Archive for category: News

 8 April 2021, Dubai – SOCIATE, a one-stop communications agency based in Dubai with a creative arm in London, has diversified its services with the launch of SOCIALITE, an exclusive new Influencer Relationship agency.

Opening its digital doors on April 8, SOCIALITE was officially announced at SOCIATE’s Blogger Mingle. Offering tailor-made activations for cross-industry clients, SOCIALITE works with bloggers and brands of all sizes.

SOCIALITE is an inclusive agency; working with bloggers that may just be starting their journey and with veteran influencers. SOCIALITE is also committed to offering creative solutions to brands with a variety of budgets.

“Social media influencers are an excellent way to connect with a brand’s target audience and complement their media relations strategy. I have been fortunate to work with countless incredibly energetic and talented influencers and bloggers, and I look forward to forging new relationships through SOCIALITE”, says Rosa Bullock, Founder of SOCIALITE and SOCIATE.

While SOCIALITE is headquartered in Dubai, it can also facilitate influencer activations worldwide. Stay tuned to SOCIALITE’s Instagram page @socialite.ae for the latest updates and collaborations.

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About SOCIATE: SOCIATE, founded in 2015, is a communications agency headquartered in Dubai with a branch in London. Each vertical of the business is unique – fuelled by a combination of enthusiasm and industry expertise. With its diverse services, SOCIATE caters to a host of local and international clients spanning various industries.

Dubai, 7th April, 2021: PRCA MENA is pleased to announce that Hill+Knowlton Strategies METIA’s Karim Khafaji and Aliasgar Gulshan have won the MENA Young Lions PR competition 2021 for their 6 Degrees of Empowerment campaign. The star pairing will go on to represent MENA at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Karim and Aliasgar have won the MENA Regional competition, responding to a brief from Young Arab Leaders (YAL). Each team had 24 hours to create a fresh and innovative campaign that would encourage UAE-based businesses to invest in actively supporting Young Arab Leaders’ vision and mission.

Using behavioural science, the winning pair’s campaign aimed to reach genuine prospective supporters through social sharing and word-of-mouth, calling on influential YAL members’ LinkedIn network to ‘Pledge to Empower.

Commenting on Karim Khafaji and Aliasgar Gulshan campaign, Alex Malouf, Corporate Communications Director MEA at Schneider Electric & Young Lions PR MENA Competition Judge 2021: “This was a challenging brief on one of the biggest issues facing the Arab world, namely that of job creation and entrepreneurship,” said Alex, “Every team brought something special to the competition, and all the judges were especially impressed by the finalists. Their research into the issue, their strategic approach, and their creativity was exemplary. The MENA winners, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Karim and Aliasgar, will do the region proud at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Best of luck to them.”

 

PRCA MENA General Manager Hayley Clements MPRCA said:

“This is a wonderful achievement from Hill+Knowlton’s Karim and Aliasgar. They rose above fierce competition. Their concept was clear, well researched, and underpinned by the power of behavioural science. MENA is going to be well represented at the Cannes Lions International Festival – the rest of the competition better watch out!”

The UK Young Lions Competition was sponsored by ICCO and PRovoke.

 

WHO WE ARE

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body.

We represent more than 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide. With offices in London, Singapore, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, we are a global advocate for excellence in public relations.

Our mission is to create a more professional, ethical, and prosperous PR industry. We champion – and enforce – professional standards in the UK and overseas through our Professional Charter and Code of Conduct. The Code compels members to adhere to the highest standards of ethical practice.

We deliver exceptional training, authoritative industry data, and global networking and development opportunities. We also manage the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the umbrella body for 41 PR associations and 3,000 agencies across the world, and LG Comms – the UK’s national body for authorities raising standards of local government communication.

 

 

Dubai, UAE, 31 March 2021 – Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has appointed Houbara Communications to raise awareness about its new, seasonal flight route between Dubai and the Seychelles, operating from 27 March until 29 May 2021.

Content marketing agency Houbara Communications works with clients to optimize content and conversations in an omni-channel world, creating maximum impact and delivering results for clients. Commenting on the appointment, Loretta Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Houbara Communications said: “The announcement of the new flight route is not just a great milestone for Air Seychelles, but one that is a positive sign for the tourism industry of both countries, as national vaccination programmes are well underway and traveller confidence starts to build. We have the right mix of paid, shared and earned media to create a great impact to drive bookings for Air Seychelles.”

The Indian ocean archipelago is among the world leaders in vaccinating its population, with almost 70% inoculated. Similarly, the UAE recently announced that over 50% of its population has received their COVID-19 vaccine, with both countries continuing to implement strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The seasonal flight schedule has been carefully timed to meet all travel segments, with departures from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 set on Saturday mornings and returning flights on Friday afternoon, providing travellers a full week of relaxation in the Seychelles at an affordable price.

“Tourism remains one of the main pillars of the Seychelles economy – with the UAE having a significant rate of its population vaccinated and the Seychelles recently opening up to global tourism, we saw this as a great opportunity to launch this seasonal flight route. The advantages that it presents travellers, from the convenient flight timings, through to the attractive fare, create a great story and we are confident that Houbara Communications will help us tell it to the UAE audience in the most effective way,” commented Remco Althuis, CEO, Air Seychelles.

 

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About Houbara Communications 

Houbara Communications is an integrated creative and content-driven communications consultancy with partners across the Middle East. The team comprises over 20 consultants, with almost half of the culturally diverse team speaking Arabic as a first language. In 2019, Loretta Ahmed completed the acquisition of Grayling Middle East from Huntsworth Plc to become an independent agency, cementing a 20-year presence in the UAE and beginning a whole new chapter.

Houbara remain part of Huntsworth’s global family, representing their global clients across the Middle East and providing regional clients with access to their global network.

For more information, please visit www.houbaracomms.com

About Air Seychelles

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, was established in 1978 and began long-haul service in 1983. As the main driver of tourism in Seychelles, it is a core pillar of the national economy.

The airline offers international flights to Johannesburg, Mauritius, Mumbai and Tel Aviv as well as charter services on demand. On the domestic network, Air Seychelles operates daily domestic flights between Mahe and Praslin as well as charter services throughout the archipelago.

In 2020, Air Seychelles won the most coveted title of ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline’ at the World Travel Awards. The full service carrier was also recognized as ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Business Class’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Cabin Crew ’at World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Winners Day.

Press contact

Joann Joseph

Senior Account Executive

+971 52 104 3582

Joann.joseph@houbaracomms.com

Jeddah 23 March 2021:

The travel, tourism, and hospitality industry suffered devastating effects since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reporting that international tourist arrivals were down 70 percent globally in January-August 2020 compared to the same period of 2019.  A cross-cutting economic activity unlike any other, tourism will need to be an important priority for future recovery efforts as countries are beginning to lift travel restrictions, roll out vaccine programmes and focus on promoting domestic tourism.

The tourism sector has always proven to be resilient and while demand for international travel currently remains low, domestic tourism is strengthening significantly. Countries are looking for ways to re-boot, restore visitor confidence and reshape tourism in the post COVID-19 future.  Now is the time for the travel industry and governments to reinforce coordination efforts that will restore the sector and create the structural transformation needed to build a stronger, sustainable, and resilient tourism economy.  

 

Effective PR and communications will be essential in ensuring continued reassurance and confidence to secure the trust of stakeholders.  Both industry and consumer media outlets are craving reliable information and advice on how to navigate the path forward in uncertain times. The brands that are active now with thought leadership and creative content will secure the best position when it is time to rebound.

 

“With public opinion of travel still volatile, businesses must redefine their communications using strategies and tactics that promote safety and responsible travel.  Destination marketing will need to shift from promoting travel to promoting safety and supporting local communities.” advises Abdulrahman Inayat, Director and Co-Founder of W7Worldwide.  “During Covid-19 you need to react in real time, constantly pivoting messaging and content to address what customers and journalists want to know right now.”

 

Attitudes, motivations, and preferences of tourists and business travellers will have changed – perhaps forever.  The interim plan is straightforward in capturing as much domestic business as possible and to begin to encourage audiences to plan for the future by tapping into what they are most excited about after lockdown, such as the resumption of freedom, nature, a much deserved holiday after stressful times, reuniting with relatives and loved ones abroad.

 

W7Worldwide developed a 7-Step Guide for Hospitality and Tourism operators to formulate the right communications strategies that will help rebuild towards recovery.  This includes stakeholder mapping in a changed business environment, adapting messaging, maximising the use of digital channels to take advantage of higher on-line consumption, engaging in sector co-operation and public affairs efforts, proactive media relations tailored to local market needs, direct marketing and planning for the future. (Click Here to Read Full Report).

The industry was healthy before the pandemic hit and while we do not know exactly when, we can be certain that travellers will be back.  Recovery will not be identical in different parts of the world and will run to different timelines. This means brands have to continually re-evaluate what the competitive landscape might look like post-recovery and take steps now to be ready to gain market share, enter new markets, and offer new products.  W7Worldwide’s Communications Strategy and Planning Guide will help travel and tourism brands make that recovery period healthier.

As a full-service and multi-award-winning marketing communications agency, W7Worldwide has extensive experience of working with local, regional and international travel companies to successfully steer them through the crisis.

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W7Worldwide’s Crisis Communications Division Developed A 7-step Guide for Communications Strategies to Rebuild the Tourism Industry post COVID-19:

 

• Develop Stakeholder Mapping
• Adapt Your Messaging
• Leverage Digital Channels
• Cooperate with the Public Affairs
• Activate Traditional Media
• Adapt Direct Marketing
• Ensure Business Resilience

 

Source: W7Worldwide Marketing Communications Consultancy Agency, March 2021. 

Read the full report (here)

To fill in the questionnaire, please check (here)

For more information:

Our Official Website: http://www.w7worldwide.com/

Jeddah – Saudi Arabia

T: +966 12 661 4579

M: +966 56 720 1039

E: info@w7worldwide.com

W: www.w7worldwide.com

 

About W7Worldwide

W7Worldwide is an independent marketing communications consultancy based in Saudi Arabia. Our deeply rooted understanding of the local market merged with our global reach and knowledge enables us to help our clients truly connect with their audiences. We are passionate about bridging the communications gap that exists in the local market. Therefore, our expertise lies in devising innovative strategies to build bridges that establish and sustain relationships while affirming brand reputation and value for our partners.

• Reputation Management
• Stakeholder Mapping
• Crisis Management
• Media Relations
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Marketing & Brand Solutions

 

 

The NextGen and NextGen Arabia committees are aimed at providing events, information, support and advice to young PR professionals.

 

Dubai, UAE – 23 March 2021: On 23rd March 2021 the Middle East and North Africa branch of the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA MENA) has announced the launch of its NextGen Group. Split by language into two committees, NextGen and NextGen Arabia,  the campaign is PRCA MENA’s latest campaign aimed at providing events, information, support and advice to practicing PR and communications professionals from a graduate to an Account Director level across the MENA region.

The group will be dedicated to supporting those just starting out or those that have been practicing for years, whilst equipping practitioners with all the tools needed to achieve significant career progression. It will offer a forum for discussion, sharing peer-to-peer advice and experiences, and provide inspirational figures to learn from and encourage growth and creativity.

Focused on igniting ambition, the group will highlight what constitutes great PR and communications sharing best practice and breaking down competitive barriers within the industry, all the while promoting the importance of PR and communications as a profession. With a strong emphasis on industry collaboration, the NextGen group will unite young practitioners from across the region, encouraging their growth as future leaders of public relations.

Commenting on the launch of the NextGen Group, Hayley Clements, General Manager of the PRCA MENA commented: “It’s important we empower and support our young and emerging talent in the region by giving them the right tools and support to make informed decisions about their career. Both NextGen MENA & NextGen Arabia will help young Arabic professionals build a community where they can share their experiences, learn, grow, and more importantly, showcase their amazing talent.”

Upon her appointment as NextGen Chair, Bianca Riley, Account Director at Atteline commented: “I am honoured to be the Chair of the NextGen group for PRCA MENA. Growth and coaching are two passions of mine, both personally and professionally, so to be able to bring this passion into an incubator for young PR minds such as the youth and other members of the PRCA is such an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to work alongside the group’s amazing Vice-Chair, Suzanne Kanianthra, as well as our 9 committee members, to bring this group and its objectives to the forefront of PR discussion in the region.”

Raghad ElAssi, NextGen Arabia Chair and Senior Public Relations Specialist at OSN comments: “It’s a great honour to mentor industry professionals and help them navigate the emerging industry landscape as the Chair of PRCA Next Gen Arabia. It’s an exciting time for the upcoming Arabic professionals in the Middle East, and I want to take this opportunity to create a relevant platform to enlighten and connect young professionals with their peers and support next generations. As Chair, I want to hear the community’s ideas to guide and provide strategic value, with the help of the group’s Vice-Chair Nasr Ankar and the talented committee members, in order to scale and elevate the group’s objectives.”.

PRCA MENA’s NextGen and NextGen Arabia Groups are composed of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and appointed committee representatives drawn from over 70 PRCA MENA corporate members from across the region.

 

The NextGen MENA Committee is made up of:

Chair: Bianca Riley, CMPRCA, Account Director, Atteline

Vice-Chair: Suzanne Kanianthra, MPRCA, Senior Account Manager, Golin MENA

Committee Members:

• Rhea Mathew, Communications Consultant
• Michael Hylton, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Joumana Saad, Communications Consultant
• Reem -Al-Ajeel, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Melinda Mesiano, Account Director, M&C Saatchi
• Shaleen Sukthankar, Senior Account Manager, Weber Shandwick MENAT
• Nisha Idicula, Senior Consultant, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
• Mai Elsayed, Account Manager, Seven Media
• Yousef Batter, Account Manager, Hill+Knowlton Strategies

 

The NextGen Arabia Committee is made up of:

Chair: Raghad ElAssi, CMPRCA, Senior Public Relations Specialist, OSN

Vice-Chair: Nasr Ankar, MPRCA, Account Manager, Action Global Communications

Committee Members:

• Raneem Abudaqqa, Consultant, Instinctif Partners MENA
• Maryam Danagege, Senior Arabic PR Executive, SOCIATE
• Hanine El Massri, Account Manager, M&C Saatchi
• Ahmed Malik, Account Manager, Cicero and Bernay Public Relations
• Tala Al Massri, Account Executive, Cicero and Bernay Public Relations
• Kareem Salam, Consultant, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
• Maya Samman, Senior Account Manager, Markettiers MENA
• Nour Aboulaban, Account Manager, Markettiers MENA

For more information, visit the PRCA NextGen micro-site or follow the PRCA MENA on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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WHO WE ARE

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body.

We represent more than 35,000 PR professionals in 70 countries worldwide. With offices in London, Singapore, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, we are a global advocate for excellence in public relations.

Our mission is to create a more professional, ethical, and prosperous PR industry. We champion – and enforce – professional standards in the UK and overseas through our Professional Charter and Code of Conduct. The Code compels members to adhere to the highest standards of ethical practice.

We deliver exceptional training, authoritative industry data, and global networking and development opportunities. We also manage the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the umbrella body for 41 PR associations and 3,000 agencies across the world, and LG Comms – the UK’s national body for authorities raising standards of local government communication.

 

Press contact information – Hayley Clements, General Manager, PRCA MENA

Hayley.clements@prca.mena.global | +971564080964