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World’s first Warner Bros. Hotel opens its doors to guests on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of magnetic experiences in collaboration with Warner Bros., home to one of the most well-known and successful collections of brands and characters in the world, announced The WB™ Abu Dhabi, located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, the first ever Warner Bros. themed hotel, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, has officially opened its doors to guests. The hotel allows guests to see their favorite stories and characters brought to life through unique hospitality experiences that only the rich history and storied legacy of Warner Bros. could offer. Featuring over 400 curated images and film and TV props, guests at the world’s first Warner Bros. hotel will be treated to a journey of discovery through film and television, enjoying Warner Bros.’ rich history and library of timeless productions at every touchpoint from arrival to check-out. While dining in one of five restaurants on the property, you can listen as the piano from “Westworld,” the hit HBO science fiction TV show, plays a familiar tune. Visitors can stroll through the lobby or admire 360-degree city and sea views alongside their favorite props and costumes from Warner Bros. films and TV shows. Kids and families can ring up one of their favorite Looney Tunes characters for a room service treat brought to them by the Wascally Wabbit, Bugs Bunny himself. Guests of The WB Abu Dhabi hotel begin their story as they pull up to the hotel and are greeted by digital screens that span the height of the building, playing over 35 different pieces of original content created for the hotel. Before entering the hotel, visitors won’t want to miss the iconic “Friends” fountain, or snaping a pic with the all-new Batmobile from the upcoming highly anticipated film, The Batman. Guests will then enter the lobby and be drawn to the hotel’s uniquely designed lobby columns. A spectacular Living Archive (spiral staircase) also resides in the lobby and will house an evolving collection of items dedicated to the vast depth and history of WB’s role in entertainment. It will showcase original films and a number of Warner Bros. props such as Cowboy boots from the 1956 film Giant, worn by James Dean, Michael Keaton’s cowl from 1989 film, Batman, original drawing from The Great Gatsby and so much more. As guests continue their journey, the storytelling experience is further enriched with guest room corridors displaying a curated gallery of artwork. Furnishing with nods to Warner Bros. legacy of rich story telling make up each of the hotel’s 257 rooms. Three themes have inspired the guestroom artwork. The first theme, “From Script to Screen,” highlights standout moments from Warner Bros.’ movies and shows and documents the journey from the written page to the final shot. The second theme, “Artist Confidential,” celebrates a variety of talent in front of and behind the camera in some of Warner Bros.’ favorite productions. The third theme, “The Vault” features rarely seen images from Warner Bros.’ most memorable archives. Accompanying the hotel’s unique design is a broad range of world class food and beverage offerings featuring five dining options catering to both adults and children. Craft Services, located in the lobby lounge, offers a relaxing coffee break after a busy day, while Sidekicks is the perfect family friendly place for socializing and interacting while enjoying a flavorful international menu. For those lounging by the pool, The Matinee provides a casual dining option for guest of all ages, complete with a dive-in pool theatre and Mediterranean menu. Additionally, guests looking to indulge in an elegant dining experience, can visit The Director’s Club offering a sophisticated meatery where charcoal ovens, perfectly aged cuts, and a menu selection of dishes inspired to reflect the movie scene setting and supporting the whole cast, serve the mature palate, or enjoy an experience at The Overlook, a fabulous lounge with a relaxing infinity pool and beautiful 360-degree city, theme park and sea views. The hotel is home to a host of leisure amenities for guests to enjoy, whether that’s lounging by the family pool area, working out in the fitness center, relaxing in the spa, exploring the artwork and props or shopping in the Warner Bros. store, the Prop Shop. For younger guests, the Kid’s Club will offer a vibrant and playful space designed to bring Warner Bros.’ characters to life. Some of WB’s world-renowned characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and others will participate in entertaining activities throughout the hotel providing guest memories that will last a lifetime. The hotel also caters for business meetings and events with a large 394-sqm multi-function ballroom and expansive meeting room facilities perfect for events. The WB Abu Dhabi is located adjacent to the award-winning Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park which features six truly immersive lands, including DC’s Metropolis and Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza, along with 29 state-of-the-art exhilarating rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment. Each registered room guest will have access to the park as well as other Yas Island attractions for every night stay. Located 12km from Abu Dhabi Airport, The hotel is also a walking distance from Yas Waterworld and a 5- minute drive to all other Yas Island unique attractions and experiences. Additionally, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi’s first-of-its-kind multi-purpose indoor entertainment venue, and Yas Marina Circuit – home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, are in close proximity, making the hotel the ideal place to stay all year round. The hotel is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty programme for Hilton’s 18 distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, exclusive member discounts, free standard Wi-Fi and access to the Hilton Honors mobile app.

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Nepal launches e-passport service with installed chips consisting biometric data

In a first of a kind-initiative, Nepal has introduced e-passport service, which will ensure with installed chips consisting of biometric data. The Himalayan nation’s Foreign Ministry in a statement said that applicants can start applying for fresh e-passports from November 18. The machine-readable passports launched by Nepal in 2010 will continue to remain valid till 2031. The handwritten passports were completely phased in 2015. It is for the first time that Nepal has announced adopting e-passport services and using a chip-based identification document. To mark the commencement, Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nepal inaugurated the first epassport personalisation centre at Tripureshwor in Kathmandu on Wednesday. On the occasion, the first e-passport was presented to 102-yearold academician, cultural expert, and litterateur Satya Mohan Joshi by the Minister. “The department plans to issue e-passports in a full manner within three weeks, while District Administration Offices and other offices authorised to issue passports in various parts of the country will start issuing e-passports by December, and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad will issue e-passports in January 2022,” stated a press statement on the announcement.

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Kartarpur corridor reopens after 20 months

Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara corridor has now reopened, following the decline in COVID-19 cases. After remaining closed for more than 20 months due to the pandemic, the pilgrimage site is finally open for devotees. Referring to this, a statement from the Home Ministry stated that the movement of pilgrims from India to Pakistan through the corridor will begin from Wednesday, keeping in view the improved COVID-19 situation. This big news comes just a day ahead of Gurupurab, which will be celebrated on November 19. It celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. As per the reports, the corridor was shut barely four months after it was inaugurated in March 2020, in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. As per the reports, the 4.7 km long corridor was inaugurated on November8, 2019, to commemorate the 550th Parkash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It is believed that the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is the final resting place of Guru Nanak, however, COVID-19 crises and tension between the two countries have clouded the travel of Sikh pilgrims wishing to visit the shrine. The statement from the Ministry further added that pilgrimage through the corridor will be facilitated as per existing procedures and adherence to COVID protocols. Pilgrims will have to undergo regular temperature checks and sanitization while maintaining adequate social distance, and wearing face masks at all times. Further, all pilgrims will be required to carry a negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours prior to arrival, and COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

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Mauritius welcomes over 80,000 holidaymakers to its shores since reopening on October 1

Since its reopening for fully vaccinated travellers on October 1, Mauritius has welcomed over 80,000 visitors travelling to the island nation for holidays and vacations. The country hopes that the reminder of 2021 will be promising for its tourism industry with a hike in travel bookings throughout the year and a targeted average growth of 25 per cent in arrivals. “In keeping with the country’s policy of prioritising the health of its population, the decision to reopen the borders and review Covid restrictions for both Mauritians and visitors was part a carefully considered incremental policy. The reopening was only made possible by the country’s exceptional vaccination programme. The Mauritian health authorities are continuing to implement a wide-ranging Covid-19 response and are presently prioritising the rollout of booster doses for those who are already double vaccinated. The vaccination of 15 to 18- year-olds is also well underway. Close to 85 per cent of the adult population in Mauritius is already double vaccinated - one of the highest rates anywhere in the world,” the Mauritius Tourism said in a statement. The country has seen a recent increase in infection rates, which is unfortunately part of the new normal in most countries where restrictions are removed. In order to contain the spread, the Mauritius government recently took the measure to temporarily close schools, and introduced some further sanitary measures, mainly to limit large gatherings. All this is done while further accelerating the booster vaccine programme and the vaccination drive across the youth population. On the tourism front, Mauritius is prioritising sanitary protocols across its hospitality industry with high standards, ensuring safety and security of the local community and the international travellers. Commenting, Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Tourism, Mauritius said, “In Mauritius, we continue to prioritise the health of our population, and our staggered reopening was part of this carefully planned policy. Since the reopening of our borders on October 1, we have safely welcomed over 80,000 travellers to date, and look forward to welcoming many more to our home.” Further, he informed about engagement with the travel trade. “To that effect, next week Mauritius will be hosting a Familiarisation trip, with tour operators from France, UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, India, Reunion, South Africa, and Kenya who will come to discover more of our beautiful country,” he said.

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Akasa Air Selects CFM’s Engine To Launch Operations In India

Akasa Air announced the purchase of CFM LEAP-1B engines to power its recently announced Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. The agreement that also includes spare engines and long-term services agreement is valued at nearly $4.5bn at list price. With this purchase and services agreement, Akasa Air will have from day-1 of its operations an innovative and comprehensive maintenance program delivered by CFM, the world’s premier engine manufacturer. Vinay Dube, CEO, Akasa Air said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with CFM International as we embark on an exciting journey to launch the greenest, most affordable and most dependable airline in India. Our partnership with CFM will ensure that we adhere to the world’s highest standards of maintenance and deliver the industry’s best technical dispatch reliability.” Dube further added, “The state-of-the-art, high-performance LEAP-1B engine will support our tech-driven culture by enabling real-time engine monitoring and predictive maintenance planning. With this agreement, we now have the foundation to ensure the most competitive and reliable operations in our fast growing market.” “We are proud to develop a strong relationship with Akasa and play a key role in the launch of their operations, by providing them with the industry-leading asset utilization, fuel efficiency, and overall cost of ownership,” said Philippe Couteaux, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CFM International. “On behalf of the entire team worldwide, it will be a great honor to help launch this new airline with the industry-leading support and reliability that has become a hallmark of CFM International.” Since CFM delivered the first CFM56 engines in the early 90’s, the company has been developing a trustful relationship with major Indian Airlines and playing a key role in Indian domestic market continuous growth. To date, nearly 600 engines are operated by airlines from the Indian subcontinent and more than 1,700 LEAP engines are on order.

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NCL highlights European itineraries for Indian travellers

As Indian travellers get ready for the festive holiday season by planning their long-awaited vacations, Europe is calling once again and the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is highlighting four itineraries to four distinct destinations that Indian guests can book and enjoy with their loved ones in 2022 and 2023. Mediterranean: Italy, France & Spain Discover the marvels of the Mediterranean on a 7-day roundtrip cruise from Barcelona, Spain on board Norwegian Epic, visiting six ports with multiple departures between May and October 2022. The voyage calls at Ajaccio on the French island of Corsica; Rome, Naples and Florence in Italy; along with Cannes, France and Palma, Spain. After exploring the traditional tapas and open-air market stalls of Barcelona’s famed La Rambla, guests travel to Napoleon’s birthplace – Ajaccio, France, home to palm-lined boulevards, bayside pavement cafes and mouth-watering cheese. Cruisers then get to spend some quality time in the city of Naples on the Amalfi coast – known as the birthplace of pizza as well as its cathedrals and castles, before sailing to Rome to discover the Vatican City and the art and architectural delights of the Sistine Chapel and Trevi Fountain. The final port of call is Palma de Mallorca, Spain – founded by Romans over 2,000 years old and filled with wall-to-wall history and delicious local cuisine. The culinary experience continues onboard Norwegian Epic with daily changing menus, 16 dining options and no fixed dining times. After dinner, lounge at the Wave Pool Bar and dance the night away at the Bliss Ultra-Lounge or Spice H2O. Baltic: Germany, Russia, Sweden & Finland This 9-day roundtrip cruise of the Baltics aboard Norwegian Getaway departs Copenhagen, Denmark with multiple departures available from between July and August 2022. The voyage visits six ports including Warnemuende (Berlin), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and finally Stockholm, Sweden. After exploring the canals and cobbled squares of Copenhagen, honour Berlin’s past at the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial and Charlottenburg Palace. Fill your day with art and history and end your night with a signature Russian ballet in St. Petersburg, where travellers stay overnight. Visit the quirky city of Helsinki, Finland before sailing into Stockholm, Sweden, to take in the Royal Palace’s sophistication and distinct architecture of the Nordic Hotel with the world’s first permanent ice bar composed entirely of ice! On board Norwegian Getaway, compare ice bars at Skyy® Vodka Ice Bar – an arctic attraction for a cool evening drink – or change the pace at the ship’s Aqua Park, featuring the fastest waterslides at sea, or the multi-level sports complex with a Zip-line and gravity-defying ropes course. Northern Europe: Iceland & Norway to Reykjavik Uncover the dramatic landscapes and vibrant destinations of Northern Europe on this 8-day cruise from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Reykjavik, Iceland aboard Norwegian Prima, departing 17 August 2022 and visiting seven incredible ports of call, including Brussels, Belgium; Bergen and Geiranger, Norway, as well as Akureyri, Isafjordur and Reykjavik in Iceland. Soak up the atmosphere of world-renowned landmarks in Amsterdam like the floating Flower Market and the Dam Square before visiting the historic Hanseatic port city of Bergen, Norway. From here, you’ll sail one of the most spectacular fjords in the world, Geirangerfjord. Next, arrive at the land of fire and ice, Iceland. In Akureyri – a hub of Icelandic folk history – you’ll experience botanical gardens, hike along with the outstanding vistas, and indulge in Nordic specialities like fresh fish and smoked lamb. In Isafjordur, cruisers will relish the great outdoors and mountain landscape. Finally, disembark at Reykjavik, Iceland’s compact capital, where fine dining and hot springs come together. Aboard the all-new Norwegian Prima – the most spacious new contemporary or premium cruise ship in the industry – guests can look forward to catching some great camera angles at The Concourse, the seaside sculpture garden which features interactive art installations that transform with the light; take a swim to the edge of infinity at Infinity Beach or walk over water at Oceanwalk – NCL’s first glass bridge. Greek Isles: Santorini, Mykonos & Istanbul Explore the gorgeous Greek Isles on a 7-day roundtrip sailing from Athens on Norwegian Jade, with no sea days and visiting seven ports of call, so every traveller is guaranteed an enriching adventure. From Athens, the cradle of civilization, Norwegian Jade calls at Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey – previously the centre of the Ottoman Empire – before visiting the Greek islands of Volos, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Santorini. Highlights include Istanbul’s famed Hagia Sophia, as well as the incredible, blue-domed churches of Mykonos that perfectly match the blue skies and azure ocean. Don’t miss Santorini’s whitewashed villages and volcanic black-sand beaches before enjoying a spellbinding show back onboard Norwegian Jade. Choose from the mesmerizing Elements, featuring a visual feast of acrobatics; a full-scale production country music concert called Blazing Boots; or take a mambo back in time at Palace of Lights, dedicated to the music of 1950s Cuba.

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