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01 SEPTEMBER 2012
ISSUE 147
Emirates to Resume Flights to Tripoli Emirates is to restart its operations to Tripoli from October 29, illustrating Libya’s importance in the airline’s global network.
Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park has opened its doors, marking the brand’s debut in Qatar.
08 Abu Dhabi Conducts Biggest-Ever Saudi Roadshow Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has spearheaded the emirate’s largest roadshow to date through three Saudi Arabian cities; Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam.
16 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE CAR RENTALS ACCOMMODATION AIR NEWS INTERNATIONAL WHO’S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENT’S CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS
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Crowne Plaza Hotel Opens in Qatar
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS
Starwood: Slight Drop Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide closed the second quarter (Q2) of the year with a net income of USD122 million compared with USD131 million in the corresponding period in 2011.
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Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Derek Lainsbury 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
ncome from continuing operations amounted to USD129 million, equivalent to a drop of USD21 million when compared with USD150 million earned in Q2 2011. Despite the unfavourable global economic climate, the company kept its momentum, emphasised Frits van Paasschen, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, who added, “Our RevPAR grew 6.9 percent with occupancy over a healthy 71 percent. Despite the uncertain global environment, we expect
the trends we saw in our business in the past quarter to continue through the second half of the year.” During the three-month period, the company signed 34 hotel management and franchise contracts, representing some 8,300 rooms. “Our approach to an uncertain global marketplace is to be both smart and bold,” he continued, pinpointing the great importance of having a business model, balance sheet, and cost structure that can weather economic turbulence.
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Ryanair: Passenger Volume Growth, Profit Decline
MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of
31/08/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
6.10
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
66.60
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.60
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.83
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
12,284.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.61
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
80.12
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.26
Ryanair
Ryanair closed the first quarter of the year with a revenue of EUR1.28 billion (USD1.57 billion), marking a year-on-year increase of 11 percent, while profits dropped 29 percent to EUR99 million (USD121 million). Despite the challenging environment in Europe, the low-cost carrier’s passenger numbers rose six percent and reached 22.5 million. Meanwhile, unit costs climbed 10 percent due to a 27 percent increase in fuel prices, which resulted in a EUR40 million (USD49 million) decline in the quarterly profit. The airline’s new bases in Billund, Budapest, Manchester, Palma, Paphos, and Wroclaw have already been enjoying high load factors and the company is eyeing significant opportunities to grow across Europe as it gears up for the opening of its 51st base in Maastricht. Retaining a cautious outlook for the year, Ryanair expects a traffic increase of four percent and fuel costs to rise at a more moderate pace.
01 SEPTEMBER 2012
Car Rentals
Thrifty Car Rental Launches New Location Thrifty Car Rental of the UAE, a franchisee of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group and one of the largest car rental businesses in the country, has announced the launch of its newest car rental location at Mirdif City Centre, Dubai. By strategically moving closer to a developing community in the emirate, visitors and residents now have more convenient access to car rentals with a fleet of more than 17,500 vehicles from which to choose. According to Rahul Singh, general manager, Thrifty Car Rental, customer feedback indicates that convenience and accessibility are among the main reasons that they rent cars at all 10 mall locations, and further revealed that the company’s businesses in shopping malls have increased by 700 percent over the past five years.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Al Muftah Rent a Car to Open Two New Branches In response to the growing demand for car rental services, Al Muftah Rent a Car, which currently operates at six different locations across Qatar, will soon be opening two more offices in the country. “For the 2022 FIFA World Cup and several other events which are taking place in Qatar, we are expanding our network by opening new branches,” explained Naresh Gakhar, senior manager, sales and marketing, Al Muftah Rent a Car, adding that the company has grown into one of the largest in the car rental sector in Qatar, from its humble beginning in 1971. “This is all due to the dedication and the very well-experienced employees of our company,” he expressed, further revealing that all the branches are staffed with dedicated representatives who provide 24-hour personalised services.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Crowne Plaza Hotel Opens in Qatar Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park has opened its doors, marking the brand’s debut in Qatar. The property, the first in the region to launch under the new Crowne Plaza brand, is situated in the heart of the capital city’s banking district and features 378 rooms including 90 resident suites, eight meeting rooms, an executive boardroom, six food and beverage outlets, a rooftop swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a spa. “Our vision was to develop a hotel that would offer unparalleled meeting and conference facilities and exciting new restaurants for the booming Doha market. This hotel does exactly that and, under InterContinental Hotels Group’s management, we are certain it will be a success,” commented H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Thani, chairman, Trans Orient Establishment, the owning company of the hotel.
Crowne Plaza Doha
Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Launches Crèche The five-star Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa is to further consolidate its position as a preferred family beach resort with the addition of a Crèche for its youngest guests. Earlier this year, the property enhanced its childcare offering by refurbishing the CoolZone, the dedicated area for children, and adding Chillzone, a new facility for teenagers, and in October, a third option will also be available catering for little guests from the ages of four months to four years old. Operated by childcare specialists, the facility will ensure age-appropriate activities, and nutritious meals and snacks, as well as equipment that meets the heist of safety regulations. Fredrik Reinisch, general manager, Jebal Ali Golf Resort & Spa, described Crèche as a fabulous addition to the resort.
Meydan Adds Beach Experience Meydan has launched a stand-alone beachside and dining experience in the Dubai Marina District, expanding the group’s leisure portfolio to include three diverse offerings; city, desert, and beach. Commenting on the opening, Saeed Al Tayer, chairman, Meydan, said, “Meydan is synonymous with a high-end lifestyle and every detail has been taken into consideration to ensure that Meydan Beach provides a world-class beach and dining experience to a discerning community. Meydan literally means ‘a meeting place’ and Meydan Beach will be the ultimate lifestyle haven where guests can unwind and feel a sense of belonging within extraordinary surroundings.” Meydan Beach, which also comprises two infinity pools, will additionally play host to Giannino, a renowned Milanese restaurant, as well as many international acts featured in Meydan’s events calendar.
Meydan Beach
Grand Heritage Doha Hotal and Spa: Positive Response Since its opening less than a year ago, Grand Heritage Doha Hotel and Spa has been growing along with the Qatari economy and tourism sector. Located in the heart of Doha’s Aspire Zone, the 136-room hotel has received a positive and welcoming response from its guests, and has hosted a number of inter-
national football teams, as Pierre-Marie Vasseur, general manager, Grand Heritage Hotel Group, noted, who described the first half of the year as extremely prosperous after witnessing a major growth in guest volume as a result of certain initiatives having taken place at the hotel. “We introduced a variety of food and
entertainment options keeping in line with all of the major festivals and events in Qatar. Our goal in celebrating some unconventional festivals such as Food Revolution Day in May was to encourage and support good food choices and healthy eating. We were the only hotel in the country to celebrate this day,” he explained.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air Arabia Maroc to Add Milano Flights
Air News
Qatar Airways RAK to Airways Fly to Chicago to Launch Domestic Qatar Airways is to expandFlights its US network with the introduction of
Air Arabia Maroc is to launch scheduled services from Marrakech to Milano, complementing the airline’s existing flights between Casablanca and the Italian city. Starting October 28, Air Arabia Maroc will operate weekly services to the European hub, reinforcing the carrier’s commitment to one of its leading markets, as Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, noted, “This new service will further strengthen our current flights to Italy by connecting Marrakech to Europe, offering customers wider choice of affordable air travel and at the same time contributing to Morocco’s tourism growth.”
Etihad Airways to Further Serve Casablanca Etihad Airways is to increase its services to Casablanca to provide daily flights from March 28, 2013. The airline currently flies five times a week between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca and celebrated the seventh anniversary of operations to Morocco’s largest city in June. The additional services are set to improve the connectivity to Abu Dhabi by 50 percent. James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, said, “The Moroccan city has been a successful destination for us and retains strong volumes of business and leisure passengers throughout the year. “We believe there are good prospects for further growth in the region. Abu Dhabi’s geographical location makes it ideal as a gateway for air travellers from Morocco to connect to markets in Australia, the Far East, and throughout the Arabian Gulf easily and quickly.”
daily non-stop flights to Chicago, effective April 10, 2013. The airline, which already operates cargo services to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, will deploy its flagship long-haul Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft on the Doha-Chicago route, which will become its fourth gateway in the US. The service linking the Qatari capital and the world’s second busiest airport has long been earmarked by the airline as a key traffic route that would appeal to travellers from all across its network. “As Qatar Airways continues its aggressive expansion, we are pleased to finally offer another gateway in the US, this time to the ‘The Windy City’ of Chicago, five years after we began operations to North America,” noted Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways. “Chicago is a key route for business and leisure travellers alike, connecting them from destinations across India, Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific with a one-stop service via Doha to the Midwest.” Chicago
Gulf Air Optimises and Launches Winter Schedule In response to strong passenger demand, Gulf Air has brought forward its winter schedule. Explaining the reasons behind the airline’s decision to launch the winter timetable, which usually begins in late October, Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, said, “Following the encouraging passenger growth we witnessed during the summer, we foresee the demand to continue through the winter.” Staring September 10, the national carrier of Bahrain will offer increased frequency and capacity between the Kingdom and a number of key GCC, MENA, European, and Asian destinations, and will also adjust its flight timings on certain routes to avoid potential delays. Gulf Air is set to launch additional flights to Dubai, Kuwait, Amman, Beirut, Khartoum, Cairo, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Colombo, Frankfurt, and Istanbul.
Gulf Air
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
Etihad Airways to Serve Tokyo Daily Etihad Airways has announced that it is set to fly daily between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo as of April 2, 2013. The daily service will support traffic growth between the UAE’s capital and Japan and connecting traffic to onward GCC destinations, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The additional services will also improve the connectivity to Abu Dhabi by 40 percent. Moreover, the airline’s increase to daily flights will further strengthen the close trade, tourism, and cultural ties between the UAE and Japan, according to James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways. “Since launching, we have been proud to say that we were the first Middle Eastern carrier to operate to Tokyo and, as expected, there has been a high volume of traffic on the route, particularly from business travellers. Japan has been, and will continue to be, a key market for Etihad Airways and we look forward to playing an integral role in strengthening ties between the two countries.” Tokyo
Emirates to Resume Flights to Tripoli Emirates is to restart its operations to Tripoli from October 29, illustrating Libya’s importance in the airline’s global network. Remaining dedicated to serving the country, Emirates will operate four times weekly to the capital city under the new schedule. “In resuming our flights to Tripoli, Emirates is underlining its commitment to Libya at a time when the country is demonstrating its strength and resilience in the face of adversity,” said Jean Luc Grillet, senior vice president, commercial operations, Africa, Emirates. “We have been closely monitoring the situation in Libya and feel that the time is right to re-launch our services, which will help to support business, international trade, and passenger travel to and from Tripoli, as well as strengthening the country’s overall infrastructure.”
Jet Airways Develops Gulf Connectivity Effective October 18, Jet Airways is set to enhance connectivity to the Gulf region with the launch of its new Mumbai - Sharjah service, the airline’s sixth daily flight to the UAE from the Indian city, in addition to the resumption of its services to Kuwait and Bahrain from Kochi. Passengers from the specified Gulf destinations will now enjoy seamless connectivity with Jet Airways’ panIndia domestic network through the airline's international hub in Mumbai. “Having emerged among the leading airlines on the highly-competitive Indo-Gulf sector in a relatively short period of time, we are confident that the new services will prove popular with our guests,” commented Sudheer Raghavan, chief commercial officer, Jet Airways.
Jet Airways
RJ Partners with SriLankan Airlines Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) and SriLankan Airlines have finalised a free-sale codeshare agreement, enabling the national airline of Sri Lanka to sell as many seats between Amman and Colombo as RJ, with no limitation on the number of seats sold by the carrier. Under the agreement, SriLankan Airlines will be the marketing carrier and will place its marketing carrier code on flights operated by RJ on the Amman - Colombo route. The first stage of the deal may be expanded in the future and transformed into a bilateral agreement, and if carried through, will include more points on SriLankan Airlines’ network, providing RJ passengers with greater travel options. “Our partnership will also allow us to boost the oneworld global network in a region of high air travel demand,” added Amer Hadidi, president, RJ.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Opens in Birthplace Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has celebrated the opening of a new 259-room flagship hotel in Toronto, Canada.
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anada is where Four Seasons first got its foothold, when the company was founded more than 50 years ago, leading to a worldwide expansion and today boasting 88 hotels across 36 destinations. “The new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is a showcase for the next generation of Four Seasons experiences, helping to exemplify where we are headed in the future,” said Katie Taylor, CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “It gives us all a sense of pride to display the very best of Four Seasons, right here in our hometown,” she added.
International
Bangkok Welcomes Seventh BWI Hotel Best Western International (BWI) has announced its latest hotel in Bangkok, Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit, becoming the seventh BWI hotel in the Thai capital. Located in the centre of the city, close to On Nut BTS Skytrain Station, the new hotel is set to become a modern classic in one of the Bangkok’s most up-and-coming areas. Designed for individual travellers, business executives, and corporate guests, Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit offers 42 contemporary guestrooms including one family suite well-suited for parents travelling with children. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant, Café @ Klassique, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “The launch of the Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit further cements our strong and diverse portfolio in the Thai capital, adding a modern, boutique option in an exciting, upcoming district of Bangkok. We are confident it will prove hugely popular with both business and leisure guests,” commented Glenn de Souza, vice president, international operations, Asia and Middle East, BWI.
Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit
Hotel Indigo Enters Düsseldorf
Toronto
Along parallel lines, Scott Woroch, executive vice president, worldwide development, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, commented, “Our growth strategy is driven by opening the right hotel, in the right destination, which also drives the right economics for the hotel owner.” Today, nearly every major city in the US boasts a Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts property, with the most recent opening of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Americas continues to be a focus for the future with new hotels and resorts planned in Toronto, Orlando, Brazil, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) boutique hotel brand, Hotel Indigo, continues to grow in Germany, with the signing of Hotel Indigo Düsseldorf-Victoriaplatz, following two successful openings in Berlin earlier this year. Upon its launch in 2013, the 126-key Hotel Indigo Düsseldorf-Victoriaplatz, which is a conversion from the Lindner Rhein Residence, will operate under a franchise agreement with LFPI Hotels Management Deutschland. Düsseldorf’s first Hotel Indigo will be located on the famous Kaiserswerther Strasse in the district of Pempelfort, in the vicinity of major tourist attractions, cultural sites, and boutique fashion shopping areas, and a five minute walk from the Victoriaplatz/Klever Strasse underground station. According to René Schappner, development director, Germany, IHG, Düsseldorf is an ideal city for the Hotel Indigo brand, as it is an international business and financial centre, known for its trade and fashion fairs, as the hotel’s design will be inspired by the city’s prominent fashion house.
01 SEPTEMBER 2012
WHO'S MOVED
Brian Yuen Brian Yuen has been named country manager of the UAE and Oman at Cathay Pacific Airways, the flag carrier of Hong Kong. In his capacity, he will be responsible for leading and managing the overall business and operational developments of the airline in both countries. He joined Cathay Pacific Airways as a management train-
ee and has since then accumulated diverse experience. His previous positions with the airline include marketing, revenue management, as well as cargo sales. Furthermore, he has also worked in the carrier’s Malaysia and Korea offices. Prior to joining Cathay Pacific Airways, Yuen, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in the US, worked for Deutsche Bank in New York.
Craig Cochrane Craig Cochrane has been promoted to senior vice president of human resources at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. Cochrane, who also becomes a member of the company’s executive committee, has 12 years of human resources experience with hotel management companies in Asia and the Middle East. Most recently, he served the company as vice president of
Marie-Charlotte Rossignol Marie-Charlotte Rossignol has been named public relations and marketing manager for both Park Inn by Radisson and Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Yas Island. During the FIFA World Cup 2010, Rossignol was in charge of public relations, marketing, and events at Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel in Sandton, South Africa, where she played a vital role in main-
01 SEPTEMBER 2012
taining valuable relationships for the company as well as in creating brand awareness through special events. She has also been working for more than seven years in the event industry for the Cannes Film Festival and Mobile World Congress. In Abu Dhabi she will focus on growing the brand presence of both properties with a creative twist.
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human resources, in charge of the Middle East and Asia. Prior to joining Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Cochrane held key executive human resources positions at Jumeirah Group based in Dubai and Shanghai.
Cochrane has 12 years of human resources experience with hotel management companies in Asia and the Middle East
Stella Warmuth Stella Warmuth has been named area manager for the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa at airberlin. In her new capacity, she will be responsible for sales activities in these strategically important growth markets, in which airberlin will collaborate more closely with partner airline Etihad Airways in the future. Warmuth has been serving
airberlin since June 2008, working initially as an international sales manager with responsibilities for the markets of Great Britain and France, before being promoted to head of international sales planning and coordination. Warmuth graduated with an international joint degree from the Berlin School of Economics and Bristol Business School in the UK.
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
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Fabien Chesnais
Glenn de Souza
General manager, Mövenpick Hotel Doha.
Vice president, international operations, Asia and Middle East, Best Western International.
“Qatar has established itself as a unique destination and is maximising the economic growth opportunities as a business and sports tourism hub. To ensure [high occupancy rates] we have recently renovated our rooms and suites. The hotel is strategically located across the Corniche road, opposite the Museum of Islamic Arts, just 5km away from Doha International Airport and within easy access to the city’s financial and business district.”
“The Middle East offers a huge amount of potential to the international hotel market and we are sure that customers in the region will love Best Western International’s core values of comfort, value for money, and excellent service. Combined with the luxurious trappings of the Best Western Premier brand, I have the utmost confidence that the [soon-to-open] Best Western Muscat will be hugely popular with guests in this exciting city.”
Richard Nuttall
Shane O’Hare
CEO, Bahrain Air.
President, Royal Jet.
“We are very pleased with the results [after returning to profitability in June and July]. Summer is traditionally the strongest season for all airlines, but given the turbulence in many of the traditional summer destinations, this result is a major achievement. This performance has enabled us to become fully current with all our government and quasi-government service providers in Bahrain and abroad since March.”
“We continue to raise the bar on our operational performance and following a record year in 2011 and the best ever first quater performance, the figures for the summer period reflect our staff success and the ongoing impact of our business realignment programme, which concluded last year. The entire team has worked tirelessly to achieve this success and will continue to work hard to maintain Royal Jet’s position as the operator of choice in the region.”
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
01 SEPTEMBER 2012
AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Janusz Galka POSITION: General director COMPANY: Milesaway LOCATION: Poland WEB: www.milesaway.pl
Who are you? I am the general director of Polandevents; the owning company of Milesaway. I have been in the travel industry since 1998. First I started with Polandevents, through which we have made conferences and events countrywide and internationally. Then we received requests from company owners and high-level management professionals who wanted us to prepare their private holidays. That was the beginning of Milesaway. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? You never know what happens the next day or even the next hour. Poles are the best nation for it. We have always been forced to break the rules, in a positive sense, to find solutions; it is in our DNA. When is the best time to visit Poland? May, June, and September to see the sights, and Easter or Christmas to enjoy our traditions and feasts. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I would go for Argentina again and again to see Salta, and because I am an amateur polo player, plus I dance tango. Also, Southeast Asia twice a year is a must for me because I am a spa lover. I travel a lot. This year, I already visited Kenya, the US West Coast, French Polynesia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, and many European countries. Why should people come to you for travel advice? We know the places we are sending our clients to. Not from catalogues. Imagine how many five-star properties are on Mauritius. If you do not know them personally, which one do you choose to send a client who is introvert? And where do you send an action lover? Not only do we know the places, we know managers and concierges personally.
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Travelport Rooms and More's Content Triples in One Year Travelport has revealed that the number of properties available in its Travelport Rooms and More hotel booking engine, which forms part of the company’s heightened investment and focus in the fast growing hospitality sector, has more than tripled since launching the tool in summer 2011. “The case for developing Travelport Rooms and More was a strong one as it complements our global distribution systems hotel offering and benefits everyone in the supply chain. Importantly, it negates the need for leisure travel agents to search for hotel offers on multiple websites, instead allowing them to access and book
commissionable accommodation offers through one quick and easy process. “With agents in over 70 countries now using it, we are also offering leisure hotel suppliers an additional platform through which to market their content,” commented Niklas Andreen, general vice president, hospitality and partner marketing, Travelport. With new content having recently been added from leading hotel aggregators Hotelzon and Tourico Holidays, over 700,000 supplier offers are now available on more than 340,000 unique hotel properties across the portal.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
A Rise in European Hotel Overnights Travellers from Germany are more modest in their choice of hotel than holidaymakers from the UK or Russia, and prefer mid-scale accommodation, according to research conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.
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he final results reached, following a special evaluation of the World Travel Monitor on the European travellers’ preferred types of accommodation, indicate that the proportion of Germans who stay in luxury hotels has even declined and currently stands at 13 percent. In addition, around 234 out of 413 million trips abroad are spent staying at hotels with more European travellers choosing a hotel bed than five years ago. The leaders are the
Russians at 66 percent, followed by the British at 60 percent, and the Germans at 58 percent. Among Dutch and Polish travellers, hotel overnights are less popular at 45 percent and 44 percent respectively. Among Europeans, the proportion of overnights in standard accommodation (middle-class and budget hotels) has stagnated, whereas overnights in four- and fivestar hotels have risen by four and two percent respectively. According to the survey, Russian holiday-
makers in particular prefer luxury accommodation with 26 percent opting for the comforts of a five-star hotel whenever they travel abroad. Meanwhile, 22 percent of Britons choose five-star accommodation, which puts them alongside the main nations preferring luxury hotels. Over the last five years, the percentage of Russians and Britons favouring luxury accommodation has risen by two and four percent respectively.
Increase of Visitors to Etisalat-Eye of the Emirates The number of visitors to Etisalat-Eye of the Emirates ferris wheel, one of the prèmier landmarks in the emirate of Sharjah, has increased to some 54,200 tourists during the first half of the year, boasting a 12 percent growth in figures compared to the corresponding period in 2011. This number is expected to cross the 150,000 mark by the end of the year in light of ambitious expansions of various facilities underway in Al Qasba, the many forthcoming occasions and festivities in the emirate, and the multitude of miscellaneous programmes planned by Al Qasba Development Authority for its audience and community.
Etisalat-Eye of the Emirates
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Masood Hashim Following the successful launch of Clover Creek Hotel Apartments in Dubai, Global Hotels Management (GHM) is poised to further expand its portfolio both locally and internationally, as Masood Hashim, CEO, GHM, speaks of the company’s core brand values and positive times ahead.
Travel Trade Weekly: Clover Hotels & Resorts has already established its presence in the UAE with the launch of Clover Creek Hotel Apartments. How would you summarise the first half of the year? Masood Hashim: This year, it was widely anticipated that the tourism industry in Dubai will do better than in 2011. The number of tourists from around the world have increased hence we have seen a rise in spending. The first half of the year, in terms of occupancy, was better than what we had in 2011, which is primarily due to the general trend in the market. We saw that compared to 2011, the summer period this year was also comparatively better in terms of occupancy, as well as revenue, and expenditure by tourists. We foresaw last-minute pick up during Ramadan and before and during Eid, and we had good pickup from the GCC market during their holidays. Travel Trade Weekly: What are your expectations for the remainder of the year? Masood Hashim: Expectations for the year are high since the market has seen an upward trend in tourist and spending. Plus, there are several exhibitions coming up which is always a good time for the hotel industry, so I believe we will end this year on a high note as compared to 2011. Travel Trade Weekly: How do you position the hotel brand and what are its core values?
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Masood Hashim CEO, Global Hotels Management
Masood Hashim: The brand is positioned in a way that it epitomises world-class hospitality with special attention to detail. Core values of the brand revolve around luxury, quality, aesthetics, respect, culture, and values. Travel Trade Weekly: In a crowded market place such as the UAE, brand recognition and guest loyalty are pivotal to the success of any property. What are the main initiatives in the brand’s strategy that will help establish it as a key player in the region’s hospitality sector?
The brand is positioned in a way that it epitomises world-class hospitality with special attention to detail. Core values of the brand revolve around luxury, quality, aesthetics, respect, culture, and values
Masood Hashim: Clover provides its customers with the finest experience available by blending superior accommodation with friendly personal service. Part of the strategy is to provide guests with a seamless arrangement of being able to blend their needs to visit. This will be achieved by the development of strong relationships with other service providers and delivering information and assistance to the tourist to help them with the planning of their day. Travel Trade Weekly: GHM is also in the process of opening a new property in Ras Al Khaimah. Could you tell us a little bit about this project? Masood Hashim: We are in the pre-opening phase of our Ras Al Khaimah property; it is a beachfront property and it is positioned as a boutique hotel. All our properties will have speciality restaurants and a Monsoon Spa.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Focusing on China at WTM 2012 China will be the focal point of this year’s BRICS events at World Travel Market, London, as the Asian country becomes one of world’s biggest inbound and outbound tourism markets. Two China Business Network sessions, appraising the country’s tourism industry, will be held on November 6, chaired by Adam Wu, chief operating office, China Business Network, who will be joined by David Scowsill, CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council, Marcel Schneider, CEO, TUI China, and Subhash Goyal, chairman, India Tour Operators. The first talk will comprise discussions on inbound tourism, which has grown to make China the world’s fourth biggest market for foreign tourists. Attention will then switch to the outbound market which saw 70 million Chinese tourists travel abroad in 2011, a figure that could grow by a further 10 million this year alone.
Abu Dhabi Conducts Biggest-Ever Saudi Roadshow Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has spearheaded the emirate’s largest roadshow to date through three Saudi Arabian cities; Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. Comprising more than 20 of Abu Dhabi’s leading tourism sector stakeholders, the delegation highlighted the emirate’s multi-faceted and expanding, leisure-businessculture proposition to major outbound travel trade players across the Kingdom. “Connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia is better and more affordable than ever,” noted Mubarak Al Shamisi, country manager, Saudi Arabia, TCA Abu Dhabi. In fact, the number of Saudi guests checking into the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments reached 6,661 in June, marking a robust year-on-year increase of 57 percent, and Abu Dhabi aims to further boost visitor volume from the Kingdom. According to Al Shamisi, the roadshow is a physical illustration of the growing strategic importance of the vital Saudi source market to Abu Dhabi’s immediate and longterm tourism objectives.
EVENTS China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) Beijing, China, September 12 – 14, 2012 (www.cibtm.com) A leading meetings, incentives, and business travel show providing the ultimate platform for suppliers to the MICE industry.
International Tourism Bourse (ITB) ASIA Singapore, October 3 – 5, 2012 (www.itb-asia.com) Where exhibitors across all sectors of the travel-value chain, meet with top international buyers from the MICE, leisure, and corporate travel markets.
Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) Nairobi, Kenya, September 25 – 26, 2012 (www.africa-conference.com) An event showcasing the potential Kenya and other high-growth destinations across the continent have to offer.
Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference Singapore, October 15 – 17 , 2012 (www.tdiasia.questexevents.net) Consisting of an array of networking opportunities, business meetings, and a conference programme, the event will focus on hotel investments and tourism infrastructure developments.
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart Manila, Philippines, September 25 – 28, 2012 (www.pata.org/events/pata-travel-mart-2012) Asia Pacific’s premier travel trade show offering networking and contracting opportunities for hundreds of international buyers and sellers. The 18th World Route Development Forum Abu Dhabi, UAE, September 29 – October 2, 2012 www.routesonline.com/events The largest global event of its kind, attracting over 2,750 delegates from more than 80 countries, and determining the future of air services.
World Travel Market (WTM) London, UK, November 5 – 8, 2012 (www.wtmlondon.com) A must-attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors. The Hotel Show – Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, November 17 - 19, 2012 (www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com) A full spectrum hospitality and supplies event for the region, bringing leading manufacturers and qualified buyers together.
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