Emirates, IHG sign MOU to boost SME travel

Emirates and IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore joint collaborations on programmes designed to meet the travel needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across global markets. Together, Emirates and IHG will explore ways to reach and engage with SMEs through value-added benefits and exclusive rewards to facilitate business travel. The hotel group will provide enhanced travel incentives and seamless integration with its extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts around the globe. Present at the signing ceremony was Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management, who commented: “With the SME segment playing a crucial role in fostering economic growth and creating jobs, Emirates is committed to supporting them with solutions and value-added propositions to meet their travel needs. We are pleased to collaborate with the leading hotel group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, to explore programmes that will be mutually beneficial to our valued customers. Together we aim to extend valuable benefits to our customers in the SME sector, while expanding our customer base in this very important segment.” Mark Sergot, SVP, Global Sales, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Emirates to redefine business travel for Small and Medium Enterprises worldwide. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to delivering exceptional value, seamless experiences, and exclusive rewards tailored to the unique needs of SMEs. By combining IHG’s hospitality expertise with Emirate’s global connectivity, we are unlocking new possibilities to empower businesses and drive growth across international markets.” Emirates Flight Catering breaks ground on new facility Emirates Flight Catering has broken ground on a new AED 160 million (USD 44 million) laundry facility at Dubai Investment Park, marking a major expansion of its laundry services arm, Linencraft. The move comes in response to soaring demand across the UAE’s hospitality, aviation, and healthcare sectors. The new site will increase Linencraft’s operational capacity by more than 50%, enabling it to onboard 40 new hospitality clients and create 400 direct jobs. Purpose-built for scalability and resilience, it integrates next-generation laundry equipment with advanced automation that enhances efficiency, reduces manual handling and supports consistent high-volume output. The facility’s design includes built-in redundancies across key processes to ensure uninterrupted operations, even during peak demand. At the same time, it incorporates energy-efficient systems to minimise environmental impact. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment for the UAE’s commercial laundry sector. With over 10,000 new hotel rooms expected by 2027, major international events on the horizon, and Dubai Airport’s expansion underway, demand for large-scale laundry services is set to rise sharply. In parallel, staff uniform and institutional laundry needs are also growing steadily across both public and private sectors, further driving the need for increased capacity and innovation. Shahreyar Nawabi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Flight Catering, said: “Linencraft has long set the benchmark for quality and reliability in the UAE’s laundry sector. This bold investment reflects both the scale of opportunity we see in the market and our determination to lead the industry forward. With this advanced facility, we’re not just increasing capacity – we’re setting new standards through smart technology and a sharp focus on sustainability.” Linencraft’s new facility is being delivered by ASIA Prime, a leading UAE-based general contracting and construction management firm. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]