Travel Trade Weekly Issue 128

21 APRIL 2012

ISSUE 128

India to Double Visitor Volume After welcoming 6.29 million travellers, India aims to double its visitor numbers.

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is in its final stages of its extensive multi-million dollar renovation scheme, set to significantly transform the hotel.

07 MEETINGS & EVENTS BY RADISSON BLU CLICK HERE TO VIEW

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

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A Complete Transformation

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RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with David Milican Auris Hotels, which prides itself on offering guests the ‘freedom of choice’, already boasts a well-established reputation, with plans to further consolidate its presence in the region. David Milican, corporate director of sales and marketing, Auris Hotels, provides an insight into the company’s future endeavours.

Travel Trade Weekly: How would you summarise the first quarter of the year?

David Milican: Recent openings include the 210-all suite Auris Metro Central, located next to the metro station in Tecom, and on April 5, Auris Plaza Hotel in Al Barsha opened its doors as well. The first quarter for the operating properties has been extremely strong, having exceeded expectations in terms of occupancy and average room rate. It has been a very positive start to the year.

Auris First Cental, comprising 524 studios and suites, which is also located in Tecom, next to Metro Central.

David Milican Corporate director of sales and marketing, Auris Hotels

David Milican: Awarded a five-star classification by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the hotel has many key features. Plaza expects to gain a strong GCC market. The location of the hotel, just five minutes walk to Mall of the Emirates, the fact that it operates as a 'dry’ hotel, and the luxury of offering 54 one- and two- bedroom suites, will make Plaza a favourite choice for families in general, but specifically from the GCC.

David Milican: Metro Central opened in March and offers 210 fully furnished suites. The key target for Metro Central will be long-stay and the corporate segment. This will compliment the Plaza rather than compete. It allows us the opportunity of offering two distinct products to one corporate client. This is supported by

Travel Trade Weekly: In the first year of business, the online segment proved to be extremely strong at Auris Hotels. How do you think this vital segment will develop in the near future?

David Milican: As a group we believe strongly in the potential of online business. We can see from the results of the first quarter that our market share is growing all the time. We work very closely with the online travel agencies (OTAs) to maximise results from this segment.

In addition, we have revamped the Auris website to create a new look and feel that is very customer friendly and offers instant confirmation. Our reservation system is linked to the OTAs and the global distribution systems allowing instant rate changes to be made at the touch of a button.

Travel Trade Weekly: How does the Auris Plaza Hotel cater to the discerning traveller?

Travel Trade Weekly: Metro Central Suites Hotel has also recently welcomed its first guests. How do the two properties differ from each other?

the pipeline which will expand the brand within the UAE and overseas. By the end of the year, it is anticipated that a further six properties will be operational or in final stages of construction.

We believe strongly in the potential of online business Travel Trade Weekly: Could you tell us more about the company’s further expansion plans?

David Milican: Auris as a brand is still young but growing fast. The company now has 1,313 rooms, apartments, and suites for sale each day. There are a number of projects in

Travel Trade Weekly: Brand awareness and loyalty has become a crucial aspect in the hospitality industry. How do you intent to further consolidate the Auris brand’s presence in the region?

David Milican: We are creating awareness through the traditional methods of sales trips, road shows, and exhibitions. This year, Auris Hotels will for the first time have its own stand at Arabian Travel Market. In addition, Auris is utilising the social media network to increase web visibility and organic traffic.

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MARKET UPDATE

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

IATA: Strong Performance Levels The global aviation industry has continued to experience soaring passenger demand, and the Middle East has fully recovered, based on International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) traffic results for February.

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SALES & MARKETING Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia, 1308, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

19/04/2012 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.05

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,505.50

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

57.45

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.53

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.52

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

12,275.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

215.5

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

75.3

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.25

ccording to data compiled by IATA, passenger demand improved by 8.6 percent compared with the corresponding month in 2011 while global passenger capacity expanded by 7.4 percent, resulting in a positive impact on load factors, which averaged at 75.3 percent.

Despite an overall satisfactory year so far, Tony Tyler, CEO, IATA, warned that the outlook still remains fragile as improvements in business confidence slowed in February, thus limiting the potential for business class travel growth. “At the same time, airlines trying to

recoup rising fuel costs could risk reduced volumes on price sensitive market segments.

Weak economic conditions and rising fuel costs are a double-whammy that an industry anticipating a 0.5 percent margin, can illafford,” he said.

Based on IATA’s report, Middle East carriers posted a 23.4 percent year-on-year increase for February, while capacity growth stood at 16.1 percent. Average load factors for the region showed dramatic improvements, soaring to 76.9 percent, prompting IATA to indicate that the region has now fully recovered.

Oman Air: 35 Percent Revenue Increase Oman Air’s business operations witnessed remarkable growth in 2011, based on the carrier’s annual report.

The number of passengers carried by the airline rose 16 percent and reached 3.8 million in 2011 and, despite the significant capacity increase, seat factors climbed 0.5 percent to 72.7 percent.

Owing to the sharp surge in fuel expenditure, the carrier reported a loss of OMR110 million (USD286 million), however, its move towards longterm profitability was bolstered by a revenue increase of 35 percent.

Commenting on the airline’s performance, H.E. Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi, chairman, Oman Air, described 2011 as a year of both change and consolidation. “We have continued our programme of rapid expansion, introduced new aircraft and further enhanced the quality of our products and services. We have also invested in training, agreed a number of partnerships and joint ventures and taken a series of measures to improve efficiency.”

Oman Air

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WEEKLY NEWS Saudi Arabia’s Achieved Growth

Saudi Arabia

It has been disclosed that Saudi Arabia has occupied 62nd position in the world's travel and tourism competitiveness index (TTCI) in 2011, compared with its 71st position in 2009.

Abdul Rahman Al Wable, secretary general, Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, presented a working paper at the third session of Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market 2012 which was held under the title 'Reality and the future of investment in small and medium tourism enterprises in the Kingdom' and the appropriate means to support them, and revealed that the percentage of small and medium tourist facilities is 97 percent of the total number of such facilities.

On the share of tourism in economic development, Al Wable further indicated that

SGSC to Enhance Offerings Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club (SGSC) has recorded increased visitor and member volumes in the past 12 months and aims to further improve visitors’ experience through new facilities and activities.

Since its inauguration in 2005 and following numerous expansions, the destination, with the latest addition being the new football grounds, offers an unforgettable experience for everyone, this according to Ziad Al Sharabi, sales and marketing manager, SGSC. “The club sees quite a diverse demographic as we have a vast selection of activities and facilities, and each one has its crowd whether they are locals, expatriate residents or people on holiday,” he explained, adding that SGSC will soon be introducing a unique project hailed the first of its kind in the emirate of Sharjah.

SGSC also offers an array of dining options along with conference and party halls, which can cater to various events of over 2,000 people. As well as its venues and range of activities, which also include a paintball park, golf academy, golf course, gym, and indoor shooting range, the club also offers its visitors Cleopatra’s Boutique Spa and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

tourism production contributes four percent in GDP in the Kingdom. “Also, tourism constitutes eight percent to Saudi non-oil GDP and 12.3 percent of private sector GDP. Besides, the total output of both food and transport services contribute 70 percent of the total GDP of tourism.”

On the other hand, Al Wable urged the need to expand and facilitate funding procedures to small and medium enterprises and to hotels across municipalities and tourist sites of various classes, while Hamad bin Mohammad Al Semael, assistant vice president, investment, SCTA, pointed out that the authority further seeks to develop a suitable environment for tourism investment, especially to finance small and medium tourism enterprises.

Hello Kitty Jets to Add Routes EVA Air, a Taiwan-based airline, is set to serve two more gateways with its Hello Kitty jets as of May 23.

The airline will use two of its new character-themed Airbus 330-300s on its Taipei Songshan – Tokyo Haneda and Tapei Songshan – Shanghai-Hongqiao routes.

In addition, EVA Air is also hard at work with Sanrio, the Japanese company that designs, licenses, and creates products and characters such as Hello Kitty, to give a further two Airbus 330-200s colourful ‘Hello Kitty Jet’ makeovers, the first of which will be initiated on May 23 and the second on June 22.

During the one month interval, the airline will temporarily serve its Taipei Taoyuan – Tokyo Narita and Taipei Taoyuan – Hong Kong routes with standard EVA aircraft.

On the new Hello Kitty Jet route between Taipei Songshan and Tokyo Haneda, the themed aircraft will serve twice daily. Furthermore, Hello Kitty Jet service from Songshan to Shanghai Hongqiao, will offer six weekly flights.

Hello Kitty Jets

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WEEKLY NEWS ACI: Passenger Traffic on the Rise Global passenger traffic volume remained on the growth trajectory, with the emerging markets witnessing impressive gains, according to the Airports Council International’s (ACI) recent report for February.

Based on ACI’s data, global passenger traffic increased seven percent over 2011, with the emerging markets of the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific recording a 10.9 percent, 10.2 percent, and 7.7 percent rise respectively.

Asian airports continued to experience buoyant traffic growth, as did the North African region which recorded a promising 25 percent increase compared to the height of the Arab spring in February 2011.

Global passenger growth rates have remained relatively consistent over time, according to Rafael Echevarne, economics director, ACI, who added that these results indicate on-going evidence of a sustained rise in global demand for air travel.

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India to Double Visitor Volume In 2011, foreign tourist arrivals in India totalled 6.29 million, marking a significant growth of 8.9 percent over 2010, and the Ministry of Tourism aims to double this number by 2016, by collaborating with other institutions and authorities across the country.

In a move to achieve this ambitious goal, new products are being developed to promote India as a ‘365-days destination’, and besides highlighting its natural endowment, vivid festivals, architectural façades, and beaches, the organisations have launched the ‘Campaign Clean India’ initiative, which will see improvement to the country’s infrastructure, additions to it’s accommodation options, and an increase to the adventurous activities on offer.

Moreover, India is capitalising on its medical treatments, services, equipment, and doctors, as it is poised to become a global leader in the booming medical sector.

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WEEKLY NEWS

European Cruising Programme Launched Voyages of Discovery, part of All Leisure Holidays, has launched its first-ever river cruising programme, European River Cruises.

The programme offers cruises through central European rivers, namely the Rhine, and the Danube. In addition, it also provides cruises through Russia’s waterway, the River Volga, whilst experiencing a tailor-made schedule of shore excursions.

Geoff Lawrence, director of sales and marketing, Voyages of Discovery, commented, “Market research shows that 40 percent of our customers have been on a river cruise in the past and another 40 percent are keen to go in the future. We have responded to this feedback by taking the first steps into the river cruising market and we hope to grow this area of our business in the next few years.”

CAPA: LLCs Grab 10 Percent of Seats Low-cost carriers (LCCs) in the Middle East have steadily increased their market share since the launch of Air Arabia in 2003, although the pace of growth has decreased, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s (CAPA) recent report.

CAPA blames the high barriers to enter new markets, protection in favour of stateowned carriers, the lack of viable alternative airports and terminals, and the regional unrest for the decrease in progression.

The Middle East’s LCC market is currently made up of Air Arabia, flydubai, Jazeera Airways, and nasair, which account for some 10 percent of all regional seating capacity; 11.8 percent of intra-regional capacity, and eight percent of seats to and from the region. CAPA states that LCC penetration in the region remains relatively low compared to other regions, where LCCs have already secured 30 percent of even higher market share.

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Accommodation

Showcasing its Upgrade Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments Al Barsha, Dubai, has upgraded its facilities, after an approximated AED2.5 million (USD6.6 million) refurbishment at the property involving an upgrade of room facilities, enhancement of the restaurants, refined public areas, and the provision of a new business centre.

In addition, the roof-top pool and sundeck have been renovated, while work is in progress at the Murjan spa with the addition of a terrace garden.

“We will be showcasing these new facilities during the Arabian Travel Market which offers us the perfect opportunity to spread the word among the global travel trade. We want to provide the ultimate convenience and service to business travellers who are one of biggest segments of our business,” commented Salim Touma, general manager, Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha, who added that this new fresh look is already paying dividends, resulting in an essential and profitable base of business which can be topped up with seasonal promotions and tactical marketing.

Emaar Hospitality Expands Footprint Emaar Hospitality Group has signed a management contract to operate The Address Marassi Golf Resort & Spa in Egypt.

Featuring 79 guest rooms and 50 serviced residences, the property features extensive golf facilities, five food and beverage options, meeting spaces, a health and fitness spa, swimming pool, and a kids club.

The Address Hotels + Resorts also plans to develop, manage, and/or operate five-star premium resorts in India, London, Paris, New York, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Marrakesh, Kenya, and Istanbul.

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Properties, commented, ”The Address Hotels + Resorts has redefined the concepts of hotel management and operation through its ‘one size fits one’ approach, which is gaining international acceptance. Our global expansion plans are a true testament to the success of a Dubai-based brand, making strong strides internationally.”

Emaar Hospitality Group

21 APRIL 2012

WEEKLY NEWS

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A Complete Transformation Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is currently in its final stages of its extensive multi-million dollar renovation scheme, which is set to significantly transform the hotel.

The huge renovation includes the creation of an exclusive floor for female travellers, a 90m2 ladies-only gym, which will be situated on the 50th floor for all in-house female guests, and an additional 45 rooms.

Moreover, the expansion includes a panoramic elevator, a 90m2 lounge, the re-opening of The Grill restaurant, as well as the Kingdom Suite, which, upon completion, will be hailed as the hotel’s signature duplex suite, covering an area of 330m2.

Additionally, the 48th floor is being converted into two floors consisting of 45 premium rooms and suites with an express check-in desk.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Dusit International Expands Dusit International is to further strengthen its footprint in the Middle East by outlining a sustainable growth plan for the region and opening new properties in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Bahrain.

The hotel group’s expansion drive focuses on developing upscale, four- and five-star properties in targeted gateway cities and major tourist destinations, as well as emerging secondary cities in key locations such as China and India.

In fact, Dusit International will soon be claiming its territory in India for the first time with the highly anticipated Dusit Devarana New Delhi.

“Since the company’s inception in 1949, our mission has always been to make Dusit one of the world’s most valued hospitality brands, in terms of preference and loyalty,” stressed Chanin Donavanik, CEO, Dusit International.

Accommodation

Ayla Hotels & Resorts Eyes Further Growth Ayla Hotels & Resorts Management, which has fast consolidated its presence in the UAE’s hospitality industry through the successful operation of Ayla Hotel in Al Ain, is to add two more properties to its portfolio.

The company recently unveiled plans to open another four-star deluxe property namely Ayla Bawadi Hotel, in the first quarter of 2013, that will comprise 90 rooms and suites, an all-day restaurant, and a meeting room for special events. The hotel will also provide easy access to Bawadi Mall.

Meanwhile, the other project in the company’s development pipeline in Al Kuwaitat, namely Ayla Grand Hotel, is scheduled to welcome its first guests early 2014, and will feature 220 rooms and 60 furnished apartments, offering a convenient base for leisure activities, corporate affairs, and family gatherings.

21 APRIL 2012

Accommodation

Kempinski Exceeds Forecast Kempinski recently announced impressive results for the first quarter of the year, for its properties in the Middle East, particularly from the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, which all exceeded forecasted occupancy levels, especially on weekends, reflecting the growth of intra-regional travel.

Commenting on Kempinski’s success in the region, Avsar Koc, regional director of sales, Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels, said, “Landmark properties, such as Emirates Palace, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, and the newly opened Kempinski Hotel & Residences on Palm Jumeirah, have been sold out most weekends since late 2011, and the majority of guests are coming from the GCC. “Kempinski properties, strategically located across the region, now bring in 38 percent of our company’s total revenues. With five new properties planned for the GCC alone, we are confident we will continue to see strong results from this region.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

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Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Returns to Sharm El Sheikh Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has marked its return to the Red Sea destination with the recent opening of Mövenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh - Naama Bay. The property provides panoramic views of the bay and its five private beaches to all 298 rooms. Moreover, the resort also features four Arabian style fully-equipped private villas ranging from three to four bedrooms, all boasting an outdoor terrace with an infinity pool overlooking Naama Bay. Additionally, the resort offers a wide selection of international cuisines through nine different restaurants and bars. Facilities include a variety of sports and recreational features, a swimming pool, dedicated diving centre, tennis court, fitness centre, and a health club with a Hammam, ideal for guests seeking relaxation or sports, this according to Adel Bibars, general manager, Mövenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh - Naama Bay.

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WEEKLY NEWS

Air News

British Airways to Further Serve North Africa With the start of the summer schedule now in operation, British Airways has launched a new service to Algiers from London Gatwick, with seven weekly flights aboard a Boeing 737.

Algiers is one of five routes to North Africa offered by British Airways, the others being Cairo, Tripoli, Marrakech, and Tunis.

Air Malta Serving Tripoli Daily Air Malta is set to offer daily flights to Tripoli, Libya, as of May 4.

According to Peter Davies, CEO, Air Malta, the airline has registered a steady increase in passenger demand to and from Tripoli, since it re-started services on November 28, 2011, and is expected to carry around 30,000 passengers to and from the capital this summer.

Expanding in Europe Etihad Airways is continuing to build its presence in Europe with added codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, to include services to Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse, in France.

James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, commented, “This adds three very popular destinations to the Etihad Airways network, and opens up more of Europe for our customers. This expansion is as a natural next step in what has been a very successful partnership since 2006, and we look forward to continuing to work with Brussels Airlines to also enable passengers from various points on their network to travel to Abu Dhabi and further afield.”

Gulf Air to Increase Medina Operations Gulf Air is to introduce two extra flights to and from Medina, Saudi Arabia, as of May 19.

The additional flights will offer enhanced options to Saudi business travellers and to visitors flying to Bahrain, as well as to Bahraini pilgrims.

Samer Majali, CEO, Gulf Air, noted, “The introduction of additional flights between Medina and Bahrain emphasises the importance we attach to Saudi Arabia and our business strategy to concentrate on high-demand routes to ensure our core customer base is served effectively and efficiently.

The departure and arrival timings of the additional flights have been timed in such a way that they benefit both international and regional travellers whether on business or pilgrimage.”

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Air News

Gulf Air Increases Services to Bangladesh As part of the new summer schedule, Gulf Air has increased its frequencies to Dhaka to 12 flights per week, to meet growing passenger demand.

Gulf Air will be operating an Airbus A320 until May on this route, and will introduce a larger capacity A332 aircraft as of June onwards, offering as many as 255 seats and 12 tonnes of cargo capacity.

Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, said, “The Indian subcontinent has seen an impressive performance in the recent past with high load factors. Dhaka, particularly, has witnessed a high load factor throughout last year both in terms of passenger numbers as well as cargo.

This has clearly indicated the need for us to augment our fleet capacity and frequency to the capital of Bangladesh.”

This additional frequency allows more weekly connectivity for passengers travelling between Dhaka and Dammam, London, Jeddah, Cairo, GCC, Larnaca, and Riyadh.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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Air Arabia Maroc Touches Down in Palma de Majorca Air Arabia Maroc has launched scheduled flights between Nador and Palma de Majorca; a significant seaport and favoured tourist destination, in Spain.

The weekly service, operated every Sunday, is expected to further foster bilateral relationships between Morocco and Spain, highlighted Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, who added, “It gives us great pride to serve more cities in Spain and to add this exciting destination that complements our existing services to Barcelona. The new flights will further contribute to the existing tourism ties between the two countries. Two years after Air Arabia Maroc took off to the skies, the airline continues to expand its operations by serving various cities from and into Morocco.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

International

IHG Refreshes in the US InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of the completely renovated Crowne Plaza Danbury, formerly operated as Danbury Plaza Hotel, in Connecticut, US. The 242-room hotel boasts an ideal location, first-class luxury accommodations, 2420m2 of meeting space, which includes 14 business rooms and three ballrooms, dining facilities, a fitness centre, and outdoor tennis courts set to open this summer.

“We are pleased to bring the Crowne Plaza brand to the Danbury area, especially in a location that is perfect for business travellers and under an hour’s drive to New York City.

There are several major employers in the area that will benefit from the meetings-savvy products and services that only a Crowne Plaza provides,” commented Gina LaBarre, vice president, brand delivery, the Americas, IHG. Richard Bair, general manager, Crowne Plaza Danbury, added, “The Crowne Plaza brand is well-regarded for providing guests with a unique upscale experience that appeals to quality-minded business and leisure travellers.”

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Enters Europe The luxury hotel group Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts is slated to open its first European resort located in Mallorca, Spain, on April 24, namely Jumeirah Port Sóller Resort & Spa. The property is located on a cliff by the harbour village of Port Sóller, and comprises 120 guestrooms and suites, all Mallorca with a private terrace or balcony, situated in eight separate outbuildings, surrounded by gardens with 360 degree views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Tramuntana mountain range. The resort also boasts three outdoor swimming pools, two restaurants, four bars, a spa, and a fitness club. With views over the Mallorcan coast, Jumeirah Port Sóller Resort & Spa is less than 10 minutes away from the historical town of Sóller.

By the end of the year, Jumeirah Group will have more than doubled the number of hotels it manages and almost quadrupled the number of countries in which it operates. In the coming six months, the company expects to open Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, Kuwait, and Jumeirah Creekside, Dubai.

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WHO'S MOVED

Mahmoud Sakr Mahmoud Sakr has taken over the position of general manager at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai.

Sakr’s career with Jumeirah Group dates back to 1999, when he was appointed director of rooms at the group’s flagship hotel, Burj Al Arab.

He was later promoted to executive assistant manager

21 APRIL 2012

– rooms division, and then to resident manager, before becoming hotel manager.

In 2008, he became general manager of Mina A’Salam, part of Madinat Jumeirah resort.

His prior experience includes positions with a number of prestigious hotels throughout Egypt, Saudi Arabia, as well as the UAE.

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Erich Steinbock Erich Steinbock has been named regional vice president for Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and managing director of Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama.

Steinbock brings a wealth of international hospitality experience to his new roles, having previously worked for the company in the US.

Prior to joining the group, he served The Ritz-Carlton for nine years, where he held responsibilities for the opening of 14 properties.

In his new capacity, Steinbock will also oversee the operation of Rosewood Corniche, Jeddah as well as other properties in the group’s Saudi Arabian portfolio.

TRAVEL TALK

travel talk is your space

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Ashraf Helmy

Iftikhar Hamdani

General manager, Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort.

General manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman.

“Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah is and will be always the right choice of destination due to the variety of facilities we offer, very high quality of food and beverage services, and a full animation programme, which you cannot find in any other resort in the UAE. We look forward to successful business opportunities at the Arabian Travel Market this year.”

“We are very excited about our participation at the Arabian Travel Market this year because Ajman will have its own pavilion and we will be exhibiting with them. During ATM, we will unveil our attractive summer packages and share some good news such as the opening of a speciality restaurant, a new spa on the beach, and a new tower with more rooms.”

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AGENT'S CORNER

AGENT'S INSIGHT NAME: Pooja Tyagi POSITION: Business development manager COMPANY: Holiday Factory LOCATION: Dubai, UAE WEB: www.holiday-factory.com

Who are you?

My name is Pooja Tyagi and I am the business development manager of Holiday Factory, which deals with outbound travel. We like to call ourselves real package tour operators as our packages include flights, accommodation, and transfers. I have been with the company for over a year and I take care of the business development of Holiday Factory.

I love the travel industry and that is why I am here.

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

Firstly, travel forms a good part of one’s life. Everyone looks forward to their holidays, and when they come to us with the excitement of travelling, it instills a similar passion in me to serve them well and make sure that all their travel needs are taken care of. Another best part is when they come back to us saying they had a good time and loved our service.

When is the best time to visit the Dubai?

The best time is from November to February.

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

Istanbul, as it is our most selling destination and I would love to explore more of it.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?

Well, firstly we have one of the best rates for packages. Secondly, we have an excellent and dedicated team who caters to our clients' travel needs and offers expert guidance on their holidays. Thirdly, all the hotels mentioned in our brochure are the hotels visited by us and checked before we recommend it to our clients.

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Better Serving the Needs of Travellers Etihad Airways has signed a strategic partnership with Kanoo Travel to open four joint retail locations in Dubai.

The new partnership is set to better serve the needs of travellers in its growing Dubai market, throughout the GCC and in the UK as well as enhance its ability to promote travel to leisure markets, including a broader distribution of Etihad Holidays packages.

Kanoo Travel is one of the leading travel companys in the Middle East with more than 200 offices in the region, and the four new retail locations in the emirate will be rebranded as Etihad/Kanoo outlets to mark the partnership.

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, noted that the strategic venture with Kanoo Travel marks a major milestone for Etihad Airways’ distribution strategy. “Kanoo Travel is a long established travel group with a strong position in both the Middle East and UK. They have considerable reach and expertise in servicing the corporate and consumer segments in many of our important growth markets, which Etihad Airways will now be able to leverage,” he concluded.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

A Popular Choice for Chinese Travellers As the number of Chinese visitors heading to the UAE continues to escalate, the need for the region to better grasp Chinese culture and their approach to business has never been greater.

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n estimated 300,000 Chinese tourists travelled to the UAE in 2011 and spent USD334 million, according to a study released

by MasterCard, making Chinese tourists the most lucrative for the UAE. To help UAE firms take advantage of this growth, the Dubai Chinese Learning Center (DCLC), in partnership with Dubai-based event organiser The Main Event (TME), will hold the Chinese Cultural Awareness, Social & Business Communication Conference,

on May 23 – 24, to enable professionals to better understand the customs and principles of dealing with Chinese tourists. The conference will focus on Chinese cultural awareness and will look at social and business as well as the needs of travellers from the country. “This forum will benefit anyone who has face-to-face or virtual contact with China and Chinese tourists in the UAE. This includes business owners, marketing managers, and sales executives of tourism services, luxury goods and activities,“

Shannon Norris, director, TME, explained.

Furthermore, in March this year, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways signed a memorandum of understanding with China Eastern Airlines that included joint route and schedule coordination. Meanwhile, Emirates continues to increase the number of routes for its Airbus A380 to the Asian country. Additionally, China’s big airlines are embarking on an aggressive expansion plan to match that of the major Gulf carriers.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with H.E. Fadi Abboud Determined to succeed its aim of doubling visitor volume, Lebanon is pushing ahead with plans to promote the country as a lucrative leisure and business destination. H.E. Fadi Abboud, minister of tourism, Lebanon, shares his positive thoughts on the future of the country’s tourism industry.

Travel Trade Weekly: How did Lebanon’s tourism industry perform in 2011?

H.E. Fadi Abboud Minister of tourism, Lebanon

Fadi Abboud: The performance levels of the tourism industry were relatively good in comparison to other Arab countries. The number of arrivals reached 1.655 million, marking a decrease of 24 percent in comparison to 2010, when the number of arrivals were 2.168 million.

The main feeder market was Europe with a total of 485,707 visitors, followed by America with 222,671tourists.

These statistical figures are a fine example proving that neither the Europeans nor the Americans have been affected by the negative international publications about Lebanon.

Therefore, the numbers are relatively good, as Lebanon was the most stable country among other Arab states on both security and economic levels.

Travel Trade Weekly: Has the industry experienced further improvements in the first quarter of the year?

Fadi Abboud: The tourism industry has done well this year, and tourist arrivals reached 193,383 in February, as the sector witnessed a boost in visitors during the holidays and a rewarding skiing season in its mountains.

Still, we are expecting a vast number of tourist arrivals in the upcoming seasons, especially with Lebanon's perfect weather for adventure tourism including hiking, climbing, biking, camping, diving, paragliding, skydiving, and grottos sightseeing. It is important to note that our tourism industry basically relies on the summer season.

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feel at home.

Lebanon has won over the negative international media. Our main evidence to this fact is the relatively small drawback that our tourism sector went through, which is nothing in comparison to the downside that many Arab countries are still facing today.

Therefore, we invite all tourists from the world over to come and indulge in a unique and spectacular ambiance that Lebanon offers.

Travel Trade Weekly: Based on the World Travel & Tourism Council’s recent report, the travel and tourism industry is expected to significantly increase its contribution to the Lebanese economy. What are your predictions?

Travel Trade Weekly: How is the ministry promoting Lebanon this year to transmit the message that the country is safe with regards to the surrounding situation?

Fadi Abboud: Our latest focus has been revolving around MICE tourism, which involves offering adequate spaces in hotels or other locations where conferences and exhibitions can take place. The European Investment Bank predicts that Lebanon could be successful in this field as it is considered the most suitable country for MICE tourism in the whole Middle East region. We believe that is important for such type of tourism to evolve so it can attract foreign and local investors.

Every tourist who visits Lebanon would definitely change his mentality towards this cosmopolitan Middle Eastern country, and would probably expand his vacation as they

Fadi Abboud: The tourism sector contributes an estimated 22 percent to the country's GDP, and brings in tremendous investments and job opportunities. The European region remains the main source market for the current year and countries like the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Russia will be our targeted locations, along with the Japanese and Chinese markets, without forgetting the huge potential of the Lebanese diaspora.

Lebanon should open up to Arab countries and work on signing rewarding agreements between various potential countries.

Our main objective for the time being is to double our tourist arrivals from two million visitors in 2010 up to four million by 2015, and we have planned a series of strategies that best serve this goal.

Overall, we predict a very bright future.

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NEWS & EVENTS

GIBTM: Invaluable for Businesses

The successful two and a half days of GIBTM illustrates that there is a hunger for the meetings sector to develop at a swift pace

This year’s Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) saw exhibitors and buyers universally portraying the show as business-focused, highly successful, and the best in its six year history.

The rise in high-quality senior buyers at GIBTM 2012, especially from the Middle East and Asia, as well as a 100 percent increase in buyers from Saudi Arabia compared to 2011, greatly contributed to exhibitor satisfaction.

Pleased with a 17 percent increase in exhibitor volume from across 36 countries, Lois Hall, exhibitions manager, GIBTM, commented, “The positive feedback from exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors has been incredible. The Middle East has recognised the potential in attracting meetings and events to the region and the successful two and a half days of GIBTM illustrates that there is a hunger for the meetings sector to develop at a swift pace. We are very happy to hear that exhibitors and buyers had high-quality meetings and appointments and found their participation in GIBTM to be invaluable for the development of their business, that is what the show is all about.”

More than 270 hosted buyers from across the globe attended this year’s show and 7,672 pre-scheduled appointments took place, an impressive increase of over eight percent from 2011.

According to Gillian Taylor, business tourism manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, GIBTM is always successful for the entity providing them with a great opportunity to showcase Abu Dhabi to the hosted buyers and the global industry from the news stories that emanate from it. “It is definitely the region’s ‘must attend’ business events trade show,” Taylor expressed.

EVENTS Arabian Hotel Investment Conference Dubai, UAE, April 28 – 30, 2012 (www.arabianconference.com) Bringing together regional leaders, this event includes discussions of key topics and challenges of the coming months.

IMEX Frankfurt, Germany, May 22 – 24, 2012 (www.imex-frankfurt.com) The show where the global meetings industry continues to do business while maximising connections and networking opportunities.

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai, UAE, April 30 – May 2, 2012 (www.arabiantravelmarket.com) An event which unlocks business potential for tourism professionals, where worlwide destinations showcase their range of tourism products.

International Travel Expo (ITE) Hong Kong, June 14 – 17, 2012 (www.itehk.com) A travel fair with impressive profiles of international exhibitors, buyers, and regional trade visitors.

GTM Germany Travel Mart (GTM) Leipzig, Germany, May 13 – 15, 2012 (www.germany.travel) The largest incoming workshop in Germany where German providers can meet key buyers from the international travel industry.

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) Beijing, China, June 15 – 17, 2012 (www.bitechina.com.cn) A mega tourism event that showcases destinations, tourism attractions, travel packages, products, and services

The Hotel Show Dubai, UAE, May 15 – 17, 2012 (www.thehotelshow.com) An exhibition providing a unique networking and sourcing platform within the region with over 14,800 professionals.

The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibitions (AIBTM) Baltimore, US, June 19 – 21, 2012 (www.aibtm.com) A leading exhibition for the meetings and events industry, bringing together professionals from all around the world.

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