TravTalk Middleeast

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A DDP PUBLICATION

Pages: 16

ddppl.com

travtalkmiddleeast.com

Vol. VIII No. 8; August 2012

Dubai ranks 8th in top 20 destination cities ........................................................06 n ‘Oceanliner’ to become a floating hotel ................................................................08 n SpiceJet ‘spices up’ Dubai....................................................................................09 n

India and UAE ink tourism deal To cater to the growing tourism market, both the countries will sign an agreement in the coming months, followed by a joint meeting of stakeholders to discuss the road map to double the two-way flow of tourists.

‘Incredible India Tourism’ roadshow at Atlantis Hotel Dubai on June 28, 2012.

S U S M I TA G H O S H pprehending the importance of UAE in particular and the Middle East and the Gulf region on the whole, as a tourism generating market for India, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had organised

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Sahai (centre), Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, MOT, GoI (2nd from left) and other officials and dignitaries at the ‘Incredible India Tourism’ roadshow held in Dubai on June 28, 2012

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Yemen and Turkey emerged as major tourism generating markets for India.

Further, roadshows will be held in two other Middle East countries including Jordan.

“India receives around six million tourists every year and our target is to double the figure by 2016. The diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and elsewhere in the GCC will stage tourism promotion forums,” announced Subodh Kant Sahai, Contd. on page 7 u

Festivities continue in ME Starting from airlines to hotels, tourism boards to tour operators - the overall Middle East travel alliance has geared up for this festive season and continues to plan their Eid celebrations, coinciding with the forthcoming holidays.

S U S M I TA G H O S H hanges in the travellers and inventory variations with the economical status, surrounding political unrest, all play vital role in shaping up product and category promotions for 2012, as Dubai Summer Surprises, Ramadan, Eid and summer holidays - all fall on the same time.

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Bahrain Air is having a joint promotion with Pepsi,

partners, special holiday packages are already activated during the Ramadan and Eid holidays to cater to the rush,” informed Raju Pillai, Director - Commercial Operations, Bahrain Air. The airline also plans to restart its Kathmandu and Dhaka route effective September 2012.

‘Take off with Pepsi and Bahrain Air’ to coincide with the Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Consumers will have the chance to win one of three Bahrain Air prizes found under the cap of the bottle. The prizes vary from free Economy Class tickets, free upgrades to Business Class and discount vouchers of BD 10 per ticket.

“We are planning to operate extra flights to Dubai and along with our travel

Raju Pillai

Klaus Ehrenbrandtner

Tuan Razali Tuan Omar

Director - Commercial Operations Bahrain Air

Director Austrian Tourism Board

Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Dubai

2012 will be another record year for Austria in the Contd. on page 7 u

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NEWS Foreign exchange

Abu Dhabi Hotels

DIRHAM VALUE (Subject to variation) Country

Currency

(As on 23-07-2012) CN Buy

CN Sell

USA ..........................USD ................3.653..............3.685 UK ............................GBP ..............5.6381............5.8794 Egypt ........................EGP ................0.605..............0.711 Euro ..........................EUR ..............4.3774............4.5741 Canada......................CAD ..............3.5739............3.6991

Hotel occupancy on record high A total of 1.189 million guests stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments during the first six months of this year that showcased an increase of 14 per cent compared to the first half of 2011.

Bahrain ....................BHD ..............9.5739............9.9137

T T B U R E AU

Oman ........................OMR................9.405............9.6512 Kuwait ......................KWD............12.8417..........13.3023 Saudi Arabia ............SAR ..............0.9625............0.9972 Qatar ........................QAR ..............0.9944............1.0209

s per the recent figures released, by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), a total of

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Australia ..................AUD ..............3.7453............3.8714 Japan ........................JPY................0.0457............0.0482 Philippines ................PHP ..............0.0860............0.0892 Singapore..................SGD ..............2.8689............2.9984

guest nights – an increase of 9 per cent on the comparative six months of 2011.

“This is a very encouraging performance which leaves us well on track to attain our yearly target of 2.3 million guests,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi. “The task ahead is to maintain the momentum.

India ........................INR................0.0646............0.0677 Pakistan ....................PKR ..............0.0381............0.0399 Bangladesh ..............BDT ..............0.0439............0.0457 Sri Lanka ..................LKR ..............0.0273............0.0285 Nepal ........................NPR ..................0.05..............0.056 Morocco ....................MAD................0.405..............0.525 Switzerland ..............CHF ..............3.6445............3.8043 South Africa ..............ZAR ................0.485..............0.553

50 Must Know Facts about Sharjah in Library

Mubarak Al Muhairi Director General TCA Abu Dhabi

1,189,995 guests checked into hotels and hotel apartments throughout the emirate. January to June of 2012 witnessed some 3,369,228

We are relatively confident of doing this as we look forward to a season of major events, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Art and the planned November opening of Yas Waterworld,

which will be UAE’s largest water park. In addition, we anticipate Abu Dhabi’s hosting, this September, of the 18th World Routes Development Forum bringing a significant number of aviation and airline senior personnel to the UAE capital,” he informed ecstatically.

The June figures of 2,05,950 hotel guests, up by 17 per cent compared to June 2011, helped achieve the record half yearly results.

The number of Indians staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels rose 31 per cent to 65,519 guests accounting for 2,34,043 guest nights, a rise of 15 per cent on 2011, making it the second largest overseas source markets. well

Saudi Arabia performed delivering 36,430

guests, up 36 per cent on 2011, who stayed for 79,307 guest nights – an increase of per cent over the six months making it the destination’s sixth largest source market outside the UAE.

Record Growth A total of 1,189,995 guests checked into hotels and hotel apartments throughout the emirate January to June of 2012 witnessed some 3,369,228 guest nights – an increase of 9% on the comparative six months of 2011 The June figures of 2,05,950 hotel guests, up by 17% compared to June 2011 While India proved to be the 2nd largest overseas source market, Saudi Arabia became the 6th largest source market for UAE

WiFi decides the fate of a hotel A research by Brocade shows that good mobile data coverage is a priority for holidaymakers across Europe, ME & Africa when selecting a holiday destination and hotel based on the quality of the Internet connection.

T T B U R E AU

Key Findings

his comes as no surprise considering the high penetration of mobile devices and the fact that people nowadays expect to be ‘always connected’ whether for work or personal use.

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Osama Samra, Director, Sharjah Media Centre and Rashed Al Kous, Director, Knowledge Without Borders project included ‘50 Must Know Facts about Sharjah’ in the library.

ATM 2013 partners with Mövenpick n Arabian Travel Market has confirmed its host hotel partnership with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts after a successful association in the 2012 event. In total, 6 Mövenpick hotels, located in Dubai, will be involved in the 2013 partnership. Between them, they will each host a record number of industry buyers during May 6–9, 2013 at the ATM showcase.

Commenting on the announcement, Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions

said, “ATM 2013 is set to be a milestone event, marking 20 years in the Middle East and we will be inviting a record number of hosted delegates next year, 150 in total, up by 15 per cent compared to 2012.”

“Our decision to showcase six outstanding fivestar properties at ATM 2013 will give hosted buyers a personal experience of the Mövenpick brand, in six different locations in Dubai,”said Toufic Tamim, VP - Sales & Marketing, ME, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

“Our research clearly illustrates that this is causing fundamental changes in working patterns and demands on networking architectures.

It seems that we can never switch off from work, even when we’re at the beach.

With this, the demand on service providers and mobile operators to provide ubiquitous, reliable coverage has never been higher,” said Sufian Dweik, Regional Manager – MENA, Brocade.

91 per cent stated that they carry smartphones on their holidays. That is followed closely by laptops and netbooks (49 per cent) and tablet computers (42 per cent) Coming in second only to access emails when asked the primary reason for using a connected device on holiday was accessing work email Placing third was the use of social media also featured prominently in the responses Sufian Dweik Regional Manager MENA – Brocade

More than a third of the respondents surveyed said that good mobile data coverage is a determining factor when choosing a destination, with 86 per cent expecting wireless connectivity at their hotels to feed their ‘online addiction’.

Some 95 per cent of the respondents admitted taking their mobile devices on vacation and are as likely to use them for work as for personal use. More than half of respondents said that they used their mobile device for accessing work e-mail or downloading work documents.

Approximately a third (32 per cent) stated that they want to stream coverage of the Olympics through their devices whilst on vacation, again placing immense pressure on local networks to provide sufficient bandwidth and service reliability to users More than a third (37 per cent) of respondents noted that good mobile data coverage (for example, 3G/4G) was a determining factor in their choice of destination Furthermore, 86 per cent expected hotels to provide free WiFi access. A lack of available WiFi was also the second most popular concern about accessing the Internet from abroad, after the issue of high roaming costs

Against the above scenario, hotel owners should provide reliable, high quality connectivity and free WiFi if they are to attract tourists and gain a competitive edge. However, the findings may indicate that there is still a gulf

between the expectations of modern travellers and the reality. Hotel owners should look at the incredible demand for WiFi networking and provide residents with connectivity – whether in their rooms, at the bar or by the pool.

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BULLETIN

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

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Zero Landfill Project by Ramada Ajman Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman launched the flagship Zero Landfill processing operation on July 18, as part of the property’s commitment to help conserve the natural environment in the northern Emirate.

T T B U R E AU amada Ajman’s Zero Landfill Project, that was organised in collaboration with AIMS Group and Green Mountain Waste Management and supported

by Green Good Eco-Tech, aims to achieve zero waste disposal into the landfill. The press conference to officially launch the project was attended by the top officials from Ramada Ajman and the partner companies.

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The Project Intends The Project intends to recycle and reduce the hotel’s waste, which is 800 kg to 1,000 kg daily The initial efforts generated positive results as the property nearly reaches 90 per cent in terms of waste diversion

The Project intends to recycle and reduce the hotel’s waste, which is 800 kg to 1,000 kg daily. This will be carried out by applying the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle approach in waste management. The initial efforts generated positive results as the property nearly reaches 90 per cent in terms of waste diversion. Based on the waste composition analysis of Ramada Ajman, the major portion of the property’s wastes are from food or organic waste, which can be used for compost; while the paper, plastics and metals can be recycled and a very minimal portion which are considered as waste rejects will go to the landfill.

Through these measures, the target is to achieve more than 90% waste diversion from the landfill.

Iftikhar Hamdani, General Manager, Ramada

Hotel & Suites Ajman said, “Ramada places high value in the preservation of the environment and the natural resources, for the benefit of the citizens and the future generation. We carry out various initiatives throughout the year in order to reach this milestone.

Some of the activities that we’ve done include education and awareness for staff and guests on the Green Campaign, celebration of Earth Hour and Earth Day and beach cleaning, among other initiatives.”

Harbinder Singh, General Manager, AIMS Environment, says, “This

Iftikhar Hamdani GM, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman

project demonstrates Ramada Ajman and the Emirate of Ajman’s commitment to global environmental protection.”

Ahmed Hasan Al Foorah, CEO, AIMS Group, Dr. Yahya Haddad, General Manager, Green Mountain Waste Management and John Arnold, Director, Green Good Eco-Tech expressed their strong and steadfast commitment to sustainable measures and green projects in Ajman.

First effort of its kind Ramada Ajman officially launched the project, that was attended by top officials of the hotels and from partner companies.

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GUEST COLUMN EDITORIAL Gulf Tourism gets seasonal push he summer holidays and Ramadan spirit have elevated hopes for a robust season for the tourism sector in the Gulf region. There are already positive indications from various wings of the industry.

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Airlines have geared up well.

Emirates will add a total of 73 additional flights to and from Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. Jeddah and Medinah Al Munawarrah will benefit from the extra services, put in place to serve the large number of passengers opting for religious-based travel to the Kingdom.

RP Group opens new property Six years into the Hotel business, the hospitality arm of RP Group of Companies – ‘Raviz International Hotel Management Company’ is on a growth path worldwide. The philosophy behind the Raviz brand is high quality services backed by high-end technology in room infrastructure. he first destination was the vibrant city of Dubai with a resounding success following the acquisition of a 2-star Versailles Hotel in Deira which was then fully refurbished and transformed into a high quality 3-star property. The addition of another property in Dubai has been a strategic need for long to complete the picture.

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Great news came in with the recent acquisition of a property in Bur Dubai which will now fulfill a long standing need of sub-conti-

It is our endeavour to incorporate this philosophy of our Chairman into each and every employee to ensure that we live up to the high standards of the Raviz Brand

Qatar Airways has launched special fares offering savings on fares from the airline’s Doha hub to cities across Middle East and worldwide. In this Ramadan, British Airways is also offering UAE travellers discounted fares to seven destinations across Europe (including Londong), US and Canada.

On the hospitality front, data from STR Global indicate that hotels in the UAE posted a 7% rise in occupancy in May to 70.6%. Cairo reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 41.1% to 49.4% while Muscat rose 31.2% to 53.6% and Manama increased 29.4% to 43.8%. Overall, the Middle East and Africa region’s occupancy jumped 13.3% to 60.4%.

Statistics from DTCM show the number of guest nights rose by 23% to more than 33 million last year. The data also showed that the average length of stay swelled up to 12% with 3.6 days.

The number of visitors to Abu Dhabi also increased in May 2012, with the number of guests at hotels, hotel apartments and resorts rising 12% year-on-year to 1,92,374, according to official figures. The number of guest nights rose to 5,42,567 – an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2011. IATA confirmed that ME carriers continue to lead the industry growth.

Publisher Director Editorial Director Editor Assistant Editor (ME) Desk Editor Sub Editor Design Manager Advertising Asst. Manager - Sales Asst. Manager - Mktg.

Circulation Manager Manager Production

: : : : : : : : : : : : :

SanJeet Sumeera Bahl Rupali Narasimhan Deepa Sethi Susmita Ghosh Archana Sharma Raina Mandal Nityanand Misra Geetika Pathak Akassh Kapoor Pallavi Sarma Ashok Rana Anil Kharbanda

nental visitors to Dubai. The 126-room property with 2 Restaurants, 2 nightclubs, 2 Conference Halls and the state–of–the-art Business center will usher in the high quality Raviz Brand into the United Arab Emirates.

Back in India, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Chairman & CEO, RP Group launched the Raviz Brand with the acquisition of the Kadavu Beach Resort and Ayurveda Center in Calicut.

After which the labour of Love, the Raviz Kollam was launched as a 5-star deluxe property and close on its heels came the acquisition of the jewel of the crown, The Leela Beach Kovalam. During ATM 2012, the Raviz Group had a huge presence with representatives of all five hotels present in the event while showcasing and marketing their properties through associate Discovery Travels LLC.

room and Restaurant, the Menus have been replaced with those made from recycled material, re-usable nonplastic Guest laundry bags have been introduced and the Rooms are now covered with environment-friendly wall coverings (specially imported from Australia). Waterless Urinals have also been installed to reduce water usage and wastage.

Another facet of the Raviz Brand is our strong emphasis on quality food and beverages served in our properties that defines value for money deals.

Our Asian Restaurant and Night club – Mahek features a vibrant multinational entertainment and cuisine from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh all combined in one – thus our guests will be given a choice in taste of four different countries in a single evening!

The philosophy behind the Raviz brand is high quality services backed up with high-end technology in room infrastructure with the latest gadgetry. Design plays a key element with our brand.

Each room and suite will be individually designed with the best in room furnishings, keeping the needs of our guests in mind.

Competent trained and experienced staff will be the hallmark of our brand.

Touching on current market trends, it can be emphasised that despite the world economic woes all around, Dubai has seen a fair share of local and international visitors over the past decades and it continues to be a steady increase much to the envy of many. We at Versailles Hotel are following this stride as our aim is to broaden our market segments to tap new upcoming markets.

It is our endeavour to incorporate this philosophy of our Chairman into each and every employee to ensure that we live up to the high standards of the Raviz Brand.

Having been awarded as the runner up in DTCM’s Green Tourism award in 2010, our commitment to the Environment has gone a step further in 2012 and we are gunning for the top spot. In

We presently receive guests from GCC, CIS, Iran, India, Far East but our focus is now towards

Europe and Russia – countries like Germany, France, Slovenia, Ukraine, on to Africa and South America.

We already have tapped into these new markets and currently have active partners whom we are closely working with. The outlook for this coming season is indeed bright.

On the local scene, we have special Room promotions in the pipeline to coincide with the holiday season starting the EID AL ADHA, Christmas and New Year targetting the local market and then during the month long Dubai Shopping Festival. We will be giving away many special surprises to our customers to match the theme of this prestigious multifaceted event.

Manoj Padhi General Manager Versailles Hotel Group General Manager Hospitality of Raviz International Hotel Management Company

Emission cuts and fuel savings n Etihad Airways has chosen Rolls-Royce subsidiary Optimised Systems and Solutions (OSyS) to implement a new fuel management solution to maximise fuel use, cut carbon emissions and reduce overall fuel costs.

OSyS, one of the world’s leading suppliers of aviation

fuel optimisation systems and services, will provide the software which will analyse the airline’s existing fuel arrangements, allowing Etihad Airways to better prioritise areas where the most effective fuel and emissions savings can be achieved.

Captain Richard Hill, COO, Etihad Airways, said,

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“The new real-time analysis will allow us to efficiently compare our planned fuel versus actual fuel used on every flight with the overall goals being to reduce fuel consumption, cut carbon emissions and trim our aviation fuel bills.”

Mark Goodhind, VP Operations Optimisation at

TRAVTALK is a publication of Durga Das Publications Private Limited.

All information in TRAVTALK is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The publisher regret that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. Similarly, opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared by TRAVTALK. However, we wish to advice our readers that one or more recognised authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific

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OSyS, said, “We are delighted to support Etihad Airways in delivering operational efficiency improvements.”

“The OSyS fuel management solution continues to offer a better vision of fuel cost controls within the context of their individual operations,” he concluded.

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This publication is not meant to be an endorsement of any specific product or services offered. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation.

All advertisements must comply with the Indian and International Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication, error or failure of an advertisement to appear.

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TECHNOLOGY

Trenitalia on Amadeus

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

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Inaugurating new tech hub in Abu Dhabi

Trenitalia, the transport division of the Italian FS Group and Amadeus join hands to distribute Trenitalia content through all Amadeus channels.

Travel agents can now book high speed rail products through the GDS. T T B U R E AU hrough the sales channels and Amadeus global distribution system, travel agents of Middle East and from worldwide can book both Trenitalia’s high speed rail products, Frecce Alta Velocità (namely Frecciarossa and Frecciargento) and

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Thomas Drexler Head - Amadeus Rail

Frecciabianca. The rest of the medium and longdistance Trenitalia routes will follow shortly.

“It is quite exciting for the European rail industry as it extends its network and attracts new travellers to the benefits of rail travel. The key to its growth is to deliver the type of availability common in the airline sector. As it is, international distribution is significant for railways today,” informed Thomas Drexler, Head - Amadeus Rail.

“It will be easier for the Middle Eastern and other international travellers and the travel agents to compare Trenitalia services with flights on the same route.

In this way, there will be choices and transparency of options and hence, will help improve productivity for the agent at the same time,” he added.

Exclusive Deal As part of the agreement, travel agents who use the Amadeus selling platform will have a standardised way to access Trenitalia services.

It will consecutively make bookings through an air/rail-based search solution, FlyByRail Track and a rail-based search solution, Rail Agent Track, designed exclusively for rail services.

Through this partnership, Trenitalia can draw new market segments expanding distribution beyond its traditional channels, developing its presence in strategic mar-

kets like Central Europe, North America and Asia.

While selecting and booking Trenitalia travel, this innovative solution will provide the travel agencies flexibility.

Trenitalia customers will accordingly enjoy more convenient booking and connection services that will satisfy the needs of the modern travellers.

Amadeus Gulf inaugurated its new state-of-the-ar t technology headquarters in Abu Dhabi on July 11.

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TRAVTALK

STATISTICS

AUGUST, 2012

th

Dubai ranks 8 in top 20 destination cities As per the ‘MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index’ report, Dubai ranked 8th in world’s top 20 destination cities by the number of visitors in 2012. The Emirate also ranked 1st as a destination city in the ME and Africa region. Excerpts: T T B U R E AU ubai maintains its number one position, while showing a strong 15.3% growth in the number of visitors in 2012 while Abu Dhabi ranked third, up from sixth rank in 2011, propelled by an

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u

impressive 17.9% growth.

London is the number one origin city for Dubai, with 8,03,000 visitors at US$ 1,495 as the highest spending in Dubai per visit among the top five origin cities. The rankings of the destination cities look

Global Top 20 Destination Cities by International Visitors (2012)

London Paris Barcelona

New York

Madrid

Amsterdam Frankfurt Vienna Milan

16.9 mn 1. London 16.0 mn 2. Paris 12.2 mn 3. Bangkok 11.8 mn 4. Singapore 11.6 mn 5. Istanbul 11.1 mn 6. Hong Kong 9.7 mn 7. Madrid 8.8 mn 8. Dubai 8.1 mn 9. Frankfurt 8.1 mn r pu 10. Kuala Lum

8.0 mn 11. Seoul 7.8 mn 12. Rome 7.6 mn 13. New York 7.5 mn 14. Shanghai 7.3 mn a 15. Barcelon 7.1 mn 16. Milan 6.9 mn 17. Amsterdam 6.7 mn 18. Vienna 6.2 mn 19. Beijing 5.4 mn 20. Taipei

Beijing Istanbul

Rome

Seoul Shanghai

Dubai

Hong Kong

Taipei

Bangkok Kuala Lumpur Singapore

w

Middle East and Africa Top 10 Destination Cities by International Visitors (2012)

Tunis Casablanca

Tel Aviv

Amman

Cairo

Dubai

Riyadh

i u Duba o ir a C v habi w Abu D nesburg x Johan iv y Tel Av blanca z Casa h { Riyad bi | Nairo n } Amma is ~ Tun

x

8.8 mn 3.3 mn 2.7 mn 2.5 mn 2.5 mn 2.1 mn 1.9 mn 1.8 mn 1.7 mn 1.6 mn

Abu Dhabi

Johannesburg

Dubai - Top Origin Cities London Frankfurt Paris

2012 Visitors Origin Cities (000s) 803 u London 336 v Paris 305 w Munich 295 x Frankfurt 266 y Kuwait

Of the five leading cities sending visitors to Dubai, London provides well over twice as many visitors and they spend more than four times as those from other cities.

2012 Spend (US$ mn) $1,200 $298 $271 $261 $236

v

cities like London, Paris, Bangkok, New York, and Singapore occupy top rankings. But new destination cities like Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai are clearly moving forward with great momentum.

Rankings by Visitor Numbers

Rank

2012

2011

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

London Paris Bangkok Singapore Istanbul Hong Kong Madrid Dubai Frankfurt Kuala Lumpur Seoul Rome New York Shanghai Barcelona Milan Amsterdam Vienna Beijing Taipei

London Paris Bangkok Singapore Hong Kong Istanbul Madrid Rome Dubai Frankfurt Kuala Lumpur Seoul New York Barcelona Shanghai Milan Amsterdam Vienna Beijing Taipei

y

Nairobi

Munich

very different from the perspective of growth where Abu Dhabi is at 17.9% and Dubai at 15.3%. The Report presents a picture of resilient growth in cross-border visitor numbers in the world’s most important cities. Leading destination

The World’s Top 20 Fastest Growing Destination Cities by Visitor Numbers

Destination City

2012 Growth Rate

Rank 2011

Rio de Janeiro Tokyo Quito Abu Dhabi Tunis Dubai Taipei Istanbul Beijing Bogota Lima Riyadh Nairobi Singapore Seoul Cairo Shanghai Toronto Washington Caracas

28.6% 21.5% 18.8% 17.9% 17.7% 15.3% 15.1% 14.7% 14.7% 12.6% 11.7% 10.4% 10.0% 9.9% 9.8% 8.3% 8.2% 7.6% 7.2% 7.0%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

*Top 20 growth rate ranking of the combined list of each of the 5 regions' top 10 cities which were ranked by visitor numbers.

Data Sources Kuwait Dubai

Source

Indicator(s)

UNWTO

Country Based Tourism Statistics

National Tourism Boards Country Based Tourism Statistics WTTC

Source: MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities: Cross-Border Travel and Expenditure

World Tourism Indicators

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COVER STORY

Boosting bilateral relationship Contd. from page 1 u

Union Minister for Tourism, India in Dubai.

The roadshow in Dubai is being organised by India’s Ministry of Tourism with the support of Indian missions in the UAE - MK Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE; Sanjay Verma, Indian Consul General in Dubai and other officials. Tourism officials from Indian states like Rajasthan, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand along with more than 15 tour operators, hotels and airlines showcased Indian tourist attractions at the roadshow event.

The roadshow was organised to depict India as a multi-faceted, all-the-year round tourist destination.

Sahai invited NRIs and business groups from the UAE to participate in tourism projects in India.

When asked about the complicated visa procedures for foreign nationals, Sahai said, “Issues related to visa norms will be resolved soon.”

Presently, India has 2,00,000 five-star hotel rooms and 2,00,000 more rooms will be attached within four years. There are plans to add more exhibition and convention centres and theme

parks. “We need to invest over US$ 7.25 billion to develop tourism infrastructure within next three to four years,” he added.

Nearly 6.29 million tourists visited India in 2011, an 8.9 per cent growth over 5.78 million in 2010. Till May 2012, the country received about 2.8 million tourists, generating US$ 7.297 billion in foreign exchange. The Indian tourism ministry’s target is to increase the country’s share in international tourist arrivals from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent by 2016.

According to the tourism promotion body,

India Tourism Dubai, India is poised to become a hub for Medical Tourism with excellent hospitals with latest medical technology, highly skilled Indian physicians and surgeons, lower cost of treatment and less waiting time for patients.

India in UAE Nearly 6.29 million tourists visited India in 2011, an 8.9 per cent growth over 5.78 million in 2010 Till May 2012, the country received about 2.8 million tourists

Special packages, good prices Contd. from page 1 u

Middle East. Till date, there is an increase of 24.6 per cent arrivals and 23.1 per cent overnights from the region in 2012 in comparison to 2011, which was already a record year.

season. All the joint promotions are aimed to provide special packages with good prices to the travellers,” conveyed Tuan Razali Tuan Omar, Director, Malaysia Tourism promotion Board, Dubai.

Ganesh Ullal

Ashraf Helmy

Director - Marketing Omeir Travel Agency

Genaral Manager & Area Business Development Manager, Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort

“We have selected 9 packages for family holidays in the best of destinations in Austria. In addition, we will run a joint campaign with Emirates Holidays to promote Vienna as a perfect destination for this holiday period.

We are very happy that in late August and early September, families will be able to travel as this is the perfect time for family holidays in Austria,” explained Klaus Ehrenbrandtner, Director, Austrian Tourism Board.

Overall, Malaysia received 9.4 million arrivals for the first five months of 2012, an increase of 1.2 per cent from 9.3 million arrivals compared to the same period in 2011.

“We are working closely with the travel trade to sell Malaysia better. We have undertaken some joint promotions with airlines and travel agencies by offering special packages for the Eid holidays and also for travels during the holiday

Omeir Travels have come up with a wealth of diversified packages in 2012.

Starting from farm holidays, wildlife safari, huntingadventure or diving trips to heritage tours, private island stays, cruises or summer camps. All offers guaranteed relaxation and comfort.

“Our marketing activities were planned and rolled out in May itself since the preferred travel period is before Ramadan which was also coinciding with the summer vacations. Exclusive tailor made packages are on offer for Eid and summer holidays,” elucidated Ganesh Ullal, Director - Marketing, Omeir Travel Agency. “We are forecasting a double digit growth this year especially in the leisure segment,” he further emphasised.

Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah has received around 80 per cent of its business from the travel trade so far in 2012. At present, they are concentrat-

ing on their new hotel project along with shopping and entertainment project in Al Aqah area. The property is also offering special rates for Eid this year.

Instead of AED 1,500 per night, one can book two nights and get the rate of AED 1,250 per night. Instead of AED 1,500 per night, one can should book three nights and get the rate of AED 1,000 per night.

“We have a special rate for the weekdays, during the summer, starting from AED 420. We are also promoting special offers like giving 15 per cent discount on food and beverages and 20 per cent off from the wellness center for those who are staying 3 nights and more,” informed Ashraf Helmy, General Manager & Area Business Development Manager, Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah

Saudi Arabia and India, over the next 5 years.

Russel GH Sharpe, COO - Hotel Division, Citymax Hotels Landmark Hospitality asserts, “Our hotels traditionally enjoy very high occupancy during Eid and hence we don’t have any special offers.

We have special rates & offers for our large base of Shukran loyalty card members across GCC throughout the summer. We also have summer rates for online bookings where room at our Al Barsha hotel is as low as AED 212++ per night only.”

“Sumptuous food menu complimented with on-site entertainment are lined up on our Food & Beverage Activities for Eid Al Fitr.

Special room rates are on offer starting from AED 755++ on bed and breakfast basis,” pronounced Diana Ancuta, Director - Sales &

Russel GH Sharp

Diana Ancuta

COO - Hotel Division Citymax Hotels Landmark Hospitality

Director - Sales & Marketing Al Raha Beach Hotel

Beach Resort. “For Ramadan also, special rates were offered for the stay that started with AED 280 per room per night and also for Iftar and Sohour,” he informed.

Recognising the sheer potential and demand for budget accommodations, Citymax Hotels plan to open over 10 new mid-market hotels across UAE, Qatar,

Marketing, Al Raha Beach Hotel. “We have also participated in ‘Abu Dhabi Summer Surprises’ organised by ADTCA where guests can book one room and receive a second room complimentary for a minimum stay of 2 nights.

Complimentary ‘Summer in Abu Dhabi’ tickets offered up to two children, valid till September 15, 2012,” Ancuta stated.

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Q. A.

Q. A.

Q. A.

Q. A.

TRAVTALK

CRUISES

AUGUST, 2012

What on-board activities can be purchased prior to sailing?

Shore Excursions and Dining can be purchased by guests sailing on any Norwegian ship. In addition, guests sailing on the Norwegian Epic will have the option to purchase on-board Entertainment and Spa activities as well.

What are the baggage rules for a traveller on-board your cruises?

Each person is allowed up to two pieces of personal luggage on-board, with each piece weighing a maximum of 50 pounds.

However, if passengers are travelling by air, they need to check with the airline for specific baggage restrictions.

Are babysitter services available on-board?

Norwegian Cruise Line offers group sitting for the ages between 2 and 12 for a nominal fee with the ‘Kid’s Crew’ counselors. In addition, to our regular sitting hours of 10 pm till 1 am, group sitting is available in port from 9 am to 5 pm. Private babysitting service is not available.

‘Oceanliner’ to become a floating hotel Istithmar, a Dubai government owned Investment Company, which bought Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) from Cunard in 2007 announced plans to refurbish and convert the ship into a 300-room hotel and dock permanently at Dubai’s Port Rashid.

T T B U R E AU E2 has been docked at Port Rashid, Dubai, since she arrived 5 years back.

The cruise liner had made no less than 26 round-the-world voyages and was bought by Istithmar in 2007.

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The state-owned company informed that it will take 18

months to house a floating 300room luxury hotel inside QE2 with top lifestyle facilities and a Maritime Museum highlighting the important maritime history of Dubai through a display of 25,000 collections. Once converted, the QE2 will display the ship’s collection of art works and other historical assets acquired almost four decades as one of

Do children cruise for free?

Cruise fare for children under two includes government taxes and port fees only.

Certain itineraries offer specials on 3rd and 4th guests in the same stateroom. Infants sailing on-board an NCL vessel must be at least six months of age at the time of sailing. However, for voyages that have 3 or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old at the time of sailing.

the world’s leading ocean-going cruise liners.

“There have been many ideas about what to do with this ship, but people like the ship for her style and her history. So we have decided to leave her basic design as it is.

The ship is in immaculate condition and we will preserve her tradition,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Istithmar World.

“It's going to enhance the tourism sector in Dubai and hence the initiative comes as Dubai enjoys a rebound in trade and tourism sector,” he informed.

Najeeb Mithvani Second Assistant Vice President, Star Cruises & NCL

Queen Elizabeth 2 docked at Port Rashid in Dubai

Dubai’s Cruise Tourism is growing rapidly. Dubai Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid hosted 108 cruise ships with 3,96,554 passengers in 2011 and 71 vessels with 2,75,000 tourists during the first half of 2012. This figure is projected to touch 145 cruise ships and 5,00,000 passengers by 2015, according to Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Boosting Cruise Tourism The refurbishment of Queen Elizabeth 2 is going to enhance the tourism sector in Dubai The ship will be converted into a 300-room floating hotel and will dock at Port Rashid, Dubai Dubai Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid hosted 108 cruise ships with 3,96,554 passengers in 2011 and 71 vessels with 2,75,000 tourists during the first half of 2012

Focussing on Turkey

Celebrating cruises

Costa Cruises reinforces its presence in Turkey by attending Seatrade (Izmir) along with a co-branded event of international Jewellery companies on Costa Favolosa.

Costa forecasts 3,72,000 visiting passengers in 2012.

With Eid celebrations round the corner along with the holiday season, Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Limited (NCL) has come up with some attractive special offers to enhance the holiday experience.

until October with two different itineraries.

T T B U R E AU n occasion of Seatrade’s Turkish Cruise Forum, these two events confirm Turkey’s relevance for the Italian Cruise Company which has announced 2012 forecasts of 108 calls at Turkish ports and 3,72,000 visiting passengers, an increase of 34 per cent over 2011.

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Organised by Seatrade and held in conjunction with Izmir Chamber of Commerce, Seatrade’s Turkish Cruise Forum gave Costa Cruises the chance to source travellers from Turkey and help in making the country a yearround destination.

Costa Favolosa, Costa Atlantica and Costa Magica will cruise from Istanbul and

Sailing in Turkey Costa Favolosa will be sailing to Istanbul from June 3 to September 6, 2012 Costa Fascinosa will sail between April 11 - October 17, 2013

Dario Rustico Sales and Marketing Director Central Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, Costa Cruises

Izmir, assuring Costa’s presence all year round.

Costa Favolosa will be calling 28 times at Istanbul and the passengers will continue embarking from June 3 to September 6, 2012.

Travellers will be able to experience the Eastern Mediterranean with visits to Dubrovnik, Venice, Bari, Olympia and Izmir.

The itinerary will be repeated with Costa Fascinosa between April 11 and October 17 in 2013. The Costa Atlantica will cruise in the Mediterranean

“Costa Cruises is a pioneer on the Turkish market and was the first to put Izmir on the map as a cruise destination in 2004.

With Istanbul and Izmir as home port and our new summer itineraries to the Aegean islands, we are confident of outbound numbers souring in the years to come,” commented Dario Rustico, Sales and Marketing Director, Central Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, Costa Cruises.

“Turkey is one of the growing markets Costa is focussing on. Costa Fascinosa and Costa Mediterranea will be the ships dedicated to this market.

In 2013, we plan to make a total of 124 calls with 4,06,000 visiting passengers,” added Rustico.

T T B U R E AU he special offer run as a companion free offer on SuperStar Libra, sailing from Penang into the Islands of

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Krabi and Phuket and is valid till September 16. While the flagship SuperStar is also offering 30 per cent off for all passengers sailing with the cruisline.

With sales and marketing plans outlined for 2012, Star Cruises has high hopes to see further growth.

“We are very optimistic about the remaining 2012 outcome.

Najeeb Mithvani Second Assistant Vice President - Sales Star Cruises

Compared to 2011, we have witnessed a surge in business especially on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships in Europe.

The Euro has made travel to Europe very attractive and the low fares that have been created by the airline have simultaneously helped in the same. There is also a huge demand observed towards the west,” expressed Najeeb Mithvani, Second Assistant Vice President, Sales, Star Cruises. The travel trade plays the most important distribution arm bringing in over 90 per cent of the business. In-house trainings are performed on a regular basis for the travel trade, along with fam trips that are regularly organised, 3 to 4 times a year, to provide them the first-hand experience of the product.

Tiny new members at Atlantis, the Palm Teeny, tiny little Seahorses, about the size of a small fingernail are the newest additions to The Lost Chambers Family at Atlantis, The Palm. These rare, newborns, known as ‘Fry’ will assist in the repopulation of this species when they are released into the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, once mature enough to hunt Zooplankton.

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AVIATION

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

9

IndiGo flies high in UAE skies

Dubai Duty Free’s first Hatta Border Shop

After rolling out four new flights between Dubai and India, IndiGo, recently unveiled a new Arabic website that has been specifically designed for both business and leisure travellers based in the Middle East.

Dubai Duty Free’s first foray into border shop retailing was firmly underscored with the official inauguration of its Hatta Border shop.

Located next to the Customs and Immigration offices at the Hatta-Oman border, the new retail unit covers some 42 square metre and provides travellers with a 24-hour service. Selling a selection of high-demand items, including confectionery, perfumes and tobacco, the Dubai Duty Free border shop offers a convenient stop off point for drivers crossing to and from Dubai.

airline where the product speaks for itself.

T T B U R E AU xpected to be effective from August 2012, IndiGo will operate new flights between the cities of Hyderabad-Dubai, ChennaiDubai and Kochi-Dubai. In addition, the airline is all set to start its second daily and

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M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, along with Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo recently

New Flights Aditya Ghosh

IndiGo will operate new flights between the cities of Hyderabad-Dubai, Chennai-Dubai and KochiDubai.

The airline to start its second daily and direct flight on Delhi-Dubai sector Bookings have already opened effective from June 15 and the early bird return offer is the introductory low range pricing of AED 734

President IndiGo

direct flight on Delhi-Dubai and Delhi-Bangkok sectors.

Bookings have already opened effective from June 15 and the early bird return offer is the introductory low range pricing of AED 734.

Continuing to offer on time act, no cancellation, year-on-year growth and affordable flying experience, IndiGo is termed as a faceless

The Arabic website is a pioneering effort that has never been done before in Dubai by any Indian carrier.

M.K. Lokesh Indian Ambassador to the UAE presided over the formal launch ceremony of the Arabic website at a press briefing in Dubai.

“The Arabic website is a pioneering effort that has never been done before in Dubai by any Indian carrier. I am very pleased to see IndiGo’s commitment to re-

SpiceJet ‘spices up’ Dubai SpiceJet, India’s low cost airline, have launched its Dubai operations with daily flights to Delhi and Mumbai since June 25 from Terminal 1, Dubai International Airport.

T T B U R E AU s part of the carrier’s continuing strategic expansion into international markets, SpiceJet’s Boeing 737-800s took off its first flight from Dubai to the two Indian cities.

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At a press conference in Dubai, Neil Mills, CEO, SpiceJet, informed, “The Government of India has taken substantial steps to open the market by allowing private carriers to connect with new international destinations.

Hence, we are working further to tie-up with more new routes to Dubai like Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad while in Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is the new point on our radar,” he added.

Dubai is the third international destination for the airline after Kathmandu and Colombo. Besides, it’s working on adding more interna-

Mills (left) and Jayaram (right) at the launch of the Airline’s Dubai operations

tional destinations from India like South China, Maldives, Colombo, Bangkok, Riyadh and Kabul.

associated with the quality airline which has renowned reputation for its customer satisfaction and punctuality.”

Bookings for SpiceJet had kicked off earlier in June 2012 with an introductory inaugural fare starting from AED 377 excluding taxes.

The airline has partnered with Dubai-based Sharaf Travel for bookings and ever since the opening of bookings, the airline has received healthy response to its offer.

Headed by V. Jayaram, Managing Director, Sharaf Travels Group, the team was present in the conference.

Salah Sharaf, Chairman, Sharaf Travel, General Sales Agent of SpiceJet in the UAE said, “We are delighted that SpiceJet has chosen Dubai as their 3rd international destination and we are proud to be

define the standards in the airline business in the UAE,” expressed Lokesh during the launch ceremony.

The new website distinctly displays International Standard Arabic language

SpiceJet connects Delhi and Kabul The Airline has started flights between New Delhi and the Afghan capital city of Kabul.

The opening of ticket sale has been effective from July 13 and the commercial flights would start from August 14, 2012

where all the numeric figures are displayed in English. Ghosh informed, “In line with our endeavour to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers, IndiGo has added new flights connecting Dubai to Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi.”

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TRAVTALK

AVIATION

AUGUST, 2012

MTB gets a makeover

Air Arabia fills the slot

ADAC in a joint venture with TAV, CCC and Arabtec, have signed an AED 10.8 billion contract for the construction of Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), a 7,00,000 sq m project at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Catering to the tourist flow to the Salalah Tourism Festival (STF 2012), running from June 21 to July 18, 2012, Air Arabia, with the support of Oman’s Tourism Ministry launched new flights between Sharjah and Salalah.

cation for passenger processing areas. The MTB is designed to achieve a minimum Two Pearl Rating, following the Urban Planning Council’s Estidama approach towards sustainable design.

T T B U R E AU he construction of the new terminal building will commence Q3 2012 and is planned to open in 2017.

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Throughout the construction process, the surrounding areas of the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) will also be developed.

Procurement of these projects is presently in progress to ensure delivery in stages between 2014 and 2016.

Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman, ADAC said, “Abu Dhabi Airports Company looks ahead to five years of growth focussing on increasing traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport and on expanding the airport’s infrastructure to support this growth.”

The design is focussed extensively on the passenger’s experience. It meets the highest quality and service standards, including the

Ali Majed Al Mansoori Chairman ADAC

International Air Transport Association (IATA) level of service ‘A’ alongwith the highest levels of space allo-

MTB Project The project will include two segments; the 4 year construction phase, followed by the Operational Readiness Assessment phase (ORAT) to make certain efficiency readiness from the first day of operation

“To reduce heat and increase airconditioning efficiencies, the project will minimise its impact on the environment, making use of the innovative design elements like high performance angled glass,” further informed Mansoori.

Passenger facilities and duty-free retail will include high-end commercial offerings, airline hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum.

T T B U R E AU

in the Gulf and entire Middle East. We are pleased to collaborate with the Oman Ministry of Tourism to launch Air Arabia’s new flights between Sharjah and Salalah.”

esides Salalah Tourism Festival, the launch also coincides with Dhofar’s biggest annual cultural and entertainment show with the ‘Khareef’ season of cool weather, which runs from July till September end.

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The new flights from Sharjah depart on every Thursdays and Saturdays, returning on the same day.

The reasons of the Oman Ministry of Tourism and Salalah Tourism industry to commence Air Arabia’s non-stop services decision are due to Salalah’s increasingly recognised stature as a quality tourism and leisure destination. In addition, Salalah is benefitting from record investments in quality resorts and services. Also, it is evident that Low Cost Carriers lead the development of leisure and shortbreak travel.

Seawings takes off to Abu Dhabi

Adel Ali Group Chief Executive Officer Air Arabia

Finally it’s observed that there is strong demand of non-stop services between UAE and Salalah. For the year ending, April 2012, IATA data shows that there were 16,667 passenger movements from Dubai to Salalah of which 37 per cent travelled via Muscat.

Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said, “Salalah has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations

“Air Arabia’s services between Sharjah and Salalah represent 100 per cent increase in non-stop capacity from the UAE, with excellent connections to Dammam, KSA, that is another large potential leisure market for Salalah,” informed Ghasi Al Hashmi, Director General Assistant Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Tourism, Oman.

New Flight Service Salalah is increasingly becoming a quality tourism and leisure destination It has quality resorts set in 5-Star natural setting making it a unique and a beautiful destination

Etihad gets more equity stake in Virgin Australia

After breaking all records in Dubai, Seawings, the only seaplane tour operator in the Middle East, is now expanding its offerings of The Australian Government has allowed the airline to increase its seaplane tours to Abu Dhabi visitors. explores further. equity stake in Virgin Australia and Dubai Classique. Each of T T B U R E AU Last year, Seawings Holdings to a maximum of 10 per cent. these tours provides Dubai broke all

ith no other direct competitors, Seawings covers all sights and wonders of Abu Dhabi as a destination from above the clouds and amidst the seas. The company recently launched

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scenic seaplane tours; Abu Dhabi Scenic, Yas Classique

New Scenic Tours Ferrari World F1 Grand Prix Circuit Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi Corniche The marble façade of Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel

spectacular views of the capital city from a Cessna 208 amphibious aircraft.

The new scenic tours are designed to provide a unique experience to the panoramic views of the Ferrari World, F1 Grand Prix Circuit, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Corniche, the marble façade of Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel among others.

Seawings accommodates 9 travellers at a time with climate controlled cabins.

Being a niche product seeking different kinds of market, the brand also offers corporate flight packages for businesses to optimise their time in UAE. Abu Dhabi’s business tourism sector has expanded significantly after investment in infrastructure and witnesses an increase in the number of events in MICE segment. Seawings customised excursions and

records for growth and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 3 tours in Dubai.

Stuart Wheeler CEO Seawings

exclusive aircraft charters are designed to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s MICE industry proposition.

“Since its inception in 2007, Seawings has been on a mission to create unforgettable experiences for UAE tourists.

Now, Seawings has decided to expand its offering of seaplane tours to Abu Dhabi visitors,” informed Stuart Wheeler, CEO, Seawings.

“According to the 2012 MasterCard Global Cities Index, Abu Dhabi has emerged as the Middle East’s fourth fastest growing destination by international visitor numbers and the presence of Seawings will only add to its growth,” he added.

T T B U R E AU tihad Airways currently has a 4.99 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, acquired earlier this year and had applied to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to raise the level of its investment.

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The purchase was made following the development of a highly successful multi-tiered partnership between the two airlines that includes codesharing on flights, joint marketing initiatives and reciprocal earn-and-burn on their respective frequent flier programmes.

The strategic partnership has already delivered significant revenues to each airline. It is expected that the equity stake in Virgin Australia will lead to further

revenue generating opportunities. In total, nearly two million passengers have flown with Etihad Airways between Australia and its Abu Dhabi hub.

Etihad Airways has three regional offices and a line maintenance facility in Australia and now employs more than 300 Australian members of staff who are based in Australia, Abu Dhabi and at stations around the world.

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AGENTS

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

11

Darina Holiday’s D-Travel Foraying into new avenues Darina Holiday plans to develop D-Travel, a new Headquartered in Mumbai, Akbar Travels of India has software that will directly connect to the hotels that 14 branch offices all over UAE and has ventured into provide last minute rates and availabilities. holiday business with a new company, Akbar Holidays.

T T B U R E AU he new software will be launched by January 1, 2013. Being part of Al Aroud Group of Companies, under the vision of Saleh Al Aroud, Chairman of the Group, Three-year old Darina Holidays is gradually becoming one of the leading Destination Management Companies in UAE.

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“The whole world is moving towards technology and it’s quite difficult to move to the perfect path, hence we need to have perfect software with a sound expertise and that’s what we have emphasised on,” expressed,

D-Travel Software The software will help the company increase its business The company expects the revenue to increase by 40-60%

Rami Asaad, Managing Director, Darina Holidays.

“The introduction of this new software will help us in increasing our business. Our main market is GCC, where we observed 80 per cent growth in 2012 so far over 2011.

We expect the revenue to increase by 40 to 60 per cent and thereby, strongly get established in the tourism map of Dubai as the leading DMC of the UAE. Expansion plans to Latin America and European market are there in the pipeline. Around 43,000 passengers have poured in 2011 and we expect around 60,000 throughout 2012,” he further added.

Many of the travel partners will benefit with this

software as it’s the easiest tool and perfect connection between the suppliers and the partners to get every data and availabilities round the

Rami Asaad Managing Director Darina Holidays

clock. The familiarisation trip for the travel trade from CIS market is scheduled for September 2012.

With vigorous expansion endeavour, the company has also planned to move its new office in Business Bay by October 2012.

S U S M I TA G H O S H

various agents. But, we are sure of the products we have in terms of airlines and land,” asserts Manchanda.

kbar Travels of India, one of the leading IATA agency with 55 IATA offices allover India, is a resonant name in the travel industry.

With Akbar Holidays, the company is making a niche for itself in the ever blooming travel market.

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“We, at Akbar Holidays, are encouraged to rightly utilise the accomplishment of Akbar Travels of India to our advantage to offer the best value and stress-free holidays to our customers travelling to any destinations worldwide,” explained Manju Manchanda, Manager, Akbar Holidays, a Division of Akbar Travels of India.

“Due to major marketing done by Dubai Tourism, the inbound sector of Dubai is booming. Traditional travel periods from the Middle East encompass peak, shoulder and low season travel, ensur-

Manju Manchanda Manager, Akbar Holidays Division of Akbar Travels of India

ing year-round appeal with a wide target market for singles, couples, families and businessmen,” she further informed.

“No brand name goes without challenges. The political unrest in Middle East has already affected the tourism industry and in turn, its economy. All the more it is also a very competitive market where the main confront is the rates. We do come across clients who check rates with

The argument on online and traditional travel agencies is an ongoing process.

The online travel agencies are spreading at an escalating rate for their own market share, useful for travellers who plan their trips much in advance and book all services online. Contrarily, families who wish to travel will always visit traditional travel agents for their personalised services. Hence, both will continue on a parallel route, depending entirely on the travel trade.

Holiday Specialised Akbar Holidays, a sub brand of Akbar Travels, specialises in business, pleasure, incentive, individual, medical, family and group travels

Making a new move

Fam trip to Seychelles

Based in Kuwait, Alshamel Travel commenced a new identity replacing the old logo of Alshamel International and Alshamel Travel & Tourism across the Middle East.

The Seychelles Tourism Board Middle East Office in partnership with Etihad Airways recently took travel professionals from Dammam, Saudi Arabia to visit the Seychelles Islands.

T T B U R E AU ased in the UAE since 2002, the company’s Dubai operations were consolidated under one roof at Al Barsha Boutique in October 2011. Promising its regional customers innovative travel solutions and quality services and assistances, this change will

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New Branding The new logo is a symbolic expression of Alshamel’s new move towards travel business Built from different segments of the world, the colour blend at different angles depicts an energetic movement and a continuous drive for discovering new frontiers in the travel industry To create a long-term brand identity clearly communicates the values of Alshamel and that’s the key objective in this rebranding process

now be rolled out across its offices in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Built from different segments of the world, the colour blend at different angles depicts an energetic movement and a continuous drive for discovering new frontiers in the travel industry. The new logo is a symbolic expression of Alshamel’s new move towards travel business.

“There was never a better time to introduce a new logo and branding.

This is not just a logo change but major restructuring initiative to improve us in every aspect.

Today, we are not only looking at maintaining our leading position in the region but want to develop it further as well. We have a very aggressive strategic plan put in place and are moving ahead with a lot of confidence

Khaled Al-Ghanim CEO Alshamel Travel

to achieve that,” expressed Khaled Al-Ghanim, CEO, Alshamel Travel.

“We offer the region’s best-in-class travel management services that are backed by a professional team and ground-breaking technologies,” he updated.

To create a long-term brand identity clearly communicates the values of Alshamel and that’s the key objective in this rebranding process. These values are focussed on offering innovative travel solutions, enhancing the quality services and improving customer experience to name a few.

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TRAVTALK

NTO

AUGUST, 2012

Best eco-friendly project in KSA

‘Discover Sharjah’ by SCTDA

n The main building of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has been chosen as the best eco-friendly project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the 2 nd Saudi Arabia Building and Infrastructure Summit (SABIS-2012) recently held in Riyadh, said Engineer Abdul Mohsin Abanami, Director General Engineering and Supportive Services, SCTA. The blue-glassed headquarters of SCTA, which is located in the Diplomatic Quarters in Riyadh, was chosen because its design observes all the aspects of sustainable environmental standards, added Abanami.

The headquarter comprises three buildings of different sizes. The building’s backyard - 40 per cent of the building total area includes gardens and services containing a number of palm trees, shading shrubs and a pond in its center, which confers a breathtaking view.

It is easy to note that

A two-day orientation tour, ‘Discover Sharjah’ by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), took place recently for the front office staff of the Emirate’s growing tourism and hospitality sector.

the building’s design has taken into account a number of sustainable environmental standards, including the building’s ability to save power by utilising solar light as a better economical solution to electricity consumption.

All the three buildings have internal courtyards that include different kinds of shade plants for air purification and ventilation.

A sloping Armstrong ceiling - beginning from the windows to the building’s center - allows floodlight to engulf offices and corridors inside the building, besides limiting the use of electricity.

The roofs of the three buildings are covered with special layers to reduce emission gases into the building.

Noteworthy, the building of SCTA is considered as the iconic building in its aesthetic design and form, which is located in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, built on an area in excess of 17,000 sq m.

T T B U R E AU hirty-four industry representatives including some from the leading hotels of the emirate attended the orientation tour. It included lectures on Sharjah’s history, culture and tourism sector and visits to a number of museums, art galleries, cultural and historical landmarks of the emirate.

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Over the past year, SCTDA organised various campaigns introducing Sharjah’s tourism product and services, including ‘Know

Your Destination’, ‘Sharjah Treasures’ for the benefit of representatives of the leading hotels and tourism operators.

Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, SCTDA said, “The Authority is committed in promoting Sharjah’s special tourism product locally, regionally and internationally. The ‘Discover Sharjah’ was a part of the Authority’s efforts to update and enhance the skills of the tourism sector representatives.”

The group had visited Sharjah University City,

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, Sharjah Aquarium, Al Mahatta Museum, Classic Cars Museum, Archaeology Museum, Sharjah Discovery Center among other landmarks. The group also explored Heritage areas on foot.

The Chairman added that the orientation tour had been timed to coincide with the summer when hotels in the emirate witness a sharp increase in occupancy rates, mostly from the GCC countries, especially after the recent SCTDA roadshows in Gulf capitals.

During the summer season, he pointed out, the emirate organises a number of promotional and entertainment events and exhibitions like

Mohamed Ali Al Noman Chairman SCTDA

Sharjah Summer Promotions and Ramadan and Eid Fair. “We are counting on summer events and activities to increase tourism inflow into the emirate,” said Al Noman.

“Even if it remains true to its traditions, the emirate boasts modern infrastructure and international hotels and resorts attracting visitors from worldwide,” he further explained.

Reinforcing mutual ties Oman launches Auto Guide A high profile Indonesian delegation recently visited the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and met senior DED officials to enhance the bilateral economic ties between Indonesia and Dubai.

S U S M I TA G H O S H xtensive discussions were held to enhance bilateral co-operation in trade and investment sectors. UAE’s investments in Indonesia have reached US$ 25.1 million in 2011. The representatives from both the countries discussed about increasing cooperation on trade, tourism, investment and services.

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The Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME 2012) will be held on October 9-11, 2012 at Graha Wangsa. TIME is the only B2B international conceptual travel mart in Indonesia. Supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy, TIME is organised by the

Tourist Arrivals (Jan-May, 2012) 33,566 from KSA 1,462 from UAE 330 from Bahrain

Indonesian Tourism Council.

The event is a meeting place for those who sell tourism products services of Indonesia to the international market.

“We want them to discover Indonesia as a multiple option under one sky.

Nowadays, people need to see it to believe it and so we are working hard with our travel partners to spread the word to potential travellers from the Middle East,” informed Nour Aridi, Country Manager, Visit Indonesia Tourism Office, Middle East Representation Office.

“To promote the destination, familiarisation trips are organised for the travel agents from the Middle East region, however we try to

choose the best from each travel agency or tours operator to join our fam tours.

Meanwhile, we attend sales calls and organise in-house training sessions to provide

T T B U R E AU t was held under the patronage of Maitha Bint Saif Al Mahrouqiyah, Undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, Oman at the Sheraton Qurum Beach Resort.

I

The idea of the project is based on having an application that includes information on 30 geo sites in Muscat, such as Al Khoud, Bandar Al Khairan, Wadi Al Meeh and Baushar. The programme includes maps for Muscat, geological sites and their paths to facilitate access to destinations by users and to provide them with information on the sites.

Nour Aridi Country Manager Visit Indonesia Tourism Office Middle East Representation Office

an authentic feel Indonesia,” she added.

The Tourism Ministry of Oman recently launched the ‘Muscat Geoheritage Auto Guide’ project. The idea of the project is to have an application that includes information on 30 geo sites in Muscat.

of

Indonesia has a wealth of tropical landscape, beautiful beaches, rainforest, mountains and volcanoes, golf, wildlife. The country offers a variety of international cuisine including a wide range of Halal food.

“It is one of the vital projects, which highlights the environmental identity enjoyed by the Sultanate and its natural and geologic nature,” said Mahrouqiyah.

She said the ministry aims to activate the project during this period to highlight the environmental

aspect and focus on sustainable environment.

She further informed that the project has been implemented in collaboration with a large number of specialised departments at the Ministry of Tourism, specialised companies in geology

Thirty major geological sites in Muscat have been covered.

The programme is available in Arabic, English, German and French languages.

There are maps in Arabic and English for select sites besides sign boards on

It is one of the vital projects, that highlights the environmental identity and the natural and geologic nature of Oman Maitha Bint Saif Al Mahrouqiyah Undersecretary Ministry of Tourism, Oman and environment and the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). She described the project as a scientific project rather than a tourist one. It provides valuable tourist, environmental and geological information on the Sultanate.

The project is a digital programme that can be transmitted via smart phones in four languages.

geological information and illustrations.

The Muscat Geoheritage project got the UNESCO Award for its commitment to sustainable development, education and cultural approach as its part of efforts made by the Tourism Ministry to develop the tourism sector in the Sultanate.

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HOTELS

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

13

Undaunted by the unrest Palais Namaskar Marrakech Hotel Diva started operating in April 2011 at the peak of Oetker Collection recently launched ‘Palais Namaskar’, unrest, yet, it showed an average of 60 per cent in its the new hotel in Marrakech and is promoting special complimentary offers to its guests. occupancy level in 2012 compared to 2011.

T T B U R E AU

businesses and we are looking forward to boost our growth in the market in the near future as well,” expressed Shankar Bharadwaj, General Manager, Hotel Diva, Juffair, Bahrain.

he property had its soft launch of the SKYBAR 20th floor recently and will formally start operation post Ramadan. Offering overall convenience for residence and tourists alike, the hotel covers all kind of entertainment needs in one area.

T

The Group, GAMA, is in the venture of expansion plans of introducing more hotels in the near future. EID Special promotion from August 18 to 23 offers the 5th night complimentary if booked for 4 nights and when booked for 3 nights, the 4 th night will have 30 per cent off. During the entire Ramadan period, the hotel will play Arabic music with traditional dishes.

The travel trade is an additional site of advertisement and has strong databases of specific market segments. “If they are big brand they add an

Shankar Bharadwaj General Manager Hotel Diva, Juffair Bahrain

endorsement for the property reassuring the customer of quality. That’s what has happened with us.

We always work closely with the travel trade and are grateful to them for their support, especially in such difficult times.

Our strong personal ties will mutually benefit our

“With the US$ 2.9bn upgrade on Bahrain’s logistics infrastructure, including a new bridge to Qatar, an airport expansion, a logistics zone and a larger port, business dimensions looks bright here.

Presently we are maintaining the quality of the hotels and after Ramadan we will again surge ahead with vigour,” Bharadwaj further informed.

Immense Prospect The hotel is one of the flagship property for high profile hotels It witnessed 60% occupancy level even though it started operating during the unrest phase

Eid with Cove Rotana The Cove Rotana Resort is Rotana’s first property in Ras Al Khaimah and is celebrating Eid in Cinnamon, offering a variety of dishes, during the entire Holy Month.

T T B U R E AU o make it more interesting, the property added exciting features for the children, by adding colours, games, splashes of water and many more attractions and activities.

T

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, splendid Iftar buffet with traditional

Andreas Mueller General Manager, Cove Rotana Ras Al Khaimah

Ramadan drinks, beverages and Shisha are being offered.

To complete the night, an amazing Sohour is being served A la carte at Cinnamon from 11pm till sunrise. Special rates are also being offered for a group of

10 or more on the purchase of Ramadan gift vouchers Discussing on the future plans and strategies Andreas Mueller, General Manager, Cove Rotana, Ras Al Khaimah explained, “As a resort it is important to offer a destination rather than just a hotel.

Nowadays, the tourists and business guests, prefer to explore outside the hotel boundaries to experience the local traditions and customs. Hence, we jointly promote RAK Tourism as a very viable alternative leisure and business destination.”

The guests are targetted from Russian and CIS countries along with the GCC market for 2012. There are plans to offer special packages for 79 villas to attract the GCC visitors in particular.

Over 70 per cent of the occupancy is generated by tour

operators and business on the books. “The remaining 2012 suggests a very healthy performance for the Cove with lot of reservations from the tour IT segment mainly from European market, holiday makers and weekenders.

There are special tour operators rate offered along with familiarisation trips in the resort,” added Mueller.

Rotana hotels have recently opened additional sales offices in Moscow, Mumbai and Shanghai and are optimistic towards exploring these markets soon.

Celebrating Ramadan During the Holy Month of Ramadan, splendid Iftar buffet with traditional Ramadan drinks, beverages and Shisha are being offered. To complete the night, an amazing Sohour is being served A la carte at Cinnamon from 11pm till sunrise. Special rates are also being offered for a group of 10 or more on the purchase of Ramadan gift vouchers

T T B U R E AU

Alain Briere, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Oetker Collection.

alais Namaskar Marrakech is a destination of its own where the greeting, ‘Namaskar’ means ‘the spirit in me respects the spirit in you’ and this is how the new hotel treats its guests and employees.

P

Oetker Collection hotels are fortunate enough to have a steady clientele from the Middle East who are very loyal to their preferred prop-

Company Portfolio The special offers include one night complimentary for three paying nights and two nights complimentary for five paying nights With Palais Namaskar just opened and Le Bristol Abu Dhabi under construction, the Group anticipates opening of ten properties for the next ten years

Alain Briere Vice President Sales and Marketing Oetker Collection

erty. Hence the recent political unrest couldn’t impact as it has on the overall travel industry of the Middle East.

“As socially and environmentally responsible Collection, we try to respect and protect the environment.

Hotel du Cap–Eden-Roc in Antibes and Chateau Saint Martin and Spa in Venice have just received the ‘Green Actors’ recognition in favour of sustainable development,” asserts

Across the Collection, around 25 to 30 per cent of the bookings pour in from the travel trade, depending on the season. “We provide the best of training to the travel trade through fam trips to experience our product and services.

Our sales activities are supported by regular e-commerce campaigns, enewsletters and above all Rami Al Jabari, our Director for Sales in the Middle East, based in Dubai is in regular touch with all the agents for special assistance,” concluded Briere.

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14

TRAVTALK

AUGUST, 2012

FAMILY ALBUM

presenting its beauty Incredible India Tourism roadshow took place in Atlantis Hotel, Dubai on June 28, 2012 to provide a glimpse of the tourism products and travel experiences that India offers as a tourist destination. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and supported by Indian Missions in the UAE, the representatives from the overall travel industry had joined the event.

IndiGo linking Dubai to India Indian low cost carrier, IndiGo has launched new Arabic website in Dubai recently. To tap into the Middle East outbound market, IndiGo is the first Indian airline to launch such a site that coincided also with the roll out of four new flight links between Dubai and India.

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MOVEMENTS ADNEC Abu Dhabi

Amadeus Gulf Abu Dhabi

AUGUST, 2012

TRAVTALK

15

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Paris

Pieter Idenburg is the new Group Chief Executive Officer for Graham Nichols joins Amadeus Gulf as the new Managing Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC). He brings Director. In his present role, he will be accountable for growing more than 25 years of customer service the business in the Gulf region (UAE, passion and has held senior Oman and Bahrain). Nichols has management positions in a number moved to Abu Dhabi joining Etihad as of international organisations such as the Managing Director of their Joint American Airlines, The Walt Disney venture with Amadeus in the Gulf Company and British Airways. Most region. A British national, he brings recently, he also served as the CEO of extensive experience in the corporate Suntec Singapore Exhibition & world. He had a previous stint with Convention Centre where he helmed Amadeus as the Managing Director of events such as the first ever Amadeus UK for 4 years.

Youth Olympic Games.

Christopher Norton will be the new President - Hotel Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), effective September 1, 2012. In his present profile, he will be providing strategic leadership to the properties in each of Four Seasons diverse operating regions. All Regional Vice Presidents in the region will report to Norton. He joined Four Seasons in 1989 and has served as Regional VP of the company and GM of Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris since 2007.

Pera Palace Hotel Istanbul

Amari Doha Qatar

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Dubai

Pınar Kartal Timer, the hotel’s current General Manager, joins the Jumeirah Group leadership team. Timer started her career at the Hilton Istanbul in 1988. She held several positions until her promotion to Director of Sales and Marketing for both Hilton Istanbul and Hilton Parksa in 1994. She also worked for Mövenpick and Kempinski before being appointed as General Manager of Pera Palace Hotel in 2009. A Turkish national, she is fluent in English and German.

Damian Ball is appointed as the General Manager of Amari Doha, Qatar. An Australian native Graduate in Tourism & Hospitality, he brings 18 years of experience in the Asia-Pacific region with him. In his new role, Ball will be responsible for overall operations of the soon-to-belaunched property. Having started his career in Front Office, he has since held various management and general management positions at different international resorts/ hotels, including Australia, Philippines and the Maldives.

John Farrelly is the new Director of Marketing for JW

Oetker Collection Dubai

Mina A’ Salam in Madinat Jumeirah Dubai

Rami Al-Jabari is appointed as the new Regional Director of Azar Saliba has been appointed as the Hotel Manager at Mina Sales for Middle East & Africa for The Oetker Collection. He comes A’ Salam in Madinat Jumeirah. Lebanese-born, Saliba is the youngest hotel manager within the with over 17 years and in his present Jumeirah Group and comes with 17 profile, he will oversee the sales of years of hospitality experience. Prior to Palais Namaskar, the newly-opened this, he was the Resident Manager at Oetker Collection masterpiece in Jumeirah Beach Hotel. He has been Marrakech, Morocco, and prewith the Jumeirah Group in Dubai opening sales roadmap for Le since 2006. He holds a Degree from Bristol Abu Dhabi. Prior to his present the American Hotel and Lodging profile, Al-Jabari was the General Association from Michigan and a Manager of Marriott Global Sales Bachelor Degree from BCU Organisation for the Gulf University in Lebanon.

Countries and Jordan.

Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. In his present profile, he is responsible for building awareness and sales for this future landmark of luxury. Farrelly joined Marriott International in UK in 1999 as Director of Sales. Following which he was named as the cluster Director of Sales and Marketing in 2005 and made the move to the UAE to take on his Dubai role in late 2011.

Anthony Tuttle is the new Director of Food and Beverage in JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. He brings with him almost 25 years of Marriott experience after he joined the company straight from his Culinary Arts degree in the U.S.A. He then transitioned to Director of Food & Beverage and carried this title with him as he travelled the world taking positions in California, Hawaii, China and now here in Dubai. Tuttle is no stranger to hotel openings having opened five Marriott International properties in Mexico, Thailand and China.

Suite 201, 202, 203, 204 Al Sayegh Building, Bur Dubai, P.O. Box 20808 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 334 4330 / 335 7676 | Fax: +971 4 334 4232 / 335 7111 E-mail: info@lama.ae | Website: www.lama.ae

Abu Dhabi takes Irish travel on a sail

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which backs Volvo Ocean Race contesting outfit, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, hosted more than 15 top Eire travel and tour operators in Galway, Ireland, as part of round-the-world sailing event’s final showing. Tour operators also got to sail with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing on its state-of-the-art Azzam yacht. Etihad Airways’ representatives were also in Galway to promote the company.

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