Gold Medal in association with Oman Air organised a cricket tournament titled - Gold Medal Super Sixes - for its trade partners in Dubai, on Nov 24 last year. Twelve teams with six players each participated. The finals saw Sharaf Travel and Trusty Travel in a close match and Trusty Travel took home the trophy. Gold Medal is one the largest consolidators in the Middle East, catering to over 450 trade partners in UAE. 

Jumeirah Vittaveli brought a new first to the Maldives this festive season with the opening of the destination’s first ice rink. The rink allows guests to be carried away into a small winter wonderland of their own while indulging in the warmth of the tropics.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) hosted the 67th Annual Convention of the German Travel Association (DRV) from December 7 to 9. The three-day convention, which took place at Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah, welcomed 630 German travel trade professionals representing a consumer base of around six-to-eight million German travellers.

Oman's Ministry of Tourism has launched a new promotional website www.experienceoman.om that will serve as a one-stop-shop for all Oman Tourism-related information. The launch of the website comes as a part of the ministry's initiatives to support the development of the tourism sector in all areas, especially in the use of electronic platforms and digital marketing. Providing insights into suggested travel itineraries; list of tour operators, hotels, and services; Mice opportunities; the website also orients tourists with the latest events in Oman; and can be viewed in six languages.

JA Hatta Fort Hotel in Dubai, UAE, celebrated this festive season in the greenest and creative way. It built  a unique Christmas tree using 275 recycled car tyres. The idea is to spread festive joy and happiness as well as raise awareness on the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment, the hotel said.

Rotana won two awards at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2017 held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. The group was honoured with the ‘World's Leading Business Hotel Brand 2017’, while its flagship property in the UAE, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, was named ‘World's Leading Corporate Resort 2017’.

The AquaBike World Championship - Grand Prix Of Sharjah took place last month for the third time at the Khalid Lagoon in the emirate. The championships included free practice, pole position, and ski division GP1 for ladies and men.

To celebrate the opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Tourism Ireland has launched a physical billboard into space to announce Ireland as a truly out of this world destination. The tourist board poster was launched in to space by weather balloon, hitting peak altitudes above Earth’s surface of more than 33km, with a message to Visit Ireland.