Travel Trade Weekly Issue 146

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25 AUGUST 2012

ISSUE 146

Holiday Inn Express Debuts in Bahrain InterContinental Hotels Group and Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding Company have opened Holiday Inn Express Bahrain, marking the brand’s debut in the Kingdom.

Golden Tulip plans to more than double its hotel portfolio and debut the luxury five-star Royal Tulip brand in the region.

04 RAK Airways to Launch Domestic Flights RAK Airways is to start operating domestic services in October, linking Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi..

06 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION AIR NEWS INTERNATIONAL WHO’S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENT’S CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS

02 03 04 06 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Golden Tulip: Expansion and Debut of Luxury Brand

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MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

Marriott’s Q2 Profit Rises Marriott International’s net income for the second quarter of the year climbed to USD143 million from USD135 million in 2011.

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JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou

he results were driven by strong demand from groups and corporate travellers, as Arne Sorensen, president, Marriott International, explained, “In North America, strengthening group business, more travel by our special corporate customers especially in the technology and consulting industries, and the impact of modest supply growth, drove our occupancy and room rate higher.”

SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Derek Lainsbury DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

In the three-month period, the company’s revenues totalled nearly USD2.8 billion, while worldwide comparable systemwide RevPAR rose 6.7 percent, and average daily rate improved 4.1 percent.

Despite a number of worldwide Marriott International openings having been delayed to 2013, the hotel group will be adding a large number of guest rooms to its portfolio by year end.

HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466

Lufthansa Group: Over 49 Million Passengers

WEBSITE

During the first half of the year (H1), more than 49.4 million travellers opted to fly with Lufthansa Group, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.9 percent.

Group-wide seat load factor improved one percentage point to 76.9 percent, while capacity increased 2.3 percent and sales were up by 3.8 percent. Lufthansa German Airlines’ passenger volume climbed 3.4 percent and hit 35.8 million, while capacity grew 1.8 percent and sales rose 2.8 percent. In addition, SWISS and Austrian Airlines transported 8.1 million passengers 5.4 million passengers, respectively.

Volumes at Lufthansa Cargo declined 9.2 percent, as compared to a strong H1 in 2011, while capacity was reduced by 7.6 percent and load factor dropped slightly to 68.4 percent.

www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

24/08/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.09

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

65.55

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.60

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.79

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,275.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.61

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

80.47

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.26

Wyndham Worldwide: Increased Net Income

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yndham Worldwide closed the second quarter of the year with a reported net income of USD128 million, or USD0.88 per diluted share, compared with USD114 million, or USD0.67 per diluted share in the corresponding period in 2011.

With a year-on-year increase of four percent, the quarterly revenue reached USD1.1 billion, reflecting growth in the company’s

lodging and vacation ownership businesses, while adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) was USD0.87, compared with USD0.64 in the first quarter of 2011.

Commenting on the positive results, Stephen Holmes, chairman, Wyndham Worldwide, highlighted, “Underlying this growth is strong execution from each of our businesses and diversified product offerings well-positioned to capitalise on consumers’ desire to travel.”

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WEEKLY NEWS LAMA Tours & Holidays Established LAMA Group has set up LAMA Tours & Holidays, a dedicated subsidiary to leverage Abu Dhabi’s growing stature as a stand-alone destination.

Located in Abu Dhabi Tourist Club area, the newly established organisation targets inbound operations on four specific sectors, including MICE, weddings, free independent traveller, and digital media.

The group handles over 150,000 Indian visitors annually and is also marketing Formula1 packages to these visitors.

“This will provide a major boost for hotel guest tally from India which has been growing monthly over the past 18 months,” noted H.E. Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

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Face-to-face with Crocodiles Visitors can now come faceto-face with one of nature’s bravest survivors at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, managed by Emaar Retail.

The ‘Crocodylia’ exhibition is aimed to highlight the importance of conservation of crocodiles and their role in ecosystems, and the programme will also feature daily Crocs Campaign at The Dubai Mall presentations that give interesting details into the lives of the animals.

Gordon White, general manager, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, commented, “’Crocodylia’ will tell the fascinating story of crocodiles, how they survived and how their existence is being threatened by illicit trade in crocodile hide and artifacts. Whether they fascinate or frighten, they are a key element to our environmental balance.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Golden Tulip: Expansion and Debut of Luxury Brand Golden Tulip, part of Louvre Hotels Group, has outlined plans to more than double its hotel portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa and debut its luxury five-star Royal Tulip brand in the region.

The company, which currently operates 44 hotels in the MENA region under the

Al Faisaliah Hotel North Unveils New Lobby Al Faisaliah Hotel North, A Rosewood Hotel, has unveiled the new look of its lobby following a refurbishment project.

Al Faisaliah Hotel North, A Rosewood Hotel

“Al Faisaliah Hotel is renowned for its luxury and personalised service in every corner of the hotel, and we are delighted to be enhancing our guest offering with the evolution of the highly popular lobby into a dynamic, contemporary but no less a luxurious new meeting place,” commented Erick Steinbock, regional vice president, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and managing director, Al Faisaliah Hotels.

In addition to the new vibrant interior, the hotel is to introduce a contemporary food and beverage menu.

three-star Tulip Inn and four-star Golden Tulip brands, aims to add 46 properties with a total of 7,678 keys to its network by 2016, 14 of which are slated for opening by the end of this year, revealed Amine Moukarzel, president, Golden Tulip Hotels, Suites & Resorts MENA.

Four hotels are set to open in Saudi Arabia, three in Bahrain, two in Algeria, and two in Tunisia, while Doha, Egypt, and Sharjah are each set to welcome one Golden Tulip property, bringing the company closer to its goal of operating 70 hotels in the MENA region by the end of 2013, noted Moukarzel.

Holiday Inn Express Debuts in Bahrain

TI’ME Grand Plaza Opens New Floor

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Dubai International Capital’s majority owned Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding Company have opened Holiday Inn Express Bahrain, marking the brand’s debut in the Kingdom.

The 274-room hotel, built for an estimated cost of USD40 million, is located minutes away from Bahrain International Airport, and features a business centre, a gym, a restaurant, a kiosk, and lounge bar.

The unique operating model is set to fast gain popularity in the Bahraini market, indicated Maissan AI Maskati, chairman, Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding, “We are confident that the limited service offer will be extremely popular in Bahrain. There are currently few options in Manama for price-conscious business and leisure travellers seeking ultra-modern accommodation at affordable rates and strategically located in the heart of the central business district community.”

Following a complete overhaul of the existing level, TI’ME Grand Plaza Hotel in Dubai has opened its new executive floor.

As part of an overall 18-month long renovation project, the newly unveiled floor is dedicated to high-profile guests and business travellers, and besides upgraded room amenities, it provides a range of executive benefits.

Holiday Inn Express Bahrain

TI'ME Grand Plaza Hotel

“The floor consists of an executive lounge with all of the ‘complimentary corporate comforts’ any discerning executive would expect, such as dedicated reception, library, private boardroom for up to 15 people, buffet breakfast, TV area, afternoon tea, evening snacks and mocktails,” explained Mohamed Awadalla, area vice president, TI’ME. To retain a business-like environment, the hotel has adopted a strict ‘no children’ policy on that particular floor.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air News

Qatar Airways to Expand European Network Qatar Airways’ European network is set to grow to 32 destinations by the end of the year with services to Serbia and Poland scheduled to begin in November and December.

Starting November 20, the airline will operate thrice weekly flights to Belgrade via Ankara, while Warsaw, which will be served four times a week, is due to be introduced to the route map from December 5.

Both destinations will be operated from Qatar Airways’ Doha hub with an Airbus A320 configured in two classes.

The addition of the Serbian and Polish capital cities is in line with the airline’s strategy to link Doha with underserved destinations, stressed Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.

“Over the past two to three years we have identified great opportunities to probe markets across Europe that are largely underserved by full service international airlines,“ he said.

RAK Airways to Launch Domestic Flights RAK Airways, the flag carrier of Ras Al Khaimah, is to start operating domestic services in October.

The airline, which has continuously expanded its network to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia since its re-launch in October 2010, announced its strategic plans to link Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE capital.

“RAK Airways will embark into a major milestone with its touchdown in the capital, Abu Dhabi, on October 3, “ commented John Brayford, acting CEO, RAK Airways. “With the first flight to Abu Dhabi, RAK Airways will be the first UAE flag carrier to operate domestic flights and the airline’s route network moves up to 10 destinations.”

RAK Airways

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air News

Qatar Airways Partners with Canadian Airline Qatar Airways has signed an interline partnership agreement with Canadian carrier, Porter Airlines, providing passengers with expanded travel options.

Qatar Airways’ services between Doha and Montreal and Washington-Dulles are now available for Porter Airlines’ interline flights, allowing customers to purchase only one ticket for a trip involving both carriers.

“Establishing Porter’s first interline agreement is an important occasion for us and we could not have chosen a better partner than Qatar Airways, one of the world’s elite airlines,” highlighted Robert Deluce, president, Porter Airlines. “It is the beginning of a plan to add multiple interline partners this year, introducing Porter to an entirely new set of passengers.”

Qatar Airways

Emirates Lands in Erbil Emirates has inaugurated its new non-stop service between Dubai and Erbil, marking the airline’s third destination in Iraq.

Commenting on the new route, Adel Al Redha, executive vice president, engineering and operations, Emirates, said, “The launch of Erbil marks Emirates’ 16th destination in the Middle East and we are confident that our passenger operations in Erbil will be as successful as our existing Iraqi gateways. We expect this new destination to be extremely popular with the many multinational companies who have a presence in Erbil, in addition to those looking to set up new business ventures.”

Etihad Increases Brisbane Flights Etihad Airways is to boost frequency on its Brisbane route from three times a week to daily service, effective from February 1, 2013.

The additional frequencies, which will be operated via Singapore, will bring the total number of flights offered between Abu Dhabi and Australia, by the national carrier together with partner airline Virgin Australia, to 28.

“Going daily to Brisbane and Singapore puts Etihad Airways in a stronger competitive position and will increase the airline’s brand footprint exponentially in these markets,” stressed James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways.

Gulf Air Returns to Iran and Iraq Gulf Air is to resume its services to Iran and Iraq from September 20, after receiving approval from the Bahraini government.

Flights to Baghdad, Erbil, Najaf, and Basra in Iraq, and Tehran, Mashdad, Shiraz, and Isfahan in Iran, are expected to restart progressively between September 20 and October 28.

The airline’s return to the destinations is expected to receive a positive response from thousands of Iranians and Iraqis living and working in Bahrain and the GCC countries as well as from the business community, noted Samer Majali, CEO, Gulf Air.

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WEEKLY NEWS

International

Aloft to Debut Hotel in South Korea Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that it plans to launch the Aloft brand in South Korea in late 2014.

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ollowing the signing of an agreement with development partner Youngshin HRD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OKHOW, Aloft Suwon will be the first Aloft property in South Korea, adding to the brand’s global expansion plan and growth momentum in Asia Pacific that has been building up in recent years.

“We are pleased to partner with Youngshin HRD to bring the Aloft brand to South Korea for the first time,” said Stephen Ho, president, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. “While Starwood has maintained a long-standing presence in South Korea since the opening of the Westin Chosun Busan, this signing marks an important milestone in our overall growth strategy to expand the Aloft

Sheraton Hartford South Hotel Opening Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has opened Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, a former Marriott International property, which is currently undergoing a USD6 million renovation and conversion project to meet Sheraton Hotels & Resorts standards.

Owned by Merced Partners and managed by Wischermann Partners, the opening of Sheraton Hartford South Hotel is part of the brand’s strategic USD5 billion expansion effort.

“We are delighted to open our second Sheraton in the bustling Hartford metropolitan area. Sheraton Hartford South Hotel will offer travellers a stylish and comfortable setting designed to create an atmosphere where guests can make connections and enjoy all the brand’s recently enhanced signature services and amenities,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

The 251-room hotel is soon set to implement the brand’s signature Link@Sheraton, a social hub in the lobby, open a Sheraton Club Lounge, renovate the full-service dining and bar areas, and upgrade the existing fitness facility to feature the Sheraton brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness programme, all within a year.

brand. Aloft Suwon will add to 10 existing Aloft hotels in exciting cities throughout the Asia Pacific region.”

The 120-key Aloft Suwon is located about 60km from Incheon International Airport and 30km from Seoul, providing guests with various well-connected modes of transportation and easy access to numerous sights, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hwaseong Fortress, the Suwon business district, and local government offices.

The property will be part of a mixeduse development that also consists of retail and residential spaces, and will occupy the fourth to 11th floors, featuring 120 guest rooms, including 114 standard rooms and six suites.

Best Western Premier Expansion Best Western International (BWI) continues to bring luxury to new markets with the expansion of its Best Western Premier brand.

Best Western Premier recently made its debut in Australia and Russia, adding two key markets to the brand’s global portfolio. Best Western Premier Hotel 115 Kew, Melbourne and Best Western Premier Mona Hotel, just outside Moscow, have boosted the global Best Western Premier hotels collection to 146 properties in 34 countries.

“To have built up a portfolio of close to 150 Best Western Premier hotels in less than two years is a stunning achievement, and testament to the popularity of the product. Customers around the world have always trusted Best Western’s core brand values of convenience, comfort, and excellent service, and we are delighted to be able to offer that little bit of extra luxury and pampering to our deserving guests,” said Glenn de Souza, vice president, international operations, BWI, Asia and Middle East, who indicated that the hotel group will continue to expand the brand in key cities in the coming months.

25 AUGUST 2012

WHO'S MOVED

Michael Bayley Michael Bayley has been promoted to president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.

Bayley, who has been with Royal Caribbean Cruises, the brand’s parent company, for more than 30 years, takes on the position after serving as executive vice president of operations. Prior to this, he was the executive vice president of international, where he spearheaded the company’s aggressive expan-

sion into emerging and highgrowth markets, establishing 11 regional offices around the world.

Bayley graduated from the University of Bournemouth, UK, and has attended management programmes at Harvard Business School and Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, US. He also serves on the shareholder committee of TUI Cruises.

Aiman Roujouleh Aiman Roujouleh has joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group as regional director of sales.

In his capacity, he will be in charge of the company’s sales strategy and activities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, working from the group’s recently established sales office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Roujouleh, who is a gradu-

Hussein Saad Hassan Sarhan Hussein Saad Hassan Sarhan has been named reservations and revenue manager at Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Dubai.

Prior to taking on this current position, he worked as revenue manager of Royal International Hotel in Abu Dhabi, with responsibilities for executing a revenue strategy to maximise hotel room revenue through effective pricing and

25 AUGUST 2012

inventory management.

Sarhan started his career at Aladdin Tourist Village in Egypt before joining Sheraton Miramar Resort, El Gouna, as reservation sales agent. He later moved to the UAE to become reservations supervisor at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resorts, and later reservations manager and acting revenue management executive at Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel.

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ate of Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, brings a wealth of experience from the luxury hospitality industry to his new role.

He joins Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group after nine years with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Saudi Arabia where he most recently worked as associate regional director of sales.

Raed Salhieh Raed Salhieh has been appointed area director of finance and business support for Jordan and Palestine at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

Salhieh brings with him over 20 years of experience in financial and managerial positions in the hospitality industry, having previously worked in director of finance and business roles at IHG establishments across the Gulf re-

gion, including Crowne Plaza Al Khobar, InterContinental Jubail, and Minhal Holiday Inn Riyadh, and he also served as financial controller at both Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi and Holiday Inn Salalah.

Salhieh's financial management experience, coupled with a master's degree in business administrations, will make him an invaluable asset to IHG’s long-term plans.

TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

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Wael El Behi

Victor Louis

General Manager, Ramada Downtown.

Chief operating officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority.

“Our active and successful presence in China Workshop 2012 [organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing to maximise the business potential in the Chinese market] signifies our perseverance in promoting the property to the global market. Our hotel’s prime location, world-class facilities, and first-rate service are sure to attract the increasing number of tourists from China.”

“I congratulate the winning properties for achieving these prestigious awards. These awards [seven accolades for Banyan Tree Al Wadi and Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach, five for Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa and DoubleTree by Hilton, and one for Bin Majid Beach Hotel] endorse the aims of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority in promoting Ras Al Khaimah as a global affordable luxury destination for leisure and adventure travel.”

Verchele Wiggins Vice president, global brand management, Holiday Inn Family of Brands.

“The 60th anniversary is a global celebration of ‘firsts’ for Holiday Inn and we are excited about sharing this innovative heritage with our guests.

We have all experienced ‘firsts’ in our lives and will continue to do so, but most importantly we will never forget them. At Holiday Inn, we have celebrated many ‘firsts’ through the years; from the first hotel to let children stay and eat for free, to our one billion dollar global refresh.”

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

25AUGUST 2012

AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Khashayar Cheraghvand POSITION: Executive, international marketing COMPANY: Dornagasht Tour & Travel Agency (Iran Paradise)

LOCATION: Iran WEB: www.dornagasht.com Who are you?

My name is Khashayar Cheraghvand, and I was born in 1978 in Tehran, Iran. My given name, Khashayar, is the Persian meaning of Xerxes, one of the Achaemenid kings. Although I studied civil engineering at the university, about five years ago, with my sister’s encouragement, I suddenly decided to discover a new world, which has always been my dream: tourism.

At first, I started as a tour guide in order to learn the places I had not visited before, to explore the beauty of travelling and to show them to our visitors. At present, I work as a tour operator at Dornagasht Tour & Travel Agency (Iran Paradise) along with my sister, Dina.

What is your favourite thing about working in this industry?

There are many interesting aspects of this industry and I always find new motivations that keep me going. However, the main reason is the opportunity to gain new experiences while travelling, and what could be more enjoyable than sharing these experiences with others?

When is the best time to visit Iran?

The best periods are the months of March, April, and May, or between mid-September and the end of November.

Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?

I am planning to visit Iran’s Azerbaijan province, where I have never been before and which was recently struck by an earthquake, and I also would like to go to Brazil.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

Our clients trust our recommendations and quality services tailored to each customer’s desired specifications. The other important reason is that we can lower the cost without compromising on the quality.

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Etihad Airways Launches New Sales Kiosk Etihad Airways has opened a new sales kiosk on the third floor of Abu Dhabi Mall, aimed at keeping pace with the ever-growing demand of air travel from the capital.

Hareb Al Muhairy, vice president, UAE, Etihad Airways, said, “This is another great service from Etihad Airways to support our rapidly growing Abu Dhabi customer base. The stylish, modern, and fully equipped facility provides our guests with the full range of services from booking flights or holidays to finding out more about our expanding services around the world.”

The new facility allows Etihad Guests to securely book flights,

Etihad Airways

purchase tickets, obtain travel insurance, find competitive car rental deals, and buy Hala Abu Dhabi packages.

“Etihad Airways is constantly looking to make travelling a truly pleasurable experience. The new Abu Dhabi mall kiosk is just one of many new innovative facilities and initiatives that we are developing,” Al Muhairy concluded.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS Social Media for Marketing Still at Infancy Stage

Muslim Tourists: The Largest Untapped Niche Market Muslim tourists represent a global niche market, one which is expected to grow at a rate of 4.8 percent through to 2020, a new study conducted by DinarStandard has revealed.

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ccording to the report, entitled Global Muslim Lifestyle Travel Market: Landscape & Consumer Needs, the global Muslim tourism market was worth USD126.1 billion in outbound expenditure in 2011, representing 12.3 percent of the total global figure which reached USD1,034 billion, as estimated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Comparatively, the Muslim tourism

market as a whole is larger than the heaviest spending tourism segment in the world, Germany, and almost twice that of China, with the MENA markets representing 60 percent of the global results.

Based on findings of the research, the top outbound Muslim tourism source country in 2011 was Saudi Arabia, followed by Iran, UAE, Indonesia, and Kuwait, while the top destinations for Muslim tourists include Malaysia, Turkey, and the UAE.

Social media networks have still not gained prominence in the hotel sector, a recent study conducted by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and RateTiger has revealed.

Based on the report titled The Distribution Challenge 2012, which studied five countries including France, Germany, Spain, UK, and the US, hoteliers are focusing their efforts on offline and direct sales methods to reduce third-party costs instead of utilising the social media to drive sales. Currently, only one in eight hotels use any form of social media as a marketing tool. According to the results, hoteliers are still to be convinced about the exact impact of such channels.

DM Finalises Dubai Map Projects The Geographic Information Systems Department of the Dubai Municipality (DM) has completed the Dubai Map and 360 degree Panorama projects.

Aimed to provide integrated geographic information of the emirate and enable locals and visitors alike to benefit from them, the projects will soon be available on DM’s official website.

According to Abdul Hakim Malik, director, Geographic Information Systems Department, The Dubai Map is an aerial photography project acquiring high quality colour digital aerial images and orthoimagery of Dubai and Hatta, while the 360 degree Panorama project consists of taking pictures using a device made of synchronised cameras equipped with a special lens.

Dubai Map Project

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Hassan Al-Mousawi With a host of large-scale developments taking shape in Qatar, investors and businessmen continue to pour into the country, which is, in turn, further driving demand for private jet services. Hassan Al-Mousawi, CEO, Rizon Jet, discusses the company’s ever-growing capabilities and long-term strategic plans.

Travel Trade Weekly: As Rizon Jet continues to widen its business horizon, what would you count as the highlights of the past few months?

Hassan Al-Mousawi CEO, Rizon Jet

Hassan Al-Mousawi: We have had an excellent start to the year, with the official opening of our VIP terminal in Doha in March a particular highlight.

Awareness of the Rizon Jet brand and our offering is increasing, and we are developing that offering to make it as comprehensive and tailored to our customers as we possibly can. We are constantly adding new approvals at our maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), most recently Bermudan and Aruban approval in Doha, and there are some exciting new prospects around the corner.

Travel Trade Weekly: What aspects make Rizon Jet an ideal choice for travellers looking for private jet services?

Hassan Al-Mousawi: We provide private travel solutions and business aircraft services to today’s time-pressed traveller.

We have our award-winning passenger terminal in Doha, and its associated maintenance and management services, but we are also the only Middle East operator to have an equally luxurious and well-equipped facility in London at Biggin Hill Airport.

We raise the bar when it comes to standards in what is a very exclusive marketplace; in terms of VIP facilities at our impressive airport terminals, our security and safety standards, and our commitment to developing exceptional maintenance and management operations for private jet owners. Whether travellers

25 AUGUST 2012

are looking to charter an aircraft, or they are private jet owners looking for maintenance and management, Rizon Jet has an unrivalled suite of services designed to help them get maximum value and enjoyment from their investment.

Travel Trade Weekly: Rizon Jet offers a comprehensive portfolio of services. Could you tell us about these?

Hassan Al-Mousawi: Our private and business aviation services include a growing fleet of owned and managed aircraft available for charter for flights originating in the Gulf and, through our UK affiliate, Oryx Jet, from London.

To perfectly complement our charter service, we have invested in truly luxurious VIP terminals. Customers enjoy the finest passenger amenities, and the terminals also

offer meeting facilities.

At both bases, there are fully approved and certified maintenance and repair operations.

One of the most exciting developments in the business over recent years has been the establishment of a new division, Aircraft Consultancy & Management. We can handle everything from maintenance and regulatory management, to crewing and operations and flight co-ordination; owners no longer have the stress of maintaining their aircraft, and dealing with the planning and organisation.

In the same way that we have developed a division to offer aircraft management, we are finding that many of our customers are asking if we can manage their travel plans. Currently, we are in the process of setting up a travel management division, aimed at individuals and business men, who prefer to have just one contact arranging all their travel plans.

Travel Trade Weekly: What is next in your development plans?

Hassan Al-Mousawi: It has been a busy first half of the year for all areas of the business, and we expect that trend to continue as Rizon Jet’s reputation builds in both the Middle East and Europe.

We have seen traffic increasing threefold at our London terminal, and both MROs are adding to the list of certifications and approvals. We also expect to secure approvals in Doha from UAE and Saudi Arabia soon. With our fixed-base operator brand firmly established, we are gearing up to expand into new markets and talks are at an advanced stage with the French authorities for a facility at Paris-Le Bourget Airport.

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NEWS & EVENTS

ILTM Africa to be Launched Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), ILTM Asia, and ILTM Americas, is to launch the first luxury travel event to focus exclusively on Africa.

ILTM Africa, taking place in Cape Town in April 2013, will follow the already well-established format of the ILTM shows, inviting the most discerning luxury travel agents and specialists to meet directly with Africa’s diverse range of luxury travel suppliers. Buyers are expected to join the event from all over the world, especially from the US, Brazil and Europe.

“Reed has been exploring opportunities in Africa for some time and because of the sheer size of the continent, the diversity of its luxury travel offering with natural beauty, world-class facilities, adventure, and wildlife experiences, it makes sense to take our global brand, already on three continents, to a new one; Africa,” explained Alison Gilmore, exhibition director, ILTM.

ADAC Reveals Summit Programme Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has announced the programme for the World Route Development Strategy Summit; the upcoming conference to be held alongside the 18th World Route Development Forum (World Routes).

Hailed as the largest and only global annual meeting for aviation professionals from around the world, the conference will take place between September 30 and October 1 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.

The summit, titled Uniting Air Transport Stakeholders to Drive Future Aviation Strategy will tackle key topics including taxation, soaring oil prices, aeropolitics, environmental factors, sustainable route development, economic development, and general regional perspectives on aviation and industry growth.

The programme will provide an excellent platform for aviation specialists to discuss the most pressing issues and opportunities of the industry on an international, regional and local scale, noted James Bennett, CEO, ADAC.

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.

25 AUGUST 2012