A multimedia brand set up by Aspire parent company Jacobs Media Group to connect the travel and hospitality sectors in the Middle East has become the region’s B2B market-leader in under six months.

Connecting Travel offers news and features in English and Arabic and has a portfolio including a website, email news bulletins and events. In addition to informing and connecting the industry, it also serves to showcase the region to international partners.

Since its launch in May, it has established a 55% share of the market, according to tracking service Similarweb, and is on target to deliver more than 300,000 visitors in its first year.

It has also established partnerships in key growth areas in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, including the first in the GCC with cruise industry body Clia to provide bespoke cruise coverage and newsletters.

Connecting Travel is free to access and is forecast to deliver more than one million page views this year.

Clive Jacobs, chairman of Jacobs Media Group, said: “The growth of Connecting Travel hasn’t surprised me.

“We entered the market as we felt the Middle East region needed the quality of journalism and trusted content we have been providing since our launch in May, and our disproportionate traffic growth against established players in the market backs up these views.

“I said that we wanted to lead the conversation, and we’re doing just that.”

Jacobs said Connecting Travel had become “an indispensable source of news, content and analysis” across the GCC, with further growth and expansion planned.