Travel Trade Weekly Issue 174

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09 MARCH 2013

ISSUE 174

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Celebrates Opening Crowned the world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai represents the first JW Marriott Marquis property outside North America.

Pullman has further expanded its footprint in the region with the opening of the 317-room Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre.

10 SpiceJet Lands in Sharjah Indian low-cost carrier, SpiceJet, has introduced direct flights to Sharjah from Varanasi.

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

02 04 06 08 13 15 16 17 18 19 20

Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre Opens

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RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Kjeld Binger As the new Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) terminal is gearing up to become fully operational, Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group (AIG), shares his views on how Jordan’s new, state-of-the-art airport will support the nation and the Kingdom’s development by fostering growth in various industries.

Travel Trade Weekly: QAIA’s new terminal is expected to become fully operational within weeks. Please tell us a little about this landmark facility.

Kjeld Binger: The landmark building blends local tradition with contemporary design. Along with its stunning aesthetics, the new terminal features a larger duty free area, a greater selection of food and beverage providers, more spacious business and VIP lounges, and larger office and storage spaces.

The new terminal is intuitively designed to ease passenger traffic flow and accessibility. The vastly improved infrastructure and attention to detail in the new terminal will surely contribute to a positive visitor experience, with well-designed and more convenient car parking and curbside spaces, a larger check-in area, clearly marked signage in both Arabic and English, widely available flight information monitors, comfortable seating in the waiting areas, and a centralised, efficient visitor assistance desk.

Given the meticulous care involved in the planning process, we expect the new building to garner favourable passenger experience ratings. Our goal is to match the world’s leading airports in terms of traveller experience.

This new QAIA terminal will significantly increase the airport’s capacity, from its currently exceeded capacity of 3.5 million annual passengers, to nine million passengers.

Future expansions, which will be carried out as needed, will allow the airport to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per year. [...]

In launching the new terminal, we will

Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group (AIG)

be closing and demolishing the old terminals to make way for further developments. The opening of the new terminal and subsequent closing of the old ones marks the most crucial milestone in the airport’s development project since its opening in 1983.

Travel Trade Weekly: Tell us about these upcoming expansion projects.

Kjeld Binger: With the completion and launch of the first phase of the new terminal construction, a total of seven new contact stands will come into operation. Additionally, the demolition of the airport’s existing terminal will signal another phase of the expansion plan, which entails the creation of seven additional contact stands. Finally, AIG will continue to enhance and expand the airport as needed, gradually increasing

passenger capacity, to reach a capacity of 12 million passengers per year.

Travel Trade Weekly: What role do you think will this state-of-the-art airport play in Jordan’s future development?

Kjeld Binger: The development of the new QAIA terminal has always been a national project for the benefit of all Jordanians, and the quality and modernity of this new airport infrastructure is critical for attracting businesses and tourists to the Kingdom.

Through our close collaboration with the Jordanian government throughout the project, AIG has been working to improve not only the aviation industry in the Kingdom, but the entire economy of the country. Since AIG assumed responsibility for the development of QAIA, we have worked to expand the airport’s portfolio of airlines and routes, and have helped facilitate numerous bilateral and/or open skies agreements.

Along with expanding local aviation, these steps increase Jordan’s accessibility and attractiveness to both tourists and investors.

AIG has also partnered with the Jordan Tourism Board to develop a holistic strategy for helping meet the Kingdom’s goal of increasing tourism revenue to JOD4.2 billion (USD5.9 billion) annually by 2015. Additionally, the QAIA project is a key part of Jordan’s successful efforts to attract foreign direct investment. Our objective is to position QAIA as a niche hub in the region, leveraging Jordan’s many unique attractions. Running the airport efficiently and actively marketing Jordan as a prime destination will all contribute to attracting airlines, business interests, and tourists to Jordan.

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MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Stefanie Saghbini Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou Maria Kazeli

RAK International Airport: Robust Gains in 2012 RAK International Airport posted positive results for 2012 as both passenger numbers and financial performance figures increased significantly.

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SALES & MARKETING

he airport’s efforts at providing comprehensive world-class services has gained substantial ground with passenger volume rising 24 percent and financial performance up 60 percent over 2011 levels.

Meanwhile, operations performance reached a 98 percent achievement rate, and aircraft

Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

movements, duty free sales, and cargo tonnage improved as well.

Apart from the airport’s proximity to Dubai, the commercial packages offered to aviationassociated businesses have also been comprehensive factors to the growth, as was the development of new routes and improvements to tour services and in-terminal facilities.

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

Dubai World Central: Cargo Volumes on the Rise

EMAILS

Dubai World Central (DWC) handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight during its second full calendar year of operations, marking a 144 percent surge over 2011.

Based on statistics released by Dubai Airports, DWC’s monthly air cargo volume averaged at 18,258 tonnes, a notable increase compared to 7,477 tonnes recorded in 2011, with cargo transit traffic comprising 44,052 tonnes or 20 percent of volumes.

With more than 30 airlines operating to DWC, aircraft movements for the full-year came in at 16,317, up 99 percent over 2011 figures.

info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

08/03/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.76

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

70.70

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.58

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.50

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,285.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.31

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

79.48

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.28

ADPC Reports Maritime Traffic Growth

A

bu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) posted growth across all key traffic categories in 2012, including containers, vessel, and roll-on rolloff (RORO) movements, as well as general bulk and cargo.

The most significant improvement was recorded in RORO, with movements up 41.1 percent to 79,906 units, while marine activity saw an increase of 13.8 percent, general bulk and cargo rose 8.7 percent to 9.4 million tonnes, and container handling climbed 2.5

percent to 787,048 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

Khalifa Port, which began operation in September 2012, now handles all container shipments into and out of the emirate, and ADPC expects the number of containers handled by the port to surpass one million TEUs during the current year.

According to Tony Douglas, CEO, ADPC, the 2012 traffic figures clearly demonstrate that Abu Dhabi ports continue to offer a robust platform for growth in key shipment areas.

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WEEKLY NEWS

VingCard Elsafe Introduces Invisible Door Lock

Essence by VingCard

A global leader in hospitality security and part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, VingCard Elsafe, has installed the world’s first invisible door lock at the five-star Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna, Austria.

Essence by VingCard is a new concept which eliminates all lock hardware on the door and encases all electronic components inside the door, thus making the access devices practically invisible to hotel guests.

According to Matthias Winkler, coowner, Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna, the new lock boasts a minimalistic design which fits perfectly into the property’s art deco, making it even more elegant and beautiful.

Royal Caribbean International: New Generation of Ships Royal Caribbean International has marked a major milestone in the development of its new generation of cruise ships dubbed Project Sunshine.

At a recent event, the company celebrated the introduction of the first two ships, which are to be built in Germany, namely Quantum of the Seas, debuting in fall 2014, and Anthem of the Seas, which will follow in spring 2015.

Expressing excitement for Project Sunshine, Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International, commented, “After three years of design and advance planning, this is the first step of the construction of the ship and I look forward to seeing it all come together in the coming months.”

Amadeus: Rail Traffic in Europe to Grow According to a recent study from Amadeus, The Rail Journey to 2020, long-distance passenger rail traffic will increase by an estimated 21 percent to reach over 1.36 billion passengers by 2020, 238 million up compared to 2011 figures.

The report identifies that anticipated growth in passenger volume is driven by four key markets; the UK, France, Switzerland, and Germany, while six key trends are set to shape the evolution of the passenger rail industry; liberalisation, new market entrants, completion of new highspeed lines, new hubs, air-rail and rail-rail cooperation, and railways’ costs.

Dubai Among Top 10 Destinations A report released by Genesis Consulting ME, has pointed out the success of the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector of Dubai, which has helped establish the emirate as one of the top 10 destinations in the world.

Although the leisure market remains the leading sector, contributing over 40 percent to the total room nights in the emirate, many recent reports have indicated that Dubai is also increasingly seen as a premier business and MICE destination, which is expected to attract more than 15 million visitors in this sector by 2015, as well as a medical tourism hub.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Rotana: Two Hotels in Turkey Rotana is to make its foray into Turkey after entering into an agreement with Dap Yapi to manage two hotels with a total of 410 rooms in Istanbul.

Divided into two connected towers, Burgu 1 and Burgu 2, Burgu Arjaan by Rotana will feature a total of 222 rooms, along with a host of facilities including a business centre, meeting and conference rooms, a restaurant, health club, indoor and outdoor pools, and landscaped areas, while Tango Arjaan by Rotana will boast 188 rooms.

“Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana are designed to close the gap between hotel and home and we are entering the vibrant Turkish leisure market for the first time with this concept,” explained Selim El Zyr, president, Rotana.

Accommodation

Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre Opens Pullman, Accor’s upscale brand for international seasoned travellers, has further expanded its footprint in the region with the opening of the 317-room Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre.

Located in Deira district and connected to one of the city’s largest malls, the hotel recently underwent a complete refurbishment to reflect the brand’s creative DNA and ensure first-class comfort and state-of-the-art technology.

Besides the brand’s signature services, which include a Connectivity Lounge, Co-Meeting offer, as well as the Pullman Fit & Spa Lounge, just to name a few, the hotel features a number of contemporary food and beverage outlets, and various facilities for sports, recreation, and wellbeing.

The hotel is also gearing up to launch an entire floor in October, which will be dedicated to meetings and events boasting nine totally renovated venues and a dedicated meeting space spanning 909m2.

The opening also revealed the first Pullman Artnight; an exclusive and original event which takes guests into the heart of the brand.

Tilal Liwa Hotel: 100 Percent Increase in Revenue Tilal Liwa Hotel, Abu Dhabi closed 2012 on a high note after recording a surge of over 100 percent in revenue in all the departments.

The growth in overall revenue was bolstered by a 108 percent rise in room revenues, while food and beverage revenues were up 121 percent and other departments witnessed a 112 percent improvement. The online, weekend, and leisure business segments all posted notable increases, driven by the hotel’s attractive step-in price and added values offered to guests, as Ayman Ashor, general manager, Tilal Liwa Hotel, explained.

In addition, Ashor revealed that more adventure activities such as archery, desert walks to the oasis, and team building activities, are currently being prepared for guests.

Tilal Liwa Hotel 9 MARCH 2013

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Ramada Downtown Dubai: Increasing Visibility, Tapping New Markets Following a highly successful year in 2012, Ramada Downtown Dubai aims to further improve its visibility and welcome corporate and leisure guests from all around the world.

Centrally located in the Downtown area, overlooking Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain, the hotel closed 2012 on a high note with occupancy levels reaching 89 percent in the fourth quarter of the year, as Wael El Behi, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, revealed. “Our main source markets are from the GCC region with major share of guests from Saudi Arabia. However, over the past year, the property has been introduced to new markets such as Russia and other European countries,” he continued, adding that this year, the management’s focus will be on maximising visibility and tapping guests from Japan, China, as well as the US.

Al Rayyan Expands German Portfolio Al Rayyan Tourism and Investment Company (ARTIC), the international hospitality subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding, one of Qatar’s private diversified industry groups, announced the signing of two purchase agreements on Grand Hyatt Berlin and Maritim Hotel Berlin, Germany, with SEB Asset Management.

Grand Hyatt Berlin is a five-star modern hotel located in Potsdamer Platz in the heart of the city, and features 342 rooms and suites, while Maritim Hotel Berlin, which opened in 2005, is situated centrally in the Diplomatic Quarter in the capital’s Tiergarten district, offering 505 rooms alongside event facilities which can accommodate up to 5,500 people.

With this agreement, ARTIC’s portfolio of operational properties or hotels under development has reached 25, scattered across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Europe and North America.

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Celebrates Grand Opening Officially crowned the world’s tallest hotel, the 72-storey JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai represents the first JW Marriott Marquis property outside North America and the 59th addition to the brand’s global luxury portfolio.

The investment in this visually striking 355m hotel is a testament to the continued opportunities that lie ahead for the brand and the company, noted Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott International, who described Dubai as an important destination boasting future growth potential for the company.

In addition to serving luxury business travellers, the hotel, which is owned by Emirates Group, targets the lucrative MICE market by filling a gap in the region, offering accommodation for up to 1,000 people under one roof along with 7,500m2 of indoor and outdoor event space, including two ballrooms, and a large selection of dining and entertainment options.

According to Rupprecht Queitsch, general manager, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, through its extensive and state-of-the-art facilities, the property will set a new standard in business hotels not just in the region but throughout the world.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Accommodation

Le Méridien Dubai to Complete Expansion by Q4

Le Méridien Dubai Le Méridien Dubai is in the midst of executing a massive AED450 million (USD112.5 million) expansion project, which is set to reaffirm the hotel’s position as a leader in the leisure and MICE sectors.

The addition of an extra 197 rooms will take the five-star property’s room inventory to 580 rooms by the fourth quarter (Q4) of the year. The expansion will also see the addition of a 2,800m2 ballroom with a unique concept of a show kitchen, boasting a capacity of 1,500 guests.

DWTC Revamps its Apartments Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has completed the refurbishment of its hotel apartments, which stand within walking distance of the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The three apartment blocks, recently renamed The Apartments, were designed to accommodate short- to medium-term guests, providing a choice of 543 spacious units, including superior rooms, executive one-bedroom apartments and deluxe apartments with one, two, or three bedrooms, which have now been refreshed with a contemporary style.

Refurbishing the apartments was a natural step for DWTC in its efforts to cement its position as an international destination for events and conferences, noted Issam Nizam, general manager, The Apartments, DWTC.

Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers Hosts OIC The 12th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was hosted by Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers, Egypt, between February 3-7.

At the event, which saw 27 leading representatives of Islamic states, was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, the first of the country’s presidents to visit Egypt since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers is located just minutes from Cairo International Airport and features a large and very well-equipped function space, 835 guest rooms, and 16 dining venues.

Hilton Worldwide Bolsters Presence in Saudi Arabia A management agreement has been signed by Hilton Worldwide and Hamad Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group to develop a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Saudi Arabia.

The 158-room DoubleTree by Hilton Al Khobar Corniche is the third Hilton Worldwide hotel planned for Al Khobar and the 17th in Saudi Arabia.

The property will be located on the city’s picturesque Corniche and will feature a variety of business and leisure amenities, including two boardrooms, a conference hall, and two meeting rooms. The hotel will also offer a health club and swimming pool as well as two restaurants and a lounge. Construction is already underway with the property expected to open at the end of 2014.

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Air

Emirates Adds to Philippines Route Network As of October 1, Emirates is to begin daily, non-stop flights to Manila’s Clark International Airport, the airline’s second destination in the Philippines.

“There has always been a growing demand for Emirates’ services since we connected Manila with Dubai and our constantly expanding network on six continents. The launch of flights between Clark International Airport and Dubai will offer our passengers the flexibility of choosing from two destinations in the Philippines,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

Furthermore, with the new daily flight to Clark International Airport, Emirates SkyCargo will be able to provide more than 160 tonnes of additional cargo hold capacity each way per week.

SpiceJet Lands in Sharjah Indian low-cost carrier, SpiceJet, which already operates four daily services to Dubai from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kochi, has introduced direct flights to Sharjah from Varanasi.

In addition, the airline is set to commence services to the third largest emirate from Lucknow on March 11, bringing its geographical reach to eight international and 45 domestic destinations. According to Neil Mills, CEO, SpiceJet, the government of India has taken significant steps to open its sky for air service with other parts of the globe.

Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM Wet-Lease Agreement Following a strategic partnership forged in October 2012, Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM have strengthened their relationship with the announcement that the UAE national carrier will wet-lease a 272-seat Air France Airbus A340-300 for use on one of the two daily Paris-Abu Dhabi return routes between May 15 and November 30.

“This agreement to wet-lease an Air France A340-300 aircraft demonstrates the mutual benefits generated by our close relationship with Air France-KLM. On the back of recent announcements, this latest cooperation deal is good for both carriers in terms of better optimising our fleets for the rest of the year,” commented Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad Airways.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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Oman Air Expands its Fleet The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman has announced the addition of two Boeing 737-800s to its fleet.

The two aircraft, with a seating capacity of 12 in business class and 150 in economy class, will allow more flexibility and choice to the airline’s growing number of customers, according to Wayne Pearce, CEO, Oman Air, who looks forward to welcoming passengers on board.

Meanwhile, the new additions bring the airline’s total fleet to 30 and will see operations from Muscat to Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lahore, and Islamabad increase.

Oman Air’s Boeing 737-800

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WEEKLY NEWS

nasair Launches Dammam-Yanbu Services In response to the demand from nasair’s customers in the Eastern Province, the Saudi carrier recently launched its first flight from Dammam to Yanbu, as well as the first international flight to Khartoum from Dammam.

With a growing number of destinations for nasair from the region, the airline also celebrated the opening of its new sales office in Jubail to serve its clients and increase the number of suitable locations for its customers.

“Saudi Arabia Eastern Province’s strategic location, with its continuous growth of travel demand, encouraged nasair to expand its operation from King Fahad International Airport by adding new domestic and international routes to serve our customer needs in this region,” commented François Bouteiller, CEO, nasair.

Turki Al Jawini, deputy chief commercial officer, nasair, believes that the new services will accomplish huge successes.

Air

Etihad Airways Further Serving Lagos Etihad Airways is to upgrade its Lagos service to daily in a bid to meet growing demand from passengers travelling to and from Nigeria.

The new daily flight will be introduced on March 31, coinciding with the start of the airline’s new summer schedule, and will significantly improve connections between Nigeria and the UAE, as well as beyond to key destinations across the airline’s network in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, India, Malaysia, and China.

The service, comprising a mix of morning and evening departures, is operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured to carry 22 Pearl Business class and 240 Coral Economy class passengers.

Maurice Phohleli, general manager, Nigeria and West Africa, Etihad Airways, announced having received a very positive response from the Nigerian market since launching the route six months ago, and expressed confidence in the future growth of business and leisure travellers who fly from Nigeria to the UAE, and onwards.

9 MARCH 2013

WHO'S MOVED

Thomas Schoen

Susanna Yong Susanna Yong has taken on the role of director of sales and marketing at ShangriLa Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.

Yong, who holds a diploma in travel and tourism and a certificate in business management, joins the Qaryat Al Beri complex from ShangriLa Hotel, Jakarta, where she held a similar position for

four years. Previously, she served in various roles at Shangri-La Hotel, Surabaya, as well as Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu.

During her 14 years with the hotel company, Yong has gained extensive experience in the field of sales and marketing management, as well as food and beverage operations.

Thomas Schoen has been named area manager for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Egypt and general manager of Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino.

Prior to his appointment, Schoen served as area manager in Poland and general manager of Sheraton Warsaw Hotel, a position he has held since April 2007. He moved to Poland from Austria, where he worked as general manager of

Niel Canzana Niel Canzana has joined Ramada Downtown Dubai as senior sales manager.

Prior to transferring to Dubai, Canzana worked at another Ramada property, namely Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, where he held the same position.

His hard work and performance in sales have been influential in the associate’s excellent record of guest and customer

9 MARCH 2013

relation. Now, Ramada Downtown Dubai’s management is looking forward to Canzana’s continuous contribution in achieving sales targets.

Canzana’s hard work in sales has been influential in the associate’s excellent record of guest and customer relation

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two Starwood Luxury Collection properties; Hotel Imperial and Hotel Bristol.

Schoen, who joined the company in 1990 as food and beverage coordinator at Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in the UK, brings over 25 years of experience to the role, which covers various positions in Germany, UK, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Georgia, Austria, and Poland.

Samer Khanfar Samer Khanfar has taken on the position of general manager at Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residences, Dubai, becoming the first Emirati to hold this role at Jumeirah Group.

Earlier in his career, Khanfar held various managerial and sales positions within the construction and chemical industry before discovering his passion for the hospitality sector.

Since joining Jumeirah Group

in 2006, Khanfar’s career has progressed rapidly, first as retail manager of Souk Madinat Jumeirah, and later as director of retail, followed by director of property at Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residence.

Over the past years, Khanfar has demonstrated his ability to build on the property’s success and establish a strong connection with guests and residents, leading to his current promotion.

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TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

Wael El Behi

Bart Carnahan

General manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai.

“This year we look forward to achieving more mileage through online segments. We also want to establish stronger relations with the travel trade and corporate sector. […] We highly appreciate the way Dubai tourism has cruised itself to a higher level. With the growing hospitality sector, a traveller will be enticed to visit the city again, which is a boon for us.”

Senior vice president, acquisitions and development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

“Growing the Four Points by Sheraton brand in key Middle Eastern markets, where we see continued demand for affordable yet innovative lodging options is core to our development strategy.

With one of the strongest pipelines in the Starwood brand portfolio and with more than 170 hotels around the world, Four Points by Sheraton has solidified its place as Starwood’s third largest brand with the second biggest global pipeline.”

Elie Armaly Director, business development, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.

“The City Sightseeing Sharjah tour buses form part of our extensive efforts to promote Sharjah and boost its position on the world tourism map. By including 18 stops at the most important landmarks [and] tourist and cultural destinations, these buses are not only a vital part of our tourism strategy, but they also ensure a top class service. [...] City Sightseeing Sharjah has become an invaluable tool in helping to develop the emirate’s already flourishing tourism sector.”

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

9 MARCH 2013

AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: Valli POSITION: Regional manager COMPANY: Travel Tours LOCATION: India WEB: www.traveltours.in

Who are you?

I am Valli and I am based in Hyderabad. I work for Travel Tours as regional manager of Andhra Pradesh. Our organisation has been in the travel business for more than three decades and our logo reads ’Holidaying since 1977’ which says a lot about the organisation. We have a network of 15 branches located in eight cities pan-India, with our head office based in Bangalore. We are a one-stop shop for all travel-related requirements [...] and services for both business-to-consumer and business-to-business.

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

With every booking, we get to learn and know something new.

In other words, we are selling dreams or making the clients’ dreams come true by planning their holiday.

When is the best time to visit India?

India is diverse in many aspects and climate is one of them. During summer months, from April to June, we have some regions which are hot while, at the same time, there is snowfall in some regions. There are certain places which are beautiful during rain, from July to September, like Goa, parts of Kerala, and so on. Many regions have festivities from October to January. So for every season, some parts of India are good depending on one’s interests.

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

There are many places on my wish list, namely Mauritius, Maldives, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, to name a few.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

At Travel Tours, we have a tie up with local suppliers in many countries which helps us get competitive rates and local expertise and also contracted rates for online portals. We have expert travel councellors at each location [who] give the best to the clients without compromising on service levels.

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GlobalStar Travel Management Adds Al Maha United Travel to its Network GlobalStar Travel Management, one of the leading worldwide travel management companies (TMC), has announced the addition of Saudi Arabia’s Al Maha United Travel to its global network.

Al Maha United Travel is a subsidiary of the ANTA group, which is the GlobalStar partner in the UAE. Al Maha United Travel currently operates in Jeddah, with a new office soon to open in Riyadh.

The new agreement is the latest milestone in GlobalStar’s Middle East expansion and was achieved through a successful introduction

by Travelport, the business services provider to the travel industry and Globalstar Travel Management’s

travel technology partner.

Travelport, which has been operating in the Middle East for the past 20 years, works closely with TMCs in the region to share its local expertise and help build successful working relationships with global travel companies.

Rabih Saab, president, Middle East and Africa, Travelport, said, “Travelport recognises the growing needs of corporate travellers in the Middle East region. As such, we see this as a unique opportunity to use our regional knowledge and experience to connect global TMCs with regional travel companies looking to take advantage of the Middle East corporate travel sector.”

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TRAVEL CHANNELS Port Transportation Investment to Boost Trade

Increasing foreign non-oil trade volumes and Gulf-wide port infrastructure and capacity development are playing a vital role in long-term economic growth prospects for the region.

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his topic is set to come under the industry spotlight at the World Ports & Trade Summit 2013 slated to take place in Abu Dhabi from March 19-20.

According to data released by the UAE Federal Customs Authority, foreign exports soared in the first eight months of 2012 with non-oil trade reaching almost USD184.6 billion, up USD19 billion against the same period in 2011.

Export growth of 49 percent saw total exports jump to just under USD31 billion compared to USD20.6 billion in 2011. Foreign non-oil imports were also up by 11 percent, an increase of USD11.8 billion, with 85.1 million tonnes of goods coming into the country from January to August 2012.

UAE Federal Customs Authority figures put Asia, Australia, and the Pacific as the country’s top non-oil trade partners for the period January - August 2012, with a total value of USD77.5 billion, followed by Europe at USD51.5 billion and the MENA region with USD26 billion.

Trade volume with the UAE from other Gulf states is also increasing, hitting USD16 billion during the first eight months of 2012.

WTTC Global Summit Hosts Bill Clinton Bill Clinton, founder, William J. Clinton Foundation, and former president of the US, will deliver the keynote address at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on April 9-10.

The event, which is being co-hosted

by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Etihad Airways, will be held at the fivestar hotel Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and will feature a number of well-respected speakers including David Scowsill, president, WTTC, and James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways.

Commenting on the upcoming summit, Scowsill said, “The 2013 WTTC Global Summit will explore the implications of

our dramatically changing world economy and growing population on the travel and tourism industry. Four months after the world celebrated its one billionth international traveller, it will examine what we need to do collectively to prepare for the next billion.”

On the hosts’ behalf, Hogan added that the event provides an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a global economic centre and a tourism and aviation hub. “In facing today’s global challenges, the emirate is a living example of what is possible when vision is backed by investment, commitment, and decisive action,” he concluded.

Shurooq Promotes Sharjah in Switzerland A delegation from the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has met with a number of key public and private organisations in Switzerland in a bid to strengthen business and investment ties between the two destinations.

Following its attendance at World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, World Investment Conference, Geneva, the Shurooq team prepared a series of meetings with government officials and representatives, in a bid to promote the emirate’s business potential, informed the Swiss delegates of the availability of ideal requirements for growth and sustained return on investments in Sharjah, and provided detailed information on four key sectors namely healthcare, travel and leisure, logistics and transportation, and the environment.

DMCA Focuses on Vessel Safety Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has announced that Mohammad Al Bastaki, director, maritime operations, DMCA, recently attended the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise Resident Training programme.

Al Bastaki’s participation was part of the Dubai Cruise Ship Task Force’s strong focus this year on fire safety and the establishment in Dubai of a Cruise Center of Operational Safety and Environmental Excellence.

The USCG resident training aims to broaden and deepen the participants’ understanding of and competency in passenger vessel examinations/inspections. The course covered the technical and regulatory concepts on standards applicable to foreign passenger vessels, and is designed to enhance the decision-making skills of participants while evaluating a vessel’s compliance with international and domestic safety, security and environmental standards.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Patti Chau With a number of airports posting double-digit growth in 2012, the Middle East is quickly evolving into one of the fastest growing regions for air travel. Patti Chau, regional director, Asia Pacific, Airports Council International (ACI), gives her insight on the key challenges and future prospects.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are the main goals of the Council?

Patti Chau: Since its establishment more than 20 years ago, the mission of ACI has been to advance the collective interests of and act as the voice of the world’s airports and the communities it serves, and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations.

By fostering cooperation amongst airports, world aviation organisations, and business partners, ACI makes a significant contribution to providing the travelling public with an air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible. [...]

Travel Trade Weekly: Over the past few years, traffic volumes across the Middle East have increased significantly. What are the main factors behind this continuous growth?

Patti Chau: With an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population living within an eight-hour flight of the Middle East, the region is ideally situated to provide efficient connections to a large segment of the world’s population.

Taking advantage of this, local governments such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, have developed an integrated aviation strategy, aimed at developing this sector. The growth rates seen in the region highlight their success. The region also benefits from fast-growing local economies, a large and young population as well as tourism, all of which contribute to bolstering demand. During the last decade, the Middle East has been the fastest growing region, averaging at nine percent per annum.

With many Middle Eastern airports serving as hubs between East and West, the region’s airports

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Patti Chau, Regional director, Asia Pacific, Airports Council International (ACI)

have benefitted tremendously from the flow of traffic through their terminals and the rise in air travel in Asia.

Travel Trade Weekly: How can ACI support the continuous and sustainable growth of these airports in the Middle East region?

Patti Chau: Aviation safety has always been one of our top priorities. Our region is proud of our track record in improving safety in the last decade. According to the 2011 State of Global Aviation Safety report published by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Asia had the lowest aircraft accident rate amongst all regions in 2010. The regional office will be working with ACI World, ICAO, and airports in Asia Pacific on the ’Airport Safety in Excellence’ project to further raise the bar on safety standards.

Environmental Sustainability [is another priority]. In November 2011, ACI Asia Pacific

launched the ‘Airport Carbon Accreditation’ programme in the region. The programme, extended from ACI Europe and supported by ICAO, assesses and recognises participating airports’ efforts to manage and reduce their CO2 emissions.

The programme certifies airports at different levels of carbon management, including carbon neutrality, the highest level of accreditation.

Currently, Abu Dhabi International Airport is the only airport in Asia Pacific to have achieved certification within the programme at Level 1 but there are many member airports in our region that are prepared to be accredited. With active campaigning in the region, we are optimistic that many more members will be accredited in the near future and to contribute to the aviation industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

[With regards to] operation efficiency, ACI is working with other industry partners, especially Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, on implementing Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), a system whereby, in very simple terms, aircraft departures, both at the same and at different airports, are coordinated to maximise the utilisation of runway and aircraft parking stand capacities. A-CDM promises to help airports fully utilise the existing potential airport capacity before additional infrastructure is available. Secondly, ACI, on behalf of airports, has been advocating a light-handed economic regulation model at ICAO and other forums to ensure that airports are not labelled as monopolies and are able to operate as much as possible as commercial entities; airports need the nimbleness of a commercial enterprise in order to provide and operate the required infrastructure in an efficient manner. This is now enshrined in ICAO’s policy for airport charges.

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NEWS & EVENTS

GIBTM Hosted Buyers Eye Outbound Business to Asia Recent research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has confirmed that 40 percent of regional hosted buyers attending the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), which will take place on March 25 - 27 in Abu Dhabi, have confirmed a direct interest in placing outbound business into Asia.

As a direct result of the increased demand for outbound business into Asia, GIBTM has created a specialist exhibitor pavilion on the show floor, providing a dedicated area for exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region. The new Asia pavilion will provide a meeting area for exhibitors to showcase their products to regional and international visitors as well as hosted buyers.

In 2012, GIBTM saw a rise in high-quality senior buyers especially from the Middle East and Asia, as well as a 100 percent increase in buyers from Saudi Arabia compared to 2011.

Sharjah Light Festival Drops the Curtain After nine nights of celebrations, the Sharjah Light Festival recently concluded its third edition with a ceremony at the central souk, overlooking the waters of Khalid Lagoon.

The event was attended by many dignitaries, among whom was H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), who characterised the festival as a celebration of the emirate’s journey of excellence and achievements of its people.

“We celebrate our cultural heritage and legacy and shed light on our rich civilisation, history, and monuments to enhance the emirate’s tourism profile,” Al Noman added, further noting that the festival attracted international interest in Sharjah while SCTDA’s objective, by hosting world-class events and festivals, is to promote and project the emirate as a unique global tourism destination.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Al Noman and a number of dignitaries opened a photo gallery that included more than 20 pictures from the Sharjah Light Festival’s different locations around the emirate.

EVENTS MITT Moscow Moscow, Russia, March 20 – 23, 2013 (www.mitt.ru) Russia’s leading and largest travel exhibition with over 3,000 participating companies and 197 destinations, a key meeting place for industry professionals.

The Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 25 – 27, 2013 (www.gibtm.com) A leading event for the meetings, incentives, and business travel industry in the GCC region, which can truly unlock all participants’ business potential.

World Travel Market Latin America São Paulo, Brazil, April 23 – 25, 2013 (www.wtmlatinamerica.com) A leading global event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world.

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

Saudi Travel & Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 31 – April 4, 2013 (www.sttim.com.sa) This event covers all travel and tourism investments aspects in the Kingdom through a combined conference and exhibition.

International Luxury Travel Market 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.

International Destination Expo (IDE) Dubai, UAE, April 4 – 7, 2013 (www.asta.org/events) A destination training programme where participants can meet local suppliers and build profitable long-lasting relationships.

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.

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