A DDP PUBLICATION
Pages: 16
ddppl.com
travtalkmiddleeast.com
Vol. IX No. 2; February 2013
Early re-bookings for GIBTM ..............................................................................03 Airline ancillary revenue soars in ME ..................................................................08 5 ways to boost your business..............................................................................12
Cruise tourism in ME eyes major slice Cruise tourism in the Middle East has been growing at a remarkable pace. Countries in the region are increasingly investing in its facilities and services. The UAE is a major part of this market as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai all attract big players of the industry. Costa Cruises was the first major cruise-liner to introduce Gulf itineraries. S U S M I TA G H O S H
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he cruising world is in constant evolution and so is the cruiser. The offer is more and more sophisticated and the guests tend to look for more activities and variety on board. “Costa was the first cruise line to launch regular cruising out of Dubai six seasons before and we are still the cruise line with the highest capacity committed to the region during winter 2012/2013. Dubai and the emirates are a firm point in our winter deployment and we are planning to invest more in the region in terms of communication to develop local source market and increase seasonality,” informed Dario Rustico, Director - Sales & Marketing, Central Europe, Africa, Middle East and India, Costa Cruises. Cruise tourism in the UAE has performed well in 2012. For Royal Caribbean International, it has been another successful year with good growth in guest volume. “We look forward to another successful year in 2013, with our world’s largest ships sailing in the Caribbean,
attractive itinerary options onboard Freedom and Voyager class ships in Europe and one of the Voyager class ships Mariner of the Seas joining Asia. The recently revitalised Serenade of the Seas is sailing in the Gulf from late January to mid-April,” explained Lakshmi Durai, Executive Director – Middle East Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises – Middle East. “The travel trade has been very supportive in generating good business. In 2013, we will continue to enhance our good working relationship with our trusted travel trade partners around the region,” she added. The hospitality industry has of course, gained advantage with the rapid growth of cruise tourism in UAE. “Occupancy levels are estimated to increase and we will expect groups for longer durations. UAE has also granted a multiple entry visa for cruise tourists which will directly benefit hotels around the region. 2013 looks promising in terms of occupancy levels,” commented Wael El Behi, General Manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai.
in 2011, the travel trade has gained a higher momentum in 2012 reaching 26 per cent of total business mix towards the year, he added.
Lakshmi Durai Executive Director – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises – Middle East
In 2013, we will continue to enhance our good working relationship with our trusted travel trade partners
“The cruise tourism sector is predicted to generate healthy revenue for the country as the estimate is 837 million in 2015 against
Wael El Behi
Dario Rustico
General Manager Ramada Downtown Dubai
Director - Sales & Marketing, Costa Cruises, Central Europe, Africa Middle East and India
UAE has also granted a multiple entry visa for cruise tourists which will directly benefit hotels around the region 338 million in 2010. We hope to capitalise on this new segment to gain more groups and individuals from the same,” he further added.
We are planning to invest more in the region for communication to develop local source markets and increase seasonality Travel trade and the leisure segment has always been an important element in the overall hotel occupancy. With a contribution of 23 per cent
Moussa El Hayek, COO, Al Bustan Centre & Residence, is of the opinion that cruise tourism will improve and that Dubai will gain strong position for this type of business. “It has been noticed during the last few years that cruise tourism has flourished in the UAE and all over the world. In fact, Dubai became an attractive destination, hence expected to benefit from this kind of tourism, having an advanced infrastructure in terms of hotels, shopping malls and road network which helped to attract cruise tourism,” he asserted. Likewise, this type of business has already helped to increase the occupancy, especially during the lean period. 2012 set a record in terms of traffic from travel trade. Hayek commented, “This segment boosted our occupancy, especially during the last quarter, wherein every month was a new Contd. on page 9
AGENTS FOREIGN EXCHANGE DIRHAM VALUE
(Subject to variation) Country
Currency
(As on 22-01-2013)
CN Buy
CN Sell
USA ..........................USD ................3.653..............3.685 UK ............................GBP ..............5.7314..............5.952 Egypt ........................EGP ................0.605..............0.711 Euro ..........................EUR ..............4.8020............4.9969 Canada......................CAD ..............3.6509............3.7799
dnata GSA for FlyGeorgia dnata announced that it has been appointed by FlyGeorgia to be its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the region. Established in August 2012, FlyGeorgia launched its Dubai-Georgia flight service on January 3, 2013.
Oman ........................OMR................9.405............9.6512 Kuwait ......................KWD............12.8385............13.299 Saudi Arabia ............SAR ..............0.9625............0.9972 Qatar ........................QAR ..............0.9944............1.0209 Australia ..................AUD ..............3.7974............3.9099 Japan ........................JPY................0.0401............0.0421 Philippines ................PHP ..............0.0887............0.0911 Singapore..................SGD ..............2.9363............3.0647 India ........................INR................0.0667............0.0691 Pakistan ....................PKR ..............0.0368............0.0380 Bangladesh ..............BDT ..............0.0450............0.0469 Sri Lanka ..................LKR ..............0.0284............0.0295 Nepal ........................NPR ..................0.05..............0.056 Morocco ....................MAD................0.405..............0.525 Switzerland ..............CHF ..............3.8558............4.0207 South Africa ..............ZAR ................0.485..............0.553
“With over 40 years of experience in promoting and selling airline services, we are confident we can execute the right strategy to help FlyGeorgia establish itself in the region,” said A Majid Al Mulla, Divisional Vice President, Dnata World Travel.
T T B U R E AU
Bahrain ....................BHD ..............9.5739............9.9137
F
lyGeorgia’s decision to appoint dnata as General Sales Agent for the GCC and India was based on the company’s experience, contacts in the regions and their welltrained, knowledgeable staff, to help tap into an untouched potential market, especially for new Dubai services. Flying in and out of Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 1, FlyGeorgia will operate its Dubai-Tbilisi flight three times a week. The Airlines’ new services will cater to business and leisure travellers from this region to Georgia, offering selection of Georgian and European dishes and beverages with convenient flight times and direct routing to Tbilisi. The young Airline, which launched its first route in 2012 from Tbilisi to
Doubling agents booking
A Majid Al Mulla Divisional Vice President Dnata World Travel
Batumi, Georgia’s coastal town, now flies from its hub in the capital to seven destinations, including Tehran, Amsterdam, Antalya, Hurghada and Sharm ElSheikh. dnata is already GSA to over 30 airlines in the region and acts as the essential link between its airline partners and the trade.
“Providing a wealth of choices for our customers has always been one of our key aims, and this partnership with FlyGeorgia will allow us to widen further the breadth of products we offer,” he continued. With ambitious expansion plans, the airline plans to have two more aircraft and add four new European destinations to their network by March this year.
Expansion plans in focus for 2013
Armed with ISO 9001: 2008 certificate and launch of its B2B portal, toptraveltrip.com in 2013, Satguru With constantly changing corporate Travels is all set to unveil its B2C and B2E portals. It travel policies, Omeir Travel Agency seeks to double agent bookings through its B2B portal. plans ahead for future development. such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, ASky Airlines, Air Burkina, Air Uganda, Hahn Air, Egypt Air and Mauritania Airlines. We are Passenger Sales Agents of Emirates, Jet Airways and ASky in selected regions,” Khemani added.
S U S M I TA G H O S H
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n 2012, Satguru Travels launched B2B online portal for travel agents where they can book airline tickets, including Low Cost Carriers, worldwide hotel accommodation and travel packages too without paying any bank guarantee. We also received our ISO 9001: 2008 certification in December 2012,” explained Lalit Khemani, General Manager, Satguru Travel & Tourism. With its focus on offering a comprehensive and extensive range of services, Satguru Travels offers the full range of travel management services in both
The Next Step The company has plans of increasing its foothold in the Middle East market by opening its branches in all seven emirates in near future and have its offices all across Middle East and Gulf by 2015
Lalit Khemani General Manager Satguru Travel & Tourism
corporate and leisure travels. With the growth of online travel agencies (OTAs), the traditional travel agents need to be innovative to survive and flourish in a competitive market, hence Satguru Travels launched its B2B portal. The company has plans of increasing its foothold in the Middle East market by opening its branches in all seven emirates in near future and have its offices all across Middle East and Gulf by 2015. “We are online GSA for some of the large airlines
According to the recent circumstances, political stability is a must for growth of tourism industry of any country. The recent upheavals of Egypt and Tunisia have ensured more tourists travelling to a stable UAE now. “There is competition in the market where airlines are offering cheaper fares directly to the clients online,
but if the OTAs offer good services and products, the customer will still book with an OTA. A customer gets more options on an OTA portal and at a click of a button they can check all options with various prices,” Khemani said.
T T B U R E AU
“W
e are specialised in providing efficient services, smart and innovative solutions, operational augmentation and quality upkeep. In 2012, our R&D department developed newer methods for delivering optimised travel services to our clients.
Today’s requirement is not just about delivering travel services, but ensuring it’s reachable, sustainable and affordable,” explained Ganesh Ullal, Director of Marketing, Omeir Travel Agency. Online travel agents are definitely a threat, but it helps in evolving the industry as the customers are now being served more competitively and innovatively. “We have redesigned and successfully launched our online web bookings. We have
added a large number of premier accounts and our revenue has shown a high double digit growth,” he added.
Ganesh Ullal Director of Marketing Omeir Travel Agency
With the entry of the bigger agents from Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Omeir Travels could foresee newer challenges in 2013. The strategy to offset the threats is already in place. Another challenge is the constantly changing corporate travel policies. “We have invested heavily on R&D to analyse, develop and implement tools and techniques for the same,” informed Ullal.
Sharjah Light Festival 2013 set to dazzle More spectacular than ever before with several new shows added to the calendar, the Sharjah Light Festival 2013 will be from February 7 to 15, 2013. At 14 locations across the emirate, internationally acclaimed artists and latest technology will come together to create a memorable experience.
Mohamed Ali Al Noman Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said, “The festival of lights is one of the most prestigious events of the emirate. Many new artists and professionals have been roped in, employing the latest technological advances to add several new shows to the festival. The facade of famous landmarks and monuments will bring out the aesthetic beauty of Sharjah’s architectural marvels, tourist attractions, art and culture.” Hosted by SCTDA for the third year, SLF 2013 will take the experience of blending modern technology of lights and colours with the ancient art of storytelling to a whole new level. “Through the Sharjah Light Festival that has been inspired by the unique heritage and grandeur of the ‘emirate of monuments’, we seek to highlight our civilization, culture and rich diversity of our tourism. The latest feather in the emirate’s cap is the recognition as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015,” informed Al Noman. For the first time, two cities on the emirate’s East Coast, Kalba and Khorfakkan, have been added to the SLF map. The SCTDA plans, policies and goals are inspired by the vision and translate the directions of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The festival in 2013 will illuminate 14 of monuments in the emirate for nine nights.
EXHIBITIONS
FEBRUARY, 2013
TRAVTALK
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Aviation directs key sectors Early bookings for GIBTM Preparations for Arabian Travel Market 2013 are in full swing, and the region’s mounting aviation sector is driving the hospitality industry, resulting in a steady rise in hotel RevPar rates across many GCC countries. T T B U R E AU
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rabian Travel Market 2013 (ATM) will be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the 2012 edition showcased 2,436 exhibitors and attracted more than 23,000 attendees. “Air travel will be one of eight major vertical sectors at ATM 2013, along with budget travel, shopping, cruise and water-based travel, etc.
Mark Walsh Portfolio Director Reed Travel Exhibitions
Centre from May 6-9, 2013. The show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world. Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin
We are making it even easier for exhibitors and visitors to plan their appointment schedules by guiding visitors using sponsored floor trails. It will allow them to fast track their way around the show, managing their time more effectively,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed
Travel Exhibitions, organisers of ATM. The expected growth of the regional hospitality sector is connected to the continuous growth of the region’s major airlines and improved regional connectivity with low cost airlines like Air Arabia and flydubai, added Walsh. “Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, all continue to outpace their international counterparts with high passenger volume loads and ever-expanding networks, which is having a positive effect on the region’s hotel construction pipeline.” Reed Travel Exhibitions, has confirmed its host hotel partnership with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for the 2013 event. Among all, six Mövenpick hotels in Dubai will be involved in the 2013 partnership.
Set to take place at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, from March 25-27, 2013, GIBTM has received an increased number of early bookings. It has benefitted from an extensive marketing campaign, valued at over GBP£2.2 million. T T B U R E AU
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ow in its 7 year, the Gulf Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) attracts in excess of 2,400 industry professionals annually. It launched its first dedicated Business Travel Pavilion, an addition to the 2013 edition and in response to increasing demand for business travel services in the region. th
The show also hosts 300 regional and international senior level buyers through the Hosted Buyer Program. With a combined budget of over US$827 million, through 7,600 pre-scheduled appointments over the two and a half-day exhibition, they will meet more than 350 exhibitors from 36 countries. Lois Hall, Reed Travel Exhibitions, GIBTM Event Director commented,
“Our primary aim is to deliver proven return-oninvestment for everyone attending, and we conduct extensive post show research each year to ensure all of our attendees are completely satisfied with their experience.” Post show research following GIBTM 2012 confirmed that 46 per cent attending Hosted Buyers indicated that they were interested in placing business in Asia. Hence, GIBTM 2013 is to create a specialist exhibitor pavilion, providing an area for exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region. “In 2012, GIBTM saw Hosted Buyers attend with an average combined spending power of $827,500,000, with a 25 per cent increase of buy-
Lois Hall Reed Travel Exhibitions GIBTM Event Director
ers originating from the Middle East,” she added. GIBTM 2012 witnessed 100 per cent increase of senior level corporate decision markers from Saudi Arabia. These budgets created direct result of the pre-scheduled appointment system, allowing GIBTM to continue to push both inbound and outbound meetings business in the Gulf region.
GUEST COLUMN EDITORIAL Cruise Tourism glides to the fore
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he GCC has witnessed exponential growth in cruise tourism recently, and has enormous prospects for further expansion. Dubai has vast potential to promote cruise tourism in the GCC.
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Cruise Terminal co-sponsored the Cruise Convention 2012 for the second time in Hamburg, Germany in November 2012. DTCM has also completed an inaugural series of workshops, visiting seven cities in the Middle East to promote cruise tourism in September 2012. DTCM, DP World along with Seatrade Middle East have also hosted a summit for senior dignitaries and officials from tourism, ports and government authorities from the Arabian Gulf with cruise line executives to boost the cruise tourism sector in the region. International cruiselines are looking for new destinations and the Arabian Gulf is ideally positioned to capitalise on this requirement with its location between Asia and Europe. In November 2012, the UAE started multiple entry visit visas for cruise passengers for the first time. Owing to rising fuel costs and high regulatory fees, a sluggish economy, particularly in European cruise lines where profits are ‘way down’ globally. It is forcing operators to lower their prices. Even though the number of cruise lovers is still strong, many cruise liners are losing money due to the discounts customers are getting.
Delivering heartfelt hospitality The hospitality and tourism industry is responsible for about 18 per cent of Dubai’s GDP. The hotel guest numbers have risen over the last year. Realising the city’s growth potential, experienced investors are now increasingly adding the Emirate to their premium property portfolio.
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he impressive growth of Fortune Group of Hotels over the past two years is an inspiration in itself to continue with the pace as the ‘One team, One Goal’ vision of a planned journey to leadership in its defined different target audiences, be they leisure or business travellers. This plan is under full sail. By the second quarter of 2013, we shall be launching our sixth property – Fortune Rigga Hotel, a 4 star property with 92 keys located on the very popular Rigga Street, a tourist hub. We are now eyeing properties in Bur Dubai, Barsha and eventually towards the new airport. As a company, we are open to opportunities, fresh challenges and partners who seek the same goals and share the same aspirations.
Despite some shaky moments in the last two years, not only us but other hoteliers in Dubai have been rediscovering their optimism of late. We started two new hotels in 2012 and there are two more presently under construction in the Emirate, banking on confidence that demand will be sufficient to make new properties viable. As we know, the Arab Spring has been a major factor in the rebound of hotel performance in 2012 as traditional leisure destinations in the Levant and Egypt faced political and social unrest during this period, forcing tourists to opt for safe destinations like Dubai. At the Fortune Group of Hotels, demand from GCC Nationals has been at the
Despite the challenges, Dubai still offers a very strong proposition for cruise line operators. The emirate projects to receive 500,000 cruise passengers from 145 ship calls in 2015. An expansion of Port Rashid will enable it to cater as many as five cruise ships at one time.
Publisher : SanJeet Director : Sumeera Bahl Editorial Director : Rupali Narasimhan Editor : Deepa Sethi Assistant Editor (ME) : Susmita Ghosh Desk Editor : Archana Sharma Sub Editor : Ramya J.S. D’Rozario Design : Ruchi Sinha / NN Misra Head Sales & Marketing (ME) : Akassh Kapoor Manager Advertising : Geetika Pathak Circulation Manager : Ashok Rana Manager Production : Anil Kharbanda
to continue to be the engine of future economic growth.
forefront of this shift in demand, with the city experiencing a dramatic influx of regional tourists during the summer months and traditional holiday periods. These factors have resulted in reaching record levels of occupancy and ARR.
The leisure market remains the dominant sector, contributing over 40 per cent of the total room nights. However, business demand is increasing due to the
Hotels in Fujairah are likely to experience continued challenges to maintain occupancy and average rates over the coming 12 months Alok Narula Group General Manager, Fortune Group of Hotels
improvement in business sentiment in the region. Dubai has also become the preferred MICE destination in the region, hosting large international and regional events, including Arab Health, World Economic Forum and Dubai Air show. These events attract upwards of 80,000 attendees over a period of two or three days.
Fortune Group of Hotels has properties in Dubai and Fujairah. Overall, the outlook for hotels in Dubai into 2013 appears to be buoyant. The city has been considered among the premium tourist destinations in the Middle East for over a decade. Now, with new airlift, hotels and attractions on offer, the Emirate is cementing its place among the leading tourism markets around the world.
for the logo. We have appealed to the authorities and await orders for a resolution. Whilst we want to target new visitors in new markets, I hope that our return guests will notice the difference when they check into our hotels, as this isn’t only about the brand at a corporate level. I hope our guests know us well enough to realise we are only making positive changes. At Fortune Group of Hotels, it was always about providing the best levels of service and exceeding guest expectations, yet we did this through different methods at different properties. Fortune's strategic development is orchestrated by a team of professionals who have exceptional international experience and a fundamental understanding of the cultures and communities of the region.
Though, the Arab Spring has been a major factor in the rebound of the leisure market in Dubai, hotels in Fujairah are likely to experience continued challenges to maintain occupancy and average rates over the coming 12 months.
When it comes to Fujairah, with its aggressive promotional and marketing drive, the Fujairah Tourism has been pursuing to enhance the number of tourists to the destination by tapping established and emerging markets across the world. Diversification of tourism flows into new markets, a strategy that has been successful and should also help Fujairah tourism sectors
We are being confused with another Dubai-based hotel group holding a ‘Fortune’ branding. We are the original owners of the ‘Fortune’ brand, and we hold the trademark and copyright
Alok Narula Group General Manager Fortune Group of Hotels
Emirates fortifies 2 international routes Emirates has doubled its A380 capacity to New York’s John F. Kennedy and Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airports with a twice daily A380 service from Dubai now operating into both cities. Upgrading capacity into New York by 1,848 seats per week, flights EK203 and
EK204 will now be operated by Airbus A380-800. In Paris, an additional 2,198 seats per week have been added. “The decision to commit a second A380 to both New York and Paris is a clear indication of customer demand, for the state-ofthe-art aircraft and these
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two popular destinations,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide. The Emirates A380 fleet currently serves 21 destinations, with new cities to be announced in the coming months.
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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Thierry Antinori Emirates’ Executive Vice President Passenger Sales Worldwide
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AVIATION
FEBRUARY, 2013
Jet increases number of flights to Dubai With Jet Airways commencing an inaugural Mangalore-Dubai flight from January 3, 2013 and introducing a second service between Delhi and Dubai from January 18, the city is poised to feature widely on the route maps of the Airline. T T B U R E AU
Guests can enjoy an inaugural Economy Class return fare of `20,360 onwards being offered on the Mangalore – Dubai Mangalore route, with travel valid until March 31, 2013. Similarly, the one-way fare ex-India is `10,101.
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he international flight operations from the Indian city Mangalore, Karnataka commenced with a state-of-the-art Boeing 737800 flight being flagged off from Bajpe Airport to Dubai. Commemorating the occasion Gaurang Shetty, Senior Vice President Commercial, Jet Airways, said, “Jet Airways is delighted to provide direct links from the chief port city of Karnataka to Dubai, which is considered to be amongst the best global business and tourism destinations in the world. Additionally, this flight will further help strengthen our air connectivity from Tier II Indian destinations into the Gulf, catering to the large number of Indian expatriates settled in the United Arab Emirates, with convenient connections.”
Gaurang Shetty
Sudheer Raghavan
Senior Vice President - Commercial, Jet Airways
Chief Commercial Officer Jet Airways
This flight will help strengthen our air connectivity from Tier II Indian destinations into the Gulf
The DelhiDubai route has seen a steady growth in traffic, be it tourists or business travellers
Soaring passenger numbers Etihad Airways has exceeded its target of carrying 10 million passengers in 2012, and is set to achieve 22 per cent increase over 2011. In 2012, the Airline beats its previous record of carrying 33,766 passengers in a day. T T B U R E AU
operate flights into Abu Dhabi, the combined passenger number total for 2012 rises to 76 per cent.
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ames Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Etihad Airways has achieved significant expansion in 2012 and it is satisfying to fly more than 10 million passengers during a year for the first time.” The increase in passengers up to 10.29 million signifies an additional 1.88 million passengers travelling on the carrier’s global network. “In 2012, we launched flights to Tripoli, Shanghai, Nairobi, Basra, Lagos and Ahmedabad. All contributed to the 22 per cent increase
Forging Ahead
James Hogan Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer
It is satisfying to fly more than 10 million passengers during a year for the first time
The airline will start flights to Washington DC in March, Sao Paulo in June and Ho Chi Minh City in October in 2013
in passenger numbers,” he added.
Etihad Airways will take delivery of 14 new aircraft in 2013 in addition to the 7 new aircraft delivered last year
The passenger growth for Etihad Airways is mirrored by its equity partners. With the addition of Etihad Airways’ equity partners that
Etihad Airways’ busiest route was Bangkok, with the Airline carrying nearly 691,000 passengers there in 2012, a 38 per cent increase over 2011. Manila, Heathrow, Jeddah, Sydney, Paris, Frankfurt, Manchester, Doha and Dublin complete the list of the routes. The Airline took delivery of seven new aircraft in 2012, three Airbus A320s and four Boeing B777s. Etihad Airways will take delivery of 14 new aircraft in 2013, four A320 passenger aircraft, one A321 passenger aircraft and one A330 freighter from Airbus, two B777 freighters and six B777300ER passenger aircraft from Boeing. The airline will start flights to Washington DC in March, Sao Paulo in June and Ho Chi Minh City in October in 2013.
On January 18, 2013, Jet Airways introduced a second service between Delhi and Dubai, enhancing its connectivity to the UAE with a day time flight. The introduction of this new flight between Delhi and Dubai further strengthens the presence of Jet Airways in the Indo-Gulf sector. The airline will deploy its new generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft, offering twin class configuration of 16 Premiere and 138 Economy seating. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said, “We are happy
to introduce a second service on the popular Delhi-Dubai route, which has seen a steady growth in traffic, be it tourists or business travellers. Guests will be offered the airline’s best-in-class inflight product, which boasts of warm service, award winning entertainment, as well as delectable cuisine.” The new service from Delhi will now complement the Airline’s daily Gulf operations to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat and Sharjah, as well as to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam from several cities in India.
Growing Strong The introduction of this new flight between Delhi and Dubai further strengthens the presence of Jet Airways in the Indo-Gulf sector
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Traffic figures for Dec 2012 released Cathay Pacific Airways has released combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for December 2012. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,520,864 passengers in December 2012, an increase of 2.5 per cent compared to December 2011. The load factor rose by 1.1 per cent to 80.7 per cent, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), fell by 4.5 per cent. For 2012 as a whole, the number of passengers carried rose by 5 per cent compared to a capacity increase of 2.6 per cent. The year’s load factor was 80.1 per cent, down 0.3 per cent on 2011. The two airlines carried 146,897 tonnes of cargo in December 2012, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to December 2011.
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TRAVTALK
AVIATION
FEBRUARY, 2013
ADAC hosts Trinity Forum Upgrade for Dubai’s Terminal Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) hosts the Trinity In Q1 2013, the renovation of Dubai International’s Forum 2013, the travel retail industry’s key annual Terminal 1 is scheduled to begin. The refurbishment conference from January 29 - 31, 2013 in Abu Dhabi. is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. T T B U R E AU
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ointly organised by Airports Council International (ACI) and the Moodie Report, this year's
Mohammed Al Bulooki Chief Commercial Officer ADAC
event was held at the Yas Viceroy Hotel and International Media Centre at the Yas Island Formula One circuit. The latest developments in the airport retail industry were discussed and nearly 350 delegates attended the forum. Mohammed Al Bulooki, Chief Commercial Officer,
ADAC said, "Exchanging knowledge between travel retail experts and professionals during Trinity Forum was an exciting opportunity for the industry.
experiences for its diverse audiences, especially as it improved plans for a world class retail experience in the new Midfield Terminal,” he further informed.
It had allowed all stakeholders to recognise new trends, contribute to customer experience on ground and finally, maximise revenue growth in a challenging global market.”
Following a highly successful World Route Development Forum, ADAC had committed to showcase Abu Dhabi as a dynamic and economically strong tourism and business destination.
With senior representatives from the world's largest duty free retailers, international brands and the most progressive airports attending from across the world, the event had established itself as the preeminent industry platform. “This was a key focus for ADAC, which strove to create unique shopping
Optimising airline distribution APG Network serves 190 airlines all over the world. The APG World Program is a holistic approach to outsource airline distribution and financial management, geared to extract the last incremental dollar from both ‘Online’ and ‘Offline’ markets of all geographical sizes. APG Network provides airlines with a wide choice of specialised services available worldwide. It targets to assist airlines to exploit their small markets on a ‘variable
cost’ basis. Edris Taher, DMD Al Rais Travel, highlighted that APG’s motto is ‘Think Global - Act Local’. They have developed a comprehensive suite of outsourced services, the ‘World Program’. The clients of APG Network can gain from their global presence, one single contract for multiple locations of service and from the global expertise - all the services required to optimise the airline distribution.
The conference focussed on ‘Thought Leadership in Travel and Retail’, and the line-up of speakers included some of the most influential executives in the airport commercial world, along with keynote speeches from key representatives of ADAC. Topics of discussion covered the industry's evolution since the first Trinity Forum in London and the major challenges it continued to face in driving footfall, penetration and spend, engaging customers and using the latest insights into shopping behaviour.
poverty relief, well-being of children and environmental conservation. The Ritz-Carlton, Doha will host part of Qatar Red Crescent's annual events and activities on international humanitarian law, accredited training in first aid, educacation services and disaster management. The events are open to The Ritz-Carlton, Doha Ladies and Gentlemen as well as other targetted community groups.
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he renovation includes more streamlined baggage screening in the departure hall, the replacement of all check-in desks, upgrade of baggage systems and modernisation of all public areas. The new baggage screening process will greatly improve passenger flow by removing a queuing point, reducing the time it takes passengers to move from the forecourt in Terminal 1 to the departure gates. The additional space created by streamlined baggage process will be used to transform the departures hall into a more spacious environment and when combined with upgraded way finding signage, provide a more easily accessible building for the travelling public. “Dubai Airports is constantly innotivating to enhance the services we
Seawings seeks to spread its wings
Paul Griffiths CEO Dubai Airports
Dubai Airports is constantly innotivating to enhance the services we offer to all our passengers
offer to all our passengers, expanding our facilities to meet the growing number of passengers passing through
Included in the refurbishment agenda, the reconfigured arrival halls will be fully air-conditioned with food and retail outlets. The immigration hall will also improve passenger flow and reduce processing period for arriving passengers. The refurbished Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport will be linked through a new elevated train system to Concourse D, which is presently under construction. Concourse D will become the new home of more than 100 airlines that fly to and from Dubai International when it will open in 2015.
Fraser Suites Dubai for blood donation drive
Seawings, UAE’s only seaplane tour operator is looking to establish itself in India. The delegation looks forward to forging ties while in the country. T T B U R E AU
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t is a niche product that seeks different kinds of market. Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Abu
Joint venture to spread community awareness The Ritz-Carlton, Doha and Qatar Red Crescent announced their partnership in 2013 to increase community awareness of local humanitarian initiatives. Building on Qatar Red Crescent's vision, ‘To improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity’, QRC has partnered with The RitzCarlton whose ‘Community Footprints’ programme focusses on hunger and
the airport. In addition to significantly increasing our capacity, the upgrade of Terminal 1 together with the construction of Concourse D will offer our passengers a comfortable environment in line with the newer facilities across the terminals at Dubai International,” says Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports.
T T B U R E AU
Prerna Fogat Director, International Sales Seawings
Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) keep introducing new markets. But presently, Indians pour in the most while traditionally it was more from UK, Russia and Germany. Launched in
2007, Seawings is currently working with travel agent partners in India. Prerna Fogat, Director, International Sales, Seawings said "India is increasingly becoming one of the most important markets for UAE tourism sector, and being the most unique experience in the country, we at Seawings have offered our best products to this market.
Seawings is looking for tour operators and other industry members to partner with to create a strong sales distribution throughout the country." With the support of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) Seawings' became a part of ADTCA's delegation representing UAE's attractions and other hospitality sectors.
Fraser Suites Dubai staff, guests in residence and clients participated once again along with Dubai Blood Donation Center’s (DBDC) initiative, ‘My Blood for My Country’. The city-wide blood donation campaign, which was organised by the DBDC of the Dubai Health Authority, holds up to 35 blood donation drives every month. On this occasion, David Brown, General Manager, Fraser Suites Dubai was delighted to report a substantial increase in the number of donors this year.
New pilgrim terminal at Madinah At a cost of SR 30.14 million, a new pilgrim terminal will be built at Madinah airport. Currently the airport is undergoing an expansion project that will increase capacity to 8 million in the first phase and 12 million in the second. The new terminal will be completed by the end of 2013. The project also includes construction of new terminal space over 138,000 sqm. In addition, 18 departure gates with air bridges and parking for 20 planes will be added on 4 million sqm. The new terminal has the capacity to accommodate 600 passengers per hour.
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TRAVTALK
STATISTICS
FEBRUARY, 2013
Airline ancillary revenue soars in ME The Amadeus Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue projected that airline ancillary revenue for Middle East and Africa will reach US$1.733 billion worldwide in 2012, a surge of 24.5 per cent, a jump second to the Latin American/Caribbean market. T T B U R E AU
A
ncillary revenue is generated by additional activities that yield revenue for airlines beyond the core movement of customers from
destination A to B. This wide range of activities includes: commissions gained for hotel bookings, the sale of frequent flyer miles to partners and the provision of ‘à la carte services’, which provide
increased consumer choice. The Traditional Airline Category (for carriers outside the US) is the largest piece of the pie at US$12.8 billion (35.4 per cent of the global total). The revenue
profile for these carriers (see Graph 3) also relies upon the sale of frequent flier miles to partners such as the banks that issue airline credit cards. Baggage revenue is most likely limited
Ancillary Revenue Estimates by World Region
US$1.087 billion US$0.835 billion
US$10.077 billion US$9.021 billion
US$15.614 billion US$14.933 billion
.6%
Increase
World Region
If airlines were to forego the revenue contribution from the provision of ancillary serv-
ices it would mean a loss for a great number. Ancillary revenue provides significant amounts of cash to buy new aircraft interiors, invest in new equipment, and provide funds for expansion.
US$1.733 billion US$1.392 billion
US$7.606 billion US$6.269 billion
% 3 . 21
.7%
4
11
North America
Europe
2 . 0 3
Africa / Middle East
2011 Ancillary Revenue
Amadeus Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue 2012 Ancillary Revenue
%
% 5 . 24
Asia / Pacific
2012 Ancillary Revenue
Airline Category
to excess bag charges, as only a few of these airlines charge for the first piece.
2011 Ancillary Revenue
Latin America / Caribbean
Key Ancillary Revenue Increase
Traditional Airlines
US$12.788 billion
US$10.933 billion
17.0%
US Major Airlines
US$12.399 billion
US$12.496 billion
-0.8%
Ancillary Revenue Champs
US$5.555 billion
US$4.256 billion
30.5%
Low Cost Carriers
US$5.376 billion
US$4.765 billion
12.8%
Worldwide Totals
US$36.1 billion
US$32.5 billion
11.3%
Components
Traditonal Airline Outside the US Other a la Carte Services
Only Excess Baggage
10%
15%
Onboard Retail (Food, Dutyfree)
Travel Retail (Hotel, Car, Insurance)
30%
15%
Sale of FFP Miles
30%
Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue
5.4%
of Global Airline Revenue of US$667 billion
Distribution based up on analysis of 2011 of non low cost carriers based outside the US.
5.6%
of Global Airline Revenue of US$577 billion
4.8%
of Global Airline Revenue of US$474 billion
2012 Estimate
2011 Estimate
2010 Estimate
US$36.1 billion
US$32.5 billion
US$22.6 billion
All Source: Ancillary revenue statistics applied by IdeaWorksCompany to individual airline revenue results for the year indicated from Air Transport World, Airline Business, and at airline websites.
HOTELS
FEBRUARY, 2013
Cruise tourism now a regional priority Contd. from page 1
substantial amounts into new cruise terminals and associated infrastructure.
record for us at Al Bustan Centre and Residence.” We are now planning to target the cruise tourism industry, especially through our participation in various overseas exhibitions, he added. “We have seen a slight increase in cruise tourism in 2012. Our trade partners are confident and expecting a growth of 7 per cent in 2013 due to the high demand in Dubai. Travel trade in 2012 was excellent and we witnessed a growth of 4 per cent in this segment, and the projection for 2013 is high due to the current market trends,” mentioned Habib Khan, General Manager, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa. “We are trying to increase the share of cruise tourism towards our hotel, and we are offering attractive day use packages and meal offers to partners and it is helping us meet our expectations.” Investments in new cruise terminals and associ-
Moussa El Hayek COO Al Bustan Centre & Residence
Cruise segment boosted our occupancy, especially in the last quarter, where every month was a new record ated infrastructure in the region are having a positive impact on tourism in key destinations across the GCC.
Habib Khan General Manager Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa
Our trade partners are confident and expecting a growth of 7 per cent in 2013 due to the high demand in Dubai The Middle East is recognised as a key growth market through to 2015 following major commitments to invest
Dubai’s hotel sector widens The year 2012 has been phenomenal all through for Raffles Dubai. The hospitality landscape in Dubai will continue to evolve in 2013. Many hotels are set to enter the market and tap the growing demand in the region. T T B U R E AU
increasing requirement of establishing loyalty from guests by building strong personal relationships, providing an exemplary service beyond expectation and therefore, further differentiating oneself from the competition.”
“W
e have targeted new markets in 2012, mainly the Asian market. We have also maintained a great relationship with the GCC travel agencies, targeting ultra luxury and leisure guests. In 2013, we will continue to attract new emerging markets in Asia and Asia Pacific, and focus on the GCC market, our main key target,” explained Mohamed Al Bahrawy, Director of Sales – Leisure, Raffles Dubai.
Raffles Dubai’s leisure segment has increased by
Booming Business Raffles Dubai’s leisure segment has increased by over 20 per cent in room night and 25 per cent in revenue year-to-date It is vital that innovations are incorporated into the hotel operations to maintain market share and meet guests’ rising expectations
Mohamed Al Bahrawy Director of Sales – Leisure Raffles Dubai
over 20 per cent in room night and 25 per cent in revenue year-to-date. In 2013, the same strategy and focus will be maintained on various marketing and partnership activities with key travel agencies. Dubai will continue to attract a healthy flow of visitors, while Raffles Dubai looks forward to welcome them. Speaking about the challenges Al Bahrawy expressed, “With lots of hotels opening in Dubai, vigorous competition takes place. In facing such competition, there is an ever
As new products enter the market, it is vital that innovations are incorporated into the hotel operations to maintain market share and meet guests’ rising expectations, he added. “On a positive note, competition is always good.
New ideas, new facilities and bed space availability will enhance the attraction of Dubai as a whole.” Located in Wafi, Raffles Dubai has 246 spacious guestrooms and suites, with Middle East and Asian influenced decor along with seven restaurants and exclusive Raffles Spa treatment facilities.
Dubai’s Cruise Terminal has reported five-fold growth since its launch in early 2010. The cruise terminal is further expanding and providing berthing facilities for up to seven visiting cruise ships. The move is anticipated to bring passenger numbers up to 625,000 by 2015. Additionally, Abu Dhabi launched a 1,300-visitor capacity tented cruise terminal at Mina Zayed in late 2011. This is ahead of the construction of a permanent facility to accommodate 600,000 passengers by 2030, highlighting Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s view that cruise tourism is a priority for 2012. As international interest in Sharjah grows, the Emirate's charming East Coast is set to see nearly 50 per cent increase in the arrivals of international luxury cruise passengers during the upcoming 2012-2013 season. Sharjah is home to
three of the finest deep water harbours in the country, the other two being Khalid Port and Hamriyah. Overlooking both Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf Coast and the natural splendour of the East Coast, Sharjah makes for an ideal destination for luxury cruiseliners. It’s the the only Emirate that has ports on both coasts. Other destinations in the region are also concentrating on this sector, with Qatar investing US$5.5 billion on a cruise ship terminal, expected to handle two to three cruise ships in Doha. Marsa Zayeb in Aqaba will provide capacity for more than 300 yacht berths in a luxury marina and cruise ship terminal expected to be completed in 2017. Oman is also working to transform Mina Qaboos into a dedicated cruise port as part of the government’s 2020 plan, after a record 72 per cent increase in passengers during the 2010/11 winter season.
TRAVTALK
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IndiGo announces new flights to Dubai IndiGo has announced the introduction of new daily direct flights connecting Thiruvananthapuram with Dubai and its second such flight between Mumbai and Dubai with effect from March 1, 2013. Ticket bookings opened from January 17, 2013, with all inclusive return fare of `14,500 on ThiruvananthapuramDubai and `13,912 on Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai new flights. The second daily and direct flight from Mumbai to Dubai makes it 8 daily flights to Dubai. These flights will compliment the presence of strong trade and tourism ties between the southern region of India and Dubai, and attract travellers having requirements of low fares by an Indian airline.
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TRAVTALK
HOTELS
FEBRUARY, 2013
Occupancy on the rise 1 Novotel Hotel in Jeddah st
The year 2012 was a ‘record’ year for Al Bustan Centre and Residence, the hotel apartment in Dubai with excellent revenue increase and room nights. 2013 looks promising with 85 per cent occupancy anticipated. grammes like management, leadership and personal development in 2012.
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he Emirate entices people to several attractions and activities taking place like Dubai Shopping Festival with Al Bustan Centre as a participating mall. The property received more than 50 tour operators bringing in 1,000 agents from CIS markets proving Dubai as a prime destination. With travellers majorly from Russia, Europe and GCC, Al Bustan Centre & Residence have witnessed almost packed occupancy during the holiday season compared to 2011.
Strong Ties Al Bustan Centre & Residence will maintain a stronger business relationship with the travel trade and tourism industry by participating in several overseas exhibitions
“We feel 2013 will be a continuation of 2012 and are expecting a high concerning the travel trade segment and another exceptional year for the property.
Moussa El Hayek COO Al Bustan Centre & Residence
Moussa El Hayek, COO, Al Bustan Centre & Residence, commented, “We have exceeded our expectations in terms of occupancy and room revenue. We also were able to achieve new records that were never witnessed before.” Investing towards people’s development, the property continues to strive to offer the best of the services to its guests. They also took few important steps like introducing pro-
Dubai has become a trademark in the tourism world which has helped us in competing with Turkey and Egypt. We are also expecting traffic from China and Eastern Europe,” added El Hayek. In 2013, under the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Al Bustan Centre & Residence will maintain a stronger business relationship with the travel trade and tourism industry by participating in several overseas exhibitions.
Accor's rapidly expanding Saudi Arabia’s network presently includes 12 hotels, representing more than 3,000 rooms. Novotel Hotel, first in Jeddah now joins KSA’s network. The Hotel is slated to open by year end. T T B U R E AU
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n this new business venture, Accor has signed a management contract with Sons of Ahmed Saleh Kaki, a family owned diversified business group. “We are happy to join hands with Ahmed Saleh Kaki Sons Company for this new business venture. We have a common objective to develop the tourism industry in the Kingdom, particularly in midmarket that is so far not well served. We also seek to create a modern and natural way of hotel living, which guests can fully experience through our Novotel brand,” expressed
Marching Forward Accor's current portfolio in the region totals 59 hotels with 14,000 rooms It has now 24 hotels in the pipeline representing 6,000 rooms
Dubai gets two new Rotana Hotels
Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Middle East. Novotel Jeddah will be situated in a prime location on Tahlia Street, a luxury shopping area. It will feature 143 rooms and suites, restaurant and lobby lounge, meeting space, health club and swimming pool. "We are rapidly growing our network in the Kingdom, which is a key market for us. More so,
we have recently signed two new contracts for Sofitel and Suite Novotel in Riyadh and have now eight projects under construction in the Kingdom," Landais added. Two Novotel hotels are already operational in Saudi Arabia - Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud and Novotel
Christophe Landais Managing Director Accor Middle East
Dammam Business Park, while Novotel Jizan Corniche is under development, due to open in 2015. Currently, there are 10 operational Novotel hotels in the Middle East, four in Egypt, three in the UAE, two in KSA and one in Bahrain. Accor's current portfolio in the region totals 59 hotels with 14,000 rooms and with Novotel Jeddah's recent signing, the Group has now 24 hotels in the pipeline representing 6,000 rooms.
Mafraq Hotel turns one
Mafraq Hotel Abu Dhabi celebrated The opening of Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Al Ghurair Arjaan on January 8, its first anniversary on January 26, 2013 in Deira, Dubai, made Rotana the highest number of properties 2013 with a ‘Fun Day’ packed with totaling 15 in the Emirate. The hotels represent Rotana’s largest ever entertainment and activities. room inventory in a project, adding 620 rooms to its Dubai portfolio. S U S M I TA G H O S H
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mer Kaddouri, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Rotana, said, “Many guests look for cultural values in their choice of hotel accommodation, and Rayhaan by Rotana offers that very opportunity to stay in a world-class hotel that respects the culture of this region.”
Among the two hotels, 428 rooms have been added at
Arjaan by Rotana, the first property in Amman, Jordan will open its doors in July. Al Ain Rayhaan in UAE will be the next in pipeline and the second property in Karbala Iraq, known as Karbala Rahyaan, is scheduled to open in June/July, 2013,” Kaddouri added.
Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana and 192 apartments at Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana, which brings the total room inventory to 3,795 in Dubai. "Prior to launching the Rayhaan by Rotana brand in 2010, our market research indicated the category’s huge potential due to its inherent appeal and popularity in the Middle East. It was confirmed with the fact that more than 1,800 rooms were
Omer Kaddouri Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Rotana
already operating under the Rayhaan by Rotana brand,” he informed.
(From left) Thomas Tapken, Area Vice President - Dubai and Northern Emirates, Rotana, Mark McCarthy, General Manager, Al Ghurair Rayhaan & Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana, Omer Kaddouri, Executive Vice President & COO, Rotana, Ibrahim Al Ghurair, Managing Director, Al Ghurair Centre and Frank Tideman, Head of Asset – Hospitality, Al Ghurair present at the opening press conference of Al Ghurair Rayhaan & Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana in Deira, Dubai on January 8, 2013
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he hotel’s courtyard was transformed into a traditional Arabic souk, family playground with complimentary food and drink stalls offering Arabic and international favourites, along with other
“Arjaan by Rotana combines Rotana’s service excellence and deep knowledge of the Middle East market in a first-class residential hospitality product.
Rotana presently manages over 70 properties throughout the Middle East and Africa, with an aggressive expansion plan in 2013.
Arjaan Hotel Apartments are designed to plug the gap between a hotel and a home,” Kaddouri said.
“In March, the first property in Bahrain, the ‘Bahrain Arjaan Hotel Apartment’ will be opened. In Doha, Oryx Rotana will be inaugurated in June/July. Thereafter, Boulevard
The Al Ghurair Arjaan Hotel takes Rotana’s portfolio of Arjaan residential properties to 10 in total – eight in the UAE, with two more Arjaan properties in the wider Middle East.
Mario Scotto General Manager Mafraq Hotel Abu Dhabi
Emirati specialties. Local vendors showcased jewellery, and visitors enjoyed competitions, giveaways and recreation facilities valid throughout February and March. “The hotel has enjoyed a successful year with our tra-
ditional business segments and leisure sectors booming. In addition, our F&B outlets have shown tremendous growth, particularly within the local market,” informed Mario Scotto, General Manager, Mafraq Hotel Abu Dhabi.
“For 2013, we look forward to maintaining and strengthening our reputation as a leading corporate hotel in the four star category by targeting business travellers, expanding the MICE market,” he further said. Being in close proximity to important business locations like exhibition centres and airports, Mafraq attracted corporate business and travel. However, a rise in leisure travel occupancy was observed with the ratio for business and leisure nearing a 50/50 split.
CRUISES Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
How much awareness is there regarding cruises in the Middle East? Awareness in the region has grown substantially over the years, thanks to Costa’s commitment and presence in the region. Awareness of what cruises are and can provide to end consumers as a perfect holiday for family and couples is still at its infancy. More awareness is required to further holidaying in the region. What onboard activities can be purchased prior to sailing? A variety of products and activities can be purchased or booked, with additional savings and conveniences like shore excursions, and a number of interesting tours at a special price. The most enticing offers are the all-inclusive beverage package for adults and children, spa treatments, club restaurant reservations and more.
Ocean liner to turn into hotel After five years of uncertainty, Drydocks World recently announced that the Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner will soon depart Dubai to be converted into a 500-room floating hotel in Asia. T T B U R E AU
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ven though the precise final destination has yet to be determined, the ship will go through technical and operational checks before leaving Dubai for renovation in Asia. The project will be managed by Oceanic Group, an adviser to cruise operators in Asia.
Do children cruise for free? At Costa, there is a Children Free Policy (up to 18 years of age), where children travel free and only pay port charges. Group babysitting service is also complimentary (over 3 years of age) prior to reservation.
“We will celebrate the first anchored hotel, the QE2, by
What kind of all-inclusive experiences does a cruiseline offer? Costa Cruises is indeed a comprehensive experience as it offers the services of a floating 5 star hotel. We provide five or more meals a day, varied entertainment, fitness centres, etc., all included in the price.
The original plan was to dock the ship at a pier of the Palm Jumeirah and convert it into a hotel. But the plans were fragmented as the financial crisis hit in 2008
Dario Rustico Director of Sales & Marketing, Costa Crociere Central Europe, Africa, Middle East and India
FEBRUARY, 2013
Changing Fate
A plan to take the ship to South Africa in 2010 and use it as a floating hotel for the FIFA World Cup was also considered
We will celebrate the first anchored hotel, the QE2, by January 2014 Khamis Buamim Chairman, Drydocks
January 2014," informed Khamis Buamim, Chairman, Drydocks. Istithmar World, the private equity unit of the government-owned conglomerate Dubai World, paid US$100 million for the ship during Dubai's property boom in 2007. Drydocks, another Dubai World subsidiary, is now handling the ship, which is now more than 43 years old.
According to Drydocks, a ‘large consortium’ had been made to transfer the QE2 into a hotel. The combined venture had a lot of financial possessions. As part of a broader development of the area, Istithmar's original plan was to dock the ship at a special pier on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah and convert it into a hotel, museum and shopping centre. But the plans were fragmented as the financial crisis hit in 2008. Various options were considered, including a plan to take the ship to South Africa in 2010 and use it as a floating hotel for the FIFA World Cup. In July 2012, Istithmar announced that the ship was to be turned into a 300-room hotel at Dubai's cruise ship terminal at Port Rashid. The QE2 was built in the late 1960s and was operated by Cunard prior to its sale to Istithmar.
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SuperStar Gemini sets off to newer ports Offering an all-inclusive cruise experience, variety of entertainment and recreational choices to delight cruise lovers, SuperStar Gemini, the newly refurbished 50,764-tonnage cruise vessel, sets sail for the first time from Singapore to Penang and thereafter. In December 2012, SuperStar Gemini, formerly known as Norwegian Dream, was home-ported in Penang in January and Sanya in February and March, before beginning her seven-month seasonal deployment from April till October in Shanghai. The refurbished SuperStar Gemini features upgraded navigational and safety systems, restyled cabins, restaurants and new hull artwork. In addition to Hong Kong, Penang, Sanya, Singapore and Taiwan, Shanghai will serve as another home port for the company from April.
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TRAVTALK
TECHNOLOGY
FEBRUARY, 2013
5 ways to boost your business Dozens of new high-tech advancements promise to impact travel & tourism in 2013, both from the perspective of industry insiders and everyday travellers. Looking to give your business or promotional campaign an upgrade? Here are 5 ways to better connect with audiences and tap into these solutions (sometimes quite literally) in the coming months. T T B U R E AU Design for mobile devices The future belongs to mobile devices, with Gartner predicting over 1.2 billion sales of smartphones and tablets in 2013. Business, venue and destination websites should be optimised for these platforms – now among users’ primary research tools. Mobile designs need to fit smaller screen sizes, present key information or callouts with fewer clicks, and feature more media designed for rapid search and sharing.
Leverage cloud computing solutions Online (a.k.a. ‘cloud’) computing apps now let your
Stop short selling your events and destinations - smartphones and tablets now make it possible to quickly share broadcast-quality clips online Scott Steinberg Founder, TechSavvy Global business travel wherever you do. Solutions like SlideShare, MightyMeeting and Prezi allow you to screen presentations for clients on portable screens, while tools including Google Docs, Dropbox and Zoho allow for remote group sharing, storage and/or collaboration. The
good news is that all growingly liberate road warriors from their desktop.
Capture and share content Not routinely recording tour highlights or promotional spots on video? Stop short selling your events and destinations - smartphones and
tablets with HD camcorders now make it possible to quickly share broadcast-quality clips online at little cost. You can even live-stream the sights and sounds of dream vacations using apps like Qik or Livestream free for customers to enjoy.
Capitalise on inbound marketing Search engines represent a cost-effective way to reach shoppers and compete for visibility with larger rivals. To boost ranking and awareness, routinely publish photos, videos, podcasts and more – every organisation can share attention-getting hints, tips and advice, or information on tours and destinations,
including evergreen pieces (‘5 Ways to Choose an Adventure Travel Provider’) reusable for future customer reference. Feeling sneaky? Consider also buying Google AdWords (online classified ads) based on rivals’ names or associated keywords (popular search engine terms) that shoppers will see while researching competitors.
Invite more audience participation Boost audience engagement and awareness by using creative social outreach campaigns that invite audience participation. For example, the next time you are running a contest, try asking customers to submit
Scott Steinberg
photographs, videos or stories of favourite vacation experiences, or designs for your next advertisement campaign in order to win. All contributions can be shared or featured in ongoing promotional efforts, and provide added incentive for pass-along. (Bestselling leadership and innovation speaker Scott Steinberg is a regular on the international lecture circuit, and heads management consulting and corporate training firm TechSavvy Global. A top-rated provider of keynote speeches, workshops and seminars, he’s been seen in 600+ outlets from CNN to NPR. For more, visit his website at www.AKeynoteSpeaker.com.)
Amadeus tops travel R&D Travelport ties up with Copa Having invested €347.5 million in 2011, Amadeus has observed an increase of 6.7 per cent over 2010 to research and develop technologies in the travel sector. This investment represented 12.7 per cent of revenues. T T B U R E AU
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will grant a €200 million loan to Amadeus in May 2013 to finance the research & development of IT projects for airlines, airports, hotels and rail between 2012 and 2014.
A
madeus has again maintained its top sector ranking as one of the leading companies in Europe for investment in Research & Development (R&D) according to the European Commission (EC). Hervé Couturier, Executive Vice President, R&D, Amadeus commented, “We are pleased to find European Commission study has highlighted our investment in R&D again and proud equally to be ranked as a leader in the travel and tourism area. This emphasises our reputation for innovation with years of experience in pioneering travel industry products and initiatives like Altéa and recently, Amadeus Featured Results. Nonetheless, our desire for innovation has not yet been pleased and R&D will continue to inspire our evolution as a large-scale technology pioneer.”
Hervé Couturier Executive Vice President, R&D, Amadeus
Innovation is one of the drivers behind Amadeus’ progress to achieve a reasonable position in the market
“Innovation is one of the drivers behind Amadeus’ progress to achieve a reasonable position in the market. The total investment between 2004 and 2011 was more than €2 billion,” he further informed. In recent years, Amadeus’ R&D efforts have been particularly focussed on high performance transaction processing under stringent system availability and dependability requirements, information mining from very large data-bases, superresponsive travel search engines, multi channel customer servicing applications and pioneering the use of open systems.
Saudi cabinet approves SR60bn for Makkah Metro project The Saudi cabinet has approved a SR60bn plan for the implementation of a metro rail network in Makkah, which would link the Makkah Metro and the Two Holy Mosques Express Train to facilitate access to the Grand Mosque.
The recent multi-year agreement between Travelport and the leading Latin American aviation player, Copa Airlines, will throw open new sectors and services for the travel industry. T T B U R E AU
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hrough the agreement, which is bound to expand Travelport’s footprints in the fast expanding civil aviation sector of Latin America, Travelport has acquired full range of published fares and
to its customers through Travelport’s sales platforms. "Through this partnership, we are delighted to provide our customers with full access to Copa fares and inventory through our Galileo, Apollo and
We are committed to providing full content for our customers, and providing cost-effective and value-added distribution and marketing services to all Dan Westbrook Vice President, Supplier Services Travelport inventory. The agreement will benefit all travel agents connected to it as well as to corporate customers and online agencies worldwide booking through Galileo and Worldspan with immediate effect. The agreement also enables access to enhanced functionality of Copa Airlines to Travelport’s travel agents, including merchandising services while in return Copa Airlines can now sell ancillary services
Worldspan distribution channels," said Dan Westbrook, Vice President, Supplier Services, Travelport. "As a global marketplace for 67,000 travel agencies worldwide, Travelport is committed to provide full content for our customers and providing cost-effective and value-added distribution and marketing services to all of our airline partners," he added. Copa Airlines is expected to make full use of
Travelport’s well-established and high result yielding distribution channels for its online travel customers. The agreement is seen as a win-win tie-up for both Travelport and Copa Airlines. The Airlines will also subscribe to Travelport Sponsored Flights Advertising™*, an advertising tool that enables carriers to place flights in a separate area above the neutral display on the travel agent’s availability results screen for optimum visibility. This industry-first solution is capable of promoting new destinations or expanded service on existing routes, highlight reduced or promotional fares and offer alternative airport choices to the end users.
Advantage Copa Airlines can now sell ancillary services to its customers through Travelport’s sales platforms The agreement will benefit all travel agents connected to it as well as to corporate customers and online agencies worldwide
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TRAVTALK
FEBRUARY, 2013
NTO
Aligning to market trends India Tourism shifts focus The consistent performance and huge growth potential of the tourism industry has made it a key contributor to the Saudi economy. Catering to changing industry trends, Elaf Group focusses on expanding its market. T T B U R E AU
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he highly competitive market landscape has prompted tourism companies, hotels and other hospitality firms to constantly improve the quality of services, ultimately driving the dynamism of the industry.
us a unique insight into the needs of the market. It is very important to understand the vibrancy of the tourism sector, particularly the religious segment because of the different nuances and distinct market requirements,” explained Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, President, Elaf Group. “Leveraging our extensive experience and resources,
Ziyad Bin Mahfouz President Elaf Group
“We have been a key player in KSA’s hospitality and tourism sector for more than 30 years. This has given
our company has been constantly enhancing and updating our core offerings to make sure that we consistently satisfy the evolving needs of tourists, particularly pilgrims in KSA,” Mahfouz further added. “We have achieved exceptional results and have
surpassed our targets, and this is attributed to our deep understanding of the needs and requirements of our guests and clients.” Keeping in line with their continuing efforts to cater to changing market requirements, the company embarked on an aggressive growth plan that will expand their presence in different Arab countries, and across Europe and Asia. The Group recently completed renovating their office in Riyadh to accommodate more of the inbound market, a priority of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). It is crucial to align growth plans with the strategic objectives of the SCTA, which will give the momentum to further strengthen position as the leading hospitality service provider in key tourism destinations across KSA.
The Incredible India campaign indicates a paradigm shift with the focus now being on its consumers. It has launched two new campaigns, ‘Find what you seek’ - an international campaign and a domestic campaign - ‘Go beyond’. T T B U R E AU
T
ourists from across the world can find the destination or product of their desire in India, be it heritage sites, forts, beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountains, adventure, wildlife, culture, festivals, medical, wellness,
Vikas Rustagi Regional Director, (West Asia & Africa) India Tourism Dubai
MICE, religion or shopping under the ‘Find What You Seek’ campaign. The ‘Go Beyond’ campaign focusses
Abu Dhabi boosts tourism from India India, a developing distant neighbour of Abu Dhabi proved to be the second largest international hotel guest source market with its business volume and no language barrier. TCA Abu Dhabi looks ahead to build inbound tourism from India with a five-city roadshow in India. S U S M I TA G H O S H
A
bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), together with Lama Tours, led a 12-strong industry delegation repre-
senting its attractions, hotels and airline sectors in a five-day promotion in the Indian cities of New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai from January 7-11, 2013.
New rep office in India
Abu Dhabi now has a destination representation office to serve the high potential Indian market. TCA Abu Dhabi move comes as India is identified as holding out huge potential for the destination. This is due to less than three hours flying time from most Indian cities and with 124 flights a week linking nine Indian destinations with Abu Dhabi International Airport. From January to November in 2012, near 125,180 Indian guests stayed in Abu Dhabi – a 30 per cent increase on the first 11 months of 2011. They accounted for 496,581 guest nights, which is a 34 per cent rise on the 2011 comparative period.
on promoting lesser known destinations to domestic and international tourists. ‘Find What you Seek’ is the catch line for ‘Incredible India’ campaign. The highlight of the promotional effort is to depict India as a multi-faceted all-year round destination for culture, luxury, wildlife and wellness tourism.
and marketing activities,” informed Vikas Rustagi, Regional Director, (West Asia & Africa), India Tourism, Dubai. India is fast emerging as wellness, medical and MICE tourism destination. The wellness and medical tourism sector has been growing at the rate of 20 per cent every year.
“India Tourism has a target of increasing the share of India in world tourist arrivals from present 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent by 2017,
“Presently, the Government of India has lifted the restriction of the two month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals, including that from the UAE on tourist visa. This decision has facilitated travel of international tourists to India,” Rustagi added.
and has prepared a multi-pronged strategy to increase India’s share in world tourist arrivals. This includes development of world class infrastructure and manpower, undertaking aggressive promotional
India has bagged three awards from World Travel Awards - World’s Leading Destination - India, World’s Leading Tourist Board – Incredible India and World’s Leading Tourist Attraction Taj Mahal.
UAE chefs gather to create world record A record breaking 2,847 chefs, including Fraser Suites Dubai's chefs led by Chef Houssem Hamouda, gathered at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for a Guinness World Record for Largest Chef Gathering.Organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the event attempted to create the highest numbers of Emirati sweet Loukmath on January 4, 2013. From left to right: Bashir Fatnassi, Chef Firas Mahmoud, Chef Houssem Hamouda - Head Chef, Chef Duminda Lakshitha, Helmi Reki and Neil Acas.
“We have included Ahmedabad for the first time to influence the recent launch of daily Ahmedabad-Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways flight,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi.
“Improving air access is key to the Indian market and now with Abu Dhabi receiving 124 flights a week from the country, we have capacity to leverage,” said Al Nuaimi. “We also have major events which will appeal to the Indian market.” Weddings and MICE business are on delegation agenda’s top priority. Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit is hitting the road with the TCA Abu Dhabi’s Promotion Department to host largescale events.
Mubarak Al Nuaimi International Promotions Manager TCA Abu Dhabi
Other road show partners are Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace, Hyatt Capital Gate, the soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Rotana, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, the Anantara group which operates three properties in Abu Dhabi including the newly-opened Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa and Etihad, which now flies from nine Indian destinations to Abu Dhabi.
RwandAir to resume service to Mombasa RwandAir has announced planned service resumption to Mombasa, Kenya, where it will operate 3 weekly services en-route to Kigali, starting from February 1, 2013. Flights from Dubai will depart to Mombasa on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, and on the return leg, arrival at the Dubai airport will be on Mondays and Saturdays.
MOVEMENTS
FEBRUARY, 2013
TRAVTALK
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Jumeriah Group Dubai
Radisson Blu Resort El Quesier Egypt
Mafraq Hotel Abu Dhabi
Gert F. Kopera has been appointed as Senior Vice President Food and Beverage of Jumeirah Group. An Austrian national, Kopera joins Jumeirah with over 30 years of hospitality and F&B experience, working for renowned luxury hotels. Kopera will be responsible for concept development, facilitating excellence in operations and driving innovation to ensure that Jumeirah builds on its expertise in F&B. In addition, he will oversee Jumeirah Restaurants.
Frank Normann Eikeland is the new General Manager for Radisson Blu Resort El Quesier in Egypt. He has an exceptional experience in the hospitality industry, especially in driving revenues, developing strategic alliances and leading hotels to fulfil their maximum potential. Eikeland joins the team in El Quesier from his previous position as General Manager within the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, at Park Inn by Radisson, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. He has worked at several hotels in Norway.
Mario Scotto has been appointed as the new General
Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi
Al Raha Beach Hotel Abu Dhabi
Ethiopian Airlines UAE
Stefan van der Kruyf has recently been appointed as the
Ramesh Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Director of Sales - Corporate for Al Raha Beach Hotel. He brings 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked with Hyatt Regency, Choice International & Rezidor Hotel group and others. He has also has experience in pre-opening for Dubai hotels and hotel apartments. In his new role, he has to promote the corporate and MICE segment of the property. He also has 10 years of sales experience in the UAE market with corporate and leisure market sectors.
Thomas G Yohannes has been assigned as the new
Director of Sales and Marketing of Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Van der Kruyf has been in the hospitality sector for over three decades, working with renowned 5-star hotel companies across the globe. In his new role, he spearheads the sales and marketing functions for the launch phase of Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Van der Kruyf started his career at the Intercontinental Hotel Frankfurt and has worked in senior capacities with Le Meridien Hotels, Hilton and others.
Taj Palace Dubai Dubai
Akbar Holidays UAE
Mohamed Mahran has been appointed as the new Revenue and Reservations Manager at the Taj Palace Dubai. He brings with himself over 14 years of experience, spanning prestigious global hotel chains including IHG, Steigenberger and Mövenpick. He brings excellent skills in revenue management in particular online distribution channels. His responsibility includes to achieve the objective to increase their online bookings by 15 per cent.
Syed Mahin Sahiba has been appointed as the new
Amlak Hotels and Tourism Investment Company Amman
Manager of Akbar Holidays. He brings with him 24 years of experience. In 2005, Sahiba joined as Business Development Manager Holidays with Ras Al Khaimah National Travel Agency. He has even worked in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia with Saudi International Tavel Agency as Executive Manager. During the tenure he was designated as President, Tours & Travels with STC's (Saudi Telecom Company) Global Travel & Concierge Center, a 24x7 operations centre.
Manager of Mafraq Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Scotto had joined the hotel in October last year, overseeing the operational side of the hotel. With 36 years of experience, he specialises in start-up hotel projects. Prior to joining Mafraq, Scotto held the position of Group General Manager at the Safeer Hotel Group in Oman, Muscat, City Seasons Hotel Group and Flora Hotel Group in Dubai.
Regional Director for Ethiopian Airlines for Gulf and Pakistan. He brings with him 15 years of experience in the airline industry and was designated as Director Commercial Planning and Revenue Management at Ethiopian Headquarters in Addis Ababa prior to his assignment to UAE as the Regional Director of Gulf and Pakistan. In his new role, Yohannes will overlook the sales and operations in the region.
Alaa Masoud is the newly appointed Regional Marketing Manager of Amlak Hotels and Tourism Investment Company. In his new role, Masoud will be responsible for the corporate marketing and digital communication as well as the group of Belle Vue Hotels, he will be leading the corporate marketing initiatives to achieve Amlak's and Belle Vue Hotels’ goals. Masoud’s extensive experience in the media industry includes offline and online media channels in the Middle East.
Gulf cricket tournament fosters sportsmanship
Graham Nichols, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf (centre) with team captains, participants and sponsors at an event announcing the launch of Amadeus Gulf Cricket Tournament 2013, a two-day sporting event organised for travel agents across the UAE and Oman.