Travel Trade Weekly Issue 164

www.traveltradecyprus.travel

29 DECEMBER 2012

ISSUE 164

www.traveltradecyprus.travel

29 DECEMBER 2012

ISSUE 164

Hilton Hotels & Resorts to Open Second Hotel in Alexandria Hilton Worldwide is to strengthen its presence in Egypt after signing a management agreement with Delta for Tourism & Hotels Company to launch a new hotel in Alexandria.

Best Western Al-Olaya Suites Hotel, Manama, has opened its doors, marking Best Western International’s entry into Bahrain.

05 Air Arabia Takes Off to Basra Air Arabia has launched services to Basra, offering three weekly flights between Sharjah and the Iraqi city.

09 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 05 08 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Best Western International Debuts in Bahrain

5

2

MARKET UPDATE

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

Abu Dhabi Achieves Best October Yet In October, Abu Dhabi recorded its best month under review yet in terms of hotel guests and guest nights, based on figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou Maria Kazeli 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 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

22/12/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.17

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

71.00

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.55

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.46

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,238.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.06

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

78.34

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.26

A

s the destination edges closer to its annual target of 2.3 million guests, October saw some 675,500 guests reside in the emirate’s 136 hotels and hotel apartments, marking a year-on-year increase of 16 percent, and lifting the year-to-date figure to 1,964,345, up 11 percent.

Meanwhile, total hotel revenues rose nine percent month-on-month to over AED450 million (USD122.5 million), moving the year-to-date revenues to AED3.61 billion (USD982.8 million).

October’s action-packed events series has been pivotal to the stellar performance, according to H.E. Mubarak Al Muhairi, direc-

tor general, TCA Abu Dhabi, who added that the authority, which is working closely with its stakeholders, is focusing on initiatives to build occupancy and extend the average length of stay.

“Building length of stay will be part of the offset solution and is achievable given there is now so much more to see and do in the emirate, with another mainline attraction, in the shape of the Yas Waterworld theme park, due on line shortly,” added Al Muhairi. “We are actively pursuing a vibrant trade engagement programme and plan to open a representation office in India, now our second largest overseas source market, to nurture arrivals from this important market.”

Jazeera Airways: Growing Market Share Jazeera Airways has further increased its market share on a number of popular routes, based on the Kuwaiti airline’s operational performance report for the month of October.

The low-cost carrier grabbed a 38 percent market share on the Kuwait Amman route, where passenger numbers rose 42 percent year-on-year.

On the Cairo route, the airline captured a 28 percent market share, with passenger volume up 39 percent, while on the Beirut route the carrier increased its market share to 37 percent.

Istanbul and Sharm El Sheikh both closed the month with significant improvements, with passenger numbers up 44 percent and 54 percent, respectively.

In addition, Jazeera Airways was also the primary Kuwaiti airline to the high-demand destinations of Dubai and Bahrain, and has also captured leading market shares on another four of its six Egyptian destinations.

Jazeera Airways’ on-time performance for the month was 94 percent, making it the most punctual airline in the Middle East for the 22nd consecutive month, as measured by FlightStats.

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WEEKLY NEWS European Online Travel Market Continues to Boom The European online travel market continues to sustain double-digit gains, despite the sluggish growth of the region’s travel industry, data released in PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Eighth Edition shows.

Based on the report, as a result of the ongoing economic turmoil, the European travel market is expected to grow 2.5 percent this year, half as fast as in 2011, to reach EUR242 billion (USD313.5 billion), while the online leisure and unmanaged business travel market is set to record a 10 percent increase, still down from 17 percent registered in 2011.

The rise in online sales has largely been driven by online travel agencies, which are expected to witness a 13 percent growth, with supplier websites gaining eight percent.

“Europe's online travel market continues to outpace the overall market, but growth will decelerate across all channels over the next two years,“ emphasised Carroll Rheem, senior director, research, PhoCusWright, explaining that this is partly due to general economic challenges as well as the graduation of some markets to a mature online state.

Six Senses Zighy Bay to Host Sailing Event Six Senses Zighy Bay confirmed its third collaboration with Oman Sail’s EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – the Tour 2013.

Touring through four nations and seven marinas, competitors will sail over 1,408km in only 15 days.

Starting from the Bahraini capital city of Manama and ending in Muscat, Oman, the route will traverse the Arabian Peninsula with Six Senses Zighy Bay as the first stop in the Sultanate, while the property will be hosting the sailors and crew between February 21 – February 23, 2013.

“We are privileged to welcome the fleet closer to home, and what better place than in the midst of the Musandam’s breathtaking landscape and unparalleled luxury of Six Senses. We are all very excited, and all eyes will be looking to the spinnakers at the finish line on our doorstep,” commented Axel Jarosch, general manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay.

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3

ICAO Agrees on Air Navigation Strategy The 12th Air Navigation Conference, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and attended by 1,000 delegates from 120 states and 30 international organisations, was concluded with the revision of the Global Air Navigation Plan.

“The primary goal of the 12th Air Navigation Conference was to ensure coherent and harmonised ATM [air traffic management] modernisation and implementation in order to keep air transport safe, reliable, and efficient,” stressed Roberto Kobeh González, council president, ICAO, adding that the global aviation system needed to adopt a standardised solution.

An important feature of the revised plan is that it provides flexibility for countries to move at their own pace, adopting performance upgrades needed to address their own operational and traffic density profiles.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Airlines to Welcome 3.6 Billion Passengers The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the IATA Airline Industry Forecast 2012 – 2016, which predicts that airlines are to welcome 3.6 billion passengers in 2016, almost 800 million more than in 2011, indicating a growth of 5.3 percent per annum over the four-year period.

According to predictions, the emerging economies of the Asia Pacific, Latin

American, and Middle East regions will see the strongest passenger increase, led by routes within or connected to China, which are expected to account for 193 million of the 831 million new passengers; 159 million on domestic routes and 34 million travelling internationally.

International passenger numbers are set to grow from 1.11 billion recorded in

Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa Hosts Travel Agents Celebrating its latest addition in Jordan, Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently invited travel agents to experience the resort firsthand, to show appreciation to all those who endeavour to support IHG cluster properties in the country throughout the years.

The initiative was also aimed at introducing the property and helping the agents promote it to potential tourists, as the agents and their spouses were treated to a cocktail reception at the promenade, followed by a party at the Dead Sea beach, and a tour around the resort the following day.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Post Contrasting Results While Dubai’s hotel sector continued to thrive during the month of October, Abu Dhabi’s hotels witnessed further declines, based on TRI Hospitality Consultancy’s latest HotStats report.

Occupancy levels in Dubai’s four- and five-star hotels averaged at 87.1 percent, up 5.7 percentage points over the same month in 2011, driven by strong demand both domestically and regionally during the Eid celebrations.

As a result, average room rate (ARR) for the month improved 7.5 percent to USD347.25, and RevPAR rose 15 percent to USD302.31, while gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) jumped 20 percent to USD258.58.

Contrarily, occupancy levels in Abu Dhabi fell 5.6 percentage points to 75.5 percent and ARR declined 11.4 percent to USD145.06, dragging RevPAR down by 17.5 percent to USD109.47. GOPPAR in the capital city averaged at USD94.08, down 26.7 percent.

2011 to 1.45 billion passengers in 2016, bringing 331 million passengers for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 percent, while domestic passenger numbers are anticipated to rise from 1.72 billion witnessed in 2011 to 2.21 billion in 2016, a 494 million increase, reflecting a CAGR of 5.2 percent over the five-year period.

JA Resorts & Hotels Hosts Sports Professionals JA Resorts & Hotels recently welcomed some of the biggest names in the golf world to its globally renowned golf resort and hosted over 470 skydivers at its beachfront Dubai properties.

For over a week, Jebel Ali Golf Resort, the official hotel and caterer of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, was overrun with many of the most successful players, offering them the resort’s on-site nine-hole practice golf course to prepare for the tournament.

Meanwhile, the hotel company’s other two properties, Oasis Beach Tower and Ocean View Hotel, welcomed the skydivers during the highly popular Sky Dive Dubai event.

KTO Medical Tourism Event The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) recently organised the ‘Korea Medical Tourism Evening’ in Abu Dhabi, to promote the country as a medical tourism destination and its products for this niche segment.

Korea is a fast-growing nation in medical tourism sector, having welcomed 122,297 medical tourists in 2011, during which Abu Dhabi and Dubai health care authorities had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean health care authority, which resulted in hundreds of Emirati patients having been sent to the Asian for treatment.

Meanwhile, Middle East arrivals in the country reached 91,838 tourists by end-September, a 19.3 percent increase over the same period in 2011, attributed to the aggressive promotion of medical tourism in Korea since 2010, with road shows in Dubai and Beirut.

29 DECEMBER 2012

Accommodation

Hilton Hotels & Resorts to Open Second Hotel in Alexandria Hilton Worldwide is to strengthen its presence in Egypt after the signing of a management agreement with Delta for Tourism & Hotels Company to launch a new Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Alexandria.

The new Hilton Alexandria Corniche is set to open in 2013 and will be Hilton Worldwide’s 19th property in Egypt and the second in the city.

Alexandria is a vibrant destination with strong business and tourism sector and the hotel will complement the company's already operational property in the city, as Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East and Africa explained.

Egypt combines many styles and offerings, and, as Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, committed, Hilton Alexandria Corniche will perfectly combine these style and service attributes to create a premium experience for both leisure and business travellers.

29 DECEMBER 2012

WEEKLY NEWS

5

Best Western International Debuts in Bahrain Best Western Al-Olaya Suites Hotel, Manama, has opened its doors, marking Best Western International (BWI)’s entry into Bahrain.

With 75 one- and two-bedroom suites including studios, all featuring kitchenettes, the hotel offers an ideal base for both short- and long-stay guests, whether travelling on business or on holiday, who can benefit from the selection of food and beverage options, fully-equipped health club, swimming pool, and conference hall.

“Our Middle Eastern expansion plan continues to gather pace. Following our recent debut in Saudi Arabia and the announcement of our first hotels in Oman and Kuwait, I am delighted to be able to add Bahrain to our growing regional portfolio,” commented Glenn de Souza, vice president, international operations, Asia and Middle East, BWI.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Kempisnki Hotel Ajman Commits to Sustainability Kempinski Hotel Ajman has unveiled its new solar energy system, originally installed in July, which uses solar thermal collectors to heat hot water.

By harnessing the energy of the sun, the first fivestar hotel in the emirate of Ajman will be able to heat 30,000 litres of water each day, leading to a significant reduction in energy costs.

The project, which is also expected to reduce up to 140 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, was unveiled on the occasion of a board meeting of KREEN, a joint venture between the hotel company, the German Stadtwerke Mainz, and the Swiss Marshfield Energy.

Kempinski Hotel Ajman

Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi to Undergo Refurbishment Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, the five-star hotel strategically located in the heart of the UAE capital’s commercial and business districts, is to embark on a refurbishment programme.

As Shaun Parsons, general manager, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, revealed, the project will include the completion of the room makeover in the property’s Deluxe Tower, as well as the revamp of the lobby and the launch of the new Royal Club lounge.

“Also in the plans is the refurbishment of five of the restaurants and the opening of one or two new outlets branded to international chefs,” added Parsons, who explained that the whole project will be placing the property on par with the latest developments in the city.

Rotana Introduces New Mobile App Rotana has launched a new mobile application, which enables browsing and booking on the go, catering to the rapidly expanding number of guests using smartphones to explore available hospitality options.

The new app, which allows instant access to 44 operating Rotana hotels across the Middle East and Africa, is offering guests ‘click to call’; a live customer service agent via voice or video, and features an online booking capacity that interfaces with Rotana’s central reservation system, making the best available rates obtainable to the public.

In addition to its informative content, the app’s design and interface have been developed to provide a top quality user experience.

Tilal Liwa Hotel to Welcome Al Dhafra Camel Festival Tilal Liwa Hotel is gearing up to conclude the Al Dhafra Camel Festival, which has been taking place since December 15 and is set to come to an end on December 30.

The event, organised under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, has been featuring camel races and camel beauty contests as well as a camel auction, traditional souk, and various contests for traditional handicrafts, poetry, date packaging, and photography.

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8

WEEKLY NEWS

Alitalia Launches Direct Rome – Abu Dhabi Flights Alitalia, Italy’s flag carrier, has begun direct services between Rome and Abu Dhabi, in conjunction with codeshare partner, Etihad Airways, providing passengers with connectivity from the Italian capital to Athens, Milan, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Venice, and Zurich, as well as Bahrain, Muscat, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Melbourne, and Sydney.

James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, described the launch of the four-weekly flights as another positive milestone in the airline’s expanding partnership with the Italian carrier, which dates back to 2009.

H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, added, “Abu Dhabi is witnessing continuous growth in air traffic movements as a result of joint government and corporate efforts to provide world-class airports and aviation services, and the position Abu Dhabi holds as a key connecting destination in the region.”

Alitalia Lands in Abu Dhabi

Air News

Air Arabia Increases Flights to Peshawar Air Arabia announced the expansion of services to Peshawar, Pakistan, with the three weekly flights, departing from Sharjah, haning been increased to daily.

Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, expressed his delight for this development, and said, “We are extremely pleased to announce the expansion of services to the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. Since launching operations to Pakistan, it has always been a market of focus for us, and the launch of additional services is a result of increasing customer demand from the market.

“The ever growing appeal for Air Arabia flights, underpinned by the value for money services, signals that Air Arabia continues to be the airline of choice for thousands of passengers who travels between Pakistan and the UAE.” The new services to Peshawar follow the recent increase of flights to Karachi to daily, the city to which Air Arabia started operations to Pakistan in 2007. Today, the airline operates 14 weekly direct services to the two cities in the country.

Garuda Indonesia Launches Route through Abu Dhabi

Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia has further expanded its global network by introducing four weekly flights between Jakarta, Indonesia, and Amsterdam, Holland, through Abu Dhabi.

The use of Abu Dhabi as a connection between Europe and the East demonstrates the UAE capital’s firm position as an international aviation hub, as James Bennett, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, noted.

Emirsyah Satar, president, Garuda Indonesia, added, “Garuda Indonesia’s stopover in Abu Dhabi is an effort to continually improve its services to customers and is part of its partnership with Etihad Airways. Now, our customers from Indonesia, Asia, and Australia will enjoy the ease of connecting via Abu Dhabi to all over the world, with the codeshare agreement we are doing with Etihad”.

The two airlines’ codeshare agreement enables passengers on the route to connect further from Jakarta or Amsterdam to the rest of the world on the Etihad Airways’ growing network.

Hainan Airlines Lands in Abu Dhabi Hainan Airlines has launched scheduled flights between Beijing and Luanda, the capital city of Angola, via Abu Dhabi, marking the first route from a Chinese carrier to the UAE capital.

The new service, which will be operated twice a week on a Boeing B767-300ER, follows the codeshare agreement between Hainan Airlines and Etihad Airways, and marks a strategic step in the Chinese airline’s expansion, as Hou Wei, chief marketing officer, Hainan Airlines, noted.

James Bennett, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), added, “ADAC is pleased to welcome the first Chinese international carrier to use Abu Dhabi International Airport to connect with the rest of the world. The flights will not only increase the choice of destinations from Abu Dhabi, but they will also give Hainan Airlines’ passengers the opportunity to experience one of the most dynamic capitals in the Middle East and the world-class service Abu Dhabi International Airport has to offer.”

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Air News

Etihad Airways Launches In-flight Internet Connectivity Etihad Airways has launched its new Etihad Wi-Fly in-flight Internet and mobile connectivity service, powered by the Panasonic Avionics Global Communications Suite.

The airline’s first aircraft equipped with the communications technology is an Airbus A330-200, offering high-speed broadband Internet connectivity, as well as data and mobile phone services, and will be used for long-haul destinations across Etihad Airways’ network.

By the end of the first quarter of 2013, the airline will have 10 aircraft equipped with Etihad Wi-Fly while by the end of 2014, all of its aircraft will be equipped for in-flight connectivity, as James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways, revealed, further explaining that Etihad WiFly is a result of the 10-year, USD1 billion agreement signed with Panasonic Avionics Global Communications Suite in November 2011.

Etihad Airways' Airbus A330-200

Air Arabia Takes Off to Basra Air Arabia has launched services to Basra, offering three weekly flights between Sharjah and the Iraqi city.

Basra is the carrier’s third destination in Iraq, after Najaf and Erbil. “This step reflects the commitment we place on serving the Iraqi market. The new service further strengthens our services to Iraq, and offers customers wider choice of affordable air travel while contributing to the trade and tourism ties between the UAE and Iraq,” said Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia.

Basra, located in the southern part of the country, is the second largest city in Iraq after its capital Baghdad.

29 DECEMBER 2012

WEEKLY NEWS

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Qatar Airways to Serve Sixth Gateway in China Qatar Airways has announced the launch of scheduled flights to Chengdu, its sixth destination to China, beginning March 19, 2013.

The airline will operate three flights a week to the capital of Sichuan Province in Southwest China, while it already serves the country with 38 weekly operations from Doha.

Chengdu is an economic, transportation, and communication hub in China and considered among the top 10 cities for investment in the country, as Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, who praised the entire country as a market which is growing in stature, explained, “Chengdu is another key city in a vibrant economy looking for more air capacity and we are delighted to announce our operations there from March 2013.”

Qatar Airways to Launch Flights between Athens and New York Qatar Airways has revealed that it will launch direct scheduled flights from Athens to New York as of mid-2013.

Commemorating the airline’s eight-year presence in Greece and reinforcing the carrier’s increasingly strong and growing operations in the country, Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, made the announcement, while in the Greek capital.

Qatar Airways already flies double daily to Athens linking the city with its operational hub in Doha, a route which Al Baker stated has become the number one intercontinental destination in absolute number of passengers at Athens International Airport, surpassing, for the first time in the airport’s history, New York City.

“Launching this new route, from Athens to New York from the middle of next year, will provide passengers with an even more unique travel experience, strengthening Qatar Airways’ reputation as the airline of choice for leisure and business travellers,” Al Akbar added, who described the Athens route as ‘a combined symbol of a home base and a gateway’, and one which extends the horizons of a solid and lasting cooperation between the airline and Greece.

Acropolis, Athens

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WEEKLY NEWS

International

Jumeirah Group Expands to India Jumeirah Group has signed a management agreement to operate a luxury hotel in central Mumbai, India, with plans to open in 2017.

The hotel represents the first phase of the group’s expansion into India, with negotiations underway for more projects in other key destinations in the country.

“The demand for five-star hotels in the Indian market has

been robust and we are delighted to have initiated the first phase of our expansion into India with this landmark project in Mumbai,” commented Gerald Lawless, group CEO, Jumeirah Group.

With a portfolio of 20 luxury hotels and serviced apartments currently operating in the UAE, Europe, Maldives, and China, Jumeirah Group boasts a further 15 properties under development.

Hilton Worldwide Opens Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa Hilton Worldwide has announced the official opening of Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa in Knysna, South Africa, the first Conradbranded property in sub-Sahara Africa.

The Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa has 86 rooms and is set amid 1012ha of indigenous grounds. It offers views to the city’s famous lagoon and the Indian Ocean, while the resort’s sevenroom private castle, which is built into the cliff face overlooking the secluded Noetzie Beach, offers guests the luxury of a private butler and chef.

John Vanderslice, global head, luxury and lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide, said “Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa is an outstanding example of a truly unique resort which will appeal to the discerning, smart traveller looking to combine style and service with one of the most exciting destinations in Africa.”

A few of the hotel’s amenities include an 18-hole golf course, four tennis courts, and an archery and golf range, while guests can also enjoy horse riding, nature trails, and canoe trips.

29 DECEMBER 2012

WHO'S MOVED

Maher Salman Jabor Al Musallam Maher Salman Jabor Al Musallam has been appointed acting CEO at Gulf Air. Al Musallam takes on the position following the resignation of Samer Majali, who is due to leave the airline at the end of the month after more than three years at the company.

The former deputy CEO’s appointment was announced by the Bahraini airline’s new board of directors at its sec-

ond meeting, which was held to ensure the implementation of the restricting plan designed to put the carrier on a path towards long-term sustainability.

Maher Salman Jabor Al Musallam has been appointed acting CEO at Gulf Air

Luis Mirabelli Luis Mirabelli has been named vice president of development for Latin America by Wyndham Hotel Group, effective January 1, 2013.

In this newly created position, Mirabelli will be responsible for leading the company’s development efforts in the region, including executing strategic deals in key markets, establishing and maintaining a strong network of multi-unit develop-

29 DECEMBER 2012

ment partners, and strengthening synergies between the group and sister company RCI to help further growth in Latin America.

Mirabelli began his career with RCI in 1992, and returned to the company in 2006 after working as general director for Royal Holiday South America.

Most recently, he served as vice president of business development for South America at RCI.

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Kathryn Beiser Kathryn Beiser has joined Hilton Worldwide as executive vice president of corporate communications.

Beiser has been tasked with overseeing external and internal communications and corporate responsibility globally.

She joins the company from Discover Financial Services, where she served as vice president of corporate communications. Prior to that, Beiser

spent two decades working at some of the world’s leading public relations agencies, including Burson-Marsteller, GolinHarris and Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

Beiser, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in journalism, is a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and a member of The Seminar and The Arthur W. Page Society.

Maricris Limbo Maricris Limbo has joined she will be responsible for the Jumeira Rotana – Dubai as hotel’s marketing and public marketing executive. relations initiatives.

Limbo, who hails from the Philippines, joined Rotana in Over the past four 2008 and started her career in years, she has the marketing field at Al Ain gained extensive Rotana. Over the past four experience and years, she has gained extenknowledge, which sive experience and knowlwill make her a edge, which will make her a valuable member of valuable member of the fourthe four-star star property’s team, where property’s team

TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

12

Francis Riley

Hassan Al-Mousawi

Vice president, general manager international, Norwegian Cruise Line.

CEO, Rizon Jet.

“More and more people are discovering that a cruise holiday is a very relaxing way of seeing many different places in one holiday [...]. We have a high repeat rate among our guests, which we see as a confirmation of the quality of the product we offer. Whilst North America is a mature market [...] all other markets still have to reach the market penetration that cruise holidays have in North America and are thus all promising for us.“

“We are very excited about becoming part of this prestigious network [The Luxury Network Qatar]; it is a wonderful opportunity for Rizon Jet to work closely with non-competing key luxury brands and high end service providers. The Luxury Network Qatar will be an ideal gateway to develop a comprehensive strategy to form new alliances and partnerships with brands that will complement our products and growth.”

Amr Badr

Endah Pratiwi

Managing director, Egypt and Middle East, Abercrombie & Kent.

Director, human resources, The Ritz-Carlton Dubai.

“Egypt as a destination will never wane nor fade.

If anything, it may suffer from time to time but the recovery is always guaranteed. Our long record in the industry proves the point that Egypt may slow down but it never stops. This is because Egypt is engraved in the minds and imaginations of every person throughout the world because of the legacy of its ancient civilisation and its wondrous monuments [...].“

“With nearly 30 percent of our employees boasting more than five years tenure in the property, to receive suwch an amazing award [Best Five Star Hotel Employer of the Year from CatererGlobal] for the second year in a row really proves that our ladies and gentlemen value their employee promise and are continuously living the gold standards of The Ritz-Carlton brand.”

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

29 DECEMBER 2012

AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT

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Honouring Key Front Line Travel Agents

NAME: Samer Habib POSITION: General manager COMPANY: East West Aviation LOCATION: Egypt WEB: www.virginatlantic.com

Who are you?

My name is Samer Habib, and I started my carrier at American Airlines, Egypt, as a counter agent 22 years ago. Then I moved to the sales department as a sales executive, then I became sales manager, [followed by] country manager. Afterwards, I introduced Amadeus to the Egyptian market for the first time as general manager, Egypt.

In 2007, I returned to the travel industry as vice president of a leading travel agency in charge of the corporate and International Air Transport Association offices.

This year, I joined East West Group, another leading travel agency as general manager of East West Aviation, the general sales agent of Virgin Atlantic in Egypt.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?

Meeting customer satisfaction and retaining clients’ loyalties, as well as overcoming business obstacles.

When is the best time to visit Egypt?

For beaches and diving, all year round. For historical visits from December to February due to the hot weather in [the northern part of ] Egypt.

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

Hawaii and France.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

East West Travel is a leading travel agency that was founded in 1982 by Wahib Wahba, one of the leaders in the Egyptian travel industry. During the past 30 years, it has obtained and retained its reputation as one of the premier travel management companies in Egypt, due to its unfailing attention to details and its emphasis on personal touches to give each traveller the utmost confidence that his/her arrangements have been correctly, efficiently, and cost-effectively made.

29 DECEMBER 2012

Gulf Air in collaboration with Sabre Travel Network Middle East recently invited over 300 travel agents to an official awards ceremony and dinner, honouring the airline’s top travel agents in the GCC, Middle East, and Asia.

The event, which took place at Dragon Hotel, Amwaj Islands, Bahrain, was aimed at recognising and thanking trade partners for their loyalty and support to Gulf Air. “Travel agents are integral to the growth of our airline, and we are taking this opportunity to thank these key front line personnel from agencies in the

GCC, Middle East, India, and Pakistan for making the Gulf Air experience a positive one for our passengers from the very first moment of booking,” said Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Gulf Air. In addition, Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Sabre Travel Network Middle East, indicated that by showing support towards Gulf Air’s endeavours to support the travel agent community, the team at Sabre Travel Network Middle East is joining hands to recognise, in turn, those agents who have also been supportive to the global technology company.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

Asia Drives Global Tourism With the number of outbound trips from Asia on the rise, the region continues to be the driving force in global tourism, according to the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report.

T

his year alone, outbound tourism figures from Asia rose by seven percent, as stated in the report, while only one third of Asians said that the global financial crisis would somehow affect their travel plans.

The most frequent travellers came from China, which proved to be one of Asia’s strongest markets, with 30 percent of its nationals planning to travel more in 2013. Meanwhile, Japan, which has almost fully recovered from the effects of 2011’ s tsunami, also reported strong double-digit grown in outbound travel during the first half of the year.

According to Martin Buck, director, Competence Centre Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin, Asia will continue to be one of the main forces driving international tourism, despite the economic uncertainty threatening major markets in Northeast Asia.

Sharjah Museums Department Concluded National Day Celebrations Marking the 41st anniversary of the UAE National Day with a nine-day comprehensive programme, Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) welcomed a large number of participants to enjoy various traditional activities, Emirati folklore, and heritage events, just to name a few.

The celebration programme, which ran from November 25 - December 3, included a parade, organised for the fourth consecutive year and which kicked off from the Maritime Museum.

Manal Ataya, director general, SMD, expressed the department’s eagerness to celebrate the National Day, the highlight on the year’s calendar, while she thanked government departments for their participation and contribution to the success of the National Day festivities.

ITB Reveals Tourism in Europe Defies Crisis In Europe, the consequences of the financial crisis on tourism industry are various, but the overall trend remains positive, according to the findings of the ITB World Travel Trends Report, compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

The number of stays abroad and spending rose by around two percent, while European travel patterns changed, meaning beach holidays fell by one percent and city tours grew by around 14 percent. Short breaks surged by 10 percent and business stays abroad increased by eight percent.

The report also discovered that Europeans favour faraway destinations; long-haul travel jumped approximately four percent.

Overall for 2013, the report predicts an increase in European outbound travel of around one to two percent, since only one third of Europeans said the recession would affect their travel plans in 2013, while the continent can also expect more arrivals, according to the findings of the report.

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RENDEZVOUS

15

Q & A with Michael Shindler With over 170 venues in 55 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognised brands, which, as Michael Shindler, executive vice president, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, reveals, has highly ambitious plans for the MENA region.

Travel Trade Weekly: Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to develop the first Hard Rock-branded hotel in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. When is it scheduled to welcome its first guests?

Michael Shindler Executive vice president, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos

Michael Shindler: The hotel will soar some 38 storeys above the Corniche in the Soraya district of Abu Dhabi; it will contain 378 rooms and suites, designed by Aedas Interiors, with a distinct Hard Rock style. It will have seven food and beverage outlets, including Abu Dhabi’s first Hard Rock Café, a business centre, and, secularly, a 36th floor swimming pool, and an outdoor, fifth floor party deck. We expect an opening late 2015 or early 2016.

Travel Trade Weekly: The opening of Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi will mark the company’s debut in the region. What aspects make the UAE capital an ideal destination for investment for Hard Rock International?

Michael Shindler: Although this will be our first hotel in the region, we have many cafés in the Middle East, including a new one in Dubai, at Festival City, as well as in Beirut, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.

Abu Dhabi has a plethora of international hotel brands and its developers can select from those not now in the market, so the entry of Hard Rock Hotels into the marketplace speaks volumes about the development capabilities, vision, and foresight of Aabar Properties, the owner and developer of the hotel.

We expect Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi to bring a new energy and a new excite-

29 DECEMBER 2012

Abu Dhabi has a plethora of international hotel brands [...], so the entry of Hard Rock Hotels into the marketplace speaks volumes about the development capabilities, vision, and foresight of Aabar Properties, the owner and developer of the hotel

ment to Abu Dhabi and add to its international appeal.

Travel Trade Weekly: Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos’ portfolio includes various destinations around the globe, the MENA region, however, is yet to be explored by the company. Is this about to change now?

Michael Shindler: There are Hard Rock Hotels and Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in 18 destinations worldwide. Though it is true that this will be our first hotel in the MENA region, it is not for lack of trying.

Our director of development in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, Josh Littman, who joined us in April, has begun to explore opportunities in the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and surrounding areas. We are opportunistically responding to inquiries on a weekly (if not a daily) basis in both the MENA region and the rest of the world, and we hope that, over the next few years, the Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi will prove to have been the first of several, if not many, Hard Rock Hotels in an important destination in the MENA. At the same time, we have an active pipeline of transactions from the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and South America, to several countries across Europe, from Britain to the Baltics, to the Balearic Islands, and beyond to South Asia, Southeast Asia, Korea, China, and, as mentioned before, the MENA countries.

We are not geographically limited, and we can pursue the kind of expansion as our cafés have experienced previously, with destinations now in 55 countries around the world.

16

NEWS & EVENTS

WTM Vision Conference Series Announces Expansion World Travel Market (WTM) is expanding its midyear half-day WTM Vision Conference series to seven events in 2013, when it will see an event in São Paulo added to this year’s programme.

The WTM Vision Conference series started in 2009 with an event in London, and seeks to provide the industry’s senior leaders with the most recent research, information, and opinion, and for this reason all events will include exclusive research from Euromonitor International.

Fiona Jeffery, chairman, WTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions, expressed delight in this new addition to the list of countries in 2013, and said, “The global industry has responded incredibly positively to the idea of half-day mid-year events offering the latest information and opinion, which is vital for the senior executives to run their businesses.”

She further ensured that at Reed Travel Exhibitions and World Travel Market, the team strives to produce events of the highest quality.

Cairo to Host Site Executive Summit 2013 Society of Incentive Travel Executives (Site) recently announced that the Site Executive Summit 2013 will be hosted in Cairo, on February 11, 2013, at Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino, located in the city’s Zamalek district.

The summit is a one-day educational forum focused on the motivational events and incentive travel marketplace, and stands as an opportunity for professionals in the region to learn from and network with global industry leaders.

Following recent political strife in the country, Site hopes to educate professionals from Egypt and nearby countries and attract positive focus back to a region, as David Sand, CEO, Uwin Iwin Group, South Africa, Kenya, and India, explained, “As Site president for 2013, I am pleased that we are holding the Site Executive Summit in Africa. The event will shine a positive light on Egypt, and demonstrate to the world that Egypt is thriving.”

EVENTS East Mediterranean Tourism & Travel Exhibition (EMITT) Istanbul, Turkey, January 24 – 27, 2013 (www.emittistanbul.com) Considered the fifth largest travel exhibition in the world, EMITT brings together 4,500 exhibitors and over 128,000 visitors.

Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) Melbourne, Australia, February 26 – 27, 2013 (www.aime.com.au) A must-attend, five-star event in the Asia Pacific region for the meeting and events industry.

HOREXPO Cyprus 2013 Nicosia, Cyprus, January 25 – 27, 2013 (www.horexpo.com) The second edition of the event covering a wide range of travel industry sectors, including hotels and catering.

The Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 25 – 27, 2013 (www.gibtm.com) A leading event for the meetings, incentives and business travel industry in the GCC region, which can truly unlock all participants’ business potential.

Business Travel Show London, UK, February 5 – 6, 2013 (www.businesstravelshow.com) One of Europe’s main exhibition and conference for corporate travel buyers, managers, and bookers to source, learn, and network.

World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America São Paulo, Brazil, April 23 – 25, 2013 (www.wtmlatinamerica.com) The leading global event for the region’s travel industry, which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world.

Hoteliers European Marketplace Brussels, Belgium, February 11, 2013 (http://www.cvent.com/events/hoteliers-european-marketplace-2013) A one-day business-to-business workshop where European hotels and hotel chains meet contractors from all around the world.

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai, UAE, May 6 – 9, 2013 (www.arabiantravelmarket.com) The travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals.

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