TTME February 2014

A DDP PUBLICATION

Pages: 16

ddppl.com

travtalkmiddleeast.com

Vol. X No. 2; February 2014

Dubai Airport targets India market........................................................................02 New style of cruising introduced ..........................................................................10 India shining for Middle East carriers

..................................................................12

Good times ahead for ME in 2014 The UAE’s travel and tourism industry witnessed a robust growth in 2013 and the expectations for 2014 are high. The positive signs of recovery have started in 2013 with the financial crisis slowly edging away.

Hence, UAE’s tourism sector looks good for business in 2014.

Middle East discusses the issue with tourism industry professionals. Here are the excerpts…

S U S M I TA G H O S H he year 2013 was an incredibly successful year for Dubai with many achievements, including winning the bid to host World Expo 2020. This was also a year when Dubai was named as a ‘Travellers’ Choice’ destination by travel website TripAdvisor, an accolade that demonstrates strong position amongst opinion formers in the travel industry.

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“In terms of tourism figures, the hotels of Dubai enjoyed busy first nine months of the year, welcoming over 7.9 million visitors between January and September 2013, a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase. Once we have the results from the final quarter, we expect these to be equally successful. In fact, we have seen increases in room occupancy levels, hotel and hotel apartment revenues and the average length of stay - all indicators that we have made good first steps on our journey in

Helal Almarri

Mohammed Al Dhaheri

Director General DTCM

Director of Strategy and Policy TCA Abu Dhabi

We have made good first steps on our journey in achieving the Tourism Vision for 2020

The Emirate welcomed more than 2.2 million guests during the first 10 months of 2013

achieving the Tourism Vision for 2020, a strategy announced in May 2013, which includes the headline objective of welcoming 20 million visitors per year

by 2020,” informed Helal Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

“Looking ahead to 2014, there are lots of hotels in the pipeline which will grow our already impressive hotel portfolio. In terms of visitor arrivals, Year-on-Year from 2012-2020, we are targetting an increase of around 9 per cent per year and the figures for the first nine months of 2013 show that we are on track to deliver this for 2013,” he added.

Dubai's Expo 2020 will be the first to be held in the MENASA region, as well as benefitting Dubai it will have a huge impact on the wider UAE region. The estimated economic impact of hosting Expo 2020 is approximately Euro 17.7 billion, but this is just part of the equation, for example it will create more than 275,000 jobs in Dubai between now and 2021.

Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry has hit the Emirate’s 2013 hotel guest target with a remarkable November performance taking total

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa

Jaouad Sbihi

Director General SCTDA

Director, Sales & Marketing FRHI, Dubai and Qatar

In 2014, we would like to see this tremendous rate of growth maintained and excel further

Expo 2020 will bring in around US$23bn over the coming decade and create around 277,000 jobs

arrivals to date over the 2.5 million mark.

during the first 10 months of 2013, up 16 per cent compared to the correspondi ng

“The Emirate welcomed more than 2.2 million guests

Contd. on page 6

2

AVIATION

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

Dubai Airport targets India market According to the latest figures revealed by Dubai International Airport, India is the top country for passengers flying from Dubai with a total of 6,72,557 passengers. The airport authorities are keen to further enhance the numbers by adding capacity through expansion of the airport.

A N I TA J A I N he Dubai airport authorities is also in talks with the Indian government and the Civil Aviation Ministry to revise bilateral between both the countries and permit additional air movements.

The Jet-Etihad deal might divert a good portion of passenger traffic to Abu Dhabi.

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However, depending heavily on traffic to and from India transiting through Dubai, the airport authorities have concerns about the Jet-Etihad deal which might divert India passenger traffic to Abu Dhabi. And with the Indian Government not enhancing bilateral air services agreement with Dubai, which would have allowed airlines from India and Dubai to increase

the weekly flights, Dubai airport faces a problem.

Pointing out that bilaterals were an issue between the two governments,

ing Saudi Arabia, North and South America, AustraliaAsia and Europe. He said, “India is an important market absolutely and it will continue to grow even with status quo.”

India is the number one destination country for Dubai Airport. In 2012, Dubai airport saw 57.4 million flyers and of them 7.3 million (almost 13 per cent) were flying to or from India Zaigham Ali, Manager, Media Relations, Dubai Airports

Zaigham Ali, Manager, Media Relations, Dubai Airports said the growth happening in Dubai International airport right now was coming from various markets, includ-

While Dubai airport will not receive more flights from India than it does at present, neighbouring Abu Dhabi will see an increase in passengers from India not only

Single GCC visa in planning stage The GCC is in active consideration of launching a European-style Schengen visa by mid-2014. While details are being worked out, many believe this will boost tourism and business by increasing efficiency gained by cutting tedious bureaucratic delays.

Interior ministers representing the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries are working on the scheme’s details, which are seen as boosting tourism and trade in the region.

The single entry visa, while valid for only a month, can be issued in form of a multiple entry visa valid for an entire year. The pre-requisite condition for such a visa is expected to include

presentation of evidence supporting claims of sufficient financial resources.

This unified visa system will not negate the existing single GCC visa system, but is expected to co-exist alongside it.

This system is expected to facilitate the movement of some 15 million foreign workers in the Gulf countries, who complain regarding the blocked and glacial visa system. This move will ultimately bring sizable benefits for the Gulf economy particularly with regard to the tourism industry.

The GCC single visa will be modeled on the Schengen visa. It should be noted that citizens of the 26 EU Schengen countries and the

United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia do not require visas to enter the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. However, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait still require most nationalities to apply for visas.

On a side note, this initiative mirrors the move by the GCC to establish a unified currency, a move considered by many constituent nations in order to make the most of their union.

The plan presented in 2001 is expected (if implemented) to encourage more investment and trade with the non-GCC world, and give a boost to the region's banks and financial institutions.

Harvesting aviation biofuel Boeing and research partners in the UAE have made breakthroughs in sustainable aviation biofuel development, finding that desert plants fed by seawater will produce biofuel more efficiently than other wellknown feed stocks.

The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), affiliated with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in

Abu Dhabi, will test these findings in a project that could support biofuel crop production in arid countries, such as the UAE. Funded by Boeing, Etihad Airways and Honeywell UOP, the SRBC is dedicated to the development and commercialization of sustainable aviation biofuel, which emits 50 to 80 per cent less carbon through its lifecycle compared to fossil fuel. SBRC's research suc-

cess, announced at the World Future Energy Summit, continues the momentum for a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Abu Dhabi.

In January, Boeing, Etihad Airways and others launched BIOjet Abu Dhabi: Flight Path to Sustainability, an initiative to advance biofuel research and feedstock production. These are aligned with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.

because of the recent exchange of air services bilaterals between India and Abu Dhabi which saw seats touching 50,000 a week from about 13,600 now, but also because of passengers being brought in by Jet Airways and other Indian carriers to Abu Dhabi.

Ali said, “India is the number one destination country for Dubai airport. In 2012, Dubai airport saw 57.4 million flyers and of them 7.3 million (almost 13 per cent) were flying to or from India.

Year 2013 has seen record traffic to and from India flying Dubai's two airlines — Emirates, flydubai — and Indian carriers like Air India, Air India Express, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet. This is the highest

to date, representing 13.3 per cent growth over 2012.”

India is among the top five countries generating traffic for Dubai, with the others being UK and Australasia region.

But the market domination is now under serious threat for the first time as Jet Airways has tied up with Etihad, and the two will use neighbouring Abu Dhabi as a hub.

Raising Concern N The airport authorities

have concerns about the Jet-Etihad deal which might divert India passenger traffic to Abu Dhabi

JetBlue and Etihad Airways’ codeshare plans revealed JetBlue Airways, New York’s Hometown Airline™, and Etihad Airways announced plans to begin codeshare operations. The agreement will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY’ code on JetBlue-operated flights, initially facilitating connections between the two airlines at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

In the first stage of the partnership, Etihad Airways will codeshare on 40 JetBlue routes within the US. Further codeshare services are planned once Etihad Airways commences daily flights to Los Angeles from June 2014. Etihad also plans to codeshare on JetBlue flights between New York and select destinations in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Colombia.

Meeting rising demand With an OTP (On Time Performance) exceeding 95 per cent and striving to better its track record, Oman Air had significant number of achievements in the Gulf area.

S U S M I TA G H O S H

Dad Al Balushi, Country Manager, Oman Air informed, “The travel agents play the most important role as the distribution arm in the aviation industry. A significant amount of our business is generated from them which make them our strategic partners.”

ith seven flights operating everyday from Dubai to Muscat, four flights daily to Salalah, Dubai has become one of the most important destinations in the Oman Air network. Besides, there are three daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Muscat as well.

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Masoud Dad Al Balushi

The year 2013 saw a significant increase in the business the airlines does in the region and this number is expected to grow with Dubai hosting the World Expo in 2020. To this effect, the Airline stands ready to expand its operation to meet the rising demand in the region as and when necessary.

One of the main objectives of the Airlines is to create awareness regarding Oman not only as a business destination but also as a tourist destination. The carrier is involved in many events for the same in association with the Oman Tourism Board.

Oman Air and Oman Ministry of Tourism had recently celebrated the joint venture and launch of ‘Oman Short

Country Manager Oman Air

In 2013, we conducted 30 to 40 presentations for the travel trade to inform them about attractive tourist destinations in Oman Breaks’ in Dubai. It will provide holiday-makers with an opportunity to explore Oman’s various popular tourist destinations and enjoy memorable Omani experience.

Discussing about travel agents and their role, Masoud

He further added, “In 2013, we conducted 30 to 40 presentations for the travel trade not only to inform them regarding Oman Air as a great product in the long-haul sector, but also about remarkable tourist destinations in Oman.”

Yet the Airline is not complacent. “Competition is always high. Having the perfect product, creating proper awareness and having the right price can help us overcome any challenges,” Balushi further stated.

Growth N The year 2013 saw a

significant increase in the business the airlines does in the region and this number is expected to grow with Dubai hosting the World Expo in 2020

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NTO

Going ‘green’ to attract visitors Aiming to make tourist facilities carbon neutral, the Tourism Ministry of Egypt, and the ministries of Environment and Electricity signed a green energy protocol. This was in a bid to attract business from European countries, where many view it as a necessity of the tourism & travel industry.

T T B U R E AU his is largely apparent from the fact that 80 per cent of travel reservations request ecologically-sound areas which are clean and relatively carbon neutral. Countries like Belgium, Germany and Italy, which are already familiar with green energy, will be providing expertise and other aids.

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The protocol expects to shift large quantities of power generation liabilities to sustainable sources like wind, solar or hydro power.

“The project is already well under way with 55 hotels adhering to green tourism standards already operational with an expected 100,000 rooms to be added by 2017 under this programme,” emphasised Hisham Zazou, Tourism Minister, Egypt.

Hisham Zazou Tourism Minister Egypt

The project is underway with 55 hotels adhering to green tourism standards, with 100,000 rooms yet to be added

Tourism once used to comprise more than one-tenth of Egypt’s economy. The year 2013 conversely saw one of the worst tourist season turnouts in the history of the country’s tourism industry. Political unrest and a questioning security situation were the catalysts in this travesty. The first 11 months of 2013 saw no more than 8.7 million visitors as compared to 2012, wherein the same period saw 10.5 million visitors.

The inbound tourism to Egypt is still affected, especially cultural tourism to Luxor, Aswan and other archaeological areas that used to attract millions of tourists who are enthusiasts of Egypt’s pharaonic history.

The Tourism Ministry however has a plan, intended to ensure that Egyptian tourism reaches its projected target of 13.5 million tourists in 2014. It will

bring in revenue around US$11 billion. The initiative involves extensive promotion of Egyptian tourism in the Gulf. These include advertisements, public relations, field visits and trailers.

“A working group in Saudi Arabia showed interest to sign an agreement with the Rotana group of hotels to organise series of events, advertising the tourist attractions of Egypt. It’s not the sole strategy being employed though,” confirmed Zazou.

Seeking Aid N Countries like Belgium,

Germany and Italy will be providing expertise and other aids N 80% of travel reservations

request ecologicallysound areas which are relatively carbon neutral

Aviation summit in Dubai n Under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman, Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, Dubai will host the second Aviation Safety Culture Summit in February.

The event hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and organised by Streamline Marketing Group, will run from February 3-4, 2014 at Park Hyatt in Dubai. It is expected to attract more than 300 local and international stakeholders from regulatory authorities, airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers to discuss key strategies and challenges in improving safety culture across the industry.

GUEST COLUMN EDITORIAL

Gulf tourism sector in pulsating mood he winning of the Expo 2020 bid by Dubai has infused a high level of optimism in the Gulf travel & tourism industry. The first month of the New Year consequently started off with much promise and hope. The industry is also gearing up for two major events, ITB Berlin 2014 that will take place from March 5-9 and GIBTM that will take place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from March 24-26.

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Expo 2020, which will take place from October 2020 to April 2021, is expected to attract more than 25 million visitors, 70 per cent of whom will come from overseas.

The world fair is expected to generate about 277,000 jobs in Dubai over the next seven years. The total investment in infrastructure is estimated at AED25 billion.

Capping the positive news is the indication by International Air Transport Association that the Middle Eastern carriers reported the largest increase in air cargo growth in November 2013, when compared to November 2012. Exceeding the global average of 6.1 per cent, the Middle Eastern carriers reported a 16.5 per cent jump in air freight, measured in freight tonne kilometres.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) stated that Dubai attracted over 7.9 million visitors in the first nine months of 2013, with hotels registering a 17.1 per cent increase in revenue to AED15.33 billion compared to the same time last year.

Going beyond mere innovation Ask most of the people what innovation means to them, and one would be surprised if their focus wasn’t almost entirely on research & development – whether it’s shining a light on the latest products or referring to the serious investment and man hours required in trying to shape tomorrow’s world.

But actually the spirit of innovation – in other words the premise of a good idea – can come from and happen, anywhere. From the way we recruit our staff to how we communicate. In this sense, the notion of innovation to me goes far beyond technical invention.

There is more to innovation than simply coming up with a new product or a new appliance. It has to have a commercial aspect to it in that it creates or enhances customer value.

At the same time, innovation is emphatically not just a technological issue, nor is it the exclusive realm of new applications.

In fact, innovation is required, and often quietly delivered, at every level of running a business. If we think about future innovations and what will shape our industry in the coming year and beyond, I believe that innovation will chiefly affect two-and-a-half dimensions, as it were.

The first is the area of mobility and availability of information, possibly augmented by virtual reality, as exemplified by the Google Glass project. The second is the micro-segmentation of the travel market based on the on-going personalisation of information.

The extra half-dimension is complementary to the latter in the form of data from the customers’ social environment.

For instance, when looking for a travel destination for your next summer vacation, today

The year 2014 is also special for Sharjah, as the Emirate is being celebrated as the Capital of Islamic Culture with a number of special events and activities being lined up.

The Emirate was named the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014 by Ministers of Culture at an Organisation of Islamic Countries conference in the Azeri capital of Baku. Sharjah has been attracting more than 1.7 million tourists a year.

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

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

you still have to proactively narrow down your search or else you get drowned in an avalanche of suggestions.

In order to be successful, a business must listen to and learn from what its customers’ desire and ensure they play a large role in the innovation process. This is what differentiates customer cen-

To get meaningful results, you need to provide informa-

Getting customers involved in the innovation process is proving to be the most valuable ally to generate good business between Amadeus and our customers tion upfront – that you want to stay at a lodge in Tuscany, say, rather than go on a trip to the Australian outback. In the future I think there will be a vastly reduced need to run active searches like this.

Instead, you will get bespoke offers at the push of a button according to information that is automatically streamlined and contextualised in line with your generic preferences, past experiences, and data you have posted on social media like Facebook.

tric companies from those who solely base development on internally focussed planning or competitive and market factors.

‘Smart’ applications are going to make a well-informed guess about your demands and requirements and present you with already highly refined search results to begin with. This is where ‘shaping the future of travel’ might lead us to.

Amadeus is always learning from its clients. In addition to being updated with the most recent products, customers can feed us with their everchanging market needs.

Customer-led innovation ensures the best returns for businesses. It is a precious

A customer-led innovation strategy early on in the development stage not only ensures a good foundation of transformative ideas, but also minimises R&D investment risks down the line. At Amadeus, customer-led innovation is standard procedure and plays an important role in development frameworks.

asset for Amadeus to keep developing the best products and being a true IT partner.

Getting customers involved in the innovation process is proving to be the most valuable ally to generate good business between Amadeus and our customers.

As a commercial enterprise, there is a fundamental need for continuous improvement in order to raise your productivity and create efficiency gains. If you don’t meet that need, your customer base is likely to erode quickly, simply because someone else will do a better, more efficient job and beat you at your own game.

Viewed from this angle, innovation is a paramount concern of any business operation, which is why all of us should not just care about it, but in fact place a premium on it.

Graham Nichols Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf

TAT Dubai holds ME roadshows The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai Office conducted a number of marketing activities to build confidence among tourists and the tourism industry in the Middle East, amid inquiries over the current political demonstrations in Bangkok.

The TAT Dubai Office and the Europe, Africa and

Middle East Market Division organised a roadshow to Tehran and Isfahan, Iran from January 13 – 15, 2014 to provide ‘as-it-happens’ information with fast facts for travel agents and members of the media about the current political situation in Thailand. A familiarisation trip to Phuket and Phang-Nga is set to be

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held from January 19 to 24, 2014. The office also announced the launch of the new ‘Amazing Thailand: It Begins with the People’ advertising campaign during its other roadshow to Manama, Bahrain. It also revealed the plan to organise more marketing activities this year, including a pre-ATM

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(Arabian Travel Market) 2014 roadshow and joint promotions with Gulf Air. The TAT Dubai Office also reported no cancellations or frequency reduction of flights between cities in the Middle East and Thailand, according to its survey conducted with major airlines in the market.

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AVIATION

FEBRUARY 2014

airberlin & Etihad promote joint venture Signifying the close ties between airberlin and Etihad Airways, the two airlines recently unveiled an A320 aircraft in a specially designed joint livery. This partnership not only provided an expanded contribution of destinations and services, but also has developed synergies through the entire value chain.

T T B U R E AU oth the airlines will strengthen the commercial partnership in 2014 subsequent to the execution of the joint codesharing across the network. This includes expansion of joint sales operations, building on the current services provided by 17 joint sales offices located worldwide and offering representation in more than 50 international markets.

network, which currently serves 228 destinations in 84 countries. airberlin and Etihad Airways currently operate 42 weekly flights between destinations in Germany and Abu Dhabi. This is set to increase to 49 weekly flights in February this year, when a second daily Munich flight commences.

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“Since the launch of the partnership two years ago, commercial ties between Etihad Airways and airberlin have deepened significantly.

This has increased the destinations and flight options for guests and enabled both the airlines to carry nearly 900,000 guests across the two networks,” informed James

(Centre left) Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, airberlin and (centre right) James Hogan, President and CEO, Etihad Airways, celebrate the unveiling of a new airberlin-Etihad Airways joint liveried aircraft in Berlin

Hogan, President and CEO, Etihad Airways.

Wolfgang ProckSchauer, CEO, airberlin commented, “Partnerships are vital in today’s aviation industry. Our partnership provides significant benefits not only to Etihad Airways, airberlin, but to our guests as well. The compre-

hensive commercial partnership with Etihad Airways has brought many benefits to airberlin, including our shares of joint revenues of EUR 200 million.” He further added, “During this time, airberlin’s new business strategy has made great progress and Etihad Airways continues to place its full support behind the airline and its

‘Saffron Rewards’ launched Safi Airways has launched an innovative Saffron Rewards Customer Loyalty rewards programme for all its frequent fliers. The Airline announced the programme will take effect from February 1, 2014.

T T B U R E AU

Airways offices by submitting their original boarding stubs.

This scheme was long overdue. We came up with this scheme to show our loyal customers that we appreciate their choice of flying with us as their first option.”

afi Airways has come up with a transparent rewards programme where the travellers submit their boarding card stubs for tickets.

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Naeem Mahamoor, Manager – Marketing, Safi Airways stated, “Our main Naeem Mahamoor Manager – Marketing Safi Airways

We came up with this scheme to show our loyal customers that we appreciate their choice of flying with us as their first option

He further informed that the ‘07’ boarding pass stubs will earn a traveller a one-way ticket and 11 boarding pass stubs will earn a return ticket to any Safi Airways destination.

“Passengers will have to pay only the relevant government taxes. The class of travel on your boarding stubs will determine your qualification for a business class or economy class ticket.”

focus is to deliver a simple effective rewards programme to our customers who patronise Safi Airways.”

He added, “The travellers’ names on the boarding stubs have to be the same for qualification. They can redeem their tickets at any of Safi

Safi Airways presently operates to Dubai, Delhi and Islamabad on the international sector, Herat and Mazar-eSharif in the domestic zone.

The Airline intends to fly to several more new international destinations in 2014.

Scheme N The Airline came up

with a programme where travellers submit their boarding card stubs for tickets N The ‘07’ boarding pass

stubs will earn a traveller a one-way ticket and 11 boarding pass stubs will earn a return ticket to any Safi Airways destination

management. We are confident that airberlin is on the right path back to profitability and the next phase in the airline’s history.”

The developments in the commercial partnership are set to further increase the number of passengers who fly on the airberlin and Etihad Airways

In 2013, 563,000 common codeshare passengers flew across the two networks, a 74 per cent increase over 2012. Currently, 66 airberlin routes carry Etihad Airways’ EY code and 33 Etihad Airways’ routes carry airberlin’s AB flight code. airberlin will continue to expand the joint route network with Etihad Airways and look ahead to offer new codeshare destinations in India, Australia and South Korea.

TRAVTALK

5

Swiss-based airline Etihad Regional launched Swiss-based airline, Etihad Regional was launched in Zurich on January 16, 2014, bringing a new era of improved regional and international connections for travellers in Europe. Established in partnership with the UAE national carrier, Etihad Airways, the new carrier will be operated by Switzerland's Darwin Airline, which is headquartered in Lugano with a major hub in Geneva.

The first aircraft to feature Etihad Regional's branding, a 50-seat Saab 2000, and new cabin interiors and crew uniforms were showcased for the first time to international media at Zurich Airport, alongside an Etihad Airways Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

The new livery will adorn all 10 aircraft in the fleet by the end of June 2014.

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COVER STORY

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

Expo 2020 to inject US$23bn in Dubai Contd. from page 1

period a year ago, resulting in AED4.3 billion of revenues,” mentioned Mohammed Al Dhaheri, Director of Strategy and Policy, Tourism and

Sharjah, according to the available statistics for 2013. A total number of 1,391,632 international tourists visited the Emirate in the first nine months of 2013, whereas the number of visitors in the same period last year stood at 1,263,908,”

Prateek Kumar

Doris Greif

General Manager Dusit Thani Dubai

General Manager, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi

The year 2013 created a lot of excitement and buzz for Dubai especially in the business sector Culture Authority Abu Dhabi.

(TCA)

TCA Abu Dhabi is working on promoting Abu Dhabi regionally and internationally through programmes that help encourage travel agents to promote the Emirate. The Authority is also working on enhancing the experience and accessibility of the destination.

A lot has happened on the tourism and economic development front of Sharjah in the past months with several new hotels and tourism projects taking off. “Over the years, the Emirate has grown remarkably as a tourism destination in every way. The tourism market witnessed a healthy 10 per cent growth in

The GCC will remain an important market for us, as will our local and international MICE market explained Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

“In 2014, we would like to see this tremendous rate of growth maintained and excel further. In fact, the year 2014 is truly special for us. The Government of Sharjah, SCTDA and other players have planned a number of special initiatives and activities in 2014 against the backdrop of the Capital of Islamic Culture celebrations,” he added. As part of its celebrations as the OIC’s Capital of Islamic Culture, the Emirate has lined up a number of special events and activities that will attract more

international visitors and investors to the Emirate.

“If we look at what the sector has achieved in 2013 in terms of occupancy, it passed the bar of over 82 per cent and an ADR over the 1,270,00 mark. All indicators for 2014 are aiming towards another successful year ahead and some great achievements to be made.

Reason being that the tourism sector is growing dramatically and will continue to grow looking into a number of rooms under construction. In all, more than 14,000 rooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are in active pipeline according to STR Global Construction Report for December 2013,” asserted Jaouad Sbihi, Director, Sales & Marketing, FRHI, Dubai and Qatar.

“The government in Dubai says the Expo 2020 will bring in around US$23bn over the coming decade and create around 277,000 jobs. These figures are difficult to evaluate their immediate impact on the tourism sector at this stage, but they do represent a significant boost to the already booming economy as GDP for the Emirate is currently around US$130bn,” he added.

“The 2013 turnaround saw a spectacular growth. In 2014, we see similar trends to continue, but it will be a consolidation of growth over the coming years. The year 2013 created a lot of excitement and buzz for Dubai especially in the business sector, and we expect that all sectors will continue to see growth especially in tourism, real estate, service sector including the airlines and hospitality,” stated Prateek Kumar, General Manager, Dusit Thani Dubai.

“Being named as the city of choice for the Expo 2020, this trend will continue to grow

in terms of government and economic activity in the UAE, especially in Dubai,” he added.

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers had an extremely positive 2013. In addition to performing well for the stakehold-

The World Expo 2020 announcement is an opportunistic one for the UAE in attracting attention, especially for our excellent international MICE capabilities. While the focus of World Expo 2020 will naturally be on Dubai, Abu

James Hogan

Adel Ali

President and CEO Etihad Airways

Group CEO Air Arabia

I am excited about what the future holds, and look forward to working with our partners to maximise returns ers, international guests and local residents have also rated well and appreciated the hospitality services and gourmet experiences.

“We are upbeat regarding the business potential for 2014. The key international markets of focus will continue to be Germany, the UK, Italy and Russia in Europe, with the USA and Brazil in the Americas, and China and Australia in the Asia-Pacific.

Naturally the GCC will also remain an extremely important market for us, as will our local and international conferencing and MICE market segments,” illustrated Doris Greif, General Manager, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi.

We are delighted to celebrate the New Year by launching an additional flight to Doha Dhabi is able to offer exceptional experiences that are complimentary to Dubai.

Etihad Airways has celebrated a year of recordbreaking success after achieving its highest ever passenger and cargo volumes in 2013.

Nearly 12 million people flew with Etihad Airways last year, marking a significant increase of nearly 16 per cent in comparison to 2012's figure of 10.3 million.

James Hogan, President and CEO, Etihad Airways said, "Our recordbreaking numbers in 2013 reflect the continued success of our strategic master plan, which focusses on three fundamental pillars; organic net-

work growth, the forging of codeshare partnerships, and minority equity investments in other airlines.”

He added, "This has been another game-changing year and once again, the customer was placed at the heart of everything we did. I am excited about what the future holds and look forward to working with all our partners to maximise the return for our shareholder."

Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia uttered, "We are delighted to celebrate the New Year by launching an additional flight to Doha, which has always been a key market for us. Having completed a decade-long operations in this very exciting market is a key milestone for us, and it is our ambition to further expand our services to connect Air Arabia's other hubs."

Ali added, "Since inception in 2003, we have been committed to the improvement of intra-GCC connectivity to most major destinations in the Gulf. As we continue to play a vital role in connecting the nations, we have ambitious plans to strengthen operations to all airports within the GCC, offering enormous choices for customers seeking to travel around the region, where air travel is the only viable mode of transport."

World Expo 2020 N The Expo 2020 will

help the UAE in attracting attention to its excellent MICE capabilities N While the focus of

Expo 2020 will be on Dubai, Abu Dhabi will offer exceptional experiences that are complimentary to its neighbour, Dubai

NTO

FEBRUARY 2014

TRAVTALK

7

Boosting visitor numbers ME visitors to India rise In the first 10 months of 2013, nearly 2.2mn tourists visited Abu Dhabi, around 16 per cent more than the same period in 2012. Thus, TCA Abu Dhabi launched various programmes to enable travel agents promote the Emirate.

T T B U R E AU ne of these is the Qasr Al Hosn festival, held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The 2.2 million tourists that visited Abu Dhabi last year resulted in AED 4.3 billion worth of revenue according to data by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). This number is expected to rise in 2014 to almost 2.8 million.

annual opportunity to celebrate this superb national monument and iconic symbol of Abu Dhabi’s proud history and identity and to engage our community in the development of Qasr Al Hosn restoration programme.”

He further added,

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With the aim of showcasing Abu Dhabi’s oldest structure dating back to the 18th century in its various stages of restoration, the festival will run from February 20 to March 1, 2014. It will include guided tours of the fort and February

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan Chairman Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

21 will see the fort open exclusively for women and children.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi declared, “Qasr Al Hosn represents the foundation of the nation’s capital, symbolising more than two and a half centuries of Emirati heritage and cultural development. The Qasr Al Hosn Festival is an

“The festival was a reflection of TCA Abu Dhabi’s rounded view of culture embracing both tangible and intangible aspects of heritage.”

The festival is a key part of the Authority’s commitment to the development of visual and performing arts, literature and poetry to celebrate the Emirati identity.

Promoting Zanzibar tourism In a bid to promote Zanzibar beyond the archetype of ‘sun, sand and sea’, the tourism authority launched ‘Destination Zanzibar’, a campaign involving both the public and the private sectors to encourage tourism from the Gulf. beach destination. But it is also renowned for other reasons such as trade, history and culture.”

T T B U R E AU he marketing drive, endorsed by the Tourism Authority and the Zanzibar Commission, was announced at the Tourism Networking Forum held at Seyyida, a boutique hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The forum attracted some of the island’s frontline attractions including Chumbe Island, Safari Blue, Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival, Kawa Training Centre and the Mtoni Palace Conservation Project. Hafsa Mbamba, Founder, Grassroots Traveller, a Zanzibar-based destination management company, said,

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“The forum was created to provide local tourism stakeholders a platform to network and showcase their products and services.

Hafsa Mbamba

The forum, which acted as a stepping stone into new markets, chose the Gulf as its first target market because it is a previously untapped market and an ideal one to promote Zanzibar.

Founder, Grassroots Traveller

Destination Zanzibar helps businesses thrive in a competitive tourism market by offering strategic trade solutions.” She added, “Zanzibar has so much more to offer beyond the beach. It has authentic, off the beaten track to eco-friendly experiences and Destination Zanzibar brings focus on what the islands offer for the visitors to explore!

The recently amended Tourism Policy Act now focuses on 'Tourism for All' - we want to cater for both the host and the visitors. Zanzibar is globally known as an idyllic

Mbamba said, “People tend to catch things much quicker through personal experiences. To ensure that we have a more holistic industry, we must share the piece of the cake with as many stakeholders as possible.”

Ultimately the goal is not simply to promote and reinvent the image of Zanzibar Tourism, but also to drive forth the concept of it being a sustainable tourism-friendly destination. It is an idea at the heart of Grassroots Traveller, which will be showcased through events and experiences.”

Over the past two years, there has been a rise in Foreign Tourist Arrivals from the Middle East region to India.

According to UNWTO, the international tourist arrival in India grew by 13 per cent during the first nine months of 2013.

T T B U R E AU ndia is among the top 25 largest international tourism earners. Some of the countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Turkey have registered positive growth, emerging as major tourism generating markets for India from this region. Other prominent countries that saw double-digit growth in international tourist arrivals include the United States (11 per cent), Macao (China) (10 per cent), Britain (18 per cent), Thailand (28 per cent), Hong Kong (21 per cent), Turkey (13 per cent), Japan (23 per cent), Greece (15 per cent) and Taiwan (12 per cent).

“Tourism in India has emerged as an instrument of income and employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development.

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“India today has established itself as round-the-year destination - a destination for

Vikas Rustagi Regional Director (West Asia & Africa), India Tourism, Dubai

all seasons and for all reasons.

India today offers something for every traveller,” stated Vikas Rustagi, Regional Director (West Asia & Africa), India Tourism, Dubai.

It has a vast range of tourism destinations and products, from magnificent Himalayas in the north to the serene backwaters of Kerala in the south.

Almost 20 million people are now working in India’s tourism industry,” he added.

Tourism is certainly growing in India, but there is still lack of hotel rooms, particularly in the budget sector. “The government's report of the Working Group on Tourism, under the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) set up by the Planning Commission stated that the country requires an additional 1,90,108 hotels rooms by 2016 to meet a projected 12 per cent growth in tourism,” Rustagi concluded.

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HOTELS

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

Emirates to double its services to Dublin Emirates will serve Dublin with a second daily non-stop flight from September 1, 2014. The Airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will add capacity of more than 5,000 seats a week in both directions.

The new daily service will complement Emirates’ Boeing 777 operation that commenced in January 2012. Timings have been scheduled to facilitate more effective onward connections from Dubai to major destinations in Australia and New Zealand.

The second service will feature 360 seats in a threeclass configuration - eight seats in First Class, 42 in Business Class and 310 in Economy Class.

“Air travel is indispensable for tourism and trade, the major engines of Ireland’s resurgent economy. Emirates’ expanded schedule will offer better connectivity for our customers when travelling between Dublin and Dubai and onwards to the rest of our network, increasing access to emerging markets

and encouraging investment and innovation.

There is a clear traffic flow taking place from Dublin to a number of destinations in

Charting ambitious plans for 2014 Anticipating a profitable 2014 with an ambitious budget, Hawthorne Suites owned by the Wyndham group of hotels has an aggressive marketing plan to follow. Introducing itself as an extended stay hotel ideal for business, Hawthorne Suites highlights future plans amongst others.

T T B U R E AU o promote future products we plan to participate in travel exhibitions and roadshows. To this effect, we have recently introduced winter season - bed and breakfast

“T Tim Clark President, Emirates airline

our network, therefore boosting connections makes business sense,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates airline.

Over 440,000 passengers have travelled on the Dubai-Dublin service since it commenced.

Tourism Ireland estimates that average growth rates from Asia & Middle East passenger traffic to Ireland by 2020 will be over 6 per cent.

Middle East traffic grew by 3 per cent just after the launch of the first Dublin service in 2012.

While marketed as a business hotel, the property expects 70-80 per cent of their future business to be for leisure purposes and the other 20-30 per cent to be for various corporate and group segments. In terms

Travel agents will represent a feeder segment and source of business for us. We are forecasting over 30 per cent business and revenue mix from this segment in 2014 and half board packages for the European market, a feeder market from which we expect a good turnover,” informed Wael El Behi, General Manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham.

of market diversity, GCC, CIS and Central Europe are highlighted as key feeder markets followed by the sub-continent, Far East, Middle East and rest of the world.

Wael El Behi General Manager Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham

Commenting on the volume of business the hotel expects to receive from the travel agents in 2014, Behi mentioned, “The travel agents will represent a feeder segment and source of business for us. We are forecasting over 30 per cent business and revenue mix from this segment in 2014.”

In future, the key objective of the hotel is to get a 4star category as per Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing requirements to maximise occupancy and revenue. Furthermore, with regard to the buildup of World Expo 2020, Hawthorne Suites is planning to launch its own state-of-theart spa, unisex saloon and specialty restaurant.

Leisure Market N India is the largest

market served from Dubai with 7.34mn passengers N The property expects 70-80% of their future biz to be for leisure and the other 20-30% to be for various corporate and group segments

Aiming at 25% growth Through their collection of Dubai hotels and serviced apartments, TI’ME Hotels Management has innovated the glamorous lodging experience.

S U S M I TA G H O S H he portfolio which consists of six properties includes two hotels (TI’ME Oak Hotel & Suites and TI’ME Grand Plaza Hotel) and four hotel apartments - TI’ME Opal Hotel Apartments, TI’ME Topaz Hotel Apartments, TI’ME Crystal Hotel Apartments, which are in Dubai and TI’ME Ruby Hotel Apartments, which is in Sharjah.

30 per cent,” stated Tommy Ressopoulos, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, TI’ME Hotels.

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The leadership is energetic, modern and hands-on without micro-management and the service is respectful and proactive, with upcoming plans to expand the company is underway with a number of new properties signed in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

“The business has increased in 2013 over 2012 by 25 per cent, and we expect another 25 per cent increase in 2014. The challenge of today is that the demand is larger than

Tommy Ressopoulos Vice President, Sales & Marketing TI’ME Hotels

The business has increased in 2013 over 2012 by 25 per cent, and we expect another 25 per cent increase in 2014 the supply, hence the expansion. Even with this challenge, we are doing far better, increasing our Yearon-Year business between 20-

“The travel trade, being the most important distribution arm for us, brings in 12 to 15 per cent of business in the leisure market. We organise FAM trips for them; mainly for leisure markets from Russia, Germany and China.

We are always keen to partake in different events for our leisure sector. Currently, we take part in ITB, WTM, ATM, KITF and Leisure Moscow.

In addition, this year we are participating in Boodai Travel Market from Kuwait,” added Ressopoulos.

Sustainability is a fundamental part of the hotel groups CSR policy; having two hotels registered under Green Globe (a premier worldwide sustainability stamp for the tourism industry), TI’ME is now looking to further reduce its carbon footprint with a number of new initiatives in the pipeline.

FAMILY ALBUM

FEBRUARY 2014

TRAVTALK

9

Vienna Games: An innovative concept The Austrian National Tourist Office had recently organised an event for the travel trade, known as ‘Vienna Games’, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is an interactive training session on Vienna as a destination, in which travel agents in six groups of 10, went through interactive theme stations like ‘Vienna for families’, ‘Sweet Vienna’, etc., and fulfilled certain tasks to earn points and collected souvenirs on the way. Vienna Games had already taken place in Russia, China and India before, and now in the UAE, as it has become one of the most important destinations for Vienna in the Middle East.

A&K now in Abu Dhabi Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), a leading luxury travel company, launched its first travel boutique in the UAE, along with its partner Red Line, showcasing inspiring travel experiences pan global using the latest technology. team if they are not able to travel to Abu Dhabi.

T T B U R E AU he boutique opened on January 22, 2014, and it offers VIP suites giving clients a discreet space to discuss their travel plans with experts.

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At the opening, Geoffrey Kent, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Abercrombie & Kent, said, “Our boutique takes the concept of tailor-made travel to an entirely new level by allowing prospective clients to work directly with a skilled A&K Travel Curator to design their trip, supplemented by the latest information from our local offices in destination.” The office is located in Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.

He further added, “I have been visiting the Gulf States for over 40 years and have always vowed to open our office one day. I am delighted with our choice of Etihad Towers, which mirrors our brand so completely. Our

Geoffrey Kent Founder, Chairman & CEO Abercrombie & Kent

Our boutique in Abu Dhabi is the first step in our expansion in the UAE and the wider GCC region boutique in Abu Dhabi is the first step in our expansion in the UAE and the wider GCC region.” Dubai-based customers can arrange private home visits with the A&K

Eschewing traditional travel agency design, A&K’s flagship boutique does not feature desks and racks of brochures. Instead, ‘Travel Curators’ use iPads to give customers a taste of the unique experiences available.

Customers seeking further information can get in touch with one of A&K’s 50 offices worldwide with the Skype-toStore feature.

Harking back to A&K’s pioneering spirit, the 215 sqm boutique offers vintage map chests holding bespoke canvas maps made exclusively for A&K. Every aspect of the open plan space reflects high-end British design.

Easy Access N Dubai-based clients

can also arrange private home visits with the A&K team

10

CRUISES

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

Rise of Abu Dhabi in the cruise sector The arrival of boutique German cruise operator Phoenix Reisen’s flagship MS Artania marks the rise of Abu Dhabi’s Port Zayed as a luxury cruise destination. The number of maiden calls in the current cruise season 2013-2014 has doubled compared to the last.

T T B U R E AU n order to capitalise on the increased number of maiden calls, rapid growth facilities and services for passengers and cruise liners are seeing a significant enhancement.

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The nine deck, 45,000 tonne Artania is the largest ocean going liner in its operator’s portfolio. It is billed as ‘a home away from home’ with 620 luxury exterior cabins

boasting panoramic views through windows and private balconies. It is set to sail on to Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia as part of a 17-day Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean 'Modern Metropolises and Asian Natural Paradises' voyage to Singapore.

The Artania is soon to be followed by MS Amadea in April and MS Albatros in October 2014- 2015 season.

Our policy is not simply to maintain healthy and prosperous relations with large, world class operators but also to form new ones with smaller, independent contractors

The excursions for these cruises have been formulated keeping in mind varying preferences from passenger to passenger to contrast the modern aspect of Abu Dhabi with its rich cultural past.

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

This strategy has seen a success with tours of Al Ain's World Heritage attractions and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are proving popular as the Emirates Palace, desert dunes tours or even the exhilarating Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said, “The arrival of Germany's leading independent tour operator into Abu Dhabi greatly underpins our cruise industry ambitions. It is now being advanced through a highly pro-active local stakeholder campaign and a wider regional co-operative initiative to ensure the region is rightly positioned as a credible winter cruise destination."

He further added, “Our policy is not simply to maintain healthy and prosperous relations with large, world class operators but also to form new ones with smaller, independent contractors.”

TCA Abu Dhabi is set to participate in the promotion of Cruise Arabia alliance alongside Dubai, Oman and other stakeholders at Cruise Miami, the premier cruise exhibition set to take place in April this year.

Cruise Miami N TCA Abu Dhabi will participate in the promotion of Cruise Arabia alliance with Dubai, Oman at Cruise Miami, a cruise exhibition set to take place in April this year

New style of cruising introduced Costa Cruises is set to debut its neoCollection in Dubai on February 9, 2014. With this, the cruiseline will introduce the concept of slow cruising in the Gulf.

T T B U R E AU he neoCollection is based on the ideology of making the most of every minute, on stretching the concept of holiday beyond just a few days.

This tailor-made cruise experience will allow the passenger to set his/her own pace both on-board and ashore, making it ideal for couples or a group of friends.

areas unapproachable to larger commercial boats. The itineraries for the trip are similarly designed for longer shore stays giving cruise lovers ample time to soak up areas of cultural and aesthetic value.

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The thought behind the cruise extends to all aspects of

Samer Assaad Director, Alpha Holidays, Tours & Travel, PSA for Costa Cruises

journey wherein smaller ships go off the beaten track to reach

“The cruiseline debuts the collection with the maiden voyage of neoRiviera, the latest addition to their fleet.

The ship would embark on a 62-day voyage around Africa offering an opportunity to experience the coastline of India, Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion,” informed Samer Assaad, Director, Alpha Holidays, Tours & Travel, PSA for Costa Cruises. “Thereafter, it will move on to Madagascar, circumnavigating the African continent on a route taking in Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canaries and

Morocco.” The voyage can be purchased as a whole from Dubai to Savona or for those more strapped for time divided into separate segments from Dubai to Cape Town or Cape Town to Savona.

Starting in June, the neoCollection style will also be featuring on the Costa neoRomantica, with 13 and 15-day premium cruises in Northern Europe, beyond the North Cape or to the Baltic cities.

New hotel group debuts in Ajman Starwood Hotels & Resorts marks its debut in the Emirate of Ajman on February 1, 2014 with the opening of Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort, Ajman. The resort will mark the brand’s entry into the Emirate, reinforcing The Luxury Collection’s global growth as the brand remains on track to surpass 90 hotels by 2016.

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Ajman, commented, “The opening of the UAE's first beachfront Luxury Collection hotel is a welcome addition to Ajman.

We feel that Starwood embraces and shares our vision of positioning Ajman as a distinguished destination for Arabian hospitality and exceptional service while remaining respectful of our rich heritage and natural beauty.”

He added, “Furthermore, the opening of this resort aligns perfectly with the remarkable strides of development already in place here and our overall vision for Ajman to be a key player within the tourism sector in the UAE. By attracting affluent international travellers, we expect Ajman Saray to set the benchmark for luxury hospitality in the region and to also contribute positively to the GDP and economic health of Ajman as a whole.”

Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President, Regional Director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts – Middle East said, “We are extremely pleased with the progress of Ajman Saray and look forward to introducing the resort to global explorers, as well as the local and regional communities.” The resort celebrates the Emirate’s culture through its design and impeccable service.

CRUISES

Cementing ties in Kuwait Travelport and Kuwait-based Travel Technology Systems recently announced the renewal of a long-term distribution agreement to further cement a successful partnership.

T T B U R E AU t affirms that Travel Technology Systems will remain Travelport’s distributor of Galileo technology, exten-

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agreement with Jazeera Airways, in late 2013.

"We are delighted to continue our mutually-beneficial relationship with Travel Technology Systems Company in Kuwait," said Rabih Saab, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Travelport.

“The new agreement with Jazeera Airways, coupled with Raj Krishnan, GM, Travel Technology Systems the new distributor with Rabih Saab, President and MD, Middle East agreement in Kuwait will and Africa, Travelport ensure that the local travel industry continues to sive content and services to benefit from Travelport’s cutting travel agencies in the country. edge solutions and the highest levels of customer Adding real momentum care,” he further informed. to Travelport’s continued success in the key Middle East region, the news comes With preferred access to shortly after Travelport the carrier’s best inventory and announced the renewal of its fares, the deal ensured that exclusive global full content content from Jazeera Airways

continues to be available exclusively to Travelport GDS users in Kuwait.

“We have enjoyed a highly successful partnership with Travelport over several years and continue to see a strong future for Galileo in Kuwait,” commented Raj Krishnan, General Manager, Travel Technology Systems.

“We now look forward to work closely with Travelport to take their business in Kuwait to the next stage through the winning combination of cutting edge technology, unrivalled content and customer support and a deep understanding of the local travel industry,” he concluded.

FEBRUARY 2014

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Sharjah to get new tourist attraction The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled the details of Al Montazah, previously known as Al Jazeera Park, which will include a first-of-its-kind water themed park in the Emirate, an amusement park, as well as a park designated for picnics, walking, and other activities.

The project covers an area of over 126,000 sqm, and is set for a soft opening

during the first quarter of this year. Al Montazah boasts three main sections, the first of which is the Water Park covering an area of 26,000 sqm, offering a wide range of aquatic amusement games that suit all ages. The Water Park is characterised by its modern design and includes wide green spaces for holiday makers to enjoy and relax. It will also boast restaurants and other facilities where safety services

will be provided with safety and rescue staff permanently on hand.

Al Montazah will be open to the public from 10 am to 11 pm, from Saturday to Wednesday, and from 10 am to 1 am after midnight on Thursday and Friday. The Water Park will be open from 10 am to 6 pm. Entry to Al Montazah and its facilities, including the Water Park, is available to all, individuals and families.

Record deals at Bahrain Int’l Airshow Ministry of The Transportation of Bahrain confirmed that deals at the 3rd Bahrain International Airshow had reached almost USD 3 billion. The organisers of the show were the Ministry of Transportation and the Royal Bahrain Air Force, in partnership with Farnborough International.

With over 100 international and domestic companies present at the show, it was noted that the increase was a real reflection of the

event’s importance to the Middle Eastern aviation market. Meetings and networking were also a key feature of the show with over 130 delegations from 32 coun-

tries participating in a programmed series of meetings and events.

Visitor numbers reached record numbers with over 30,000 visitors attending the trade show and over 20,000 attending the public event.

Dates for the Bahrain International Airshow 2016 have been confirmed as January 21-23, 2016.

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NEWS

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

India shining for Middle East carriers The significance of India’s aviation market has been burgeoning, attracting the main ME carriers. India is one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the world, and a market in which many ME carriers see significant opportunities.

Dhabi airport in 2013. Bhatia added, “Since 2013, Etihad Airways has also doubled the number of flights and tripled the number of seats which it offers between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai and New Delhi.”

RAMYA JS D’ROZARIO recent CAPA report stated that 2013 had been a difficult year for Indian aviation.

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However, one of the biggest highlights of 2013 was the Jet–Etihad deal, which is expected to inject US$600 million of equity into the Indian private carrier and help the airline focus on fleet expansion. The Indian middle class, which comprises the majority of air travel demand, is forecast to grow by 200 million passengers, or 350 per cent, over the next eight years.

“India is a priority market for long-term growth, not only between the UAE and India, but between India and the world, via Abu Dhabi. And this, presents a growing market for Etihad Airways,” said Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways’ General Manager in India.

Neerja Bhatia

Essa Sulaiman Ahmad

General Manager - India Etihad Airways

Vice President – India & Nepal Emirates Airlines

India is a priority market for long-term growth between India and the world, via Abu Dhabi Nearly 12 million people flew with Etihad Airways last year, marking a significant

India continues to play an important role with its 185 weekly flights from 10 gateways increase of nearly 16 per cent in comparison to 2012’s figure of 10.3 million. The airline car-

Sudhir Sreedharan Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Indian Sub-Continent/GCC/Africa), flydubai

We are constantly looking for new opportunities to expand our network in India ried 73 per cent of the more than 16.4 million passengers who travelled through Abu

Enhancement process in progress In a bid to meet the increasing demand, the Sharjah National Hotels that comprises Holiday International and Marbella Resort, plans to renovate the two properties, thereby upgrading facilities, amenities and services available. expressed Hassan Al Jawhari, Director of Sales & Marketing, Sharjah National Hotels. “The year 2014 has been announced as Sharjah’s Islamic Culture Capital year and will definitely impact the tourism sector,” he added.

(From left): Hassan Al Jawhari, Director of Sales & Marketing, Nasser M. Nasef, General Manager and Elmostafa Frizit, Food & Beverage Manager of Sharjah National Hotels

S U S M I TA G H O S H harjah National Hotels acquire guests both from corporate and leisure markets.

Guests pour in majorly from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, East Europe, Germany, the UK and Russia, and the growing trends are from South Asia and China.

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Nasser M. Nasef, General Manager, Sharjah National Hotels asserted, “We should have more customer satisfaction and will be one of

the leading hotels in the region, especially for the GCC, CIS and Europe. We expect to be the first hotel to apply Sharjah Excellency Award for the economy.” He added,

“Our vision for 2014 is to develop the hotel and resort with the backdrop of its strong historical value. We foresee lot of surprises coming up,”

Holiday International and Marbella Resorts create unique contemporary midscale hotels and resorts by blending its UAE origins with the best local cultures.

Elmostafa Frizit, Food & Beverage Manager, Sharjah National Hotels informed, “Our vision in F&B is to be the benchmark in hospitality, renowned as the authority in Food & Beverage and be known for our local inspired exceptional quality.”

Frizit further said, “Our style is a perfect blend of traditional Arabian hospitality and modern qualities. Whether you are on a business or pleasure trip, we will look after all your needs as we con-

sider the visitor’s comfort more than just duty.”

Jawhari added, “We are aiming to increase our repeat guest percentage by improving our services and facilities.”

The Hotel arranges FAM trips for travel agents from different countries, since they are the most important distribution arm. Holiday International and Marbella Resort are increasing their involvement in environmental initiatives. It has a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control (HACCP) certified management system for preventing food poisoning, and also recycles its waste.

Portfolio N Holiday International

and Marbella Resorts create unique contemporary midscale hotels and resorts by blending its UAE origins with the best local cultures

Etihad recently started new flights from Jaipur, “We are on target to strengthen our footprint within the country and already enjoy load factors of 80 to 85 per cent,” Bhatia further added.

Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, Vice President – India & Nepal, Emirates Airlines said, “Emirates’ focus on promoting India and timely incentives for outbound travel has helped it maintain a healthy average load factor of 80 per cent during the year.”

Ahmad added, “Our upcoming route launch to Boston on March 10, 2014, will provide fresh opportunities for Indian students, academicians and institutions.”

Last year was a very successful one for flydubai.

The airline launched 16 new routes, and ended the year with a fleet of 35 aircraft.

Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Indian Sub-Continent /GCC/Africa), flydubai; said, “We currently work within the constraints of the bilateral agreements, but we look forward to working with the Indian state authorities to provide a framework to support international operations and connectivity for secondary airports in India. ” The CAPA report stated that one of the critical impacts of the Jet-Etihad deal is likely to be liberalisation of the India-UAE bilateral agreement. This will benefit not only those two carriers, but also Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia.

IHG opens new Holiday Inn Hotel in Muscat InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb in Muscat, making it the third IHG hotel in the city.

The hotel is located within 10 minutes’ drive of Muscat International Airport.

The modern and sleek hotel has 185 rooms, each with a 32-inch LED TV, an iPod

Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb marks the re-entry of the brand to Oman. In 1977, Oman was the home of the first Holiday Inn property in the Middle East, before the property was converted to Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah.

docking station and access to free Wi-Fi services. The hotel’s ballroom, boardroom and meeting rooms offer flexible spaces for customised events and meetings, catering for up to 250 people.

Oppenheimer Pinto, General Manager, Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb commented, “The team is very excited to be welcoming guests to Oman’s newest hotel.”

Africa said, “With tourist numbers to Oman on the rise, we are confident that Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb will offer a comfortable and quality option for visitors to Muscat, and play a key role in the city’s future too.” This hotel makes it IHG’s sixth hotel in Oman, with two other IHG properties InterContinental Muscat and Crowne Plaza Muscat.

Pascal Gauvin, COO, for India, Middle East and

HIGHLIGHTS

Dubai - A shopping hub

FEBRUARY 2014

TRAVTALK

13

Attracting Chinese visitors

At the advent of 2014, Dubai Duty Free (DDF) announced With the advent of the Chinese New Year, Qatar Duty Free their sales of AED6.65 billion (US$1.8 billion) for 2013. It (QDF) has launched themed promotions celebrating the represents an increase of 11.4 per cent over 2012. lucky year of the horse throughout January and February.

T T B U R E AU n December 20, 2013, the operation’s 30th Anniversary Day, all the customers were offered a 30 per cent discount on a range of products that resulted in a huge increase in sales and a new daily record.

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That day, Dubai Duty Free recorded 215,000 transactions, while sales reached AED111.88 million (US$30.65 million) in 24 hours. It was 40 per cent higher than the Anniversary Day in 2012.

The signs that a remarkable year 2013 was coming to a close was clear in December when a new monthly sales record of AED700 million (US$192 million) was set.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free expressed,

Colm McLoughlin Executive Vice Chairman Dubai Duty Free

“We are thrilled to announce such a positive year in 2013, which marked our 30th anniversary.

The operation went from strength to strength with the opening of Concourse A in Terminal 3 in January and Al Maktoum International in October, with overall sales soaring to a new high.”

The operation recorded a staggering 25,973,819 sales transactions in 2013, which reached an average of 71,161 sales transactions per day.

Perfumes retained its position as the best-selling category with an increase of 16 per cent Year-on-Year. Sales of perfumes reached AED1.06 billion (US$289 million), an increase of over AED148 million (US$41 million) over 2012.

Moreover, sales in DDF Departures rose by 11 per cent, while Arrivals sales have shown a 13 per cent increase over 2012. Terminal 2 recorded a 22 per cent increase in sales. The year 2013 provided major milestones in terms of growth. It includes the opening of Concourse A, dedicated to the Emirates airline fleet of A380s and the opening of the passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport.

T T B U R E AU

line with this special occasion, QDF is offering travellers a range of exciting offers across a wide variety of products that are popular during the festive season.

uring the promotion, all passengers transiting at Doha International Airport will receive 8 per cent discount coupon, which can be redeemed exclusively in the Chinese New Year themed areas.

D

Passengers who make purchases worth QR 500 (USD 138) or more will receive an additional 15 per cent discount on their next purchase at the Duty Free. An additional gift voucher worth QR 50 shall be given to passengers who make a purchase of QR 1000 or more with their UnionPay card.

The promotion, which is being held in two locations at Doha International Airport, is designed keeping in mind the large and ever growing Chinese consumer segment. It consists of well-travelled customers with high travel retail expectations.

Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways

To facilitate the effectiveness of the promotion QDF has partnered with UnionPay International, China’s preferred payment option. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways was joined by Gao Youzhen, the Chinese Ambassador to Qatar, and Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International to officially commemorate the inaugural promotion.

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways explained, “In

This year, we are pleased to collaborate with UnionPay International to make the Chinese New Year promotion even more rewarding and attractive for our consumers.”

The promotion has thus far been quite successful and has found a positive response from Chinese passengers travelling through Doha, especially with regard to items like fragrances, skincare, tobacco, luxury watches, gifts and souvenirs.

Expanding horizons in UAE Bagging ‘green’ awards Oasis Palm, a leading tours and excursions provider in The Cove Rotana Resort bags two awards from RAK the region, offers tour excursions on land, sea and in the Environment Protection & Development Authority for best environmental practices in saving water, electricity and paper. air, and is labeled as ‘the safari leader’ in the region.

T T B U R E AU ach of its tours combines a different theme and natural setting to provide a unique adventure ranging from an evening desert safari to a midnight desert safari.

E

“We are now focussing on yacht charters. Recently, we had an 85-feet long yacht and over a period of five years acquired five additional yachts to add to the two already in our fleet,” stated Ishrat Ali Khan, Group Managing Director, Asia Pacific Travels & Tourism.

“We get business mainly from the UAE nationals and expatriates as they go for tour excursions, using our services.”

Furthermore, individually certified and accredited to ISO 9001:2008 for 'Quality Management System’, the group is now looking to expand and broaden their business

Ishrat Ali Khan Group Managing Director Asia Pacific Travels & Tourism

leading up to the Dubai World Expo, 2020.

“We are always open to new ideas and believe in an open minded approach at our workplace. Conducting business, value feedback and constant endeavour will give the very best to our diverse clientele in line with their requirements with a single minded focus on ‘delivering satisfaction,” he asserted.

alongside the ‘Wonder Bus’ will provide city tours by both land and water. Purchase of a house boat, two additional yachts and various smaller boats add on to the list of the future plans enabling dramatic growth in tourism. This expansion will allow to project a revenue increase of at least 40 per cent in 2014 as there was an increase of 35 per cent in 2013 compared to 2012.

Oasis Palm is part of a group of companies, like Asia Pacific Travels and Tourism, Al Wasl Passenger Boats and Yacht Rental.

Plans For 2014 N By 2014, Oasis Palm

tourism plans to expand a fleet of double-decker buses that will provide city tours N A house boat, two

By 2014, Oasis Palm Tourism plans to expand a fleet of double-decker buses with open upper decks, which

additional yachts and smaller boats are also on the purchase list

T T B U R E AU

H

uge efforts have been invested to make The

Development Authority (EPDARAK) has a mission of protecting the environment and the sustainability of its resources.

Bassam Zakaria, Director of Rooms, The Cove Rotana Resort receives the award

Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah more environmentfriendly and here it has become fruitful. The Cove Rotana Resort received the awards and certificates during a special ceremony held at the RAK Chamber of Commerce recently.

By providing excellent environmental services and urging everyone to protect and develop our natural resources, Environment Protection and

Andreas Mueller, General Manager, The Cove Rotana Resort, commented, “The Cove Rotana Resort is proud to have won the award in recognition of continuous approach to sustainability. We have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to the environmental causes for the betterment of our Emirate. This award brings us another strong drive to persist our commitment and a unique opportunity to inspire others.

We will continue to implement energy awareness programmes to maintain energy and water savings, in its endeavour to increase awareness of energy efficiency amongst our staff and guests.”

Bassam Zakaria, Director of Rooms, The Cove Rotana Resort mentioned, “It is a motive to continue delivering on of our promises towards the society which is being the best environmental company and submitting more environment-friendly product.”

Eco-Friendly N Huge efforts have

been invested to make The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah more environment-friendly and here it has become fruitful

14

TRAVTALK FEBRUARY, 2014

FAMILY ALBUM

Kuwait Airways honours travel trade Kuwait Airways hosted an event, bestowing their gratitude to Airport authorities, travel & tourism agencies and their employees for rendering support to the Airlines. Nine VIP awards were presented to the Authorities, 33 awards were given to the Airport Authorities, and top 20 travel agents were also felicitated. The airlines also honoured their employees for excellent services.

MOVEMENTS

15

Dubai

The Philippines

Kenya

Juan Torres has been appointed by Etihad Airways as the

Joan Mwaniki has been appointed by Etihad Airways

General Manager for the Philippines. This is Torres’s second posting to the Republic of the Philippines with Etihad Airways, as he was the Airline’s General Manager, based in Manila, from October 2006 to March 2010. His previous assignment in the Philippines has equipped him with a deep understanding of the market and strong stakeholder relationships.

He has also had successful terms as General Manager in Tokyo as well as in Brazil.

as the new General Manager for Kenya operations. She will be based in Nairobi. Mwaniki’s key responsibilities will be to develop and further grow the relationships with the key travel trade and corporate customers across East Africa. Prior to joining Etihad Airways, she held key positions with Kenya Airways, where she spent seven years.

Thomas Tapken has been appointed the Vice President – Operations, Middle East & Africa by Millenium & Copthorne Hotels. In his new role, Tapken will provide leadership and strategic direction to the brand. He enjoys over 30 years’ of experience in the hospitality industry, having garnered experience from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In the last 11 years in the Middle East, he held senior management positions in top hospitality chains.

Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah

Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi

Jeddah

Aaishah Bohari has been appointed the Director of Sales &

General Manager of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He started his career in 1981 with the Oberoi Hotel in Dammam. In 1989, he moved to Dubai and joined Hyatt Regency, and moved on to become the Resident Manager and the Hotel Manager at Grand Hyatt Dubai. With more than 32 years in the industry, Kumar has managed more than 1,400 associates from across 56 nationalities in the past.

TRAVTALK

Millenium & Copthorne Hotels

Etihad Airways

Ashwini Kumar has been appointed the

FEBRUARY 2014

UAE Marketing at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. A Malaysian national, Bohari brings with her experience worth over 20 years of sales & marketing of luxury hotels in 4 countries. A graduate of Hawaii Pacific University in Business Administration with an MBA in Marketing, she is also the recipient of the Robert E Black Award. She has pre-opening experience at Park Hyatt Saigon, the first Hyatt property in Vietnam, and Angsana Laguna Phuket, Thailand.

UAE Alper Can Bulcum is the General Manager of Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah. He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, where he will be responsible for the daily operations of both Ramada® hotels. A native of Turkey, he has 27 years of experience. He began his career in 1991 in Turkey, and has since held various management positions across a number of international hotel chains in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Dubai.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Dubai

UAE

Sayyora Asatova is Director of Sales for Jumeirah Zabeel

Kerstin Pundt has taken on the role of Director of Revenue

Saray. With over 15 years’ experience in hospitality, Asatova, from Uzbekistan, returns to the Jumeirah Group having previously worked in Burj Al Arab as Business Development Manager – leaving in 2007 to become the Associate Director of Business Development at a tourism company.

Following this, she spent four years at Atlantis, The Palm where she left as the Director of International Leisure Sales in 2013 to join Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in her current role.

Management for Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, located in Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Pundt has over 24 years’ experience. A German national, she is skilled in tactical and strategic revenue management, pricing analytics and is fully engaged in room and non-room revenues targets. Prior to joining Jumeirah, Pundt was the Area Director of Revenue for the Fairmont Group in both the UAE and Africa.

Stewart Selbie joins St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi as the General Manager. With more than 30 years of experience within Starwood Hotels and Resorts, spanning seven countries and four brands, Selbie will also oversee the capital as Area General Manager of Abu Dhabi. In his new role, Selbie’s passion for exceeding guest expectations and creating brand inspired experiences will lead the existing hotel team towards service excellence.

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Anantara offers rustic luxury Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas’ newest Abu Dhabi island hideaway, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort, offers an unrivalled blend of rustic luxury, natural tranquility and breathtaking wildlife encounters. Exclusively located in the heart of the 4,100 hectare Arabian Wildlife Park, home to stunning landscapes and over 10,000 free roaming animals, 30 luxury rustic villas are surrounded by salt dome hilltops and lush grass savannah where elusive gazelles and Arabian oryx graze.

Jet Airways to start 2 new flights to Abu Dhabi Jet Airways announced on January 27, 2014, the launch of two new international flights, Bengaluru’s maiden flight to the Gulf, connecting India’s IT hub with Abu Dhabi well as a new daily direct service from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi, effective March 1, 2014.

These two new routes will be serviced by the Airline’s next generation Boeing 737 – 800 aircraft, further strengthening Jet Airways’ growing international network in the Gulf region, thus enhancing flight connectivity beyond Abu Dhabi.

Gaurang Shetty, Senior

Vice President – Commercial, Jet Airways, said “It is indeed a proud moment for us at Jet Airways to be introducing our maiden international flight from Bengaluru to Abu Dhabi as well as a daily service on the Hyderabad – Abu Dhabi route. This is truly an indication of the strong demand on this sector. Guests travelling to Abu Dhabi will now have multiple options to travel to destinations of their choice in the Middle East, North America, Europe and Africa in a seamless manner with our strategic partner Etihad Airways.”