This summer, Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi, operated by Minor Hotels, invites guests to discover a different side of its serene coastal sanctuary as it celebrates its annual Date Harvest Season. From July to September, the luxury retreat’s 450 date palm trees bear around six varieties of dates, inspiring curated guest experiences that celebrate the UAE’s treasured fruit through farm tours, culinary creations, botanical beverages and wellness.

At the heart of the season is the Date Farm Tour, led by in-house Retreat Date Storyteller, Nadia Bouassia, where guests explore the palm farm, learn about the harvest and taste freshly picked dates. In the lobby, a curated date display extends the experience with a seasonal tasting station on arrival.

Guests can experience the harvest beyond the palm farm through a curated selection of optional culinary and beverage offerings, including culinary classes featuring the retreat’s signature date pudding and Jewel of Al Jarf, a botanical drink made with dates, tamarind and honey. At breakfast, date seed coffee offers a thoughtful expression of the season, with seeds carefully air-dried, roasted, ground and brewed to showcase the harvest in a distinctive new way.

The season’s most distinctive wellness highlight is the Tamr Al Nakheel Ritual (Dates of the Palm Ritual), a 90-minute spa journey featuring dates harvested from the retreat’s own palm trees. The ritual celebrates the fruit’s natural richness in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals. Designed to hydrate, soften, and revitalise the skin, the experience begins with a nourishing body wrap made with freshly harvested dates and milk, accompanied by a relaxing head massage. Following a refreshing shower, guests continue with a soothing full-body massage using rich shea butter to deeply moisturise and replenish the skin. The ritual concludes with the retreat’s signature Golden Harvest Elixir, crafted from its own dates for a naturally energising finish.

“It is amazing to see how the fruit of these precious trees has inspired experiences across the retreat, from arrival and dining to beverage and now spa and wellness,” said Rachid Bakas, General Manager of Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi. “Every summer, we harvest more than 3,200 kilograms of dates, and this has become an integral part of our sustainability initiatives. Beyond creating meaningful guest experiences, the harvest also allows us to give back to the community. While we are a Greek-inspired luxury retreat, we are deeply connected to our setting in the Emirates, and celebrating the date harvest is a beautiful way to honour the destination we proudly call home.”

Inspired by the effortless elegance of the Greek islands, Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi is an adults-only luxury retreat set along the coastline between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Home to just 22 keys, including a royal suite, the retreat offers an intimate escape defined by sea views, curated dining, wellness experiences and personalised hospitality. Blending Mediterranean-inspired design with the warmth of its Emirati setting, the retreat is a soulful hideaway where privacy, tranquillity and destination-led experiences create a distinctive coastal sanctuary in the UAE.

Atlys, the travel technology company enabling travellers to apply for visas across 120+ destinations, has opened its first experience centre at BurJuman Mall, Dubai. The walk-in space offers expert, in-person visa guidance and marks Atlys’ first physical presence worldwide.

The UAE is Atlys’ largest market outside India. International markets, including the US, the UK and Australia, now account for nearly 50% of the company’s business, with the UAE being the top contributor. Home to one of the world’s largest expatriate populations and a global hub for business and leisure travel, the UAE has been central to Atlys’ global strategy since the company entered the market in 2024.

The experience centre is designed to bring confidence to a process that often carries uncertainty. A visa application can hold the weight of the trip itself, and the ability to walk into a customer-first space, meet an expert, have documents reviewed and see exactly how an application is handled offers a level of assurance that matters most when the stakes are high. The store will also strengthen Atlys’ presence in the region, making the brand more visible and accessible to travellers across the UAE.

Commenting on the launch, Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys, said “Our mission has always been to remove friction from international travel, and the visa is where that journey begins. The experience centre gives travellers another way to engage with Atlys: expert guidance at the store, with the same speed and transparency as the app. The UAE sits at the centre of global travel and of our own growth, and that made it the right home for our first store.”

The launch follows Atlys’ $36 million Series C round earlier this year, led by Susquehanna Asia VC, with participation from existing investors Elevation Capital, Long Journey Ventures and Peak XV Partners. MakeMyTrip also joined the round as a strategic investor. The funding is being deployed to expand into new international markets, consolidate the company’s leadership in regions where it already operates, and accelerate its AI roadmap across the visa lifecycle. Atlys is on an annualised run rate of more than 700,000 visas and has grown 11x since its Series B in 2024.

Located on the 3rd Floor of BurJuman Mall, the experience centre is a relaxed, travel-focused space. Travellers can walk in to discuss their travel plans with expert advisors, have documents reviewed and understand their approval chances before applying. The team also provides guidance on demanding applications where preparation matters most. Applications can be completed in-store, with everything after that managed through the Atlys app.

By Dr Ryan Copeland, Regional Medical Director, Middle East, International SOS

Peak summer travel has become one of the most demanding periods for professionals, executives, and frontline employees across industries. Whether your organization operates in aviation, hospitality, logistics, retail, or corporate services, the season brings intensified workloads, higher customer expectations, and increased environmental stressors. Protecting employee wellbeing isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a strategic business priority that directly influences performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term organizational resilience.

The Business Case for Prioritizing Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing during peak travel season is strongly correlated with operational reliability. Heat exposure, disrupted sleep patterns, crowded environments, and elevated stress levels can reduce cognitive performance by up to 20–30%, impacting decision making, safety, and productivity. For businesses, this translates into:

•            Operational delays

•            Higher error rates

•            Increased absenteeism

•            Lower customer satisfaction scores

•            Reduced employee engagement

Protecting wellbeing isn’t a “soft” initiative – it’s a risk management strategy that safeguards revenue, brand reputation, and workforce stability.

Key Summer Stressors Affecting the Workforce

• Extreme heat exposure: Outdoor teams, airport staff, drivers, and hospitality workers face prolonged heat, increasing risk of dehydration and heat related illness.

• High passenger and customer volumes: More interactions, more complaints, and more pressure on service teams.

• Irregular schedules: Shift workers and traveling professionals often experience disrupted sleep and circadian misalignment.

• Travel fatigue: Executives and mobile employees face long transit times, crowded terminals, and reduced recovery windows.

• Environmental irritants: Sun exposure, poor air quality, and humidity can worsen respiratory conditions and fatigue.

These factors compound, creating a unique seasonal strain that businesses must proactively address.

Strategic Measures to Protect Employee Wellbeing

Below are targeted, business aligned strategies that support workforce health and performance during peak summer travel.

1. Heat Safety Protocols

Implement structured cooling breaks, shaded rest areas, and hydration stations. Equip teams with breathable uniforms and ensure managers monitor heat index levels daily.

2. Smart Scheduling

Use data driven scheduling to reduce consecutive long shifts, limit overnight rotations, and build in recovery periods. Predictive staffing models help prevent burnout and absenteeism.

3. Travel Health Guidance

Offer employees practical guidance on hydration, sleep hygiene, sun protection, and nutrition during travel. Encourage them to avoid heavy meals before flights and maintain consistent sleep routines.

4. Workload Redistribution

Balance staffing across departments to avoid bottlenecks. Temporary cross training can reduce pressure on overstretched teams.

5. Mental Health Support

Provide access to short form counselling, digital wellbeing tools, and stress management resources. Normalize micro breaks and encourage leaders to model healthy behaviours.

6. Environmental Controls

Optimize indoor air quality, adjust cooling systems, and ensure proper ventilation in high traffic areas.

The Leadership Imperative

Executives and managers play a pivotal role in shaping a culture that values wellbeing. During peak travel season, leadership should:

• Communicate expectations clearly and early

• Reinforce safety protocols

• Encourage employees to report fatigue or heat stress

• Celebrate small wins to maintain morale

• Monitor performance metrics for signs of strain

A proactive leadership stance reduces risk and strengthens organizational trust.

Supporting Traveling Employees

Many businesses rely on employees who travel extensively during summer – sales teams, consultants, medical staff, and operational leaders. Protecting their wellbeing requires:

• Flexible travel policies that allow for rest periods

• Access to telehealth for quick medical support

• Guidelines for safe hydration and sun exposure

• Encouragement to use airport lounges or quiet zones

• Clear expectations around after-hours communication

These measures help maintain cognitive sharpness, reduce fatigue, and support sustained performance.

Building a Resilient Workforce

Organizations that invest in wellbeing during peak summer travel see measurable returns:

• Higher productivity

• Lower turnover

• Stronger customer satisfaction

• Reduced medical claims

• Improved brand reputation

Wellbeing is not a seasonal initiative; it’s a year-round business strategy. But summer demands heightened attention due to environmental and operational pressures.

Final Thought

Peak summer travel is a high stakes period for businesses. Protecting employee wellbeing isn’t just compassionate; it’s commercially smart. By implementing structured safety measures, supporting mental and physical health, and empowering leaders to prioritize wellbeing, organizations can navigate the season with resilience, efficiency, and confidence.