Organisations & Operators,

USA Basketball has announced an agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
Under the terms of the deal, the United States will host three games in Abu Dhabi featuring the men’s national teams from the United States, Germany and Greece.
The USA Basketball Showcase Abu Dhabi represents USA Basketball’s first men’s national team activity in the United Arab Emirates.
In preparation for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, the United States men’s national team will host Greece and Germany on August 18th and 20th, respectively.
Germany and Greece are set to play on August 19th.
“USA Basketball is thrilled to work with DCT Abu Dhabi to bring the USA Basketball Showcase to Abu Dhabi.
“This is the first time our Men’s national team will play in the UAE and we’re excited to engage with fans from across the globe, while also offering our players and coaches memorable on- and off-court experiences,” said Jim Tooley, chief executive of USA Basketball. ADVERTISEMENT“We are grateful to the national federations of Greece and Germany for their participation as we prepare for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, arguably the toughest international tournament in basketball.”
Tickets will go on sale this spring, but fans can register for updates by clicking here. 
Saleh Al Geziry, director general of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “It’s set to be an unforgettable summer in Abu Dhabi and it’s an honour to host the first USA Basketball Showcase in the UAE.
“We look forward to welcoming players and fans from the USA, Germany and Greece, to cheer on their national teams and to discover a wide range of experiences in Abu Dhabi that inspire, excite and restore.”
Additional USA Basketball Showcase details, including team rosters, broadcast information and training camp dates, will be announced later.
More Information
The United States officially qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup last month.
One of seven teams set to represent FIBA Americas in the 32-team field, the USA will play all its games in Manila as the tournament is set for August 25th to September 10th, in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.
The World Cup draw is set for April 29th, in Manila.
For more information, click here.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of the culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.
Find out more on the official website.

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Experience Abu Dhabi will be revealing its new summer offer at ITB Berlin this week, showcasing to the world that one summer is not enough to visit the destination and its abundance of activities that can be enjoyed.
A summer in Abu Dhabi is like no other.
Whether looking for experiences that inspire, excite or restore, there is something for everyone to enjoy, at their own pace.
Travellers can get inspired by the rich culture and heritage scene across 23 locations including the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn and the presidential palace of Qasr Al Watan.
Alternatively, those looking for adventure, can reach new heights at one of 14 theme parks including Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. ADVERTISEMENTCouples can also escape to a private and secluded desert island retreat of Nurai Island, just 15 minutes away by boat, or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime meal at one of the recently awarded Michelin star restaurants.
An exciting calendar of events will make this an unforgettable summer, including the return of Monster Jam – offering motorsport fans an adrenaline-charged weekend in May, unrivalled family fun at Paw Patrol Live, as well as an exhilarating concert by rock legends, Guns N’ Roses in June, and Yas Gaming Festival in July.
A variety of promotions and offers will also be available across the city so travellers can make new memories and enjoy endless summer fun.
The unveiling of the summer offer marks the first step to launch the best of summer in Abu Dhabi this year.
New offers will be rolled out this month, with unbeatable promotions to offer amazing value when booking stays to Abu Dhabi this summer.
Travellers will be able to make the most of their summer holiday to Abu Dhabi with an exclusive, limited time deal of ‘stay more, pay less’ for trips booked between four to seven nights. Valid from May 1st to September 30th, and available to book from tomorrow, travellers can opt for a getaway that’s nestled in the city, select a gorgeous resort surrounded by turquoise waters, or book a family escape for the kids to enjoy at amazing value.
At the stand, attendees will be able to immerse themselves in Abu Dhabi’s intangible heritage and culture.
Here guests can learn about Emirati craftsmanship and the art of henna in the cultural zone or have their favourite art piece from Louvre Abu Dhabi printed in the Saadiyat Island zone.
“One summer isn’t enough to discover the countless memorable and enriching experiences that can be enjoyed in Abu Dhabi.
“Whether you’re looking for a thrilling summer adventure, to be moved by culture or for some family fun, Abu Dhabi has it all,” said Abdulla Yousuf, director of international operations, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
“We look forward to meeting with esteemed industry professionals at ITB to share the variety of activities that are on offer in Abu Dhabi this summer and beyond.” 
There will be a daily competition held at the stand where special prizes can be won. Head to stand 200 during the show to find out more.
More Information
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of the culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.
Find out more on the official website or head over to Hall 2.2/200 at ITB Berlin 2023.

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Encounters with pandas, family reunions and magic dolls all feature in Manchester Airport’s new ’Little Book of Travel Tales’.Including stories written by children who have flown through the airport in recent times, the free book has been launched to celebrate World Book Day, and the airport has printed 5,000 copies which will be handed out to children travelling through over Easter, as well as to pupils visiting the AeroZone education centre.
MAG – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – put out a call for submissions last year and received hundreds of entries, which were whittled down to winners from nine schools;
• Didsbury C of E Primary School, Stockport
• New Moston Primary School, Manchester
• Queensgate Primary School, StockportADVERTISEMENT• Ringway Primary School, Wythenshawe
• Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Wythenshawe
• Stockport Home Education Community, Stockport
• St Paul’s C of E Primary School. Manchester
• Grewelthorpe C of E Primary School, Ripon, North Yorkshire
• Westoe Crown Primary School, South Shields
One of the selected stories tells the tale of a panda-obsessed girl called Emily, who wins a competition to travel to China and see her favourite animal in the wild.
Another recounts the adventures of a mischievous toy doll called Dolly, who escapes the suitcase she has been packed into whilst in the hold of a plane and befriends a teddy, before finding – and eating – a whole box full of crisps.
Poems submitted include an entry from nine-year-old Noah about the various jobs at the airport, and another by 7-year-old Milose about seeing a plane in the night sky and wondering about where it might be travelling to.
The book also contains puzzles, wordsearches and a range of other fun activities to keep youngsters occupied whilst they wait for their flights.
Manchester Airport’s Head of Education, Skills and Employment, Marcella M’Rabety, said: “We were blown away by the quality and variety of entries we received for the ‘Little Book of Travel Tales’ and are very grateful to participating schools and their pupils.
“Literacy is a vital skill and World Book Day plays an important part in encouraging children to discover the joy of reading and writing. We were keen to support World Book Day through our education programme and tapping into youngsters’ enthusiasm for travel and adventure felt like a natural fit.
“I know the pupils involved all had a great deal of fun writing the stories and poems, and I hope our passengers get just as much enjoyment from reading them.”
The ‘Little Book of Travel Tales’ is part of a wider programme of education and school outreach work that Manchester Airport is engaged in. AeroZone, an on-site educational centre, was opened last year by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. It provides a mix of teaching space and interactive zones, including a mocked-up plane cabin with real seats and a cockpit, complete with flight simulator. It is available for school trip bookings for primary school pupils across the North.
Meanwhile, the MAG Connect Airport Academy provides dedicated support to the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups, offering free training courses and skills workshops in partnership with Trafford College, making over 4,000 job referrals last year.
To find out more visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk/education.

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Last September, the For The Neighbors Of Budapest Airport Foundation, with the support of Budapest Airport, launched the largest ever noise protection program which offers the most noise abatement solutions for residents, to a value of 1.2 billion HUF over three years. The aim of the program is to reduce noise burdens for people living near Ferenc Liszt International Airport, by retrofitting or replacing windows and balcony doors in the bedrooms and living rooms of the properties, and the installation of a ventilator in the bedrooms. In the second phase, starting on 1 March, property owners in districts X, XVII and XVIII, as well as in Vecsés and Üllő, will be able to benefit from the free or the cost-sharing opportunity. For more information on the program, which will be implemented in four phases and involves 4000 properties, please visit zajvedelem.bud.hu, where those who own properties in the designated area can apply quickly and easily.
The For The Neighbors of Budapest Airport Foundation launched the largest ever, extended public noise protection program with the support of the airport operator in September 2022, with the first phase of the program being completed at the end of February 2023. In the first phase, 20% of property owners on average took advantage of the opportunities offered. Since the first phase was implemented in areas where the scheme was already available (but with extended services), it is expected that the second, third and fourth phases will see a much higher rate of application, as this is the first time that these property owners will be able to participate in the program.This means that from the second phase onwards, property owners in new areas of districts X, XVII, XVIII, Vecsés and Üllő will be able to benefit from free retrofit window insulation or window replacement, the insulation of roller shutter casings, the installation of a ventilator and window replacement with cost sharing.
Budapest Airport informed the affected homeowners about the details of the program and the application procedure by mail, but more information is also available at zajvedelem.bud.hu. Interested parties can apply for the program by post or electronically, and the website also provides answers to frequently asked questions. The scheme is open to all property owners who have a property in the designated area and who meet the eligibility criteria.
Services available as part of the program:
Retrofit window insulation:ADVERTISEMENTFor bedrooms and living rooms, an extra 6 mm of glass on the inside of the opening part of the window can be requested free of charge, which can reduce external noise by up to 10 decibels.Window replacement:
For windows older than 10 years, window replacement can be requested free of charge in bedrooms and in other rooms (living room, living room with American style kitchen), it is available on a cost-sharing basis.Insulation of roller shutter casings:
For windows where the shutter is located directly above the window in a casing, the soundproofing of the shutter is also available free of charge.Ventilator:
A soundproof, wall-mounted device that allows fresh air to enter the bedroom from outside, even with the window is closed, is also available free of charge for bedrooms, to ensure a good night’s sleep
In order to ensure that the program and the newly included settlement areas are tailored to the needs of residents, Budapest Airport initiated a detailed consultation with the mayors of the districts and settlements concerned at the beginning of 2022. Following several rounds of discussions, the 1.2 billion HUF program was finalized by June 2022, and is implemented over three years, starting from 1 September 2022.
Ferenc Liszt International Airport has been developing the area together with the surrounding districts and settlements for years, and Budapest Airport pays special attention to the quality of life of the people living in the area. Furthermore, a year and a half ago, the company started to insulate or replace windows in several school and kindergarten buildings located in the noise protection zone, selecting the institutions together with the municipalities concerned. In the framework of this, doors and windows in several buildings of the Gyula Czimra Primary School in District XVII and some parts of the Antal Grassalkovich Primary School in Vecsés were renewed.
“Budapest Airport is developing together with the surrounding settlements and districts, and pays special attention to improving the quality of life for nearby residents,” said Chris Dinsdale, the CEO of Budapest Airport. He added: “We are confident that all affected residents will find the best solution for them in our noise protection program. We encourage everyone who owns property in the affected areas to participate in the program, as the For The Neighbors Of Budapest Airport Foundation can ensure with the services offered that noise burdens for residential buildings are minimized and thus, peaceful rest for residents.”

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A new sport climbing attraction will open in Changi Airport as part of Changi Airport Group (CAG)’s continuous effort to enhance the experience for passengers and visitors.[email protected], managed by The Rock School (TRS) Singapore, will be located at Terminal 3 Basement 3. It will feature an 8-metre-high rock-climbing wall as well as a 12-metre-long boulder wall. The family-friendly facility will have both guided and free-and-easy programmes for climbers of varying skill levels, from as young as two years of age to adult enthusiasts.
Ms Phau Hui Hoon, General Manager of Landside Concessions at CAG said, “At Changi Airport, we’re constantly looking for ways to delight our visitors and inject excitement into our offerings. [email protected] is the latest addition to Changi Airport’s suite of leisure and entertainment offerings and will offer a fun and challenging experience to our passengers and visitors. We hope both new and experienced climbers will enjoy scaling new heights with us.”
Mr Chong Zedong, Managing Director of The Rock School, said, “The Rock School is excited to partner CAG in this initiative because we believe that with our 15 years of experience, [email protected], as a family-friendly facility, will be able to add to Changi Airport’s value-proposition of being a world-class icon and destination in itself.”
State-of-the-art climbing facilities
[email protected]’s star attraction is the 8-metre High Wall, spanning Basements 2 and 3. Constructed by the official wall provider for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, the wall’s nine lanes are each equipped with state-of-the-art auto belay systems, which allow families and friends to climb together even if they do not know how to belay. Climbers can challenge themselves with over 20 different climbing routes to pick from. In time to come, this will go up to about 30 routes, with each ranging in difficulty from beginner to intermediate levels.ADVERTISEMENTAlso available is the 12-metre-long, 2.5-metre-high Boulder Wall, open for use by all climbers but built primarily for younger and budding climbers to hone their skills and build their confidence before they move on to the High Wall.
Programmes for every type of climber
Climbers aged two and above who prefer a free and easy climbing session of up to two hours can opt for the ‘Climb and Play (Unguided)’ programme. Children aged 12 and below must be accompanied by an adult. Those who prefer more guidance can opt for the ‘Climb and Play (Guided)’ programme, where experienced instructors will spend an hour showing participants the ropes at the High Wall.
The Rock Tots programme, designed for children aged two to six, is filled with activities and games aimed at helping children get comfortable with climbing and learn new movement types in a fun and age-appropriate way. This fortnightly one-hour Boulder Wall-only programme will progressively challenge children both mentally and physically and is a great way of building parent-child rapport.
Programmes for those with special needs are also available on an ad-hoc basis, and will be led by specially-trained staff. More programmes, including TRS’ popular Step Up! Coaching Programme for children that employs a sustainable coaching pedagogy developed by sports science and youth development professionals, will be added to the line-up in the future.
While visitors are welcome to bring their own gear, [email protected] also offers climbing harnesses and shoes for rent. Programme bookings can be made at www.climbt3.sg.
Opening promotions
Opening promotions include Early Bird pricing of up to 30% off all packages purchased from 28 February to 10 March, and promotional pricing of up to 10% off from 11 March until further notice. Both Early Bird and promotional packages include complimentary equipment rental. Bookings can be made from 2 March onwards.
Once open, [email protected] will operate from 12:00pm to 9:30pm on Mondays to Fridays. On weekends and public holidays, the facility will open from 10:00am to 9:30pm, with regular coaching classes conducted between 10:00am to 12:00pm, and unguided and guided programmes commencing from 12:00pm onwards.

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ADCEB will educate corporates, associations, event organisers, MICE agencies, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea about Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE proposition, highlighting it as a dynamic global destination for business events.
Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are excited to open our first representative office in South Korea to further establish Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions. As we remain focused on progressing the emirate, growing our network of international offices will help us expand Abu Dhabi’s reach in newer markets. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in South Korea, we anticipate great demand for outbound MICE travel, making it the best time for us to establish our presence in this market.”
In recent years, ADCEB has accelerated its financial and non-financial support towards strategic business events, which includes the launch of Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0, an enhanced subvention programme that offers event organisers an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, comprising financial assistance and destination-driven value-adds.
ADCEB continues to build strategic partnerships that ensures event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees. Earlier this year, ADCEB formed a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, to further bolster support for MICE travel groups travelling to Abu Dhabi.
Through this collaboration, ADCEB can offer eligible Advantage Abu Dhabi applicants additional flight benefits and perks such as group booking discounts, complimentary flights for large MICE travel group bookings on direct flights, and special flight rates for site/destination inspection trips to Abu Dhabi for clients who host their business events and incentive groups in the UAE capital.ADVERTISEMENTIn addition, ADCEB occasionally leads or supports the bidding process for suitable conventions and influences event organisers’ decision in launching their first-ever event or geo-clone their flagship events in Abu Dhabi too.
Fostering deeper collaborations with associations, ADCEB also renewed its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Emirates Medical Association to attract more B2B medical sector conferences to Abu Dhabi.

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The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce a new preferred partnership with Cvent, a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider.“Our partnership with Cvent will enhance the user experience for our members and event delegates by providing an easy-to-use, integrated technology platform to maximise the impact of meetings and events before, during and after the event. I look forward to working with them in improving our event experiences and welcome them to the PATA family,” said PATA Chair Peter Semone.
As part of the agreement, Cvent will be the official Event Tech Partner for all PATA events for the next two years and PATA will be using Cvent’s comprehensive event marketing & management platform to manage and streamline every step of the event lifecycle including registration, event promotion, attendee engagement, and appointment scheduling between attendees, exhibitors, & sponsors to facilitate relationship building and enable a greater return on experience. By leveraging Cvent’s best-in-class technology and all-in-one event management platform, PATA looks to provide a more engaging and immersive attendee experience, while enabling a more streamlined event management process to drive greater ROI.
“As global travel continues to accelerate, our partnership with PATA comes at the right time. PATA is a powerhouse within the travel and hospitality space and we’re proud to provide our industry-leading event technology to elevate their event experiences and facilitate more meaningful member engagement. In today’s digital-first environment, technology is at the forefront, and as a long-time leader in the space, we’ve helped tens of thousands of hospitality professionals leverage Cvent technology to expand their reach, engage planners, streamline processes, and increase group business revenue We look forward to working with PATA to further enhance the value, quality and sustainable growth of travel within the Asia Pacific region and to support their members through our innovative technology,” said Sandeep Nagpal, Cvent Vice President and Head of Marketing

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Shannon Airport has become the first Irish airport to take delivery of an electric Medical Response Vehicle.
The vehicle, called “Rescue 14”, replaces its diesel-powered model and will be used for emergency medical responses that may arise at the airport.
Rescue 14 is designed and built to similar specifications as the National Ambulance Service vehicles and is fully equipped with a defibrillator, stretcher, medication bag, oxygen masks and more.
The Shannon Airport Police and Fire team, who are all Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) accredited Emergency First Responders, have already begun training on the new vehicle.
The new electric vehicle was built by Offaly based Wilker Group, which has more than 50 years’ experience in the design, build and delivery of ambulance and specialist vehicle conversions.ADVERTISEMENTPat O’Brien, Chief Officer Fire & Rescue, Airport Police Fire Service at Shannon Airport said, “We are delighted to be the first airport in the state to take in delivery of this new electric Medical Response Vehicle. It will be a great addition to our fleet, as we transition to more sustainable vehicles.
“The continued investment by the Shannon Airport Group into new technology across our fleet, allows us to ensure continued safety of all passengers and staff at the Airport in more sustainable and efficient ways.”
In 2019, the airport made a significant investment in two new state-of-the-art High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) fire tenders, becoming the first airport in the country to take delivery of the cutting-edge vehicles.
Commenting on the delivery of the new electric vehicle, Head of Sustainability, Sinead Murphy says, “This is another chapter in our sustainability journey and the next step in the electrification of our fleet across the airport.
“This Medical Response Vehicle is part of our commitment to facilitate more sustainable mobility across the campus and beyond.”The delivery of the new medical response vehicle coincides with the commencement of the roll out of a programme for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the Shannon Campus.
Included in this are several ultra-fast charging points for the public.

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