27 JULY 2013
ISSUE 194
Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche Unveiled Wyndham Hotel Group has opened Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche, adding 144 rooms to its Lebanese portfolio.
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has acquired a 50 percent stake in Per AQUUM Retreats Resorts Residences after investing USD4 million in the luxury boutique hotel brand.
06 New Le Méridien Hotel in Riyadh Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Al Jazeerah Al Oula Real Estate to debut the Le Méridien brand in the Saudi capital.
07 IN THIS ISSUE RENDEZVOUS WEEKLY NEWS MARKET UPDATE ACCOMMODATION AIR WHO’S MOVED TRAVEL TALK AGENT’S CORNER TRAVEL CHANNELS RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS
02 03 04 07 09 11 12 13 14 15 16
MHG Invests in Per AQUUM
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with Saif Mohammed Al Midfa As Sharjah continues to enhance its tourism offerings, Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director general, Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS), exposes the behind-the-scene factors which make up an ideal destination for business events alongside what is to come for the region’s burgeoning MICE industry.
Travel Trade Weekly: What makes ECS an ideal venue for exhibitions? Saif Mohammed Al Midfa: Primarily, ECS enjoys a unique status among exhibition venues due to the patronage extended by H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah, and the support and guidance of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). ECS is the exhibition wing of SCCI. Besides, ECS, under the aegis of SCCI, looks at promoting local industries and businesses by helping them acquire better technology and marketing their products to a wider audience. This is apart from having one of the best infrastructure facilities in the region and the world, where events of any size can be held without any hassle. ECS is also aware of the growing demand for exhibition space, which has prompted us to add 10,000m2 of additional exhibition space in 2012. Bordering Sharjah’s Al Khalid lagoon, the complex is the only exhibition venue in the region fronting the sea, making it ideal for marinerelated events. Sharjah is also well connected to all world cities, making it easy for exhibitors to ship products in and out of the country with ease. Travel Trade Weekly: In your opinion, what are the main criteria when choosing the destination and the venue for an exhibition? Saif Mohammed Al Midfa: There are quite a few factors that are considered before deciding on the destination and venue of an exhibition. Factors like the appeal of the destination as a tourist attraction, the outbound traffic it generates, a vibrant hospitality sector, air connectivity, economic, social and political stability, its demography,
Saif Mohammed Al Midfa Director general, Expo Centre Sharjah
the reputation of the exhibition centre, and the facilities it offers, come into play. Travel Trade Weekly: How many events are set to take place at the centre this year? Saif Mohammed Al Midfa: ECS will be hosting and organising more than 20 shows this year. We are also hosting several other shows organised by other entities, and corporate and cultural events. Although we do not have a full-fledged travel and tourism event, we have several shows, like the Perfect Wedding Show, which have a strong travel trade component and attract leisure consultants and travel and tourism agencies in a big way. Sharjah has been making a bold push for promoting its business tourism sector and we are proud that each of our shows plays a key role in boosting this sector, directly and indirectly.
Travel Trade Weekly: Could the UAE and ECS attract even more and even larger exhibitions? Saif Mohammed Al Midfa: Some of the Middle East cities are ranked alongside other major international meetings and exhibitions cities and established global hubs. The MICE sector is expanding rapidly in this part of the world and is predicted to achieve continuous growth. The response from each of our shows, the new shows we are launching every year, and the rising number of exhibitors and visitors all confirm this growth story. The global travel trade industry has been focusing on the UAE for quite some time and this will continue given the country’s economic growth, multi-billion dollar investments in tourism infrastructure, and its move to wean the economy away from the oil industry. The UAE plays host to some of the premier travel trade shows held in the world and their continued success points to the huge potential of the region that is yet to be fully tapped. At ECS, we are keenly watching the industry’s growth. We would like to stress the growing importance of Sharjah within the regional meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry. With every passing year we are increasing the geographical bandwidth of all our shows and making entry into new markets and countries. Our tie-ups with international industry bodies and professional associations are in this direction. We have covered almost all the industries active in the region through our shows, and, in future, we would also like to lay more stress on the travel trade component in our events.
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WEEKLY NEWS Online Hotel Bookings Soar As online hotel bookings continue to gain popularity in the Middle East, HotelsCombined.com allows travellers to find the best prices for thousands of hotels. In 2012, hotel bookings from the GCC region totalled USD1.6 billion, 10 percent of which were made online, according to PhoCusWright’s Middle Eastern Online Travel Overview. To help travellers find the best rates, HotelsCombined.com, also available in Arabic, instantly searches and compares room availability and prices from hundreds of major travel booking websites. “With so many websites available for online hotel booking, it is hard for the consumer to know offhand where the best rate available is posted. A hotel room will always have different rates on different booking sites. Thanks to HotelsCombined, travellers can find the best room rate in just a single search,” explained Amer AlHalabi, regional manager, MENA, HotelsCombined.com.
BAC Attends Aviation Security Management Programme In line with the company’s commitment to providing secure and comfortable travel experience at Bahrain International Airport (BIA), Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) participated in an aviation security management programme in Singapore. Held at Singapore Aviation Academy, the training course provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the security management principles at airports and showcased the best practices in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s standards. “In the light of the increasing passengers and cargo movement worldwide, aviation security is crucial to maintain and stimulate the growth of this vital sector,” stressed Fouad Farooq, head, airside services, BAC, adding that security is a key priority at BIA.
Bahrain International Airport
Jazeera Airways Boosts Summer Schedule Jazeera Airways has added 61 additional flights to its summer schedule, further boosting frequencies on routes to Jeddah, Dubai, Amman, Luxor, Assiut, Sohag, Al Najaf, and Mashhad. To accommodate the increased demand during the Ramadan travel period, the low-cost carrier has added one extra daily service to Jeddah, offering a total of 18 additional flights to the Saudi city until July 27. This brings the total number of flights operated by the airline on the Kuwait-Jeddah route to two flights per day. Travellers can also benefit from 19 new services to Mashhad, plus six flights to Amman, and five more departures to Dubai and Luxor each. Meanwhile, Assiut welcomes four extra Jazeera Airways arrivals, and Sohag and Al Najaf sees two additional flights, each.
Jazeera Airways
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flydubai Travel Shop Opens in Al Ain flydubai, in partnership with Al Amaan Travel and Holidays, has opened its new outlet in the city centre area of Al Ain, offering travellers a one-stop shop where they can book flights, amend existing bookings, choose ancillaries, such as extra legroom or increased baggage allowance, and arrange their UAE visas. “We continuously look for different ways of providing better and more convenient services to our customers and we are pleased to open our newest travel shops in Al Ain,” commented Hamad Obaidalla, chief commercial officer, flydubai, who expressed gratitude towards Al Amaan Travel and Holidays for their support. To better serve passengers, the airline has also launched a bus service between the shop and Terminal 2 at Dubai International.
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel COPY EDITOR
Dubai: GOPPAR up 30 Percent Dubai hotels reaped visible benefits in May which saw gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) increase 30 percent, according to TRI Hospitality Consulting’s latest HotStats report.
T
Stefanie Saghbini SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
hanks to the international events that took place across the emirate during the month under review, occupancy also grew 6.6 percentage points to 83.9 percent, which boosted average room rate (ARR) by 8.5 percent, while RevPAR stood at USD282.72, and GOPPAR reached USD192.73. Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, ARR fell 8.3 percent to USD124.68. RevPAR, on the other
JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Derek Lainsbury DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
hand, improved 15.1 percent, driven by a 14.7 percentage point rise in occupancy to 72.1 percent. Consequently, GOPPAR jumped 31.6 percent to USD61.37. “Dubai exhibited particular strength in its key performance indicators, enhanced by the hosting of high-profile international events and growth in leisure demand,” noted Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East.
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466
Cairo: Average Rates on the Rise
WEBSITE
Average room rates (ARR) recovered and increased 17.6 percent to USD110.26 in Cairo, as TRI Hospitality Consulting’s HotStats report for May showed. Despite occupancy levels dropping five percentage points to 47.5 percent, RevPAR rose 6.4 percent to USD52.42, leading to a 15.2 percent rise in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to 45.94. In Sharm El Sheikh, GOPPAR jumped 24.9 percent to USD18.03 as ARR surged 30.9 percent to USD48.39, driving RevPAR up 23.4 percent to USD27.19, despite occupancy falling 3.4 percent to 56.2 percent. As Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East, noted, Cairo continued to experience mixed performance. “Nevertheless, the market has seen a recovery in average rates back to levels comparable to 2011, which has helped strengthen bottom line,” added Goddard.
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MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of
26/07/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1USD=
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.00
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Riyal
3.75
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,511.50
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Syria (SYP)
Pound
105.15
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.28
Qatar (QAR)
Riyal
3.64
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.38
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.65
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
8.41
Iran (IRR)
Riyal
12,285.01
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.50
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
79.53
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.27
Kuwait: Events Boost Business Levels
K
uwait’s hotel sector continued to benefit from the weddings and events taking place across the country in May, TRI Hospitality Consulting’s latest HotStats report revealed. While average rates declined 1.7 percent to USD254.86, a 2.6 percentage point surge in occupancy to 57.2 percent helped RevPAR increase 3.1 percent to USD145.65.
Furthermore, a substantial growth in dining and banqueting activities from higher wedding demand during the month drove food and beverage revenues up and lifted total RevPAR to USD343.02, up 13.5 percent. Consequently, gross operating profit per available room stood at USD150.38, marking a 8.6 percent improvement over the same month in 2012. 27 JULY 2013
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WEEKLY NEWS
Rotana Jet Boosts Sir Bani Yas Island Services Rotana Jet plans to boost capacity on its Sir Bani Yas Island route with the addition of two more weekly flights, effective from August 1. The extra services will bring the total number of weekly flights operated between Al Bateen Executive Airport and the island to five. As Rajendran Vellapalath, commercial and planning director, Rotana Jet, explained, the capacity boost comes in one year’s time of the carrier’s operation to Sir Bani Yas Island, where it already flew over 10,000 people. Sultan Al Mahmoud, executive director, strategic performance, Tourism Development & Investment Company, added that the increase in flight capacity will not only provide greater accessibility for a wider audience seeking an alternative-stay experience, but is also a testament for the island’s growing popularity.
Dubai Properties Group to Develop JBR Beach Club Dubai Properties Group (DPG), a member of Dubai Holding, has revealed that plans are underway for a beach club development at its flagship destination, The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). The design competition has already been conducted for the project, which is one of the first in a series of new developments at The Walk on JBR, which welcomed over 10 million visitors in 2012 alone. Work is set to commence later this year, and DPG will soon be making further announcements on additional projects for the destination. “We always look for further opportunities to enhance our destinations and communities. The JBR beach club will further add to the quality of living that residents currently have, offering them additional services and leisure facilities,” commented Khalid Al Malik, group CEO, DPG. The Walk
Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche Unveiled
Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche
Wyndham Hotel Group has opened Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche, adding 144 rooms to its Lebanese portfolio. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel occupies an iconic city centre location opposite the famous Raouche Rock and a 15-minute drive from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. The 18-storey property features a mix of 119 standard, deluxe, and executive rooms alongside 25 suites. In addition, the property offers various meetings and events space, such as a 391m2 ballroom, an equipped business centre, a boardroom and six meeting rooms, ranging from 12m2 to 214m2 in size with a total capacity of 500 people, while other facilities include a pool, fitness club, and various dining outlets to cater to both business and leisure guests looking for high-quality accommodation.
Qatar Airways Steps up Amman Services Qatar Airways has introduced two additional flights between Doha and Amman, bringing the total number of weekly services between the capital cities to nine. “As part of Qatar Airways’ ever-expanding route map, a key pillar is to also evaluate existing routes and increase capacity where there is passenger demand,” stressed Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, noting that the flight also enables passengers to seamlessly connect via the airline’s Doha hub to around 100 destinations around the globe. The route is currently being operated by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 first class and 132 economy class seats.
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Accommodation
MHG Invests in Per AQUUM Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has acquired a 50 percent stake in Per AQUUM Retreats Resorts Residences after investing USD4 million in the luxury boutique hotel brand. In partnership with Universal Enterprises, Maldives, MHG plans to develop the brand to encompass at least five more projects within the next five years in addition to the existing two properties in the Maldives and one in the UAE. Expressing delight at the latest strategic addition, Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, MHG, said, “Per AQUUM is already a very well-respected and exclusive brand and we look forward to having the opportunity to develop it further working in partnership with Universal Enterprises.” According to M.U. Maniku, chairman, Universal Enterprises, under the new partnership, the Per AQUUM brand is set for rapid expansion and continued future success.
Desert Palm, Dubai
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WEEKLY NEWS New Le Méridien Hotel in Riyadh Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Al Jazeerah Al Oula Real Estate to debut the company’s Le Méridien brand in the Saudi capital. Le Méridien Riyadh will be the first new build Le Méridien to open in Saudi Arabia, where Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide currently operates 10 properties, with another nine under development. The 15-storey hotel will feature 219 guest rooms and 12 suites, three restaurants, a spa with four treatment rooms, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre, while business guests will enjoy nearly 2,130m2 of extensive meeting and event space to cater to their growing number into the capital.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Accommodation
Flora Al Souq Hotel Opens in Dubai Flora Hospitality has unveiled the latest addition to its portfolio of hotels; the two-star Flora Al Souq Hotel. Situated in Al Baniyas district, the main business and shopping area of the city, and just a 15-minute drive from Dubai International, the hotel comprises 80 rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a gym. Flora Al Souq Hotel, which has been designed to deliver a restful and comfortable work environment, is set to cater to the destination’s fast-growing business travel and leisure tourist market and will further strengthen Flora Hospitality’s presence in Dubai, where the company already operates seven hotels and hotel deluxe apartments. Dubai Gold Souk and Spice Souk, are just 10 minutes on foot from the hotel, offering guests a chance to immerse into the heart of old Dubai.
Mandarin Oriental Launches Interactive Arabic Website Mandarin Oriental has unveiled its new Arabic experiential website that incorporates creative and contemporary design, descriptive and informative content, extensive photo gallery, right to left navigation, and ‘Best Rate Promise’. By creating an integrated guest profile, which allows preferences to be shared across all hotels in the group, visitors also have the opportunity to personalise their stay, and the online booking process has also been enhanced making it easier to view and compared rooms and rates.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera Opens Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has launched Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera, bringing the company’s Turkish portfolio in the city to four and to seven properties country-wide, with over 1,500 rooms. Located in the ancient Pera Taksim district, a hub for shopping, arts, dining, and nightlife, the property is also surrounded by parks and promenades, making it an ideal place for easy access to many of Istanbul’s top historic and cultural attractions, as well as to the business district and congress centre. Overlooking the Golden Horn, Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera features 130 Bohemian, old-Istanbul style rooms and suites and boasts Botanica Fitness & Spa with indoor pool, cardio-gym, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, various treatments, and, without doubt, an authentic Turkish hammam. In addition, the property offers guests two restaurants and a lounge bar, and seven flexible, state-of-the-art meeting rooms that can cater to up to 130 guests.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air
Malaysia Airlines Returns to Dubai
nasair Suspends Pakistan Operations
Malaysia Airlines is to resume its Kuala Lumpur-Dubai services, effective from August 5. The carrier will deploy a Boeing 777200 aircraft with 282 seats on the route, which will be operated seven days a week. As Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, group CEO, Malaysia Airlines, explained, Dubai was one of the routes which was suspended in the airline’s route rationalisation exercise in January 2012. “We continuously monitor market demand, and are happy to be able to add back Dubai into Malaysia Airlines’ network to extend our reach and strengthen our offering to customers,” he added.
nasair, which is currently undergoing a comprehensive network review, will discontinue all its Pakistan flights effective from August 14. The low-cost carrier has previously operated to three destinations in the south Asian country, including Lahore, Peshawar, and the capital city, Islamabad. Customers affected by this change, have already been contacted by nasair staff in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where accurate contact details were provided at the time of booking. In addition, nasair has requested customers who hold bookings on or after August 15, to contact their local nasair offices.
Kenya Airways Lands in Abu Dhabi On July 2, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) welcomed the inaugural flight of Kenya Airways into Abu Dhabi International Airport, as the national carrier will now offer three flights a week between the emirate and the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi. Titus Naikuni, CEO, Kenya Airways, and cabinet member, government of Kenya, who was on the flight, said, “The new destination is an effort to continually enhance travel options to customers and is part of our partnership with Etihad Airways. Now, our customers from Africa will enjoy the ease of connecting via Abu Dhabi to the rest of the world.”
ADAC Welcomes Kenya Airways' Flight
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RJ Arrives to Lagos and Accra Regular services from Amman to Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, were launched on July 3 by Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), raising the number of its destinations to 61, spanning over four continents. According to the airline’s statement, given the decline in tourism movement from the traditional markets of Europe and North America, resulting from the instability in the Middle East, opening these two new destinations in Africa comes in line with RJ’s strategy to find new tourism and travel markets in different countries around the world.
Saudia to Operate Nonstop to Madrid Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is set to begin non-stop flights between the Kingdom and Madrid, Spain, on October 29, revealed Abdulrazaq Al-Bahar, manager, France, Spain, and Portugal, Saudia. Having commenced operations to Spain in 1981, the carrier today offers four flights from Madrid to Saudi Arabia via Milan; two to Jeddah and two to Riyadh. This will change to three frequencies as of October, with direct operation, without a stopover in the Italian city, Al-Bahar informed. He added that Saudia Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid transported 5,070 passengers from Madrid to Saudi Arabia in 2012, while total passengers carried between January - June 25, reached 4,349.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Air
Royal Jet: Revamped BBJ Returns The international luxury flight services company, Royal Jet, has announced that following a USD9 million complete upgrade and refurbishment, the new-look Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) A6-AIN is back in service. The refurbishment was designed by New York-based aircraft interiors consultancy, Edése Doret Industrial Design, to give the aircraft a new and more modern and contemporary interior, furnishings of the highest quality, luxury seats, and sleeper beds. The A6-AIN is one of the six BBJs in the carrier’s fleet and will be put to work on corporate and VIP private charters across the globe from its base in Abu Dhabi, during what is expected to be the operator’s busiest summer in its 10-year history. Shane O’Hare, president, Royal Jet, praised the A6-AIN describing it as the pride of the fleet.
RAK Airways to Fly to Islamabad and Amman RAK Airways is to commence operations to Islamabad and Amman on August 5 and August 7, respectively. Islamabad will mark the airline’s third route between Ras Al Khaimah and Pakistan after Lahore and Peshawar, while the Jordanian capital city will become the carrier’s first destination in the Levant region. “With over 600,000 expatriate Pakistan nationals, contributing to the economy of the UAE, RAK Airways is only glad to provide another entry into Pakistan, through the launch of Islamabad,” explained Murabit Al Sawaf, CEO, RAK Airways, adding that the inauguration of the Amman route is set to foster leisure, business and tourism traffic between the emirate and Jordan.
Royal Jet's Refurbished A6-AIN BBJ
Qatar Airways: Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Scandinavia Doha-based carrier, Qatar Airways, has announced an expansion of its Boeing 787 services to Europe, with the new aircraft being deployed on three Scandinavian routes; first to Stockholm as of August 1, followed a month later to both Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway, effective September 1. Qatar Airways currently operates daily flights to each of the three Scandinavian capitals from its hub, with a total weekly capacity of 21 services. Günter Saurwein, country manager, Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltic States, Qatar Airways, stressed that with the newest aircraft-type flying to these countries this is a proud moment for the Scandinavian team and demonstrates Qatar Airways’ continued faith in this region which he added gives customers an opportunity to experience the carrier’s latest product. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, confirmed, “I am delighted that our Dreamliners will be introduced to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo very soon providing our passengers with an unparalleled level of service and comfort to and from Scandinavia.”
Etihad Airways: New Technology to Predict Aircraft Faults Etihad Airways has entered into an agreement with global technology company, Taleris, to launch new ground-breaking technology which can help predict potential maintenance faults and recommend preventive action. Taleris’ web-based prognostics service, part of its intelligent operations offering, is a first for the commercial airline industry and is expected to deliver significant financial savings for the airline as well as improved reliability for passengers and freight customers.
Norm Baker, president, Taleris, said that major benefits can be realised through the company’s predictive analytics technologies which leverage an aircraft’s data within the context of the operations so one can address an issue before it occurs. “With Taleris’ prognostics, we will be able to predict future faults and take proactive measures which result in less unscheduled disruption to our global operations,” added Werner Rothenbaecher, senior vice president, technical, Etihad Airways.
27 JULY 2013
WHO'S MOVED
Arun Kumar
Nabil Sultan Nabil Sultan has assumed the position of divisional senior vice president for Emirates SkyCargo at Emirates. Over the past 20 years, Sultan has held numerous commercial roles at the airline. He now takes over from Ram Menen, who retired from Emirates in early June. Sultan previously served as divisional senior vice president of revenue optimisa-
tion and distribution, a position, which will now be filled by Richard Jewsbury, who previously worked as senior vice president of commercial in Europe and the Russian Federation.
Over the past 20 years, Sultan has held numerous commercial roles at the airline
Arun Kumar has been named residence manager at Al Bustan Centre and Residence, Dubai. With over 22 years experience in the hospitality sector in the Middle East and India, Kumar will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the 640-suite hotel apartments and shopping centre. Over the past two decades, he has held various key positions for a number of interna-
Kamal Chaoui Kamal Chaoui has assumed the position of general manager at the newly-opened Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Having been in the industry for over 28 years, Chaoui brings with him a wealth of experience. He began his career with Hyatt International and during his 16-year tenure with the company he worked his way up from the food and beverage department to the
27 JULY 2013
general manager position. He later served as area general manager at Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in Thailand, and was also the senior vice president and head of hotels and resorts division at Berjaya Hotels & Resorts. Chaoui subsequently joined InterContinental Hotels Group, where he held managerial roles before moving to The Address Dubai Mall.
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tional hotel chains, including Flora Group Hotels, Byblos Hotel Management, and Taj Group of Hotels. Prior to his appointment, he worked as the general manager of Safeer Group of Hotels in Muscat, Oman, where his key responsibilities included the establishment of the brand as a key player in the Sultanate’s hospitality industry.
Shadi Suleman Shadi Suleman has been promoted to hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel Doha. A long-serving member of the Four Seasons-family, Suleman joined the company in 2002 as night manager at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre. He later returned to his native Syria to work as front office manager and later as assistant director of rooms at Four Seasons Ho-
tel Damascus. Suleman was also part of a number of task force teams on assignments at Four Seasons properties in Cairo as well as Istanbul. In 2008, he moved to Doha as assistant director of rooms and has served as an integral part of the hotel’s operations team since, building a strong network of connections with the team, guests, and the local community.
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TRAVEL TALK Sheikh Ahmed Bin Himyar Al Nabhani
travel talk is your space
Chief officer support services, Oman Air.
“Oman Air has carved a unique niche in the international airline industry and has developed an enviable reputation for quality. As a result, many people choose to fly with Oman Air and to recommend the airline to others. I would like to express my thanks to all those employees whose commitment and creativity have made such an invaluable contribution to Oman Air’s growth and commercial success. I would particularly like to thank our growing Omani workforce for their dedication.”
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
“The aviation industry in the emirate of Dubai has witnessed steady growth in the past years and it continues its stride, competing with the world’s renowned aviation cities, to acquire the highest share of passenger and air traffic. Besides the growth of the industry, we consider that it is our prime duty and responsibility to ensure implementing the highest standards of safety and security in all activities related to aviation.”
Prateek Kumar General manager, Dusit Thani Dubai.
“We wanted to create something for the kids staying at our hotel which has been heavily influenced by their peers and what better way than to have the chocolate wrappers designed by kids themselves. We are really excited about seeing the entries [for our new children’s art competition] coming into the hotel.”
We wanted to create something for the kids staying at our hotel
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
27 JULY 2013
AGENT'S CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Shoaib Yunus Gopalani POSITION: Operations manager COMPANY: Trans Saudi Travel & Tour Agency LOCATION: Saudi Arabia WEB: www.alzahrani.com.sa Who are you? My name is Shoaib Yunus Gopalani and I am the operations manager of Trans Saudi Travel & Tour Agency, part of Hassan Misfer Al Zahrani & Partners Group. I have travel trade experience of over 24 years. Trans Saudi Travel & Tour Agency started in 1984 and is located in the heart of Dammam on King Saud Street, and I have been with Trans Saudi Travel & Tour Agency since 1995. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Knowing that you are able to bring happiness to someone by arranging a trip for him/her to be with his/her loved ones or by putting in place a complete holiday package for a family, which they have been looking forward to, is my favorite part of being associated with a travel agency. When is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia? From November to March. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? Australia. Why should people come to you for travel advice? Because we are a one-stop-solution shop. We arrange customised and complete packages within the client’s budget and we are competitive.
Al Khobar Waterfront, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
27 JULY 2013
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Travelport Signs with Al Badie Travel Agency Travelport has announced a multi-year global distribution system deal with Al Badie Travel Agency, one of the most established travel companies in Abu Dhabi. Under the new agreement, Al Badie Travel Agency will, for the first time, gain access to Travelport’s Smartpoint App, a search and booking tool, as well as Rapid Reprice, the technology provider’s unique revenue management tool. In addition, to ensure a smooth transition, Travelport has also carried out training for the travel agency’s staff. “We appreciate the trust that
Al Badie Travel Agency has placed in us and we are fully committed to meeting all of their current and future travel technology needs, as Travelport continues to grow its presence in the region,” said Ghulam Al Balooshi, director, Lower Gulf, Travelport.
Ghulam Al Balooshi
Gulf Air and Sabre Renews Partnership Following continued strong growth and success, Gulf Air and Sabre have further consolidated their longstanding joint venture partnership for Sabre Travel Network Middle East (STNME). “Gulf Air’s partnership with Sabre Travel Network MiddleEast has seen strong marketplace growth and is a true reflection of the strength of this collaboration between a pioneering national carrier and a global travel technology giant,” commented Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting CEO, Gulf Air. Further highlighting the importance of the 30-year Gulf Air-STNME joint venture, Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, STNME, stated that this reaffirms the company’s commitment to the industry and its valued customers. “We have evolved our partnership over the years, growing from our home in Bahrain to the entire MENA region and increasing our investment each year to serve the needs of the growing industry.” Jassim Haji, director of information technology division, Gulf Air, also noted that STNME provides the entire region’s travel trade industry with unparalleled access to world-class products and services, facilitating bookings and producing cost savings. “The renewal of our agreement reaffirms Gulf Air’s intention to remain consistently at the forefront of all industry technologies; delivering solutions that make travel even more convenient,” he said.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Promoting Tourism Development World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Casa Árabe have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote sustainable tourism development and strengthen institutional capacity in Arab countries.
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urthering cooperation between the two bodies in common interest areas, the joint agreement focuses on improving public policy and management models for tourism development and promotion, as well as supporting strategic alliances within the framework of marketing and investment in Arab countries to foster economic progress and job creation. “Tourism development involves the expansion of trade between our societies at all levels; economic, cultural and sociopolitical, three dimensions that constitute the core work of Casa Árabe,” said Eduardo López Busquets, director general, Casa Árabe, a consortium of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Spanish Agency for International Development, the autonomous communities of Madrid and Andalusia, and the town councils of Madrid and Cordoba.
Germans Travel More Often According to a survey carried out by ADAC Reisemonitor, Germans are as keen on travel as ever, with almost 45.1 percent of the respondents planning a second trip besides their main annual holiday. Germany also proved very popular as a tourism hotspot since 37.1 percent of those who took part in the study chose it as a main holiday destination, while for 41.3 percent it was the place where they took a second break. In addition, for their annual holidays, 13 percent went to Spain, 11.9 percent to Italy, and 7.9 percent to Austria. Interestingly, concerning an extra break destination, the survey listed Italy and Austria, with 10.3 percent, ahead of Spain, which scored 7.2 percent.
SCTA Supports Hotel Sector in Najran H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, SCTA, recently visited the province of Najran, where he met with Mansur Mohammad Saleh Al Harith, owner, Hotel Snob, and the property’s staff. Al Harith expressed his delight with SCTA’s visit and referred to the rapid development that Najran is experiencing in various fields and the significant increase in the number of tourism and heritage sites and private tours, especially the trips that draw tourists to the region’s archaeological sites. He also stressed the importance of investing in hotels and furnished apartments as an investment in the future as Najran province witnesses significant prosperity in the light of such visits.
QAIA Receives Airport Carbon Accreditation
QAIA Representatives Receive Award
For the first time in its history, Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) was awarded the Airport Carbon Accreditation, the only institutionally-endorsed, carbon management certification standard for airports launched by Airports Council International (ACI). QAIA was handed the ‘mapping’ level of the programme during a presentation ceremony that was held at ACI Europe’s World Annual Congress & Exhibition, Turkey, in June. The certification recognises the airport’s commitment in determining its CO2 and other greenhouse gas emission sources at its ‘operational boundary’, as well as in engaging a third party to verify the airport’s annual carbon footprint. QAIA is the second airport in the Middle East to become Airport Carbon Accredited following Abu Dhabi International Airport.
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RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri Building on the emirate’s advanced infrastructure and integrated offerings, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) continues to make strides in positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading business and MICE destination, and here Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, chief commercial officer, ADNEC, shares his thoughts on the UAE capital’s rising profile.
Travel Trade Weekly: What role does ADNEC play in promoting Abu Dhabi?
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri Chief commercial officer, ADNEC.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is a leading venue for regional and international conferences, events, meetings, and exhibitions driven by the delivery of world-class services. As part of efforts to better cater to the holistic needs of the industry, ADNEC has marked significant infrastructure upgrades over the past 12 months. This includes the expansion of the marina and upgrades to the venue’s Central Plaza and Grandstand. ADNEC offers 12 advanced IT-integrated, flexible, and contemporarily-designed halls, alongside 19 Capital Suite meeting rooms that can accommodate 20-200 delegates. In addition, its international convention centre features flexible and tiered seating for up to 6,000 delegates, offering an ideal venue for large meetings and conferences in Abu Dhabi. Organisers and visitors also have the option to choose from a range of accommodation across three-, four-, and five-star facilities, totalling more than 4,000 rooms either onsite or within walking distance from the venue. [...] ADNEC’s strategy seeks to position Abu Dhabi as a premier international meetings destination by attracting leading global industry and business events to the UAE capital. Towards this end, ADNEC strengthens its relationships with other global industry players through continuous participation in various workshops and events [...]. ADNEC also works hand in hand with Abu Dhabi Convection Bureau, which is under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, to showcase its facilities and the capital’s world-class business offerings by hosting
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first time in Abu Dhabi this year, from diverse industry sectors including business, energy, health, defence, finance, sports, education, entertainment, games, fashion, and lifestyle. Travel Trade Weekly: How have the past years’ global and regional happenings affected Abu Dhabi’s MICE sector?
road shows for international communities such as the US, Japan and Korea. Travel Trade Weekly: In 2012, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre and Al Ain Convention Centre welcomed some 1.4 million visitors, while the number of events hosted grew to 360. What are your goals for the current year? Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri: ADNEC has successfully achieved its goal of attracting an increased number of events this year [...]. ADNEC is expecting an eight percent increase in the number of events scheduled at its facilities and at Al Ain Convention Centre this year compared to 2012. We anticipate the attendance of more than 1.74 million visitors, marking a 24 percent boost compared to 2012. ADNEC is also hosting nine events for the
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri: Although the Middle East region witnessed a perceptible slack in the past few years, we have managed to overcome these challenges with our strong strategy and vision, which has demonstrated our passion and dedication to the MICE industry and reaffirmed our position as a leading venue in the Middle East. Our strategic location that links the east with the west and diverse range of venues that are suitable for varied events and budgets have played an essential role in attracting an increased number of global events to the venue in recent years. Travel Trade Weekly: What can visitors and exhibitors expect from ADNEC’s future exhibitions? Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri: Visitors can expect innovative, diverse, and exclusive event calendars at ADNEC for the coming years. In line with our strategy to increase business tourism and raise Abu Dhabi’s profile as a leading MICE destination internationally, we aim to host high-end events and continuously advance our facilities and services to meet international standards. With the support of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, we aim to develop strategic partnerships to help attract high profile event organisers and host key events in Abu Dhabi.
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NEWS & EVENTS
UNWTO Welcomes Azerbaijan’s New e-Visa System World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) saluted Azerbaijan’s decision to implement a new e-visa system streamlining visa applications into an electronic format thus reducing costs and processing times, in a bid to attract more international tourists into the country. Currently, there are 25 travel companies operating in Azerbaijan that are authorised to issue e-visas to international visitors, and initiatives are being undertaken to increase this number. Concurrent with the implementation of the system, border checkpoints will be improved in line with the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku to ease entrance of travellers into Azerbaijan. “This new system encourages travel to Azerbaijan and will lead to further development of the country’s tourism sector through the increase of international tourism flows,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.
Bahrain’s Season of Sport Organised by Bahrain’s Ministry of Culture as part of Manama Capital of Arab Tourism 2013 and within the context of the final phase of Season of Sport, a speed rock-climbing demonstration took place at the Al Aali Mall complex on June 20-22. The Speed Climbing wall is a vertical structure rising 15m into the sky, dwarfing the Aali restaurant complex, and this particular event was designed to compliment all the other sporting activities that took place during the three-month-long season. “The Manama Capital of Arab Tourism 2013 is designed to showcase what Bahrain has to offer across a broad range of cultural, sporting, and tourism sectors and the introduction of new sports such as speed climbing underlines the importance of events of this nature and the role they play in the community outreach programme that we are promoting,” commented Hesham Alsaken, director, marketing and promotion of tourism, Ministry of Culture, Bahrain. Bahrain hosts many local, regional, and international sports and Manama’s tenure as the Capital of Arab Tourism 2013 is being used to underline the importance and power that sport has on the community.
EVENTS Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention San Diego, US, August 4 – 7, 2013 (www.gbta.org) GBTA’s Convention will bring together thousands of business travel buyers and industry suppliers and a strong line-up of keynote speakers.
Group Leisure & Travel Trade Show Birmingham, UK, September 18 – 19, 2013 (www.leisureshow.com) One of Britain’s biggest annual group travel events with 200 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors.
Food and Hospitality Oman Muscat, Oman, September 2 – 4, 2013 (www.foodandhospitalityoman.com) The event showcases a comprehensive range of services in the international food, beverage, and hotel industries.
World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 Maldives, September 27, 2013 (wtd.unwto.org) This year, WTD is being held under the theme ‘Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future’.
International Meetings Industry and Business Travel Exhibition & Conference (MIBEXPO) Moscow, Russia, September 17 – 20, 2013 (www.mibexpo.ru) Dedicated to the most important issues of the business travel industry.
The Hotel Show Dubai, UAE, September 28 – 30, 2013 (www.thehotelshow.com) Now in its 14th year, this show is a key meeting place for leading suppliers and buyers.
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