07 APRIL 2012
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ISSUE 126
07 APRIL 2012
ISSUE 126
Accor to Open a MGallery Hotel in Doha Accor and Msheireb Hospitality are to develop and manage a MGallery hotel in Doha.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has unveiled The St. Regis Doha; the group's latest property in the Middle East.
09 Meetings & Events by Radisson Blu
11 IN THIS ISSUE RENDEZVOUS MARKET UPDATE WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION AIR NEWS WHO'S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENT'S CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS
02 04 05 09 32 35 36 37 38 39 40
St. Regis Debuts in Qatar
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with Gilles Longuet Scheduled to welcome its first guests in the coming weeks, Meliá Dubai is set to bring Spanish and Latin flair to the Middle East, according to Gilles Longuet, general manager, Meliá Dubai, who spoke to Travel Trade Weekly about the company’s foray into the region.
Travel Trade Weekly: Designed to meet and exceed the demands of both business and leisure travellers, Meliá Dubai will boast an array of facilities and services. How will you position the new property? Gilles Longuet: The new Meliá Dubai will be the first Spanish hotel in Dubai and the entire GCC region. The property is located in the heart of the historical Bur Dubai, only 15km away from Dubai International Airport, 10 minutes away from the Dubai World Trade Centre, and within walking distance to the main commercial and shopping districts. Meliá Dubai will be a five-star boutique hotel with 164 contemporary rooms and suites, offering a wide variety of restaurants including two signature restaurants, a branded 1,000m2 YHI Spa, meeting facilities, and much more. The hotel is designed to welcome both business and leisure travellers, and will truly be an urban oasis with a twist.
the UAE by the end of this year. With Meliá being a Spanish hotel chain, we will of course target this market as well with the help of our various global sales offices in Spain and across Europe. Also the Asian market continues to grow year-on-year with a lot of tourism mainly from India, Hong Kong, and China. Whilst the travellers are very rate conscious, we are mainly targeting and attracting the high-end traveller, who is interested in luxury properties.
Gilles Longuet General manager, Meliá Dubai
Gilles Longuet: The new Meliá Dubai features a range of exclusive facilities and services that will make the guest experience a unique and sensorial journey from the moment they arrive in the hotel. As part of our “passion for service” standards, we welcome, connect, and surprise each one our guests creating a unique environment affecting the five senses of our customers. Whether for business or leisure we offer an innovative integrated service and product proposal to create unforgettable experiences that result from the passion and dedication of each one of our team members. Travel Trade Weekly: How do you think Dubai’s hospitality industry and Meliá Dubai will perform in the coming months?
Travel Trade Weekly: Besides the GCC region, newly emerging markets are also increasingly contributing to Dubai’s hospitality performance. Which markets will you target? Gilles Longuet: Europe continues to be the main feeder market for the UAE and especially for Dubai. The high security and stability of the country continues to attract the leisure market to Dubai. Whilst Germany, UK, and France continue with the inflow of travellers, Spain is a new emerging market, and the daily Emirates flight into this country has boosted tourism as well as corporations to open offices in the UAE. The Spanish Commercial Office has projected 200 Spanish companies to be established in
Travel Trade Weekly: The soon-to-open Meliá Dubai prides itself on welcoming and treating guests in a whole new and distinguishable way. How do you plan on standing out from the rest in the emirate?
Meliá Dubai will truly be an urban oasis with a twist
Gilles Longuet: Dubai has a lot to offer for each kind of traveller, whether business traveller or tourist; the variety in offerings is very large. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is constantly keeping up with the new demands in the travel industry, which makes Dubai a prime destination within the GCC for both corporate and leisure travellers. Despite all the new hotel rooms supply in Dubai that has come up recently, and all the new additions in the near future, Dubai will surely and hopefully continue to be the prime city for any exhibition, event, for business and leisure travellers.
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
RJ: Strong Passenger Volume Increase Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) reported a robust 24 percent increase in passenger volume for February, over the corresponding month in 2011, having carried a total of 240,000 passengers.
JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou
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SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess 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
MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of
05/04/2012 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
1.52
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.48
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
12,283.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.78
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
74.33
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.25
eanwhile, the number of departures and flying hours rose 9.3 percent and seat factor increased by 7.5 percent, to reach 70 percent. This remarkable improvement underscores the success of the airline’s promotional plan and strategy aimed at increasing sales and enhancing revenues, while reducing overall costs, according to Hussein Dabbas, CEO, RJ, who added that the airline is exerting much effort to attract more passengers and support transit flights by constantly improving its services. To mitigate the harsh impacts faced in the regional and global aviation industry, including the soaring fuel prices, RJ recently
Royal Jordanian Airlines
suspended operations to a number of destinations and adopted a strategy which saw the airline seize capital purchases and employment, with a clear policy to control costs without affecting the carrier's overall operations.
Travelport: Rising Net Revenue Travelport closed 2011 with a net revenue of over USD2 billion, marking a healthy year-on-year growth of two percent. Operating income for the full year totalled USD200 million, compared with USD274 million in 2010, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was USD427 million, representing a 12 percent year-on-year improvement. Adjusted EBIDTA rose seven percent, reaching USD507 million. Travelport’s post end-of-year highlights included an expansion of groundbreaking hotel booking engine content, the launch of mobile itinerary application for smartphones, and a significant extension of its geographic footprint in Africa. Meanwhile, the fourth quarter of 2011 saw the company improve segment volumes with a strengthened performance particularly in the Americas, Middle East, and Africa. Commenting on the figures, Gordon Wilson, president, Travelport, said, “2011 financial results were in line with expectations. Total transaction value for air travel and hotel sales was six percent higher, at USD83 billion, and we launched and deployed four significant, innovative new products designed around our new technology platform. We are making excellent progress on our strategic plan, delivering the broadest possible travel content for suppliers and travel agency customers to buy, sell, and promote.”
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WEEKLY NEWS Dollar Rent A Car Increases Oman Operations Dollar Rent A Car is to step up business activities in Oman, which include the addition of two new outlets in prime locations in the capital city, including one at Muscat International Airport. Other upcoming developments will see the car rental company increase its fleet size by 18 percent and upgrade it by introducing this year’s models. Heading the company’s expansion in the Omani market is Ashraf Jallad, newly appointed manager, Dollar Rent A Car. “Delivering results in a timely manner is essential to capture the fast growing business of the tourism industry in Oman. We have aligned our plans alongside the government’s activities to promote tourism in Muscat and expect to build a sustainable client base of leisure and business tourists. Most of our business comes from Middle East travellers who can easily rent a car and are excited to venture out from the city to enjoy the Sultanate,” he concluded.
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MSC Cruises Teams Up with Football Clubs MSC Cruises is to launch two unique football themed cruises in partnership with AC Milan and SSC Napoli. As a sponsor of both Italian football clubs, MSC Cruises is committed to mutual promotion both domestically and locally, hence Rossoneri Cruise dedicated to AC Milan supporters and Blue Cruise offered to SSC Napoli fans, will form part of a series of initiatives proposed by the cruise line and the world famous clubs. Departing on June 2 from Genoa, MSC Splendida will turn red and black for an eight-day and seven-night Mediterranean cruise, while SSC Napoli’s eight-day and seven-night cruise onboard MSC Fantasia, will depart on May 28 from Naples. The cruises will give fans the opportunity to spend time with their favourite players and the call at Barcelona will also offer fans a visit to the legendary Camp Nou stadium.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Seychelles Chosen for Routes Event Seychelles Tourism Board has officially been signed as the host for the seventh annual Routes Africa event, which will take place from July 8 – 10 in the country’s capital, Victoria. The tourism board will be working in partnership with Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority to deliver the event, which is set to welcome some 150 delegates, 30 airline network planners, and route development professionals from across the continent, the
Middle East, and beyond. Both expressing delight for the new host and its people, Katie Bland, future hosts director, Routes, and Elsia Grandcourt, CEO, Seychelles Tourism Board, attributed the promising success of this upcoming event to the passion of the tourism board's team alongside their commitment and professionalism, combined with the suite of excellent facilities available and the country’s stunning backdrop.
Al Majaz Waterfront Launched in Sharjah Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has inaugurated the Al Majaz Waterfront project, the authority’s latest and largest tourism destination in Sharjah. Situated in the emirate’s most burgeoning district and linked to Khalid Lagoon, the new attraction is expected to bring in a large number of residents, visitors, and tourists. “Through this new project, the authority has established a unique tourism and leisure destination to meet the entertaining and social requirements of Sharjah’s residents and visitors, from inside the country and abroad, and to provide the entertaining, sporting, and artistic facilities for all members of family in one site,” highlighted H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq. The project, which is valued at AED120 million (USD32.7 million) and spans over 21,460m2, boasts a number of entertaining facilities such as a musical fountain, a number of restaurants and cafés, special areas dedicated to children, green spaces, a mosque, as well as covered areas for entertainment and cultural activities.
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Accommodation
WEEKLY NEWS
Real Madrid to Open UAE Resort Island Real Madrid and the government of Ras Al Khaimah have revealed plans to open Real Madrid Resort Island, scheduled to welcome its first visitors in January 2015.
H
ailed as the first theme park on an artificial island, as well as the world’s very first recreational tourism complex built under the Read Madrid trademark, the USD1 billion project will comprise the first stadium open to the sea, a Real Madrid museum, numerous sports facilities, a sport port, a residential area, and a number of luxury hotels, extending Real Madrid’s legacy in the region while offering tourists and residents alike an exceptional experience. “Real Madrid Resort Island will be a sports touristic complex of the highest level, covering some 500,000 m2 in which tourism and sport will seduce millions of people in search of quality leisurely activities,” Florentino Perez, president, Real Madrid, said.
Accor to Open a MGallery Hotel in Doha Accor and Msheireb Hospitality are to develop and manage a 215-room MGallery hotel in the prestigious area of Msheireb Downtown Doha, scheduled to open in 2015. According to Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, CEO, Msheireb Hospitality, the property will create a modern interpretation of Qatari heritage and hospitality, which fits very well with the group’s strategy to introduce innovative and integrated products. This will, in turn, contribute to the broader vision of the country and support the tourism industry's aim to promote Qatar as an international tourist destination. Jean-Jacques Dessors, chief operating officer, Africa, Middle East, Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean islands, Accor, added, “Based on Qatar’s extremely high potential for hospitality and tourism, Doha appears as a priority market for the development of the Accor hotels network in the Middle East.” The hotel will also feature extensive meeting facilities, an exclusive spa, an outdoor pool, a number of food and beverage outlets, as well as terraces overlooking the Msheireb district and the Souq Waqif.
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Real Madrid Resort Island
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
HMH and Cleartrip Collaborate Dubai-based Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), a fast growing, fully-integrated hotel management and development company with operations across the Middle East and Africa, has signed a deal with Cleartrip, one of UAE’s leading travel portals. Welcoming the partnership, Girma Wossenseged, vice president, e-commerce development, HMH, said, “IT and online booking are the future, and our current total of 35 – 40 percent online bookings will continue to see an upward trend. This strategic alliance will ensure our hotels reach the length and breadth of the Middle East through Cleartrip’s well-entrenched reach and network.” In addition, Wossenseged expressed confidence in the future of HMH’s growing Indian clientele through the agreement with Cleartrip. “Our alliance will help us take advantage of the rapidly expanding and lucrative travel sector in India, which is expected to grow to over USD20 billion in the current year,” she commented.
Hues Boutique Hotel Opens Offering a whole different concept in luxury travelling, Hues Boutique Hotel has officially opened its doors in Dubai. The hotel celebrated its grand opening with a majestic ceremony overwhelmed with exuberance and an original ambiance. While enjoying the music and various acrobatic acts, guests had the chance to explore the rooms and public areas of the hotel, including the lounge and the pool. Located in Deira, the property stands out with its uniqueness in design, portraying a wide array of colours creating a different ambience on each floor, which feature a palette of five types of rooms, two of which can accommodate families with a choice of two or three connecting rooms. In addition, the new hotel caters to the leisure and corporate traveller boasting a variety of food and beverage outlets, meet and greet facilities, and a spa.
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Accommodation
St. Regis Debuts in Qatar Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has unveiled The St. Regis Doha; the group's latest property in the Middle East. As part of the new waterfront, Al Gassar Resort development, the property is located between the capital city’s cultural heritage sites and emerging commercial hub. Besides 336 guest rooms, including 70 suites and two presidential suites, The St. Regis Doha features 10 culinary outlets, the region’s first Remède Spa, a jazz club, a fitness centre, swimming pool, a private beach, and 4,000m2 of state-of-the-art meeting space including a ballroom. Omar Al Fardan, president, Resorts Development Company and Alfardan Group, the owning company, expressed, “As the centrepiece of Al Gassar Resort, The St. Regis Doha perfectly complements the development’s unmatched luxury, sophistication, and elegance as one of the world’s leading luxury hotels.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Mandarin Oriental to Debut in Marrakech Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a long-term agreement to manage Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, slated for opening in 2014. The luxury resort will offer an exclusive retreat spanning some 200,000m2, featuring 54 individual villas, each housed in 300m2 of private walled gardens. The main building is set to provide a further seven expansive suites, five innovative restaurants and bars, a ballroom, a 1,800m2 spa, a fitness centre, and an indoor swimming pool. Commenting on the hospitality company’s debut in Morocco, Edouard Ettedgui, group CEO, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said, “Marrakech has established itself as an important leisure destination for the international luxury traveller and this exclusive hideaway provides the group with a fantastic opportunity to extend our brand to this culturally diverse location.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
Increased Services to Aden Gulf Air has increased its flights to Aden, Yemen, from Bahrain from two to three times weekly. “One of Gulf Air’s key business objectives is to connect key primary and secondary markets in the region with flexible and convenient flight options for business and religious travellers as well as tourists. With three weekly flights between Bahrain and Aden, customers can take advantage of our fast and easy connections via Bahrain to our vast GCC and MENA network,” Samer Majali, CEO, Gulf Air, commented. “As the fast-growing commercial capital of Yemen, and a city that has been included in the Yemeni government’s development priorities, Aden presents enormous commercial opportunity. As such, we expect to see continuing strong demand on our Aden route,” Majali concluded.
Air Arabia Steps up Dammam Services Air Arabia has launched an additional flight to Dammam, bringing the total number of daily services operated between the carrier’s Sharjah hub and the Saudi city to three. “The Kingdom remains an important market for Air Arabia and we are proud to see Dammam services increased to three daily frequencies. Driven by commercial needs, Air Arabia will continue to further expand its network in the kingdom and the region providing customers with a wider choice for value air travel,” stressed Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia.
Boosting Loyalty towards Pakistan Emirates has strengthened its commitment to Pakistan by announcing the addition of a fifth daily flight to and from the city of Karachi, effective from August 1. Commenting positively on Emirates’ growing presence in Emirates the country, particularly in the northern region, Badr Abbas, vice president, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Emirates, said, “We are proud to announce a fifth daily flight to Karachi in a move to better serve our Pakistani passengers and strengthen the historic relationship between Pakistan and UAE.” Starting August, Emirates will be operating 54 weekly flights to and from four cities in Pakistan, namely Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, of which two frequencies are subject to government approval. Karachi is known as the financial capital of Pakistan and the additional flight is also set to boost economic activity by providing increased cargo capacity for popular Pakistani exports to many destinations on Emirates' global network.
Etihad Airways Partners with Abercrombie & Kent Etihad Airways has forged a new strategic partnership with Abercrombie & Kent to offer travellers luxury experiences in 50 destinations worldwide. “This exciting new partnership combines the best of both worlds, uniting the world’s leading airline with the leading bespoke travel company to offer exceptional services to the discerning traveller,” Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, commented. “With this new alliance, Abu Dhabi will be featured as an exciting new destination for Abercrombie & Kent clients. This is yet another testament to the emergence of the emirate as a luxury and adventure travel destination.” Geoffrey Kent, CEO, Abercrombie & Kent, expressed similar sentiments, “We share a common vision with Etihad Airways: a commitment to excellence and personalised service. Our guests are experience seekers; educated, active, accomplished connoisseurs, who enjoy the good life and insist on the best the world has to offer.”
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Air News
EGYPTAIR Partners with Air Canada EGYPTAIR has concluded a free sale codeshare agreement with Air Canada which comes in line with the Egyptian airline’s strategy to provide convenient flights to North America via its services in Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, EGYPTAIR will place its code on Air Canada’s flights operated between Cairo and Toronto via London, as well as on services offered between Cairo and Montreal via London. Simultaneously, Air Canada will place its code on EGYPTAIR’s flights between Toronto and Cairo, via London and Frankfurt, as well as between Montreal and Cairo via London and Frankfurt. “Expanding our network in the North American continent through signing more codeshare agreements, inaugurating new routes, and increasing frequencies, comes within EGYPTAIR strategy of expansion,” indicated Hossam Kamal, CEO, EGYPTAIR Holding, adding that the carrier’s long term strategy aims at encouraging tourism volume from the North American continent to Egypt, which has become a premium travel destination for Canada’s national airline.
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Saudi Arabian Airlines Strengthens Kenyan Ties Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, covering the Nairobi – Jeddah route. Launched in October 2011, Kenya Airways’ service has fast proven popular among travellers from both destinations, with the traffic driven by cultural and religious events, such as the annual Muslim pilgrimage. According to Titus Naikuni, group managing director, Kenya Airways, the arrangement marks the first step in the African carrier’s strategy to establish a strong longterm relationship with Saudi Arabian Airlines, which will formally join the SkyTeam Alliance in May. “The codesharing partnership will complement the two weekly flights by Saudi Arabian Airlines between Jeddah and Nairobi,” he said. Besides a sharp increase in tourism volume, bilateral trade links between Saudi Arabia and Kenya has also grown stronger with more traders travelling between the two countries.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
Bahrain Air Becomes IATA Member Bahrain Air has announced its full membership of International Air Transport Association (IATA) after having recently fulfilled all the required operational and safety standards necessary to qualify for the certificate and renewing its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Richard Nuttall, CEO, Bahrain Air, attributed the achievement to the team’s hard work. “The path to qualify for IATA membership is highly demanding and requires dedication and discipline. Membership of IATA will allow us to build on our distribution and to work with other IATA carriers to provide better connectivity to, from, and over Bahrain.” Furthermore, Majdi Sabri, regional vice president, Middle East and North Africa, IATA, said, “Being an IATA member not only confirms that Bahrain Air conforms to the highest safety standards; it also gives the airline the opportunity, through IATA's activities, to benefit from the latest industry best practices.”
Etihad Airways Lands in Kenya Etihad Airways has launched scheduled flights to Kenya, marking the airline’s foray into East Africa and reconsolidating its presence in the continent. “We are delighted to introduce Etihad Airways to East Africa,” James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, said, adding that this year will see considerable growth for the carrier across Africa as a whole. “In particular, this new route services the considerable and growing flow of people and capital between Kenya and North Asia, with major Chinese investment in Africa generating passenger demand in both directions,” he added. Etihad Airways, which began dedicated cargo services to Nairobi in March 2009, will soon further extend its reach in Africa upon introducing scheduled services to Nigeria in July.
Air Malta Re-brands Aircraft In a move to support Valetta’s bid to become European Capital of Culture (ECoC) 2018, Air Malta has rebranded one of its Airbus A320 aircraft. The design appearing on the aircraft’s fuselage, along with the slogan ‘Valetta European Capital of Culture 2018 Candidate City’, marks the first time that such a livery change has been performed at the airline. The ECoC initiative aims to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and provides a catalyst for the development and flourishing of quality artistic and cultural events and genres.
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WHO'S MOVED
Imran Sheik Imran Sheik has taken over the position of assistant director of sales and marketing at Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman. Sheik started off gaining sales and marketing experience at various renowned hotels in the UAE, including Coral Suites Ajman and Coral Suite Fujairah. He joined Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman
7 APRIL 2012
in 2010 as sales manager before being promoted to assistant director of sales and marketing. In his new role, he will assist the recently appointed director of sales and marketing in promoting and marketing the brand to fresh markets while at the same time maintaining its key partners.
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Wissam Khalek Wissam Khalek has joined the opening team of Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence as cluster director of sales and marketing, and is also in charge of Ramada Sharjah. With more than two decades of experience under his belt, Khalek has a proven track record of securing and building teams that outperform their competitors.
He started his career at Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) in 2007 and later had a two-year stint with Mรถvenpick Hotels & Resorts in Saudi Arabia. With his current return to CHI, he re-joins his former company in re-structuring and stabilising Ramada Sharjah, as well as working on the pre-opening of Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence.
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
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Samer Majali
Peter Mansourian
CEO, Gulf Air.
General manager, Grand Millennium Dubai.
"Customers have become more discerning and their travel preferences keep changing in tune with their business, social, and lifestyle developments. It is imperative therefore that we proactively and periodically assess the quality of service and products we offer them at every customer touch point on their journey. The opinions of our passengers provide a valuable insight allowing us to identify where we excel as well as areas for improvement.”
“The growing range of attractions in Dubai, including the Dubai Summer Surprises, is positioning Dubai as a massively popular family destination. Grand Millennium Dubai is launching the ‘Big Bundles of Enjoyment’ packages targeted mainly at families who would like to spend spectacular time together in Dubai to relax and enjoy. The packages include excursion tickets to Kidzania, Sega Republic, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Snow Park, and more.”
James Hogan President, Etihad Airways.
"The partnership with China Eastern Airlines will allow us to extend our reach into the dynamic Chinese travel market in a commercially viable and mutually beneficial way. It will allow both airlines to offer their customers greater choice in terms of destination, schedules, and practical benefits like reciprocal lounge access and the ability to earn and burn on each others' flights; so a win-win for the business and for travellers across our combined global networks.”
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: Syed Mahboob POSITION: Branch manager COMPANY: Global Holidays LOCATION: Abu Dhabi WEBSITE: www.holiday.ae Who are you? I am the branch manager of Global Holidays and have been in the business for 15 years. I am very passionate about the travel industry, having travelled worldwide, and also have good interpersonal skills and know various languages. Global Holidays is a vibrant, young, and exciting company, specialising in a wide range of travel and tourism related services and products. Established in 1999, Global Holidays has been a pioneer in various aspects of the travel and tourism industry in the UAE. With a strong focus on reaching across to its customers, Global Holidays has always worked towards establishing a strong bond both with its customers and service providers. The travel agent has thus focused on establishing long-term business relationships with its service providers to ensure the best of facilities and prices to its customers. What is your favourite thing about working in this industry? To be able to travel around the world and to meet people from various cultural backgrounds. When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi? The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is between November and April. The weather is at its kindest at this time. The rest of the year is so hot that you are likely to seek air-conditioned environment like your life depends on it, and it sure does. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I would like to travel Austria and Germany for my next holiday. Why should people come to you for travel advice? We are highly reliable and have very experienced travel consultants, clubbed with years of experience. Additionally, we are multi-lingual and come up with the best packages in town.
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Sabre Travel Network’s New App Sabre Travel Network has opened the virtual doors to its Sabre Red App Centre, the world’s first B2B online application store for the travel industry. The Sabre Red App Centre is the first online marketplace to connect travel buyers including travel agencies, travel management companies, and leisure operators, with application providers from around the world. Travel buyers can now access the Sabre Red App Centre and shop more than 60 Red Apps currently in the marketplace. The Red Apps is available in the agent’s Sabre Red Workspace, which is used to shop, book and manage travel. Commenting on the launch, Chris Kroeger, senior vice president, marketing, Sabre Travel Network, said, “By creating this new marketplace, our customers can now easily shop for, purchase, and install specialised applications that further enhance and customise the Red Workspace to meet their individual business needs.” Features of Red App include Quick Trip Quote, The Event Finder, Flight Explorer Express Edition, Carbon Emission Calculator, and a To Do List, bringing an easy-to-use application into the agents’ Workspace, helping them to keep track of action items such as customer calls, emails, and deadlines.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS Etihad Airways Goes Organic
Etihad Airways has entered into an exclusive partnership with Abu Dhabi Organics Farms, the first internationally certified organic farming initiative in the UAE, to supply fresh organic produce for its in-flight first class dining menus. The airline will be sourcing fresh organic produce daily from the expansive farm whose production is said to meet highest international quality standards and follows best practice of sustainable farming. Etihad Airways’ first class chefs will begin to incorporate these fresh ingredients in their onboard service with plans to soon launch the farm-to-table concept across all cabin classes. Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, highlighted the airline’s dedication to partnering with local companies in a bid to support organisations such as the Abu Dhabi Organics Farms as part of its ‘Product of the UAE’ initiative to bring local products to the world and offer the very best in the air.
Thailand Festival Promoted to Middle East Residents The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the annual Songkran Festival as one of its four major cultural events to be specifically promoted to residents of the Middle East. The festival, which takes place every year from April 13 – 15, celebrates the traditional Thai New Year and was a time to visit and pay respect to elders, including family members, friends, and neighbours, however, its most modern form of celebration is the throwing of water; a symbol of washing away all of the bad, and wecoming a clean start to the New Year. Wisoot Buachoom, director, TAT, Dubai and Middle East office, commented, “Festivities are the seventh wonder of Amazing Thailand, and the Songkran Festival is one of four festivals that we have highlighted as a must-experience event for visitors from the Middle East.”
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Mark Willis Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group started the year with a number of exciting announcements in line with the company’s ambitious expansion plans. Mark Willis, area vice president, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, talks about the latest initiatives and their impact on the group’s regional operation.
Travel Trade Weekly: The Rezidor Hotel Group and Carlson recently established the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, after growing together for over 17 year, with the aim of generating additional revenue and achieving a significant RevPAR Index increase. What role do you think will the Middle East play in this development? Mark Willis: Revenue generation is indeed one of the main focuses for the company as a whole and in the region. Increasing probability both in absolute terms and relative to the industry is all part of the company’s Route 2015 plan. Here, in the Middle East, we are confident that we will be able to improve our underlying margins in the next few years whilst continuing to put a strong emphasis on revenue generation and by further enhancing our synergies with Carlson, which will continue to get stronger and benefit both parties. Travel Trade Weekly: The group earlier this year announced two new properties in Qatar, namely Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha, and Hotel Missoni, Doha. What makes Qatar an ideal destination for further expansion and will the company’s focus remain on the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Mark Willis: Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world and its public sector is increasingly committed to position it as an attractive destination for tourism and business. This makes it an ideal destination for our brands as we would further contribute to such a strategy. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is a major attraction that renders Doha a focus for expansion but it is certainly not the only one.
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Mark Willis Area vice president, Middle East and SubSaharan Africa, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
We currently have over 15 hotels in our pipeline in the Middle East. Travel Trade Weekly: How did the hotel group’s properties perform in 2011, and what are your expectations for the coming months? Mark Willis: In regards to the Middle East, it was a ‘mixed bag’ in 2011. Our strongest markets were the UAE and Saudi Arabia. They performed extremely well, seeing double digit growth versus 2010. This is based on a combination of occupancy and average house rate. We are confident that this will continue into the current year. In regards to Tripoli, Bahrain, and Egypt, of course each one of these countries was affected by the Arab Spring. In Egypt, our hotels in Cairo and Alexandria continue to perform well due to their locations.
Like all the hotel chains, it is our resorts that have suffered, despite the resorts being further away from the political unrest. We will still feel the effects of the Arab Spring for some time to come. General safety and security concerns across Egypt, Tripoli, and Bahrain will continue to impact this year. We re-entered Tripoli in January and business is slowly returning, and as the only major hotel brand operating in the country the outlook is positive. Travel Trade Weekly: The group also recently announced an organisational optimisation that will see the company separate responsibilities for its core brands on an area vice president level. How will this initiative improve the group’s operation and efficiency in the Middle East? Mark Willis: The changes do not affect the MENA region as much as others as we currently have a small number of Park Inn properties in the region. I am responsible for the Radisson Blu and Hotel Missoni brands, and the Park Inn properties in the region report to a Park Inn specialist.
We are confident that we will be able to improve our underlying margins in the next few years
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NEWS & EVENTS
Piscine Middle East to Showcase Pool and Spa Innovations Organised by GL Events Exhibitions, the first edition of Piscine Middle East is slated to take place in Abu Dhabi between April 22 – 25. The inaugural show, dedicated to the swimming pool and spa industry in the Middle East, North Africa, and surrounding regions, is expected to attract approximately 60 leading international exhibitors and 2,000 visitors. Besides showcasing the latest innovation from the global pool sector, the event will also provide a platform to discuss opportunities, trends, and challenges faced in the region. An educational programme will be also held parallel to the show, offering a complete overview of the markets. “The exhibitors participating in Piscine Middle East form part of the world leaders,” commented Noemi Petit, show director, GL Events Exhibitions. “Their role is to assist local leaders by offering them the latest equipment and technologies on the market and by training them to use such equipment.”
GWIC 12 to Address Climate Change The Global Warming International Conference (GWIC 12), taking place between April 20 – 24 in London, carries the theme ‘Impacts of Global Warming on the Environment; Global Warming Policy and Markets’. The upcoming GWIC 12 aims to provide a platform to discuss future opportunities and challenges related to the design, development, and commercialisation of low carbon innovation, technologies, products, and services. The five-day event dedicated to new ideas and concepts, will offer a unique learning experience and networking space, where participants can attain knowledge and exchange ideas related to challenges imposed by climate change. The event will also include invited and refereed papers from academics, consultants, and other business functions, to name a few. Delegates from all over the world will come together to discuss a wide range of topics such as global warming, sustainable environment, carbon and greenhouse gas management, and business solutions.
EVENTS China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM) Beijing, China, April 18 – 20, 2012 (www.cottm.com) A business-to-business exhibition, which provides a platform for international tourism boards and travel services.
The Hotel Show Dubai, UAE, May 15 – 17, 2012 (www.thehotelshow.com) An exhibition providing a unique networking and sourcing platform within the region with over 14,800 professionals.
Arabian Hotel Investment Conference Dubai, UAE, April 28 – 30, 2012 (www.arabianconference.com) Bringing together regional leaders, this event includes discussions of key topics and challenges of the coming months.
IMEX Frankfurt, Germany, May 22 – 24, 2012 (www.imex-frankfurt.com) The show where the global meetings industry continues to do business while maximising connections and networking opportunities.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai, UAE, April 30 – May 2, 2012 (www.arabiantravelmarket.com) An event which unlocks business potential for tourism professionals, where worlwide destinations showcase their range of tourism products.
International Travel Expo (ITE) Hong Kong, June 14 – 17, 2012 (www.itehk.com) A travel fair with impressive profiles of international exhibitors, buyers, and regional trade visitors.
GTM Germany Travel Mart (GTM) Leipzig, Germany, May 13 – 15, 2012 (www.germany.travel) The largest incoming workshop in Germany where German providers can meet key buyers from the international travel industry.
Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) Beijing, China, June 15 – 17, 2012 (www.bitechina.com.cn) A mega tourism event that showcases destinations, tourism attractions, travel packages, products, and services
7 APRIL 2012