Travel Trade Weekly Issue 179

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13 APRIL 2013

ISSUE 179

Dubai World Central to Begin Passenger Operations Dubai World Central is to welcome passengers on October 27, with nasair and Wizz Air commencing services to the airport.

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, due to open in May, is expected to receive major interest from the emirate’s flourishing MICE sector.

06 Wizz Air Connects Dubai and Europe Wizz Air plans to expand its services to the Middle East with flights to Dubai from Budapest, Bucharest, Kiev, and Sofia set to start in October.

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

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Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Unveils Convention Facilities

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RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Ailsa Pollard The past few years have brought an era of considerable growth, business acquisitions, and continued success for dnata, and here Ailsa Pollard, vice president, business development, dnata, asserted how the company’s focus always remains on the customer.

Travel Trade Weekly: Over the past 50 years, dnata has grown into one of the largest combined air service providers in the world.

What makes dnata a leading company and a preferred partner in the region?

Ailsa Pollard: Since our launch in 1959, dnata has been committed to delivering superior service and products to our customers. Our vision is to be one of the world’s most admired air service providers, and we believe what has made us successful will help us achieve this vision: hard work, dedication to superior services, and delivering our promises to customers. We understand the region like no other air services provider, having grown with Dubai, and the Middle East. dnata’s travel services are industry-leading, and we provide a one-stop shop for both leisure and corporate travel. We offer considerable reach through our network of offices and experts, as well as the extensive list of travel companies which dnata has partnered with.

Our team has the experience, contacts, reach, and dedication to customer service that companies look for when choosing a regional travel services partner.

Travel Trade Weekly: What were the main milestones for dnata over the past 12 months?

Ailsa Pollard: 2012 was a busy year for dnata.

Certainly one of the biggest developments was the company’s acquisition of Travel Republic.

The acquisition represents one of dnata’s biggest business transactions to date and has supported dnata’s business goals and strengthened our e-commerce skillset significantly.

Our entry into India was a significant mile-

Ailsa Pollard, Vice president, business development, dnata

stone. Though we began working in the country in 2011, 2012 saw considerable growth in India, a trend which has continued into the current year.

In addition, being named World’s Leading Air Travel Service Provider by the ’World Travel Awards’ was quite the honour.

We are also very proud of dnata’s growth as a preferred general sales agent in the region. In 2012 we established partnerships with Hertz, Costa Cruises, and Club Med; these are in addition to our significant number of partnerships across travel companies and 30 plus airlines.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are dnata’s key business objectives for the current year?

Ailsa Pollard: For this year and beyond, dnata’s mission is to deliver the promises our customers make, whether that is someone promising

their family the trip of a lifetime or a corporate traveller looking for a seamless end-to-end service, our number one priority has to be our customers. Everything else stems from this mission.

We are preparing for the busy summer season. Historically, summer has been the region’s busiest travel period, and dnata is working with our partners to secure Early Bird specials to a variety of locations. We want to make sure our customers are not only able to plan and book their vacation ahead of time, but receive maximum value, across an extensive range of destinations.

Part of dnata’s unique service offering is that our customers can access dnata 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This includes 24-hour call centres, an expanded network of locations, and our refreshed website.

We are also focused on growing our presence across the region, with an emphasis on Saudi Arabia and India; both markets offer considerable growth potential for dnata. We are exploring new regional markets to enter, and are always looking for opportunities to grow our business reach.

This year our continued efforts will be working with our strategic suppliers to ensure we have the best value and breadth of product offering, and are a one-stop-shop for our customers, from flights, accommodation, car hire, cruise, rail, insurance and any other travel requirements they may need. We want to ensure our customers have access to everything they need for a successful journey, without having to go anywhere else.

As in previous years, dnata will continue to build on our joint ventures and acquisitions. This allows us to build synergies and adapt business insight from across our company to ensure a world-class travel offering for our suppliers and customers.

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WEEKLY NEWS Tunisia: Positive Tourist Volumes in 2012 Despite the decline in tourism Tunisia experienced following the Arab Spring of 2011, total revenue rebounded at a rate of 12.75 percent during 2012.

Meanwhile, airline revenues witnessed a 39 percent growth rate during the year under review, following a 29.5 percent decline in 2011, having relied heavily on tour operators to generate flight bookings due to the high fares charged by international airlines.

With minor social and political restoration and modified airline regulations, airline industry prospects are looking ahead to the proposed open-skies agreement with the EU, to bilateral air agreements with various nations in Europe, Africa, and the Arab region.

13 APRIL 2013

Cartoon Network to Launch at Dubai Theme Park Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group (IMG Group) has partnered with Turner CN Enterprises to develop a dedicated Cartoon Network Zone at the much anticipated IMG Theme Park, Dubai.

The collaboration is envisaged to deliver a number of world firsts, including various themed attractions inspired by Cartoon Network’s popular animated characters and other branded experiences.

Covering over 111,500m2 in its first stage, the IMG Theme Park is set to become the largest temperature-controlled indoor entertainment destination in the world and is designed to attract 10,000 plus visitors per day. “The Middle East is fast becoming a major international destination for family tourism and the IMG Theme Park in Dubai is a concentrated hub of high-octane entertainment,� commented Alan Musa, vice president, Arabia, Turner Broadcasting Systems.

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MARKET UPDATE

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

MEA: Best Global Performer in RevPAR Percent Change in January The Middle East and Africa region reported positive performance results for January, based on data compiled by STR Global.

Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou Maria Kazeli

O

SALES & MARKETING

ccupancy rose 8.2 percent to 59.8 percent, average daily rate (ADR) climbed 1.3 percent to USD182.82, while RevPAR improved 9.6 percent to USD109.29, making the region the best global performer in RevPAR percent change, this according to Elizabeth Randall Winkle, managing

Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

director, STR Global.

The largest occupancy increase was registered in Manama, rising 40 percent to 56.6 percent, followed by Cairo and Muscat, while the former also witnessed the largest RevPAR growth again followed by Cairo, rising 39.8 percent to USD120.39 and 14.5 percent to USD44.83 respectively.

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

Abu Dhabi: Passenger Traffic Up 13.1 Percent

www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed 1,221,686 passengers in February, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.1 percent.

Based on Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC)’s report, aircraft movements grew 7.5 percent, to 9,960 movements, while cargo volume rose 16.7 percent, reaching 50,020 tonnes. Driven by a 9.1 percent surge, India registered the highest traffic for the airports followed by Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.

According to Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operating officer, ADAC, the significant rise in passenger, aircraft and cargo volumes is in line with the anticipated growth trend for the airport.

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

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

12/03/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.87

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,504.00

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

70.40

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.59

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.49

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,283.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.55

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

79.32

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.28

The Rezidor Hotel Group: Solid RevPAR Development

T

he Rezidor Hotel Group started the year with positive business results with like-for-like RevPAR rising 9.8 percent and 8.1 percent in January and February respectively.

As Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group, explained, the key driver for the surge in RevPAR was an increased demand in most of the company’s markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“The volume driven improvement came from various commercial initiatives, and led to

a further gain in market share,” Neumann said, adding that the initial results reflect the effective execution of the turnaround programme Route 2015.

Speaking about the company’s strategic development, Neumann underlined the group’s commitment to profitable assetlight growth with a focus on emerging markets, which is also reflected in the recent signings in Russia and CIS, and Africa, The Rezidor Hotel Group’s key markets for future development.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Oman Improves Four Places in WEF Tourism Ranking

Dubai World Central to Begin Passenger Operations in October

Oman has been ranked 57th globally in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013, climbing four places from 2011 and 11 notches from 2009.

Based on the study, the Sultanate’s travel and tourism industry is estimated to be worth USD2.11 billion, and WEF anticipates an average annual growth rate of 5.2 percent over the period 2013-2022.

Currently, Oman’s tourism industry employs some 36,700 people, and this number is expected to continue to rise 3.4 percent per year over the next decade.

Ranked fifth in the MENA region, the Sultanate was listed 56th globally in terms of travel and tourism regulatory framework, and 47th for its business environment and infrastructure, while for human, cultural, and natural resources, it finished in 76th place.

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau Introduces 13 Offerings Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau has overhauled its Advantage Abu Dhabi initiative aimed at the corporate meetings and incentive travel segments with the launch of 13 structured offerings designed to enhance the emirate’s appeal amongst sector-specific bookers.

The extensive list of offerings now include a welcome dinner at host hotels, city tours, evening functions, desert safaris, dune dinners, full-day meetings packages, golf rounds, and VIP tours as well as cultural education sessions, just to name a few.

In order to qualify for any of the additional benefits, organisers must hold an event in Abu Dhabi that has a minimum of 50 paid room nights during this year or 2014.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre

Dubai World Central is to open its doors to passengers on October 27, with nasair and Wizz Air commencing operations to Dubai’s second airport.

The Saudi carrier plans to operate over 50 flights per week between Dubai and a number of destinations in the Kingdom, while the European airline, which offers low-cost air transport across 30 countries with 16 bases, will provide non-stop services linking the new airport to Central and Eastern European destinations.

Upon opening, the new facility will offer full retail as well as food and beverage amenities, and will be serviced by one A380capable runway, and 64 remote aircraft stands, boasting a capacity for up to seven million passengers per annum.

“A new era in Dubai’s already proud aviation story is set to begin,” commented Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, adding that the introduction of passenger services from Dubai World Central is the first step in the long-term development of the airport and will provide an attractive alternative to travellers.

Le Méridien Hotels MEA Renovation Strategy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced a significant commitment to its Le Méridien hotels in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region through a comprehensive renovation strategy.

Le Méridien and its ownership groups will invest more than USD200 million in the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts in the MEA over the next three years.

As this region continues to evolve as an international business and leisure travel destination, Le Méridien has developed a focused approach to ensuring its global portfolio continues to meet high brand standards, as Brian Povinelli, global brand leader, Le Méridien and Westin, explained, “Since acquiring Le Méridien in 2005, Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have made a tremendous effort to enhance and create a consistent portfolio around the world. Le Méridien now boasts the best performance measures in the brand's history, and our focused efforts on the Middle East and Africa hotels will only help ensure Le Méridien maintains its best portfolio ever.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

Crowne Plaza to Expand in Muscat InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement with Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) to open Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Muscat.

The 296-room hotel will benefit from five food and beverage outlets, various leisure and fitness areas, and extensive meeting and event facilities. This will include a separate function centre with ballroom, boardroom, and three large meeting rooms, and will form part of Omran’s Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) development, which will offer a number of hotels and is due for completion in 2016.

According to Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, the new establishment makes perfect business sense for the team and its guests, who, he stressed, will be able to utilise OCEC’s world-class facilities at their doorstep.

Accommodation

Hilton Alexandria Corniche Unveiled Following a major refurbishment programme, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has celebrated the launch of the 158-room Hilton Alexandria Corniche, the company’s 19th upscale property in Egypt and its second in the city of Alexandria.

Keeping in line with the brand’s signature service and style standards, the refurbishment and rebranding programme covered many of the hotel’s public areas, including the restaurants, the guestrooms, the exterior and hotel grounds, as well as the Royal Floor, which has been significantly upgraded and enhanced in classic baroque style.

In addition, the project also incorporated state-ofthe-art in-room amenities combined with new stylish bedroom furnishing as well as the introduction of complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Hilton Alexandria Corniche

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Golden Tulip to Open in Lebanon in June A team of over 20 qualified regional executives from sales and marketing, housekeeping, human resources, engineering, IT, e-Commerce, food and beverage, and finance have been selected to be part of a ‘five-star task force’, to prepare for the opening of the 152-unit Golden Tulip Jiyeh Marina Resort, Lebanon, on June 1.

The team, led by Saadeh Massaad, general manager, Golden Tulip Jiyeh Marina Resort, who was recently appointed, currently focuses on recruiting and ensuring that every member is fully prepared for the opening of the hotel, as Paul Diab, director of operations, Golden Tulip, MENA, expressed, “Our ambition is nothing less than to create the best hotel and resort in Lebanon.”

Golden Tulip Jiyeh Marina Resort

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Unveils Convention Facilities Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, the five-star business hotel due to open in May, is expected to receive interest from the emirate’s flourishing MICE sector as a result of its specialised and flexible convention facilities.

The property’s convention centre, alongside a variety of function rooms, including the 785m2 Onyx Ballroom, will boast a capacity of up to 2,000 guests.

In addition, these facilities will include a 2,000m2 glasspanelled Skydome, one of the largest dedicated pre-function foyers in the region, two boardrooms, a fully-equipped business centre, and a dedicated VIP private room, all set to establish the hotel as the perfect venue to host memorable events, as Scott Mawhinney, general manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, explained.

Warwick Pangea Beach Resort & Spa to Launch in May Warwick Pangea Beach Resort & Spa, Jiyeh, Lebanon, is gearing up to open its doors to guests on May 1, as Ali Serhan, general manager, Warwick Pangea Beach Resort & Spa, revealed.

Located on the popular vacation area south of the city, the resort will feature 57 guest rooms, six suites, and 22 private bungalows, along with various amenities, including all types of water sports, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, kids club, fitness centre, on-site spa, and a variety of dining options.

Rocco Forte Pulls out of Abu Dhabi Hotel European hotel chain, Rocco Forte Hotels has exited the management contract for its only property in the Middle East.

Developed in conjunction with Tourism Development & Investment Company and UAE-based Al Farida Investments Company, the 281-room wave-shaped hotel opened its doors in November 2011, marking the Rocco Forte brand’s debut in the region.

As of March 19, Rocco Forte Hotels and Al Farida Investments Company ended the management contract for the hotel which continues to operate as Al Maqta Hotel Abu Dhabi.

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Accommodation

Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square Dubai Officially Openss H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, Al Shabab Sports Club, Dubai, has inaugurated Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square Dubai, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ fifth property in Dubai.

The new hotel, a joint project of Omniyat, Al Shabab Sports Club and Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, has attained the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing’s classification as ‘deluxe hotel apartments’ and comprises nine low-rise residential buildings, a commercial section with a retail arcade occupying the entire ground floor, 180 superior and deluxe rooms, along with one- and two-bedroom hotel apartment suites, and is surrounded by 6,000m2 of gardens and a water feature.

Grand Millennium Al Wahda to Grow MICE Business Following the addition of 12 new meeting rooms and a banquet hall, Grand Millennium Al Wahda is poised to further strengthen its MICE offering.

“In addition to the fact that Grand Millennium Al Wahda is the largest hotel in Abu Dhabi, it is also the only hotel in the city capable of accommodating large groups under one roof, [for example] those requiring 300 or more rooms,” highlighted Marwan Mseikeh, hotel manager, Grand Millennium Al Wahda.

TI’ME Ruby Hotel Apartments Adds New Corporate Venue TI’ME Ruby Hotel Apartments has launched the Al Khan meeting room, a contemporary 80m2 facility.

With a capacity of up to 50 people, this flexible space is a welcome addition to the boutique hotel’s existing facilities, offering guests yet another adaptable meeting venue.

Available for a minimum of 10 persons, the hotel’s daily delegate package includes a full audiovisual package, overhead projector, welcome coffee and tea services, two catered refreshment breaks, international buffet lunch, complimentary business stationery, free Wi-Fi, and fitness centre access.

13 APRIL 2013

WEEKLY NEWS

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Desert Island WaterSport Centre Launches Desert Island WaterSport Centre has opened its doors offering visitors the chance to discover the underwater wonders and marine life of the Arabian Gulf.

Set upon a pristine beach, the centre represents the latest expansion on the Sir Bani Yas Island and comprises a range of lecture rooms as well as a 3m deep dive pool, making it an ideal place to enjoy a variety of water sports experiences.

“Anantara is passionate about immersing our guests in our magnificent and natural surroundings and our island location and wide ranging activities provide the perfect destination to do this,” commented Steven Phillips, general manager, Desert Islands Resort & Spa.

Desert Island WaterSport Centre

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri Holds Worldwide: Major MEA Expansion ‘Dining in the Sky’ Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that it will increase its Middle East and Africa (MEA) portfolio by more than 60 percent, with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over the next five years, adding more than 14,000 guest rooms to the region.

With over 20 hotels expected to open by the end of 2015, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is on track to reach a milestone 100 hotels across MEA, with a focus on developing markets in the region including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, and Nigeria.

The company is also eyeing growth opportunities in key emerging markets including Iraq, Pakistan, Angola, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and East Africa.

By 2017, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will operate more than 130 hotels in MEA.

Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi welcomed guests to a special event on March 22, allowing them to simultaneously enjoy the stunning views of Abu Dhabi’s skyline while having their dinner.

The event consisted of eight sessions for lunch and dinner with the platforms safely holding a dining table of up to 22 guests 50m high, rewarding them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

According to Arbind K. Shrestha, general manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Bord Eau is one of the finest restaurants in the capital and he feels confident that this restaurant will continue to uphold the beacon of success.

'Dining in the Sky'

Hilton Worldwide Launches in Sulaymaniyah Iraq Hilton Worldwide has announced its expansion in Iraq’s semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan into the city of Sulaymaniyah following the signing of a management agreement with Kurdonia Company for Tourism & Hospitality, owned fully by Hiwa Rauf Company.

The new build, 223-room DoubleTree by Hilton Sulaymaniyah is expected to open in early 2015 and will become the third Hilton Worldwide pipeline property in Kurdistan and the first for Sulaymaniyah.

Boasting a range of accommodation options, which include 173 rooms, 10 suites, and 56 multi-sized serviced apartments, the property will feature two spacious boardrooms, five meeting rooms, a business centre, a large multipurpose ballroom, health club, indoor and outdoor pools, children’s club, a multi-sensory spa facility, and a variety of dining options.

DoubleTree by Hilton Sulaymaniyah will be ideally located on the main city thoroughfare, within the new central business district surrounded by upscale residential, commercial and government offices, and in close proximity to Sulaymaniyah International Airport as well as the old town with its bustling streets, bazaars, and market shopping.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles Codeshare Etihad Airways recently added Hong Kong to its global network through a new codeshare with equity alliance partner, Air Seychelles.

On March 24, the inaugural Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong flight, operated by Air Seychelles’ Airbus A330-200, marked the commencement of three weekly services between the two points.

James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, indicated that the new codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles demonstrated the opportunities for revenue growth and network expansion available to each airline through increasing cooperation and resource sharing, and gives Etihad Airways immediate and direct access to rich, new sources of passenger and cargo revenue in Hong Kong and major outbound travel markets in southern China.

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Emirates A380 to Mauritius On March 12, Emirates operated a one-off service of its flagship A380 to the island of Mauritius.

The first commercial flight of an A380 to the country was scheduled in celebration of the island’s 45th anniversary of independence. The passengers, many of whom had booked especially to be on the unique flight, were joined by a top-level delegation from the airline including Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

Serge Petit, CEO, Airports of Mauritius, commented, “The A380 brings with it the opportunity to increase the number of passenger seats to the island. This is where the significant investment in our brand new terminal and airside infrastructure as well as all our drive towards modernisation would pay dividends.”

Mauritius

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air

Emirates Upgrades DubaiMoscow Route Emirates inaugurated its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its Dubai - Moscow route, offering 360 seats in each direction, an increase of 40 percent, with the upgraded capacity closely following the airline’s recent deployment of a daily A380 to Moscow.

In the last three months, Emirates has expanded overall capacity to Moscow by 46 percent, indicating the soaring customer demand for the carrier’s services, this according to Richard Jewsbury, senior vice president, Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates. “Moscow is a key market for Emirates and we are always looking for ways to enhance our services on this route. This aircraft upgrade will open up more seats to our customers travelling to and from Russia, further aiding tourism and trade,” Jewsbury said.

Turkish Airlines Offers Houston Flights from the UAE Turkish Airlines has added Houston, US, to its growing network with flights having launched on April 1, becoming the 220th destination to the largest country-network for an airline worldwide.

The carrier has commenced introductory round-trips from Dubai and Abu Dhabi via Istanbul to Houston, the fourth largest city in the US, now frequented by increasing numbers of both tourists and discerning business travellers from the Middle East.

Houston is Turkish Airlines’ fifth destination in the US, complementing its existing Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles operations, and is the latest in a series of new routes being added to the growing international network of 98 countries, all connecting Middle East travellers to more countries than any other airline.

flydubai’s New Visa Facilitation

Emirates

Wizz Air Connects Dubai and Europe Wizz Air plans to expand its services to the Middle East with flights to Dubai from Budapest, Bucharest, Kiev, and Sofia set to commence in October.

The carrier, which currently operates to over 30 countries, will become the first European low-fare airline to fly to the new Dubai World Central, offering four weekly services from both the Hungarian and the Ukrainian capital cities, effective from October 28, while three weekly flights from the Romanian and the Bulgarian capitals will start on October 29.

According to Jozsef Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air, the carrier will carry at least 250,000 passengers on its UAE network in the first year of operations and he anticipates more routes and more low fares to Dubai as part of the airline’s expansion plans.

flydubai has introduced a new facilitation service offering passengers travelling on its flights to Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine the opportunity to apply for a visa through the flydubai Travel Shop at Dubai Terminal 2.

The flydubai Travel Shop offers passengers a convenient one-stop-shop for ticket sales, travel insurance as well as the visa counter, and tourist visas are available for all destinations, with business visas also obtainable by those travelling to Russia.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, assured that the carrier’s team continuously endeavours to make travel a little less stressful through every step of one’s journey, in cooperation with the respective embassies.

flydubai 13 APRIL 2013

WHO'S MOVED

Sara Barakat Sara Barakat has joined Hilton Abu Dhabi as director of conferences and events.

Barakat has been part of the Hilton Worldwide family for seven years, during which she has gained valuable knowledge and experience in the regional market.

Prior to her move to the UAE capital, she worked at Hil-

ton Pyramids Golf Resort, where she was in charge of overseeing the sales for the meeting and event facilities of the property.

Barakat described Abu Dhabi as a growing market with great opportunities and she now looks forward to working with the team to ensure outstanding service and quality.

Henning A. Fries Henning A. Fries has joined Al Habtoor Group as group director of operations for Habtoor Hotels.

Having held various positions in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America, Fries brings over 20 years of experience in the global hospitality industry to the role.

His wealth of expertise is expected to be a great asset to the group as it embarks on the next chapter of growth.

Fries will be responsible for

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all owned and managed hotels, both local and international, which include Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Metropolitan Deira Hotel, all in Dubai, as well as Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace and Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand, Lebanon, and the Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary, in addition to the group’s properties currently under development, including Habtoor Palace in Dubai.

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Uma Dagdelen Uma Dagdelen has joined Bin Majid Hotels as the company's new revenue manager.

In her capacity, she will lead the revenue management and reservations team of the company, and she will also be in charge of revenue optimisation as well as further developing revenue generation programmes for the hotels.

Dagdelen holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wales and speaks three languages: English, German, and Turkish.

At Bin Majid Hotels, she is expected to play a vital role in raising visibility of the company’s brands as well as awareness in the market.

TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

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Pascal Gauvin

Manal Ataya

Chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group.

Director general, Sharjah Museums Department.

“50 years ago, we inaugurated the InterContinental Jordan at a time [when] our company was just entering the Middle East market. Jordan was the launch of our expansion plans in the region.

The hotel does not carry the city name, Amman, like all other hotels in the world, but it carries the country’s name, Jordan, which is synonymous of its ambition and grandeur.”

“Sharjah was recognised as the Cultural Capital of Arab World by the United Nations in 1998, and has recently been awarded the recognition as Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014 by the Organization of Islamic Conference. Both are the result of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi [ruler of Sharjah]’s personal vision and support of the arts and culture.

Sharjah has positioned itself as a cultural emirate since the late 80’s, [...]”

Maher Salman Musallam

Christopher James Stephens

Acting CEO, Gulf Air.

Executive chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh.

“In today’s fast paced environment, we recognise the value of time to our passengers. We have worked hard to deliver a consistently high level of on-time performance and it is rewarding to see our efforts paying off [after being ranked second among major global airlines for on-time punctuality for the month of February]. We look forward to maintaining this excellent record and continuing to operate flights as scheduled.”

“We were the only team participating from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [in the Salon Culinaire 2013 competition recently held in Dubai] and we were so proud to represent The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, and the Kingdom in such a prestigious competition. Our team was in training for two months before the actual competition; it was a great learning experience and opportunity to get together with the people from the culinary industry from hotels across the globe.”

TRAVEL TALK is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

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AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Karim Mubarak POSITION: Operations director COMPANY: Amani Tours LOCATION: Jordan WEB: www.amanitours.com Who are you?

Amani Tours was established in 1981 by my father who is the one behind bringing to Jordan a new meaning to destination management. Over 33 years, we have had the pleasure to welcome guests to Jordan from over 80 countries, travelling in groups or individually, visiting archaeological, religious, or historical sites, some of which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Petra, combined with health and wellness at the Dead Sea. My role is to ensure that we are continuously reaching all those who may be interested in Jordan by providing all the latest related to travel and tourism in the country through various social media channels. I also enjoy designing new journeys which others have not before. Also, I maintain relationships with key clients and go on road shows twice a year to stay in touch with them and to enhance our working relationship.

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

No one request for the design of a journey is like another and that is exciting. There is never a dull moment.

When is the best time to visit Jordan?

From March till end of May when the climate is still moderate and the spring bloom is in season, and from September till mid-December where, again, the climate is moderate.

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

Greece. There is a wonderful atmosphere in general there, particularly on the islands, and it is very family orientated. The archaeology and history is outstanding in Greece as well as well the culture and food.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

Because we always put ourselves in the traveller’s shoes when designing a programme to ensure that they will enjoy every moment during their journey. We are transparent, very informative, and understand the traveller’s needs.

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dnata Selected by Rocky Mountaineer dnata has been appointed by Rocky Mountaineer as the awardwinning rail operator’s general sales agent in the region.

The new partnership allows travellers from the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to book excursions with the largest privately-owned passenger rail operator in North America through their local travel agent, dnata office or via the dnata call centre. “dnata’s new partnership with Rocky Mountaineer will provide travellers in the region the chance to experience something truly special, a luxurious train trip through the Canadian Rockies,” explained Lisa Balsom, business development manager, travel

business, dnata, who revealed that based on the company’s research, travellers from the region are increasingly looking for unique experiences and the packages of Rocky Mountaineer, which currently offers 45 unique Canadian vacation options and four distinctive rail routes, fulfil their requirements.

Leslie Peden, director of sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Rocky Mountaineer, added, “dnata’s extensive reach, along with its superior customer service made it the perfect partner for Rocky Mountaineer’s entry into the region. We look forward to bringing Rocky Mountaineer’s unparalleled service and unmatched travel experience to guests from the region.”

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

IATA: Record Safety Performance in 2012 The 2012 global Western-built jet accident rate was 0.20, the equivalent of one accident every five million flights, marking the lowest rate in the aviation history.

B

ased on the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s report, this represented a 46 percent improvement over 2011, when the rate averaged at 0.37, or one accident for every 2.7 million flights.

As Tony Tyler, director general, IATA, noted, since the first commercial airline flight took off in January 1914, aviation has gone from being a high risk activity to a routine part of daily life.

In 2012, close to three billion people flew safely on 37.5 million flights, and particularly in the MENA region, the safety performance rate was 0.0 from 2.02 in 2011.

“Each day approximately 100,000 flights arrive safely at their destination,” explained Tyler. “Airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, manufacturers, and safety regulators work together to ensure every flight is as safe as possible. Their dedication and cooperation has made air travel remarkably safe. Nevertheless, there is still work to do,” he concluded.

InterContinental Jordan’s Team Celebrates InterContinental Jordan has held its annual colleagues party, which also coincided with the landmark hotel’s 50th anniversary, with more than 500 employees enjoying the fun-filled evening.

The event, which took place at the property’s Grand Ballroom, commenced with celebrating the team’s achievements, with many employees picking up special prizes and all of the colleagues receiving a gift on the occasion of the property’s 50th anniversary.

The annual party aimed to celebrate the jubilee in a different way, bringing employees together and ensuring an evening filled with joy, fun, and excitement, away from the office environment, in appreciation of their hard work and dedication.

Saving Dirhams While in Great Britain VisitBritain has compiled the a list of the top 10 ways to save Dirhams while travelling around Great Britain, in a bid to allow tourists from the region to make the most of their stay without ‘breaking the bank’.

Firstly, soaking up British culture can be done through a large variety of free cultural activities that exist throughout the country, from major museums to public art in the National Gallery, Birmingham Art Gallery, and Tate Liverpool, as well as in churches and cathedrals.

Moreover, the Visitor Oyster Card is said to be the cheapest and most flexible way to travel around, in addition to BritRail Pass if travelling between cities.

Modern, centrally located, and inexpensive accommodation is easy to find in Britain, within easy access of key attractions or even on the edge of natural beauty spots.

Furthermore, VisitBritain Theatre Passport gives visitors the best available seats for a selection of musicals and plays, with plenty of other deals to benefit from.

On the shopping and gastronomical side of the country, bargains can be found at a number of shopping outlets as well as at a large selection of eating outlets including markets and sit-down restaurants.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Christian Huschka As Ajman continues to strengthen its position on both regional and international levels, Christian Huschka, director of business development, The Ajman Palace, shares his thoughts on the emirate’s future prospects and on how to create moments to remember.

Travel Trade Weekly: How did the public respond to this unique heritage resort so far?

Christian Huschka: The Ajman Palace was inaugurated on December 2, 2012, on the UAE National Day. This was the first time when more than 100 dignitaries, invited by the owning company and the Ajman Diwan, could experience, feel, and taste The Ajman Palace. This initial event was possibly also the reason why we have a lot of local guests who are interested in our hotel. Internationally, we have had several familiarisation trip groups already who have been testing the hotel and giving valuable feedback.

With the opening, we started hosting only a limited number of guests, purposely.

This way, we have been able to assure personalised service for every guest and the ‘software’, meaning the hotel team growing with the number of guests. More concrete, we started initially from daily 20 to 40 rooms, and are growing occupancy levels by now.

The highlights so far have been the ‘first fivestar’ reviews from our guests on international travel websites which motivate us in our efforts.

Travel Trade Weekly: Which markets are you focusing on?

Christian Huschka: We are targeting Central Europe, especially the German speaking countries, Eastern Europe, mainly the CIS countries, and the GCC with the UAE still being the strongest market beyond Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others. There are various emerging markets, however, we first focus on our key feeder markets, and then we develop further ones.

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Christian Huschka Director of business development, The Ajman Palace

Travel Trade Weekly: What will your scope of work be in the coming months?

Christian Huschka: Growing business together with our partners. Our mission statement is ‘creating moments to write home about…’. We do not only want to provide this to our guests, but also to our business partners supporting each other and growing business together.

Travel Trade Weekly: What makes The Ajman Palace stand out from the competition?

Travel Trade Weekly: The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) outlined ambitious plans to further enhance Ajman’s status on the regional and international tourism map. What are your expectations for the future?

Christian Huschka: Leisure guests look first for a holiday destination, and then for the best suitable hotel. Hence it is paramount to partner with ATDD and promote the destination‘Ajman’.

The development of Ajman in the premium hospitality sector, now having two five-star beach resorts in operation and another two expected to open over the coming 18 months, will mean nearly 1,000 rooms within 1km along the prime beachfront, which will affect the entire infrastructure of the emirate and create new opportunities for the travel trade and tourism-related businesses.

Christian Huschka: My first answer [is] food.

What is unique about that? Well, our talented Swiss executive chef together with his skilled team of European, Arabic, and Asian chefs is truly ‘creating (culinary) moments to write home about…’.

The authentic local architecture blended with contemporary design and Arabesque elements providing a sense of place, and the private beach with green lawns, seaside terrace, and sandy beach, offering uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, are also much commented and appreciated. Especially for GCC guests, providing a safe environment by not serving alcohol, not by default like in Sharjah, but by design, is exceptional and an added value.

For the corporate industry, event organisers, and local soon-to-be-married couples, the diverse event space with more than 10,000m2, including the biggest hotel ballroom in the Northern Emirates, has received a lot of interest and makes The Ajman Palace a first choice.

My personal favourite is the application of a Mashrabiyah ornament, from the architecture to room furniture, from bed linen to napkins.

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NEWS & EVENTS

’The Future by Airbus’ Presentation Under the patronage of H.E. Mohsin Khamis Al Balushi, advisor, Ministry Of Commerce and Industry Oman, Oman Air and Airbus held ‘The Future by Airbus’ presentation at the Higher College of Technology, in Muscat on March 23.

The event showcased Airbus’ vision of sustainable aviation in 2050 and beyond, through a special screening of a 20-minute movie, ‘Smarter Skies’; the latest installment in ‘The Future by Airbus’, which now looks beyond aircraft design for more efficient operations both in the air and on the ground. The aircraft manufacturing company also presented a market focus and talked about the future of flight, relevant innovations, and talent.

Wayne Pearce, CEO, Oman Air expressed his pride in joining efforts with Airbus to bring young Omani students a taste of aviation engineering.

GIBTM 2013: Positive Closing On March 27, Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) 2013 concluded on a high note, having attracted a record number of buyers from the corporate meetings sector.

The seventh edition of the show tripled in corporate meetings buyer attendance, accounting for 35 percent of all hosted buyers participating at the event, compared to 11 percent from the corporate sector in 2012.

The total number of hosted buyers was evenly split between the Middle East, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with first-timers attending from key growth markets for the Middle East as well as Australia, South Africa, and Azerbaijan.

In addition to the hike in corporate meeting buyers at the exhibition, the number of decision-makers from the potentially lucrative international associations sector attending GIBTM more than trebled in size.

EVENTS World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America) São Paulo, Brazil, April 23 – 25, 2013 (www.wtmlatinamerica.com) A leading global event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world.

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

IMEX 2013 Frankfurt, Germany, May 21 – 23, 2013 (www.imex-frankfurt.com) A show that innovates, inspires, and presents new opportunities for the global meetings industry.

International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTM Asia) Shanghai, China, June 3 – 6, 2013 (www.iltm.net/asia) A leading ‘by invitation only’ event for the luxury travel community of the Asia Pacific, presenting the world’s most sought after collection of luxury experiences.

The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) Chicago, US, June 11 – 13, 2013 (www.aibtm.com) A three-day event focusing on the Americas’ meetings and events sector, where no time is wasted and where deals get done.

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) Beijing, China, June 21 – 23, 2013 (www.bitechina.com) One of Asia’s leading travel and tourism events, which will showcase a range of destinations, tourism attractions, travel packages, and services.

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