Travel Trade Monthly February 2012

FEBRUARY 2012

ISSUE 28

INVESTIGATION: GOLF TOURISM Golf has long been a popular sport within the tourism industry with players constantly on the look out for attractively formulated holiday packages.

Amidst the ceaseless developments quickly coming along to claim position in the run up for the influx of visitors forecasted for this year and next, Ras Al Khaimah is further enriching its tourist offerings.

04 VISIT: FUJAIRAH Laying claim to what is being heralded as the largest range of antiquities in the UAE, Fujairah is calling all its professionals to collaborate in mixing the perfect ingredients to result in an ideal year-round getaway.

09 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE INVESTIGATION: Golf Tourism VISIT: Ras Al Khaimah & Fujairah EXPLORE: Cyprus ONSITE: Japan TOUR: France LONG-HAUL: Chicago TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL CHANNELS EXCLUSIVE: Family Travel WHO'S MOVED RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS

02 04 05 11 14 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24

VISIT: Ras Al Khaimah

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2

MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou

Etihad Airways: Record Number of Passengers Etihad Airways reached a new record after carrying 8.29 million passengers in 2011, a significant increase of 17 percent over 2010.

SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess Dominique Tennant DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprint Plc P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprint.com.cy

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

26/01/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.04

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,505.50

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

57.45

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.50

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.51

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

11,308.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

219.26

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

76.18

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.26

T

Etihad Airways

he sound growth represented an extra 1.197 million passengers on the airline’s global network covering a total of 82 passenger and cargo destinations.

“This result achieved, while much of the world was still very much in the economic doldrums and oil prices remained high, is testament to our emergence as a formidable force in the international aviation arena,” emphasised James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways. “It also reflects our commitment to sensible, strategic expansion which is why we launched eight new routes last year.”

In 2011, the carrier further consolidated its global presence with the addition of Bangalore, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Chengdu, Dusseldorf, Tripoli, Shanghai, and Nairobi to its network.

The busiest route proved to be Bangkok (500,000

passengers), closely followed by London (479,000), and Manila (446,000). The list of the 10 most popular routes was completed with Jeddah, Sydney, Frankfurt, Paris, Manchester, Doha, and Dublin.

Moreover, with a record 310,000 tonnes carried, Etihad Crystal Cargo enjoyed similar spectacular yearon-year growth of 18 percent.

This result also reflects our commitment to sensible, strategic expansion which is why we launched eight new routes last year

Jazeera Airways Secures Leading Market share Jazeera Airways once again gained leading market share among Kuwaiti airlines on high-demand routes, according to the Kuwaiti Directorate General for Civil Aviation’s November 2011 passenger movement report.

The carrier, which operated with an on-time performance of 96 percent during the month, proved Jazeera Airways once to be the leading airline from Kuwait to Assiut (49 again gained leading marpercent market share), Luxor (82 percent), Sohag (35 ket share among Kuwaiti percent), as well as Damascus (52 percent).

In addition, the airline improved its market airlines on high-demand share on the Beirut (35 percent), Sharm El Sheikh routes (44 percent), Amman (37 percent), Luxor, Damascus, and Mashhad (23 percent) routes.

FEBRUARY 2012

4

INVESTIGATION

Golf Tourism

The Best Shot for a Hole-in-One

 Dominique Christou writes

T

he Middle East and North African region, particularly that which borders along the Mediterranean shoreline, is certainly no stranger to the highly-acknowledged golfing sector of the tourism industry, boasting some of the world’s premium golf resorts, courses, and overall offerings and facilities.

Morocco is undoubtedly paving the way for golf tourism in the country, as part of a clearly defined strategy within the scope of a major plan to develop its overall tourism sector, according to Faical Alaoui, trade marketing manager, UK and Ireland, Moroccan National Tourist Office.

“Morocco has seen supply increase by more than 50 percent in less than three years while ensuring the construction of new golf courses in tourist areas in order to attract more golfers,” he said.

In a bid to encourage more diverse markets, several initiatives are already underway, such as the Morocco Golf Pass that will enable the golfer to play in different golf courses located in different regions with a very competitive fee.

Golf has long been a popular and valuable sport within the tourism industry with players constantly on the look out for attractively formulated holiday packages incorporating some of the world’s finest golf courses. Travel Trade Monthly sets out to acquire the latest in developments and offerings, with a focus on the Mediterranean coast.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE The world of golf recently saw the Emirates Airline Invitational Golf Tournament take place in partnership with one of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic addresses, Yas Viceory, which served as the official hotel to the players, partners, and spectators throughout the tournament.

Recognised as one of the finest Pro-Am Golf Tournaments in the world played at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the one-day event is contested over fifty of Europe’s leading professional golfers.

Furthermore, Dubai has also quickly developed into a golfing hub as the emirate continues to expand on this sector. “Internationally, golf, like many sectors of business around the world, has gone through a challenging period. However, we are fortunate in that we have still seen encouraging results throughout this period. In terms of courses, facilities, hotels, and climate, the UAE has a very attractive offering for overseas golfers,” Christopher May, general manager, Dubai Golf, said, adding that Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club together recorded over 140,000 rounds of golf played by members, residents, and international visitors.

RAISING THE BAR

A GOLFING HUB Across the warm Mediterranean coastline, Egypt has long been experiencing a boom in its golfing sector, supported not only by its internationally acclaimed golf courses but also by some of the country’s most reputable golf course management companies.

Orascom Hotels and Development, the primary designer, developer, contractor, and marketing force behind some of Egypt’s most prominent golf resorts, such as Taba Heights and El Gouna, recently signed a contract with the premier luxury golf course management company, Troon, in a bid to increase their number of golf clubs in the country.

With the region’s year-round moderate climate, the increase of the number of golf clubs across Egypt

Emirates Golf Club

will, in all probability, lead to an increase in the number of visitors entering the country to benefit from its exclusive golf offerings.

Tony Aboujaoude, managing director, golf development and operations, Orascom Hotels and Development, explained, “Our business is continuously growing every year. Our main season is the winter as most golfers escape the cold in Europe and come to enjoy a warm winter in Egypt. We offer our guests beautiful courses and great hospitality in year round fair weather.”

Thanks to this growing niche segment among the European market, Cyprus has also been benefiting from an influx of golfing tourists, as Pauline Klimentos Gabriel, sales and marketing manager, Eléa Estate, Paphos, commented, “More and more Europeans are taking up golf, especially in Germany. At Eléa Golf Club, we believe we can really grow the business from the UK because they have a huge golfing population who like to travel in ‘guy groups’ looking for the après golf scene.”

Further according to Gabriel, Eléa Estate is well in the progress of further upcoming developments to cater to the increasingly popular golf sector on the island, with properties being sold at the estate and plans for a boutique hotel, spa, village square, as well as long-term property rentals in the near future.  FEBRUARY 2012

VISIT

Ras Al Khaimah

5

LAND OF COUNTLESS

QUALITIES

Amidst the ceaseless developments quickly coming along to claim position in the run up for the influx of visitors forecasted for this year and next, Ras Al Khaimah is well on its way to further enrich its tourist offerings and prestigious events, keeping all of its varied visitors in mind.

Pearls of the Emirate

Ras Al Khaimah Mountains

Bedouin Oasis

 Stefanie Saghbini

R

as Al Khaimah already has plenty to shout about regarding its well-developed and infinite tourism qualities and potentials, which are bolstering even further primarily through the unremitting support of and promotion by the emirate’s tourism authority, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority (RAK TIDA).

Praising the tourism authority’s relentless efforts, Mark McCarthy, general manager, The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, said, “RAK Tourism has been in the forefront of promoting Ras Al Khaimah as a destination, and that shows in the number of tourists and other visitors to the area in 2011, in comparison with 2010.”

As a reflection of RAK TIDA’s overall tourism aims and objectives, in line with the government’s investment of some USD200 million in upcoming tourism developments, the authority increased its presence at the WTM 2011, London, showcasing the emirate as a global affordable luxury destination for leisure, FEBRUARY 2012

Ras Al Khaimah IN BRIEF

writes

Country: UAE Currency: UAE Dirhams (AED) adventure, and business travel.

Commenting on these huge investments, Loubna Bouzhar, general manager, Rak and Sun Tours, said, “RAK TIDA, with over USD100 million investment in plans for tourism and infrastructure over a period of four years, is raising its tourism profile and footfall in international venues and Europe. This initiative has given a tremendous boost to Ras Al Khaimah’s travel, tourism, and hotel industry. It has resulted in a high inflow of visitors from Europe and the UK, which, in turn, has seen 80 to 100 percent hotel occupancy during season with a growth rate of 10 to 15 percent in incoming travellers and revenues over the year 2010.”

CALLING ALL EUROPEANS Ras Al Khaimah continued to prove itself popular among the Europeans, according to Victor Louis, CEO, RAK TIDA, who led the emirate’s delegation at the WTM 2011, in a bid to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a hotspot to the UK and European outbound markets,

Language: Arabic

with the expectancy of further increasing the number of visitors from the continent in the coming months.

“Europe is an important market for Ras Al Khaimah. Internationally, our markets of focus are very much Germany, Russia, Italy, UK, and the Scandinavian countries, and the GCC countries, where we see the natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and affordable luxury experiences that Ras Al Khaimah has to offer as an enticing complement to the shopping, nightlife, and other attractions that Dubai and Abu Dhabi are offering.

“The emirate provides an ideal getaway for European visitors who are seeking sun, leisure, adventure, great value for money, and quality experiences. With a temperate climate, rugged terrain, and superb beach facilities, Ras Al Khaimah is a global contender as an exciting winter-sun holiday destination,” Louis said. 

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Further boosting the promotional push into Europe, RAK TIDA continues to showcase the emirate’s offerings in the region by participating in other major travel trade shows, such as International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB), while offering its professional travel partners all the assistance they need, according to Bouzhar. “RAK TIDA is providing high value support to its travel agents and partners through its participation at major road shows in Europe and international venues. They also have representative offices in Germany and Russia, which is attracting huge visitor inflow.”

Alongside RAK TIDA, the emirate’s national airline, RAK Airways, also continues to play a pivotal role in

Ras Al Khaimah

Waldorf Astoria

flight from Scandinavia. So that’s bringing in a lot of Western European traffic who are going to different resorts which have been built in Ras Al Khaimah.”

Andrew Gower, airport director, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, praised the emirate for its existing, as well as upcoming, luring features in bringing the Europeans over. “RAK is becoming a destination in its own right. It’s becoming very attractive, particularly to the European markets; the Russian market, the Germans flying into here on a daily basis. The facilities, the people, the relaxation, with the backdrop of the mountains makes for such a wonderful destination.”

RAK Airways

handling Ras Al Khaimah’s main inbound European markets through its chartered flights to and from destinations in the region such as Germany and Austria, with figures, launched in October 2011, showing a seven percent increase in hotel occupancy and an increase of USD1.7 million in beach hotels and resort room revenues compared to the same month in 2010.

The weekly charter flights on RAK Airways’ Boeing 757-200 aircraft have brought visitors from various areas of Germany including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Munich, and the Austrian capital, Vienna, and will continue to serve them until June 3 this year.

In light of these successful results, RAK TIDA recently proceeded to sign an agreement with Swedish tour operator, Apollo, which introduced a weekly flight between Sweden and the emirate, currently in operation throughout the winter. Louis believes the

Ras Al Khaimah’s strength lies in its versatility and its richness of culture GUEST SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Sailing in Ras Al Khaimah

introduction of charter flights into Ras Al Khaimah are proving to be a huge success in reaching the authority’s 2013 target, with plans to introduce more charter flights from Europe.

Mohamed Qazi, commercial director, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, also emphasised on the growing European market into the emirate thanks to RAK Airways’ contribution, and continuous improvements and expansions. “RAK Airways had an exponential growth in 2011.

They are now running about 10 routes. Since their re-launching in October 2010, doing 10 routes is quite a big achievement. They’ve got plans to grow six routes every year.

“We’ve got a daily German route at the moment and about three-times-a-week

With the European market remaining at the forefront of plans this year across every sector of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism industry, the hotel segment is also bracing itself for the influx of visitors from the region, having proven among the most popular guests in 2011.

One such company gearing up is Bin Majid Hotel Group, which comprises three four-star hotels, namely Bin Majid Beach Hotel, Bin Majid Beach resort, and Acacia Hotel, as well as a five-star hotel, Mangrove Hotel, located on the Corniche.

According to Ali Kasapbashi, general manager, Bin Majid Hotel Group, the hotel’s most popular guests by nationality during 2011 were the Germans, Russians, and Czechs, as well as UAE nationals, while targets this year are pointing towards the Scandinavian market. “Business in 2011 was good compared to the previous year and we are hoping to have an excellent year ahead, now that we have RAK tourism authority as well in place,” he commented.

“We feel strong as we have our own travel agency, Bin Majid Tour and Travel, and our rent-a-car company, Impala, which helps our guests to have a smooth and professional service, not only in Ras al Khaimah but in UAE,” Kasapbashi concluded.

The hotel group plans to showcase its services and facilities in a bid to attract its current European and potential Scandinavian markets, as Kasapbashi further explained. “We will participate in all the major shows this year as well, like last year.  FEBRUARY 2012

8

VISIT

Ras Al Khaimah

And this time we will especially promote our new hotels, Acacia and Mangrove, as our beach properties are already well-known in the market.”

Another such development in the pipeline promising to be one of the most exclusive leisure destinations, not only in Ras Al Khaimah but in the whole of the UAE, with the expectancy of attracting large numbers of European clientele, is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, a Hilton Worldwide brand, slated to open in fourth quarter of this year, this according to Mohab Ghali, country manager, Ras Al Khaimah, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.

“The Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah will be part of a mixed-use development that includes an 18hole championship golf course, a 600m private white sandy beach, and convention centre with capacity for 3000 people. The hotel will provide an ideal location for guests looking for a calm and secluded oasis of relaxation,” Ghali added. “Furthermore, 50 percent of the guests will comprise of luxury and leisure travellers and holidaymakers coming from European countries.”

The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, also welcomed a large number of European markets in 2011,

GCC on corporate city trips or holiday excursions to the UAE and Ras Al Khaimah, according to Ghali.

Meanwhile, RAK Airways is also eyeing markets closer to home with a focus on extending its route network across the GCC, Indian sub-continent, and Africa, as Omar Jahameh, CEO, RAK Airways, confirmed, “With the addition of new flights to Pakistan, Kuwait, and Sudan, and an increase in frequency of our Doha flights, we are confident of expanding our customer base this year,” he said, acknowledging the benefits gained from the opening of a dedicated sales office in Fujairah, thus now able to also support a large customer base in the Northern Emirates.

In addition, RAK Airways is currently in the planning process of increasing the number of Jeddah flights in the near future.

Group has also taken responsibility for measuring quality, managing hotel performance, and facilitating further investment of premium and international brands in the emirate, thus enhancing its position.

According to Louis, who is also the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality Group, the rising emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is fast becoming a strong contender within the global hospitality market and this company will be taking an active role in introducing new hospitality projects. “Launching Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality Group is also an important step in regulating the emirate’s food and beverage outlets, giving us the opportunity to review the existing facilities, as well as to introduce new dining concepts. I’m delighted to say that at this stage, a number of projects and upgrades are already fully approved.”

NEWBORN ELEMENT

A RISING STAR

Ras Al Khaimah continues to develop itself as an allround favourite tourism destination attracting visitors from all walks of life such as those coming in to enjoy its leisure offerings or arriving for business purposes,

Commenting on the overall fast-developing destination that is Ras Al Khaimah, Ghali said, “The emirate has already established itself and is continuously developing as one of the region’s top family destination because of the quality of its tourism and hospitality industry. Overall visitor numbers are steadily increasing, as the industry and government work together to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a destination globally, attracting niche segments like adventure tourists, cultural tourists, and the MICE industry.

“Ras Al Khaimah already has a number of things to offer as a destination both for the MICE and leisure market, including water parks, museums, exhibition venues, and team building adventure activities that make it stand out from other emirates,” he added.

“Ras Al Khaimah’s strength lies in its versatility and its richness of culture, whether you are looking for a beachside resort to unwind in or want a taste of the Emirati way of life, or are an adrenalin junkie in search of the next big adventure; with the choices of mountains or the desert, chances are, you will find it here.” 

The Cove Rotana Resort

having recorded an overall occupancy of 95 percent, as McCarthy commented, “In 2011, German guests represented 30 percent of the total occupancy, representing a growth of 14 percent when compared to 2010, followed by the local market, which remained at approximately 20 percent in 2011. The remaining 50 percent are a wide variety of tourists coming mainly from Russia, Britain, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Austria, etc.”

TRUE LOCAL FLAVOUR Also aiming to lure in visitors from the domestic markets, The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, is set to offer special packages for its 80 villas to attract the GCC visitors in particular, according to McCarthy, while the emirate’s Waldorf Astoria is expected to welcome wealthy and affluent expatriate communities of the UAE during weekends and vacations, as well as high end individuals and executives from the

while families, sport fans, and adventure seekers are being drawn into Ras Al Khaimah to attend numerous annual events.

Following the vision of H. H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, supreme council member and ruler, Ras Al Khaimah, responsible developmental programmes are carefully studied and fastidiously implemented, according to Louis, and the newly established Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality Group is just one newborn element leading the emirate into becoming a global tourist haven.

“If you look at the wider vision of the Sheikh in terms of the wider Ras Al Khaimah, it’s a tremendous vision which is about service, people, and belief; it’s tremendous. It’s a beautiful emirate,” Gower emphasised.

Primarily created to support and accelerate overall hotel development projects across Ras Al Khaimah, as well as work as a management company on behalf of the government-owned hotels, hospitality, tourism, and leisure assets, Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality

Dhayah Fort

FEBRUARY 2012

VISIT

Fujairah

9

Traditionally Yours Night View from Radisson Blu Resort

Fujairah IN BRIEF Country: UAE Currency: UAE Dirhams (AED) Language: Arabic

 Stefanie Saghbini

writes

F

ujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority continues to successfully lead the way in further promoting the emirate’s tourism potentials and offerings as well as giving light to some of the region’s most historical and cultural features, through the deliverance of special prorgammes and close collaboration with other sectors in the industry.

One such project which recently took place saw the meeting of the emirate’s tourism authority with The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) delegation to conduct a Fujairah Spatial Modelling Project set to embrace a baseline 3D model of Fujairah’s main heritage sites.

This 3D baseline model was established for a number of important cultural and natural features in and around the emirate, indicating that Fujairah has much to gain from tourism in terms of providing visitors an authentic Arabic experience.

Commenting on the emirate’s tourism potentials through its representation of deep history and cultural sequences, Mohamed Fekry, general manager, Concorde Fujairah Hotel said, “The emirate has more antiquities, such as old mosques, castles, forts, and palaces, than any other emirate. It also has sensational coastlines and mountains, so with a vastly different landscape, Fujairah is looking to develop tourism and hospitality packages that are unique and related to the treasures of the emirate.”

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY Moreover, Fujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority has also been placing a spot light on its corporate social responsibility programme, with the recent welcoming of a delegation of participants to the emirate, in cooperation with Sharjah City of Humanitarian Services. The camp, which took place in December 2011 under the slogan My decision... My Choice, welcomed some 120 children and supervisors from centres for special needs from various Arab countries with the aim of familiarising them with the museum and what Fujairah comprises in terms of antiquities and culture.

The emirate’s hotel sector has also been shedding light on the community with Coral Suites Hotel Fujairah having recently hosted a gala dinner and rewarding corporate professionals to show their gratitude for their local community support.

“Hospitality is a people’s business and we know we have to continue to nurture those relationships that deliver guests to our door, and this event is our very big thank you to all those in the local community who have supported us.  FEBRUARY 2012

Laying claim to what is being heralded as the largest range of antiquities in the UAE, Fujairah is also home to a vastly diverse landscape, thus allowing professionals in the emirate’s tourism industry to collaborate in mixing the perfect ingredients to result in an ideal year-round getaway

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We will be issuing special certificates to major companies supporting us,” Vikram Rai, general manager, Coral Suites Hotel Fujairah said.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Boasting numerous facilities and value-added services, the Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah is also collaborating closely with Fujairah Tourism & Antiques Authority, in a bid to promote the emirate’s seasonal offerings.

The hotel is set to showcase its wide range of activities and latest developments at major international travel trade shows including World travel Market (WTM), London, and Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

“Lately, we have added water sports facilities to our existing aqua park by offering sailing, wake boarding, knee boarding, and parasailing, just to name a few. Also, The Palm Dive Center offers an excellent service for beginners and experts by providing deep sea fishing, diving, boat cruising and snorkelling. We have also recently added a by-the-beach massage service as well as new resort activities including chess, air hockey, and beach volleyball,” noted Cornelia Erhardt, general manager, Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah.

The hotel ended with an increase of 10 percent in annual occupancy during 2011 compared to the previous year, with feeder markets mainly coming in from Europe and the GCC. This year, Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah will continue to target leisure travellers from Europe, as well as weekenders from the local markets, and meetings and incentive planners from other emirates.

DOUBLING EFFORTS An increase in the number of guests was also recorded at Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments during 2011, proving to a more successful year than 2010, albeit very tough, according to general manager, Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments, Imran Siddiqui.

“New hotels were opened in the area and promo-

Fujairah tional rates made a tight competition so we doubled our effort to market our hotel locally and internationally. Mostly our popular guests in 2011 were from Europe, the CIS and GCC, mainly frequent travellers and contracted companies,” Siddiqui added.

Emirate Springs Hotel Apartments recently had its entire exterior repainted with the construction of a new hotel entrance currently under development. The hotel will be showcasing all of its features and services at the leading travel trade exhibitions throughout the year . “As usual, I will be promoting our hotel to international markets to invite potential guests from other countries, to have a successful business in 2012. In addition to that, I will include the promotion of Fujairah and the surrounding emirates to attract tourists to visit the UAE.”

People take seriously their relaxation and health, plus the weather in Europe is not so good.”

WELCOMING EXUBERANT VISITORS Mina Al Fajer Real Estate is pushing ahead with the development of its Fairmont-managed hotel in Dibba, Fujairah, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.

Vice chairman, Ahmed Bin Ali Al Dhaheri, Mina Al Fajer Real Estate, commented: “As we look forward to an accomplishment that is drawing ever so near, the next phase signals near completion, where every step has been a vindication of the achievement of years’ of hard work and commitment by each and every individual who has been engaged in the development from the very start."

Fairmont Fujairah represents the final phase of the Mina Al Fajer development, which comprises a marina, retail outlets, restaurants, and sea-front villas and luxury apartments.

ALL ABOARD!

Fujairah

Moreover, the five-star Mirimar Al Aqah Beach Resort also welcomed an increase of guests, this according to area general manager, Iberotel Hotels & Resorts, Ashraf Helmy. “2011 was a very good year for us.

The Russian market increased dramatically. And I believe that next summer will be very good. The Russian market is a very loyal market. Whenever they start in a new area, everybody say “this is the new place”. They keep on coming back again and again,” he said.

Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort also noted better results in 2011 over 2010, and 2012 is already looking positive, as complex general manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Patrick Antaki, confirmed. “2011 saw a slight improvement from 2010, which I would suppose was the last of the ‘dipping’ years. Things became more positive and better. We saw improvements in occupancy and in rates.

“2012 is starting with a bang. It’s starting very positively. To be honest, I think people’s habits have changed in the tourism industry’s favour. People will prefer to go out on holiday and relax than to buy a new car or a new fridge.

Fujairah will soon be welcoming a new member to its skies with the launch of Eastern Express, which already opened its headquarters in the emirate in August 2011.

Set to launch during the first quarter of this year, the airline’s plans will initially see inter-UAE scheduled flights, with a later expansion into the GCC, Levant, the Indian subcontinent, and East Africa. The airline is also set to provide charter flights within the aircraft’s range.

Having participated at the Dubai Airshow in November 2011, Eastern Express had devised a business model which primarily provides air feeder services for an established GCC international carrier so that Fujairah and other smaller emirate-based inhabitants have the opportunity to connect to the world.

With a strong vision in becoming a driving force behind the establishment of Fujairah International Airport, as a primary passenger aviation hub within the GCC, and placing great emphasis on its principal values, Eastern Express wishes to provide quality air services within the region, taking local customs, traditions, and character into account “Eastern Express is quite a step in the right direction for us,” Charles Hajdu, strategy and business development manager, Fujairah International Airport, said, adding that he is certain that once operation is underway, others will start to be attracted.

Eagerly awaiting the launch of Eastern Express, Hajdu further believes that the emirate could benefit from its very own national carrier. “I think Fujairah wants to start its own airline. We, the airport, have a vision; it’s to support the growth and development of the emirate from a business and a tourism point of view. It’s up to the ruler, of course, if he wants to have a national carrier.

“We would really like to see a national carrier established. What we do need is more of those low cost type carriers. I think that’s the thinking. If we do it, we’ll be doing it because we want to develop Fujairah.”  FEBRUARY 2012

EXPLORE

Cyprus

11

An Island in All it’s Glory

Traditional Sweets

Limassol Beach

Troodos Mountains

 Dominique Christou writes

T

he Mediterranean region is widely-known for its moderate climate and friendly lifestyle, which makes for an appealing option for travellers in search of sea and sun, the perfect meeting place, mountain and water sports, or a romantic wedding and honeymoon holiday, and Cyprus boasts precisely these offerings and more, to some two million tourists every year.

This number is soaring as Cyprus continues to climb the popularity rankings within the leisure, business, and incentives segments in the world of tourism, especially among the Middle Easterners, which recorded a 16.4 percent increase in the number of tourists from the region in 2011, compared to 2010.

PROMOTING ITS WONDERS In light of these positive results flowing in from the island’s neighbouring region, Cyprus Tourism OrganisaFEBRUARY 2012

With a stunning backdrop of mountainous range set before endless blue waters combined with temperate weather all year round and numerous reputed hotels dotted across its main cities, Cyprus offers leisure seekers and corporate visitors an ideal location, as it swiftly progresses with major upcoming developments.

CYPRUS IN BRIEF Capital: Nicosia Currency: Euro (EUR) Language: Greek

tion (CTO), Dubai, has launched an e-learning portal, namely agentslovecyprus.com, to further promote the island as an all-round destination among travel agents, tour operators, and Destination Management Company’s (DMC’s) in the Middle East.

The e-portal has also been designed to further increase awareness about the country’s inherent benefits and convenient location as a hassle-free and undoubtedly safe destination for travellers coming in from the Gulf and Arab regions, as Vassilis Theocharides, director, Middle East, CTO, Dubai explained, “We make sure to convey the message to the distributors, which are the local travel trade of the region, that amongst being a short-haul trip, it is also an ideal family destination and place for relaxation.”

Theocharides further highlighted the CTO’s mis-

sion on portraying the perfect message to professionals in the region’s travel industry, in a bid to further advise travellers accordingly, through the provision of training that is needed to communicate this message to the end user. “The e-learning is made for travel agents; it will allow them to study the destination and then become official Cyprus specialists. From our perspective, we shall create a group of Cyprus tourism ambassadors which can confidently float and sell packages to Cyprus in the market,” he concluded.

A HELPING HAND Travel agents do indeed play a vital role in amplifying a country’s tourism and this can easily be done through appropriately and accurately representing products and promoting Cyprus in all its dimensions, according to Sotos Stephanou, managing director, Aeolos Travel. 

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Cyprus

Meanwhile, according to Andreas Kakkouras, marketing manager, Top Kinisis Travel, the company is set to upgrade its electronic services to cater to travellers who organise their holidays online due to the growing popularity of e-bookings. “After a lot of research and development, we are upgrading our online reservation system, taxidiamprosta.com, to bring it closer to the needs and wants of the customer.

More specifically, the new system will be faster, more user friendly, and will include features such as 24/7 customer service.”

Moreover, Kakkouras emphasised the importance of attending international conferences to enhance tourism products while offering special packages alongside

One of the island’s leading business hotels, Hilton Cyprus, located in the capital, Nicosia, welcomed an increase of business guests in 2011, compared to 2010, including those from the Middle East and North Africa, this according to Nassos Papazoglou, director, business development, Hilton Cyprus.

In addition, Hilton Cyprus is preparing for the upcoming EU Presidency, which is set to begin in the second half of the year, as Papazoglou explained, “We are to be one of the main hosting hotels. We are very excited about this and we want to showcase Cyprus as a whole in order to give our delegates a real taste of the island. The sky is the limit for us.”

Offering 15 meeting rooms with newly renovated

meeting facilities, the hotel also has an executive wing, with larger rooms to satisfy all the needs of the business traveller.

CONTINUING TRENDS Furthermore, despite the global economic situation, noticeable improvement has been recorded, particularly in hotels across the coast, over the last year, as Andreas Gregoriou, operations manager, St. Raphael Resort, Limassol, noted. “This has taken place due to a healthy increase of tourist numbers from the ex-soviet bloc countries and it seems as though this trend will continue for the years to come.”

Limassol Marina Masterplan

Limassol Pier

incentive schemes and promotional offers as ways in which to lure in travellers during the low seasons.

He further believes that the Russian market contributed to the overall 11 percent increase in tourism figures in 2011 over 2010, with levels expected to remain relatively unchanged. “We predict that this year, more or less, the traffic to Cyprus is to remain at the same level as 2011.”

Stephanou also expressed satisfaction in terms of the island’s tourism figures during 2011, with the anticipation of a good year ahead. “It was a lucky year.

We benefited from an increase in tourism mainly because of the downturn in tourism in Egypt and Tunisia. We predict that we will have similar luck this year, and we plan to expand our Beirut office.”

MEETING POINT Along with the increase in overall tourism figures, the MICE sector of the country also recorded positive results, with the CTO working closely alongside the island’s travel agents in order to cater to MICE travellers coming into the country.

Since 2010, upon launching an incentive MICE programme for agents trusting Cyprus, the CTO has allowed agents to claim expenses for meals, bus transfers, receive gifts from CTO, as well as an official welcome at the airport, according to Theocharides who added, “MICE has grown from the region in the past five years due to the high level of professionalism from the local DMC’s and the distance towards the region.”

We make sure to convey the message to the distributors, which are the local travel trade of the region, that amongst being a short-haul trip, it is also an ideal family destination and place for relaxation

Katerina Yennari, business development manager, Amathus Beach Hotel, Limassol, agreed on the apparent scars left behind since the crisis, nonetheless recording positive result, as she explained. “Although the hotel is still very busy, since the crisis there are many last minute bookings. This makes it more difficult for us to know which month will be busy and which months we will not have so many guests.

“But despite the economic difficulties, business for the hotel was very good in 2011, especially after its recent renovation, which has impressed recurring guests.”

Overall, 2011 proved to be a good year for these hotels, despite the economic distress, managing to boast good occupancy rates, and Le Méridien Limassol Spa and Resort was no exception. “In 2011, business was good. There has been a trend towards online business through website booking. Occupancy and revenue wise, we performed better in 2011 than in 2010. The UK market was down and will continue to be due to the upcoming Olympics,” commented Chris Laghoutis, business development manager, Le Méridien Limassol Spa and Resort.

With positive forecasts on the horizon expected to result in a 12 percent increase this year compared to 2011, special packages are being designed by the hotel in order to attract targeted clientele, one of which is the MENA guest.

“We offer special two- and three-night packages in order to attract these markets. We also offer Arabic channels, and halal food can be arranged if we are FEBRUARY 2012

Cyprus

Traditional Tavern

informed in advance. We also arrange to have stickers of Mecca compasses in each room, along with prayer rooms, and a mini bar without alcohol. Anything our visitors request, we cater to,” commented Laghoutis.

UPCOMING LUXURY By the end of the year, Cyprus is to see a major development which is set to see an escalation in inbound tourism.

The upcoming Limassol Marina, once fully developed, plans to provide all visitors, local and international, a pedestrian promenade, restaurants, shops, cafés, boutiques, a spa, parking facilities, and exclusive properties.

“It is expected to upgrade the caliber of the country’s tourism and, in turn, improve it’s tourism product,” as Sophia Paraskeva, PR officer, Limassol Marina, explained. “Set to change the face of Limassol and attract visitors seeking a certain level of quality in the service available to them, Limassol Marina will represent the motive for tourists to increase the duration of their stay and plan a return visit.”

Moreover, Paraskeva believes that this new development will be the new focal point of the city; a thriving hub firmly positioning Cyprus on the nautical yachting map, something long overdue for an island in such a fantastic geographical location. “Captains and crews from all over the world will be sailing into Limassol, living off the town and making full use of the services on Paphos Castle

offer for the duration of their stay,” she added.

Aiming to further increase tourism in the region, Limassol Marina is to lure international travellers by projecting the accurate image of the marina itself, the surrounding area, Limassol town, and Cyprus. “We are selling a lifestyle and a destination; the two cannot be set apart. The package we are offering is proving to be the main attractions for anyone currently expressing an interest in Limassol Marina. It is invaluable to us to be able to lure tourists to the island and create a buzz around the Marina. This will boost its popularity and continue to raise awareness. It is integral to its success,” noted Paraskeva.

The marina is to add to the already present 17km beach path in Limassol.

Commenting on this extension of the island’s popular seashore promenade, Maria Stylianou, manager, Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion, said, “Tourists and locals love it and are always commenting on the path. Limassol is changing and you can feel the change. Also, the marina will change the whole image of Limassol.

Things are looking up for the city; it is very exciting and is to positively affect the tourism industry.”

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS CTO is enthusiastically pushing forth with plans for the island’s expected influx of tourists, encouraging airlines to introduce or increase flights to

FEBRUARY 2012

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Cyprus, according to Theocharides, who said, “Ryanair has opened a hub in Paphos Airport and will start flying to 14 destinations in Europe. The fact that the airline chose Cyprus through a new governmental scheme for airlines, will allow other LCC’s in the Middle East to look at this opportunity.”

In addition, the country’s national carrier, Cyprus Airways, is in the process of working on plans to reintroduce and increase services to and from the MENA region. “In 2011, we added summer flights to Erbil after a lot of requests. We also added some flights to Tehran, which, at the time, did not have a lot of requests. As of February though, we will be flying two times a week to Erbil and we plan to start flights to Cairo and Amman soon,” Kyriakos Kyriakou, head of communications and public relations, Cyprus Airways, said.

Commenting on Ryanair’s new Paphos hub, Kyriakou noted that competition is good, albeit not easy.

“We have a small market in Cyprus, and there is room for everyone. We offer something different to Ryanair.

Passengers know this and can make their own decision regarding the two airlines. There is always pressure from competitors, but this is a good thing for Cyprus as a whole.”

Cyprus Airways is to celebrate 65 years of operation, this year. “As long as we fly, we will always have high quality and service,” Kyriakou concluded. 

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ONSITE

Japan

A New Season is Blossoming

Ginza, Tokyo at Night

Almost a year after Japan was rocked by a devastating earthquake and tsunami, tourism figures have been showing strong signs of recovery in hope that by the time the country’s symbolic cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the tourism sector will also be entering a new era.

Himeji Castle, Spring

 Rita Kasziba writes

T

he past year has seen Japan quickly cease its tears and cleared of its debris, in hope of rebuilding not only its infrastructure but regaining its trust from the international community.

Significant efforts have been made towards the country’s entire restoration alongside tremendous worldwide support, with an acute focus on the tourism industry, one of the key pillars in Japan’s economy, which, according to the World Tourism Organization, accounts for about seven percent of the country’s GDP. “Thanks to the support of the international community, Japan is making vigorous progress towards reconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami which affected northeast Japan,” said Hiroshi Yamashita, deputy director, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), London office.

JAPAN IN BRIEF Capital: Tokyo Currency: Yen (JPY) Language: Japanese

In April, international visitor numbers were down 63 percent over 2010 levels, due to the devastation, but shortly after, numbers started to pick up thanks to proactive campaigns, overwhelming international support, and relaxed travel warnings for the country.

By August, the gap had lessened to a 32 percent drop, pointing to a strong recovery underway.

“Between January and November 2011, the number of Japan inbound travellers had fallen 29.1 percent compared with the same period of 2010, but the decrease rate had been lowering steadily since the earthquake,” added Yamashita. “In the period

from January through to November, Japan received 5,647,100 travellers from overseas, and the main feeder markets were South Korea, China, and Taiwan.”

Moreover, the MENA region had also contributed to Japan’s tourism figures with visitor numbers from Iran totaling at 3,075, while Japan welcomed 2,488 tourists from Saudi Arabia, and 672 from the UAE, for the period between January and October, according the JNTO figures.

Meanwhile, the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) third quarterly report entitled The Tohoku Pacific Earthquake and Tsumani: Impact on Travel & Tourism – Update December 2011, showed the country’s tourism industry rebounding strongly and more rapidly than previously expected.

Domestic and outbound tourism is now recorded at being back to pre-March 2011’s baseline, with inbound figures steadily improving. David Scowsill, president, WTTC, who praised the diligent efforts, said, “Nine months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami, the country’s tourism industry has exceeded even most optimistic forecasts and is well on the way to recovery. Japan has been doing a great job in particular with marketing efforts both internally and externally and has reminded the world of the unique products Japan has to offer.”

AIMING FOR THE SKY One of the toughest challenges, in a bid to wipe the FEBRUARY 2012

Japan blemish off the country’s image, was transmitting the message that Japan is back to normal, with the government continuously endeavouring to find the perfect approach in doing so, particularly to long-haul markets where residual nervousness may have been felt regarding safety in the country.

Nonetheless, the message had been heard and the marketing efforts, implemented to bring Japan back on track, were acknowledged. “The success was mainly attributed to updates on accurate information for general consumers, seminars for the travel industry, and fam trips for the media and travel agencies,” Yamashita explained, adding, “Advertisements were put in newspapers and magazines to promote Japan, and celebrities were invited to further transmit the message that the country is safe. Japan has always been a strong country brand and enjoys enormous popularity as a destination for business and leisure.”

compared to 2010 levels, carrying a total of 4.4 million passengers between the period of January through to November 2011, the dedicated efforts by the tourism industry and JNTO will pay off, as Yamashita confirmed, “We offer an e-learning programme for strengthening the knowledge on Japan, while the major promotions outlined for this year include advertisements, fam trips for the travel industry, and participation in exhibitions.”

The MENA traveller is also set to benefit from these endeavours, as airlines such as Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates all continue to serve flights to the country. In addition, Emirates has recently announced that it is set to operate its new Airbus A380 on its Tokyo route, celebrating the airline’s 10th year of services to Japan. According to the carrier, demand on the Dubai – Tokyo route has continued to grow, prompting the need for the daily service as of July 1.

Tokyo city scape with Mount Fuji

Nebuta Festival

FutureBrand has ranked Japan the number one country brand for tourism in its annual Country Brand Index (CBI), while it also listed in the index's top 10 under the following categories: quality of life, good for business, and heritage and culture, according to Yamashita.

Moreover, further surveys revealed Japan remained a key global destination, including the Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011, which showed that 16 percent of respondents were hoping to travel to Japan for leisure in the next two years, making it the third most popular destination.

“While Japan has always been a firm favourite among travellers from Asia Pacific, as has been noted in both 2011 and 2010’s surveys, we re-ran the survey in two of Japan’s key source markets, mainland China and South Korea, in August 2011, to assess how much the March 2011 tsunami affected traveller sentiments,” Ross Jackson, head of cross-border business, Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, Visa, commented. “The survey very encouragingly found that Chinese and South Korean respondents still rank Japan among their top destinations.”

PREPARE FOR LANDING While the country’s national carrier, Japan Airlines (JAL), recorded an approximate 30 percent drop FEBRUARY 2012

BACK TO BUSINESS The hospitality sector is also reported to have gradually bounced back to normality with occupancy levels steadily improving, mostly among the corporate guest. “The international luxury hotels in Tokyo experienced levels in the low teens immediately following the earthquake, however, occupancy levels gradually increased each month,” said Malcolm Thompson, general manager, The Peninsula Tokyo.

“In Tokyo, the corporate traveller is definitely ‘back’ and in fact was the first market segment to commence business again. Japan is a major economy and important source of funding and investment, so business has to do business with and in Japan,” he added.

“Despite the problems in Japan, Asia is still the region performing close to, or, in some cases, better than original expectations. What is missing is the high-end leisure traveller. This customer is the suite customer, staying three to five nights and having a significant financial impact on hotel revenues; these customers will take longer to decide to return to Japan. However, the reality is, the further we move away from the March 2011 scenario, the more people forget and eventually Japan is on the itinerary again,” Thompson concluded.

Stanley Tan, director sales and marketing, Shan-

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Japan has always been a strong country brand and enjoys enormous popularity gri-La Hotel, Tokyo, reported similar trends, with a stark reminder that work has to be done in attracting previous levels of international visitors, particularly from long-haul markets.

“In May 2011, we could hardly do 40 percent of that of 2010. Though business has gradually recovered since then, the international leisure segment has only returned very recently. In December 2011, however, we did so well that we even surpassed 2010’s results,” he added.

Although the hotel mainly relies on the local market, it also aims to attract and cater to visitors from the Arab world, according to Tan who said, “We are able to prepare Kiblat directional signs and prayer mats upon guest request. All our restaurants have menus for Muslims, and our professional concierge team is able to recommend a list of Islamic restaurants and mosques in the city. You can always find our hotel’s promotion with Etihad Holidays, or with any of our many properties in the Middle East. In addition, we are in the midst of preparing a very attractive promotion to be launched when we attend the Arabian Travel Market this year.”

Major hotel groups have also made a quick comeback to the country, announcing upcoming developments, such as Best Western International (BWI) which recently announced the launch of two new properties.

Furthermore, Palace Hotel Tokyo is scheduled to welcome its first guests in May. “We will aim for a segment mix of 65 percent corporate and 35 percent leisure, with 60 percent share of foreign travellers,” explained Masaru Watanabe, general manager, Palace Hotel Tokyo, who expects great interest from the MENA region. “The number of high-end individual travellers from the Middle East to Japan has grown in recent years, and this market segment will be our main target this year. We will be working closely with the Dubai sales office of The Leading Hotels of the World, of which we are a member. We will also make sales visits to the Middle East and hope to work with travel agencies.”

In conclusion, Ryoichi Matsuyama, president, JNTO, hopes to see a season of blossoming, with the international traveller gradually returning to the country. 

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France

Extravagantly Abundant When people think of France, they think Paris, the Eiffel Tower, luxury, shopping, and gastronomy, just to name a few, enough to entice even the most demanding holidaymaker. The country continues to stand firm among the leading players of the world’s tourism industry, especially in the eyes of the Middle Eastern traveller.

The Eiffel Tower

Louvre Museum

 Dominique Christou writes

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argeting two segments in particular, namely the travel trade and the public, France Tourism Development Agency (Atout France) continues to implement robust marketing strategies with the aim of further promoting the country to its already thriving Middle Eastern market.

Since 2006, Atout France has been placing a strong focus on inbound tourists from the promising Middle Eastern market, which, in 2011, experienced a year of spectacular growth of social networks in the region, according to Karim Mekachera, director, regional office, Middle East and Turkey, Atout France, who pointed out that, with so much to see in the country there is a long list of worthy popular places for Arab travellers to visit.

Atout France is also in the process of launching a new online training programme for travel agents in the Middle East in the next few months, beginning in the UAE before filtering it out to other countries in the region, with the intention of further educating travel trade professionals on the qualities France has to offer as a whole. “This web-based training aims to provide in depth knowledge to travel agents across the Middle East region.

“Over the past few years, we have noticed that tourism professionals sold France easily but accurate information and proper training were missing to provide clients with the best service. We have also observed that most of the front line agents have never experienced the destination,” Mekachera explained.

FRANCE IN BRIEF Capital: Paris Currency: Euro (EUR) Language: French

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Keeping a strong hold on the country’s flourishing Arab market, hotels in France have been sticking to their standards of quality and high services, with Atout France staying on board to ensure the needs of travellers from the region are met. “We do know what Middle Eastern tourists look for when they travel to France; excellence in service. Hoteliers who work on a regular basis with the Arab traveller, have developed interesting tailor-made services as for instance; halal food, Arabic speaking staff, inter-connected suites, dedicated concierge, and personal shopper. Because visitors from the region have high expectations of France, French hoteliers and incomings have to match those expectations by offering permanently customised and innovative services,” explained Mekachera.

Ritz Paris also continues to cater to the MENA guest, considering all requirements for a pleasant stay, as Stéphanie d’Aboville, director of sales and marketing, Ritz Paris, explained, “At the beginning of their stay, we talk with the head of the food and beverage department in order to cater to our Middle East and North Africa guests.” Highlighting the importance for hotel operators to share information with the trade market and inform clients of new products, d’Aboville stated, “For example, ME travellers like to smoke, therefore hotel operators should be fully

informed in order to present to the interested traveller that we offer a large smoking area to fully cater to the needs of these guests.”

Moreover, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Morocco have proven to be some of Hyatt Paris’ strongest markets from the Middle East, as Alessandra Ruggeri, area director of sales and marketing, Hyatt Paris, confirmed, “We regularly visit the Middle East market and we offer dedicated services to direct clients who book our hotel, so as to make sure they come back and feel free to call us anytime to find their favourite room.”

Further catering to the Arab world, Jean-Marie Pébrel, director, European sales office, and regional director of sales and marketing, France and Switzerland, Warwick Hotels International, specified the importance for hoteliers to meet the requirements provided to satisfy the MENA traveller’s expectations. ”We are aware of differences of habits compared to other travellers and, for instance, we are able to adjust timing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Or, staff in key operations such as reception, housekeeping, and in the restaurant, speak Arabic.”

Keeping a strong hold on the country’s flourishing Arab market, hotels in France have been sticking to their standards of quality and high services

WHISKING YOU AWAY Guaranteeing regular and convenient air services to and from the regions, Emirates’ current double-daily Charles de Gaulle service will be supplemented by an additional four frequencies, as of March 25, due to strong passenger demand, increasing to five extra weekly flights in the winter 2012 schedule.

Salem Obaidalla, senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates, commented, “Demand to and from France, particularly from business travellers, is such that a third frequency has always been an objective for Emirates.

With these additional services, we will help to satisfy that demand, while providing more opportunities for travel between Paris, Dubai, and beyond, to our network of more than 100 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.”  FEBRUARY 2012

Chicago

LONG-HAUL

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New Breeze Enters the Windy City One of the most characteristic and vibrant cities in the US, Chicago has long been favoured by tourists, predominantly the local segment.

This year, the city’s tourism industry is set to focus on bringing Chicago back into the global spotlight.

CHICAGO IN BRIEF State: Illinois Currency: US Dollar (USD) Language: English

 Rita Kasziba writes

A

n aggressive campaign and profound makeover of Chicago’s tourism brand are on the cards with Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB) seeking to improve the city’s overall US ranking, currently at 10th, in terms of overseas visitor numbers.

The tourism bureau recently allocated USD750,000 of its total USD17.8 million annual operating budget to the international market, compared with approximately USD300,000 in past years. The USD1.8 million campaign, which will be using television as one of its forms of media, aims to integrate values and more character into the image of the city, making it a luring tourist and burgeoning business destination, thus transforming it from a US into an international hotspot.

Cloud Gate in Millennium Park

marquee assets into impactful tourism spending in Chicago,” he said.

Rahm Emanuel, mayor, Chicago also believes that leisure visitors provide great value for the city and its businesses, as does its international market. “Chicago is an international destination for both tourists and businesses, which come to enjoy our state-of-the-art facilities and unmatched assets.”

Incorporating its promotional goals in targeting regional, national, and international audiences alike, a bulk of the brand strategy’s marketing initiative consists of opening international offices in a bid to tauten ties with partner general sales agents, tour operators, travel agents, airlines, and the media. By 2013, CCTB plans on running offices in Brazil, India, Germany, and Japan in a bid to catch up to the aggressive marketing efforts of competitor US destinations, such as New York City.

GARNERING FURTHER DEMAND

GOING GLOBAL As a result of the expected tourism boost through this true branding effort, said to be the city’s first, tax revenues are set to increase as well as tourism numbers while concurrently spurring new businesses thus helping job creation, as Don Welsh, president, CCTB, explained, “For the first time in our history, the city of Chicago has a unified, cohesive image and voice, to enhance our marketing efforts, attract visitors, and drive new tax revenue.”

In addition, an impressive boom in corporate and leisure travel, two of the city’s most popular niche segments, is expected this year, as Welsh highlights the importance of focusing on these to keep up the city’s thriving reputation.

“Revenue stemming from leisure and convention travel plays a crucial role in ensuring that Chicago remains a strong, vibrant, and global city. We are taking aggressive steps towards harnessing the city’s FEBRUARY 2012

Moreover, Chicago's hospitality sector recently had new hotel openings, including Public Chicago, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, and Greenhouse Loft, which all launched during 2011’s fourth quarter, with further developments in the pipeline as a result of increasing accommodation demand.

Figures in 2011 had an overall improvement in occupancy levels over 2010 across the city, with rates between June and September averaging over 80 percent.

One such hotel which reflected the overall market growth in 2011 was Hotel Burnham: A Kimpton Hotel, having recorded a steady increase, according to Duncan Clements, general manager, Hotel Burnham: A Kimpton Hotel, whose main feeder markets were within the US, while the majority of international travellers came from Canada, the UK, and Western Europe. As for the Middle East and North African region, Clements commented, “As this market is small but growing, our hotel guests are frequently from these

Chicago's Skyline

regions, albeit in smaller numbers.”

Moreover, Clements believes that this year is expected to see continued growth over and above 2011 levels, thanks to the CCTB promotion which will play an instrumental role in garnering further demand and awareness of Chicago, as well as introduce new feeder markets.

In addition, JW Marriott Chicago, the brand’s first hotel in the city, has so far recorded high occupancy levels since its opening in November 2010, according to Julie Marsh, marketing manager, Marriott International, who acknowledged nearby states as the hotel’s main feeder markets, and welcomed the steadily growing international segment.

BON VOYAGE Chicago's two main airports welcomed millions of travellers through their terminals in 2011, with Chicago O’Hare International Airport handling more than 61.5 million passengers, while Midway Airport catered to some 17 million.

Hailed the world’s third busiest airport in 2010, Chicago O’Hare International Airport handled travellers from a range of destinations in the Middle East including Abu Dhabi, thanks to Etihad Airways, and Amman, which was served by Royal Jordanian Airlines. 

travel talk is your space

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TRAVEL TALK MANISH DUREJA

MOHAMMED ARKOBI

Vice President, marketing, Jet Airways.

Vice president, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Mecca.

“The aircraft wrap is like a flying billboard that allows you to take your brand to the skies quite literally.

All of us at Jet Airways are immensely proud and happy to have innovated to create another opportunity for media buyers. We are confident that this unique media vehicle [its partnering with Nokia Lumia] will leverage the power of innovative brand communication to a focused group of prospects and will deliver value for money to brand managers across India that will opt to take their brands to the skies in the months ahead.”

“With humbleness and pride we dedicate this outstanding win [of Makkah Clock Royal Tower as the World’s Leading Landmark Hotel award in a ceremony held at the World Travel Awards 2011] to our beloved Kingdom and to the entire Islamic world; and we are also conceited of creating a new trend in the world of hospitality industry on both local and global levels from the very heart of Islam’s Holy Capital.

Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, within a span of eight months has won an award for the second time in a row, which indeed is a brilliant achievement.”

AKBAR AL BAKER

WAYNE PEARCE

CEO, Qatar Airways.

CEO, Oman Air.

“London has long been one of our best performing routes, so Heathrow was an obvious choice for our first premium lounge outside Doha. With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place this summer, the international spotlight will be on the British capital and we look forward to the increase in capacity and welcoming more premium travellers on our high demand services to London. The lounge is the latest development in our expanding global network and will enable [all our] customers to take full advantage of the high levels of service we provide.”

“The new service [between Zurich and Muscat] links Oman’s beautiful and timeless capital with what is one of the world’s great financial centres and an ideal gateway to the Alps for both winter and summer sports enthusiasts.

The route is already proving extremely popular for visitors from Oman and beyond, as it is for visitors from Switzerland to Oman, who now find it easier than ever to experience the unparalleled hospitality, rich culture and dramatic landscapes that are unique to the Sultanate.”

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 FEBRUARY 2012

TRAVEL CHANNELS

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Etihad Airways and IATA Join Hands The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Training and Development Institute and Etihad Airways, have announced a training partnership during the proceedings of the IATA-AACO Aeropolitical Affairs Forum in Abu Dhabi, in a joint effort to develop the human capital of the aviation industry in the region.

T

he training partnership will commence with the implementation of the airline customer service programme followed by extending to other fields in aviation, cargo, travel, and tourism.

The partnership will also aim at upgrading the leadership capabilities of various industry resources by introducing the IATA-Harvard Leadership and Management training programme in collaboration with Harvard Business School Publishing.

Tony Tyler, CEO, IATA, commented on the collaboration, “The UAE is expecting to handle 86.6 million international passengers by 2015, an 8.5

percent average annual growth. If that materialises, in 2015 it will handle nearly 30 million more passengers than in 2010. Skills and knowledge will be critical to support this extraordinary growth.”

The partnership’s aim is to reach out to the next generation of leaders in the aviation industry as well as the overall development of the human capital to fullfill the need for new talent and skills to meet the challenges and opportunities in a dynamic industry.

“We are delighted to be involved in this partnership as there is no more important resource for any organisation than its people. This joint initiative should help provide access to opportunity as we

Amadeus: From Chaos to Collaboration A new research study, entitled From Chaos to Collaboration, commissioned by Amadeus, reveals how new technologies and social change will combine to transform the travel industry by 2020.

The global study highlights that augmented reality, gamification, intelligent passenger records, long range biometrics, and the rise of the well-being agenda will drive the changes in the next decade and beyond, heralding a new era of industry and travel collaboration. The report therefore demands increased partnership across the industry, which, in turn, will remove the stress, uncertainty and chaos, while providing much richer, deeper, and more personal travel experiences.

Built upon discrete ‘enabling’ technologies and innovations, service-users will become partners rather than customers and context will become as important as the transaction.

According to the study, the six key areas in which future technology and innovation could be deployed include the next generation of experience, automatic transit, payment with memory, intelligent recommendation, taking the stress out of travel, and the business tourist.

Commenting on the shifting patterns, Eberhard Haag, executive vice president, global operations, Amadeus, said, “Over the next decade, there is a significant opportunity to redefine how the industry delivers and packages services to meet changing traveller needs.”

FEBRUARY 2012

build a talent pool across all facets of the aviation industry, and provide a career path for appropriately trained professionals,” commented James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways.

We are delighted to be involved in this partnership as there is no more important resource for any organisation than its people

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EXCLUSIVE

Family Travel

Go Further, Get Closer Travelling to long-haul destinations with the family requires particular preparation and mature choices, with the industry increasingly seeking ways to persuade adults to leave daily routine behind for a while, and set off with their offspring.

 Rita Kasziba writes

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ith its rich archaeological treasures and unique character, offering not only holidays packed with action and relaxation in heavenly settings, but also experiential learning opportunities, the Middle East and North Africa region is increasingly being seen as an ideal family destination.

One such country known to cater to families is Egypt, as Isiah Thomas, European product and agency support manager, Kumuka Worldwide, confirmed, “Egypt is very popular, actually one of the most popular family tours we sell. Also, culturally the region is well renowned for its welcoming attitude towards travellers, and in particular children.”

Kumuka Worldwide, is a global adventure tour expert, which also promotes vacations designed for the whole family to Jordan and Oman. “These tours offer a variety of family friendly accommodation and transport, and a mixture of activities and attractions which will thrill all families looking for culture, fun and discovery,” Thomas added.

NEW WAVES The cruising sector is certainly one which attracts families, having emerged as a fresh alternative to the traditional family vacation, as Joyce Younes, general manager, Younes Travel, Lebanon, confirmed, “Around two years ago, our Lebanese clients started increasingly opting for cruise trips with all-inclusive offers, and based on my experience, over the past years, cruising has become a global trend,” she said.

Cruise travel is gradually gaining popularity among families looking for the ideal vacation, according to Younes, who added that this is a cause of the complexity of these kinds of journeys, which incorporate safety, entertainment on board, and an unmatched opportunity to experience a number of

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Freedom of the Seas

Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

different cultures while visiting various countries.

“Furthermore, a significant reduction on child fare and the all-inclusive concept offer a real value for money option,” she specified.

Moreover, Helen Beck, regional director, international representatives, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Royal Caribbean Cruises, hailed the family-centred concept as one of the cruise line’s and the cruise vacations’ cornerstones. “With a history of creativity and innovation, delivering many at-sea industry firsts, such as ice rinks, rock-climbing walls, zip lines and Broadway shows, we are committed to providing an unforgettable and rejuvenating experience that appeals to vacationers of all ages,” she said.

FINDING THE PERFECT MIX Not surprisingly, family travellers have to be very astute when choosing the perfect holiday, with the

need to consider every single imperative detail.

“Safety, attraction, accessibility, activity options, and value for money, are the top aspects when it comes to selecting the destination,” Younes commented while, along the same lines, Thomas added, “Travelling with children also has to be clean, easy, safe, and fun, and provide the right mix of culture with entertainment, comfort, variation, and relaxation.”

Having recently launched a new offer in cooperation with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, one of the main family entertainment attractions of the UAE, Grand Millennium Al Wahda is showcasing the perfect family holiday in Abu Dhabi, as Adam Harvey, director of sales and marketing, Grand Millennium Al Wahda, explained, “Our Ferrari World package offers families the ideal hassle-free and fun weekend at the theme park while taking advantage of all the luxuries offered by our hotel.”

Alain Kropf, general manager, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi, also agreed that offering a plethora of amenities and activities for the family is pivotal. “We provide a wide range of different room categories with various sizes. Furthermore, our kids’ club provides exciting activities on a daily basis in addition to our famous annual summer camp and a lot of other kids-focus services,” he said.

Dubai is yet another destination in the region which is catering to the divergent preferences of each family member. “Our spectrum of offerings include not only thrills and adrenaline-packed activities, but also a state of the art snow park where the young ones can enjoy the special winter wonderland, delicious food and beverage options, including a chairlift ride into the alpine slopes of Ski Dubai to the Avalanche Café, and much more,” Omar El-Banna, director of sales and marketing, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment, the operator of Ski Dubai, remarked.

In addition, David Thomson, general manager, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, which recently won a prestigious World Travel Award in the category of ‘World’s Leading Family Resort’, further agreed that the key in attracting families lies in the diverse offering. “Each time we make improvements, family needs are at the forefront of our minds and largely impact our decisions. As we have upgraded areas of the resort, we have done so in a family friendly manner, introducing facilities that set us apart from other properties.”  FEBRUARY 2012

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WHO'S MOVED

SHAUN PARSONS Shaun Parsons has been appointed general manager of Le Royal Méridien, Abu Dhabi. Parsons, an Austrialian hotelier, who brings with him two decades of knowledge in the hospitality industry, spent 15 years with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in the Asia Pacific region before moving to Starwood Hotels & Resorts to join the executive and opening teams of The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina in

2006, as executive assistant manager of food and beverage, as well as complex hotel manager. He was also part of the opening team of The Westin Dubai in 2008. In his new role, Parsons will be heading the revamping of the five-star property’s main tower as well as the food and beverage operations with the upgrade of the existing outlets as well as the opening of new ones, with the aim of retaining the hotel’s leading position in the market.

MARK WILLIS Mark Willis has been promoted to area vice president, Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa at The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Willis started in the industry holding executive chef positions, before taking on his first Middle East assignment as food and beverage manager in the UAE. Since joining The Rezidor Hotel Group in 1998, he has held general manager positions in the UK, Norway and Bahrain. During his tenure in Norway, Willis also took over regional op-

erations responsibilities. He later subsequently held the role of district director for UK South before being appointed regional director for Radisson Blu and Hotel Missoni properties in the UK. In his new position, he is responsible for 46 managed hotels in the MENA region including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Libya, Egypt, and in Africa including Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

MOHAMED IBRAHIM Mohamed Ibrahim has been appointed general manager of Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars. Ibrahim, who brings with him 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, joined InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 2001, and has worked as general manager of a number of hotels in the US, including: Candlewood Suites, Dallas; Staybridge Suites, Houston; and Holiday Inn Express, El Paso Central, before joining IHG Citystars.

He most recently served as general

manager of Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars where he was in charge of the opening and launching of the first staybridge Suites hotel in the Middle East and Africa.

His experience and efforts pushed Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars' team to a great success and helped in positioning the hotel as the leading extended stay hotel in the city.

The 311-room Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars caters for both leisure and business travellers.

MARK GRIFFITHS Mark Griffiths has been appointed general manager of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait. Griffiths began his career as a management trainee at Tylney Hall Hotel, UK, before joining Le Méridien Piccadilly in London, in 1990.

During his 14-year tenure with Le Méridien hotels and resorts, he gained experience in various managerial roles in the UK, Thailand, and Indonesia, before becoming general manager of The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore. Griffiths,

who joins Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai holding, from Majid Al Futtaim, where he worked as vice president in asset management hospitality, brings with him a wealth of experience from a diverse environement having worked in three different continents.

He will be in charge of the preopening of the property, which is scheduled to welcome its first guests this year.

FEBRUARY 2012

RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Jean Luc Grillet Despite 2011 being a particularly challenging year for airlines, Emirates continued to expand its global network and recorded an increase in passenger numbers. Jean Luc Grillet, senior vice president, commercial operations, Africa, Emirates, talks about the past and the upcoming months.

Travel Trade Monthly: The global aviation industry in 2011 suffered huge losses in every aspect.

How did Emirates do overall for the year, in face of the global economic situation?

Travel Trade Monthly: On a more positive note, what are the airline’s plans for the current year to expand its services and boost its passenger numbers?

Jean Luc Grillet: Despite the challenges Emirates has worked hard throughout the year to adapt to the changing global environment. Our half-year results for the 2011-2012 financial year resulted in profits of USD225 million. Despite global economic uncertainty, Emirates remains one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, evident in our recent order for 50 Boeing 777’s made during the Dubai Airshow in November 2011.

Being open to competition, new ideas and most importantly the future, ensures that we stay ahead of the game. Knowing that we continue to delight our customers and motivate our employees is a true measure of our success. During 2010-2011, the airline carried 31.4 million passengers, an increase of 14.5 percent or four million passengers over the previous financial year. This was the highest number of travellers ever carried by Emirates in a single year.

Jean Luc Grillet: We now fly to 118 destinations across six continents and new services, connecting cities through Dubai, continue to be launched. In the current year, we have already started services to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Dublin. In addition we will also be launching Harare and Lusaka on February 1, Dallas on February 2, Seattle on March 1, Ho Chi Minh City on June 4, and Barcelona on July 3.

Jean Luc Grillet Senior vice president, commercial operations, Africa, Emirates

Travel Trade Monthly: Despite Gulf carriers recording a recent increase in passenger and capacity growth, as well as a gain in market share on certain routes, the global aviation industry has been warned for tough times ahead. How is Emirates bracing itself for this?

Jean Luc Grillet: Our pioneering spirit and ability to adapt in adverse conditions has always helped us to push through difficult times. We have always had our eyes wide open to the way the world is changing and been able to react and adapt accordingly.

Since the global financial crisis, there has been a marked shift in business travel movements from west to east. We have witnessed incredible growth throughout Asia, Africa as well as the Indian subcontinent and we continue to capitalise on this with the new links, additional frequencies and upgraded capacity.

With on-going aircraft deliveries, major recruitment drives and continuing investment, Emirates is optimistic that our growth will remain on course, despite the world's economic hurdles, regional disputes and the greatest threat to our bottom line, the price of oil.

FEBRUARY 2012

these markets and are you targeting specific niche segments from this region?

Jean Luc Grillet: In the example of Venice, we identified that there was clearly a need for another daily service and we helped satisfy that demand, by going double daily from March 25.

After gradually building up services to Germany since 1987, Emirates responded to strong demand by bringing its flagship A380 aircraft to one of its most important markets on November 24, 2011, adding much-needed seat capacity and stimulating further tourism and trade between Germany, the UAE and beyond.

In addition, Emirates will add an additional five weekly flights to Paris by the end of this year. The increase in flights is in direct response to strong passenger demand on the route.

Emirates also underlined its commitment to Scotland with plans to introduce a second daily non-stop flight to Glasgow, commencing June 1. The airline, which started flying to Venice in July 2007, will also go double daily from March 25.

Dublin was the third new route added to Emirates’ route network in the opening days of the year as the airline forges forward with its global expansion.

In addition, Emirates recently added Barcelona as an upcoming destination, with services slated to begin on July 3.

Travel Trade Monthly: Emirates is widely known for its value-added services and top-quality features which attract a lot of passengers from the luxury segment. How did this market do during 2011 and what are your projections for the future?

Emirates’ fleet is one of the youngest in the skies, with an average age of 79 months. The airline continuously replaces old aircraft with newer ones and has frequently been the first to sign up for new developments in aviation design and technology. The airline currently operates 169 aircraft in its rapidly growing fleet; a mix of 161 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft along with eight freighters. Throughout the current financial year, we expect around two aircraft per month to be delivered, both A380s and 777s.

Travel Trade Monthly: Emirates recently added flights to a few European destinations such as Munich and Venice. How positive do you feel about

Jean Luc Grillet: As you would expect from a highly decorated carrier like Emirates, we are renowned for leading the industry in setting new standards for service, comfort and luxury. Our many notable industry firsts have included private first-class suites and personal entertainment systems in all seats. Emirates’ ice system is unparalleled in the industry. In addition to showing the latest blockbusters, the 1200 channels features music of all genres and generations, up to 100 video games, as well as up to 450 TV shows. Customers can also make and receive phone calls, e-mails and text messages via the seat-back communications service on all Emirates flights.

senio com Afric

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NEWS & EVENTS

Discussing Travel Management Decisions

Berlin

Experts from various countries will be gathering at the ITB Berlin Business Travel Forum, set to take place from March 7 to 9, which will see a list of hot topics in this year's programme including influential factors in travel management decisions, the growing number of medium-sized corporations, and its challenges, as well as travel safety.

Ron DiLeo, executive director, Association of Corporate Travel Executives, will moderate a panel with high-ranking participants to discuss the ways in which changes affecting the overall situation in politics, society, and the economy, are influencing travel management decisions.

Moreover, leading figures from a variety of sectors will attend a discussion entitled ‘Small is beautiful’ to debate success factors and talk about individual challenges of medium-sized companies which cater to the business travel segment as they steadily find their market niche.

In addition, in a bid to firmly focus senior executives’ attention on the topic of the business travel market, travel management companies will be attending a presentation by the The ITB Berlin Business Travel Business Travel Committee of the German Forum, set to take place from Travel Association entitled ‘Business Travel March 7 to 9, will see a list of hot a management issue.’ topics in this year's programme The topic of travel safety is also becomincluding influential factors in ing more important, which, in the case travel management decisions, the of international companies, forms part of growing number of medium-sized their risk management, and Hans Jürgen corporations, and its challenges, Stephan, managing director, Control Risks as well as travel safety Deutschland will be talking about existing strategies and instruments.

EVENTS

Sponsored by

Travel Technology Europe London, UK, February 7 – 8, 2012 (www.traveltechnologyshow.com) Europe’s leading annual travel technology event that connects the travel industry with market-leading technology solution providers.

ITB Berlin Berlin, Germany, March 7 – 11, 2012 (www.itb-berlin.de) The world’s leading travel trade show. A platform for trade visitors to have the opportunity to meet business partners and to do business.

EMITT Istanbul, Turkey, February 9 – 12, 2012 (www.emittistanbul.com) Hailed the world's fifth biggest fair, East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition, hosts tourism professionals and vacationers the world over.

MITT Moscow, Russia, March 21 – 24, 2012 (www.mitt.ru) With over 3,000 participating companies and 185 destinations, this is a key meeting and networking place in Russia for the travel industry.

SATTE New Delhi, India, February 10 – 12, 2012 (www.satte.in) India’s leading business-to-business travel and tourism event with more than 6,000 travel agents and tour operators from all over country and its neighbouring markets.

GIBTM Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 26 – 28, 2012 (www.gibtm.com) The leading event for business travel in the GCC region, unlocking business potential within the Middle East for all professionals.

FEBRUARY 2012