14 SEPTEMBER 2013
ISSUE 201
Staybridge Suites Beirut Opens InterContinental Hotels Group has unveiled Staybridge Suites Beirut, marking the entry of the international extended-stay hotel brand into Lebanon.
Following a refurbishment and rebranding programme, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has unveiled Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi.
08 IN THIS ISSUE WEEKLY NEWS
03
MARKET UPDATE
04
ACCOMMODATION
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AIR
09
WHO’S MOVED
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TRAVEL TALK
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AGENT’S CORNER
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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RENDEZVOUS
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NEWS & EVENTS
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Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi Reopens
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WEEKLY NEWS Travel City Opens Three New Branches
dnata Expands to the Philippines
Travel City, hailed as Oman’s single largest service provider, has inaugurated three more branches in Hamriya, Saham, and Bidaya, expanding its nationwide network to a total of 43 branches. While Travel City will remain an International Air Transport Association-approved passenger sales agent, Travel Point, the sister company of Travel City, will offer optimum travel solutions ranging from international product franchises, holiday packages, cruises, high-quality leisure and hospitality products, medical tourism, pilgrimages, travel management partner services, rent a car facilities, logistics and cargo, and many more, under one roof. “Our unique nationwide retailing concept enhances the connectivity of all our branches to a central hub enabling us to provide our bespoke travel services to our customers in the most convenient and customer friendly manner,” commented Sunil Prabhakar, CEO, Travel City.
Emirates Vacations Launches in the US Emirates Holidays has partnered with US-based Destination Southern Africa (DSA) to set up its first global franchise, Emirates Vacations. By leveraging DSA’s local expertise and market intelligence, the five-year franchise agreement will enable Emirates Holidays to tap into the US market, in line with the company’s vision to expand its business into new markets. Under the brand name, Emirates Vacation, DSA will distribute various vacation packages to Dubai as well as other holiday hotspots, such as the Indian Ocean islands, India, Italy, and Thailand. According to Thierry Antinori, chief commercial officer, Emirates, Emirates Vacations is well positioned to reach a wider customer base and adopt a more holistic approach to the business. New York
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dnata continues its international expansion by commencing airport handling operations at Clark International Airport, Philippines, marking the company’s 75th airport location worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, dnata will provide airport handling for Emirates’ daily service from Dubai to the Philippines, as of October 1. “The dnata team in the Philippines has a reputation for delivering industry-leading services to each of our customers. It is this reputation which fuels the expansion into Clark International,” commented Gary Chapman, president, dnata. Operating in the Philippines since 1999, dnata’s team at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, handled more than 1.2 million passengers in 2012, and with a further 30 individuals set to be hired, dnatas’ team in the Philippines will grow to more than 250. dnata Services
Oman Promoted as a Dream Wedding Destination Tour Oman, the inbound tours division of Travel Point, has entered into an alliance with Indian event management company, FootPrints, which specialises in destination weddings, in a bid to promote the Sultanate as a dream wedding hotspot. As a growing number of Indian couples are looking to celebrate their special day in picturesque destinations, Tour Oman has set up a dedicated team to capture a larger share of this rapidly growing market, Sunil Prabhakar, CEO, Travel Point, explained. “For us, as a destination management company of a geographically perfect country like Oman, this became the primary factor to venture into the destination weddings business zone, starting from India, whose large segment of lucrative business in this sector remains unexplored,” he continued. “Considering the requirements of the Indian customers whom we deal with daily, Oman is an enchanting locale with all the necessary amenities that our clients look for,” added Jayesh Sheth, partner, FootPrints.
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel COPY EDITOR Stefanie Saghbini SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
MEA: Over 118,000 Rooms in the Pipeline The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region’s hotel development pipeline currently comprises 485 hotels totalling 118,535 rooms, according to STR Global.
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JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli
mong all the countries in the region, Oman reported the largest expected supply growth at 59.9 percent with 4,577 rooms, while five other countries are set to witness a supply increase of more than 15 percent, including Saudi Arabia (56.8 percent with 31,518 rooms), Qatar (48.7 percent with 7,671 rooms), UAE (33.2 percent with 32,261 rooms), Kuwait (21.5 percent with 1,418 rooms), and
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
Jordan (16.6 percent with 2,972 rooms). In compression, the European development pipeline comprises 813 hotels, almost double that of the MEA region. The total number of rooms, however, stands at 133,797 rooms, as the report further revealed, with Istanbul, Turkey, boasting the largest share under construction, followed by London, UK; Berlin, Germany; Moscow, Russia; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Vienna, Austria; and Madrid, Spain.
Jet Airways Reports Quarterly Loss Jet Airways recorded a loss of INR3.66 billion (USD59.8 million) in the first fiscal quarter ended June 30, compared to a profit of INR247 million (USD4.4 million) as revenue shrunk from INR46.37 billion (USD833.7 million) to INR40.64 billion (USD684.4 million). The airline, in which Etihad Airways awaits approval to acquire a 24 percent stake, was impacted by the significant devaluation of the Indian rupee, as well as the steep increases in airport charges and high fuel prices, however with the proposed equity infusion by the UAE carrier, the landscape of the business is set to significantly change, according to Hameed Ali, acting CEO, Jet Airways.
Accurate as of
13/09/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
6.98
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
129.70
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.65
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.40
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
24,875.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.86
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
82.04
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.27
Sahara Centre Reports 75 Percent Sales Increase
S
ahara Centre, the family and shopping destination in Sharjah, has reported an increase in footfall and sales during Ramadan, representing a 75 percent rise in sales during the Holy Month, with 45 percent more visitors during that period. Strategically located on the Dubai-Sharjah highway and having first opened its doors to customers in February 2002, the mall earlier this year upgraded facilities and added new stores as part of its extension. Akram Ammar, managing director, Sahara
Sahara Centre, Sharjah
Centre, pointed out that the mall has grown in popularity as the preferred destination for shoppers in Sharjah who used to previously make the long trek to Dubai during weekends. 14 SEPTEMBER 2013
WEEKLY NEWS AUH: Almost 1.4 Million Passengers in July Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed close to 1.4 million passengers in July, marking a 4.8 percent year-onyear increase, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC)’s traffic report revealed. During the month under review, aircraft movements surged 12.1 percent over July 2012, to 11,355, while cargo traffic grew 26.6 percent reaching 63,794 tonnes. The top five destinations for the month included Bangkok, London, Manila, Jeddah, and Doha. “Efforts to attract new airline partners and new routes have led to yet another month of steady growth in passenger traffic, making AUH one of the world’s fastest growing airports,” commented Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, ADAC, who added that AUH will accommodate 17 million annual passengers upon the completion of certain vital projects.
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi: Guest Numbers on the Rise In the first seven months of the year, a total of 1.5 million guests checked into Abu Dhabi’s 146 hotels and hotel apartments, marking a 10 percent increase over the same period in 2012. Based on statistics released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), guest nights rose 23 percent to 4.8 million, while average length of stay surged 12 percent to 3.17 nights, driving occupancy up by seven percent to 68 percent. During the period under review, hotel revenues grew 16 percent to almost AED3 billion (USD81.5 million) with food and beverage revenues accounting for AED1.17 billion (USD32 million). H.E. Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, anticipates the best results of the year during the final quarter.
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Middle East Carriers Outperform Global Average Demand for air travel recorded another solid month of growth in July, as the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s report revealed, with all regions up year-on-year and emerging markets posting the strongest increases. Overall revenue passenger kilometres rose five percent year-onyear, while capacity increased 5.5 percent ahead of demand, triggering a 0.4 percentage point drop in load factor to 82.4 percent. Middle Eastern carriers once again experienced the highest growth rate for any region in international volumes with traffic rising 7.8 percent versus the global average of 5.1 percent. The increasing demand led to a capacity growth of 10.5 percent which, in turn, sent load factors down two percentage points to 78.3 percent. “Passenger demand continues to be strong. But the story of emerging markets driving growth as developed economies stagnate could be shifting. We are still expecting growth of five percent this year. How that growth is achieved, however, appears to be at a turning point,” said Tony Tyler, director general, IATA.
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WEEKLY NEWS
YOTEL Comes to Saudi Arabia Capitas Group International (CGI) has entered into an exclusive joint venture agreement with IFA Hotels Investments (IFA HI), the majority owner of YOTEL, a specialised international hospitality brand headquartered in the UK, to develop YOTEL-branded hotels across Saudi Arabia. Situated in both airport and city centre locations, YOTEL properties currently operate in London, Amsterdam, and New York, while a deal has also recently been signed to debut the brand in Singapore. Naveed Siddiqui, CEO, CGI, described the YOTEL philosophy as an innovative and unique concept. “YOTEL serves the large ‘affordable’ category while providing luxury to hotel guests, targeting a wide range of customers from business travellers to religious tourists and pilgrims,” he added.
YOTEL New York
Accommodation
Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi Reopens Following a refurbishment and rebranding programme, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has unveiled Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi. Located close to Abu Dhabi International Airport in the heart of the new Capital District, the visually striking, curved glass property features 281 rooms, a 700-capacity grand ballroom and separate function room that can cater to up to 500 guests, further to five meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and a business centre. Leisure visitors can benefit from the spa, complete with 15 treatment rooms, sauna, and whirlpool, while other amenities include a fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, and seven restaurants and bars. Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts described the hotel as an exceptional example of the high standards, quality, and unrivalled experience.
Oman’s First Sharia-compliant Luxury Hotel to Open in Muscat Shaza Muscat Company has signed an agreement with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels for the management and operation of Oman’s first Shariacompliant five-star property, due for completion in 2014. Spread over 56,160m2, Muscat Grand Millennium Hotel will feature 324 rooms and suites, a 1,250m2 ballroom with a large pre-function room, VIP rooms, and a Majlis. Other facilities will include eight board rooms and meeting rooms and two swimming pools, while guests will also enjoy direct access to Muscat Grand Mall through a sky bridge. The OMR28 million (USD72.7 million) project is set to further enhance the reputation of the Sultanate as a tourist destination for years to come, as Mohammed Abu-Baker Al-Ghassani, board member, Shaza Muscat Company, noted. Khamis Mubarak Al Kiyumi, chairman, Shaza Muscat Company, added, “Muscat continues to grow as an attractive tourist destination in the region, and the way forward is to cater to this burgeoning market by offering a full lifestyle and retail experience that meets not only regional, but also global expectations.”
First TRYP by Wyndham to Open in the Middle East Wyndham Hotel Group has signed a management agreement with Omega I, a subsidiary of The First Group, for the first TRYP by Wyndham hotel in the Middle East. The property, which is set to be the select-service brand’s largest in the world, is scheduled to open late 2016 in Dubai’s TECOM district and will feature 672 rooms, expansive meeting space, spa, gym, and a
wide variety of food and beverage outlets. The announcement comes just months after the two companies mapped out plans to introduce the first upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in the UAE in the exclusive Dubai Marina over the next three years. With the addition of TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, the hotel group offers travellers an even greater choice of hotel experiences
and price points in the Middle East, with over 30 hotels across multiple brands currently open and operating. Rui Barros, senior vice president, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group, praised the company’s unique breadth of choice thanks to its diverse portfolio of brands alongside the benefits of Wyndham Rewards.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Elaf Goup of Companies Partners with Libyan Hajj Office In line with its strategy to address the growing demand for tourist and hotel services in Saudi Arabia, Elaf Group of Companies for Travel, Tourism and Hotels has entered into a strategic agreement with the Libyan Hajj office of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to accommodate Libyan pilgrims in Mecca and Medina. As Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group, explained, the company will help with ticket reservations and will also be offering hotel rooms for Libyan pilgrims in the two Holy Cities. “The agreement reaffirms our strong relations with the Libyan Hajj office to achieve our objectives aimed at delivering the best Hajj and Umrah services under the highest international standards of quality,” commented Bin Mahfouz, adding that these that these ambitious plans reflect the high levels of excellence and innovation in the services offered, which, he continued, underline the ability to strategically expand in the local market.
Staybridge Suites Beirut Opens InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has unveiled Staybridge Suites Beirut, marking the entry of the international extendedstay hotel brand into Lebanon. Located in downtown Beirut within walking distance of Hamra Street, Staybridge Suites Beirut features 121 units, offering travellers a home-away-from-home experience with various facilities and a sociable, residential atmosphere. According to Ihab Kanawati, general manager, Staybridge Suites Beirut, the spacious apartment-style suites, paired with fantastic facilities including a rooftop swimming pool, make the hotel the ideal base for extended stay guests, whether they are in the Lebanese capital for business, leisure or studies. As Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, Middle East, India and Africa, IHG, further noted, this is the third Staybridge Suites hotel in the Middle East and, based on the success of its sister properties, it is also expected to flourish.
Staybridge Suites Beirut
Ramada Downtown Dubai: Hotel Occupancy up during Ramadan Ramada Downtown Dubai recorded a notable year-on-year increase in hotel occupancy during the Holy Month of Ramadan, achieving an average rate of 71 percent. During the period, the hotel sold 3,744 room nights, surpassing the 2012 figure by nine percent, with the majority of guests coming from the GCC region. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 1,722 room nights, followed by the UAE and Kuwait. Wael El Behi, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, attributed the good performance partly to the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing’s ‘Summer is Dubai’ campaign, which started in June with Dubai Summer Surprises, helping boost the tourism industry in the emirate. “In addition, Ramada Downtown has an excellent location, first-rate amenities and top-notch service which provide best value for money, making it the hotel of choice for both leisure and corporate travellers during this period,” El Behi concluded.
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Air
WEEKLY NEWS
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Emirates Resumes Flights to Tripoli Emirates has re-established passenger flights to Tripoli, Libya, with the departure of the first service from Dubai International, thus reviving a key route offering Libyan travellers access to the carrier’s global network, which spans six continents. The airline now serves Tripoli three times a week with a quick stop in Malta, utilsing a Boeing 777-200ER which provides first class, business class, and economy class seating, with EK745 leaving Dubai every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Adil Al Ghaith, vice president, commercial operations, Northern and Western Africa, Emirates, stressed that the country is showing healthy economic growth and the relaunch of Emirates’ flights to its capital will help to support business and international trade.
Emirates
SpiceJet Welcomes Muscat
SpiceJet
Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet, which operates flights across several airports in the Gulf region, launched its inaugural service to Muscat, Oman, on August 29, marking the fifth Indian airline which operates through Muscat International Airport along with Indian Airlines, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Jet Airways.
Etihad Airways Boosts Kathmandu Services In response to the growing demand from both the business and the leisure sectors, Etihad Airways plans to increase frequency on the Abu Dhabi-Kathmandu route from seven flights per week to a double daily schedule, as of November 1. The new services, which will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft with a total of 136 seats, are expected to further deepen the existing relations between the destinations, as Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad Airways, noted. “The addition of the new flights will further strengthen commercial and cultural ties between Nepal and the UAE and will lead to continued strong growth in traffic flows between Kathmandu, Abu Dhabi, and beyond to many key destinations across our global network,” he said. Since the inauguration of services between Abu Dhabi and Kathmandu in 2007, Etihad Airways has carried more than 620,000 passengers on the route.
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The three-times-a-week service will be served on board a Boeing 737-800 aircraft featuring 189 economy class seats from the airline’s base in Ahmedabad. Flight SG061 departs from the Indian hub at 21:45 and arrives in Muscat at 23:00 while the return service leaves the Omani capital at 00:30 and lands in Ahmedabad at 04:30.
Etihad Airways Launches Maiden Flight to Sana’a On September 1, Etihad Airways launched its inaugural service from Abu Dhabi to Sana’a, Yemen, with a high-level Yemeni delegation receiving the flight upon its arrival at Rahaba International Airport. According to James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, the launch of direct services to Sana’a is consistent with the airline’s strategy of adding depth and scale to its network and targeting areas of growth in emerging markets. More than 90,000 Yemeni nationals live in the UAE while the country is Yemen’s largest regional trading partner, with annual trade valued at over USD2 billion, including USD1.6 billion in UAE Etihad Airways’ Senior Delegation Received by exports. Airport Authority Officials
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air
Transaero Airlines Launches Scheduled Flights to Dubai Transaero Airlines is to commence scheduled services between Moscow and Dubai, effective from September 20, 2013. The Russian carrier, which claims the leading title in terms of passenger traffic between Russia and the UAE, has been operating charter flights to Dubai for over 10 years, during which it carried over one million passengers. Starting September 20, the airline will offer six weekly services from Vnukovo International Airport on board Boeing 767 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, while from October 27 travellers will also be able to choose from six weekly flights from Moscow Domodedovo Airport.
Oman Air Launches Polo Sponsorship Continuing its support for premium sports events, Oman Air is sponsoring a series of polo championships in Europe, with the first event, the Oman Air Duke of Wellington Trophy, having been held on August 11 at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, UK. Forthcoming tournaments include the Oman Air Duke of Cornwall Trophy and the Oman Air Autumn Nations Cup, both to be held at the UK venue, and the Oman Air Frankfurt Gold Cup, which will take place in Germany. Oman Air’s sponsorship is the latest move in the national carrier’s support of sporting excellence aimed at raising awareness of the country’s unique attractions as a premium destination.
The Duke of Wellington Trophy
Turkish Airlines Increases Algiers Frequency Turkish Airlines has launched four more regular flights to Algiers, adding to its seven existing services to the Algerian capital. The extra operations departing from Istanbul complement the airline’s morning schedule, while increased frequency to the Algerian capital is due to run until October 25. This year, Turkish Airlines launched 15 new international and five new domestic routes bringing the total number of international lines to 196, total number of destinations to 237, and the number of countries flown to 103, while during the first half of the year, the airline carried 22.4 million passengers signifying a 26 percent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic.
Qatar Airways Launches Global Partnership with FC Barcelona During a ceremony held at the pitch of Camp Nou, Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, president, FC Barcelona, welcomed Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, into the FC Barcelona family and presented him with an autographed jersey. Invited guests at the event had the opportunity to witness the official team photo which included Rosell, Al Baker, and the 22 members of the FC Barcelona first team wearing this season’s new official jersey. Following the launch, the airline presented its newest global television campaign, supporting Qatar Airways’ sponsorship of FC Barcelona, the first commercial partnership in the club’s 114-year history.
Mahan Air Boosts Erbil Operations Mahan Air is to increase frequency on the Tehran-Erbil route from double to triple weekly. Starting September 25, the Iranian carrier will operate to the Iraqi Kurdistan city every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, offering passengers greater flexibility and additional travel options. The decision comes in response to the growing demand for services between the Iranian capital and the fourth largest city of Iraq.
14 SEPTEMBER 2013
WHO'S MOVED
Nasser Fawzi
Nadia Madi Nadia Madi has joined Warwick International Hotels as regional director of sales and marketing in the Middle East and North Africa region. Madi brings a wealth of experience in commercial management, strategic decisions, team development, and sales expertise to the role. Over the past 13 years, she held various sales and marketing position with internation-
al five-star hotels, and spent the past nine years with InterContinental Hotels Group. In her new position, she will overlook all the sales and marketing related activities of the company’s three existing hotels in the region as well as the properties in the pipeline, playing a significant role in maximising room revenue, occupancy, and repositioning the hotels.
Nasser Fawzi has been named area director of sales for the Arabian Gulf at Kempinski. Having worked in the hospitality industry for more than two decades, 12 years of which he spent with Kempinski, Fawzi brings a wealth of knowledge and regional expertise to his new, extended role. Fawzi has been with Kempin-
Stephan Köhn Stephan Köhn has assumed the position of general manager at Hili Rayhaan by Rotana, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation’s soonto-open property in Al Ain’s Hili district. Having worked in Germany, England, US as well as in the UAE, Köhn brings 30 years of experience with him, 13 years of which he spent in the Middle East.
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He has been with Rotana Hotel Management Corporation since 2008 and is now looking forward to the task of successfully launching the 254-room hotel, which is attached to Al Ain’s newest shopping mall.
Köhn has been with Rotana Hotel Management Corporation since 2008
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ski since 2001 and has since held various senior sales and marketing roles in the UAE, Turkey, as well as Egypt. Based at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Fawzi will be in charge of the company’s sales activities in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, and he will also be responsible for the sales and marketing at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates.
Digvijay Singh Digvijay Singh assumed the position of general manager at 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences in London. Singh replaced Prabhat Verma, who took up a new position as chief operating officer at the Gateway hotel division of Taj Group. Singh has already had a notable 18-year career with the company, which he most recently served as general man-
ager of The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. Prior to that, he held the same position at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. In addition, he also trained at hotels, such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok; The Peninsula, Hong Kong; Raffles Singapore; and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Singh is also a member of the Institute of Hotel Management in Chennai, India.
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
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Khaldoun Tabari
Mohamed Fekry
CEO, Drake & Scull International (DSI).
General manager, Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah.
“The Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi is the most anticipated and prestigious cultural development project in the region. It will be a showcase of artistic mastery and world-class engineering that underlines the vision of Abu Dhabi to be a leading global cultural hub. We thank the Arabtec Led Joint Venture for choosing DSI to execute this iconic project and we are confident that our partnership will bring exceptional value and solid engineering expertise to the international joint venture of this prestigious development.”
“We are very honoured in accepting [the Certificate of Excellence award] from TripAdvisor and I would like to commend our hotel team for their dedication, diligence and cordiality. This accolade signifies excellent reviews from our guests thus we will continue to provide top-quality service to guarantee a remarkable experience for all our guests.”
Tamer Farouk Director of business development, Hilton Doha.
“This year [we have been doing great]. Figures reflect a substantial increase in overall rooms, food and beverage, eforea: spa at Hilton, and beach revenue compared to the second quarter of 2012. We are expecting high occupancy for the remainder of the year, busy restaurants, several events, weddings and catering requests. We will be focusing on good base business and MICE.”
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: Gasser Riad POSITION: CEO COMPANY: Nature Travel Egypt LOCATION: Egypt WEB: www.naturetravelegypt.com
Who are you? I am the CEO of Nature Travel Egypt and of L’amour Transportation, which are located in South Sinai, Egypt. For the past 30 years we have been operating in this region, specialising in desert safaris by camel or jeep, and high mountain trekking. We also offer a wide range of other services, including hotel reservations and a variety of trips all over Egypt. Our services include religious/pilgrim tours, Sinai excursions, safaris and tours, Nile cruises, diving holidays, golf tours, incentive trips and conferences, excursions to Jordan, and hotel reservations. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? It is to show tourists our country and the Egyptian hospitality. You feel happy when you see new people coming here and welcome new nationalities and new companies. When is the best time to visit Egypt? Anytime. Egypt offers a lot of attractions, from amazing antiquities to relaxed beach holidays, stunning landscapes, the contrasts of vibrant cities and vast deserts, with sunshine all year. It is a travel industry cliché, but in Egypt’s case we truly do offer something for everyone’. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? A big boat would be good; maybe a Caribbean cruise. Why should people come to you for travel advice? We give service from our hearts and with honesty. We have 30 years of experience. Our staff is experienced professionals with multilingual abilities. One of our specialisations is the Sinai desert and most of our staff is local Bedouin who have extensive knowledge of its flora and fauna, as well as a deep understanding of the traditional Bedouin way of life.
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Travelport Seals Global Full Content Agreement with Finnair Travelport and Finnair, rated as the leading carrier in the Nordic region by Skytrax, have announced their new, multi-year distribution agreement which will see the airline acquire full global content from the distribution services and e-commerce provider. This commercial relationship with Travelport supports Finnair’s strategy, as the carrier has, in the last few years, been actively growing its network value towards strategically important premium traffic between Asia and Europe, according to Jani Peuhkurinen, head, global corporate sales and global distribu-
tion services, Finnair. Mathias Andersson, head, Nordic region, Travelport, added, “Travelport sees Finnair as an important, high-quality airline partner and we look forward to working closely with them over the coming years.”
Mathias Andersson
Amadeus: Technology Key to Online Travel Growth At the first e-commerce summit hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in Dubai, Thierry Dongier, regional sales director, key accounts, MENA, Amadeus, revealed that a growing demand from increasingly technology savvy consumers has paved the way for efficient online business systems, and this is clearly reflected in the travel and tourism sector across MENA with e-commerce playing a critical role in its growth. In a session titled ‘Travel Industry: Leading Innovation on e-Commerce’, Dongier pointed out that the highly competitive e-commerce sector in the country inspires technology companies such as Amadeus to develop advanced solutions that enable online players to seize the right opportunities and stay ahead of the curve. “TRA’s summit serves as an excellent platform for the region’s leading e-commerce players to come together to exchange knowledge and ideas for new solutions that help keep pace with the fast-advancing sector,” he added. The summit also focused on issues such as m-commerce strategies, e-commerce security, market regulations, and eliminating barriers of e-commerce.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Middle East: Significant Rise in Mobile Usage Mobile usage has increased in popularity throughout the Middle East, with the UAE posting the highest penetration in the region at 74 percent, a study conducted by Google has revealed.
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ccording to the findings, 60 percent of UAE mobile users searched for products and services daily, 49 percent of which sought travel-related information, with 38 percent having made a purchase or booking. Mobile application usage is dominant, with 23 apps downloaded on average per month per user. In Saudi Arabia, smartphone penetration is only slightly lower at 73 percent but consumers across the Kingdom seem to have a stronger appetite for travel with 52 percent searching for related content. “Mobile has clearly created a new business opportunity in hotel booking and it is an ideal channel through which to sell rooms that otherwise would remain unoccupied. Mobile devices are an essential medium to engage customers on the move,” commented Amer Al Halabi, regional manager, MENA, HotelsCombined. The study also showed that consumers are becoming increasingly reliant upon their mobile devices, with 56 percent of those surveyed stating that they never leave home without their device and that they access the Internet with it daily.
Mexico and Burkina Faso: Hosts of Upcoming WTDs During the 20th World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly held in Victoria Falls, on August 29, it was announced that Mexico was selected to be the official host country for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2014 and Burkina Faso for WTD 2015. The themes will be ‘Tourism and Community Development’, and ‘One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities’, respectively. WTD, the largest international event in tourism, is celebrated annually on September 27, while its purpose is to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address the global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and highlight the tourism sector´s contribution to achieving these goals.
Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City
Strong Rebound in North Africa Following a steep decline in 2011, North Africa continued to show signs of recovery in 2012 and posted a nine percent surge in international tourist arrivals, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2013 Edition, revealed. In Egypt, visitor numbers improved 17.9 percent, while Tunisia experienced a 24 percent increase. Overall, tourist arrivals in Africa rose six percent to 52 million in 2012, making the continent the second fastest growing region after Asia Pacific, and exceeding the 50 million mark for the first time. Meanwhile, tourism receipts rose six percent to USD34 million, and the region maintained a five percent share in the world’s total arrivals count and three percent in earnings.
SCTA Restores Qasr bin Ragoosh in Al Baha Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) has undertaken the restoration of the historic palace Qasr bin Ragoosh in Al Baha, aiming to promote the building and transform it into a historical and cultural landmark in order to be used for economic, cultural and tourism purposes. According to Meshari Al Naeem, general supervisor, Urban Heritage Center, SCTA has concluded documentations related to the building’s architecture and survey, and has also finalised all the rehabilitation plans and schemes of the building. “The first phase of the rehabilitation work in the palace, which is being performed by SCTA, will focus on the restoration and rescue of the hospitality building within the palace and safeguarding its architectural elements and prevent them from collapsing. The work includes dismounting and re-fixing the ceiling, plastering cracks in the walls and strengthening walls and their basements, as well as clearing Palace court yards,” he said.
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Maher Salman Al Musallam As the national carrier of Bahrain, Gulf Air plays a vital role in the Kingdom’s growth, and here Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting CEO, Gulf Air, reveals further details of the airline’s future plans and its restructuring strategy that has already started paying dividends, enhancing the carrier’s competitiveness on both regional and global levels.
Travel Trade Weekly: How would you describe the airline’s role in Bahrain’s socioeconomic development? Maher Salman Al Musallam: Gulf Air connects Bahrain to the world and, as such, is a key national infrastructure asset, serving as a powerful driver for the economy and supporting the Kingdom’s ongoing economic growth on a number of fronts. The airline is also a key strategic asset that allows Bahrain to maintain a positive profile internationally and its independent destination status connecting local businesses with important regional and global markets. Providing direct and indirect employment to over tens of thousands of people, the airline contributes hundreds of millions of Bahraini dinars annually to the country’s GDP and has a positive and wider impact across a number of local business sectors including hospitality, transport, and tourism. Responsible for 70 percent of the total operations at Bahrain International Airport, translating to over 800 flights a week to 32 destinations, Gulf Air provides direct links from the island nation to 30 regional and international business hubs and beyond through its network of codeshare alliances thus facilitating business and leisure. The airline also supports a number of national initiatives that are key contributors to the Kingdom’s economy [...]. Travel Trade Weekly: A few months ago the airline embarked on a comprehensive restructuring strategy. What are the main elements of this strategy and what are the next steps to be followed? Maher Salman Al Musallam: Gulf Air’s re-
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Maher Salman Al Musallam Acting CEO, Gulf Air
structuring strategy lays out a clear action plan to strengthen the airline’s core services, streamline its structure, reduce its losses, and re-engineer its internal process to transform the airline into a more dynamic and efficient carrier that will better serve its customers and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Through modifying all facets of the organisation, the restructuring has resulted in the airline being in a much stronger position today, both financially and operationally, than seven months ago when the process began. To date, Gulf Air has successfully reduced its losses by over 40 percent, completed the realignment of its fleet and network, and significantly reduced costs through bringing its business requirements into line with its new operational needs. In parallel, the airline has retained its regional leadership position through operating one of the largest
networks in the Middle East, with one of the youngest fleets and recording the best on-time punctuality among its competitors, with over 90 percent of its flights departing and arriving on time. The airline’s main priority over the next six months is to further reduce operational costs, increase sales efficiency, and strengthen its network. To this end, Gulf Air recently secured additional traffic rights to Pakistan allowing the airline to increase its flights to Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi. This follows a recent increase in its operations to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from double to triple daily. In parallel, it will continue to meet customer needs as well as improve its offered products and services to deliver more value on a consistent basis thereby strengthening trust and reinforcing Gulf Air’s position as the carrier of choice. Travel Trade Weekly: Which markets or regions will lead the airline’s expansion in the future? Maher Salman Al Musallam: Gulf Air operates predominantly narrow-body A320 aircraft on its regional routes giving the airline the flexibility to more easily match capacity with demand with less financial risk than if it operated only wide-body aircraft. A highfrequency schedule gives passengers more choice; for example, if they want to do business and return home on the same day they can. In today’s fast-paced society, where time is a premium, convenience is a major decider for passengers when choosing which airline to fly with. This business model differentiates Gulf Air from its regional competitors, helping drive the airline’s business to the next level.
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NEWS & EVENTS
WTM to Highlight Brazil’s and Japan’s Potential This year’s World Travel Market (WTM) will shine the spotlight on Brazil’s and Japan’s travel and tourism credentials in the Origin Markets programme. Organised by the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), the initiative will kick off on November 5 with the theme ‘Where Next for Japan?’ which will be followed with a debate focusing on ‘The Growing Pains of Brazil’, and during the sessions, ETOA will unveil the results of specially-commissioned researches. According to Simon Press, director, WTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the programme will give a fascinating insight into two of the world’s most important tourism source markets. “Japan has grown to be an established tourism source market and it is important for Europe that it continues to attract a large percentage of Japanese tourists,” Press emphasised, adding that Brazil’s fast growing middle class boasts equally enormous potential.
Abu Dhabi’s Volvo Ocean Race Continues to Gain Popularity Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15 is set to become the key sailing and community waterfront event of the region on the lines of the UK’s highly successful Cowes Week regatta, according to Adil Khalid, member, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. The UAE capital’s stopover, which will run between mid-December 2014 and January 3, 2015, is already being planned, and Khalid strongly believes that Abu Dhabi has all what it takes to make it a regional sailing standout. “The sight of thousands of boats gathered on the River Solent for Cowes Week is spectacular; it is amazing to see them. Abu Dhabi, where we sometimes have upwards of 100 dhows out racing, can do the same for the stopover, and we can make it, without doubt, the most important sailing and waterfront celebration in Arabia,” he claimed, further highlighting Abu Dhabi’s favourable weather conditions.
EVENTS International Meetings Industry and Business Travel Exhibition & Conference (MIBEXPO) Moscow, Russia, September 17 – 20, 2013 (www.mibexpo.ru) Dedicated to the most important issues of the business travel industry, this year’s show will be held in a new format.
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.
Group Leisure & Travel Trade Show Birmingham, UK, September 18 – 19, 2013 (www.leisureshow.com) One of Britain’s largest annual group travel events with 200 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors.
MICE Middle East Forum (MMEF) Dubai, UAE, October 1, 2013 (www.miceforumme.com) A must-attend event for professionals from all facets of the industry that are involved in conferences, corporate hospitality, cultural and sporting events and more.
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’.
Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions Forum Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, November 3 – 4, 2013 (www.saudicef.com) The Kingdom’s leading conference and exhibition for the MICE industry with over 700 stakeholders of the Saudi and regional sector.
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