13 JULY 2013
ISSUE 192
Dubai to Build Crocodile Park Dubai Municipality has signed an AED10 million (USD2.7 million) agreement with White Oryx Investment to develop the Middle East’s first crocodile park.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has launched its fourth property in Abu Dhabi; Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort.
06 Gulf Air Steps up Jeddah Services Gulf Air has added seven extra weekly flights on the Bahrain-Jeddah route, increasing frequency from double to triple daily.
09 IN THIS ISSUE RENDEZVOUS WEEKLY NEWS MARKET UPDATE ACCOMMODATION AIR WHO’S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENT’S CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS
02 03 04 07 09 11 12 13 14 15 16
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort Opens
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with Ali Kasapbashi In line with its long-term strategy to gradually roll out the brand across the region, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts continues to expand at a dynamic pace and as Ali Kasapbashi, chief operating officer, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts, reveals, Dubai is also on the company’s horizon.
Travel Trade Weekly: Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio currently includes five hotels in the UAE, four of which are located in ‘the rising emirate’ of Ras Al Khaimah, which continues to strengthen its standing as an affordable luxury destination. How have these hotels performed so far this year?
Ali Kasapbashi Chief operating officer, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts
Ali Kasapbashi: The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is becoming a preferred tourist destination of travellers visiting the UAE. We are receiving a good amount of guests and we are happy to report that our hotels performed very well during the first quarter of the year to win an average of 70-80 percent occupancy. Travel Trade Weekly: The company recently marked its debut in Abu Dhabi with the opening of Nehal Hotel. The UAE capital has already established itself as a leading business and MICE destination, and with the launch of a range of leisure attractions, it also continues to attract an increasing number of tourists and holidaymakers. How would you describe the hotel’s target market? Ali Kasapbashi: The group’s venture into the capital city is highlighted with the opening of Nehal Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Nehal Hotel will target the corporate and government sectors with an additional mix of leisure and free independent travellers. The property features 134 rooms and suites, with designated rooms for handicapped guests and connecting rooms for families travelling together. Travel Trade Weekly: Bin Majid Hotels & Re-
Ali Kasapbashi: The new corporate identity gives a fresh, more contemporary and modern feel to the group. At the same time it also attracts attention to our expansion plans. The logo is a silhouette of the sun, thus in a light blue colour, representing relaxation under the sun and the blue sea or ocean. The new logo highlights Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts as the premier provider of worldclass vacation experience for both leisure and business travellers. Travel Trade Weekly: In line with its ambitious growth strategy, the company plans to open two new hotels in the UAE. Tell us a little about these properties.
sorts recently revealed its AED150 million (USD40.84 million) expansion plan covering its new corporate identity, the recently opened Nehal Hotel, and two upcoming properties. Please tell us about the new corporate identity.
Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts’ long-term plan is to grow the brand in the region
Ali Kasapbashi: Tower Apartment, also located in Abu Dhabi, will comprise 230 rooms and suites and will offer excellent services and facilities. It should be operating after the Holy Month so we are looking at September. Santorini Hotel will open by the first quarter of 2014, if there are no delays in construction. The 265-room hotel will be located on Marjan Island, the first man-made island project in Ras Al Khaimah. Targeting both business and leisure travellers, Santorini is expected to put Ras Al Khaimah on the map of new must-visit destinations. Travel Trade Weekly: Despite its growing presence in the UAE, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts is yet to debut in Dubai. Please tell us about your future expansion plans. Ali Kasapbashi: Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts’ long-term plan is to grow the brand in the region so we are setting our sights in Dubai for two properties in the pipeline to debut in 2015.
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WEEKLY NEWS Specialised Shopping Centre in Dubai Moafaq Al Gaddah (MAG) Group has outlined plans to develop a new construction project for what is being considered as the first and largest shopping centre in the UAE and the region, namely Art Centre. Construction work on the AED300 million (USD81.7 million) establishment, which will offer indoor and outdoor building materials, is set to commence within three months and is estimated to take around 15 months to complete. Centrally located next to Sheikh Zayed Road, the centre will consist of three floors and a basement, with a total build-up area of 55,740m2, including a leasable area of approximately 32,516m2 alongside various facilities, such as a business centre, a clinic, a children’s play area, and many others. Moufaq Ahmad Al Gaddah, chairman, MAG Group, described the Art Centre as the first and biggest specialised shopping centre in the region, and the place for all home and office needs and requirements.
UNWTO Backs Libyan Efforts Libya’s Ministry of Tourism has enlisted the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to help implement an action plan aimed at rebuilding the country’s tourism sector in order to increase national revenue, create employment, foster national cohesion, and enhance the country’s international image. Led by Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO, the delegation organised a twoday workshop in Tripoli, during which issues such as institutional framework building, human resources development, sustainability, and image building and marketing were addressed. According to Rifai, tourism is the right vehicle to enforce the international repositioning of Libya whilst contributing to its sustainable economic development and job creation particularly among the youth. Ikram Bash Imam, minister of tourism, Libya, added “Achieving sustainable tourism is a propeller to create employment, diversify Libya´s national sources of income and promote our image as an attractive tourism destination domestically and abroad. Revitalising domestic tourism will likewise help foster national cohesion in this significant period of nationwide rebuilding.”
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Travelstart Expands into Egypt Travelstart.com has launched commercial operations in Egypt in response to the country’s expanding outbound travel business as Egyptians continue to opt for international destinations for their holiday travel. The online travel agency initially began operations in Egypt in January 2012 to cater to the growing population of Internet-savvy bargain hunters. “Travelstart is the first fully integrated online travel agency in Egypt and offers users unsurpassed simplicity, choice, and flexibility to customise their travel itinerary the way they want, as if they are their own travel agent, while benefiting from the incredible discounts and offers that are exclusive to Travelstart,” explained Ahmed Saad, country manager, Egypt, Travelstart, adding that since the beginning of the year, Egypt has delivered a 15 percent increase in repeat customers to the site and has the third highest visitor traffic across any Travelstart country portal.
Dubai to Build Holy Qur’an Park
Holy Qur’an Park
13 JULY 2013
The general projects department of Dubai Municipality plans to embark on a unique public park project called Holy Qur’an Park. Located in Al Khawaneej, the AED27 million (USD7.35 million) theme park is being designed in the Islamic perspective and is slated for completion by September 2014. Spanning 60ha, the park will include all available plants mentioned in the Qur’an along with facilities such as a main en-
trance, administration building, Islamic garden, children’s play areas, Umrah corner, outside theatre, fountains, bathrooms, glass building, desert garden, palm oasis, lake, running track, cycling track and sandy walking track. Meanwhile, the area allocated for the miracles of Qur'an will include an air conditioned tunnel to show miracles and stories of the holy book, as Mohammed Noor Mashroom, director, general projects department, DM, revealed.
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
MEA: 4.1 Percent Increase in Occupancy The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region’s occupancy rose 4.1 percent to 62.7 percent in May, average daily rate (ADR) improved 5.5 percent to USD152.29, and RevPAR surged 9.8 percent to USD95.50.
COPY EDITOR Stefanie Saghbini SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
B
JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli
ased on STR Global’s report, Muscat reported the largest occupancy increase, followed by Doha and Abu Dhabi, while Jeddah and Dubai achieved the largest ADR growth. According to Elizabeth Winkle, managing director, STR Global, the Middle East and Africa region is posting the highest RevPAR growth in US dollar terms among the four major global regions.
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian 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
Cathay Pacific: Over 2.3 Million Passengers
EMAILS
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,338,703 passengers in May, a slight drop of 0.8 percent compared to the same month in 2012, bringing capacity down three percent, while passenger load factor improved 0.5 percentage points to 79 percent. As James Tong, general manager, revenue management, Cathay Pacific, noted, May is traditionally one of the quieter month with the H7N9 outbreak placing a negative effect on demand into Mainland China. “Demand on long-haul routes, and London and the US, in particular, remained robust, though demand in the region again lagged capacity growth. One exception was the Japan route, where the yen depreciation helped to boost traffic out of Hong Kong,” he added. Year-to-date, passenger volume increased one percent compared to a capacity reduction of 5.4 percent.
info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of
12/07/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.00
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Riyal
3.75
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,511.50
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Syria (SYP)
Pound
104.4
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.29
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.66
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.52
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
12,285.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.66
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
79.53
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.29
In addition, four markets experienced double-digit RevPAR rises, including Muscat, Dubai, Jeddah, and Abu Dhabi; Beirut on the other hand reported the most significant decrease in all three key performance metrics. The highest demand growth year-todate was registered in Morocco at 20 percent, while occupancy in the North African country rose 17.1 percent, RevPAR surged 5.7 percent and ADR dropped 9.7 percent.
Jazeera Airways: Continued Lead in OTP
J
azeera Airways has once again topped the regional on-time performance (OTP) ranking, according to independent OTP tracker, FlightStats, after closing April with a performance of 91 percent. Based on the Kuwaiti low-cost carrier’s monthly operational performance report, the airline proved to be the market share leader to Amman (44 percent), Sharm El Sheikh (62 percent), Assiut (53 percent), Luxor (72 per-
cent), and Sohag (54 percent), also grabbing a significant market share on routes serving Beirut, Bahrain, as well as Dubai. On the Kuwait-Amman route, passenger numbers rose 20 percent compared to the same month in 2012, while on the carrier’s Egyptian routes, passenger volumes were up 27 percent year-on-year. In addition, on the Kuwait-Dubai and Kuwait-Jeddah routes, passenger numbers surged six and eight percent, respectively. 13 JULY 2013
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WEEKLY NEWS
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort Opens Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has launched its fourth property in Abu Dhabi; Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort. Residing on the eastern shores of Sir Bani Yas Island and developed by Tourism Development & Investment Company, the property features 21 one-bedroom villas, seven one-bedroom pool villas, and two two-bedroom Anantara pool villas, along with a number of restaurants and a wide range of activities. “Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort is a great addition to the facilities on Sir Bani Yas Island, perfectly complementing our existing property Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara […],” commented Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spa’s owning company, which also plans to launch Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort by the end of the year.
Dubai to Build Crocodile Park
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort
UAE Tops Region’s Brand Building Ranking
Dubai Municipality (DM) has signed an AED10 million (USD2.7 million) agreement with White Oryx Investment to develop the Middle East’s first crocodile park. The park is expected to encompass 20,000m2 and will feature different crocodile species enabling tourists and research students to learn more about the gigantic animals. The project, which is slated for completion within 24 months, is set to become one of the best crocodile preservation parks in the world, and a turning point in Dubai’s tourism and research initiatives, as Hussain Nassir Lootah, director general, DM, explained.
The UAE is home to 15 brands out of the top 50 in the MENA region, with a brand value of USD14.48 billion, according to a recent study published by Brand Finance. The total value of the UAE brands constitutes 37 percent of the total value of USD39.33 billion of the 50 highest ranking MENA brands, with Emirates leading the list, valued at USD4.1 billion, followed by Etisalat, while DP World was ranked 18th, and Emaar Properties claimed 24th position in the region. Demonstrating the dominance of the two business powerhouses of the Middle East, 29 brands out of the 50 were found in the UAE and Saudi Arabia together, constituting 70 percent of the total brand value of the region. According to Hany Mwafy, managing director, Brand Finance, Middle East, the GCC is still in the early stages of developing its own brands organically, however, the pace is accelerating, with Emirates, Etihad Airways, Etisalat, Jumeirah, and Al Jazeera leading the way by becoming truly global brands.
UAE: 20 Percent of Region’s Air Charter Business
Hugh Courtenay
UAE commands 20 percent of the Middle East’s air charter business, according to a report released by Private Jet Charter (PJC), one of the world’s largest independent private jet charter brokers. Speaking at the introduction of the company’s new bilingual portal, which is targeting the UAE client base, Hugh Courtenay, CEO, PJC, said, “We have created a dedicated portal for the UAE market as the UAE now accounts for approximately
20 percent of our regional market. We are proud to say that we are the only private jet company in the region with an online system that gives instant and accurate price quotations in several languages, including Arabic.” According to data revealed by the company, UAE businessmen make around 10 charter trips a year on average, and air charter business in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is also rapidly gaining ground.
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Accommodation
Ramada Downtown Dubai Launches Heroes Club Ramada Downtown Dubai has established Heroes Club; a committee of hotel associates that has been assigned to oversee the staff activities and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the hotel. As Wael El Behi, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, explained, through the launch of the club, the management aims to further develop human resources and enhance CSR initiatives. In line with its endeavours, the committee recently organised Environment Week, which promoted green practices at the hotel, while the club also plans to enroll various team building activities.
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Banyan Tree Al Wadi Unveils Water Dining Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah, has introduced a novel waterthemed dining experience. Set on a tranquil water feature in the centre of the resort, with chairs and tables placed in the clear waters, ’Water Dining’ enables guests to enjoy the cooling sense of water against their legs as they indulge in a crafted three-course menu of organic dishes and a refreshing drink. Surrounded by the rolling sand dunes, candlelight, and flame torches, ’Water Dining’ promises a unique evening experience.
WEEKLY NEWS
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Conrad Dubai Receives Five-star Status The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has granted five-star accreditation to Conrad Dubai. “Conrad Dubai is a new addition to the hotel industry in Dubai. We have conducted a number of field visits earlier to ensure the hotel complies with all the listing and classification procedures,” explained Majid Al Marri, director, classification, DTCM, noting that the property offers a variety of facilities and restaurants serving worldwide-inspired cuisine, in sophisticated surroundings. Located in the heart of Dubai’s commercial, business and entertainment district on Sheikh Zayed Road, Conrad Dubai features 555 rooms.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Jannah Hotels & Resorts to Operate Eastern Mangroves Suites Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has appointed UAE-based Jannah Hotels & Resorts to operate Eastern Mangroves Suites. Part of the Eastern Mangroves complex, Eastern Mangroves Suites will comprise 88 luxury serviced units and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of the year. “The Eastern Mangroves Complex has witnessed great success since its launch, with rising demand for its residential and hospitality offerings,” asserted Ali Al Hammadi, deputy managing director, TDIC, noting that with the addition of Eastern Mangroves Suites, the development is expected to attract a wider niche in the housing and travel markets.
Eastern Mangroves Suites
SENTIDO Kahramana Park Launches Waterpark SENTIDO Kahramana Park in Marsa Alam has unveiled its latest attraction; a new waterpark. Located on the west bank of the Red Sea, can now enjoy 14 new slides and rides. Spanning 6,000m2, the water park features eight attractions for adults, many of which give a hint of what to expect, such as the Black Hole, D-Wave, or Freefall. As a family hotel, SENTIDO Kahramana Park have not excluded the kids from the fun offering the youngest guests six exciting attractions, including the Octopus, Rabbit, and Snake Slide.
InterContinental Jordan Welcomes IHG Leaders InterContinental Jordan hosted 40 senior leaders from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) who came together in June to discuss ideas, experiences, and success stories from around the region. During the two-day meeting, the IHG leaders focused on sharing the best practices which their teams have developed, and also spent time discovering Amman and enjoyed a celebratory dinner. As Ignace Bauwens, vice president, operations, UAE, Near East and Africa, highlighted, the meeting also offered the opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what he described is the most iconic hotel in Jordan.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide: Three Hotels in Mecca Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Jabal Omar Development Company to launch three new hotels in Mecca in 2015, namely the 532room and suite Sheraton Makkah Hotel, 513-unit Westin Makkah Hotel, and Four Points by Sheraton, which will offer 451 guestrooms. Commenting on the Kingdom’s potential, where the company currently operates 10 properties, Michael Wale, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East, noted, “As business travel and religious tourism continue to expand in Saudi Arabia, we believe the time is right to expand our portfolio in the country.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air
Gulf Air Steps up Jeddah Services Gulf Air has added seven extra weekly flights on the Bahrain–Jeddah route, increasing frequency from double to triple daily. The national carrier now offers a total of 21 weekly services each direction, providing Bahrain- and Saudi-based business and leisure travellers with greater flexibility. As Maher Salman Al Musallam, CEO, Gulf Air, explained, the introduction of additional flights between Jeddah and Bahrain reinforces the importance of Saudi Arabia as a key long-standing market for the airline and is aligned with the carrier’s business strategy to concentrate on high-demand routes to ensure its primary customer base is served effectively and efficiently. “As part of Gulf Air’s restructuring strategy, the airline is committed to strengthening its core services, specifically its regional network. […] We are in the final stages of negotiations to increase frequencies to a number of key destinations in order to offer more convenient travel options to our customers,” Al Musallam further revealed.
Etihad to Boost São Paulo Flights Etihad Airways will increase its Abu Dhabi-São Paulo service from three flights per week to a daily schedule as of August 1, shortly following the launch of operations to the Brazilian city, the airline’s first destination in South America. The daily service will bring the number of seats per week between the two destinations to 3,360 and is set to significantly improve convenience in flying with Etihad Airways, which will continue to operate an ultra-long range Airbus A340-500 aircraft on the route, seating 240 passengers in a three-class cabin; 12 in Diamond First Class, 28 in Pearl Business Class, and 200 in Coral Economy Class.
Emirates to Fly to Stockholm Emirates is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming launch of its new Stockholm service. Commencing September 4, the airline will offer daily non-stop passenger flights to the Swedish capital city onboard a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Hubert Frach, divisional senior vice president, commercial operations, West, Emirates, described Stockholm as a key city for the airline in Northern Europe. “Ahead of the launch of our new service, we are off to a promising start and we expect bookings to grow. Events such as the Emirates product presentation will help raise awareness about the airline and drive sales. Dubai is a well-known destination for Swedish travellers along with Bangkok and Beijing, which are popular destinations in Asia for leisure and business. These travel patterns provide a solid foundation to build upon with the help of our six-continent route network,” Frach added.
Hubert Frach
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São Paulo
Qatar Airways Goes Triple Daily to Cairo Qatar Airways has increased frequency on its Cairo-Doha route to triple daily, offering a total of 21 flights per week between the capital cities, up by five from the previous 16 weekly services. “For the second time this year, we have increased capacity between Cairo and Doha due to overwhelming demand demonstrating the resurgence in tourism, as well as business travel to and from the Egyptian capital,” highlighted Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, noting that in the space of just three months, the airline has upgraded frequency on the route by 24 percent. Qatar Airways now operates a mix of narrow-body Airbus A320s, wide-body Airbus A330s and its flagship Boeing 777 aircraft on flights to and from Cairo.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Etihad Airways Increases Kuala Lumpur Services Etihad Airways is to launch another daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur, complementing the already-operational single daily service, effective from July 15. The new schedule will add 1,400 extra seats per week to the route, a capacity increase of 23 percent, enabling the airline to offer better flight connections to its global network. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways’ current codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines will be extended to the extra daily service, providing seamless connectivity beyond the airlines’ respective Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur hubs.
Air
MEA Launches Third Daily Flight to Amman Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has introduced a third daily frequency to Amman, Jordan, which came into effect on July 1. MEA currently serves destinations in Europe, Africa, as well as the Middle East region, through various cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Doha, Baghdad, Erbil, Cairo, and Sharm el Sheikh.
Etihad Airways Signs IMU with Serbia In a bid to explore an equity investment in Jat Airways, Etihad Airways and the government of Serbia signed an initial memorandum of understanding (IMU), which follows the UAE national airline’s June 15 launch of daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade. An investment decision between the two carriers depends on the successful completion of a comprehensive due diligence process and is subject to all necessary regulatory and respective board approvals, while Etihad Airways and the Serbian national carrier are to intensify discussions about collaborative efforts to further integrate their networks and help Jat Airways achieve efficiencies, build revenue, and reduce costs.
Velibor Vukasinovic, CEO, JatAirways (left) , and James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways
MEA
flydubai to Introduce Business Class flydubai plans to offer business class services across its network, providing passengers with a more personal travel experience. Business class passengers will enjoy a range of perks, including a dedicated cabin crew, a selection of meals, priority check-in, and baggage collection, and, later this year, they will also be able to relax in the airline’s business class lounge prior to their flight. flydubai will take delivery of the first aircraft with a business class cabin in August, and all new aircraft subsequently delivered will comprise economy and business classes.
RAK Airways Supports Record-breaking Event
The World's Largest Swimming Lesson
RAK Airways endorsed its support to Iceland Waterpark in its recent ’The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson’ initiative which saw 200 young swimmers enjoying the event. “RAK Airways is an astute partner of any safety-bound corporate social responsibility programme. Partnering with Iceland Water Park, Ras Al Khaimah, and supporting its strategies on imparting safety to tomorrow’s leaders, is our privilege,” commented Murabit Al Sawaf, president, RAK Airways. As Santokh Chawla, managing director, Iceland Water Park, explained, this was the first time that the company has partnered with World Water Park, US, for an entry into the Guinness World Records, which, he pointed out, brought forth a fruitful event alongside the support of local partners.
13 JULY 2013
WHO'S MOVED
Firas Irsheidat Firas Irsheidat has been named area general manager and general manager at Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa and Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea. He has over 20 years expertise in hotel management on local, regional, and international levels, having previously worked in Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Jordan, and the US. He moves to Jordan from Sharm El Sheikh where he most recently worked as general manager of Sheraton Sham Hotel, Resort, Villas & Spa. He now aims to be a key player in the growth and the success of the resorts and spas and is determined to make a difference in the level of service.
Mark DeCocinis Mark DeCocinis has been named president and chief operating officer for One&Only Resorts, effective from August 1. In his capacity, he will lead the strategic development of the brand and will spearhead all future developments while ensuring the operational success of all existing One&Only resorts, all in line with the company’s worldwide expansion plans. DeCocinis joins the company with over 25 years of experience in the luxury hospitality
13 JULY 2013
segment, having held various operational and corporate senior leadership positions. Most recently, he served as executive vice president at Shangri-La International Hotel Management, where he oversaw the operations in South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. In addition, he was also responsible for the overall leadership of the group’s growth outside of China and Asia.
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Konstantin Zeuke Konstantin Zeuke has been named general manager of Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. After gaining experience with Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, Zeuke joined Kempinski in 1998 as assistant front office manager in Munich. He first become general manager at Kempinski Hotel Brand
Arena Bansko, while in 2009 he was in charge of the launch of the first luxury five-star hotel in Slovakia, and in 2010 he successfully opened Kempinski Hotel River Park Bratislava. His 15-year career with the company has taken him around the globe from Germany, Kuwait, and the UAE to Egypt, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Croatia.
travel talk is your space
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TRAVEL TALK Ralf Aasmann
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri
Country manager, Brazil, Emirates.
Chief commercial officer, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC).
“As the only airline to be an Official FIFA Worldwide Partner, Emirates sees the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 in Brazil as a way to connect football fans around the world for this precursor to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We are looking forward to seeing the action increase when Brazil welcomes the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”
“The cultural values of the UAE both define how we work and allow us to naturally create positive differentation between ADNEC and other venues. The UAE has long-established cultural principles of hospitality, fairness, and deeply-embedded religious and family values. There are also strongly-held local values of ambition, delivering a cohesive national development plan, and intense pride in the UAE. Our corporate values and the way we work reflect these.”
Bruce Glasco
Mark Neukomm
Senior vice president, international operations, Troon.
General manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa.
“The track, Meydan Golf, has demonstrated a fresh new approach to catering to the modern demands of golfers in the Middle East, so naturally [the sixth best nine-hole course in the world outside the US award] is richly deserved and testament to the hard work of all parties involved in the development of this all-encompassing facility.”
“We are always looking into creating exceptional guest experiences and bringing something unique to our hotel. With the newest edition of our very much anticipated The Ritz Gourmet Lounge, we not only offer the best of home-made French influenced delicacies [...] but also a stylish al fresco shisha experience at our especially designed terrace lounge like no other in Bahrain.”
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
13 JULY 2013
AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Mohamed Abdel Rahman POSITION: Managing director COMPANY: Arab Travel Agency (ATA Travel) LOCATION: Egypt WEB: www.ata-tours.net Who are you? I am Mohamed Abdel Rahman, managing director of ATA Travel in Cairo, Egypt. ATA was established in 1979 and since then has become one of the fastest growing travel companies in Egypt. Our reputation ensures service quality and the biggest record of reliability and trust from our agents all over the world. All our services have been launched to target the client satisfaction concepts which are our main goals. With us it is not just a holiday; we will take you on a journey into the true essence of the Egyptian culture, so if you want to feel the Egyptian hospitality then you are at the right place. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Our favourite thing about working in travel is incoming/outgoing tourism, Nile cruises, safari packages, flights tickets, conference, exhibition, and event organising. When is the best time to visit Egypt? The best period to visit Egypt is anytime between September and April. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I would like to travel to Turkey and Dubai for my next holiday. Why should people come to you for travel advice? ATA has a unique team with high expertise in the field of information technology, which was a big encouragement to build the perfect information database in favour of the valued customers who are eagerly looking forward to knowing about Egypt. Our goal is to take advantage of the new trend of Internet technology that allows the largest number of customers to find out the true facts and information about Egypt, which leads to the increase of the number of tourists.
Travelport Launches New Products for MEA Agents Travelport has released the Travelport Document Producer Plus, offering travel agents across the Middle East and Africa the opportunity to benefit from a new cost and time-saving solution. The industry-leading product allows agents to generate professional, fully-branded travel documentation, including itineraries, fare quotes, and booking confirmations directly from their Galileo global distribution system platform, significantly improving document accuracy, increasing efficiency, and saving time and money. “Producing accurate, profes-
sional, and fully-branded travel documentation is a key part of any travel agent’s business,” stressed Rabih Saab, president, Middle East and Africa, Travelport, further noting that Travelport Document Producer Plus takes the effort and error out of this process by enabling agents to deliver professional and comprehensive itineraries within a fraction of the time it takes to do this manually, and brand it completely to their corporate identity in line with Travelport’s endeavours to help travel agency customers become more efficient.
Wego Presents Audience Engagement Platform With advertising revenues set to exceed USD5 billion across the GCC and digital media growing in its influence, Wego, a leading travel search engine in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, has announced a new Audience Engagement Platform. Through this tool, advertisers can select users shopping for travel by country of origin and destination, following their content journeys on-site and re-targeting them off-site. Moreover, hotel chains focused on travellers searching specific destinations can extend their campaigns to sequence marketing messages to those individuals outside of the Wego network. Heading the initiative, Rick Mulia, vice president, media and advertising solutions, Wego, has expressed optimism with regards to the new project.“Clients want more targeted buys, with better return on investment, and less waste. Wego’s new Audience Engagement Platform, designed to follow people, not places, plays to Wego’s strengths and provides a quality audience with high travel intent. We know it will perform.” Rick Mulia
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Jordan Showcased in Far East In line with its marketing strategy to enter new markets, Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) recently organised a road show in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.
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uring the programme, the Jordanian delegation met with a number of officials in the region, while tour operators and local tourism authorities, including Petra Tourism and Development Regional Authority, showcased a variety of experiences that the Kingdom offers as an attractive destination. As Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director, JTB, explained, Jordan witnessed a significant increase in arrivals from Asia in 2012 and JTB is now keen to seize the opportunity and highlight the diversity of the Kingdom. “This road show coupled with some major activities […] should have a major impact on the Far East market numbers [and] it is a great opportunity to introduce Jordan’s tourism products to this promising market,” commented Arabiyat.
Sharjah Continues Tourist Guides Programme The ninth batch of professional tourist guides has successfully concluded the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and the University of Sharjah’s Professional Training and Licensing of Tourist Guides Program, which includes both theory and practical lessons. As H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, director general, SCTDA, explained, the initiative forms part of the authority’s strategy to train and license tourism professionals, strengthen their skills and competencies, and ensure the best possible tourism experience for the visitors. “More important, tourism professionals need an understanding of our heritage, history, tourism landscape, culture, and traditions. This is what this course seeks to do,” added Al Midfa, who further stated that SCTDA is keen to inculcate a sense of Emirati identity and heritage in all professionals engaged in the tourism sector. This time round, a total of 13 professionals representing UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, and Ukraine participated in the programme.
InterContinental Jordan Caters for World Economic Forum 2013 For the sixth consecutive year, InterContinental Jordan welcomed guests and organisers of the World Economic Forum in May at the Dead Sea in Jordan. Many guests expressed their appreciation and admiration to the service that the hotel provided, praising the staff’s friendliness and professionalism as well as the quality of the food served, describing the catering services as one of the best they have ever experienced. InterContinental Jordan
Oman Air Hosts Aviation Safety Event Oman Air in conjunction with Oman Airports Management Company, Airbus, Nexus and MedAire organised the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Safety Management Workshop in Muscat on June 11 –12. The event was held as part of an initiative by the IATA Regional Aviation Safety Group to enhance safety in the Middle East and brought together officials involved in the implementation of the State Safety Programme and Safety Management Systems, in the areas of training, aircraft operations, maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft design and manufacture, air traffic services, aerodrome operations, and accident and incident investigation. According to Wayne Pearce, CEO, Oman Air, the event made an important contribution to the safety of air travellers in the region and emphasised the carrier’s total commitment to ensure the safety of all of its customers.
IATA - ICAO Safety Management Workshop
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Mark Walsh Each year, over 100,000 visitors and 17,000 exhibitors attend Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE)’s prestigious regional and international events, underscoring, as Mark Walsh, portfolio director, RTE, depicts, the enduring nature of the industry, the consumer’s desire to travel, and the exhibitions’ business potential amid challenging times.
Travel Trade Weekly: What makes the company’s exhibitions must-attend events for professionals working in the industry? Mark Walsh: I think it is our focus on people. There is nothing more reassuring to customers than doing business face-to-face, especially in today’s economic climate. This is particularly important in the Middle East region and in travel as it is the personal interaction you get that often dictates whether you will sign a contract or not. At RTE we have developed this concept further with speed networking initiatives and our pre-scheduled appointment shows that focus wholly on the importance of meeting one-to-one. While we pride ourselves on delivering market leading events that does not mean we are complacent. We are constantly looking at ways to grow and develop our events in line with the needs of our exhibitors and our visitors. Our clients use our events to showcase their newest products and the latest trends, so we too must constantly innovate and reinvent ourselves to keep in line with the industry. Travel Trade Weekly: Approximately how many exhibitors and visitors take part in RTE’s events on a yearly basis? Mark Walsh: With over 30 years of experience in the market place, RTE has seen a vast amount of professionals through its doors. Like with any industry, we have had to weather the economic uncertainty of recent years, in some regions more than others. Globally, we currently operate 21 travel events, attracting over 100,000 visitors and over 17,000 exhibitors, representing 182 countries across our portfo-
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Mark Walsh Portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions
lio of events annually. [The year] 2012 saw a number of launch events in key markets and this year is set to repeat this expansion. On a more local level, over the past two decades, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has grown significantly, in tandem with regional tourism. Looking back, it seems incredible that an event that started with just 2,000m2 in 1994 has grown to over 22,000m2 and now welcomes more than 20,000 trade visitors. Our figures are a testament to the enduring nature of tourism and the consumer’s desire to travel. Each year our events grow and see more visitors through the door. It is encouraging to see the change in demographics on the show’s floor as the next generation of travel professionals strive to make their mark. Travel Trade Weekly: How have the regional and global circumstances challenged RTE?
Mark Walsh: No industry has been untouched by recent events, but if anything, economic uncertainty and political upheaval has strengthened the business focus of our events. Exhibitors and visitors alike are all working harder to make their business work and events such as ours are often seen as even more essential in times like this. We know that our events provide unrivalled business opportunities but exhibitors, now more than ever, need to demonstrate the value of attending and investing not just money but importantly their time in events like ours. This forces us to continually develop our events to ensure we are meeting their needs and retain our position as market leader. Travel Trade Weekly: What can visitors and exhibitors expect from the next RTE events? Mark Walsh: Our events are continually growing, but while more visitors and exhibitors is good news, we need to ensure that they are the right visitors and exhibitors. Our niche events are very successful because we vet all attendees and we need to apply this to our broader events, in order to deliver more quality visitors and increase business networking potential. As we focus on delivering quality attendees to our exhibitors’ stands, we are also developing more interactive ways to communicate with our exhibitors to ensure that they are prepared for our events. Our research shows that the more prepared an exhibitor is, the better their return on investment, so we will be focusing on our customer contact moving forward.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Reed Travel Exhibitions Launches Africa Travel Week Reed Travel Exhibitions’ first Africa Travel Week is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre between April 28 – May 3, 2014. The event will comprise three co-located shows, including the World Travel Market Africa, the Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings Africa, and the International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTM Africa), offering the African travel industry the opportunity to expose the best of the continent to a global audience. “Reed has been exploring opportunities in Africa for sometime and the success of our first launch event, ILTM Africa, has given us the platform to now introduce two more of our global industry brands to create ‘Africa Travel Week’ and make it the leading global event for the continent’s travel industry,” explained Richard Mortimore, managing director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
WTTC Prepares for Asia Summit Speaking at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Regional Conference on ’Tourism Partnerships: Future Tourism for Asia and the Pacific’, in Seoul, which took place from May 31 – June 2, David Scowsill, president, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), outlined the themes that will feature at the inaugural WTTC Asia Summit to be held in the South Korean capital city from September 10 –11. Scowsill added that it was appropriate for the meeting to be held in South Korea, where total contribution to the country’s economy from travel and tourism grew by 10 percent in 2012, further underlining that the destination is a recognised world leader of a creative economy, as well as home to many of the largest conglomerates of familiar household brands across the globe. WTTC Asia Summit will provide the opportunity for an exchange between private and public sector and will tackle some of the critical pressing issues facing travel and tourism in the region today, and will be attended by some of the region’s most influential business leaders and decision makers.
EVENTS Airline Operational Efficiency & Cost Management Workshop Beijing, China, July 18 – 19, 2013 (www.iata.org/events) The workshop presents methodologies for airline performance measurement and operational efficiency improvement.
Group Leisure & Travel Trade Show Birmingham, UK, September 18 – 19, 2013 (www.leisureshow.com) One of Britain’s biggest annual group travel events with 200 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors.
Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention San Diego, US, August 4 – 7, 2013 (www.gbta.org) GBTA’s Convention will bring together thousands of business travel buyers and industry suppliers and a strong line-up of keynote speakers.
World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 Maldives, September 27, 2013 (wtd.unwto.org) This year, WTD is being held under the theme ‘Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future’.
Food and Hospitality Oman Muscat, Oman, September 2 – 4, 2013 (www.foodandhospitalityoman.com) The event showcases a comprehensive range of services in the international food, beverage, and hotel industries.
The Hotel Show Dubai, UAE, September 28 – 30, 2013 (www.thehotelshow.com) Now in its 14th year, this show is a key meeting place for leading suppliers and buyers.
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