Abu Dhabi uses tech and big data to target messaging
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is partnering Sojern to benefit from the latter’s real-time travel audience targeting capabilities to understand travellers’ booking behaviour and employ targeted marketing strategies.
Sojern provides access to billions of real-time travel-intent signals that are then analysed using proprietary data-science methodology to better understand travellers’ booking behaviour along their path to purchase. This information is then used to target personalised marketing messages at every stage of the funnel, in this case supporting brand campaigns used to promote Abu Dhabi as a tourist destination, as well as direct response campaigns that drive direct bookings and conversions to key Abu Dhabi attractions.
Sojern can also identify potential customers who are not only evaluating Abu Dhabi as a destination, but who are also evaluating potential competing destinations. Based on this, ads are tailored to help the emirate stand out as a must-visit city. Any past customers who are considering booking with competitors are identified by combining first-party data with Sojern data. These people are then served relevant promotional offers in order to keep them loyal to Abu Dhabi, it said.
Air taxis aim to improve mobility in big cities
Commuters on congested streets in the Middle East may be glad to hear about Abdul Latif Jameel’s investment in Joby Aviation, a company in Santa Cruz that wants to shuttle passengers around in electric air taxis.
Saudi’s Jameel Investment Management Company participated in Joby’s $590 million Series C funding round which was led by Toyota and also includes new backers Sparx Group, Intel Capital, Capricorn Investment, JetBlue Technology Ventures and AME Cloud Ventures.
“Air taxi service is still in the early stages of commercialisation, but one that has the potential to completely transform the future of mobility,” Hassan Jameel, deputy president and vice chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said in a report by The National.
“We are excited to be a part of this new chapter for the sector, bringing fast, affordable, and zero-emissions air mobility to Saudi Arabia and the wider Mena region.”
UAE blocks China flights
UAE has joined in the list of countries barring flights going to and from China, with the exception of Beijing. The suspension is in force and will run until further notice.
The authority added that all passengers travelling from Beijing International Airport will be required to undergo a six to eight hour comprehensive medical screening at the airport to ensure the safety of passengers before boarding.
“We continue to put our confidence in the Chinese Government’s efforts to control and contain the situation,” the statement by The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said.
It also urged airlines to communicate the new procedures with passengers to avoid flight delays.
The GCAA said the decision to suspend flights came after studying and analysing the current conditions on the spread of the virus, adding that it coordinated with international agencies and worked closely with national agencies such as the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines.
OYO expecting double digit growth from UAE
OYO Hotels & Homes UAE is expecting a 25 percent increase in travel from India in the first quarter of the year, its confidence boosted by an already 18 percent increase in business travellers from India that has largely come from exhibition and conferences sectors.
OYO Hotels & Homes UAE wants to grow its market share and have 150 hotels by the end of 2020 through its ‘Manchise’ business model.
“Dubai’s tourism industry closed a successful decade by the end of 2019, welcoming an all-time high 16.73 million international overnight visitors. India was one of the six top source markets with close to two million travellers visiting Dubai. This further reinforces the fact Dubai is growing as a must-visit destination for Indian tourists,” said Pranav Mehta, country head, OYO Hotels & Homes, UAE.
OYO currently manages over 15,000 rooms across the UAE and has served close to 200,000 guests from more than 80 countries.
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Featured Image Credit: Juan Camilo Guarin P on Unsplash
