ensures that we deliver the best VIP charter experience for each one of our clients. Palatum by Chef Helt Araujo has firmly established itself as an ideal partner for this area of our business and we are excited to offer our support for the establishment of Palatum Europe.” said Alcinda Pereira, Vice Chair and Executive Director of Bestfly.
    About BestflyBestfly was established in 2009 as an Angolan company for ground handling services and has since grown into a global aviation group with several new markets and business segments.  The company has expanded its presence from Angola into Aruba, Portugal, Cape Verde, Austria, UAE, Congo, Guyana, and Senegal. Bestfly has assembled a very experienced team to ensure the highest operational standards, organizational efficiency, and commercial agility.
    The group’s current fleet stands at 27 aircraft based on an assortment of Bombardier, Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna Citation business jets, Beechraft Kingair turboprops, Leonardo and Bell helicopters, Embraer commercial jets, and ATR72 turboprop aircraft.  The diverse fleet is optimized to serve key commercial markets and long-term contract customers throughout Europe, Africa, Middle East, and the Caribbean.
    Bestfly recently announced the acquisition of Austria-based MS Aviation, an aircraft asset management company offering end-to-end support solutions for various aircraft types, as part of its broader European expansion strategy.ADVERTISEMENTAs a founding member of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), Bestfly is also a current member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

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    LEGOLAND® NEW YORK RESORT OPENS LEGO® CITY WATER PLAYGROUND! More

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    LEGOLAND® NEW YORK RESORT OPENS LEGO® CITY WATER PLAYGROUND!

    With a typhoon-sized splash bash to ring in the summer in style, LEGOLAND® New York Resort officially unveiled its newest attraction, the highly-anticipated LEGO® City Water Playground, over the holiday weekend! Bedecked head to toe in scuba gear, inflatable tubes, swimmies and pool noodles, hosts Slidin’ Ryan and Matty Splash introduced a brand-new LEGOLAND New York character, Shark Suit Guy, who led the crowd in a massive wave to open the new attraction in a shower of water and bubbles!
    Families can now splash into the season at the hottest place to cool off this summer. After a day riding, driving, climbing, and building under the summer sun, the Water Playground is the perfect oasis for families to cool off, build and race a LEGO® boat, splash on water slides and be doused by a giant 318-gallon water bucket. A nearby changing area allows guests to dry off and continue exploring the Park’s seven LEGO® themed lands and can’t-miss attractions. Water-loving families can splash and play into the evening at the LEGOLAND® Hotel pool, which is also open for the season.
    “We’re as eager as our guests to kick off summer with the debut of our long-awaited LEGO® City Water Playground,” said LEGOLAND New York Resort Divisional Director Stephanie Johnson. “We’ve developed this exciting new attraction in response to direct feedback from our guests asking for a place to cool off, but our Water Playground is so much more. Like all of our attractions, our Water Playground aims to give families interactive, creative opportunities to build, play, splash and learn together.”
    Since opening in 2021, LEGOLAND® New York Resort continues to find ways to surprise, delight, and support every visiting family who walks under the iconic entrance arch. Like its sister North American LEGOLAND Resorts in Florida and California, LEGOLAND New York opened for the 2023 season as a Certified Autism Center, credited by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Every ride has a posted Sensory Guide indicating whether there are bright lights, loud sounds, or any feature that guests might need to plan around. Visitors will notice a posted Sensory Guide at the entrance to the Water Playground, and they can decompress in the nearby quiet room with weighted blankets, dim lighting and tactile toys.
    This year, LEGOLAND New York Resort will treat visitors to new events and bring back signature experiences including:ADVERTISEMENTRed, White, and BOOM! (Summer): This July 4th, Red, White, and BOOM! is back and bigger than ever with five nights of fireworks beginning June 30. Live music is also back with Summer Saturdays in July and August.Brick-or-Treat (Fall): The Monster Party returns! LEGOLAND New York’s biggest Halloween party for kids will run weekends from mid-September through Halloween.Holiday Bricktacular (Winter): Celebrate the season at LEGOLAND New York! Families will have the opportunity to meet LEGO® Santa and enjoy a series of seasonal activities, builds and adventures.LEGOLAND New York Resort takes kids on a journey through seven LEGO themed lands, including Brick Street, Bricktopia, LEGO® NINJAGO® World, LEGO® Castle, LEGO® City, MINILAND and LEGO® Pirates. Built for families with children ages two through 12, can’t-miss highlights of a LEGOLAND New York vacation include transforming into a Minifigure on the world premiere LEGO® Factory Adventure ride, chasing the red wizard out of the castle on the signature Dragon coaster, and mastering the power of the elements with Master Wu on LEGO® NINJAGO® The Ride. For the ultimate multi-day LEGO vacation experience, guests can book a Vacation Package at LEGOLAND® Hotel, just steps from the Park entrance.
    For more information about LEGOLAND New York Resort, visit our website or follow us on Facebook. Advanced reservations are required to visit the LEGO City Water Playground. See more information on our website.

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    Collette Offers Special ‘Memorials of World War II’ Tour to Remember D-Day on 80th Anniversary

    With it being the week of Memorial Day, Collette wants to remind travelers that they’ll be offering a special version of its “Memorials of World War II” tour in 2024 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 courageous Allied troops set out to liberate Europe from the Nazis, storming the beaches in Normandy, France.
    An unforgettable journey of discovery and remembrance awaits travelers as they travel between London, Normandy and Paris on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. They’ll explore London’s connections to World War II during a city tour focused on The Blitz. Cross the English Channel, retracing the parallel journey the Allied troops took on June 6th, 1944. Have a chance to immerse themselves in the history of Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit Saint-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated from the Nazis and learn about the brave paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944.The journey concludes in Paris, the City of Light with a festive dinner cruise along the Seine River. There are plenty of departures remaining for the special edition tour, with dates ranging throughout 2024 from March 17 to October 11. Travelers can secure their spot on the “Memorials of World War II” tour for prices starting at $3,499.
    “Collette’s ‘Memorials of World War II’ tour is special,” said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, chief customer experience officer at Collette. “Throughout 2024, our travelers will have the opportunity to take this journey honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day, traveling along the same paths as the near 160,000 Allied troops who battled for European freedom on June 6, 1944. The visit to Normandy is always an emotional one. It is such a moving experience to set foot on the same sand as so many heroes did that day.”

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