LEISURE TRAVEL •
“Confidence is built through action, not words”
ABOUT ELEVATE WORLD Elevate World is a UAE-based travel and tourism group operating across the UAE, GCC, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Its portfolio comprises the multi-award-winning Elevate Destination Management, a recognised member of the Serandipians and Virtuoso luxury travel networks; CONNECT Business Events; Elevate Cruises; GoElevate, a B2B booking platform; Yalator, a marketplace for attractions and experiences; and ONELUX, its luxury travel division. Its proprietary technology includes the Hotel Integration Platform, Supplier Integration Platform and Yara, an AI- powered business intelligence platform designed to turn market data into commercial insight, demand forecasting and strategic recommendations.
remained firmer, demonstrating the value of operating across several markets rather than depending on a narrow geographic base. Hamadeh remains confident in the UAE and wider GCC, pointing to continued investment, connectivity and their established international appeal. He is equally clear, however, that confidence should never slide into empty reassurance: “Promoting a destination with confidence doesn't mean ignoring the wider environment. It means communicating with honesty, transparency and purpose.” CONFIDENCE BUILT ON TRUST In uncertain periods, he argues, trade partners need timely information grounded in what is happening on the ground, not speculation. The UAE’s ability to respond quickly, supported by public-private collaboration and a sustained focus on the visitor experience, provides a strong platform. Destinations that communicate openly and continue delivering on their promises are more likely to retain trust when sentiment fluctuates. The broader regional proposition is also becoming richer. The UAE combines world- class infrastructure and global connectivity with an expanding range of leisure and business experiences. Elsewhere in the GCC, investment in culture, entertainment and major events is creating new reasons to travel, while the Indian Ocean remains a global leader in luxury, wellness and experiential tourism. Rather than viewing these destinations as competitors, Hamadeh sees scope to package them together. Multi-destination journeys
can give international sellers more distinctive itineraries and a deeper product mix, provided the operational, distribution and technology layers are properly connected. This is where Elevate World’s regional footprint becomes commercially useful, helping partners access varied products while simplifying the route to market. THE MODERN DMC It also reflects how the DMC model itself has changed. Operational excellence remains essential, but ground handling is now the starting point, not the full proposition. International sellers increasingly expect local partners to understand source markets, recognise shifts in booking behaviour and turn destination assets into relevant, saleable experiences. “Our role is to bridge the gap between inspiration and conversion, ensuring exceptional experiences are not only created, but successfully positioned, distributed and sold,” says Hamadeh. Achieving that requires collaboration across the tourism chain. Elevate World works with hotels, airlines, attractions, tour operators and tourism authorities on integrated campaigns, trade engagement and market-led commercial activity. Its international network connects buyers and destination partners when new products are launching, campaigns are being developed or shifts in demand require a rapid response. “Confidence is built through action, not words.” It is a characteristically direct line from Hamadeh, one that captures his focus on measurable results. Shared intelligence, appropriate distribution and coordinated promotion are the formula for turning market
opportunity into bookings, he says, rather than just a way to generate visibility.
SMART TOOLS, STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS Technology underpins that process. Elevate World has invested in a Hotel and Supplier Intelligence Platform to improve connectivity, while Yara, its AI-powered business intelligence platform, turns market data into demand forecasts, commercial insights and strategic recommendations. The purpose is practical: faster decisions, more flexible distribution and richer content across multiple sales channels. Yet Hamadeh repeatedly returns to the human element. Technology is valuable when it strengthens judgement and relationships, not when it becomes an end in itself. The strongest partnerships, in his view, combine intelligent tools with local expertise and commercial understanding. VALUE BEYOND VOLUME In the future he sees sustained tourism, infrastructure and connectivity investment creating room for destinations to diversify and reach new audiences. Elevate World plans to keep expanding its portfolio while investing in people, partnerships and technology across the UAE, GCC, Indian Ocean and beyond. “Success won't be defined solely by visitor numbers or commercial growth. It will be measured by the strength of the partnerships we build, the opportunities we create for our clients and the long-term value we deliver to the destinations we represent.” For a leader who speaks enthusiastically about platforms, integration and intelligence, Hamadeh remains refreshingly grounded, certain the future of travel will still be built on trust, strengthened by technology and judged by the value it creates.
Below: There’s an opportunity for com- panies to create more multi-des- tination packages
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