26 OCTOBER 2013
ISSUE 207
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Debuts in the UAE R Hotels, a subsidiary of Ajman-based R Holding, has announced the soft-opening of Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai, marking the brand’s entry into the UAE.
Spanish hotel company, Meliá Hotels International is to introduce the ME by Meliá brand to the region with ME by Meliá Dubai set to open in 2016.
07 Pegasus Flies Over 80,000 Guests to Dubai in a Year Pegasus Airlines has completed its first year of operations to Dubai.
09 IN THIS ISSUE RENDEZVOUS
02
WEEKLY NEWS
03
MARKET UPDATE
04
ACCOMMODATION
06
AIR
09
WHO’S MOVED
11
TRAVEL TALK
12
AGENT’S CORNER
13
TRAVEL CHANNELS
14
RENDEZVOUS
15
NEWS & EVENTS
16
ME by Meliá to Debut in the Middle East
7
2
RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with Christian Huschka It has been almost a year since The Ajman Palace welcomed its first guests and here Christian Huschka, executive assistant manager, The Ajman Palace, gives us a glimpse into the heritage resort’s facilities and novel ambience.
Travel Trade Weekly: How has the response been to this unique heritage resort? Christian Huschka: The Ajman Palace was inaugurated on December 2, 2012, on UAE national day and it will soon reach its first year of operation. While we purposely have limited the number of guests in the beginning, we have steadily increased the number of rooms within the inventory of 254 rooms, suites, and serviced residences in order to grow the hotel with the number of guests.
Christian Huschka Executive assistant manager, The Ajman Palace
Travel Trade Weekly: The resort already offers various dining and relaxation options and the upcoming restaurants and the spa centre are also expected to be successful with your guests. Please tell us about these new outlets and facilities. Christian Huschka: As the weather is cooling down, we are opening [this month] Nojoom Lounge, located on the rooftop on the second floor overlooking Ajman Marina and offering Arabic mezzeh, grills, and various snacks, and not to forget the wide selection of classic and fancy hubbly-bubbly prepared by our shisha createur. This shall be the new ‘place to be’ for Ajman and the surrounding emirates. Next launch is Dragon’s Place, the Asian fusion restaurant with highlights on Japanese and Thai design and culinary experience. It features a sushi bar, teppanyaki table, two washitsu private dining rooms, a private dining terrace for small parties as well as the sunset terrace. This terrace overlooking the infinity pool, beach and ultimately the sunset over the Arabian Gulf, is located on the first floor and connects our two specialty restaurants. The second restaurant, Arabesque Gour-
met, presents a modern interpretation of traditional Arabic cuisines. Guest experience is topped up from November with the enhancement of Encore Spa. The nine treatment rooms and beauty salon have been equipped with individually designed furniture and decor, and the entire spa area has found its optimum in look and feel. Travel Trade Weekly: Since its opening in December 2012, The Ajman Palace’s credo has been ‘Creating moments to write home about’. In your opinion, what attributes make the resort a stand-out property? Christian Huschka: Being ‘a heritage resort with a modern spirit’ means combining traditional architecture and contemporary design. Unique selling points are the serviced residences with one- and two-bedrooms, the
more and more popular indoor and outdoor event facilities of more than 10,000m2, and the location at the tranquility of one of the best beaches in the UAE yet close to the superlatives of Dubai. And last but not least, the simply amazing food that we serve. Just imagine a hotel where every food is freshly cooked, no convenient products – is it for one person a la carte or an event with 1,000 guests; and where you indulge yourself in European patisserie among others; the perfect symphony of chocolate and gold leaf. Travel Trade Weekly: Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) has, over the past few months, embarked on a number of ambitious initiatives in a bid to promote the emirate both regionally and internationally. What are your expectations for the future? How do you see the emirate’s tourism industry developing over the next five to 10 years? Christian Huschka: ATDD has indeed been able to reach its first achievements. One good example is the official hospitality classification system whereby The Ajman Palace is very proud to be the first hotel being classified with five stars. Ajman is, with the introduction of ATDD and the development of three new five-star hotels including The Ajman Palace, ready to promote the emirate as a touristic destination. Upcoming openings include The Luxury Collection and Fairmont, which will comprise nearly 1,000 rooms in four prime beach properties along one beach stretch. Further hotel additions are expected with projects such as Al Zorah and potential future developments.
26 OCTOBER 2013
WEEKLY NEWS Fourth Iraq Mega Projects Conference and Exhibition Held
Iraq Mega Projects
Decision-makers, investors, speakers and representatives from international and local oil companies were present at the closing day of the fourth Iraq Mega Projects Conference and Exhibition to spur investment in Iraq’s oilfield production. The event, which was organised by CWC Group, a company that specialises in energy and infrastructure, took place from October 1 - 2 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference proceedings witnessed a discussion on dynamic solutions for the Basra Port to improve logistics and clearance, chaired by Mehdi Hafedh, former minister of planning, Iraq.
Dubai Heritage & Touristic Season Commences The inaugural Dubai Heritage & Touristic Season, organised under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, aimed at showcasing the destination’s rich heritage, has been launched at Al Shindagah Historical Neighbourhood. Running between this October and April 2014, the programme includes a host of heritage and cultural events, to educate both residents and visitors of the UAE’s traditions and customs. As Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director general, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, noted, the initiative is in line with Dubai’s vision to become a leading tourist destination. “The authority has established a task force to create a world-class heritage programme that touches upon all the social, economic, and commercial aspects of the UAE. The events will emphasise three critical elements of UAE’s heritage including coastal life, creek life, and mountain life, as well as the various lifestyles surrounding these areas,” added Al Nabouda.
26 OCTOBER 2013
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MAS: Over Five Million Tourism Trips during Summer A recently released report by the Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS), the statistic arm of Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities, has unveiled that domestic tourism trips during June and August reached 5.7 million, compared to five million in the same period in 2012, signalling a growth rate of 13 percent. According to the report, the most visited destinations in summer were Mecca province rating 39 percent, Riyadh province rating 14.8 percent, Eastern province rating 12.6 percent, and Medina province rating 12 percent.
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel COPY EDITOR Mario Hajiloizis
Middle East Airlines' Profit Grows The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects Middle Eastern carriers to post profits of USD1.6 billion for this year, marginally ahead of the USD1.5 billion previously forecast.
A
SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
s IATA’s latest report highlights, the Middle East’s efficient hubs continue to support strong performance on long-haul markets and passenger demand is set to soar 10.5 percent, the strongest among all regions, this however will be outstripped by capacity increase of 11.3 percent. Globally airline performance continued to improve in the second quarter of the year at a
JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
slower pace than previously expected, reflecting the impact on demand of the oil spike and disappointing growth in several key markets, thus IATA has revised its annual global industry outlook downwards to USD11.7 billion on revenues of USD708 billion. Nonetheless, airlines are expected to see a significant boost in 2014 with profits reaching USD16.4 billion on revenues totalling USD743 billion.
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of
25/10/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
6.89
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Riyal
3.75
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,507.50
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Syria (SYP)
Pound
137.80
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.63
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.14
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
24,850.00
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.91
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
79.31
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.23
Challenging Months in Egypt While Sharm El Sheikh’s hotel sector remained relatively stable, Cairo recorded notable declines in key hotel performance indicators during the month of August according to TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats market review. In Sharm El Sheikh, average room rate (ARR) rose 13.4 percent to USD52.66, occupancy however plummeted 12.7 percentage points to 57.2 percent leading to a RevPAR decline of 7.2 percent to USD30.10. In Cairo, occupancy plunged 22.1 percentage points to 20.4 percent, the lowest level since 2011, and although ARR improved 12.5 percent to USD119.62, RevPAR dropped 44.7 percent to USD24.41. As Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting, Dubai, noted, the results reflect the repercussion of travel warnings issued by various countries. Sharm El Sheikh
Abu Dhabi: RevPAR up 31.3 Percent Hotels in Abu Dhabi posted a 31.3 percent rise in RevPAR in August as demand was elevated by various government-initiated tourism promotions. According to TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats report, average occupancy rose 12.4 percentage points to 63.1 percent, while average room rates (ARR) climbed 5.5 percent to USD112.12, and RevPAR reached USD70.74. Meanwhile, in Dubai an 11.3 percent rise
in ARR to USD228.99 coupled with an 8.5 percent improvement in occupancy to 71.3 percent drove RevPAR up by 26.4 percent to USD163.36. As Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting, Dubai, noted, the three-day Eid holiday is traditionally the busiest weekend of the year in Dubai with GCC source markets driving occupancy at fourand five-star hotels up to 90 percent.
26 OCTOBER 2013
WEEKLY NEWS Troon Golf to Manage Maldives Project Swiss upscale golf course management, development and marketing company, Troon Golf has been appointed to oversee the new Velaa Golf Academy by Olazábal in a new project in Maldives. Due to open later this year, the facility has been designed to offer a memorable golfing experience in the solitude of the private island located north of Malé. The academy‘s programmes will run on one-on-one basis, providing each guest with privacy and seclusion to hone their skills, and creating a true vacation experience, simultaneously reinforcing Troon Golf’s mantra to ensure exceptional golf experiences across its ever-growing portfolio. Bruce Glasco, senior vice president, international operations, Troon Golf, described the project as a thrilling and enviable destination offering a once in a lifetime experience for the discerning traveller.
Velaa Private Island
Logos Hope Sails to Bahrain Logos Hope, hailed as the world’s largest floating book fair, has visited Manama, offering people fond of reading a unique opportunity to browse a rare selection of books. The ship’s 400 crewmembers are all volunteers hailing from over 50 countries, demonstrating a unique example of unity in cultural diversity, and although they come from different backgrounds, they are all committed to helping people through social service projects and literature, and they often undertake practical aid projects, such as the construction of schools, substantial book donations, and free medical services. Logos Hope offers an expanded selection of more than 5,000 titles, covering a range of subjects.
26 OCTOBER 2013
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Al Ain Zoo Welcomes Newborns Al Ain Zoo has celebrated the birth of two newborns, a hippopotamus and a giraffe calf, which are now also exhibited to visitors along with some 4,000 other animals. The young female hippopotamus, which was born earlier this autumn, is now available for public viewing at the core zoo exhibit, while the female giraffe calf, which was born in late spring, has joined the other Nubian giraffes in the Mixed African Exhibit. “We are delighted to welcome the newborn hippopotamus and giraffe, and to introduce them to our visitors for the very first time,” commented Muna Al Dhaheri, acting chief conservation and education officer, Al Ain Zoo, adding that as the newborns settle in their new homes, they are expected to attract large crowds of animal lovers.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Carlson Rezidor to Debut in Algeria Carlson Rezidor announced Radisson Blu Hotel, Algiers Hydra, the company’s very first project in Algeria featuring 138 guest rooms. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015, the property will be located in Hydra Commune, considered as the wealthiest part of the capital, and less than 20km from Algiers’ airport. Besides 138 rooms with services such as free high-speed Internet access, the hotel will offer a 315m2 all-day dining restaurant, a 200m2 lobby bar, 380m2 of meeting and conference facilities and a wellness centre.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Algiers Hydra
Rosewood London Opened Rosewood London launched on October 15 marking the debut of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in Europe. Following an extensive renovation to transform the 1914 Edwardian Belle Epoque building, the original architectural features have been painstakingly restored to resonate with the philosophy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts where each property reflects its location’s history, culture and sensibilities. Situated in Holborn, one of London’s most historic locations, the hotel features 262 guestrooms and 44 suites.
Warwick New York Hotel Unveils Specialty Suites Warwick New York Hotel’s new specialty suites have been designed to celebrate the vibrant spirit of the old Hollywood era and the innovators of the current cultural landscape. Originally built as a romantic hideaway for actress Marion Davies and publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, the hotel set out to capture the glamour of the lovers’ bygone era with the aptly named Randolph Suite and Marion Suite, along with the Jane Suite, Follies Suite and Modern Art Suite. Spearheaded by Stephanie Ellis-Carmody, design director, Interior Design International, the extensive renovations involved the full redesign of each of the five guestrooms of the hotel. Ellis-Carmody kept the architectural integrity of the time period and the building itself, while certain aspects were redesigned to meet today’s modern standards of luxury. Marion Suite
26 OCTOBER 2013
Accommodation
WEEKLY NEWS
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Debuts in the UAE
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai
ME by Meliá to Debut in the Middle East Spanish hotel company, Meliá Hotels International is to introduce the ME by Meliá brand to the region with ME by Meliá Dubai set to open in 2016. Located in the heart of the Burj Khalifa district in the Opus building, developed by real estate firm, Omniyat, the stylish hotel will comprise 100 rooms, complimented by Michelinstar restaurants, and each guest’s stay will be orchestrated by a dedicated aura manager, whose job it is to know the city backto-front and use this knowledge to make the hotel's service truly bespoke. ME by Meliá Dubai’s facilities and aura service will also be extended to the owners of the exclusive serviced apartments located on the upper floors, including four penthouses with private roof terraces. All of the interiors and exteriors will be designed by worldrenowned Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid. “We have been searching for the next city for the ME brand to locate in and found it in this remarkable project in Dubai,” commented Gabriel Escarrer, CEO, Meliá Hotels International, who described Dubai as a fascinating and exciting city that meets the high standards that ME by Meliá offers guests.
26 OCTOBER 2013
R Hotels, a subsidiary of Ajman-based R Holding, has announced the soft-opening of Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai, marking the brand’s entry into the UAE. Located in the heart of The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), the 25-storey property comprises 188 rooms, one- and twobedroom suites, a penthouse and lofts, an all-day dining restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, separate male and female spa areas, gym, and a number of meeting rooms. The launch of the hotel is part of R Hotels’ AED1.5 billion (USD408 million) hotel development and acquisition strategy which aims to double the company’s existing portfolio in the next couple of years. “JBR, The Walk is an amazing destination and we are very excited to be part of this development, we believe Hawthorn Suites will provide our guests a refreshed hospitality experience,” commented Sumair Tariq, managing director, R Hotels, adding that the management expects to achieve 80 percent occupancy during the first year of operations.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa to Wow Spa-goers Boasting the first Thalassa Spa in the GCC region, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa has fast become a popular destination among spa-goers looking to indulge in thalassotherapy treatments. As Covi Larxe-Rey, director of sales and marketing, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, revealed, building on the regional success of the property’s unique spa offering, the management now aims to reach out to new markets and expects a significant increase in guest volumes from Europe and the GCC. “Our main source over the years has been Saudi Arabia however, we have received a significant number of tourists from within the rest of the GCC. As we continue to educate guests about Thalassotherapy, we expect to see more GCC and European markets emerging,” added Larxe-Ray, noting that the spa offers a wide selection of treatments based on the unique therapeutic qualities of seawater along with traditional spa treatments. “In addition to this, Bahrain is unique in that it offers a favourable climate throughout the winter period in the Northern Hemisphere,” concluded Larxe-Ray.
BWI: Another Year of Growth Best Western International (BWI) has celebrated another successful year in Asia and the Middle East, with a special event at the recently opened BEST WESTERN PREMIER Sunset Road Kuta, Bali. Senior management and hotel members, owners and other stakeholders gathered together at the company’s ninth Asian & Middle Eastern Members Meeting to look back on the past 12 months’ achievements and pave the way for the future growth of the company. During the four-day event, delegates heard keynote speeches from top BWI executives as well as high-level guest speakers from other companies, and participants also had the chance to share ideas and best practices. As Glenn de Souza, vice president, international operations, Asia and Middle East, BWI, noted, Bali was the perfect choice for the event as the company plans to increase its Indonesia portfolio sixfold the coming years. “The progression we have seen in Indonesia over the past few years is a stunning example of what this region is capable of,” concluded de Souza.
Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa
Hilton Salalah Resort Eyes European Market Hilton Salalah Resort’s management is aiming to amp up guest volumes from Europe following the recent introduction of new charter services to the fast-developing southern city. As Nader Halim, general manager, Hilton Salalah Resort, explained, the hotel has already become a favoured address for many travellers from the Middle East, and in particular the Gulf region. “With a number of new flight routes from and to Salalah, we are expecting an increase in European guests during the winter months, especially with the introduction of new charter flights by German tour operator, FTI [Touristik], from seven different cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland,” added Halim. Located in close proximity to the port of Salalah and Salalah Free Zone, and only 10 minutes from the airport, the resort offers an ideal base for business travellers who can also enjoy a range of MICE and leisure facilities, including state-of-the-art meeting rooms and the 300-capacity Al Balid Ballroom.
Hilton Salalah Resort
26 OCTOBER 2013
Air
Pegasus Flies Over 80,000 Guests to Dubai in a Year
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WEEKLY NEWS
Etihad Airways Increases Stake in Virgin Australia Etihad Airways confirmed that its equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings reached 19.9 percent, following a series of on-market purchases of the company’s shares over recent weeks. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier now holds more than 515 million shares in its equity partner airline, while as James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, disclosed, this move reflects Etihad Airways’ strong support for the business strategy and management team of Virgin Australia, its enduring commitment to the Australian market, as well as the close working relationship between the two airlines. Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia signed a 10-year strategic partnership agreement in August 2010 that also includes codesharing on flights, and joint sales and marketing activities.
Pegasus Airlines has completed its first year of operations to Dubai. Since the introduction of flights to the emirate on October 18, 2012, the airlines has brought 87,318 travellers to the destination. 75 percent of passengers flying to Dubai from Istanbul, since the beginning of the year, have been transit passengers. According to the airline, during this year, most visitors arriving from Turkey travelled from Ankara, Antalya, Dalaman, Izmir and Trabzon, whilst travellers from outside of Turkey have originated mostly from London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris and Stockholm.
Virgin Australia
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CP-INTL-SP Oct 19-20 2013_TTP Mena_220x155.indd 1
26 OCTOBER 2013
10/22/13 4:39 PM
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air
Emirates Highlights Its Global Reach Emirates’ expansion reached new heights on October 1 with the same-day launch of flights on four different continents; to Clark Internatonal Airport, Philippines, the inauguration of a route between Milan and New York, and a brand new A380 service to Brisbane, Australia. “This is an extremely significant day for our network. We are connecting two great cities across the Atlantic, opening an important new gateway into the Philippines, which helps links Filipino communities across the world,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates. Clark International Airport will be the carrier’s second gateway into the Philippines after Manila, while Emirates will become the only airline flying a scheduled doubledecker into Brisbane. Additionally, the new Milan - New York route addresses an underserved transatlantic link between the two commercially vibrant cities.
Etihad Airways and airBaltic to Launch Riga - Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways and airBaltic, Latvia’s flag carrier, announced that direct Riga-Abu Dhabi flights will commence on December 16. The Latvian carrier will operate the new four weekly return services using a 116-seat Airbus A319 aircraft with seating capacity for 14 business class and 102 economy class passengers, while the flights will be offered on a split schedule aiming at optimal connectivity over each airline’s respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Riga. Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, remarked, “We are delighted to link Latvia and the UAE, and improve our service to the customer by substantially reducing the travel time between the two capitals and, to destinations beyond,” adding that the codeshare and interline cooperation between the airlines will offer convenient connections to key destinations.
Emirates Arrives at Clark International Airport
Etihad Airways Increases Jakarta Service to Double Daily Beginning October 27, Etihad Airways is set to increase the frequency of its Jakarta - Abu Dhabi services from seven per week to double daily, bringing the number of weekly flights offered in partnership with Garuda Indonesia to 20. James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, outlined that the second daily service would add 5,768 extra seats per week to the route. “The addition of a second daily flight puts the airline in a strong position in the Indonesian market because travellers will have a greater choice of departure times and will enjoy more frequent connections in Abu Dhabi to key destinations across our global network,” said Hogan. The extra capacity also presents opportunities to capitalise on the country’s rapidly growing aviation market and to leverage the growing trade between Indonesia and UAE, added Hogan, who further stated, “We entered the Indonesian market in March 2006 with a modest four flights a week between Jakarta and Abu Dhabi and since then, we have more than tripled our frequency and have developed a strong partnership with Indonesia’s flag carrier. “Our partnership with Garuda Indonesia adds six extra flights per week to the Abu Dhabi – Jakarta sector and enables us to offer daily flights between Jakarta and Perth, Australia and connections to five Indonesian cities,” he concluded. Jakarta
26 OCTOBER 2013
WHO'S MOVED
Alessandro Redaelli
Maria Jagla Maria Jagla has been named general manager at Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Jagla started her career in Germany and after working across Europe, she decided to relocate to Australia where she gained a wealth of operational expertise during the 2000 Olympic Games. She then moved to
the US, where she held various positions in San Francisco and New York before becoming the general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. After working in Maui for four years, she continued in another Olympic host city, London where she has successfully been leading hotel operations for the past year.
Alessandro Redaelli has been appointed general manager at Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah, UAE. Having previously spent several years in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with InterContinental Hotels Group and in Doha with Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Redaelli retuns to the region from Hotel Nikol’skava Kemp-
Tarek Aouini Tarek Aouini has been appointed hotel manager at Emirates Grand Hotel, UAE. Prior to joining the hotel’s team, Aouini, who has over 13 years of hospitality experience, worked as director of rooms at Dusit Thani Dubai and served Dusit International also in Bangkok. In addition, he also worked as front office manager and was involved in the successful pre-opening of three hotels including Jumeirah Vitavelli in the Maldives, Media One Hotel in Dubai and
26 OCTOBER 2013
Starwood Hotels & Resorts International’s complex in Tripoli. As hotel manager, Aouini will be responsible for the overall strategic planning, setting and sales targets, and he will also be in charge of keeping up-to-date with the latest promotions and hotel pricing.
Aouini has over13 years of hospitality experience
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inski, Moscow, where he held the same position after moving there from Hotel de la Paix in Geneva. Moreover, he also served as group general manager for Boscolo Luxury Hotels. In his position, he will oversee the day-to-day operations, and he will also be in charge of the second phase of the property’s expansion.
Otto Kurzendorfer Otto Kurzendorfer has taken on the position of general manager at JA Ocean View Hotel, UAE. Kurzendorfer comes from a food and beverage background with extensive experience across all hotel departments. Over the past 24 years, he has held various positions in several countries such as Bahamas, Germany, Seychelles, Syria, Qatar, UK and some Chinese locations including Shanghai and Sanya working mainly for Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group. In his new role, he will focus on building on the property’s initial success to cement its position as the place to be on The Walk.
Kurzendorfer will focus on cementing the hotel’s position on The Walk
travel talk is your space
12
TRAVEL TALK Rabih Abou Mrad
Abdulla Siddiq Al-Awadi
General manager, Golden Tulip Khasab Hotel Resort.
Hotel manager, The Gulf Hotel, Bahrain.
“Compared to 2011 [there was] an increase of 9.4 percent in occupancy in 2012, and this year looks very promising when compared to 2012. So far we recorded a 12.47 percent growth in occupancy and we achieved our goals both in occupancy and revenue. The main market is the European market. Germany has long been our strongest market and now also the French market.”
“We are very happy and honoured to receive [a certificate of excellence from Booking.com, one of the web’s leading online travel agencies, for attaining a score of 8.1 on its guest reviews for the year 2012] that reflects our guests’ satisfaction, and that can only inspire us to continue providing the quality hospitality services that we are known for in order to achieve higher average scores in years to come.”
Iftikhar Hamdani
Abdelhamid Ahmed
General manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman.
General manager, Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh.
“We at Ramada Ajman, are very pleased and proud to receive [the Wyndham Green Award] recognition, which signifies that all our efforts towards sustainability had been acknowledged on a global scale. I would like to commend the members of our team for all their dedication and hard work in carrying out our various green initiatives and rest assured that we will continue to think of innovative and effective ways to safeguard our environment.”
“Baron Resort Sharm El Sheik has been awarded the Marque of Excellence Awards for five years by Thomas Cook in addition to TUI Company and Gulet Awards. 2014 is promising to be the best year for us since three years, so through our philosophy and continuous training, we will adapt to the expected and unexpected wishes and needs of each of our customers.”
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
26 OCTOBER 2013
AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Adel Taha POSITION: General manager, leisure travel
COMPANY: Kimidar Tours LOCATION: Egypt WEB: www.kimidartours.com Who are you? I am Adel Taha, holding the position of general manager in the leisure travel sector at Kimidar Tours where I am responsible for managing all departments under this sector. Kimidar Tours has been one of the leading travel agents in the market since 1983. We present a comprehensive portfolio of genuine travel services covering the entire travel and tourism sector. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Seeing my customers happy and satisfied is the real excitement I am always seeking at my work. The product I like most is handling exotic honeymoon trips and specially tailored VIP trips. When is the best time to visit Egypt? Egypt is always attractive to visit all year round. However, if we have to choose definite period range, it can be at its best during summer months from May to October. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? Personally, I am always hungry for Europe but my next dream holiday will be in the Far East. Why should people come to you for travel advice? As I always underline, we are keeping an eye on the core implication of the term ‘service’ from which emerges the commitment and dedication to make our customers satisfied and happy. On the other hand, Kimidar Tours is known in the Egyptian market as one of the top customer-oriented organisations and it is an ongoing strategy in our management and operation internally as we always see our customer as our asset and we should be always there for them, even if it is just for advice and recommendation.
Jazeera Airways and Travelport Strengthen Partnership Kuwaiti airline Jazeera Airways and Travelport, announced the renewal of their global full content agreement, which will ensure that content from the airline will continue to be made available exclusively to Travelport global distribution system (GDS) users in Kuwait, with preferred access to the carrier’s best inventory and fares. In addition to the new content deal, Jazeera Airways will also subscribe to Travelport Sponsored Flights Advertising, an advertising tool which ensures optimum visibility. “This new agreement will enable Jazeera Airways to continue building on its strong partnership
with the travel industry across the region and to offer travellers better access to enhanced and competitive fares through their local agent. Having a solid distribution strategy is a key element in continuing our strategic growth across the Middle East, and Travelport is the partner to help us achieve that,” commented Rafiq Boghdady, vice president, sales, Jazeera Airways. “Travelport’s agreement with Jazeera Airways provides a level of agency access to the airline that is unmatched by any other GDS,” added Will Owen Hughes, senior director, supplier services, Middle East and Africa, Travelport.
Afbaa Marks First Regional Symposium in Marrakech African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) welcomed an audience of 126 delegates from 76 companies at its inaugural regional symposium which took place on September 26 - 27, at La Mamounia Hotel, Marrakech. The event hosted 50 percent more attendees than expected, and attracted a mix of international and African stakeholders from across the industry which debated topics relating to the many benefits of adopting business aviation in the continent. Abdenbi Manar, general director, Morocco Civil Aviation Authority, opened day one commenting that business aviation is a core part of Moroccan aviation, and that the country’s government is investing in infrastructure and policies to support its growth.
AfBAA's First Regional Symposium
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Al Ain Zoo Partners with University Al Ain Zoo hosted a gala dinner as a token of appreciation for the UAE University faculty’s contribution to education and research for the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre.
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he learning centre is a landmark project that celebrates the conservation heritage of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE. As H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, director general, Al Ain Zoo, noted, the zoo enjoys strong and mutually beneficial relationships with various government entities and educational institutions in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. “This partnership is in line with our commitment to raise awareness about the environment, allowing the university to adapt its curriculum to meet current market needs with training and career opportunities for students,” Al Hajeri explained.
SMD Presents Educational Workshops In line with its commitment to provide a cultural learning experience in a fun environment, Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) is conducting a comprehensive educational workshop programme during October with six events for families, adults from the age of 16 and above and visitors with disabilities. Hosted by Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Sharjah Aquarium and Sharjah Art Museum, the workshops offer a slew of social and cultural experiences and include hand-on activities that make learning easy and highlight the museums’ extensive collection. The programme is available in both English and Arabic.
Educational Workshop
IEFE Meeting on Education Investment
Safety Week at Bahrain International Airport
Startling figures were discussed at a preparatory meeting held in Dubai on October 3 for The International Exhibition and Forum for Education (IEFE) which will take place in February 2014, at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center and will showcase the major drive towards education improvements in Saudi Arabia. The focus of the meeting was to highlight the investments being made by the Saudi government in education, discussing partnership opportunities for investors while debating the deployment of smart technologies in special needs education for children. The Kingdom is the largest education market in MENA and spends 5.6 percent of its GDP on education.
In a bid to educate staff about the world-class measures that ensure the safety of employees and travellers alike, Bahrain International Airport (BIA) has conducted a safety week under the theme “Foreign Object Debris: Pick up to make a difference”. The week long initiative included a series of training sessions and group activities, aimed at highlighting the importance of advanced safety systems and foreign object debris (FOD), which can easily injure any airport or airline personnel and damage airplanes. In fact, based on estimations, it costs the aviation industry USD13 billion every year. “Ensuring efficiency and safety of the airport for all users is among our priorities, whether they are passengers, staff, or airline companies,” stressed Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), adding that this year alone, BAC has already managed to reduce FOD found in the apron by 46 percent.
Bahrain International Airport
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Lothar Quarz Located in one of Dubai’s most vibrant destinations, with a direct walkway to The Gate at the destination’s financial hub, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offers an ideal base for business travellers and well as tourists according to Lothar Quarz, general manager, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC.
Travel Trade Weekly: How would you describe your target market? Lothar Quarz: Our target market is the global affluent traveller, which encompasses both leisure and business guests. Our location in the heart of DIFC, proximity to Dubai World Trade Centre, and our extensive meetings facilities of course attract a large number of business travellers, but leisure tourism, particularly at the weekends remains a key focus for us. We are attracting an increasing number of leisure guests, particularly from across the GCC who travel to Dubai for the weekends, and stay with us for our unique location. DIFC has become one of Dubai’s hotspots, with some of the city’s best restaurants and an array of international art galleries, and our proximity to key attractions including The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and the nightlife of downtown Dubai, are a key selling point for the hotel. To further appeal to leisure travellers, we are offering a package called ‘Comfort You’ for weekend stays until December 31, where guests can enjoy complimentary credit to spend in the hotel’s restaurants and spa. Travel Trade Weekly: What are your top markets within the region and how have these changed over the past few years? Lothar Quarz: For The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, our main source markets remain the GCC countries. The UAE itself provides a great deal of business through corporate groups, and guests from Dubai and Abu Dhabi looking for weekend ‘staycations’. Our key feeder market continues to be Saudi Arabia, and Qatar and
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Lothar Quarz General manager, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
mental to the way we operate, and every interaction with a guest is an opportunity to ‘wow’, and to leave a lasting impression. As well as the memories our ladies and gentlemen create, we can also provide memories through providing engaging experiences in the hotel. Every hotel in Dubai is five-star, so we want to create an experience that guests will remember, and feel compelled to share with their friends, colleagues or family. Travel Trade Weekly: The hotel has recently unveiled No 5 Lounge & Bar, offering an upbeat evening in the heart of the city. Please tell us about your plans for the coming months.
Oman are also important markets for us, along with the UK and Germany. Travel Trade Weekly: The Ritz-Carlton’s tagline, ‘Let Us Stay with You’, reflects the brand’s commitment to making each guest’s experience as memorable as possible by creating everlasting memories for them. What does this slogan mean to you and your team? Lothar Quarz: ‘Let Us Stay with You’ is testament to the importance we place on guest service and experience. It reverses the approach of hotels asking guests to stay with them, and guests are requested to allow The Ritz-Carlton to be much more than just a hotel; but somewhere where our ladies and gentlemen create indelible memories. For The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, this is funda-
Lothar Quarz: The terrace of No.5 Lounge & Bar reopened for the new season [this month], and we are looking forward to its increasing success. When the terrace closed for the summer in June this year, it was becoming one of Dubai’s most popular nightspots, and we have some exciting new weekly concepts on the way. We have also launched a new shopping package in partnership with Bloomingdale’s at The Dubai Mall. The new package, called ‘Shop with You’, sees guests of the hotel’s Club, Premium and Royal Suites, enjoy a variety of luxury experiences, including a personal shopping session with Bloomingdale’sDubai style experts. Guests can choose to enjoy the ‘At Your Service’ experience in The Dubai Mall store, benefitting from complimentary transportation to and from the mall, or within the comfort of the hotel, as the Bloomingdale’s-Dubai personal shopping team brings the latest collections from the store, straight to their suite.
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NEWS & EVENTS
GIBTM to Return Expanded to Abu Dhabi
ADNEC Upgrades Call Centre System
The Gulf Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition will return to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from March 24 - 26, 2014, with an enlarged remit and enhanced calendar of business networking opportunities. According to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the MICE sector is an increasingly important economic contributor, currently generating AED2.4 billion (USD653.4 million) per annum, and set to grow by seven percent annually to reach AED5.1 billion (USD1.4 billion ) by 2020. “[In 2012], GIBTM saw 251 hosted buyers attend with 67 percent placing orders in excess of USD650,000. For 2014, we will welcome over 300 targeted buyers as demand continues to grow for quality interaction with leading industry suppliers, and the new GIBTM event programme will build on previous show floor successes to allow us to continue to push both inbound and outbound business in the region,” said Lois Hall, exhibition manager, GIBTM.
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) plans to upgrade call centre system to include advanced interactive features, as part of its ongoing efforts to offer state-of-the-art facilities and technologically advanced services, in a bid to match the dynamic needs of customers and complement its status in the events marketplace worldwide. ADNEC’s upgraded system provides web-based operation screens, multiple interactive voice response options, and a queue management system, while it also allows the possibility of looping recorded voice messages and interactive selections prior to the operator responding to a certain call. Salah Al Jaeedi, chief financial officer, ADNEC, said that this latest effort is part of a strategy to provide enhanced convenience to all customers that wish to connect and communicate with ADNEC, including exhibitors and event organisers, as well as participating companies and the general public. ADNEC has achieved significant milestones to date as a strategic international venue development and management company that promotes Abu Dhabi as a prime MICE destination. Embracing state-of-the-art systems to make its call centre more dynamic is in line with its strategic objectives that align with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
EVENTS 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.
The Global Meetings & Events Expo (EIBTM) Barcelona, Spain, November 19 - 21, 2013 (www.eibtm.com) An annual event for the meetings, incentives, conferences, events and business travel industry.
World Travel Market (WTM) London, UK, November 4 – 7, 2013 (www.wtmlondon.com) WTM is a vibrant must-attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors.
ITCA Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 24 – 26, 2013 (www.itcaabudhabi.com) The International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) has once again chosen Abu Dhabi as the destination to host its membership.
EMEA Hospitality Summit Montreux, Switzerland, November 11 – 13, 2013 (www.hospitalitysummit.com) A premium forum bringing elite buyers and sellers together from across Europe, Middle East and Asia.
International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Cannes, France, December 2 – 5, 2013 (www.iltm.net) A leading ‘by invitation only’ event for the global luxury travel community, held annually in Cannes.
International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) Costa Daurada, Spain, November 10 – 14, 2013 (www.igtm.co.uk) Exclusively organised for the golf travel industry, the show is set to attract over 600 suppliers from 55 nations.
Travel Turkey Izmir Izmir, Turkey, December 5 – 8, 2013 (www.travelturkey-expo.com) The last edition of the event welcomed 430 exhibitors and close to 15,000 visitors from 36 countries.
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