Middle East and North Africa Edition
FORBIDDEN MERGER Major Greek aviation interests, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air, have been forbidden to merge by the European Commission. The decision is the culmination of a 10 month investigation by the EU.
Many tourists are evacuating Tunisia in response to dramatic political upheavals underway in the North African country. Thousands of holidaymakers have already fled the country, but industry sources predict a return to normal in the short to medium term.
3 SHERATON SHARJAH Starwood Hotels and Resorts has signed a management contract for the first Sheraton branded property in Sharjah, UAE. The agreement was signed between Starwood and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qassimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah, who is developing the property in private capacity.
6 In This Issue
Market Update International News Air Travel News Accommodation News General News Agents’ Corner Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events
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Troubled Paradise
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Managing Editor Mary Kammitsi Editor Laura Warne Deputy Editor Louis Dillon Savage
Travelport to Launch Galileo in Iraq Market Global distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport has entered the Iraq market, signing a deal with local travel conglomerate Qasr Al Nahrain.
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asr Al Nahrain will begin distributing the Galileo GDS Design & Layout group of products beginning Elina Pericleous in February, under the name Sales & Marketing Galileo Iraq. Dimitris Thomaidis Aws Alhashimi, general manager of Rawat Al Directors Hajer and Galileo Iraq, said the introduction of Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi the GDS would help stimulate Iraq’s growing Headquarters travel sector. P.O. Box 25255 “We are excited to get started and provide Iraqi Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +35722820888 travel agencies with technical resources that can Fax: +35722318958 help bring their businesses to a new level of Website productivity and performance," he said. www.traveltradeweekly.travel "We are committed to supporting the local Emails travel trade and aim to play a key role in their info@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel future growth and development.” Journalist Rita Kasziba
Jennifer D'Souza, regional commercial director in the Middle East for Travelport, said Rawat Al Hajer had been chosen as a partner due to the company’s established position in the Iraqi travel technology market. “With its extensive local market knowledge and technical expertise, Rawat Al Hajer is well positioned to help us establish Galileo's presence in Iraq and effectively serve our new travel agency customers in the country," she said. "We are delighted to partner with them in this promising new venture and look forward to a long and successful relationship.” Rawat Al Hajer was established in 2004 as a provider of business IT solutions.
sales@traveltradeweekly.travel
Etihad Becomes UATP Shareholder Etihad Airways has adopted the UATP payment system and will soon start issuing accounts to corporate clients. UATP allows its shareholders, such as Etihad, to provide accounts to businesses that in turn use them as a method of payment. Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad, said the system would make Etihad more competitive in the corporate travel sector. “Etihad chose to become a UATP issuer to better capture the extensive corporate market in the Middle East,” he said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways. “By offering an Etihad UATP card program to our corporate customers, we will be able to provide best-of-breed solutions and utilize UATP in many ways to enhance our customer service and fulfil the payment needs of the airline.”
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 27/1/2011 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar COUNTRY UAE (AED) Egypt (EGP) Saudi Arabia (SAR) Lebanon (LBP) Bahrain (BHD) Jordan ( JOD) Syria (SYP) Kuwait (KWD) Qatar (QAR) Oman (OMR) Tunisia (TND) Morocco (MAD) Iran (IRR) Yemen (YER) Algeria (DZD) Libya (LYD)
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CURRENCY Dirham Pound Riyal Pound Dinar Dinar Pound Dinar Riyal Rial Dinar Dirham Riyal Rial Dinar Dinar
1USD= 3.67 5.86 3.75 1500.61 0.37 0.71 46.56 0.28 3.64 0.38 1.42 8.17 10,350 214.73 72.88 1.24
Etihad chose to become a UATP issuer to better capture the extensive corporate market
JANUARY 29, 2011
- International
European Commission Forbids Merger of Greek Carriers
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ccording to a statement from Aegean, a merger has been under investigation by the commission, which is the main regulatory body of the European Union, for the past 10 months. Both Aegean and Olympic executives have issued statements criticising the decision. Theodore Vassilakis, chairman of Aegean, said the ruling came despite the carriers’ efforts to demonstrate consumer benefits to the commission. “Throughout last year we presented to the European Commission the benefits of the merger for our companies, our passengers and our country’s economy,” he said.
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“We also offered important commitments to safeguard consumers as well as measures to facilitate the entry of new competitors in the domestic market.
We will adjust and continue: our track record shows that we can succeed through challenging times Andreas Vgenopoulos, chairman of Marfin Group, owner of Olympic Air, argued that the refusal would have negative effects on consumers.
“The EC Decision will have negative consequences for consumers as well as our country’s economy while it will benefit foreign competitors,” he said. “Obviously we, as well as Aegean, will continue to do our best for the benefit of our staff, our shareholders and our passengers.” Vassilakis said the decision represented a setback, but that the companies would consider further options, including appealing the decision. “An important opportunity for a consolidated representation in the European aviation market has been lost,” he said. “We will adjust and continue: our track record shows that we can succeed through challenging times.”
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Boeing Dreamliner Delayed to Third Quarter Delivery of Boeing’s next generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft has been delayed for the seventh time.
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he new vehicle, previously slated for delivery in early 2011, will now be rolled out in the third quarter of this year. An electrical fire in November 2010 has been widely blamed for the delay.
Boeing confirmed that an incident in November was responsible. Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, said the delay included a buffer period to allow for further disruptions. “This revised timeline for first delivery
accommodates the work we believe remains to be done to complete testing and certification of the 787,” he said. “We've also restored some margin in the schedule to allow for any additional time that may be needed to complete certification activities.” The 787 has been designed to dramatically decrease the amount of fuel used by the vehicle and, consequently, to cut the volume of greenhouse emissions produced.
This revised timeline for first delivery accommodates the work we believe remains to be done to complete testing and certification of the 787 Boeing has already received a large number of orders for the aircraft, from airlines including many in the Middle East. Qatar Airways, Etihad, Gulf Air, and Royal Jordanian have all placed orders for the aircraft; in some cases for as many as 35 vehicles.
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- Air Travel
Air Arabia Boosts Montpellier Connections Air Arabia has boosted the role of its hub in Montpellier, France, adding new routes and boosting frequency between that city and various destinations within Morocco.
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ith flights commencing on March 278, Montpellier will be connected to Oujda, Nador, Tangier, Fez
and Casablanca. Oujda is located near Morocco’s border with Algeria, in the east of the country,
and is a major node for cross border trade. The northeastern city of Nador, in the Rif region, is a major trading port and popular holiday destination for domestic tourists. Tangier is a historic international city, and as a result has been a destination for travellers of various origins since the early twentieth century.
Fez is one of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities (along with Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes), that have served as the seat of power for one or more of the countries various dynasties. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Casablanca is the main port of Morocco and the location of Air Arabia Maroc’s primary hub.
Middle East Airlines (MEA) to Join SkyTeam in 2012 Middle East Airlines, flag carrier of Lebanon, has been accepted as a full member of the SkyTeam alliance. The membership process requires potential members to serve a period as a provisional member before achieving
JANUARY 29, 2011
full acceptance by the group. MEA will sign a membership agreement in February to set the stage for its official inclusion in 2012. Saudi Arabian Airlines became the first Middle Eastern member of the group in
January 2011. SkyTeam is an airline alliance that allows its members to supplement and share each other’s services, including passenger lounges and route networks.
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- Accommodation
Sharjah to Get First Sheraton Hotel in 2013 Starwood Hotels and Resorts has signed a management contract for the first Sheraton branded property in Sharjah, UAE.
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he agreement was signed between Starwood and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qassimi, deputy ruler of Sharjah, who is developing the property in private capacity. Roeland Vos, president in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for Starwood, said strong government support within Sharjah made the emirate a strong potential market for the Sheraton brand. “We are delighted to be working with Sheikh Abdullah as we introduce Starwood to Sharjah with our most iconic brand. “With the new commitment to tourism developed by the government, Sharjah is set to become a major travel destination in the region, offering culture and tradition as well as sunshine, beaches and shopping.” Similarly, Al Qassimi said he expected the new Sheraton to perform well.
Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen with Sheikh Abdullah
With the new commitment to tourism developed by the government, Sharjah is set to become a major travel destination “We look forward to a very fruitful association with Starwood and we are confident that, through this association, the Sheraton Sharjah Hotel and Resort shall be one of the leading destinations in
the UAE and Gulf Area,” he said. The Sheraton Sharjah will offer 343 rooms, including 48 suites and will be located on Al Muntazah Beach. It is planned to open in 2013.
Latest Mövenpick Opens in Deira, Dubai Möevenpick Hotels and Resorts has opened its latest hotel, Mövenpick Deira in the commercial hub of Dubai. The 216-room facility is expected to attract business executives, shoppers, and meeting groups. Michael Nugent, general manager of the
Mövenpick Deira 6
hotel, said that in the past, Deira had been bypassed by Dubai’s rapid development. ”While Dubai has been on a building boom, Deira`s five-star hospitality sector has been some what stagnant and we mean to fill this void by bringing in some new energy,” he said.
The hotel is located at the heart of Deira, Old Dubai`s commercial district on the north side of Dubai Creek. “It is to the Creek that Dubai is able to attribute much of its success as the commercial hub of the UAE, as a lot of Dubai`s early infrastructure grew up on the banks of the Creek,” Nugent added. According to Mövenpick, the new property is well placed to take advantage of the many commercial enterprises and government offices in the area. The hotel has been developed in partnership with real estate developer, Seven Tides. The two companies are currently preparing for the opening of more than 1,000 rooms over three more properties in Dubai. JANUARY 29, 2011
- Accommodation
Jumeirah Group signs with Dubai Duty Free Dubai Duty Free has signed a management agreement with Jumeirah Group for a five star hotel at the Aviation Club, near Dubai Airport.
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he hotel is currently under development and is expected to open this year with 293 guestrooms, two restaurants, two bars, two lounges, a spa and health section, as well as conference and banqueting facilities. Colm McLoughlin, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, named Jumeirah’s rapid expansion as a factor in the choice of management company. ”We are delighted to sign the management agreement with Jumeirah Group, who have a great deal of experience in operating some of the most iconic hotels in Dubai and have expanded considerably in recent years,” he said. “We are confident that the new hotel will be a valued addition to the business and leisure facilities in Dubai and complement the successful Aviation Club.”
the hotel’s proximity to the airport as well as the range of sporting and leisure options in the area are expected to attract business executives, destination travellers and local residents. Jumeirah Group is planning to open at
least six further hotels this year: in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, the Maldives and Frankfurt. The group has indicated that it is also seeking opportunities in Azerbaijan and Kuwait.
We are delighted to sign the management agreement with Jumeirah Group Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, said he saw a strong opportunity in the operation as well. “We are honoured to have been invited by Dubai Duty Free to operate this exceptional luxury business hotel,” he said. According to Dubai Duty Free, JANUARY 29, 2011
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Travel Professionals Predict Fast Recovery for Tunisia Many tourists are evacuating Tunisia in response to the dramatic political upheavals underway in the North African country. Thousands of holidaymakers have already fled the country, but industry sources predict a return to normal in the short to medium term.
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ajor UK agency Thomas Cook has cancelled all its flights to Tunisia up to at least early February. Manny Fontenla-Novoa, group CEO of Thomas Cook, confirmed that 1,800 of the group`s holidaymakers have returned to the UK since troubles began in December 2010. "At times like this, the benefits of booking a package holiday come into their own,” he said. “As with the ash cloud, the impact of the political unrest in Tunisia has shown just how important it is to book with a trusted travel company who, should anything affect a customer's holiday, will ensure they are looked after."
Tunisia Riots
Despite the protests and continued turmoil in Tunis, outside the capital seem to be safe Customers for these flights have been contacted and have the option to change their destination or receive a full refund. Until the end of February, all Thomas Cook clients are able to delay their departure to Tunisia or to choose an alternative destination. The company’s next flight is planned on February 6, however the tour operator has warned that this is subject to revision. Peter Kirk, general manager of UK-based agency Tunisia First, said he believes the Tunisian travel market will recover quickly. “Our agency has obviously contacted all its clients spending their holidays in Tunisia as well,” he said. “According to their reports, despite the 8
protests and continued turmoil in Tunis, outside the capital seems to be safe and their full holiday experience can be guaranteed.
Tourism is always vulnerable to crises such as this “Tourism is always vulnerable to crises such as this, but still we expect potential clients to start booking again rather quickly once the situation returns to normal." Operators within Tunisia also believe the chaos will not have an impact the in long term.
Shoaib Abd Alrham, commercial manager of Tunisian Travel Agency, said most of his visitors had left the country, but that he expected to be able to welcome groups he has booked for March. “Despite the uncertain situation, we do believe that tourism will be able to recover soon: of course, how quick this would be depends on the political developments that are unfolding," he said. Tourism is a major sector in Tunisia, by contributing seven percent of gross domestic product, providing over 300,000 jobs, and representing 12 percent of the country`s entire workforce. JANUARY 29, 2011
SNTTA Named MakeMyTrip GSA in the UAE SNTTA, a major travel and tourism company based in the UAE, has been named as general sales agent (GSA) for MakeMyTrip in the emirates. Keyur Joshi, chief operating officer of MakeMyTrip, an Indian online travel agency, said he expects to attract new clients in the emirates, which he called a major global market. “As a strategic partner, SNTTA will now enable UAE residents to benefit from MakeMyTrip’s exceptional Indian and international holiday packages as well as extend superior ground support to our UAE-bound leisure travellers,” he said. “This association with a reputed company like SNTTA will enable us to effectively tap the expanding market in the UAE.” David Milican, senior general manager for SNTTA Travel said he also saw big opportunities in the partnership. “We have tremendous experience in this field, including handling ground arrangements for luxury cruise liners,” he said. “With the UAE recognised as one of the top ten global tourist destinations, we anticipate a huge surge in the volume of inbound leisure travellers.”
We anticipate a huge surge in the volume of inbound leisure travellers
Agent’s Insight Name: Ahcicene Segouni Position: Manager Company: Expert Algeria Location: Algeria
Ahcicene Segouni
Who are you? My name is Ahcicene Segouni, I was born in the heart of the casbah in Algiers, and I'm the joint owner of Expert Algeria. We're based in the Algerian capital, Algiers, and we devise and run cultural tours and incentive programmes across Algeria from the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Mediterranean to the deepest reaches of the Sahara.
What is your favourite part of working in the travel industry? Taking the overnight plane from Algiers to Djanet, deep in the Sahara. I've spent nearly two decades in the tourist industry, travelling the world from Miami and Madrid to London and Paris, but my heart still leaps when I go to the Algerian Sahara.
When is the best time to visit Algeria? The best time to visit Algeria is from September to June - and spring is particularly beautiful along the Mediterranean with endless fields of wild flowers amongst the Roman ruins.
Where would you like to visit on your own next trip? In Algeria? A little place outside Ghardaia in the M'Zab Valley in the Sahara; it's called Beni Isguen, it's a small, remote oasis and, at the right time of the year, you can open your hotel window and pick dates, oranges, lemons and grapefruits straight from the trees.
Why should people come to you for travel advice (rather than your competitors)? Because myself and my partner, Moh - who has a doctorate from Cambridge - have lived, worked and studied in the English-speaking world for a total of over 40 years. Another plus is we're fortunate enough to be able to offer private hospitality and personalized tours for our guests. We’re here for the long run, to show the world what a welcoming, rewarding country Algeria is. 10
JANUARY 29, 2011
The MICE Will Play Responsibly in 2011 Throughout the great recession, the meetings industry has been the focus of intense speculation, with many experts identifying the sector as a potential site for cutbacks by corporate travel buyers. However, according to one of the world’s major accommodation sellers, Great Hotels of the World, 2011 is already shaping up to be a good year for the MICE market.
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rmand Guillemot, sales director for meetings and incentives at Great Hotels of the World, explained that MICE bookings are already increasing. “The past few months has seen a significant increase in the amount of enquiries for incentive trips placed through Great Hotels of the World,” he said. The segment is displaying idiosyncratic booking patterns according to Guillemot, combining longer stays with short lead times for bookings.
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“On average, the length of stay for incentive trips has increased and lead times are short and the industries now considering these incentive events are mainly from the retail, automotive and banking sector,” he said. Guillemot identified a change in mood among corporate clients, noting that a return to a culture of bonuses and incentives was tempered by a greater feeling of social responsibility. “Bonuses are back in the city and we are now starting to feel the issues of the past few years are coming to an end,” he said. “One of the trends we’ve noticed is that
corporate social responsibility is becoming more important for companies as many are looking for some sort of charity element included in their incentive trips.”
Corporate social responsibility is becoming more important for companies as many are looking for some sort of charity element included in their incentive trips
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Ahcicene Segouni Manager, Expert Algeria “We're trying to introduce European standards to Algeria: it's far from easy - Algeria has been cut off from the world for decades, but Expert Algeria is making a name for itself by being honest and open: we don't hide the problems here – even though we’re only three hours from London we’re completely unknown in the English speaking world. But, even without the tourist infrastructure, it’s a privilege to travel in Algeria.“
Even though we’re only three hours from London we’re completely unknown in the English speaking world
Imran A Siddiqui
Taleb Rifai Secretary General, UNWTO “We are of course watching closely what is happening in Tunisia, as it’s a very important tourist destination. We have every indication and every reason to believe that Tunisia will be very quickly -- actually much quicker than people expect -- able to go back on track. As far as tourism is concerned, we think that in the medium term, not the long term, Tunisia will come back to what it was."
Taleb Rifai
Ahcicene Segouni, with Berber guide
In the medium term, not the long term, Tunisia will come back to what it was
General Manager, Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments “The government of the UAE is set to allocate USD1.09 billion from the federal budget to implement 35 development projects which will be carried out in the country between 2011 and 2013. Infrastructure development is continuous for easy inter-emirates access. A new highway from Fujairah to Dubai will be developed, which will reduce travelling time to almost half of the existing time to travel. “
A new highway from Fujairah to Dubai will ... reduce travelling time to almost half of the existing time
Imran Siddiqui
Travel Talk is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel 12
JANUARY 29, 2011
John Morgan
Adam Turner
Wataniya Airways has a new chief commercial operator, in the form of John Morgan. Morgan has held senior marketing, sales and commercial positions at a number of international airlines. He began his airline career with British Airways in 1988 as a regional business manager and was promoted to general manager for business sales, before moving to BMI as director of sales and marketing. He has also worked in a number of senior roles in Europe and the Gulf region, most recently as senior vice president in Europe the Middle East and Africa of Eos Airline, based in Dubai, and as vice president overseeing commercial activities for Royal Jet in Abu Dhabi. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Business Management from University of Aston, Birmingham.
Adam Turner is the new sales and marketing manager for Ritz-Carlton Dubai, in the UAE. Prior to moving to Dubai, Turner served for three years as director of travel industry sales for the London global sales office of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where he implemented a new strategy for the luxury group’s penetration within the UK travel market. Turner previously worked with British Airways as the key accounts sales manager for special markets. In this role he managed and coached a mid-sized team of account managers, sales support and a call centre sales team. Turner started his career as account manager for consumer sales in 1999 with British Airways.
Patrick Martinez
Patrick Martinez
Rotana has appointed Patrick Martinez to manage two properties on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He will take over as general manager of both Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island. Martinez has 20 years of experience in the hotel industry on three different continents. He held his first position as general manager at the age of 28 years old and has 13 years of experience with the Marriott Group in North and South East Asia. He graduated from the Hotel Management School in Nice, France. Martinez has prior experience in the UAE, where he started at Hyatt Regency Dubai in the food and beverage department.
Nehal Rizvi Nehal Rizvi is the new director of sales and marketing for two hotels within the City Seasons group. Rizvi has been in the hospitality industry for more than 26 years, beginning his career with the hotel Oberoi InterContinental New Delhi, India, as a management trainee. From there he moved to Saudi Arabia, gaining experience in the front office and the sales department. Rizvi moved to the UAE in 2002 joining the Riviera Hotel, Deira, Dubai and the Metropolitan Deira Hotel. Rizvi's most recent position was with the Habtoor Hospitality Group Dubai, where he was responsible for corporate sales as well as food and beverage sales. In his new role, Rizvi will oversee the sales and marketing function of the City Seasons Suites and the City Seasons Hotel Dubai. He will be primarily responsible for acquiring business and for the planning and implementation of key account business development plans in line with business objectives. 14
Adam Turner JANUARY 29, 2011
Q and A with Benedict Chow Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, is a market of growing importance to the Middle East. The city-state is a gateway to China and local carrier Cathay Pacific has reported strong and growing interest in both directions. Travel Trade Weekly caught up with Benedict Chow, general manager of the Harbour Grand hotel, to get the lowdown on the Middle East market in Hong Kong. Travel Trade Weekly: Can you tell and quality staff is quite a challenge here. me a little about your hotel? Unemployment is around 4.3 percent and Benedict Chow: Our hotel, Harbour there are many job opportunities and Grand Hong Kong, was opened in June 2009. We are the latest 5-star property managed by Harbour Plaza Hotels and Resorts, the biggest hotel group in Hong Kong. The hotel is within walking distance to the convenient underground MTR transportation system. All 828 contemporary designed guestrooms and serviced suites, most restaurants and function spaces enjoy spectacular views of Victoria Harbour. A gigantic Swarovski chandelier, one of the largest in Hong Kong, welcomes guests as soon as they step into the hotel’s oval-shaped contemporary Art Nouveau lobby. Under the glittering 37-foot-high ceiling, streams of heart-lightening melody from the specially-appointed harpist captivate guests, and alleviate every busy traveller’s mind. The hotel boasts a total of 12,685 square feet of function space and the five restaurants and lounge offer an exquisite dining experience.
hotel work is perceived as hard work by the young generation who are looking for work-life balance and a job with a fast track on their career development.
Travel Trade Weekly: What are the advantages? Benedict Chow: Hong Kong is blessed by its location. Backed by the Chinese government, geographically and economically, HK enjoys an enviable landscape with its harbour, facilitated by policies that helped allure more visitors even during the economic downturn. The business environment is also favourable. Being a multi-cultural city with easy reach to the rest of the world, Hong Kong is a safe and convenient metropolis. Hong Kong people, though busy with daily life, carry a can-do attitude which makes us a hospitable community, great for travellers.
Travel Trade Weekly: Is HK equipped to deal with Middle Eastern visitors? Benedict Chow: As a multi-cultural
Travel Trade Weekly: Who are the main visitors to Hong Kong? Do you city, Hong Kong is equipped to serve get many from the Middle East? visitors from around the globe with Benedict Chow: Amongst the total various requirements, in regards to number of visitor arrival to Hong Kong up till November 2010, China accounted for over 60 percent, followed by Taiwan, USA, Japan, Korea and Europe. We also experienced rapid growth in new and emerging markets such as India, Middle East and Russia.
cultural and religious understanding in particular. Providing direction for prayers, serving Halal food, and even inviting Rabbis for blessings are not uncommonly found in guests’ requests and are not hard to fulfill.
Travel Trade Weekly: What are Hong Travel Trade Weekly: What are the Kong’s main attractions and activities, challenges of operating in Hong Kong? either for business or leisure travellers? Benedict Chow: Finding experienced Benedict Chow: Visually, the landscape JANUARY 29, 2011
Hong Kong
and harbour view as mentioned. Apart from being a world-famed shopping paradise, Hong Kong’s nice natural environment is fantastic to develop eco-tourism. Also, the political and economic advantages as described. Convention and exhibition centres in various locations facilitate large-scale events to be held in Hong Kong, attracting more visitors. Culturally, Hong Kong is a mixture of old and new, with the dynamism of the east and the west. It is interesting to discover how they have been orchestrated in the past 100 years. Theme parks like Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, as well as The Peak on which visitors can have a panoramic view of HK; plus the seafood market at Sai Kung; Rugby Sevens in March; and horse-racing are just a few of the most popular attractions and activities that visitors will enjoy.
Travel Trade Weekly: What makes HK Unique? Benedict Chow: The harbour, the cityscape, and all that I mentioned before. 15
First Blossom Japan Event Heralded as a Success The recently held inaugural edition of Blossom Japan has garnered an array of praise from exhibitors and attendees. Held at the International Exhibition Forum, Blossom Japan ran for four days, starting January 18. The show comprised four days of business meetings, giving sellers and buyers the opportunity to interact in an environment designed to be inspiring for fruitful and promising results. Jay Martens, CEO of Lucioles, organiser of the event, said the successful show brought years of planning to fruition. “We are truly excited that after two years of planning, research and sheer tenacity we have delivered this event, which by all accounts, in terms of the quality of buyers and exhibitors and the very enthusiastic response we have received from the
industry, fills a much needed gap in the market,” he said. Professor Yoshihara Tsuboi, chairman of the Blossom Japan Welcome Committee, said Blossom Japan was an example of a new direction for luxury travel in the country.
Blossom Japan is a welcome step in bridging the gap between the Japanese and international travel industries “Blossom Japan is a welcome step in bridging the gap between the Japanese and international travel industries and I
believe marks a new era for us,” he said. A number of attendees also spoke up in support of the event, including Yoshihara Hoshino, president of Hoshino Resorts. “In the past, Japan has not really gone out of its way to promote the country to international travellers because we have been able to thrive from our own domestic market, but I believe that’s now changing and Japan is starting to adapt and wants to be more open to international luxury travellers,” he said. Steve Odell, senior vice president of Asia Pacific of Silversea, said Blossom Japan was fruitful, especially for a new exhibition. “We had 90 meetings with Japanese buyers lined up, including many companies that we have not dealt with before,” he said.
Events Hobex Tripoli, Libya, January 25-27, 2011 (www.wahaexpo.com/hobex) International hotel business exhibition.
Emitt Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey, February 10-13, 2011 (www.emittistanbul.com) Istanbul’s only international trade fair: focused on tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
India Travel Market - Mumbai Middle East Exclusive 2011 Mumbai, India, February 4-6, 2011 Dubai, UAE, February 20-22, 2011 (www.indiatravelmart.com) Travel trade show for inbound, outbound and domestic tourism. (www.middleeastexclusive.com) Luxury brand and travel retail exhibition. Food and Hospitality Expo Eventopedia Manama, Bahrain, February 8-10, 2011 Amman, Jordan February 22-23, 2011 (www.foodexpbh.com) Hospitality technology, systems and equipment, along with (www.eventsunlimited.com.jo) Conference covering the A to Z of events management, aimed exhibitors from international food companies. at encouraging Jordan’s MICE market.
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