Travel Trade Weekly Issue 181

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27 APRIL 2013

ISSUE 181

Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait: New Look Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait enjoyed a healthy year in 2012 with a number of refurbishments to the rooms and suites over the summer period.

City Seasons Hotel Group is to open the latest addition to its portfolio, Royal Rose Hotel, Abu Dhabi, in September.

11 Emirates to Begin Transatlantic Service Connecting mainland Europe with North America, Emirates will launch a direct service between Milan and New York on October 1.

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

02 03 04 08 13 15 16 17 18 19 20

Royal Rose Hotel to Open in September

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RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Patrick de Groot Over the past few years, a number of innovative hotel concepts have emerged in the Middle East, bringing modern amenities and fresh ideas to the region. Here, Patrick de Groot, general manager, The Domain Bahrain, shares his idea of what he calls a ‘relevant concept for our time’.

Travel Trade Weekly: What aspects make The Domain ‘relevant’ and different?

Patrick de Groot: The Domain Bahrain bills itself as a ‘relevant concept for our time’, because we have placed social engagement at the core of the concept. The Domain is a luxury boutique hotel that inhabits a socially charged member’s club. […] Instead of putting architecture, interior design, or restaurant concepts forward as examples of how The Domain is different, our focus is on people. You can no longer define a hotel as business or leisure, city or resort. In our current world, so much media, entertainment, technology, style, and sociability is integrated into our work. And the truly lucky and passionate see their business as a pleasure. We are merely here to set the scene – people will provide the stories. The Domain Bahrain is a building just waiting for stories. [..]

We will open in May. The opening of the hotel will be done in phases, as the spa and fitness component of the hotel will not be physically ready until later this summer, with its opening scheduled at the beginning of September.

Travel Trade Weekly: How would you describe your target market?

Patrick de Groot: The Domain Bahrain is located in the heart of the Diplomatic District – the Central Business District of Manama. Naturally we will be catering to the business traveller, but we also intend to be very much an urban social club, hence we plan to attract the local Bahrain residents to The Domain, providing them with unmatched food and entertainment outlets.

Business is rarely conducted completely void of pleasure. I strongly believe that what-

Patrick de Groot General manager, The Domain Bahrain

real-time social engagement. We promote a lifestyle in which quality service, great food shared with friends, and a focus on health stand central.

Membership at The Domain comes with many perks including three overnight stays, preferential rates on rooms, suites, meals, catered events and retail, as well as opt-ins for spa and health club benefits. But the true benefit of club membership is inclusion in a host of highly engaging events throughout the year: social functions, insider invites to previews, quirky off-site events, business networking gatherings, and opportunities to connect with like-minded people from our region regularly.

Travel Trade Weekly: Please tell us about the company’s expansion plans.

ever you do, you should enjoy doing, in order to do it well. We came up with a slogan to support our credo of Stay Work Play: ‘Business is pleasure and pleasure is…everything’. Our target audience wants to be stimulated by their work and their travel experiences. In their lives boundaries blur and ‘play’ is always a serious consideration. […]

We bill ourselves as a ‘place for grownups’.

We welcome everyone, but The Domain has a distinctly adult vibe that is cool and sexy, so it is not a natural family draw. We cannot be all things to all people.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are the main benefits and perks of becoming a Domain member?

Patrick de Groot: The Domain is a social club that inhabits a luxury boutique hotel. The main objective of visiting The Domain is therefore

Patrick de Groot: For the moment, the focus is of course on opening our pilot property in Bahrain. As we speak, we are bringing together a team from close to 20 different countries.

Our colleagues will need in-depth training and some “un-learning” before they are ready to bring The Domain to life in the way the idea was conceptualised. Once open, we will use the next 12 months to fine-tune and streamline our operation. By then we will be ready to roll out the concept in new locations.

The Domain concept is being developed with expansion in mind from day one. The where next was not really a difficult question for us. Dubai is firmly on our radar screen as our group has many business interests there as well. We also earmarked a site in London, where we can see The Domain being a natural fit. But for now the focus is on opening our first Domain and I cannot wait to see the reaction of our guests and members.

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WEEKLY NEWS Crystal Cruises and Century Travel Launch New Website Crystal Cruises, Etihad Airways’ partner through its distributing agent in the UAE, Century Travel, has launched a new dedicated website for the UAE. The new website provides detailed information on all Crystal Cruises voyages, an extensive gallery of the two Crystal Cruises ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, and features a user-friendly enquiry interface for travel agents whereby a Crystal Cruises expert can provide assistance for agents when placing a booking for their clients.

“Our aim through the new website is to allow for easy access to the experiential philosophy of each of the two ships, while providing the personal touch to service which continues to set Crystal Cruises apart,” commented Daniel Essex, CEO, Century Travel.

Crystal Serenity

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Travelport Launches Merchandising Platform Travelport has unveiled the Travelport Merchandising Platform which is set to transform the way airlines deliver their products and the way those products are displayed to travel agents.

The launch of the innovative new platform will help airlines to differentiate and distribute their full scale of products and services and achieve greater brand consistency, maximise return on investment, and deliver a compelling user experience.

Travel agents, on the other hand, will benefit from access to a full range of airlines’ products, including ancillaries, and a more complete service, leading to reduced training times and higher level of productivity.

Travelport Merchandising Platform provides three retailing solutions with the aggregated shopping and ancillary services tools already available in the region, while Travelport Rich Content and Branding is slated for launch later this year.

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MARKET UPDATE

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

Dubai International: 5.08 Million Passengers Dubai International’s passenger volume remained on the growth trajectory with February registering an 11.4 percent year-on-year surge.

Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou Maria Kazeli

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SALES & MARKETING 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

ased on Dubai Airports’ latest traffic report, during the month under review, a total of 5,080,360 travellers passed through the airport, lifting year-to-date figures to 10,640,120, up 13 percent over the corresponding period in 2012.

Aircraft movements reached 28,085 in February, while average passengers per aircraft totalled a record of 201.

The fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth was Eastern Europe, followed by Asia Pacific, and Russia and the CIS, while the top three destination countries in terms of market size included the Indian sub-

continent, UK, and Saudi Arabia.

With the latest figures, Dubai International continues to stay ahead of the curve in terms of the traffic forecast of 65.4 million passengers for the current year, as Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, highlighted. “We are also on track in terms of introducing capacity to meet demand. Concourse A is fully online and setting new standards for A380 service. Additionally, the expansion of Terminal 2 is proceeding on plan as are the upgrade of Terminal 1 and the construction of Concourse D. All three projects are integral elements of our USD7.8 billion airport strategic plan to boost capacity and augment service levels over the next several years.”

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

26/04/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.93

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,504.00

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

70.10

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.61

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.54

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,283.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.55

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

78.93

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.29

Dubai International, Terminal 3

Saudi Arabia: Varying Performance Trends Saudi Arabia’s hotel sector continued to post strong performance results based on TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats report for the month of February.

Occupancy levels in Jeddah dropped 1.3 percentage points to 78.2 percent, average room rate (ARR), however, rose 11.2 percent to USD237.39 allowing a 9.4 rise in RevPAR to USD185.69, while gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) climbed 10.8 percent to USD135.61.

In Riyadh, hotel performance remained stable with a three percentage point increase in occupancy, to 74.3 percent. ARR declined 3.3 percent to USD250.48, due to the increased competition; RevPAR, however, was still up 0.8 percent to USD185.97, while GOPPAR rose 0.1 percent to USD173.81.

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WEEKLY NEWS

License for a Motel in Saudi Arabia In the presence of H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities, H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, governor, Al Madina Province, and chairman, Al Madina Tourism Development Council, handed over a license to a first ever roadside motel in the Medina Province.

The license for the motel is the second of its kind for tourism accommodation in the Kingdom after a recent grant was made for a roadside motel on the Al Ahsa-Qatar highway.

The present licensed facility, which is called Al Manar Al Alie Motel, is located on the Madina-Al Qaseem highway in the Al Suwaidra area of the province.

Emaar Properties Launches Desert Oasis Project Emaar Properties has commenced the sales of the first residential project in Reem, the Dubai-based global property developer’s desert oasis venture.

Located next to the Arabian Ranches extension at the cross-roads of Al Qudra and Emirates Road, Reem will feature several residential communities, the first of which is Mira, offering 188 Mediterranean-style townhouses.

A fully-fledged lifestyle community focused on leisure, Reem marks the first time that a gated community in Dubai will feature an exclusive desert botanical park, camping facilities, sand surfing and camel riding trails, go-karting track, dune buggies, rock climbing wall, and skate park. In addition, the mega development will also boast interactive fountains, walkways, and a centrepiece water feature.

Mira Townhouses

Dubai’s First Green Medical Centre Opens H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, has inaugurated MedHealth Medical Centre, the first green building amongst hospitals and medical centres in Dubai as well as the first LEED certified Gold Rated Green Building in the emirate.

Located in Jafza South, this joint partnership between MedHealth & Belhoul Life Care marks the first medical centre to implement the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, UAE, and ruler of Dubai, for green buildings in Dubai, as H.E. Salma Hareb, CEO, Economic Zones World, highlighted.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Cuts the Ribbon

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WEEKLY NEWS

VEER Boutique Hotel & Resort to Open in May Poised to welcome new guests, VEER Boutique Hotel & Resort, Beirut, is set to make its debut in May. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the property’s metal structure concept will feature upgraded pools, restaurants, and guest rooms, while exclusive new beach rooms with private pools are set to open this year, along with a Royal Suite.

Firas Mneimneh, president, Landmark International Hotels, prided, “We are back. And this year, we are equipped for all seasons. New upgrades have been introduced to the resort, offering VEER’s guests an unmatched experience of quality food, architecture, and service throughout the resort.”

Accommodation

Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi Offers Wi-Fi in Hotel Limousines Guests staying at Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi will now be able to stay connected and be productive throughout their travel, following the introduction of complimentary Wi-Fi in the hotel’s limousines.

The five-star property opted for the widest 4G coverage and fastest network to ensure a reliable service and allow guests to access the Internet while commuting to or from the airport, to a corporate event, or business meeting.

Taking the luxurious experience to the next level, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi has also added brand new vehicles to its fleet.

Bristol Hotel Amman Adds New Outlets Bristol Hotel, Amman, the 170-room luxury hotel overlooking the Jordanian capital, remains committed to providing guests with the highest level of services and amenities, with plans to launch a new pool-side Lebanese restaurant with live entertainment and water features, informed Ziad Fostuq, general manager, Bristol Hotel, Amman.

“We are currently refurbishing our ballroom as well as other meeting venues with state-of-the-art equipment.

Our hotel in general is well maintained, however, we will continue to modernise the different outlets including the lobby lounge,” Fostuq further revealed.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Bin Majid Hotels to Reveal New Hotels and Logo Bin Majid Hotels is to unveil its new corporate identity and announce the opening of its new properties in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, as the group prepares for its participation in this year’s edition of Arabian Travel Market, Dubai.

Bin Majid Hotels is set to reveal the group’s new logo and unveil Nehal Hotel; a 134-room and suites hotel located in Abu Dhabi, the group’s first property in the capital; and Santorini Hotel, a 265-room and suite establishment located in Marjan Island, the first man-made island project in Ras Al Khaimah, scheduled to open by the end of the year.

The team, which will be headed by Ali Kasapbashi, group general manager, Bin Majid Group, will present the services and facilities offered by the new properties and its existing ones in Ras Al Khaimah.

Ramada Downtown Dubai to Target Niche Markets at ATM 2013 Ramada Downtown Dubai, located in the city’s most prestigious and vibrant district, has announced its participation in Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai, to strengthen its existing business relationships and meet potential partners, including business-to-business and business-to-consumer prospects.

The hotel aims to maximise its presence in the exhibition, promote Dubai as a tourist and business destination, and identify new trends in the hospitality industry such as online marketing strategies, social media, and technological innovations.

Wael El Behi, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, said, “This year, we aim to strengthen our brand position in the region and achieve an international mix of guests.

We intend to target the right niche, as well as to introduce Dubai as a destination for visitors from Southeast Asia and Latin America.”

Rose Rayhaan by Rotana to Add Business Facilities Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is gearing up to welcome guests with extended business and MICE facilities with the launch of the Club Rotana Lounge scheduled for later this year.

As Karim Nahas, general manager, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, explained, located on the sixth floor of the 333m building, the executive lounge is expected to give the hotel an edge by offering busy corporate guests highly personalised and efficient services and amenities.

With the corporate segment representing some 70 percent of the 72-storey hotel’s clientele, the management lays great emphasis on continuously exceeding this growing segment’s needs, thus guests can also take advantage of their own kitchenette or indulge in the culinary selections of the property’s all-day dining restaurant.

Rose Rayhaan by Rotana

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Accommodation

Royal Rose Hotel to Open in September City Seasons Hotel Group, owned by Bin Ham Group, is attending IMEX Frankfurt, to introduce the latest addition to its portfolio of hotels and promote its existing properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Muscat.

Scheduled to welcome its first guests in September, Royal Rose Hotel, Abu Dhabi, will feature 355 units, including 122 boutique suites, 20 luxury suites, and one royal suite, along with three executive floors.

The hotel, which was built in 17th Century Parisian style, will also offer six banquet and meeting rooms, including two flexible ballrooms on two floors which can host up to 300 guests.

“We have a considerable room inventories in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat to host events at our properties or provide accommodation for larger, citywide events,” commented Gianni Malerba, general manager, Royal Rose Hotel.

Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait: New Look Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait enjoyed a healthy year in 2012 with a number of refurbishments to the rooms and suites over the summer period which gave the rooms and suites a modern look and friendly upgrade, this according to Ali Haddad, general manager, SwissBelhotel Plaza Kuwait.

In addition, the property, which first opened in 1985, added the executive room category, in order to meet the needs of the corporate guest, as Haddad explained, “These are designed for business travellers to facilitate their business needs in a relaxing ambience.”

Amenities include 24-hour room service, airport transfer, laundry and dry cleaning service, and meeting facilities and valet parking, while the executive lounge offers daily complimentary refreshments as well as work and relaxation areas.

Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait

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WEEKLY NEWS

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Tilal Liwa Hotel Aims to Attract Markets at ATM Tilal Liwa Hotel, a secluded hideaway leisure resort perched on the edge of Rub Al Khali Desert, is all geared up for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) this year, to highlight Abu Dhabi as a destination, unveil its summer campaign, and target the growing markets in the region.

The team led by Ayman Ashor, general manager, Tilal Liwa Hotel, will meet with existing clients and potential partners to highlight the hotel’s tagline, ‘Discover the true spirit of Arabia at the majestic desert resort, Tilal Liwa Hotel’, with a special focus on the tactical offer from May until September, promoting the summer campaign with what he described as a great bang.

Tilal Liwa Hotel

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Corp Executive Hotel Amman Poised for ATM In an effort to intensify its sales and marketing initiative, Corp Executive Hotel Amman will be present at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai, under the umbrella of Hospitality Management Holdings.

The property is located opposite the Royal Cultural Centre in Al Shmeisani, the financial and diplomatic centre of the Jordanian capital, boasting 108 rooms and a range of business and leisure facilities.

Emad Jawad Hussain, general manager, Corp Executive Hotel Amman, revealed that the hotel enjoyed a great opening month with strong occupancy levels, and that ATM is a fantastic opportunity to promote the property to trade professionals.

Corp Executive Hotel Amman

Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa: Showcasing UAE Customs Announcing the commitment to promote the rich heritage of the UAE and boost tourism in the region, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa is gearing up to participate at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai, at the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing stand.

The property, which is part of Planet Hospitality, inaugurated Barjeel Heritage Guest House and Ahmedia Heritage Guest House earlier this year, in a bid to allow tourists and residents to experience and become familiar with the local customs and values.

Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah at ATM Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah is returning to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) for the fourth consecutive year, as it launches a new strategic focus targeting GCC travellers.

Headed by Omar Boujlid, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah, the property will attend the exhibition as a trade exhibitor alongside parent company Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, and will offer insights into the strategically important role which it is playing in the Kingdom’s burgeoning religious tourism market, as well as its plans for future growth.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo Heliopolis Introduces Mobile Apps Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo Heliopolis is just a fingertip away now, with the hotel’s facilities and services available on App Store and Android.

Users can book a room, reserve a table at one of the hotel’s restaurants, enquire about conferences and meetings, or make a reservation at at the 7ème Ciel Spa. Ashraf Naguib, general manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo Heliopolis, said, “The new apps help us to take our service levels and standards to new heights, making the experience of staying at our hotel even better for our guests and clients.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air

Emirates to Begin Transatlantic Service Connecting mainland Europe with North America, Emirates will launch a direct service between Milan and New York on October 1.

Linking Italy, as well as Europe, directly with the US, the new route, which will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER, will allow the airline to capitalise on the significant traffic flow between the two cities and give both leisure and business travellers more choice and added convenience.

Customers across Europe looking to fly on the airline’s network will be able to maximise Emirates’ frequent flyer partnership with easyJet, seamlessly connecting through Milan to New York.

On arrival in the US, customers can also take advantage of Emirates’ partnership with JetBlue enabling connections across the US, including the West Coast.

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US Regulatory Approval for Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus Codeshare Etihad Airways has received approval from the US Department of Transportation to put its ‘EY’ flight code on Aer Lingus’ transatlantic services out of Dublin, Ireland.

The UAE national carrier will offer 10 weekly codeshare flights via Dublin to Boston, eight to Chicago, and 12 to New York.

Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad Airways, said, “As a result of US regulatory approval for transatlantic services, air travellers in the UAE and beyond now have greater access to the American market via Dublin. Enhancing connectivity, making the journey easier and more enjoyable, increasing choice, and seamlessly integrating our operations with those of codeshare partners underpin our strategy for building our global network.”

Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air Arabia Adds to Salalah Service Air Arabia announced the increase in frequency of flights to Salalah from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah.

Effective May 8, the airline will offer three services per week, an addition of one flight on Wednesdays to the existing schedule, making it easier and more convenient for passengers to visit this vibrant tourist destination in Oman.

“As demand soars for Air Arabia’s value for money services, we will continue to further expand our network in the Arab world and beyond, providing customers with a wider choice for value air travel,” said Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia.

Air

Turkish Airlines Expands ME Network Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, now offers more flights to the Middle East (ME) from Europe than any other airline, with 310 weekly operations covering 14 countries and 40 destinations in the region.

This year, the carrier will celebrate 30 years of serving the UAE, as it currently operates 20 weekly flights to the country comprising 14 weekly services to Dubai and six weekly to Abu Dhabi, connecting passengers to more cities around the world than any other airline.

In 2012, Turkish Airlines carried 332,719 passengers overall to the UAE.

Qatar Airways Touches Down in Chicago Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to Chicago landed at O’Hare International Airport on April 10, marking the airline’s fourth gateway in the US. The carrier currently offers three-weekly flights between Chicago and Qatar on board a Boeing 777-300ER extended range two-class configuration aircraft, with operations set to increase to daily on June 15.

Flight QR991 arrived to a warm welcome at a grand airport ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries, including Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, who said, “Chicago is a key route for business and leisure travellers alike, home to the world’s second busiest international airport, with 70 million passengers a year. Qatar Airways was first introduced to the city in 2010 through its successful cargo operations, which helped set the stage for a longer term partnership with this thriving city.”

Qatar Airways Lands in Chicago

Austrian Airlines Launches Second Boeing 767 The second of Austrian Airlines’ Boeing 767, featuring the company’s completely remodelled, long-haul cabin, recently embarked on its maiden flight from Vienna to Dubai.

The new fittings mean passengers travelling economy class will have the opportunity to enjoy an entirely new level of seating comfort. Meanwhile in business class, the new seats will offer a builtin massage function, and extra storage space. The standard of reclining comfort provided to passengers by the new seats is thanks to their innovative combination of an air cushion system and the option to convert them into full-flat beds.

Etihad Airways to Serve Sana’a Etihad Airways is set to launch direct services to Sana’a, Yemen’s capital city, on September 1, offering four weekly flights.

“The launch of direct services to Sana’a is consistent with our strategy of adding depth and scale to our network and targeting areas of growth in emerging markets,” said James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, who added that the ancestral, cultural, and business ties between the two countries are significant.

“We believe the new service will further facilitate Yemen’s economic development in the months and years ahead.”

The announcement of the new route, which will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft, follows the decision to launch operations to a number of new cities this year such as Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, São Paulo, and Ho Chi Minh City.

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WHO'S MOVED

Krystel Irani Krystel Irani has been named front office manager at Raffles Dubai.

Irani brings a wealth of experience with her, having previously worked at prestigious hotels in Europe and the Middle East. Her journey began at Four Seasons George V in Paris as a reservations agent, and she quickly moved up to man-

age the guest relations team.

She later joined Four Seasons in Beirut as sales manager before starting with Mandarin Oriental in Paris as sales representative for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Irani then moved back to front office at The St. Regis Doha where she most recently served as front desk manager.

Tony Douglas Tony Douglas has been appointed CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

In his capacity, Douglas will lead the transformation of the emirate’s international gateway through its expansion schemes.

Over the past decades, Douglas has built vast experience in the aviation and wider infrastructure sectors. At Abu Dhabi Ports Company, which he joined in 2010, he was responsible for the on-time, on-budget delivery of Khalifa Port and its associated

27 APRIL 2013

industrial zone.

Earlier in his career, he held various senior roles with airport operator BAA, now Heathrow Airport Holding, including managing director of the Heathrow Terminal 5 project; group supply chain director; group technical director, and CEO of Heathrow Airport.

He also served as chief operating officer of Laing O’Rourke, where he was responsible for the group’s largest and most complex project delivery activities.

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Nedal Sabbah Nedal Sabbah has joined Coral Gulf Hotel Riyadh as hotel manager.

Sabbah started his career in the industry as a flight attendant for Kuwait Airways before joining Marriott International in Jordan and later Le Méridien Amman and Le Méridien Dubai.

Sabbah moves to Saudi Arabia from Dubai where he most

recently served as director of rooms at Auris Plaza Hotel. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously worked with some of the most renowned hotels in the region, including Burj Al Arab, where he spent 12 years progressing from night manager to assistant operations manager and finally to operations manager until 2011.

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TRAVEL TALK Patrick Antaki

travel talk is your space

Complex general manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort; Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa.

“Active participation in regional and international road shows and travel exhibitions allows us to enhance our relationships with tour operators, airline companies, and online marketing sites. [...] This year, we are planning a major room refurbishment at Le Méridien Al Aqah, while at Al Maha we will continue to highlight conservation efforts as well as various initiatives being implemented to make the resort more accessible.”

Patrick de Groot General manager, The Domain Bahrain.

“[Our slogan] ‘Stay Work Play’ also sits at the heart of the way we manage our most import asset, our colleagues. [...] I like to think that we provide them with a working environment in which ‘play’ and ‘stay’ are just as important. I like them to be passionate about bringing The Domain experience to life because they want to, and in their own way. Not scripted, not following rigid standard operating procedures.

I believe that will make them want to stay.”

Wayne Pearce

Victor Louis

CEO, Oman Air.

Chief operating officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

“ITB Berlin has been an outstanding success for Oman Air this year. We have created promising new links with a range of travel trade organisations, strengthened existing relationships and received a prestigious award for our services to Germany.

I was also pleased to see Oman win three international awards. [...] As a result, we look forward to offering the warmest of Omani welcomes to many more customers from Germany and further afield.”

“[Ras Al Khaimah] offers the ultimate in adventure tourism from a day on the luxury sailing yacht, Prince of Sea, to learning how to dingy sail at the Sailing Academy, horse ride at RAK Country Club, flying a microlight at Al Jazirah Aviation Club, or a sea plane with Seawings. Families [...] will also love days spent at Iceland Waterpark and Bassata Desert Camp which offers visitors traditional Arabic activities.”

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: Saeed Azam POSITION: Marketing manager COMPANY: Iran Doostan Tours LOCATION: Iran WEB: www.idt.ir Who are you?

My name is Saeed Azam and I am the marketing manager of Iran Doostan Tours. The company has been working on incoming tours for more than two decades, and recently opened its outgoing department as well.

We are specialised in organising conferences and conventions, sport events, trade fairs, and business travel in addition to travel services. All our inquiries are handled within a short notice, with full itinerary.

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

We love what we do, since we share our passion with our clients.

When is the best time to visit Iran?

The best time to visit Iran is April to May, and October to November.

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

For my next holiday, I would like to visit Vietnam.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

For our varied products and our flexibility.

Khaju Bridge, Isfahan, Iran

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FTI Touristik First Workshop Programme Outside Europe FTI Touristik, a market-leading tour operator for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is to bring 150 of its top selling German travel agents to Abu Dhabi this December, for a three-day sales appreciation incentive and educational workshop programme; its first outside Europe.

The workshop will celebrate FTI Touristik’s 30th anniversary and comes as the company looks to grow package sales to Abu Dhabi by 60 percent this year. “The workshop will give our top sellers a fantastic opportunity to experience first-hand the destination we now want them to focus on selling,” Ralph Schiller, chief commercial of-

ficer, FTI Touristik, explained.

“There has been significant tourism infrastructure development, particularly with relevance to leisure, in Abu Dhabi recently and it is crucial that these important client-facing bookers are fully up-to-date with the destination’s expanded offering,” Schiller added.

The workshop incentive, signed at the recent ITB Berlin under the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Etihad Airways joint ‘Access Abu Dhabi’ marketing programme, comes after FTI Touristik turned in a 152 percent increase in sales to Abu Dhabi in 2012 compared to 2011.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

Dubai Culture Now Responsible for Heritage Sites Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) recently announced the reallocation of supervision of the 15 Dubai heritage and archaeological sites.

T

his move will see the overall responsibilities of the sites, which include museums and heritage villages as well as a number of artifacts dating back to 3,000BC, being placed on Dubai Culture from DTCM. “By transferring the ownership and management of these sites to Dubai Culture, we are taking another ambitious step in achieving our founding objective of promoting an integrated cultural infrastructure, under the chairmanship of H. H. Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” commented Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director general, Dubai Culture, who underlined the compelling significance of the sites which, he indicated, have served as milestones for future generations to appreciate the ways in which Dubai has evolved over the years.

H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, DTCM, noted that the transfer of these sites is indicative of the close collaboration between DTCM and Dubai Culture.

GCAS Holds Aviation Sessions for Students In line with its strategy to develop the aviation sector of the UAE and the region, Abu Dhabi Airports Company’s Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies (GCAS) held informative aviation sessions for diploma and high school level students in March at its headquarters in Al Bateen Executive Airport.

GCAS plays a stringent role in attracting the younger generation through initiatives which are set to increase awareness of the aviation industry and its needs as well as its opportunities; the latest being a group of informative sessions organised by the centre at the back of Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013, which was aimed at showcasing the industry to students in Abu Dhabi and highlighting its growth and development.

Turkey’s Growing Investment in the MICE Sector Turkey’s presence and participation from key industry players hailing from the MICE sector was among the most anticipated for this year’s Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) which took place on March 25-27 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Remaining steadfast amid the global economic crisis, which has largely impacted Europe in recent years, GIBTM saw Turkey’s significant growth in the field of congress tourism both in the region and international markets, inevitably increasing its space year-on-year from its first participation in 2009.

Moreover, the country’s commitment in upholding the reputation proves to be more evident, with its fundamental investments on accommodation and infrastructure underway, including construction plans of what is expected to be the largest airport in the world; a forecasted USD9.4 billion project, excluding financing costs, set to be sited in Istanbul.

According to Sedat Gönüllüoğlu, attaché, Turkish Cultural & Tourism Office, the six-runway airport will cater to an annual capacity of 90 million, upon the completion of its first phase slated for 2017.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Patrik Zackrisson As Abu Dhabi looks to continuously woo corporate travellers and holidaymakers alike, Patrik Zackrisson, general manager, Al Marfa Pearl Hotels Management, shares his views on the destination’s changing face and the latest trends benefitting and challenging the emirate’s hotel sector.

Travel Trade Weekly: Al Marfa Pearl Hotels Management’s portfolio currently includes two properties, Mirfa Hotel and Liwa Hotel.

How has the year started for the company?

Patrik Zackrisson General manager, Al Marfa Pearl Hotels Management.

Patrik Zackrisson: The year started very well and in the very first quarter, the hotels performed beyond expectation and exceeded the budget. In Liwa Hotel, we have more than doubled the revenue compared to 2012.

Travel Trade Weekly: Overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Mirfa Hotel is a coastal haven, while Liwa Hotel is a true oasis of tranquillity. How would you describe the target markets for the two properties?

Patrik Zackrisson: We have relied on corporate clients for the business in both hotels for the most part. We [are now] diversifying our efforts to attract leisure guests from other emirates as well as from outside the country.

At Mirfa, we have already started to work on the beach and at Liwa, having renovated the hotel recently, we are creating more activities and features to make the hotel more interesting for leisure guests. This is an ongoing effort that would continue and we are going to rely more on our own ingenuity to intensify our efforts.

Travel Trade Weekly: In a bid to further increase visitor numbers, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority aims to position the destination as a serious leisure tourism contender. What are your thoughts on this?

Patrik Zackrisson: From what I have seen, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority spares no effort in promoting Abu Dhabi as a holiday desti-

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nation. Their efforts are not only limited to promotional activities but also include training for hotel personnel. This is a very comprehensive effort and, as such, I have no doubt that Abu Dhabi can become a holiday hotspot very soon.

The excellent infrastructure that exists throughout the UAE will also be a contributory factor in making this come true.

The aim to promote Abu Dhabi as the cultural hub is very good. In the coming years, the museums that are in pipeline will be reality [and] the Lourve Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be very exciting.

Travel Trade Weekly: With a number of hotel openings scheduled for the coming months, key hotel performance indicators are expected to remain under pressure. How do you ensure positive business results and how do you adapt your business strategy to the changing market conditions?

Patrik Zackrisson: We need to adopt two approaches: On the one hand, we need to constantly increase the value for money for our guests by continuously improving the hotels and the standard of service provided by their staff; we should be on vigil at all times to find out new developments in the field of hospitality and adopt what is suitable for our situation in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Our efforts should not stop here; we should also be more innovative in finding home grown workable strategies to confront changing market conditions.

On the other hand, cleverly employing revenue management strategies to fluctuate the price as per market conditions will enable us to keep the prices competitive and generate revenue.

Travel Trade Weekly: Please tell us about the company’s development plans.

Patrik Zackrisson: At Mirfa Hotel, upon completing the beach project, the owner plans to add a number of waterfront chalets. At Liwa, being the cultural region of the emirate, we would continue to look for ways to incorporate the local Emirati culture in the service we provide to our valued guests.

Also, we have plans to expand beyond the emirate of Abu Dhabi and [debut in] Dubai very soon.

With all these new developmental projects and efforts to promote Abu Dhabi as a major tourist destination, it is really an exciting stage to be here right now. I am really appreciative of this rare opportunity. As such, I am constantly looking to capitalise on the momentum and create new values for our guests and staff alike.

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NEWS & EVENTS

Chinese Visitor Summit in Abu Dhabi The Chinese Visitor Summit, aimed at giving top Chinese tourism producers specific destination networking opportunities, is to return to the UAE capital this year, on September 2-3, with networking and conferences hosted at the recently opened, beachfront The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

This year’s event will bring 75 top Chinese outbound tourism bookers to Abu Dhabi, in a bid to increase the emirate’s Chinese visitor numbers to participating destinations, attractions, and hotels.

The Chinese delegation, which will also comprise 10 leading Chinese media representatives, will include CEOs, general, product, outbound, and MICE managers, sports events producers from wholesale, retail, leisure, golf, and adventure, as well as free independent traveller operators.

Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013 Concludes in Success Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) recently confirmed that the total value of sales at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013 reached in excess of AED3 billion (USD817 million).

The successful show, which ran from March 5-7 and celebrated its second year, also saw a 30 percent increase in attendance, with 13,000 visitors and 160 exhibitors from local, regional, and international companies participating.

Several important contracts were announced during the expo, including a seven-year contract between ADAC and Global Aerospace Logistics to provide civil air navigation services at the company’s five airports starting May 1. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between ADAC and Royal Jet which is set to facilitate the expansion of the airline’s operations into Al Bateen Executive Airport.

Moreover, exhibitor satisfaction was demonstrated through a 70 percent registration rate from this year’s exhibitors for the 2014 event.

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

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

World Travel Fair (WTF) Shanghai, China, May 9 – 11, 2013 (www.worldtravelfair.com) Over the past eight years, WTF has become one of the most influential purchasing platforms in the Chinese tourism industry.

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

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

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

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