TTME April 2014

Pages: 16

A DDP PUBLICATION

ddppl.com

travtalkmiddleeast.com

Vol. X No. 4; April 2014

A booming medical tourism hub ..........................................................................03 Dubai targets 20mn tourists by 2020 ....................................................................06 Qatar Airways continues ME expansion

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All roads lead to Riyadh this April The sixth edition of Riyadh Travel Fair will take place from April 15-18, 2014. It will be open to the travel and tourism sector, as well as the general public. This year, it welcomes national tourism organisations like Qatar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are participating for the first time.

S U S M I TA G H O S H t has been confirmed by ASAS Exhibitions that this year’s edition is to be the largest till date, with an 18 per cent increase in exhibitors, compared to 2013. There is also a prospective increase of 20 per cent in the number of visitors expected.

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Bander Al Gryni, General Manager, ASAS Exhibitions and Organizer of the Riyadh Travel Fair mentioned, "It will be the largest event held so far, and will strengthen therefore our reputation as a leading travel and tourism exhibition in the Kingdom. Last year’s fair welcomed 13,678 visitors. The total number of visitors for the 2014 edition is expected to increase further by 15,000– 20,000 visitors.”

The most important advantage of attending Riyadh Travel Fair as an exhibitor is the opportunity to meet and carry out business directly with the Saudi travel trade and industry representatives. The

timing of the event also provides an excellent platform to launch new products and packages, as it is held just prior to the peak summer booking season.

“This year’s event will witness a remarkable diversity of exhibitors. In fact, exhibitors hailing from Asia, Oceania, Europe and North Africa will be present, along with travel and tourism agencies and online booking site representatives. Riyadh Travel Fair is a four-day event that brings together the leading and essential regional organisations from the entire field of tourism under one roof,” he further informed.

KSA is the key market for Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and hence, Riyadh Travel Fair is important for them. “There has been a consistent increase in Saudi leisure travellers to Abu Dhabi and Yas Island, and we strongly believe this trend will continue. Participating for the first time, we hope RTF 2014 will allow us to gain exposure, connect with the target market

Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is the permanent partner of the travel fair.

Bander Al Gryni

Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri

Ibrahim Korkut

General Manager, ASAS Exhibitions and Organizer of the Riyadh Travel Fair

Acting Executive Director of Tourism Ecosystems, TCA Abu Dhabi

Director of Sales and Marketing Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

The number of visitors this year may further increase by 15,000–20,000 visitors

In 2013, near 84,668 Saudi visitors checked into Abu Dhabi’s hotels, a 20% rise over 2012

There has been a consistent rise in Saudi leisure tourists to Abu Dhabi and Yas Island

and showcase the activities and facilities that we have at Yas Island,” asserted Ibrahim Korkut, Director of Sales and Marketing, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi.

“The exclusive and luxurious proposition of Yas Viceroy Hotel, combined with other Yas Island’s attractions like Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World, will fit perfectly with

RTF. And we hope this is the beginning of a profitable partnership,” he added.

Heading the national authority participants is the Abu

Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director of Tourism Ecosystems, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority emphasised, “The show is key to us, as it reaches the important Saudi travel trade, media and the consumers.

Participating in RTF last year, our stakeholders got the chance to update their clients on all the latest developments of our destination. We believe this activation played a role in the increasing number of Saudi visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi. ” He added, “In 2013, some 84,668 Saudi visitors checked into Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments, clocking a 20 per cent rise over 2012. These Saudi Arabian guests in 2013 delivered 193,287 guest nights, which was a Year-on-Year lift of 26 Contd. on page 8

EXHIBITIONS

A booming medical tourism hub Dubai is recognised for its world-class healthcare infrastructure and is continually progressing towards becoming an industry leader in medical travel. Relocated from Monaco to Dubai, the 2nd International Medical Travel Exhibition & Conference (IMTEC) took place from March 5-6, 2014.

S U S M I TA G H O S H or the first time under the guidance of Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, organisers of the Arab Health Exhibition & Congress, IMTEC 2014 brought together consumers and service providers in the global medical tourism industry to the Middle East.

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Simon Page, Managing Director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions informed, “The move from Monte Carlo to Dubai is a strategic one. Dubai is a tourism, trade and logistics hub.

It also has a thriving healthcare industry, possibly the highest percentage of healthcare investments in the region, and the optimum geographical location right in the centre, which makes it the perfect venue for this event.”

Hosting an event like IMTEC in the Middle East and specifically in Dubai is very important.

It’s due to the optimum logistic location, the availability of excellent medical facilities, multilingual practitioners and the multicultural aspect of the city.

A three pronged approach like infrastruc-

Novotel opens new hotel ture, regulations and support systems should be implemented to promote health tourism.

Healthcare is a labour intensive industry and highly skilled healthcare talent needs to be generated.

Labour market regulation is necessary for the sustainability of hospitals and to maintain consistent high medical standards.

Medical tourism also depends on smooth immigration policy of the country. A network of direct and non-stop flight availability from the identified health

tourism catchment areas and special packages for the patients and families travelling on medical visa will help in building the health tourism industry.

The Middle Eastern health authorities are taking great strides to improve infrastructure in both primary care and specialist care.

Consequently, the Middle East is now attracting its own medical tourists to benefit from the quality healthcare provided. The health authorities in Dubai are investing heavily in developing the medical tourism sector.

Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan opened its doors on March 16, 2014. The 4 Star, 361-room hotel has six F&B outlets, seven meeting rooms, a ballroom, plus recreation and wellness facilities. Dominique Mercier, General Manager of the property enthused, “We are delighted to have opened the hotel, reaching the next chapter in our ongoing journey to deliver high quality accommodation for our guests.” He added, “Guests can now choose based on the duration of their stay. The Novotel brand is synonymous with providing exemplary 4 - star, short-term accommodation, whilst for longer stays we will soon have the Adagio hotel apartments.”

Adagio Al Bustan will open in Q2 of 2014, and will be connected to the Novotel property through a series of enclosed footbridges.

GUEST COLUMN EDITORIAL

RTF 2014 to draw more visitors ith the stated aim of investment,promotion, development and sustainability of the travel & tourism sector in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2014 is hoping to be the largest till date.

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Offering an inventive view We, at the Byblos Hospitality Group, always look to expand our relations with the UAE travel trade community, as it helps us realise our goal of providing an innovative outlook to a firmly established industry. n 35 years, since my arrival, I have witnessed a tremendous surge in the hospitality industry here in the UAE. It inspired me to set down roots to the establishment of the Byblos Hospitality Management as a consistently reliable partner, both to our guests and our investors.

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The Fair is getting more popular as can be gauged from the fact that several new countries will be participating for the first time like Qatar, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. In fact, exhibitors from Asia, Oceania, Europe and North Africa will be present, along with travel and tourism agencies and online booking site representatives.

We frequently partner with local travel trade and attend roadshows led by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, (DTCM) or familiarisation trips. Our client portfolio is largely composed of the UK, Europe and the Middle East like Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and the GCC, including corporations, colleges, universities, and sports leagues both large and small, and local markets like Abu Dhabi.

After arriving in the UAE in 1979, being the CEO and founder of the Group, I have witnessed the growth, development and flourishing of the hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai. Such success fostered the strength and inspired me to build a firm background to the establishment of Byblos Hospitality Management.

Since then, all these factors contributed to set up a stellar reputation within the hospitality industry dedicated to Byblos Hospitality

Anchored in the heart of Al Barsha Tecom area, Byblos Hotel, a modern 4 star concept, offers Lebanese hospitality with the perfect location to

: SanJeet : Sumeera Bahl : Deepa Sethi : Susmita Ghosh : Archana Sharma : Ramya J.S. D’Rozario : Nityanand Misra : Crisna De Guzman : Geetika Pathak : Ashok Rana : Anil Kharbanda

suit the needs of both business and leisure travellers.

catering with a production facility in Al Quoz.

Capturing inspiration from the vibrant culture of Russia and perfectly blending it with the modern strokes of Dubai, the Moscow Hotel is an experience not to be missed.Broadway Hotel, a boutique hotel, is ideally located in Deira market frequented by the UAE and GCC guests.

Bazerkan Lebanese Restaurant embraces the true flavour of Lebanon and brings a family style experience.

Located at Capitol Hotel, JBR The Walk and at Marina (Silverene Tower), the various branches offer an exclusive ambience. With regard to business related to hospitality in the past years, January 2014 stands as the best year revenue with an increase of 30 per cent from January 2013.

In future, we aim to launch several hotel projects like the Byblos Bay Hotel, a property we are co-developing with Landmark at the business bay, Dubai which is expected to be ready by 2017. Also, Byblos Hospitality has been involved in developing a small personalised 84-room hotel at Deira ‘Al Sarab Hotel’, a 3 star hotel due to be ready and operational by June 2014, which will be managed by Byblos Hospitality.

ness district of Dubai, just few minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre, the Capitol Hotel capitalises on travel for business and pleasure.

With regards to our other properties across the globe, Byblos Niagara Resort and Spa (formerly the Holiday Inn Grand Island) is worth mentioning. Ideal for professional and pleasure tourism, the property is located on the banks of the upper Niagara River, and the hotel is just 15 minutes away from downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Ontario, Canada. Close to Dubai’s main business areas, Marina Byblos Hotel, a 4 star concept, has the perfect location to suit the needs of both business and leisure travellers.

The primary advantage of attending the Fair as an exhibitor is the opportunity to meet for business directly with the Saudi travel trade and industry representatives. The opportunities for B2B development are immense, as the most important buyers from the region will be present.

Publisher Director Editor Assistant Editor (ME) Desk Editor Sub Editor Design Business Development Manager Manager Advertising Circulation Manager Manager Production

Our range consists of six luxury hotels in the UAE, with the Capitol Hotel being its crown jewel as the finest 4 star property in Dubai. Strategically located in the heart of the busi-

Being the CEO & founder of the Group, I have witnessed the growth and flourishing of the hospitality and tourism industry in Dubai

ASAS Exhibitions and Conference Organizing Company is anticipating an 18 per cent increase in exhibitors, compared to 2013. Riyadh Travel Fair 2013 welcomed 13,678 visitors. The total number of visitors for the 2014 edition is expected to be up by 15,000 to 20,000, due to extra headroom.

While outbound destinations have traditionally played a key role within the exhibition, RTF 2014 will seek to introduce and promote Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential. It will highlight the growth in this sector locally and the services and programmes that are on offer to Saudi residents and Gulf tourists alike, whether as domestic or international travellers. The visitors will be able to interact directly with various tourist agencies, hotels, airlines and travel agents from across the world. It is the optimal platform for tourism organisations and industry leaders from the Arabian Gulf, wider region and from around the world to display their tourism products, services and investment opportunities to the Saudi tourism and consumer market.

Management’s bold mission to deliver superior results for its owners, investors, partners and guests.

We are proud to announce that Byblos Hospitality has been awarded the contract to develop the requisitioned unique, iconic plot of land at the trunk of The Palm where we have accomplished all needed licenses and design to build up a 145-room 4 star hotel, with attractive outlets and facilities, due to be ready in 2017.

In addition to hotels, Byblos Hospitality has a chain of model coffee shops created since 1991, ‘La Gaufrette’ with branches at Deira City Center, Tecom (Cayan Tower) and Marina (Silverene Tower), while ‘La Gaufrette Catering’ covers all cuisine facilities of outside

All existing Byblos Hospitality hotels and restaurants are operating above budget. However, challenges remain in expansion, since one has to carefully evaluate the location of the new property. Footfall in Dubai is rising, and new developments are constantly taking place, and therefore a proper study of the market is required.

Each of our properties has its own market and clientele, which makes it challenging to juggle the diversity from one property to the next.

Jean Samman Chairman Byblos Hospitality

India Tourism in South Africa, Mauritius India Tourism recently conducted roadshows in Mauritius and South Africa, as these countries emerged as major tourism generating markets, which is also growing at a consistent pace. The

tourism roadshows were successfully held on February 3, 2014 in Port Louis, Mauritius, followed by February 5, 2014 in Cape Town, in Durban on February 6, 2014 and in Johannesburg on February 7,

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2014. “While it was emphasised that, India today has established itself as roundthe-year destination, the country offers something for every traveller. The thrust during the roadshows was

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also given to showcase India as a destination for luxury and medical tourism,” said Vikas Rustagi, Regional Director (West Asia & Africa), India Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, based in Dubai.

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AVIATION

Huge airport growth on track

APRIL 2014

TRAVTALK

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Spreading wings across the globe

To meet the demands of future air travellers and expanding fleets of airlines, the Middle East countries in general and Arabian Gulf states in particular are pumping flynas Global Flight Routes programme took off in April this year, in billions of dollars to build new airports or expand the existing facilities. with non-stop flights from Jeddah to the present target of 100 ues to be a great success T T B U R E AU Malaysia, and Jakarta. million a year by 2020. story in the aviation industry. he airport infrastructure investments and associated challenges will come up at the 14th edition of Airport Show from May 11 - 13, 2014, which will also see the staging of the second edition of Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) on its sidelines.

It’s noted that ‘about US$40 billion is invested in airport infrastructure in the Arabian Gulf alone by farsighted’ governments. By 2017, the total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.91 billion.

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Daniyal Qureshi, Director of Airport Show and GALF, said, “In almost every part of the world, especially in the Middle East, airport expansion is a major focus for the aviation industry. The importance of investment in airports is realised strongly, keeping in mind the massive flow expected in air travellers in the coming decade.”

Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has revealed that the spending on airport construction projects globally is worth over US$385 billion.

Daniyal Qureshi Director Airport Show and GALF

The importance of investment in airports is realised strongly, keeping in mind the massive flow in air travellers expected International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the Middle East contin-

Dubai is executing US$34 billion on Dubai World Central (DWC) project as the world’s top airport for international passengers in 2015, overtaking London Heathrow.

In November 2013, Dubai opened the passenger terminal of its second international airport, Al Maktoum International. Expected to invest over US$8.1 billion in new infrastructure to host Expo 2020, Dubai Airports has been ‘preparing’ itself to double the Emirate’s passenger handling capacity to 200 million passengers a year by 2045, up from

Commissioned by 2017, Abu Dhabi will have a new airport terminal complex, initially to handle 27 million passengers per year.

Sharjah Airport is waiting to complete its 2030 master plan. The airport reportedly handled 7.5 million passengers in 2012, a 13.6 per cent year-on-year jump from the previous year.

Oman has earmarked US$6.1 billion over five years for aviation projects, which include major terminal developments at Muscat and Salalah international airports and completion of four new regional airports. The new Muscat International Airport is expected to see full operations by 2014-end, designed to handle 12 million passengers and can be extended up to 48 million.

T T B U R E AU ext on the charts are longhaul flights to London, Paris, Casablanca, India and Pakistan, offering regional travellers access to popular destinations.

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“flynas’ target to carry 20 million passengers annually by 2020 is fueled by the airline’s ambitious strategy to expand its network to destinations like Asia, Europe and Africa,” informed Sulaiman Al Hamdan, CEO, Nas Holding.

The new brand identity of flynas, formerly nasair, offers passengers affordable air trav-

el with high value-added services.

The carrier has embraced smarter technologies as a part of its Low Cost Carrier Plus (LCC+) concept.

To cater to a new generation of travellers, a new Business Class offering on all routes and the start of its ambitious Global Flight Routes programme – Saudi Arabia’s national carrier and first low cost airline, is all set to embark upon new journeys starting April 2014.

“The recently launched Business Class experience on all routes comes with comfortable in-flight features with a seat pitch of 60 inches and a reclinable full flat-bed, in addition to a hot meal service, and unlimited hot and cold drinks,” he further stated.

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ANALYSIS

TRAVTALK APRIL, 2014

Dubai targets 20mn tourists by 2020 Under the ‘Tourism Vision for 2020,’ Dubai expects to attract 20 million tourists by the end of the decade. Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has outlined the detailed Tourism Vision 2020 to more than 70 of the Emirate's leading hospitality and travel industry decision-makers.

SUSMITA GHOSH he seven-year strategic roadmap highlights - while Dubai remains proud of its success to date, there is recognition of the enablers that need to be delivered by the industry collectively for the city to cater this visitor growth.

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Dubai plans to almost double the number of hotel rooms by 2020. Saudi Arabia and India represented two of the biggest markets for Dubai in 2013. According to DTCM data, tourists come from both East and West. Dubai airport passenger traffic 14 per cent in 2013.

Ghassan Aridi, CEO, Alpha Tours, "It was very valuable to share and discuss the strategy with us, which proved to be an example of the close working links shared between the private and public sectors. There is much to do from now till 2020, and though the vision is challenging, it is certainly achievable. It’s clear that DTCM will have immense activities to perform in the next few months. More such meetings should be held since it is important that we work together, thereby continuing the growth of tourism in Dubai."

Nicholas Clayton, Chief Operating Officer, Jumeirah Group, "It is very encouraging for all the players in the travel and tourism industry in Dubai to be united by a common vision of future growth, supported by excellent data and insights, spearheaded by such strong leadership.

This is a true public/private partnership striving for a common goal and Jumeirah Group is proud to be a part of it."

Wael El Behi, General Manager of Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai, “I think we need to work closely and hand in hand with all government authorities with the common interest to promote Dubai as a leading tourism destination. It is our duty to work closely with DTCM, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police and assist them in their mission.”

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, DTCM, noted, “To bring 20 million global outbound visitors to Dubai, and thereby increase the GDP contribution by 2020, we should remain focussed on increasing the competitiveness of Dubai's tourism sector.” He further added, “Innovative marketing to raise awareness of our offering, redefining travellers' expectations with consistent service excellence across all tourism touch points and adoption of cutting edge technologies, and initiating versatile experiences are the three vital aspects we need to take care of.” During a recent meeting with representatives of the hospitality industry, Almarri, presented Tourism 2020 strategy, emphasising the strength of the tourism sector as an economic driver for the Emirate's GDP. The presentation discussed several initiatives covering regulatory policy, infrastructure development, product offering enhancement and destination marketing investments to position Dubai as the evident 'first choice' for the international leisure and business travellers. Dubai's 2020 Tourism Vision has been well received by the Emirate's hoteliers and tour operators.

Rob Weeden, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, "Strategically, the plan is world-class and the delivery of it will ensure that Dubai competes on the global stage. It was encouraging to see the focus on the development of DTCM's overseas office network and the research that is being conducted into growth markets. A focus on increasing visitors during summer is also important and the industry must work together on such aspects to ensure success. Perhaps most encouraging is the thought that has gone into future-proofing the tourism industry - this is not a short-term fix but a detailed long-term strategy."

David Thomson, Chief Operating Office, JA Resorts & Hotels, This meeting was a key milestone in the drive of the Dubai hospitality sector to fulfill the vision of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid for the Tourism Industry in 2020.

The presentation by Helal Almarri clearly laid out what actions needed to be taken both within Dubai in terms of service delivery, the required additions to the hotel inventory, the infrastructure developments and what markets needed to be developed to bring the targeted number of visitors. It was a clear call to action and undoubtedly whoever has attended the presentation felt empowered. It was also understood that the success of Vision 2020 is as much down to the private hospitality sector as it is to the Government."

Rupprecht Queitsch, General Manager, JW Marriott Marquis, I was delighted to be present at the Stakeholder Meeting with Helal Almarri, providing keen insight into DTCM's strategy for the forthcoming year. The breadth of DTCM's research is extensive, covering regulatory issues, leisure and business topics and the internal structures of DTCM committed to executing the strategy most effectively. I was particularly interested in the research which showed the rich infrastructure and diversity of Dubai, and the competitive price offering compared to other destinations. The meeting clearly confirmed the essential role of hospitality leaders and stakeholders in the strategy, working together to raise awareness of Dubai as a destination in an increasingly competitive market."

Mohammed Awadalla, CEO, TI’ME Hotels, "We appreciate the role played by the DTCM, which is in constant communication with us, advising us of the latest trends and guest requirements to develop tourism still further in the city. In addition to the wise decision made recently by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, it has called for 3- and 4-star hotels, to be exempt from municipal fees, which will encourage investors to develop hotels in this category. I have recommended DTCM that they consider monitoring and regulating prices in hotels - a measure which would have a positive impact in attracting MICE tourism to the city. TIME Hotels intends to expand its portfolio to cope with the increasing number of overseas visitors coming to Dubai and to prepare for Expo 2020."

NTO

APRIL 2014

Occupancy hits 48.47% in 2013

TRAVTALK

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Saudi-Greece pact on tourism

In 2013, Ajman saw a dramatic upswing in the tourism sector of the region with revenues of Ajman hotels and hotel apartments increasing by 34.6 per cent in To boost mutual aid in the field of tourism and antiquities, Saudi Arabia 2013, and occupancy shooting up to 48.47 per cent during the same period. and Greece signed a Memorandum tors of licensing, classification With the opening of the T T B U R E AU of Understanding. and inspection, among other Ajman Palace, the first recogjman is presently witnessing a golden age of development. At the forefront, it is the Emirate’s burgeoning tourism sector being developed and handled by Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD).

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Faisal Al Nuaimi, General Manager, ATDD said, “We constantly strive to

Faisal Al Nuaimi General Manager ATDD

We constantly strive to upgrade and improve promotion and support mechanisms for the Ajman hotel establishments, through effective strategic partnerships and continuous innovation upgrade and improve promotion and support mechanisms for the Ajman hotel establish-

ments, through effective strategic partnerships and continuous innovation.”

nised 5 star property in the Emirate, along with over 80 contracts signed at the ITB for the opening of more of such properties, the region is expected to become a viable leisure destination.On March 5, 2014, the UAE Ambassador to Germany, Jumaa Mubarak Al Jeneibi in conjunction with Al Nuaimi launched the official website of ATDD, www.ajmantourism.ae. This was done in tandem with ATDD leading the Ajman delegation to ITB Berlin.

The web portal, currently in its first phase of three planned phases will include an e-calendar for Ajman events, a detailed map of the Emirate’s tourist attractions, hotel establishments, travel agencies and a media centre. The second and third phases are going to expand on the accessibility of the portal through smart phone apps and e-services in the sec-

tourist-related services respectively. The delegation, which held a number of public oriented activities over event days, was voted the Third Best Exhibitor at ITB-Berlin, for the Category of Near and Middle East participants.

According to Al Nuaimi, this outing was particularly profitable with many of the region’s hotels signing contracts with tour operators to pull European tourists to Ajman in addition to the various delegation meetings with foreign luxury companies to hold sports events and conferences in the Emirate.

Web Portal N It will include a list of

events, details of tourist spots, hotels, travel agencies, etc.

T T B U R E AU ourism is one of the major components of SaudiGreece relations as near 13,000 Saudi citizens visited the country in 2013.

Moreso, they discussed bilateral cooperation regarding tourism, museums and monuments in addition to architectural heritage between the two countries.

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“Our cooperation efforts began before with Rome in Italy.

Presently, we are working with Greece as a country that had a historical impact on the Muslim world,”

said Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President, SCTA. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) was greatly benefited

by Greece in preparing the General Strategy for the Development of National Tourism. The MoU was signed between Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President, SCTA and Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic.

SCTA had also organised an exploratory visit to Greece in May, 2011, to gain experience in rehabilitation of heritage buildings and to learn on joint work between the relevant authorities for the development of tourism.

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TRAVTALK APRIL, 2014

UAE in focus at GIBTM 2014 The Middle East is the fastest growing international association meeting market in the world, according to an International Congress and Convention Association study which was revealed recently, coinciding with the eighth edition of Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) which opened on March 24. This year, GIBTM welcomed over 250 regional and international Hosted Buyers from 36 countries, who met 300 exhibitors from 35 destinations. For travel within the region, the UAE was ranked as the most popular destination.

COVER STORY

RTF to attract summer business Contd. from page 1

per cent and they stayed an average of 2.28 nights.”

He added, “We now have 50 Etihad Airways flights from Saudi Arabia with the recent addition of a new service from Median, the airline’s fourth destination in the Kingdom. With Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah complemented by flights from Saudi Arabian Airlines, our potential to grow business further has increased.”

He further added, “In January, we welcomed 10,679 Saudi Arabian guests to our hotels which saw a jump of 37 per cent on January 2013.

These guests accounted for 24,147 guest nights, which was a month-on-month increase of 45 per cent, with guests staying an average of 45 per cent.”

City Seasons Hotels are well established throughout the GCC, particularly in the Saudi market. They expect a strong networking bond with their existing business partners as well as build relationships with

new clientele, showcasing the newly opened 5-star property, Royal Rose hotel.

“By participating in RTF 2013, our business share from the Saudi market is on a growth trend. Families visiting over the weekends and demand for family rooms or suites has increased substantially,” informed Manu Madan, Group General Manager, Business Development, City Seasons Group of Hotels, Abu Dhabi. “Riyadh Travel Fair is an important event due to large number of Saudi visitors and expatriates travelling to the UAE on both leisure and business.

Hence, we are participating this year too,” he further stated.

“We have a strong focus in the Saudi Arabia market, and expect remarkable growth in business in near future. The Riyadh Travel Fair provides the right platform for us to showcase our strength as a travel company,” explained Jamal Abdulnazar, General Manager, Cozmo Travel.

“Besides interacting with other exhibitors and sharing best practices, it will attract the travel segment especially during

Manu Madan

Jamal Abdulnazar

Group General Manager, Business Development, City Seasons Group of Hotels, Abu Dhabi

General Manager Cozmo Travel

By taking part in RTF 2013, our business from KSA has grown the summer vacations, both for outbound from Saudi Arabia and inbound to the UAE. We didn't participate in the fair last year as we were busy settingup our office in Saudi Arabia.

But we are actively participating in the Fair this year, followed by a roadshow. We have a very strong focus on Saudi market and expect massive

RTF provides the right platform to showcase our strength growth in business in near future,” he elucidated.

Today, Cozmo Travels has offices in five Saudi cities, with the head office being in Riyadh, followed by Jeddah, Dammam, Medina and Yanbu. By June 2014, the organisation will have 12 branches.

Showcasing India in Mauritius & SA Realising the potential of Mauritius and South Africa as feeder markets, India Tourism successfully conducted roadshows in February in Port Louis, Mauritius, followed by another roadshow in Cape Town, Durban and in Johannesburg. The Indian delegation comprised Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and the officials of the State Tourism Departments of Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh, showcasing their India products during the four events.

Cape Town

Durban

Johannesburg

Mauritius

CRUISES

APRIL 2014

Promoting Arabian Peninsula in USA The Oman Ministry of Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing highlighted their new, joint Cruise Arabia partnership at Cruise Shipping Miami, a global event of the cruise industry.

T T B U R E AU iami is the international launch pad for its campaign to promote the Arabian Peninsula as a cruise tourism hotspot. During the World Cruise Tourism summit workshops, Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director, Business Tourism, DTCM, commented, “Cruise Shipping Miami is the pinnacle of the global cruise industry’s calendar. Hence, we are delighted to attend this year’s event for the first time as Cruise Arabia, together with our partners from Oman and Abu Dhabi.”

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He added, “Recently, Dubai leadership has invested heavily in the development of the cruise sector, resulting in Dubai becoming recognised as a leading cruise hub. By partnering with Abu Dhabi and Oman to encourage a new generation of cruise tourists in the Gulf and to showcase all

Hamad bin Mejren

Salim Al Mamari

Executive Director Business Tourism, DTCM

Director General of Tourism Promotion Oman Ministry of Tourism

Dubai has invested heavily in the cruise sector, resulting in it becoming a leading cruise hub

Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are budding cruising destinations with immense potential

the region has to offer, we are looking forward to the further

evolution of this industry and increasing the number of

Sultan Al Dhaheri Acting Executive Director Tourism Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi

There is significant investment, both financial and human capital, building this sector

cruise tourists that disembark at our ports.”

Salim Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion, Oman Ministry of Tourism, informed, “Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are budding cruising destinations in the region with immense potential to compete with established global destinations. In reality, we already offer a highly developed tourism and hospitality infrastructure.”

“Collectively, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Dubai represent an attractive regional destination that can compete with the world’s primary cruise hotspots,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi. “There is significant investment, both financial and human capital, going in to building this sector and the time is right for operators to align with us to reap the benefits of a segment which now has full and committed attention,” added Al Dhaheri.

TRAVTALK

9

Jumeirah Group expands in China Jumeirah Group has signed a management agreement with GT Land Holdings to operate 169 luxury serviced residences, in addition to the 207-room luxury Jumeirah Guangzhou Hotel in China. The hotel is already nearing completion. The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at Burj Al Arab, and was attended by Su Meng, Chairman, GT Land, and Gerald Lawless, President and Group CEO, Jumeirah Group.

Set in a prime location in East Guangzhou, the apartment and hotel complex is located in a rapidly growing commercial centre and upscale hotel district. The previously announced 207-room fivestar luxury Jumeirah Guangzhou Hotel is scheduled to open in 2015, and will comprise 10 food and beverage outlets, a sky lobby on the 49th floor and banquet and conference centre.

10

TRAVTALK APRIL, 2014

FAMILY ALBUM

Unique prospects from tourism think tank ITB Berlin 2014 confirmed its role as the world’s leading travel trade show with increase in international buyers, exhibitors and congress delegates. This year’s show reported a 4 per cent rise in trade visitors and an increase in business volume, reaching Euro 6.5 billion, an estimate reported by Messe Berlin. Positive forecasts for the global economy are expected to boost the tourism sector this year.

HOTELS

APRIL 2014

TRAVTALK

11

Going Green with UAE

Island resort opens in RAK

By participating in the UAE Green Festival, Cove Rotana Resort shows its support for a green, sustainable future.

Designed to educate people about a sustainable way of life, the festival is a month-long celebration.

Offering spacious accommodation, Marjan Island Resort and Spa opened its doors recently on a private island off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah. The hotel is offering a special introductory rate as its launch celebrations.

T T B U R E AU

our guests he expressed.

wide range of awareness activities will be highlighted across the UAE, where participants get a first-hand experience of all the aspects of a green life.

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“Community engagement is an important part of The Cove Rotana Resort.

Greening efforts move people and will eventually lead to positive changes in the environment and our larger society,” informed Andreas Mueller, General Manager, The Cove Rotana Resort.

“We have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to the environmental causes for the betterment of our resort and its surroundings. We will continue to implement sustainability programmes to increase awareness amongst

Andreas Mueller General Manager The Cove Rotana Resort

We have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to environmental causes for the betterment of our resort and its surroundings

and

As part of its ongoing sustainability programme and to show further commitment to the environment, the resort is planning additional activities to create memorable experiences, while bringing awareness to global sustainability issues.

The resort will organise a tree-planting project where hotel staff will join the guests to plant trees in the resort. The trees will not only bring positive changes in its environment but will leave a positive change within everyone.

Cinnamon, the all day dining restaurant of the resort, will cook up a menu which delights the palate and is also gentle to the earth.

Boosting regional presence TI’ME Hotels has planned new properties over the next 18 months in Luxor, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Ajman, taking the group portfolio to 11. The new Dubai head office and regional office in Cairo aim to support expansion plans.

T T B U R E AU n Luxor, the Group will manage the 154-bedroom TI’ME Tut Hotel, comprising 116 standard rooms and 38 suites, due to be handed over later this year. In the UAE, TI’ME is opening further two properties in Abu Dhabi and Ajman. The 42storey Al Jawhara TI’ME furnished apartments is scheduled to open in 2015.

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“Demand for modern, well managed and competitively priced accommodation is rising in all of the major resorts and cities throughout the region. In this aspect, local independent hospitality brands are more readily accepted in the value chain. We have a grassroot understanding of the regional markets, our overheads are modest and we are flexible when it comes to respecting an owner’s aspirations,” said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TI’ME Hotels.

The TI’ME Capital Hotel Apartments situated in down-

town Ajman is due to be handed over in March 2014. The nine-storey TI’ME Rako Hotel will be located in the rapidly emerging industrial belt of Wakra, close to Doha, set to open in mid-2015.

To support TI’ME’s expansion plans further, the company has recently moved to a new office in the Garhoud area of Dubai, close to Dubai International Airport. The new head office covers 360 sq mt on the fourth floor of the Al Fattan Plaza, the home of Dubai Government’s Department of Tourism, Commerce Marketing.

“The entire executive management team at TI’ME is now consolidated into a dedicated single space, which will improve operational efficiency,” added Awadalla. “We have an office set up in Cairo, operational since March 1, 2014. It will serve as a platform to support our sales and marketing efforts in Egypt, both inbound and out-

T T B U R E AU

staff,”

Mohamed Awadalla CEO TI’ME Hotels

Demand for modern and competitively priced accommodation is rising in all major resorts and cities in the region bound business and expansion plans for more properties in Egypt,” he concluded.

esigned and decorated in Arabic style, featured amenities and advanced interactive multimedia systems, the island resort boasts of 302 rooms and suites with large balconies.

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Marjan Island Resort and Spa is a true family destination with a range of facilities and activities for young guests. It includes an indoor-outdoor playground, Pirate’s Club, Youngsters Entertainment Fun Centre, dedicated children’s swimming pool and a host of watersports on the island’s two beaches.

“With over 30 years of experience in the hotel business, I feel we hardly get opportunities like this very often, to work in a destination as rewarding as Marjan Island - Ras Al Khaimah, managing a

property as amazing as Marjan Island Resort and Spa,” said Roger Tannous, General Manager, Marjan Island Resort and Spa, a Lebanese national who is also fluent in English and French and Arabic. “I am thrilled to be working with this resort.

If its business that needs to be attended to, there is no need to leave the comforts of the resort.

This one-of-a-kind resort offers families a complete and authentic Arabian experience.

The property soaks up the culture, hospitality, tranquility and stunning location, that remains truer today than ever before.”

Relaxation and wellbeing are essential elements of the resort’s vision, with an entire floor dedicated to the La’Mar Holistic Wellness Spa.

Roger Tannous General Manager Marjan Island Resort and Spa

With a 250-person ballroom, fully serviced business centre as well as a boardroom and various breakout rooms, executives and decision-makers will have everything they need to get the job done.

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NEWS

TRAVTALK APRIL, 2014

Qatar Airways continues ME expansion Qatar Airways recently started daily flights from Doha to Sharjah and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). This new addition to the existing flight network doubles the total number of destinations within the UAE. increase significantly in the coming years with direct DohaSharjah connectivity. Qatar Airways has used ITB as a platform to showcase its new products and services, focussing on new destinations, addition of the A380 and A350

S U S M I TA G H O S H perated both by Airbus A320 aircraft, the new UAE routes with its continued expansion plans will benefit travellers by increasing accessibility to the region. There will be three flights daily to Sharjah, with two flights per day to DWC.

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“Over the years, we have focussed upon the expansion of our route network, and these flights to Sharjah and DWC demonstrate our commitment to the UAE,” commented Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.

Sheikh Khalid Bin Essam Al Qassimi, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation-Sharjah said, “We would like to thank Qatar Airways for their choice to use Sharjah International Airport as a new destination within its

Sheikh Khalid Bin Essam Al Qassimi, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah, (third from left) addresses the media gathering at a ceremony to welcome Qatar Airways’ flight to Sharjah International Airport. Also seen (from left) Fathi Al Shehab, SVP GCCLI & ISC, Qatar Airways; Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways and Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority

international network. This will add value for travellers using the airport to reach their destinations in Europe, Asia and America, enhancing trade and transportation services between Sharjah and Doha as well.”

Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority said, “The launch of

daily flights to Sharjah International Airport reflects the confidence of the international airlines in services and facilities provided by the airport. Today, we are happy to receive the inaugural flight of Qatar Airways, connecting Sharjah and Doha.”

Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah

Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) expressed, “The move will boost tourism relations between the two parties and increase the flow of Qatari and GCC tourists to the Emirate.” Al Noman pointed out that Sharjah receives more than 25,000 visitors from Qatar annually on an average, and the numbers are sure to

to explore some of the city’s major tourist attractions on a free tour in Doha. Passengers with five to 12 hours transit time can book the free city tour by visiting the Doha City Tour counter at Doha International Airport. Booking

Over the years, we have focussed upon the expansion of our route network, and these flights to Sharjah and DWC demonstrate our commitment to the UAE Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways to its fleet and opening up of the much anticipated Hamad International Airport.

Moreover, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority have started a joint initiative for the airline passengers in transit

is done on a first-come, firstserved basis and is subject to seat availability on the coach. The duration of the tour is around three hours, conducted in an air-conditioned coach with an English speaking guide.

Europe season gains fame Supporting Dubai’s agents Royal Caribbean International has announced that ‘Allure of the Seas’ will homeport in Barcelona in summer 2015, taking tourists to Mediterranean destinations.

Bookings for the Oasis-class Europe season is now open.

T T B U R E AU iddle Eastern guests now have something to look forward to with this news as they get to sail on this ship from their preferred destination.

“European sailings are very popular among Middle Eastern guests. Generally, most Mediterranean cruises set sail from spring through fall with the summer high season hosting the largest number of sailings and people. Over the last years, we have had constant booking increases from the Middle East region for European sailings,” explained Lakshmi Durai, Executive Director (Middle East), Royal Caribbean Arabia. Bookings are now open

guests of ‘Allure of the Seas’ will enjoy the most innovative array of onboard amenities contained in seven themed neighborhoods. Guests will also enjoy the DreamWorks Experience, an entertainment programme developed with the world-class animated film studio powerhouse DreamWorks Animation SKG.

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Starting from May 24, 2015, ‘Allure of the Seas’ will sail a seven-night itinerary every Sunday from Barcelona, calling at Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseilles), France and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples/Capri in Italy.

Cruise lovers can also choose

Lakshmi Durai Executive Director (Middle East) Royal Caribbean Arabia

Over the last years, we have had constant booking increases from the Middle East region for European sailings to embark ‘Allure of the Seas’ for a seven-night sailing, roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia). On board,

Royal Caribbean’s family programming will also help ensure that guests of every generation can share an unforgettable Europe family vacation aboard ‘Allure of the Seas’. The cruise line’s complimentary Adventure Ocean kids programme offers ongoing educational and entertaining sessions.

Itinerary N ‘Allure of the Seas’ will

sail a seven-night itinerary every Sunday from Barcelona, calling at Palma De Mallorca; Provence, France and Italy

Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG) works to promote cooperation among the travel trade. The group signed an MOU with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, committing both parties to enhance standards in Dubai. ity of its key sponsor, Emquest.

Thus, around 15 agents every month will benefit from this valuable training.

T T B U R E AU n conjunction with government departments like Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, DTTAG seeks to set and regulate proper standards and practices for members and advance the travel agency profession as a whole.

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“This will be taken up in the next weeks, as the new Executive Committee for DTTAG has been confirmed with Majid Al Mulla of dnata, who was re-elected as President and Samir Andraos as Vice President. There will be a meeting with Dubai Civil Aviation shortly when we will consolidate and move things forward,” informed Leo Fewtrell, General Manager, Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group.

“Moreover, with the new committee, we are finalising subcommittees to enable us to move things ahead more speedily with the Dubai Chamber also.” He added,

Leo Fewtrell General Manager DTTAG

“On behalf of our members, we seek to achieve positive results with partners like airlines, GDS, cruises, Tourism Boards, insurance companies, car rentals and all suppliers to the travel trade.”

DTTAG offers free skills training to travel agents every month, thanks to the generos-

When funds permit, the agents are given more comprehensive training sessions from fully authenticated training institutes. DTTAG also coordinates with Tourism Boards, IATA and other affiliated groups to provide facilities for training key consultants.

DTTAG agents sell around 80 per cent of the business and leisure out of Dubai, which includes companies like dnata, Al Rais, Al Rostamani, Kanoo Travel, ALTA, Al Naboodah, Alpha Holidays, Air Link and Emirates Holidays, amongst others.

They also offer an affiliate membership to travel related suppliers, who work closely with travel agencies. The Group would like to see membership made mandatory prior to travel agency licenses being issued/renewed, as the only way.

TECHNOLOGY

APRIL 2014

TRAVTALK

13

Revenue up by 6.6%

Travelport renews old ties

Amadeus IT Holding, S.A., recently released their yearon-year financial results for 2013, witnessing an increase in revenue of 6.6 per cent to Euro 3,103.7 million, and 7.2 per cent growth to Euro 1,188.7 million.

Travelport and Middle East Airlines, the national flagcarrier of Lebanon, renewed its global full content agreement, which provides Travelport’s clients with access to the carrier’s full content and its web fares.

T T B U R E AU

The growth commitment in new regions was also evident in the IT Solutions business, where the number of passengers boarded in the Asia Pacific markets increased by 57.6 per cent.

he adjusted profit for the year grew 7.8 per cent to Euro 619.5 million. “Amadeus has maintained its record of delivering success both in revenue and profitability.

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Our transactionbased business model continued to be resilient in the face of industry challenges.

Also our investment in R&D, which drives product evolution and portfolio expansion, has contributed to our continued growth,” commented Luis Maroto, President & CEO, Amadeus.

“Even in the context of slow growth in the wider market, Amadeus continued to outperform the travel distribu-

Luis Maroto President & CEO Amadeus

tion industry and strengthen its leading position in the air distribution segment, with a market share increase to 40.1 per cent in total air travel agency bookings.

This was most apparent in North America, one of our strategic targets for expansion, where despite contraction in the region we achieved a 38.1 per cent increase,” he added.

The region became the second biggest market for the IT Solutions business, and this shift will continue as migrations of Asian carriers take place during 2014 and 2015.

“With the acquisition of Newmarket International, a leader in the Hotel IT industry, we have enhanced our presence in a key growth area for Amadeus. Meanwhile, our airports unit made progress in the ground-handling area as well as signing key agreements with Copenhagen and Munich airports,” he further said.

T T B U R E AU iddle East Airlines selected Travelport as its preferred GDS in Lebanon, which significantly means that Travelportconnected agents and their travelling customers in the region will benefit from exclu-

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The airline wishes to continue working to take their business to the next level.

“We are very pleased to announce this new deal with a valued airline partner in the Middle East,” said Rabih Saab,

Being the preferred GDS of Middle East Airlines is a testament to our commitment, delivering unrivalled service and travel content to our regional and global customers sive promotions and enhanced support from Middle East Airlines. According to Middle East Airlines, Travelport’s extensive, world-wide travel agency network complements the carrier’s growth plans, making them a valued partner and important distribution channel.

President and MD, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, Travelport. “Being the preferred GDS of Middle East Airlines is a testament to our commitment, delivering unrivalled service and travel content to our regional and global customers.”

Rabih Saab President and MD, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, Travelport

The new deal reinforces Travelport’s continued investment and long-term commitment to Lebanon, where Travelport set up an office in 2012 to closely manage and support the airlines and distributors in the fast growing Levant region. The company also announced last year the renewal of its distributor contract with Gate 7 for Travelport in Lebanon.

14

FAMILY ALBUM

TRAVTALK APRIL, 2014

Celebrating National Day & Liberation Day Deyab Farhan Alrashidi, Consul General of the State of Kuwait in Dubai and North Emirate hosted the grand celebration of the 53rd National Day & 23rd Liberation Day of Kuwait on February 25, 2014 at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dubai Media Inc., who serves as the Chairman of Dubai, graced the occasion.

Royal Rose now open in Abu Dhabi City Seasons Hotels has announced the soft opening of Royal Rose, the first 5-star property of the Bin Ham Group and its flagship property in Abu Dhabi. Built in a style resembling the splendour and grandeur of a 17th century French palace, Royal Rose features 355 wellappointed luxury rooms and suites, state-of-the-art meetings rooms, signature restaurant and dining outlets, a fully equipped health club, swimming pool and a full service spa.

New codeshare agreement signed Qantas and Bangkok Airways signed a codeshare agreement, which will improve options for Qantas’ clients travelling across South East Asia.

T T B U R E AU his agreement will facilitate Bangkok Airways’ customers to book on Qantas services from Bangkok and Singapore to Australia, and on a number of routes on Qantas’ domestic network.

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Etihad to increase services to Moscow Etihad Airways will increase its Abu DhabiMoscow services from seven flights per week to double daily on June 1, 2014, and then to triple daily from October 1, 2014. The UAE flag carrier commenced operations to the Russian capital's Domodedovo airport (DME) in December 2008, and since then has carried more than 400,000 travellers. In 2013 passenger volumes rose 36 per cent compared to 2012

levels, achieving double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year. Important new connections will include flights to and from the Maldives, Seychelles, Phuket, and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as new business and leisure destinations such as Brisbane, Chengdu, Kathmandu, Lagos, Manila, Nairobi, Perth and Singapore.

Elsewhere, the triple

daily flights will see more and improved connections to Bahrain, Bangkok, Doha, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lahore, Muscat, Riyadh and Sydney.

The flight schedule will also boost onward codeshare connectivity with S7 Airlines beyond the Russian capital to the cities of Kazan, Krasnodar, Saint Petersburg and Samara.

“The agreement was another step forward in delivering on the Airline’s strategy to offer the best options for customers travelling between Australia and Asia,” informed Simon Hickey, CEO, Qantas International.

“This partnership is great news for our customers travelling to resort destinations in Thailand,” he added.

From March 30, 2014, Qantas’ customers will be able to book on Bangkok Airways services from Bangkok and Singapore to six new destinations in Thailand, including Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Besides connecting their holiday destination via Bangkok or Singapore, the new codeshare services will allow customers with more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points and have their luggage checked straight through to their final destination.

To boost Qantas’ offering into Asia, this announcement includes new codeshare with China Southern, new premium lounges in Singapore (April 2013) and Hong Kong (March 2014) and a major upgrade of the airline’s A330 fleet starting from 2014-end.

MOVEMENTS

APRIL 2014

TRAVTALK

15

DTTAG

RAK Tourism Development Authority

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Ras Al Khaimah

Abu Dhabi

Dina Al Herais, Vice President, Commercial Operations and

Steven Rice has been appointed as the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah

Distribution at Emirates Holidays has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG). She is responsible for all Emirates Holidays’ commercial operations in source markets in Europe, CIS countries, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. DTTAG and Emirates Holidays share a similar vision to help stimulate an environment conducive for positive interaction amongst the travel trade, towards the achievement of business objectives. A UAE national, Herais joined Emirates as a trainee in 1994.

Tourism Development Authority. As CEO, he will oversee all areas pertaining to the promotion and development of the Emirate's tourism infrastructure.

Rice has previous worked across multiple European markets, North America, Asia-Pacific and the GCC. He will also lead efforts to meet the Authority's aims of growing the contribution of tourism to Ras Al Khaimah's GDP and to establish the Emirate globally as an affordable luxury and outdoor adventure destination.

Bana Toukan has been appointed Director of Sales & Marketing at Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. She has a distinguished career in hospitality and with over 12 years of experience. She will be responsible for the planning and induction of sales and marketing strategies, while tapping into relevant local and international market segments for business opportunities, among others. She began her career in the hospitality industry in Grand Hyatt Amman in 2002.

Majestic Hotel Tower Dubai

Ramada Downtown Dubai

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Ramzy Andrew Faris has been appointed as the General Manager

Salman Ansari is the new Assistant Director of Sales of Ramada

Ivan Jovalekic has joined the Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai as

of the Majestic Hotel Tower Dubai. A Lebanese national, he has 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He brings with him a wealth of skills, ideas and plans to his new role.

His grasp of the highly competitive and dynamic UAE market will be an asset to the team. He has built his career with brands like Kempinski and Jebel Ali Resorts.

Downtown Dubai. In his role, he will be in-charge of strengthening business ties with existing clients and stakeholders. He will also support the Director of Sales in the development of strategies. A Pakistani national, Ansari has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality field. He previously worked as Business Development Manager in The H Hotel, and as Senior Sales Manager in Grand Midwest Hotel and Apartments.

He also worked in Pakistan, including Sheraton Hotel and Towers Karachi, and Ramada Renaissance Karachi.

Senior Business Development Manager. He moved from Abu Dhabi where he spent two years in a similar position at the Insights Management Consultancy, representing international hotels and tourist boards in the region.

A Croatian national, Jovalekic entered the hospitality industry with a post at Jumeirah Hotels. In 2006, he joined the JAL Fujairah Resort & Spa in its pre-opening phase, spending three years, before moving back to Dubai and the Dusit Princess City Centre Hotel.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts

Grand Hyatt Dubai

Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah

Dubai

Dubai

Sharjah

Andrew Gibson has been appointed the Vice President - Spas &

Kifah Bin Hussein is the new Hotel Manager of Grand Hyatt Dubai.

A hospitality professional with 15 years of experience in Food & Beverage, he started his career with Hyatt in 1998 in Jordan and has worked for Hyatt Dubai hotels and other hospitality brands around the world. During Hussein’s sixyear tenure at Grand Hyatt Amman, he has held several positions starting from Assistant Outlet Manager to Assistant Director of Food & Beverage. A Jordanian national, he has a university degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

Kamal Rijhwani has been promoted to Executive Assistant Manager

Wellness. Based out of FRHI's regional office in Dubai, Gibson will be responsible for the development and execution of the company's spa strategy, including defining and implementing spa standards globally across all of FRHI’s leading hotel and spa brands. He brings over 25 years of international hospitality experience in the fields of spa, wellness and leisure to his new role. He began his career in England, where an early role was leisure centre manager at an airport hotel close to London Gatwick Airport.

Al Raha Beach Hotel bags ‘HolidayCheck Award 2014’ HolidayCheck, a European travel review website, has awarded Al Raha Beach Hotel the ‘HolidayCheck Award 2014’ in the category ‘Popular Among Couples’. They won this award due to their commitment and effor t to exceed the expectations of their guests with excellent products and impeccable service. The team manages to excite countless guests and fulfill or even exceeded their wishes and expectations.

“Al Raha Beach Hotel is pleased to receive this prestigious award,” said Diana Ancuta, Director of Sales & Marketing, Al Raha Beach Hotel. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on HolidayCheck. Since the distinction of our hotel, our share of German-speaking guests has more than quadrupled. We could determine this positive change almost immediately.”

/in-charge of sales and marketing at Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah.

He will be responsible for the strategic, commercial and day-to-day operationals. He started his career in the hotel industry in 1998 and has worked in properties across India, Bulgaria, Tanzania and UK. Prior to joining Carlson Rezidor ME, he gained vast experiences with the Taj Group of Hotels and Kempinski Hotels. He brings over 15 years of experience in the hotel business.

Air Arabia launches new flight to Shymkent Air Arabia, on March 15, announced the launch of regular non-stop services to Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

With the addition of Shymkent, Air Arabia became the only operator in the UAE to serve three destinations in Kazakhstan.

The new twiceweekly service will be Air Arabia’s 91st worldwide destination. Air Arabia currently serves Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, in addition to Shymkent starting March 15, 2014. Located in the south of the country, Shymkent is the

Kazakhstan’s third most populous city and is known as a centre of culture and industry. Flights will depart Sharjah International Airport on Wednesdays and

Saturdays at 22:00, arriving at Shymkent International Airport at 03:30 on the following day. Return flights will depart Shymkent on Thursdays and Sundays at 04:30 arriving in Sharjah at 06:15.