The just lately concluded Opulence by Ahlan Arabia, an unique luxurious journey roadshow organised by dnata Illustration Providers, served as a strategic stage for world hospitality leaders to unveil their 2026 roadmaps. The milestone version united greater than 100 world journey professionals in an entire takeover of Salalah’s Alila Hinu Bay resort, between January 13 to 16 this yr.
“Opulence by Ahlan Arabia has firmly established itself as one of many area’s most influential luxurious hospitality roadshow, and the response to our second version in Salalah, Oman has exceeded expectations,” Rakhi Purohit, Head of dnata Illustration Providers, advised TTN in an unique.
Following the success of Qatar and now Oman, we’re targeted on increasing Opulence additional throughout the area and past, with new locations and companions becoming a member of the journey
– Rakhi Purohit
“Following the success of Qatar and now Oman, we’re targeted on increasing Opulence additional throughout the area and past, with new locations and companions becoming a member of the journey.
“This momentum displays the broader development of dnata Illustration Providers as a trusted associate for world hospitality manufacturers and tourism boards, and our continued dedication to shaping the way forward for luxurious journey by innovation, perception and robust regional relationships,” she added.
The headline panel, ‘Rewriting the Journey Script: The Subsequent Period of Journey & Tourism,’ that includes John Bevan, CEO of the dnata Journey Group, joined by representatives from WhereIsThis, Atlantis Resorts, and the Oman Conference Bureau highlighted the concierge’s shift from a reactive function to 1 that anticipates visitor wants earlier than they come up. Audio system additionally explored how AI powered personalisation is enabling actual time, seamless, and tailor-made experiences. The panel additional recognized storytelling, sustainability, and vacation spot stewardship as key forces redefining the way forward for luxurious journey.
The occasion featured 28 curated exhibitors and 55 senior consumers from throughout the GCC and past, alongside professionals from throughout the dnata Journey Group and its companions, making a dynamic platform for 1,680 pre-scheduled one-to-one conferences. Shifting past conventional codecs, Opulence launched a ‘Past the Ballroom’ idea, with conferences and networking unfold throughout the resort’s scenic areas, complemented by immersive cultural experiences.
The 2026 version was backed by Go to Qatar as Platinum Sponsor, spotlighting the nation’s latest journey choices, whereas Expertise Oman performed a central function as Vacation spot Sponsor, delivering an immersive exploration of the host nation’s landscapes and heritage. Oman is making a contemporary push into the specialised conferences and incentives sector, with elevated worldwide outreach deliberate for main occasions like IMEX to showcase its rising conference capability.
From the organic wellness retreats of Croatia and the various compelling causes to go to France, to the logistics of a royal FIFA tour within the US, Opulence highlighted a transparent shift: luxurious is now not concerning the room, however the under-the-skin expertise.
Atout France
Zamira Ismatova, Senior Challenge Supervisor Center East & Turkey Regional Workplace, Atout France – The France Tourism Improvement Company, detailed the nationwide objective for the European powerhouse to grow to be a worldwide sustainability chief by 2030. The technique is two-fold, we be taught: pushing accommodations towards inexperienced certifications and diverting GCC site visitors away from the Huge Three (Paris, Riviera and Alps) towards nature-rich areas like Lyon, Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. “Whereas acknowledging that travellers from the area do not but prioritise eco-hotels as a lot, coverage is transferring forward of behaviour to organize for a greener future,” Ismatova mentioned.
Courchevel Tourism Board
Representatives from the Courchevel Tourism Board in France famous that the resort’s upcoming eightieth birthday marks a transfer from ultra-exclusive to a extra layered vacation spot. With new openings like Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin and The Maya Assortment, an ultra-luxury way of life group from Monaco, which just lately expanded into Courchevel 1850, the message to the commerce is to e-book early. The resort is courting a broader premium viewers with expanded gastronomy and extra accessible luxurious value factors.
Warwick Lodges & Resorts
Warwick Lodges & Resorts confirmed that the Resort Westminster, based in 1807, achieved its fifth star in June 2025 following a full renovation. In the meantime, Warwick Champs-Élysées is leveraging its top-20 restaurant rating and Eighth-floor Eiffel-view rooftop to face out in opposition to world chains, proving that heritage and aggressive worth stay a robust mixture for the Paris market.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Parisian division retailer Galeries Lafayette Haussmann introduced a historic cultural shift: the Paris flagship hosted its first-ever Saudi designer pop-up final month. Operationally, the shop can also be localising for the Gulf with digital pockets vouchers. Spending over €600 now unlocks a fast-track tax refund, refreshments, and resort supply – all trackable by way of QR code, bridging the hole between luxurious retail and digital comfort.
Printemps Haussmann
Romain Bernard, Deputy Director Enterprise Improvement of Parisian division retailer Printemps Haussmann highlighted the modernisation of its iconic deal with. The division retailer is deepening its VIP and Arabic-speaking private shopper providers, specializing in hands-free buying and splendid non-public lounges to cater particularly to high-spend Center Japanese customers searching for a mix of historic structure and trendy personalisation.
369°Hôtels-Maisons
Jeff Macquet, Directeur Général Adjoint chargé du commerce et Advertising, of boutique luxurious 369°Hôtels-Maisons detailed an eight-property assortment pivoting arduous to the GCC. Highlights embrace Megève, the place GCC is now the main summer season marketplace for their ultra-luxury flats; St Tropez, a resort attracting LVMH and Cartier, that includes an 18-species citrus backyard; St Barth, with Tropical Resort (Relais & Châteaux) and an 8-bedroom villa with museum-grade artwork; and Château in Chantilly providing France’s largest castle-hotel (120 rooms), obtainable for full buyouts.
Lošinj Lodges & Villas
Lara Soldičić Vodarić, Director of Gross sales, Leisure and Company, Lošinj Lodges & Villas, introduced the Island of Vitality, a Croatian vacation spot pitching scientifically documented respiratory advantages. With over 1,000 plant species creating therapeutic aerosols, the island is advertising and marketing medical-wellness to the GCC. The hero product for the Center East is the ultra-luxury non-public residence, bookable solely as a full household buy-out with its personal seashore, spa, and personal cinema lounge.
Regnum
Regnum Carya, the mega-resort of Antalya showcased an property of over 1 million sqm. The property options Europe’s first totally lighted golf space for evening play and a rooftop infinity pool cooled to twenty°C for the height Antalya summer season. With arguably the most important youngsters’ membership in Europe and villas ranging as much as 6 bedrooms, together with the Crown Villa with cave bedrooms, the property is positioning itself as a direct competitor to Dubai’s mega-resorts for the summer season season.
Vacation spot Asia
Patrick Chase, Regional Director of Gross sales at Vacation spot Asia’s company workplace, signalled a shift from logistics to curation. Now working throughout 9 locations with a brand new possession construction, the DMC is specializing in story-worthy merchandise – assume seaplane-to-yacht transfers and celebrity-chef in-villa meals. The objective is to maneuver the FIT and MICE segments past conventional sightseeing into deeply native, high-touch territory.
Cuurate
Cuurate defined the model’s deal with the additional U in its identify – putting the consumer on the centre. Specialising in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the boutique advisory is concentrating on the worldwide UHNW phase with non-public jets and bespoke floor clearances, filling a spot for ultra-personalised journey advisory.
Mango Home and Bay Membership at Anahita
These properties highlighted a pattern towards segmentation. Mango Home (Seychelles) is strictly positioning itself as a child-free leisure retreat, whereas Bay Membership at Anahita (Mauritius) is specializing in golf and F&B to draw the GCC household profile. The takeaway: Indian Ocean manufacturers have gotten niche-specific somewhat than one measurement matches all.
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives introduced new two-bedroom seashore villas and huge residences that now embrace devoted maid’s rooms, kitchens, and ample storage, explicitly designed to accommodate the extended-stay necessities of GCC households.
America and Past
Roger L. Montgomery, President & CEO of US high-end DMC America and Past revealed they’re constructing a devoted provide for GCC Royals for the 2026 World Cup. With peculiar rooms leaping from $800 to $2,000+, and suites exceeding $100,000, the DMC is specializing in velocity and tempo – dealing with non-public islands, resort flooring buyouts and bespoke in-room gyms for many who have already got their tickets however want the ‘unattainable’ logistics solved.
Atlantis Dubai
Atlantis Dubai introduced a big push in B2B coaching. By means of the OTT (On-line Journey Coaching) platform, brokers can grow to be Atlantis Consultants and win holidays. Current product updates at Atlantis The Royal embrace the opening of Carbone and the redecoration of the Explorers Children Membership, now serving infants to 17-year-olds till 11 PM, a high-value proposition for GCC households travelling with out nannies.
