Instone International Middle East sets sail in Dubai with Qatar Airways

Instone International Middle East operates as a franchise agreement between Dnata Agencies and Instone International, a global leader in the provision of premium travel management services to the world's marine, cruise and offshore sectors. It provides a broad range of marine services including fully integrated air-to-sea travel management.

The strategic partnership with Qatar Airways - the airline providing special crew travel fares for companies in the marine and offshore sectors, and Instone International promoting Qatar Airways to its clients - highlights Instone International's worldwide involvement with airlines which recognise the high revenue potential of marine accounts.

Globally, Instone International has specialist fares contracts with almost 100 airlines, including Emirates, Gulf Air, Etihad and Oman Air in the Middle East, with Qatar Airways being one of a select grouping of globally preferred partners.

Instone International Middle East and Qatar Airways will promote their partnership during SMEM; the highlight being the joint hosting of two tables at the Dubai International Maritime Awards.

Gary Chapman, President Emirates Group Services and Dnata said: "We're delighted that our Instone International regional expertise in providing marine travel services with an established global partner has been recognised by Qatar Airways.

"The SMEM event in Dubai will provide a powerful platform to promote the benefits of this partnership to our regional marine and offshore industry target market, and to an influential international marine industry audience."

The SMEM conference and exhibition is being staged as virtually all Middle East shipping sectors are experiencing regional growth. Shipping lines are showing steady increases in volume and freight rate levels, regional ports are expanding their facilities, and shipowners are investing in new ships and upgrades. Trade links between the Middle East and the Subcontinent are expanding, and the cruise tourism potential of the Gulf and Indian Ocean could soon be realised.

The U.A.E. is at the centre of this expansion, with Dubai as a premier business hub, promoting itself as a world shipping centre. Charterers, brokers, managers and insurers from across the globe are opening offices in Dubai, many planning to do so in the new Dubai Maritime City.

Dnata's Instone International division provides a broad range of marine travel services both off-the-peg and tailor-made, including visa services, integrated air-to-sea travel management, marine and offshore crew transfers, ship chandling, and other specialised services for the marine and offshore industry.

Dubai-based Dnata Agencies is the Middle East region's leading travel management company, with an extensive distribution network in the U.A.E. which has expanded to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Its infrastructure and wide-reaching trade network is a perfect fit for managing and distributing Instone International's specialist experience, products and services for all marine and offshore travel needs.