Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai has appointed Shanu Varughese as its new Director of Revenue. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Varughese brings a wealth of expertise in revenue management, pricing strategies, e-distribution, and business optimisation.

 

Varughese 's career trajectory includes his most recent role as Cluster Director of Revenue Management at Yas Plaza Hotels, where he managed six properties. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to enhance market share, guide sales teams, and maximise profitability across a range of hotel types, from upscale beach resorts to city properties and serviced apartments.

 

His career also includes leading hospitality brands such as Millennium Hotels & Resorts, JA Resorts & Hotels, and Rotana Hotels & Resorts, where he contributed to revenue growth, optimised rate strategies, and improved operational efficiency. Varughese’s proactive approach has been instrumental in building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring a balance between guest satisfaction and revenue generation.

 

In his new role at Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai, Shanu will oversee the hotel’s revenue management strategies, focusing on maximising profitability through dynamic pricing, demand forecasting, and distribution optimisation. He will work closely with the hotel’s senior leadership team to drive sustainable growth and ensure the hotel remains competitive in Dubai’s thriving hospitality market.

 

"We are thrilled to welcome Varughese to the Grand Millennium team. His extensive experience in revenue management, and leadership, and his strategic approach to market penetration will be invaluable as we continue to elevate our offerings and expand our reach in Dubai’s competitive landscape," said Andrea Strim Vice President of Hospitality, RTS Investments Group. -TradeArabia News Service

Maseera Holding for Financial Investments, a portfolio company of 2PointZero, a transformational global investment platform and a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC), today announced the successful acquisition of Adva, an innovative Egyptian consumer finance platform. 

 

This strategic transaction establishes Adva as Maseera’s dedicated technology and data analytics hub for North Africa and marks a critical milestone in Maseera’s regional expansion strategy.

 

Founded in 2020, Adva has emerged as a trailblazer in Egypt’s fintech sector, offering tailored financing for essential services such as healthcare and education. 

 

The platform has built an impressive track record serving Egypt’s underserved middle- and low-income segments, which represents demographics that are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. 

 

Its proprietary AI-driven credit scoring model utilizes alternative data, including mobile usage insights, to underwrite first-time borrowers and unlock access to finance at scale.

 

This move is part of Maseera’s broader growth strategy following its acquisition by 2PointZero. As announced earlier this year, 2PointZero has committed $1 billion in long-term capital to support Maseera’s mission of building a transcontinental platform focused on financial inclusion, initially targeting key underserved markets across the globe.

 

"In Adva, we found a company that shares our vision and values, particularly the belief that financial services must be accessible, affordable, and human-centered," said Amro Abouesh, CEO of Maseera. 

 

"Together, we will harness the power of data and AI to deliver transformative financial solutions tailored to Egypt’s middle and low-income segments," he added.

 

By integrating Maseera’s Advanced AI technologies, the combined platform is poised to redefine the customer experience in digital finance, creating faster, more inclusive, and highly personalized lending solutions for underserved populations across Egypt.

 

As part of its next phase of growth, Adva has applied for Egypt’s first digital consumer finance license, a regulatory breakthrough that will enable end-to-end onboarding through electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) procedures and legally binding e-signatures. 

 

This move positions Adva to dramatically reduce barriers to access for over 50 million underbanked Egyptians, in alignment with national priorities for financial inclusion and digital transformation.

 

Following the acquisition, Adva will exclusively focus on Egypt’s consumer finance market, developing tailored financial products for essential life needs while enhancing credit access for historically underserved groups.

ITA Airways has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, this decision paves the way for its much anticipated entry into one of the world’s largest airline alliances. The onboarding process will now move at full throttle.

 

Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias stated: “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially join the Star Alliance network as a full member. The decision by our Chief Executive Board underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways. As a gateway for Italy, its addition strengthens our global network, offering seamless and connected journeys to more travellers worldwide.”

 

Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “We are excited to join the Star Alliance network and to bring the excellence of Made in Italy into the alliance, further enhancing its global reach. This is a significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth, and we look forward to offering our customers the future privileges of the world’s largest airline network."

 

ITA Airways will add 360 daily flights to the Alliance network, further strengthening the Alliance’s footprint in the European region. The biggest growth will come from its home cities, especially Rome and Milan, which are currently served by 16 Star Alliance members collectively.

 

Leveraging their legacy within the Alliance, Lufthansa Group is mentoring ITA Airways through its integration journey into Star Alliance.

 

“I am proud that ITA Airways will become the fifth hub airline of the Lufthansa Group to join Star Alliance. As the mentor of the membership process, we will do our utmost to ensure a smooth and swift integration. ITA Airways’ future membership will provide Star Alliance customers with many new opportunities for personalised travel planning. I am confident that ITA Airways will be an excellent addition to the Star Alliance portfolio,” said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group.

 

Upon completing induction, the Star Alliance network will grow to 26 member airlines, offering over 18,000 daily flights connecting 192 countries.-TradeArabia News Service