Block this Space Contact us at sales@traveltradeweekly.travel
23 JUNE 2012
ISSUE 137
Block this Space Contact us at sales@traveltradeweekly.travel
23 JUNE 2012
ISSUE 137
Frasers Hospitality Expands Frasers Hospitality has announced the opening of its third property in the region, Fraser Suites Doha, Qatar.
V Five Continents Hospitality Group is to strengthen its presence in the UAE with the launch of V Continents Executive Suites in Abu Dhabi.
06 Qatar Airways to Increase Flights to Tokyo Qatar Airways is to boost flights to Tokyo, Japan, to twice-daily, effective October 28.
10 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
02
WEEKLY NEWS
04
ACCOMMODATION
06
AIR NEWS
08
WHO'S MOVED
11
TRAVEL TALK
12
AGENT'S CORNER
13
TRAVEL CHANNELS
14
RENDEZVOUS
15
NEWS & EVENTS
16
V Five Continents to Open Third UAE Hotel
4
2
MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY
Shurooq Invites French Investors
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou
More than 20 leading French companies and 20 representatives from the Sharjah government and various businesses gathered together at the first ever Sharjah-French Round-Table.
H
SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess Katerina Dalal 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
22/06/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
6.05
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
63.81
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.60
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.81
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
12,283.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.01
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
77.95
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.27
eld by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with the French Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates, the meeting was organsied to discuss investment opportunities existing in economic, tourism and cultural sectors in Sharjah and France, which already established strong bonds, as H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq, pointed out. "Dynamism and diversity are the two key words which describe the economic relations between the UAE and France, especially after the UAE became France’s leading trade partner in the GCC in 2011; with the value of French exports to the UAE rising to more than EUR3.5 billion (USD4.4 billion) in 2011,”
H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq
Al Sarkal clarified. Besides travel and tourism, which was described by participants as a ‘booming sector’ of Sharjah, other topics discussed included logistics, renewable energy sources, and environmental issues, as well as the healthcare sector.
IATA Expresses Effect of the European Crisis The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its revised aviation outlook for the year, as global industry profits are expected to reach some USD3 billion, unchanged from the last update in March. A fall in oil prices, stronger-than-expected growth in passenger traffic, and a bottoming out of the freight market, are driving some improvements in the profitability outlook. Compared with the previous forecast three months ago, North American and Latin American carriers are expected to see improved prospects, while the outlook for African carriers remains the same. “The USD3 billion industry profit forecast has not changed. But almost everything in the equation has. Demand has been better than expected, so far this year. And fuel prices are now lower than previously anticipated, but that’s on the expectation of economic weakness ahead. The Eurozone crisis is standing in the way of improved profitability and we continue to face the prospect of a net profit margin of just 0.5 percent,” said Tony Tyler, CEO, IATA. Meanwhile in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, carriers have been downgraded, with European losses now expected to be USD1.1 billion. “Although airlines face the common challenges of high fuel prices and economic uncertainty, the regional picture is diverse,” Tyler continued.
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4
WEEKLY NEWS
V Five Continents to Open Third UAE Hotel V Five Continents Hospitality Group is to strengthen its presence in the UAE after entering into a management contract with Sultan International Holding to launch V Continents Executive Suites in Abu Dhabi. Located in one of the busiest areas of the capital, the group’s third property in the UAE and second in Abu Dhabi is slated to open mid-July, and will feature 120 studios and suites specially designed for natural living and aimed at breaking down the barriers between business and leisure. “We are fortunate to count one of the most luxurious hotels in Abu Dhabi and we take our role as custodians of this great property,”commented Bader Jeiroudi, managing director, Sultan International Holding.
Eurostar Offers Quiet Coach Facility As of September, passengers travelling with Eurostar, the highspeed passenger service linking London and mainland Europe, will be able to book their seat at no extra cost in dedicated quiet coaches. The introduction of the new facilities, which will enable business and standard premium ticket holders to work or wind down in a peaceful atmosphere, comes in line with the company’s initiative to provide business travellers with an ideal environment from departure straight through to arrival.
Russian Cultural Complex to Open in the UAE The Moscow-based Olympic City Group, in cooperation with the UAE Ibiza Company, is to set up the first ever Russian Cultural Complex in the UAE, comprising an opera and ballet theatre, museum, hotel, and apartments. Over the past few years, the relation between the UAE and Russia has progressed greatly in various fields such as economic and cultural, and the project is expected to receive positive response not only from within the UAE, but from the whole region as well, explained Aleksey Semanyachenko, chairman, Olympic City Group.
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6
WEEKLY NEWS
Courtyard by Marriott Debuts in Saudi Arabia Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter has opened its premises, marking the hotel brand’s entry into Saudi Arabia. Strategically located in the heart of the capital city’s Diplomatic Quarter, the 286room hotel boasts a business centre, meeting rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and a fitness centre. Commenting on the debut, Janis Milham, vice president, Courtyard by Marriott, said, “Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter will be our fourth hotel in the region and will bring an unparalleled level of flexibility and service to business travellers in the Kingdom.”
Accommodation
Frasers Hospitality Expands Leading its expansion in the Middle East, Frasers Hospitality has announced the opening of its third property in the region, Fraser Suites Doha, Qatar. Located on the Doha Corniche waterfront, the establishment is conveniently situated, offering 138 serviced apartments. Since its soft opening in November 2011, the property has been enjoying occupancy rates of some 90 percent. “With arrivals expecting to hit 149 million in the region by 2030, according to the UN World Tourism Organization, the Middle East will continue to be a key growth area for Frasers,” commented Choe Peng Sum, CEO, Frasers Hospitatlity.
The Monarch Hotel Dubai Becomes The H Hotel Dubai The Monarch Hotel Dubai has been rebranded The H Hotel Dubai, as part of a transitional period. Anchored at the prestigious address on Sheikh Zayed road, the property has long been a gateway to the commercial and social heart of Dubai, and is now set to become an independent luxury hotel, following an extensive refurbishment and re-launch.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
Etihad Airways to Serve Brazil Etihad Airways recently commenced flights to São Paulo, Brazil, the airline’s first South American destination. The daily services, which took off on June 1, are the first direct air links between Abu Dhabi and any South American country, and thus São Paulo Etihad Airways now serves all the BRIC nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, and China. “Brazil is a logical step for us and marks the sixth continent we serve and our coming of age as a truly global airline. Business and tourism flows between the UAE and Brazil have been growing and will be strengthened by our daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi and São Paulo,” commented James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways.
Qatar Airways Increases Flights to Iraq Qatar Airways has expanded passenger services to Iraq with the launch of its second destination in the country, Baghdad, operating four non-stop flights a week. Commenting on the new service, Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “During Iraq’s current period of reform and development, with industries resurging and many new companies expanding operations to Iraq, we felt this was the time to move into the country. With our new passenger flights to both Baghdad and Erbil, together with our new dedicated freighter service to Erbil starting next month, Qatar Airways is offering excellent capacity to and from the country.”
Rotana Jet Strengthens Commitment within the UAE Rotana Jet has launched new scheduled air services to Sir Bani Yas Island and Dalma Island, operating three days a week from Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi, which is centrally situated and easily reachable from most of the capital’s major locations. Guests will be flown to Sir Bani Yas Island in approximately 25 minutes on a 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145. Chartered flights will also be available upon request from Rotana Jet, Abu Dhabi or Dubai. According to Philip Markham, CEO, Rotana Jet, these additional services mark a critical milestone for the private jets company, as well as Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole.
EGYPTAIR Resumes Flights to Tripoli EGYPTAIR has resumed flights to Tripoli as of June 6, after the temporary closure of Tripoli International Airport. In this regard, Ayman Nasr, CEO, EGYPTAIR, commented, “EGYPTAIR will operate the evening flight MS831 at 18:20 from Cairo to Tripoli after receiving the notification of airport reopening.” EGYPTAIR currently offers 21 weekly flights to two Libyan cities with 14 weekly services to Tripoli and seven to Benghazi.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air News
Air Arabia Expands Saudi Network
IndiGo Steps up Dubai Operations
Air Arabia now offers three weekly services between Sharjah and Taif, bringing the total number of Saudi Arabian destinations served by the low-cost airline to seven. The new flights to Taif make travel between the UAE and the Kingdom more convenient, offering passengers a unique option for affordable air travel and great connectivity to the wider region, noted Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia.
IndiGo is to introduce new flights between India and Dubai, as of August. The airline will commence new daily non-stop services between Dubai and Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi, while flights between the emirate and Delhi will be operated twice a day. According to Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo, Dubai is a key market for the airline and is part of its growth strategy outlined for the Middle Eastern skies.
Qatar Airways to Increase Flights to Tokyo Qatar Airways is set to boost flights to Tokyo, Japan, to twicedaily non-stop operations, effective October 28. The airline is working closely with the local authorities to ensure that suitable slots are secured at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport just in time for the commencement of the carrier's Northern Winter flying programme, indicated Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.
Safi Airways Launches Domestic Routes Safi Airways has introduced two new internal flights within Afghanistan; a move set to further strengthen the airline’s position as the country’s leading international carrier, this according to Lloyd Carswell, chief commercial officer, Safi Airways. The domestic services operate from Kabul to Herat on a daily basis, and from Kabul to Kandahar three times weekly.
23 JUNE 2012
WHO'S MOVED
Rami Al-Jabari Rami Al-Jabari has taken on the position of regional director of sales for the Middle East and Africa for The Oetker Collection. Boasting 17 years experience, Al-Jabari has held various senior sales roles in hotels across the Middle East. Most recently, he worked as general manager of Marriott
Global Sales Organisation for the GCC and Jordan. In his new role, his responsibilities include negotiating alliances and driving sales, as well as overseeing the sales of Palais Namaskar in Morocco, and the preopening sales roadmap for the upcoming Le Bristol Abu Dhabi.
Abid Butt Abid Butt has been appointed CEO of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts (BTHR), the wholly-owned hotel management and development subsidiary of Banyan Tree Holdings. Butt, who has invaluable knowledge in hotel operations and infrastructure, has a legacy of experience with the company having previously served as area general manager of Banyan Tree Phuket, over 10 years ago. Later, he worked as vice president of operations before joining
23 JUNE 2012
Host Hotels & Resorts in the US as vice president of asset management. In his new role, he will focus on strategic initiatives for the existing 30 properties in the hotel group’s current portfolio along with the successful launch of future projects across the world.
He will focus on strategic initiatives for the existing 30 properties in the hotel group’s current portfolio
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Georges Karam Georges Karam has been named director of sales and marketing at Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand and Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace in Lebanon. Karam brings 12 years of hospitality experience and comprehensive knowledge of the Lebanese capital city to his new position at the sister hotels.
As director of sales and marketing, Karam works with a team of 20 members and is responsible for all commercial activities at the properties, including sales, groups, conferences, and events, as well as marketing and communications activities.
He is responsible for all commercial activities
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
12
Amr Hamed
Samar Majali
Hotel manager, Liwa Executive Suites by Coral Hotels & Resorts.
CEO, Gulf Air.
“This [tough year in terms of increasing competition] makes it more gratifying that our hotel has passed its first year [of operation] in such good shape. I would like to mention the Al Mansoori Group of Companies, Al Nasser Group of Companies, Total, AMEC, Abu Dhabi Grammar School, Union National Bank, Siemens, Cegelec and ADMA OPCO, in particular. In addition, I should also like to thank our regular guests who have contributed positive reviews online for the Liwa Executive Suites.”
“Business travel is integral due to Bahrain’s positioning as a business-friendly destination. With longstanding efforts towards transparent business dealings and coordinated ease for international businesses to relocate here, we see many business travellers flying in and out on short, medium, and long visits to the Kingdom. This includes travellers predominantly from the GCC and MENA regions followed by European markets due to the country’s unique position as a services and financial hub.”
Wayne Pearce CEO, Oman Air.
“We are delighted that Oman Air [Training Centre has been awarded a much-coveted place in the International Air Transport Association’s Middle East 2012 Top Ten Authorized Training Centre listing] for the second consecutive year, which confirms the high standards of our training and staff development. We look forward to consolidating our role as a global leader in aviation training and to promoting business excellence, not just within Oman but in the entire 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
23 JUNE 2012
AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT'S INSIGHT NAME: Kunal Shah POSITION: Business development manager, Middle East
COMPANY: Globus Family of Brands LOCATION: India WEB: www.globusfamily.com/india Who are you? I am Kunal Shah, the business development manager for the Middle East region. Globus Family of Brands is the world’s largest escort touring company and we offer over 400 vacations to 65 countries across the world. We are headquartered in Switzerland and for more than 80 years we have been offering our tours that address the diverse needs of travellers with a focus on world-class customer service. We have our regional office located in Bangalore, India, which is responsible for the South Asian and Middle East market. We operate under four distinct brands: Globus, premium coach touring; Cosmos, budget coach touring; Avalon Waterways, river cruising mainly in European rivers; and Monograms, independent travel. What are the travel company’s upcoming business plans? We are currently looking at increasing our presence and awareness in the Middle East. This year we are launching a training programme for the travel agents in the Middle East called I KNOW EUROPE. This is a certificate programme where experts from Europe would come to Dubai and train travel professionals. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Getting to travel a lot and see new destinations. When is the best time to visit India? The best time to travel to this country is from October to January. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I would love to visit Scotland for my next leisure trip.
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Acquisition Galileo Southern Africa Travelport has announced that it has concluded an agreement with South African Airways (SAA) to acquire Galileo Southern Africa, the global distribution system (GDS) arm which the airline has been operating in the region for the past 20 years. In 2010, Travelport set up a direct Worldspan operation for travel agents in South Africa and the acquisition of the Galileo GDS business marks the continuation of its investment in the region and plans to extend the products and services provided to local travel agents. The new, combined entity will be known as Travelport Southern Africa. “This change to our business model will enable us to work directly with all our local customers
in the region to roll out relevant new GDS services and technology. This is also a long-term investment decision and builds on the recently expanded distributor network we have established across much of Africa with Johannesburg as a key regional hub,” commented Mark Meehan, managing director, Travelport Africa.
This change to our business model will enable us to work directly with all our local customers in the region to roll out relevant new GDS services and technology
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
DTCM Promotes Green Tourism The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has launched a new initiative entitled ‘Together for a Green Environment’.
T
he project forms part of its Green Tourism Award programme, aimed at improving service standards and excellence in the industry while supporting and enhancing the concept of sustainable tourism and social responsibility. The programme, which was launched on June 5, has been designed to shed light on the importance of green economy through a series of seminars and workshops for industry professionals to create awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism, provide the best solutions and technologies, discuss environmental policies, and study the best environmental practices.
IATA Introduces New Initiatives Tony Tyler, CEO, International Air Transport Association (IATA), recently announced three major achievements in three key initiatives, at the 68th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, Beijing. As an evolution of the Passenger Intelligence Services product, IATA introduced the Direct Data Service, an even more powerful business intelligence tool, which offers direct sales data for airlines. In addition, Tyler also revealed that the new foundation standard for a New Distribution Capability, that will address the airline requirements for innovation in global distribution, will be proposed during the World Passenger Symposium, Abu Dhabi, in October. “I am confident that the new platform will unleash innovation and new entrants that will revolutionise airline relationships with their customers,” he said. Moreover, the recently established IATA innovation and Partnership Awards, which replaces the Eagle Awards, will be first presented in June 2013 and will recognise partnerships that are delivering innovation and value to the industry.
Azerbaijan to Promote its Attractions As the convention and culture partner of ITB Berlin 2013, Azerbaijan will be providing a link between Asia and Europe with a varied programme at the event’s next edition, as it gears up to introduce its natural attractions and rich culture, and showcase itself as a vacation as well as a MICE destination. “For us, this partnership with ITB Berlin is a very important instrument for effectively promoting the tourism potential of Azerbaijan. By acting as the convention and cultural partner of the world’s largest travel trade show, we aim to strengthen this image even further,” commented Abulfas Garayev, minister of culture and tourism, Azerbaijan. After declaring 2011 as the year of tourism, the country is working on advancing tourism infrastructure with new hotels being constructed and special laws having already been proposed. This year is expected to see the completion of the Shahdag ski region.
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Vincent Wee With over 22,000 operating serviced residences units, The Ascott Limited is considered the world’s largest international serviced residence owner and operator. Vincent Wee, managing director, India and GCC, The Ascott Limited, and deputy CEO, Ascott Residence Trust Management Limited, talks about the stiffening competition.
Travel Trade Weekly: What factors make the GCC a key market for The Ascott Limited? Vincent Wee: In the GCC, there are many opportunities for serviced residences as infrastructure investments continue to build up, especially in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. With a high level of tourist arrivals and expatriates entering the GCC countries, our serviced residences continue to see healthy levels of occupancy, especially in cities such as Dubai and Doha. The hospitality sector in the UAE has been witnessing robust growth despite a global economic slowdown. There is still room for expansion. In Qatar, we are readying ourselves for our first Ascott branded property, Ascott Doha, in the country and we are actively on the lookout for new properties to manage in the region. Travel Trade Weekly: How do you think the demand and future prospects of the hospitality sectors in the Middle East and India differ? Vincent Wee: The Middle Eastern market is more mature and being one of the ‘hottest’ markets for hospitality developments, we cannot simply focus on the product; we also have to focus on the ‘software’. We need to ensure that the service delivered to our guests will make their stay an even more memorable one. The serviced residence industry is still in its infancy stage in India and there are a lot of opportunities available. India has a growing affluent middle class that is increasingly looking for quality apartments for their intraregional travel. Though India is sorting out some short term issues, foreign direct investment into India over a medium term period is still expected to more than double from
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Vincent Wee Managing director, India and GCC, The Ascott Limited, and deputy CEO, Ascott Residence Trust Management Limited
expand our footprint to other high growth cities including Mumbai and New Delhi. In total, Ascott's seven properties in India will cost more than USD250 million when fully developed. Travel Trade Weekly: How will you ensure high occupancy levels in the Middle East?
USD25 billion in 2011 to USD55 billion in 2015, and international tourists and corporate visitor will increase on the back of the increased investment. The demand-supply gap for quality accommodation is estimated to be at 150,000 rooms. We believe that there is strong growth potential for the serviced residence industry. Travel Trade Weekly: What are the main components of the company’s Indian development and expansion strategy? Vincent Wee: We plan to open five more serviced residences with over 1,100 apartment units. By 2015, we target to grow from our current estimate of 1,400 apartment units to 4,000 apartment units. Two more properties are currently under development in Bangalore and one each in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. We are well underway to
Vincent Wee: What truly differentiates us is our strong customer-centric approach and our focus in providing our residents with a truly unique and memorable home-awayfrom-home experience. In the competitive landscape, over and above observing the market and keeping an eye on developing trends, there is a need for us to react accordingly and continuously improve our processes and staff. In the Middle East, service excellence remains paramount and our customer-centric approach has enabled Ascott to serve our guests well. At Ascott, our guests’ privacy and safety are of extreme importance to us. Travel Trade Weekly: What other development plans has the company outlined? Vincent Wee: Besides seeking new investments with a focus on Singapore, China, India, Vietnam, and other capital cities of Southeast Asia, as well as in London, Paris, and key cities in Germany, we will grow our fee-based income through securing more management contracts. We will also continue with asset enhancement initiatives to improve asset returns, strengthen our brand, and improve our customer experience. Ascott is on track to achieve our target of 40,000 apartment units globally by 2015.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Business Travel Forums: Positive Results Business Travel Forums recently held a successful event at Hotel Hesperia Madrid, which achieved an average of 15 enquiries placed by each buyer to suppliers present at the event. Some 85 percent of buyers were direct corporates with the remaining number coming from travel management companies. The largest groups of buyer participants originated from the UK, Spain, and Russia. The feedback from the event was positive with some twothirds of participants, 63 percent, opting to confirm their attendance for another forum, and a further 37 percent claiming they will probably attend a future event. Following the success of this years edition, the next Business Travel Forum will take place from September 16 – 18 at Hotel Metropole, Brussels. The event will include 25 pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings, an interactive educational workshop led by industry experts, and numerous networking opportunities during social gatherings such as a welcome reception, gala dinner, and gourmet lunches.
SCTDA Trains Tourist Guides The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has launched its latest professional training programme for tourist guides as part of the authority’s strategy to achieve and maintain highest standards in the tourism sector of the emirate. Organised in association with the University of Sharjah, the training programme includes theory lectures and practical workshops, as well as field visits to a number of attractions. So far, some 70 professionals have participated in the programme, which is being conducted for the third consecutive year, explained H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, chairman, SCTDA. “Our aim is to boost and enrich the tourism sector with professional expertise by organising such courses.” Tourist guides are crucial in promoting tourism, he added. “He is the first point of contact with tourists and offers the visitors the first and lasting impression of a place. This will help boost tourism products and services in the emirate and promote the tourism development process.”
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.
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.
International French Travel Market (IFTM Top Resa) Paris, France, September 18 – 21, 2012 (www.iftm.fr) An international fair for networking, doing business, innovating, and keeping abreast of market developments, offering a 360° panorama of the travel industry.
ITB ASIA Singapore, October 3 - 5, 2012 (www.itb-asia.com) Where exhibitors of all sectors of the travel-value chain, meet with top international buyers from the MICE, leisure, and corporate travel markets.
Africa Hotel Investment Forum 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.
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.
Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) Moscow, Russia, October 15 – 17, 2012 (www.russia-cisconference.com) Addressing the key opportunities and challenges across the region and offering a platform to exchange ideas with fellow industry experts.
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