Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island has announced the promotion of Manas Lal to the role of Hotel Manager, appreciating his leadership, operational strength and consistent focus on elevating guest experiences.

In this new role, Manas will guide the resort’s overall direction with a focus on service excellence, team development and strengthening Pullman’s presence as a preferred choice for both leisure and business travellers visiting Ras Al Khaimah. With the resort’s recent renovation now completed, he will also ensure the refreshed spaces and upgraded facilities continue to enhance the guest journey and support the property’s market positioning.

Manas has been a key contributor to the success of Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island over the last four years. Serving most recently as Director of Operations, he has played an important role in improving service quality, boosting operational efficiency and contributing to stronger guest satisfaction. His experience across respected hospitality brands in the UAE and India has helped him build deep expertise in hotel operations, quality assurance and revenue-focused strategies.

Evan Harrington, Cluster General Manager, said, “Manas has consistently gone beyond the expected, combining sharp commercial acumen with a genuine passion for hospitality and guest experience. His leadership comes at a pivotal moment for Ras Al Khaimah and for our resort and I am confident he will help unlock a new chapter of growth and innovation as we showcase our enhanced, post-renovation offerings on Al Marjan Island.”

Expressing his gratitude, Manas said, “It is a privilege to take on this role and continue serving a property that I hold in high regard. I look forward to building on our achievements and introducing the renewed Pullman experience to both returning and future guests.”

As Manas steps into this leadership role, Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island is set to further strengthen its presence on Al Marjan Island through exceptional service delivery, improved guest engagement and a refreshed operational approach that reflects the spirit of its newly revitalised spaces.

Emirates is adding festive cheer to every part of the travel experience this December, inviting passengers to enjoy the warmth and joy of Christmas from the moment they begin their journey. With more than 2.3 million departures and 2.5 million arrivals expected in the coming weekends, customers flying with Emirates can look forward to winter-themed menus, special treats, and holiday entertainment.

Throughout the month, the airline is serving festive flavours in all classes. From 17 to 26 December, customers can enjoy aromatic hot chocolate across all cabins. Between 24 and 26 December, travellers departing Dubai will receive seasonal treats, including dark chocolate truffles in Economy Class, homemade gingerbread cookies in Premium Economy and Business Class, and a raspberry Paris-Brest pastry in First Class.

In First, Business, and Premium Economy Class, festive dining begins with dishes like salmon gravadlax marinated in beetroot and orange, pickled herring with potato and quail egg salad, or smoked salmon topped with crab mayonnaise and salmon roe. Main courses include classic turkey with jus, chestnut and turkey bacon stuffing, truffle potato gratin, caramelised chestnuts, and roasted brussels sprouts. Select routes will also offer dishes such as herb-crusted lamb shank, duck confit glazed in cranberry jus lié, and seared venison with sage butter and blackberry sauce. Desserts continue the celebrations, with First Class guests receiving an edible Santa made from fresh strawberries and cream.

Economy Class passengers will enjoy roasted turkey with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, maple-roasted parsnips, and desserts like orange-soaked fruit cake or a mini mousse cake decorated with one of Santa’s reindeer.

At the A380 Onboard Lounge, the festivities continue with sweet treats such as mince pies, stollen, panettone, festive macarons, ginger profiteroles, dark chocolate ganache, cranberry financier, hazelnut and cranberry jars, biscotti, and candy canes. Guests can also enjoy a hearty Christmas sandwich filled with turkey, roast beef, cheddar, cranberry sauce, and chilli tomato relish. Seasonal selfie props are available for passengers to capture festive moments.

From 15 to 31 December, Emirates’ First and Business Class lounges in Dubai transform into festive culinary spaces offering traditional roasted turkey with jus and cranberry sauce, glazed chestnuts, vegetables, and new potatoes. Guests can enjoy festive cocktails like the Emirates Cognac Crème Panettone and a refined Champagne selection, including Moët & Chandon Ice Brut and Ice Rosé, paired with special sorbets. Elegant new canapés such as foie gras bon bons and miso-pumpkin tart are also part of the menu. Desserts include traditional stollen, mince pies, apple pie with cinnamon ice cream, and cranberry sorbet. Visitors can warm up with gingerbread lattes or Galaxy hot chocolate by Costa Coffee.

Across Emirates lounges worldwide, guests will find Christmas dishes tailored to regional tastes in countries including Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and the USA.

The celebrations also extend to fine wines and Champagne. In First Class, Emirates will debut the rare Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2, 2006, along with wines from the airline’s exclusive cellar, including Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 – Bouchard & Fils and Château Montrose 2005. Business Class will offer wines such as Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion 2010, Chateau Olivier 2010, Beaune du Chateau 1er Cru 2020, Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz 2021, and Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2020. Premium Economy travellers can enjoy wines like Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021 and Chablis Saint Martin Michel Laroche 2023 or choose the exclusive Chandon Vintage Brut 2018.

Emirates will also celebrate Orthodox Christmas from 24 December to 8 January on flights between Russia, Cyprus, Ethiopia and Dubai. First and Business Class menus will feature dishes such as Olivier salad, lobster tail with celeriac purée and Sevruga caviar, pickled herring, smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise, duck confit with cranberry jus lié, herb-crusted lamb shank, and festive desserts like white chocolate and peppermint mousse cake with cranberry compote or chocolate gingerbread cake with cranberry jelly. Economy Class offerings include Russian potato salad, Waldorf salad, barbecued chicken with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, creamy beef stroganoff, and desserts such as peppermint mousse or classic fruit cake.

Emirates’ inflight entertainment, ice, will feature 39 Christmas movies, including new releases like Tinsel Town and Dear Santa, along with classic favourites like Last Christmas, The Holiday, Elf, The Polar Express, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from 1964. Passengers can also explore 42 Christmas TV shows and specials, along with festive music albums and playlists.

Travellers searching for last-minute gifts can explore the EmiratesRED Winter 2025 catalogue featuring over 300 products from brands such as Armani, Creed, Amouage, YSL, Kilian, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Customers using the EmiratesRED pre-order service will receive a 10% discount with the code RED10. Emirates’ festive capsule collection at the Emirates Official Store offers Christmas jumpers, family pyjamas, themed stockings, hats, and mugs.

Emirates is also encouraging festive kindness with its ‘You Donate, Emirates Doubles’ initiative, where the airline will match customer donations up to $10,000 to support the Emirates Airline Foundation. Donations can be made in any currency through envelopes onboard or via credit card, cheque, Skywards miles, or bank transfer.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has won three prestigious global titles at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2025 held in Bahrain. The airline was awarded World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class for the Etihad Airways Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport.

Sharing his thoughts on the achievement, Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, “Winning three global titles at the World Travel Awards is a testament to the passion and commitment our entire Etihad family brings to every journey. These awards reflect our dedication to delivering extraordinary experiences across every cabin and every touchpoint, from the moment our guests arrive at Zayed International Airport and onboard every flight. We are honoured to be recognised by industry peers and travellers as the World’s Leading Airline in Customer Experience, and we will continue raising the bar for excellence in global aviation.”

The awards highlight the airline’s strong performance over the past year and the high standards it maintains across its operations. Travel professionals from around the world nominated Etihad in 13 categories, including World’s Leading Airline, World’s Leading Airline Cabin Crew, and World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme, Etihad Guest. Zayed International Airport, the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi, was also nominated for World’s Leading Airport and World’s Leading Airport Customer Experience.

The year 2025 has been a milestone for Etihad. The airline witnessed remarkable growth and introduced several enhancements to improve passenger comfort. Among its notable achievements was the introduction of the A321LR aircraft in August. This new addition enabled major network expansion and set new standards for short and medium haul travel. The aircraft offers two private First Class suites, 14 fully-flat Business Class seats with direct aisle access, and 144 spacious Economy seats, all equipped with 4K screens and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Speaking about this development, Antonoaldo Neves added, “With the introduction of our new A321LR, we are able to offer a truly world-class experience on more routes and at greater frequency, making it easier than ever for guests from around the world to discover everything our home has to offer. Every enhancement we’ve made this year reflects our commitment to welcoming more travellers to Abu Dhabi with the highest levels of comfort and care.”

Earlier in the year, at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2025, Etihad won five regional titles, including World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, World’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment, World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class, and World’s Leading Cabin Crew.

The World Travel Awards, established more than 30 years ago, are regarded as one of the most respected recognitions in the global travel and tourism sector, celebrating excellence across all major segments of the industry.