21 JANUARY 2012
ISSUE 115
21 JANUARY 2012
ISSUE 115
Iconic Cairo Hotel Gets a Facelift The landmark Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Towers and Casino is to re-open its doors this summer, following months of extensive renovation.
Coral Hotel Dhahran welcomed its first guests, following the soft opening of Hospitality Management Holdings’ 13th property.
06 Doubling Flights to Glasgow Emirates has further strengthened its commitment to Scotland with plans to introduce a second daily non-stop flight to Glasgow, commencing June 1.
07 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION AIR NEWS TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL WHO'S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENTS' CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS
02 04 05 07 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Coral Hotel Dhahran Celebrates Soft-Opening
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman: 28 Percent Occupancy Increase Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman ended 2011 on a high note after selling more than 100,000 room nights and registering a 28 percent growth in room occupancy
JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou SALES & MARKETING
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Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess Dominique Tennant WEB & LAYOUT Elina Pericleous 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
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
he hotel proved to be popular with business and leisure travellers from all over the world, with a total of 151 nationalities enjoying its facilities and high standard services. The majority of bookings were made by Indian guests followed by travellers from the US, Pakistan, Germany, Russia, and the GCC, while the Emirati families contributed to about seven percent of the total number. Commenting on the 504-room hotel’s performance, Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, said, “We are very proud of this result and we hope to continue the momentum this year and onwards. We have achieved this growth because of our effort to attract both corporate and leisure segments. We have upgraded our facilities, thus, we have seen a 49 percent increase in the leisure segment, apart from the corporate market that we serve.”
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman
By tapping into new markets and attending even more travel exhibitions in countries such as China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Germany, and the UK, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman aims to achieve more than 20 percent growth in profit this year.
Accurate as of
19/01/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
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
1.52
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.63
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
11,302.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
219.26
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
76.35
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.26
1USD=
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah on the Rise Coral Beach Resort Sharjah wrapped up 2011 with an impressive increase in revenue and occupancy. The 156-room deluxe resort experienced an average occupancy of 85 percent throughout 2011, according to Jean-Pierre Simon, regional general manager, Northern Emirates, Coral Hotels & Resorts. “While uncertainty about the global economy remains, we are delighted to report that in Sharjah, the good times are back with both leisure and tourist visitors continuing to flock to the emirate. Competitive rates plus a quality product and service are always a winning combination, and one that is the unique selling proposition of the Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah.” Meanwhile, the resort recorded an AED3 million (USD816,726) yearon-year increase in revenue in rooms, while the average room rate rose 10 percent over the 2010 levels.
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WEEKLY NEWS Qatar Awarded World’s Leading Business Travel Destination
Doha
Qatar proved to be the big winner of the World Travel Awards (WTA), scooping some of the most prestigious titles, at what has long been recognised worldwide as a leading and highly prominent event. Held in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), at Katara Cultural Village, the awards acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. With Doha being voted ‘World’s Leading Business Travel Destination’, Qatar Airways winning ‘World’s Leading Airline – Business Class’, Regency Travel & Tours named ‘World’s Leading Travel Agency’, and Aspire Zone collecting the title of ‘World’s Leading Sports Tourism Development Project”, Qatar’s flourishing tourism credentials have once again been lauded. Commenting on the achievements, Ahmed Al Nuaimi, chairman, QTA, said, “We are delighted to be honoured as the ‘World’s Leading Business Destination’ by our peers in the global hospitality industry. This is a great achievement and solidifies Qatar’s premier position as a great place to do business as well as one with first-class leisure, sporting, and cultural attractions. I also congratulate the winners from Qatar which all provide the highest levels of service and expertise, and this has been recognised by their industry peers.”
12 MENA Cities among the Top 100 Euromonitor International has released its latest Top City Destinations Rankings covering 100 of the world’s leading cities in terms of international tourist arrivals, which included 12 MENA destinations. Based on the results, Hong Kong, Singapore, and London, claimed the top three positions respectively, followed by Macau, Bangkok, Antalya, Kuala Lumpur, New York City, Paris, and Istanbul. Dubai, having received roughly 7.75 million visitors, was ranked 11th, while Mecca, at 6.12 million, claimed 12th spot, and Cairo, at 4.99 million, came in 18th position. Sharm El Sheikh welcomed some 2.56 million visitors, ranking 45th, while Damascus at 2.44 million, ranked 49th, Aleppo, with 2.12 million, ranked 56th, and Marrakech, at 2.03 million, ranked 58th. Abu Dhabi secured 81st position, having accommodated some 1.62 million tourists, while Riyadh came in at 85th position with 1.51 million visitors, Hurghada at 89th with 1.46 million visitors, Sharjah at 94th with 1.34 million visitors, and Algiers in at 96th position with some 1.31 million visitors.
Hotel Giants Launch Roomkey.com Room Key, a new venture owned by six of the world’s leading hotel companies has launched Roomkey.com, an innovative new online hotel search engine. Founded by Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotel Group, or their respective affiliates, and led by a highly professional management team, Roomkey.com provides a broad range of accurate information straight from the source. The search engine, which will initially focus on US travellers but will be shortly launched in Englishspeaking regions, enables consumers to search and book according to their preferences while offering greater flexibility, accuracy, and assurance. “Finding the right hotel is complex and, unlike booking a flight or reserving a car, it is a personal decision process; one which no one understands better than hoteliers,” John Davis III., CEO, Room Key, said, commenting on the website. “We believe Roomkey.com will provide consumers with an innovative resource that will give them unprecedented confidence in their booking all provided through a simple and flexible site experience.”
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Accommodation
WEEKLY NEWS
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Coral Hotel Dhahran Celebrates Soft-Opening Coral Hotel Dhahran has welcomed its first guests, following the soft opening of Hospitality Management Holdings’ (HMH) 13th property in Saudi Arabia.
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ocated in the heart of the eastern city’s business district, the 153-room hotel offers an ideal address for both corporate and leisure visitors, further consolidating the group’s network across the Kingdom, noted Michel Noblet, president, HMH. “With the launch of the flagship Coral Hotel Dhahran, we now have eight Coral hotels there, as well as our EWA Hotel Apartments and Corp Executive Hotels brands, and Saudi Arabia can lay claim to hosting nearly 40 percent of our total inventory.” Considering the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities’ (SCTA) ambitious plan to quadruple visitor numbers from 22 million
Coral Hotel Dhahran
to 88 million annually, the industry anticipates a rapidly increasing demand for superior accommodations. “There is a strong government focus on both business and leisure tourism,” added No-
Hilton Worldwide Signs Fourth Riyadh Hotel Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Obeikan Real Estate Development Company for the fourth Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Scheduled to open in 2014, the 210-key Hilton Riyadh King Fahd Road will complement the existing pipeline of Hilton Riyadh King Saud University, Hilton Riyadh King Saud University Residence, and Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residence in the capital city, all slated to welcome their first guests in 2013. Boasting a prime location at the hub of all commercial and administrative activity, and within close proximity to the King Khaled International Airport, the newbuild hotel will further accommodate the increasing demand for quality lodging facilities in the Kingdom, according to Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “We hope our presence will help the capital meet the growing demand for premium hotels with global expertise and local sensibilities,” he added. Hilton Worldwide currently has six hotels operating and 14 hotels in the development pipeline in the Kingdom.
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blet. “The strategy to break into the meetings and exhibitions market will benefit all hotel operators as the Kingdom looks to play host to a large numbers of events, while the new SCTA hotel classification system has supported demand for quality accommodation.” Besides a ladies-only floor, guests can take advantage of various food and beverage outlets, a fitness centre, and spacious conference facilities with four meeting rooms and a ballroom. “With stunning décor, a range of both business and leisure facilities, and a guarantee of five-star service levels, the Coral Hotel Dhahran will bring a new level of hospitality to the area,” concluded Rushdi Al Ashkar, general manager, Coral Hotel Dhahran.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Hotel Missoni to Debut in Mauritius Hotel Missoni, the luxury lifestyle brand of The Rezidor Hotel Group, is to add the exotic island of Mauritius to its portfolio in 2014. With its palm-fringed beaches and volcanic landscapes, Mauritius, which will become the 66th country where the company operates, presents a suitable fit for the brand, according to Kurt Ritter, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group. “Combining Missoni’s iconic design with the local culture influenced by Europe, Africa, and Asia, the hotel will be truly unique in Mauritius,” he added. Overlooking the village of Baie de Cap, Hotel Missoni Mauritius is set to boast 80 luxury suites and a selection of food and beverage outlets, including a beach-pool bar. Leisure facilities will comprise direct access to a 650m sandy beach, outdoor pools, a fitness area, including gym and tennis court, a kids club, and a 900m2 spa. In addition, business travellers will benefit from 235m2 of meeting space. Often referred to as the shooting star of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has established itself as an exclusive yearround destination. Tourist arrivals to the island reached some 935,000 in 2010, and the government aims to further increase the volume. “Having been passionate about Mauritius, an island of beauty and charm, its colourful culture and its wonderful population for over 30 years now, I am delighted to partner with Rezidor to bring a new kind of luxury hotel in Mauritius under the prestigious Missoni brand, which will surely be a great success and a new flagship premium quality hotel of the tourism industry in Mauritius”, expressed Gilles Bouigue, executive chairman, Bouigue Développement, owner of the property.
Accommodation
Second Courtyard by Marriott in Algeria Marriott International has announced the development of the 198-room Courtyard by Marriott Setif, Algeria, under management agreement with ownership group Prom-Bati. The hotel, which is set to open later this year, will be part of the Park Mall mixed-use development, located in the heart of Setif, the diverse city in central Algeria. “We chose Marriott International for its expertise as an operator of hotels around the world and for the strength of its brands,” commented Rachid Khenfri, president, Prom-Bati. Marriott International’s first hotel in Algeria, the Renaissance Tlemcen, opened in 2011, and in 2014 the company will operate four others in one complex including the Algiers Marriott, Algiers Marriott Executive Apartments, Courtyard by Marriott Algiers, and Residence Inn by Marriott Algiers, followed by the Courtyard by Marriott Setif. Ed Fuller, president, international lodging, Marriott International, stated, “We are thrilled by the continued expansion in Algeria and are excited that when this hotel opens in Setif, we will be represented in the country with six hotels and five brands.”
Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Towers and Casino Gets a Facelift The landmark Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Towers and Casino is to re-open its doors this summer, following months of extensive renovation. The iconic hotel, which temporarily closed its doors on October 1, 2011, will return with a sleek new look and upgraded facilities. The renovation initially began in 2010 and is hailed as one of the most comprehensive within an operating property. Upon re-opening, guests at the hotel, which originally opened in 1970, will enjoy 656 fully renovated rooms, nine upgraded restaurants and bars, a new entrance, a new façade, a fully-equipped business centre, and new ballrooms, as well as a health club and a lobby.
Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Towers and Casino
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Air News
WEEKLY NEWS
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Doubling Flights to Glasgow Emirates has further strengthened its commitment to Scotland with plans to introduce a second daily non-stop flight to Glasgow, commencing June 1.
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he announcement comes as a result of continued demand for Emirates’ service between Dubai and Glasgow, which began in 2004. The additional flight will increase Emirates’ capacity to Glasgow by 47 percent along with first-class cabins being available on both daily services, the first time this has been offered by a commercial airline operating into Scotland. Salem Obaidalla, senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates, commented on the upcoming service, “This announcement illustrates our commitment
to Scotland and to our wider UK route network in difficult economic times.” Emirates will depart daily from Glasgow at 21.30, arriving in Dubai at 08.00 the next day. In addition, the existing day-time flight is being upgraded to a three-class Boeing 777-300ER with eight first-class private suites, 42 lie-flat beds in business class, and 310 seats in economy class. “Our Glasgow route has been a real success story, and we are confident that there is demand for additional services flying to and from Dubai and beyond to our global network of over 100 destinations,” Obaidalla further commented.
flydubai Reaches 50th Destination flydubai is to add Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, as its 50th destination to its fast growing network. Starting February 7, the airline will operate two weekly services to the capital and the largest city of the country, further stretching its reach in Central Asia. The new flight will mark flydubai’s entry into the Kyrgyz Republic, and will make it the first UAE carrier to offer direct services between the two countries. “We are proud to launch our latest services, bringing our destinations in the former Soviet Union to 12,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, commented. “We are confident it will prove popular with people seeking alternative travel destinations.” flydubai has continuously expanded its network in the previously underserved region, and the Kyrgyz Republic, being an open economy to foreign investment and fast developing its tourism potential, is to offer people in the country a gateway to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and Africa.
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An Emirates Boeing 777 at Glasgow International Airport
This announcement illustrates our commitment to Scotland and to our wider UK route network
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
flydubai Futher Serving Saudi Arabia As of February 1, flydubai will operate three times a week to Taif, the airline’s seventh destination in Saudi Arabia, strengthening its commitment to the country and expanding its network across the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent, Asia, and central and Eastern Europe. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, commented, “We are grateful to the Saudi authorities for their continued support of flydubai. Taif marks our seventh destination in the Kingdom and is part of our
flydubai
Emirates Expands to Ireland Emirates has launched its new Dublin route, the third destination to be added to the airline’s network in 2012, as the carrier forges forward with its global expansion. Emirates serves the Irish capital daily departing Dubai at 07.00 and arriving at Dublin Airport at 11.30. The return flight departs Dublin at 12.55 and lands in Dubai at 00.25 the next day.
With a daily direct service between Dubai and Ireland, trade, tourism and relations between the two countries and beyond will continue to grow According to Tim Clark, president, Emirates, the launch is a tremendous development for both Irish business and tourism. “We are now connecting Ireland not only to Dubai, but also to over 100 destinations throughout the world. Solid early bookings have demonstrated that the demand is there, opening up new markets for passengers and cargo to and from the republic.” “With a daily direct service between Dubai and Ireland, trade, tourism and relations between the two countries and beyond will continue to grow,” noted Leo Varadkar, minister for transport, Tourism and Sport, Ireland.
strategy to connect the UAE to destinations previously under-served by direct air links. By continuing to identify emerging cities such as Taif, we hope to continue promoting new avenues for trade and commercial ties across our network.” The airline now flies twice daily to Damman and Riyadh, following increasing demand for services between Dubai and two of Saudi Arabia’s main business hubs. “Our daily flights to Riyadh and Dammam have seen overwhelming success with business and commercial travellers alike and these extra flights are a direct result of increasing consumer demand for direct, convenient, low-cost links to the Saudi capital and Eastern Province,” continued Al Ghaith.
Biman Airlines Increases Frequency to Abu Dhabi Biman Airlines, the national airline of Bangladesh, has stepped up its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Chittagong-Dhaka with the introduction of a fourth weekly scheduled flight. The carrier, which also operates one weekly service to Sylhet-Dhaka from Abu Dhabi, decided to introduce the additional flight in response to the growing demand for more flights to and from Bangladesh, and in a bid to provide business and leisure travellers with greater flexibility. “Biman is proud to announce the increase in flight frequency, which reflects our confidence in the Abu Dhabi market and the level of services which have been made available to us by Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC),” commented Dilip Kumar Chowdhury, regional manager, Biman Airlines, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. “Abu Dhabi is one of our most attractive destinations and we work closely with ADAC to expand our portfolio of services and ultimately meeting our customers’ needs.” Ahmed Al Haddabi, chief operating officer, ADAC, added, “The constant development of the airport’s airline partners out of Abu Dhabi International Airport is a clear indication of the level of growth that the emirate of Abu Dhabi is experiencing.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
International
Great Hotels of the World Increases the Number of its Members Great Hotels of the World is delighted to announce that a variety of new members from around the globe have been added to its Luxury and Premium Collections, namely in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Czech Republic, and Slovenia. Recently having entered the Great Hotels of the World – Luxury Collection, is Premier Le Rêve Hotel & Spa, Hurghada, Egypt, which features 113 rooms and suites boasting their own balcony or terrace, as well as four pools, 10 restaurants and bars, and a health centre. Additionally, the 42-room Archipelagos Mykonos Hotel, Mykonos, Greece, was also placed in the prestigious Luxury Collection. Meanwhile, Premier Romance Boutique Hotel, Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt, the newly built boutique hotel, was added to the Great Hotels of the World – Premium Collection. Located in a resort close to Hurghada, the hotel features 79 guestrooms and suites. Furthermore, the Premium Collection has also welcomed the Grand Hotel President Sorrento, Italy, overlooking the Gulf of Naples. The 37-key Hotel Olympia, Carlsbad, Czech Republic, and the 204-room City Hotel Ljubljana, Slovenia, have also been added to the collection.
Wyndham Hotel Group Eyes Indian Expansion Executive members of Wyndham Hotel Group recently embarked on a trip to India to explore further development opportunities in the country. The company, which currently operates 14 hotels in India with 15 more currently under development, has already outlined plans to launch the Howard Johnson brand in India, with 3,000 rooms across 35 new properties to be completed by 2017. The agreement with Indian firm, Unique Mercantile India, also includes the development of a new 120-room Ramada resort in Udaipur with the first 72 rooms of the property due to open in April, and the additional 48 rooms slated for completion by December 2014. “Given the rise in tourism, India is full of growth opportunities,” commented Eric Danziger, president, Wyndham Hotel Group. “We are happy to start the New Year with such exciting expansion plans and look forward to many more opportunities.”
IHG’s Newly Renovated Property InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) has announced the opening of the new Holiday Inn North Phoenix, which recently underwent a conversion from a Ramada Plaza hotel. The extensive USD4.5 million renovation includes a complete remodelling of the hotel, developed to be more efficient to build, operate, and maintain, and was part of the USD1 billion Holiday Inn re-launch, the largest project of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport and downtown Phoenix, the new hotel offers 256m2 of meeting space, a fitness centre, and an outdoor pool, along with a selection of bars and restaurants. The 174-room hotel, including eight suites, features a modern fresh design unique to the Holiday Inn brand, and is located ideally for business and leisure travellers alike. Gina LaBarre, vice president, brand management, the Americas, IHG, commented on the renovation, “We are thrilled to welcome this property to the Holiday Inn family of hotels with the brand new sign and everything it represents. Holiday Inn hotels are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travellers in need of a fullservice lodging experience, and this property fits well within that offering. Development in Phoenix is important in expanding our Holiday Inn consumer base and growing an even stronger presence across the Americas.”
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WHO'S MOVED
Alan Leibman
Fouad Shafik Fouad Shafik has been promoted to director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh. He joins Four Seasons’ planning committee and takes over new responsibilities after one year of exceptional contributions to the division. Shafik, who first joined the company in 2000, started his career at the front desk of Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, before moving to the sales
department. After gaining experience in Spain, Shafik rejoined Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Egypt, and has been involved in group travel, leisure travel, and European sales, before he was appointed director of sales at Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh in mid-2010. In his new role, he focuses on bringing newer, more inventive sales and marketing solutions to the business.
Alan Leibman has been appointed CEO of Kerzner International Holdings Limited. Prior to joining the company in 1994, he gained experience with The Ritz-Carlton where he was promoted to general manager at the age of 25. Since moving to Kerzner International Holdings Limited, he held various positions of strategic importance, including those of president
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 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,
21 JANUARY 2012
Willis also took over regional operations responsibilities. He later subsequently held the role of district director for UK South before being appointed regional director UK for the Radisson and Missoni properties. In his new position, he is responsible for 46 managed hotels in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, to name a few.
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and managing director of Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, and most recently regional president of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As CEO Leibman will lead the executive management team and will be working closely with the chairman of the company, on the overall corporate strategy and planned growth of the Atlantis and One&Only brands worldwide.
Wayne Pearce Wayne Pearce has been appointed CEO by the Board of Directors of Oman Air. Pearce joins the airline after holding various executive and planning positions at Qantas, as well as serving as chief strategy and planning officer at Etihad Airways. He also worked as group managing director at Gold Medal Travel, UK, the travel company whose portfolio
includes long haul holidays and city breaks across the globe. Pearce’s extensive expertise will further bolster Oman Air’s prospering and growth. He aims to ensure that the airline is recognised as a world-class carrier of choice for travel to and from Oman. Pearce replaces Peter Hill who held the position for three and half years.
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
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Kurt Ritter
Dan Cappell
President, The Rezidor Hotel Group.
Senior vice president, commercial, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).
“Over the last years, Rezidor has very rapidly grown to more than 400 hotels with 90,000 rooms in operation and under development in over 65 countries, and we continue to grow. An optimised organisation with clear responsibilities will improve our portfolio management. We aim to work in an efficient and profitable way, to be fast responding and quick decision making; and we want to reach our ambitious future goals.”
“Since the launch of the dedicated raffle draw [as part of the initiative to support the ‘Hand in Hand for Haiti’ foundation], passenger response has been fantastic and has exceeded our expectations. Passengers are keen to play a role in this great cause while at the same time entering the raffle draw for a chance to win. ADAC is glad to help provide schooling for children in Haiti through the foundation which is building a world-class educational facility in the country.”
Lars Geweyer
Jean-Pierre Simon
General manager, Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel.
Regional general manager, Northern Emirates, Coral Hotels & Resorts.
“We are delighted having been awarded with this prestigious [Green Globe Certificate for economic, social and environmental sustainability], which is testament to our ongoing commitment to quality standards and environmental friendly sustainability in our operations. Being the first hotel at the Red Sea coast to achieve this award clearly underlines our determination to set the benchmark in hospitality in the region.”
“We are seeing demand from both leisure and business guests for the very latest [exercise] equipment in order for them to continue their daily fitness routines while away from home, and the health club has become a necessity rather than a luxury in the modern-day hotel. With the best trainers, the best equipment, and the resort ambience, [the new fitness centre] will offer an exceptional environment for both in-house guests and club members.”
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, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT'S INSIGHT NAME: Elena Varianou Loucaidou POSITION: Owner COMPANY: Varianos Travel Agency LOCATION: Cyprus WEBSITE: www.varianostravel.com Who are you? I am Elena Varianou Loucaidou, owner of Varianos Travel Agency in Nicosia, Cyprus. Varianos Travel is a long established, family-owned travel agency business specialising in two areas. The first is organising ski and snowboard holidays to Lebanon, Bulgaria, and Italy. The second is offering tailor made travel arrangements for our neighbouring countries of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? What originally drew me to this profession was the opportunity to interact with other people; either clients or fellow travel agents. Also, the opportunity to see fascinating parts of our world, live experiences different to my daily life, and connect with people from other cultures. When is the best time to visit Cyprus? Any time is a good time to be here. There are a couple of periods though that are truly outstanding and Cyprus is at its best. My personal favourite is the April to May period when nature is in full bloom. The countryside’s colours are the brightest, and the weather is starting to warm up. Late summer to early autumn is also a great period to visit Cyprus. With crowds weaning and weather still comfortable for a day at the beach. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I have set my heart on visiting Sri Lanka again. It is an amazing place and would just love to spend more time exploring it. Why should people come to you for travel advice? We at Varianos Travel take great pride in being knowledgeable in all matters related to the services we specialise in, offering accurate advice to our customers. Giving value to our clients is more than a slogan for us and our many years of presence in competitive and changing markets are a testament to this.
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Amadeus Introduces Time Saving Package Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, has launched the Amadeus Hotel Optimisation Package, a complete set of services and technologies for large travel agencies and Travel Management Companies (TMCs) to increase competitiveness, grant efficient access to all relevant hotel content, and save valuable time for their travel counsellors. The Amadeus Hotel Optimisation Package portfolio of solutions is articulated under two areas: profit optimisation, which aims to help large travel agencies and TMCs save time and have more control over global hotel programmes; and content optimisation, which converts Amadeus into a one-stop-shop for hotel content. One of the most prominent solutions of the package is Amadeus Hotel Dynamic Saver, a powerful multi-Global Distribution System (GDS) Business Intelligence solution to help both large travel agencies and corporate travel managers maintain high savings standards and ensure hotel contract compliance. Another prominent solution is the integration of hotel aggregator content. Amadeus has a strong pipeline of hotel aggregators which are being integrated across all its travel agency point-of-sale solutions. Having this popular hotel content fully integrated into Amadeus saves time and money for travel agents and increases service levels for their clients. Amadeus LinkHotel is a customised fast-track service that enables quick and seamless integration of specific hotels that are requested by travel agencies and
their corporate customers but are currently not bookable on the GDS; another further prominent solution. Through this service, Amadeus already connects over six thousand hotels to the GDS universe for real-time reservations.
Current fragmented and labour-intensive processes across multiple hotel shopping systems are unsustainable both from a profit and customer service perspective Michael Merrithew, chairman, GSM Travel Management, commented, “We are working in partnership with Amadeus on LinkHotel, which delivers exactly the kind of content that our customers frequently need. Without this initiative, TMCs would have struggled to find smaller or independent hotels. With Amadeus, these hotels are actively sought out and added to the GDS” “Current fragmented and labour-intensive processes across multiple hotel shopping systems are unsustainable both from a profit and customer service perspective. Travel agents are in need of greater visibility and control to efficiently source and sell more hotel content from disparate, multiple sources,” commented Hugo Ehrnreich, head of hotel distribution, Amadeus.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
The Jet Business - Open for Business
M&I Forums: Impressive Growth, Further Expansion
The Jet Business, the world’s first corporate aviation showroom for business jet aircraft, is now open for appointments in London.
Meeting & Incentive (M&I) Forums, part of Big Worldwide, a global, privately-owned travel, technology, and media company headquartered in London, reported impressive growth in its business despite the unfavourable global economic climate. The event organiser announced a 26 percent surge over 2010 levels, and forecasts a further 35 percent growth for this year due to early bookings, which are already showing a promising 50 percent year-on-year increase. Over the last five years, M&I Forums experienced a 350 percent growth and the company outlined further expansion plans with new events in the calendar. “We are thrilled that we have achieved this growth during such challenging market conditions and we feel this speaks volumes about the industries’ impression of the M&I Forums,” commented Richard Barnes, managing director, M&I Forums, who further added, “The reason we have enjoyed such success is because our events provide an inspiring experience for the buyers and a great return on investment for the suppliers. That means that we attract the very best buyers and suppliers attend our forums, and at that level there is still so much MICE business being done. We are truly excited about our plans for the future and we intend to facilitate more business opportunities than ever.” The highly focused appointmentbased events this year will take place in China (February 8 – 10), US (May 29 – June 2), UK (June 21 – 22), Thailand (June 26 – June 30), Norway (July 3 – 7), Portugal (October 23 – 27), Hungary (November 18 – 22), and Australia (December 6 – 8).
ocated at the One Grosvenor Place, the showroom offers a fully immersive and educational experience, where experts and analysts help to plan the business jet sale or purchase in complete privacy. All under one roof, potential buyers can also be educated on the widest range of new or pre-owned business jets. With the focus on the upper end of the sector, the broad range of aircraft on offer include types from Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Hawker Beechcraft. “As well as inviting potential sellers and purchasers, it is equally as important for us to partner with the manufacturers and other corporate aviation vendors. As an independ-
ent buyer’s representative, we are completely impartial with our advice and provide a neutral environment,” noted Steve Varsano, managing director, The Jet Business, adding that the unique venture is planned to be rolled out in additional global locations. “There are many new buyers out there, from Asia and the Middle East, and the emerging markets,” he added.
The Jet Business
Dubai Airports Launches New Mobile Application Dubai Airports has unveiled a new mobile application, making the passengers’ journey through the airport more seamless than ever. myDXB allows anyone with an Apple or Android device to receive a broad spectrum of information on flights and gate numbers as well as way-finding to locate customer-facing services across the three terminals of Dubai International Airport. “The idea behind creating myDXB was to simply communicate the availability and location of commercial services to millions of passengers who pass through our terminals each month,” explained Eugene Barry, senior vice president, commercial unit, Dubai Airports. “The application is also a great way to plan ahead, enabling passengers to maximise their time with us, and direct them towards services from currency exchange to their favourite retail or food brands.” The new application underscores Dubai Airports’ commitment to make the passengers’ journey more convenient by incorporating innovative technologies and ideas that help them.
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar, general coordinator, Awafi Festival (ninth edition), Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), tells Travel Trade Weekly how one single event has fruitfully managed to lure a wide range of tourists from all walks of life to the emirate year on year, with even more positive forecasts on the horizon.
Travel Trade Weekly: What does Awafi Festival offer its visitors and how successful has it been so far? Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar: The Awafi Festival is a major tourist attraction that draws in thousands of people every year. It offers picturesque scenery, a dramatic sandy landscape, a fun ambiance, and pristine natural surroundings for visitors and tourists from various destinations to either relax or engage in exciting activities with their family. The festival has been achieving greater success year after year, with each edition witnessing increased visitors, new places, and new activities.
anticipated by Awafi fans every year; the exciting rally championship, for adventure seekers and enthusiasts; the bodybuilding tournament; and car exhibitions. These all cater to the youth as they are designed to entertain lively and energetic guests.
Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar General coordinator, Awafi Festival (ninth edition), Ras Al Khaimah
Travel Trade Weekly: Overall, who were the most popular tourists in terms of nationality, locality, leisure, business, and niche segments? Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar: The majority of visitors to this year’s Awafi Festival were tourists from the UAE and Gulf countries, as the event holds a strong regional appeal. The festival takes part during the annual academic spring break, so students have the chance to enjoy the various activities of the event while spending quality time with their families. Travel Trade Weekly: How did the festival cater to youths and families, and what was the most popular event or feature of all? Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar: The Awafi Festival has always focused on the youth and continues to include youth-related activities that satisfy all tastes, such as: the hill-climbing tournament, that is long-awaited and
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attracted to the festival. What activities were offered to these markets and which was the most popular? Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar: True, the ninth Awafi Festival did receive a lot of adventure seekers and professionals, to its rich agenda which was full of diverse activities. One of the highlights was the hill-climbing tournament, as aforementioned, which gathered a huge youthful audience, as well as the Guinness feat, and the rally race, which gathered a host of international champions. Moreover, we also hosted football and weight-lifting tournaments, and the classic and modified car exhibitions, among others. Travel Trade Weekly: What other initiatives were implemented to attract even more tourists to the Awafi region, through the event?
The festival also has a lot to offer women and young females such as the Heritage Village, which has been attracting huge public interest, and dancing shows, as well as the zoo, which has attracted thousands of visitors, since the opening, to its collection of rare and wild animals gathered from various places. The main highlight of 2011’s edition was the assembly of the world’s largest fleet of Toyota cars which gained entry into the Guinness World Records. Travel Trade Weekly: It is observed that many nature and adventure seekers were
Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar: As with the past years, the ninth edition offered several initiatives aimed at raising value and strengthening reputation. For one, it was broadened to include the entire emirate of Ras al Khaimah as evidenced by the organisation of a rowing race and the offering of various discounts by RAK-based malls throughout the event. The higher organising committee plans to lengthen the duration of future editions and extend their scope to include as many malls and stores as possible. More activities are being eyed to come up with a truly emirate-wide event that offers a strong heritage theme alongside challenging, exciting, and thrilling activities. With its world-class qualities, the Awafi Festival is sure to attract even more local and international tourists to its next editions.
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NEWS & EVENTS
CATHIC: Turkish Tourism Industry Flourishing
Jonathan Worsley
Ongoing developments and investment opportunities will be presented at the Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC), which will run from February 6 – 8, at Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey. With average daily rate (ADR) up to September 2011, recording a year-on-year growth of 34 percent, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) increasing 29 percent, the Turkish hospitality industry has been experiencing an exponential improvement. Reports also suggest that the country’s RevPAR has became one of the strongest in Europe, whilst Istanbul has established itself as the third fastest growing tourist destinations in terms of visitor numbers, surpassing New York and Amsterdam, and with most travellers arriving from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE, closely
followed by the US and Europe. With STR Global indicating that hotel infrastructure in Turkey has undergone profound development, with the addition of 1,868 hotel rooms since 2001, the country has evolved into a hotspot of the region driven by solid economic growth, according to Jonathan Worsley, chairman, Bench Events, coorganiser of CATHIC. “After a period of economic lull, Turkey is experiencing steady positive GDP growth. At the same time, the Turkish Lira’s flexibility against the Euro and USD is very reassuring to the overall hospitality industry.” The event will feature a cast of speakers from diverse sectors, ranging from regional and international hotel development and finance to hotel branding and operations.
EVENTS Horeca Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait, January 22 – 24, 2012 (www.horeca-kuwait.com) Operating under Leaders Group for Consulting & Development, this trade exhibition is a comprehensive event covering hospitality, catering, and food sectors in Kuwait and the GCC. Austrian and Central European Travel Business Vienna, Austria, January 22 – 24, 2012 (www.actb.eu) A tourist market place, industry meeting point, platform for generating new networks, initiating business deals, and reinforcing existing customer relations. Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC) Istanbul, Turkey, February 6 – 8, 2012 (www.cathic.com) An event with an interactive programme that allows attendees to identify hotspots for growth, exchange ideas, and develop their business.
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. 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 India and its neighbouring markets. Gujarat Travel Mart Ahmedabad, India, February 22 – 24, 2012 (www.gujarattravelmart.com) A showcase for stimulating travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries by brining together travel-trade professionals, hoteliers and other stakeholders both from India and abroad.
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