Travel Trade MENA November 2013 by T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD

NOVEMBER 2013

ISSUE 49

ONSITE: IRAQ Iraq’s government is struggling to develop a national tourism strategy, boosting the industry's dynamic in the country.

Home to over 200 nationalities, the UAE has evolved into a premier tourism and investment hub that continues to astonish the world.

24 EXCLUSIVE: MEDICAL TRAVEL With Middle Eastern health authorities taking great strides to improve infrastructure, the region is looking at a promising future.

27 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE

VISIT: UAE

EXPLORE: Iran

ONSITE: Iraq

TOUR: India

EXCLUSIVE: Medical Travel

WHO’S MOVED

TRAVEL TALK

RENDEZVOUS

NEWS & EVENTS

Visit: UAE

MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel COPY EDITOR Mario Hajiloizis SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprint Plc P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprint.com.cy

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Accurate as of

24/10/2013 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1USD=

UAE (AED)

Dirham

3.67

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

6.89

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Riyal

3.75

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,507.50

Bahrain (BHD)

Dinar

0.37

Jordan (JOD)

Dinar

0.71

Syria (SYP)

Pound

137.75

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Qatar (QAR)

Riyal

3.64

Oman (OMR)

Rial

0.38

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.63

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.15

Iran (IRR)

Riyal

24,850.00

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.86

Algeria (DZD)

Dinar

81.67

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.23

Abu Dhabi: Passenger Traffic up 18.5 Percent Over 1.5 million passengers passed through Abu Dhabi International Airport’s gates in August, representing an 18.5 percent year-on-year increase.

Abu Dhabi International Airport

uring the month under review, aircraft movements rose 15.5 percent to 11,608, while cargo traffic jumped 29.9 percent with more than 60,235 tonnes of cargo moved. The top five destinations included Bangkok, London, Doha, Manila, and Bahrain. According to Ahmed Al Haddabi, chief operating officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, the robust growth in August was primarily driven by the busy Eid holiday and the beginning of the back to school season. ”As passenger traffic continues to grow, Abu Dhabi International Airport will ensure optimal use of resources to cater to expected travel peaks and continue to deliver exceptional service on par with leading airports worldwide,” commented Al Haddabi. “The Capacity Enhancement Programme currently in progress will enable Abu Dhabi International Airport to accommodate more than 17 million annual passengers through strategic enhancements to existing facilities, the most recent of these being the new arrivals hall which opened [in September],” concluded Al Haddabi. Travellers are now able to access parking, taxis and limousines just 20m away from the customs lounge, through the new tunnel connecting the customs area with the new arrivals hall. Abu Dhabi Airports is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on March 4, 2006, to spearhead the development of the emirate's aviation infrastructure. In September 2006, Abu Dhabi Airports assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports, and in 2008, Abu Dhabi Airports added Al Bateen Executive Airport, an exclusive private aviation airport, and Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio. These airports ware geared to serve the various segments of air travellers, the aviation marketplace, and are designed to help contribute to Abu Dhabi’s development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism. The company has recently revealed its new identity and new name which has been changed from Abu Dhabi Airports Company to Abu Dhabi Airports.

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UAE: And You Think You Have Seen It All Home to over 200 nationalities, the UAE has evolved into a premier tourism and investment hub that continues to astonish the world with billion dollar developments, innovative ideas and record-breaking projects.

Sharjah, UAE

 Rita Kasziba writes

ased on the World Travel & Tourism Council’s estimations, in 2012, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UAE’s economy totalled AED89.7 billion (USD24.4 billion), accounting for 6.6 percent of the country’s GDP, and over the course of the next 10 years, this amount is set to almost double to reach AED153.5 billion (USD41.8 billion) with international

Abu Dhabi ‘And you think you’ve seen it all’ is Abu Dhabi’s latest promotional campaign and in fact, as Mohammed Al Dhaheri, strategy and policy director, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), noted, the UAE capital’s image has changed dramatically over the past few years.

arrivals skyrocketing to over 25.8 million by 2023. “For the past few years, the UAE has been a key leisure and business destination for those seeking the best of everything. With the increase of lavish hotels and beaches, the UAE is redefining the art of hospitality in this part of the world where east meets west,” asserted Vicky Varfis, corporate vice president, sales and revenue, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, describing the UAE as one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations which, with its ambitious developments and future plans, is expected to continue its

growth momentum in the coming years.

 Rita Kasziba writes

leisure tourism is advancing, and we can also tell this by the extended length of stay of some hotel guests – most notably the British, Italians, Germans and Russians, who are all now staying between fourfive nights on average,” added Al Dhaheri, pinpointing that in the long run, lower average rates can spur business levels. “Our message for 2014 will be that we are a luxury destination, but a highly affordable one – our average room rate is currently running under AED450 (USD123),” highlighted Al Dhaheri. “We now have 146 resorts, hotels and hotel apartments to choose from and a room stock of 25,300. Increased inventory has shifted the demand-andsupply scenario with a corresponding competitive accommodation rate landscape,” elucidated 

“B

usiness is on target for this year - but it can always be better,” suggested Al Dhaheri, revealing that after welcoming 1.76 million travellers between January and August, the destination is on track to reach its annual goal of 2.5 million hotel guests, while in 2014 the authority aims to attract 2.8 million visitors. Despite the continued increase in the emirate’s room inventory, occupancy levels rose eight percent to 68 percent in the first eight months of the year, while average length of stay improved 10 percent to 3.12 days. “We know from our tour operator partners that

UAE IN BRIEF Capital: Abu Dhabi Other emirates: Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman Currency: UAE Dirham (AED) Language: Arabic

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Al Dhaheri, noting that this notion is also being backed up by the continuing message of an expanding proposition of singular major attractions, compelling tours and headline events, and stressing that the aim is to not only increase the number of travellers choosing to holiday in the emirate or hold their business meetings there, but to encourage these visitors to stay even longer. “Trends are also changing, for instance, the UK traditionally was our largest overseas source market for hotel guests; that has now been surpassed by India,” apprised Al Dhaheri, noting that arrivals from the GCC also remain on the growth trajectory with visitors increasingly seeing Abu Dhabi as an ideal family choice for short-haul breaks and the authority is keen on nurturing this market through a myriad of initiatives, including a trade engagement programme. 50/50 “[Abu Dhabi’s development over the last five years is virtually unmatched,” claimed Kamal Chaoui, general manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, who described the UAE capital as the main commercial centre within the GCC and one of the most exciting cities in the Middle East in which to open a new hotel, thus the company’s decision to expand the Dusit brand’s presence in

Yas Island

the region with the recent launch of Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. As Kamal Fakhoury, chief operating officer, Cristal Hotels & Resorts, noted, following a slow-down induced by the crises in 2008, business has picked up, triggered by large-scale developments, such as Yas Waterworld and muchanticipated projects, including the museums on Saadiyat Island. “The opening of many world-class tourist destinations, like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld and international artists who choose to perform in the UAE capital, alongside aggressive efforts and support from the government to boost tourism, all definitely improve the perception of Abu Dhabi as a leisure destination,” elucidated Abi Bautista, marketing and communications executive, Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island Abu Dhabi, referring to TCA Abu Dhabi’s endeavour to achieve a more balanced, 50/50 leisure/business tourism split to ensure the destination’s longterm growth. According to Ahmad Al Araj, executive assistant manager, sales and marketing, One to One Hotel, The Village, these initiatives are already

paying rich dividends, with almost a quarter of the hotel’s guests now representing the leisure market. Praising the tourism entity’s vigorous work, Tarek Elsherif, managing director, Mourouj Hotels & Resorts, which operates Mourouj Hotel Apartments and Executive Suites by Mourouj in the capital, remarked on TCA Abu Dhabi’s efforts put into promoting the destination and attracting more visitors, which has also helped increase the leisure segment’s contribution. Sharing similar views, Bruno Wiley, director of sales, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, noted that Abu Dhabi has, in recent years, heavily invested in diversifying its leisure offering with destination projects such as Yas Island, which has emerged as one of the leading leisure destinations in the Middle East. “Elsewhere, cultural precincts such as Saadiyat Island, nature tourism on Sir Bani Yas Island, influx of well-recognised global hospitality brands, resort properties – both waterfront and luxury desert resorts - as well as the more traditional desert-based adventure activities, offer a very strong and diverse leisure tourism offering that will enable Abu Dhabi to achieve its goal of a more equitable split between business and leisure tourism,” suggested Wiley, adding that the emirate will continue to capitalise on its core business foundation through innovative MICE offerings, in addition to strong, purely leisure products. Being one of the latest examples of these leisureoriented projects, just in a few months time, Yas Waterworld has become a lynchpin in Abu Dhabi’s plans to become a global tourism hotspot, and as Mike Oswald, park general manager, Yas Waterworld, noted, early indicators show that the destination is on the right path, while it also continues to raise its profile as a MICE hub, having recently been named among the top 100 busiest global meetings destinations in the International Congress and Convention Association’s 2012 city rankings, for the first time. “[Crucial] to Yas Island’s appeal is that its attractions are not limited to its theme parks, making it a tourist destination in itself rather than simply part of Abu Dhabi’s portfolio [with] multiple luxury hotels […], a golf resort, marina, in addition to the world’s top performers coming to the du Arena,” added Oswald. In fact, in 2012 alone, Yas Island welcomed over three million visitors, and this year, visitor volumes are set to reach four million, indicated Karim El Guanaini, vice president, Yas Island Destination Management, attributing the dramatic increase in footfall to the widening of the attractions and the recognition of the destination that has been expanding from a regional to a global one. “Yas Island has shown tremendous development over the past year with more additions to be introduced soon,” revealed El Guanaini, reminding that Yas Marina has also been revamped with new food and beverage outlets, pedestrianised promenade with new landscaping, and dancing musical fountains, among others, transforming it into a vibrant and affordable dining and entertainment precinct, and yas express sightseeing formula, which recorded a monthly passenger average of 5,421, also helped fire NOVEMBER 2013

UAE up visitor numbers. To further enhance the destination’s profile, Yas Mall is set to open its doors in 2014 with 450 retails units. Covering 235,000m2 of leasable space, the mall is being designed as an indoor city, portraying a glitzy neighbourhood, El Guanaini explained, further disclosing that the management is keen on further expanding global awareness, and strengthening ties with local, regional and international trade partners, while also exploring new sales channels, and ultimately position Yas Island as a prime global leisure and entertainment destination, focused on delivering premium products and services to individuals and businesses alike.

Yas Waterworld

REWRITING THE RULEBOOK Apart from Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and its premium quality projects and renowned brands also continue to receive growing demand from both investors and tourists, asserted Ahmed Al Fahim, executive director, marketing, communications, sales and leading, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the organisation behind some of Abu Dhabi’s landmark projects, noting that the company also sold a 91,000m2 land plot to Bin Otaiba Investment Group for the development of a five-star luxury resort, which is scheduled to open in 2015, in the same year as Saadiyat Rotana Resort. The Collection at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, an exclusive retail complex is expected to be fully operational before the end of the year, while the proposed retail destination, The District, is scheduled for completion by 2017, and work is also progressing on the much-anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi. In Abu Dhabi city, Eastern Mangroves Suites by Jannah Hotels and Resorts is the latest addition to TDIC’s hospitality portfolio, while on Sir Bani Yas Island, following hot-on-heels the recent launch of Anantara Sir Bani Yas Al Yamm Villa Resort, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Sahel Villa Resort is set to welcome its first guests by year-end. “In line with Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030, TDIC is helping to create destinations that will ensure NOVEMBER 2013

a long-term future for the emirate’s tourism industry,” stressed Al Fahim, reiterating that the cultural, residential and hospitality projects developed by the company help support Abu Dhabi’s evolution into a world-class destination. “These sustainable projects will also contribute to the economic diversification of the UAE,” concluded Al Fahim. Fuelling the emirate’s development is Etihad Airways, whose success, according to James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, comes from rewriting the airline rulebook by following a new business model built on organic growth, codeshare partnerships and minority equity investment in other carriers. Including Jet Airways, on which the company is still going through the regulatory process, the airline will have six equity and 46 codeshare partners, offering a pool of over 96 million guests and a choice of more than 410 destinations on six continents, highlighted Hogan. Meanwhile, Rotana Jet also continues to link the emirate with an increasing number of domestic and international destinations, having recently commenced operations to Salalah and Bahrain. “As we continue to grow and receive more aircraft, we will look at other opportunities to expand our network and further strengthen our brand presence,” commented Rajendran Vellapalath, director of commercial and planning, Rotana Jet. Spurred by such developments, Abu Dhabi is set to reach out to new markets and ultimately fulfil the destination’s vision for 2030. AL AIN Abu Dhabi’s uninterrupted growth also continues to fuel Al Ain’s development with the ‘Garden City’ and the Eastern region recording 196,300 guest arrivals for the first eight months of the year, marking a five percent year-on-year surge and accounting for over 395,00 guest nights. “A couple of years back, we only had a few hotels in the city that were fighting very hard to get any kind of business, while in today's market, there is a wild competition between international brands who will open new properties first and

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try to get a piece of this growing market,” elucidated George Titus, director of sales and marketing, Ayla Hotel, Al Ain. In fact, as Naeem Darkazally, vice president, sales and marketing, Middle East and Africa, Millennium & Copthorne, revealed, the 275-room Millennium Golf Resort Al Ain is set to welcome its first guests in 2014, and the 200-key Hili Rayhaan by Rotana Al Ain is also scheduled for opening in 2014, informed Vicky Varfis, corporate vice president, sales and revenue, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation. The properties will offer new alternatives for travellers visiting Al Ain and some of its main attractions, such as Wadi Adventure, hailed as the Middle East’s first man-made whitewater rafting, kayaking and surfing destination, which, as Mike Wahba, business development executive, Wadi Adventure, disclosed, witnessed a noticeable increase of footfall as Al Ain continues to expands its touristic activities. Likewise, as Mohamed Cheikh, sales manager, Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, noted, the destination’s ever-popular wildlife park is also actively engaged in various activities, and after recently celebrating the newly refurbished zoo, the park is now gearing up for its birthday celebrations, while the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre is set to welcome the first groups in January 2014. 

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 Rita Kasziba writes

he strategy behind Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 has been devised to further leverage a sector which has long been a central pillar in the destination’s economic growth, success and diversification, as H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), noted, adding that in line with this scheme, much emphasis will be laid on further widening the range of tourism offerings across events, attractions, infrastructure, services and packages, while the marketing approach will also be revised in order to dovetail with the city’s goals and reach out to a wider audience. In accordance with the vision, which builds on positioning Dubai as a burgeoning event (MICE) and business centre, and the world’s leading family destination, the current facilities and infrastructure of Dubai is being scaled up and aligned with the destination’s growth rate in light of forecasts which expect Dubai International to cater to over 90 million passengers per annum within the next six years. “Dubai is fully on its way to establishing Vision 2020 as we see an increase in families travelling to the emirate, a number of high-profile events picking

UAE

Dubai After doubling its visitor numbers from five million to 10 million in the past eight years, Dubai is now aiming to attract 20 million travellers by 2020 and triple the industry’s contribution to the economy to some AED300 billion (USD81.7 billion). Dubai as a location and international business travel is also increasing,” asserted David Thomson, chief operating officer, JA Resorts & Hotels. In fact, in the first six months of the year, Dubai welcomed over 5.5 million visitors, marking an 11 percent year-on-year improvement, and making it the destination’s busiest first half-year to date, with GCC countries, China, India, Australia and a number of European markets posting notable surges. Being the world’s second and ninth most populous nations, India and China hold great potential for Dubai to draw an additional 10 million visitors, while Prisca Lobo, director of sales, Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square Dubai, also expects significant increases in arrivals from the GCC countries, Australia, US, Russia and some other European markets, such as the UK and Germany. Likewise, Craig Senior, head of sales and marketing, Meydan Hotels & Hospitality, noted a significant rise in guest volumes from China. “We have seen a positive growth, versus the same period in 2012, from all of our targeted markets. The key areas for The Meydan Hotel and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, remain the UAE market, the main GCC markets, along with key international markets,” informed Senior. Breaking down the projected growth in arrivals, Wael El Behi, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, asserted that traditional markets,

Burj Al Arab

including the GCC, and especially Saudi Arabia, are expected to remain the top performers, followed by regular markets, such as Germany, UK and the CIS counties, and the surge will also be boosted by emerging markets, China, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, Eastern Europe and South America. The new market patterns also heavily depend on Emirates and flydubai’s route network expansion as well as the entry of new carriers, creating new markets opportunities for the destination. “The opening of the new Al Maktoum International Airport, with flights coming in from Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania will bring a good diversity to Dubai,” indicated Karim Nahas, general manager, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, noting that still, China remains one of the most promising markets for the destination. CREATING THE FUTURE To align with the new market requirements and both increase the overall stock of hotel rooms and widen the range of options available for visitors, DTCM aims to persuade hotel developers to build more threeand four-star properties by waiving the 10 percent municipality fee, currently levied on the room rate for mid-market hotels thus incentivising owners to bring forward their construction timelines and ultimately engineering the growth of this sector. As Manoj Padhi, general manager, Versailles Hotel, noted, Dubai has traditionally been marketed as a high-priced destination, this conception however has gradually changed in the past few years. Speaking about the hotel sector’s future path in Dubai and the UAE in general, Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group, predicted, “Luxury and upper-scale hotels will continue to be an important sector but the market will also demand increased diversification, including resort hotels across the luxury and upper segment as well as extended-stay hotels and quality, affordable mid-scale hotels for the business and the MICE market.” As Freddy Farid, area general manager,  NOVEMBER 2013

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Gloria Hotel Dubai and Yassat Gloria Hotel Apartments, pinpointed, Dubai is constantly evolving into a more steady and diversified market which is aligned to cater to all three key areas identified in Vision 2020, including the business, MICE and family segments. “We strongly believe that in the following years Dubai is going to grow even more as a business destination being a flexible and more welcoming environment for business opportunities. We feel that Dubai is also going to strengthen its position as an events hub, especially being the leader in the Expo 2020 bid,” Farid further elucidated. Likewise, Hatem Gasmi, managing director, Auris Hotels, singled out Expo 2020, as an initiative that is expected to invigorate the destination’s future growth. “Dubai is on an upward growth trend in tourism numbers and we believe that in the next five to 10 years the industry will be on par with the leading world destinations,” expressed Gasmi. Running for six months, the World Expo is set to have enormous positive impact on the tourism industry attracting some 1.75 million people, 71 percent of which would originate from outside the host nation, and create some 147,000 jobs in the tourism sector. As Jan Siddiqi, director of sales, Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah, suggested, the range of developments ahead of the expo,

UAE

Al Habtoor City

are set to pave the path for Dubai’s future development and ultimately help it achieve its vision for 2020. THE NEW SKYLINE “Dubai is a unique destination that is both a dynamic business centre and a tourist paradise. Dubai will continue to be a top tourist destination, however, the business segment is constantly increasing and most of the business travellers like to add a couple of days to discover the destination, thus mixing business and pleasure,” highlighted El Behi. In fact, the recently revealed multi-billion dollar

projects are set to further diversify Dubai’s tourism product and, as Daniel Hajjar, general manager, Cosmopolitan Hotel Dubai, explained, appeal to a wider audience. “Every member of the family will want to visit Dubai for a different reason,” connoted Hajjar. With a range of unique ventures in the pipeline, the reasons are fast multiplying. Hailed as the world’s largest residential and hospitality development under construction, Al Habtoor City will incorporate more than 3,000 hotel and residential units on one plot under the St. Regis, W and Westin brands, and will also comprise a water-based theatre, among others. Besides, the USD545 million Dubai Water Canal Project, the state-of-the-art tourist and commercial project that will feature four hotels and a number of marinas, and is expected to draw 20-22 million visitors per annum, The Lagoons, a joint venture by Dubai Holding and Emaar Properties, is yet another demonstration of Dubai’s boundless ambitions. Spreading over an area of six million m2, the waterfront city is set to define the new skyline of Dubai, bringing various dedicated zones, along with the iconic The Dubai Twin Towers, premium and affordable hotels and a shopping mall, to the destination within the proposed Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City). Comprising four key components focused on family tourism, retail, arts and entrepreneurship 

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and innovation, MBR City will feature a number of landmark developments, including a park 30 percent bigger than Hyde Park in London, the largest family centre for leisure and entertainment in the region, over 100 hotel facilities, and the largest mall in the world, called Mall of the World which will be capable to receive 80 million visitors per year. In comparison, The Dubai Mall welcomed 65 million shoppers in 2012. All these projects are set to redefine Dubai’s skyline and further enhance the destination’s competitiveness in various sectors, as Camelia Binbrek, director of sales and marketing, Desert Palm, A Per AQUUM Retreat, noted. “With the amount of upcoming projects which will provide the capacity of holding large scale events, Dubai will continue to stand out as a key competitor in the business and events segments,” suggested Binbrek. Along parallel lines, Padhi predicted that Dubai will also continue to attract a larger influx of leisure travellers, especially from the family segment. “During the lean summer months, Dubai is already being marketed as a family destination and over the next few years, with the addition of new theme parks, Dubai will be even more attractive to families in the region as well as globally. […] MICE and cruise tourism are also going to play a major role in increasing arrivals to Dubai,” concluded Padhi. SCALING UP Consequently, a number of regional and international hotel operators are

looking to capture a larger share of the destination’s burgeoning tourism industry, one of them being Paramount Hotels & Resorts, which found a strong strategic partner in DAMAC Properties to launch its first-ever residences in Dubai. “Dubai’s government is very much development focused and is working together very closely with the private business sector, all resulting in Dubai becoming one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with more or less a year-long season and with hotels generating one of the highest RevPAR levels in the world,” elucidated Thomas van Vliet, CEO, Paramount Hotels & Resorts. Overlooking the Burj Area of Dubai, DAMAC Towers by Paramount will comprise four towers, one of which will house a 540-key Paramount Hotel & Residences and more than 1,000 luxury serviced hotel residences, with the project scheduled for completion at the end of 2015. IHG plans to open two new properties in 2014, as Gauvin revealed, including the 132-room InterContinental Dubai Marina, and the 196-key InterContinental Residential Suites. Meanwhile, another hospitality giant, Accor, is gearing up for the launch of its Adagio brand in the region in 2014. “We have just signed our first upscale serviced apartments with a premium label in Dubai, Adagio Aparthotel Premium Dubai Al Barsha,” informed Christophe Landais, managing director, Accor Middle East. The Address Hotels + Resorts, Emaar Properties’ hospitality arm, has recently expanded its portfolio to 10 properties with the launch of the new hotel and serviced apartments in Downtown Dubai. “Over the past 12 months, we have recorded tremendous growth across all our properties in Dubai […] led by an increase in tourism in the city and its burgeoning hospitality industry, a trend that we believe is likely to sustain momentum,” suggested Philippe Zuber, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group, further disclosing that the company’s new project portfolio includes The Address Residence The BLVD, The Address Residence Fountain Views I and II, and The Address Residence Sky View, all in Downtown Dubai. As Naeem Darkazally, vice president, sales and marketing, Middle East and Africa, Millennium & Copthorne, highlighted, Dubai’s positioning as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for shopping has elevated the traditionally lower summer performance indicators close to those of the winter seasons. “Millennium Executive Apartments will open in Dubai later in 2014 and be the company’s first entry into the competitive extended stay market in the city,” disclosed Darkazally. These developments are being empowered by the exponential development of Dubai’s aviation sector, driven by Emirates and flydubai’s fast-paced expansion. Being one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Emirates is ideally positioned to carry the majority of global visitors to Dubai. The airline, which currently flies to 135 destinations in 76 countries, continues to invest heavily in its future and has currently NOVEMBER 2013

UAE

Downtown Dubai

188 wide-bodied aircraft on order, worth more than USD71 billion along with 53 Airbus A380 on order. During the 2012-13 financial year, which was Emirates Group’s 25th consecutive year of profit and companywide growth, the airline carried over 39 million passengers, marking an impressive 16 percent year-on-

NOVEMBER 2013

year increase, and in January the airline inaugurated the world’s only dedicated purpose-built A380 Concouse at Dubai International, which can handle 20 aircraft at a time. The increased air traffic is also reflected in Dubai Duty Free’s business performance with USD1.14 bil-

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lion worth of sales recorded in the first eight months of the year, representing a 12 percent year-on-year increase and signalling an excellent prospect for the operation’s 30th year, as Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman, Dubai Duty Free, noted, further revealing that since opening its doors in 1983, the operation has seen year-on-year growth with sales doubling six times since then from USD20 million to an anticipated USD1.8 billion this year. In fact, Dubai’s tourism industry is working towards realising the destination’s ambitious vision and welcome 20 million visitors by 2020. “According to MasterCard’s latest Global Destination Cities Index, Dubai is set to be the seventh most popular destination city with 9.89 million international overnight visitors,” pointed out Svetozar Kujic, marketing and communication manager, TI’ME Hotels. “Dubai is a world recognised brand, and has gained a great reputation. This, along with the clear vision will entice more travellers to come and experience the brand Dubai and will also bring more repeat visitors,” concurred Tarek Elsherif, managing director, Khalidia Mourouj Hotel Apartments. “I believe that there is no one in the world who does not wish to be in Dubai for a vacation, shopping or even living here.” 

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Ras Al Khaimah Since its inauguration in May 2011, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA)’s main goal has been to double visitor numbers from just 600,000 in 2010 to 1.2 million by the end of this year, and considering the latest developments, the emirate is firmly on track to achieve its objectives.

Ras Al Khaimah Beach

 Rita Kasziba writes

s Khalid Motik, director, Ras Al Khaimah TDA, revealed, between January and August, the emirate hosted a total of 723,852 guests, and the authority remains confident that visitor numbers will hit the targeted 1.2 million mark by the end of the year. “Since Ras Al Khaimah TDA’s establishment […], the story of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector has been one of consistently strong growth with the emirate outstripping targets for visitor numbers year-on-year and attracting investment from major international hotel brands,” stated Motik, adding that with the destination’s tourism offering continuously evolving, engineered also by Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality Group, the emirate is now fast establishing itself globally as a premium luxury tourism destination, boasting worldclass hotels, spas, golf clubs and restaurants, and the recent opening of the 346-room Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, which marked the luxury brand’s debut in the UAE, has been an important milestone in this progress, shifting the emirate’s image from affordable towards premium luxury. In fact, the destination’s hospitality industry has come a long way since Ras Al Khaimah Hotel’s opening in 1971. The 90-unit property, considered one of the oldest hotels in the UAE, has undergone major upgrades under the new management to comply

with the heightened expectations of the emirate’s visitors, as Aselo Moncera, sales and marketing manager, Ras Al Khaimah Hotel by Hansa Hotels Management, explained. In order to accommodate the anticipated growth in demand, the authority aims to further expand the emirate’s room inventory from 3,000 rooms in 2011 to 10,000 rooms by 2016, and with four new hotels and resorts due to open within the next 10 months, adding over 1,700 keys to the room inventory, which currently provides 3,293 units within 16 establishments, Ras Al Khaimah is well on its way to meet targets. Set to welcome its first guests before the end of the year, Marjan Island Resort & Spa will feature 303 rooms, 155 vacation suites, eight food and beverage outlets, while amenities will include a 1.7km beachfront boardwalk, themed children game centre, beach club, distinct holistic spa, four swimming pools, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and a ballroom, among others. “Located on Al Marjan Island, with inspiring views of the Arabian Gulf, Marjan Island Resort & Spa will be the first and only destination that offers the combination of true Arabian hospitality and wellness in the UAE, and it is set to become the newest destination and the most discerning resort attraction in Ras Al Khaimah,” asserted Roger Tannous, general manager, Marjan Island Resort & Spa. Slated for opening on February 1, 2014, Rixos Bab Al Bahr Hotel, hailed as the UAE’s first all inclusive re-

Gazelle

sort of this magnitude, will comprise three pyramidshaped buildings offering a total of 655 rooms and suites, 14 outlets and specialty restaurants, further to a ballroom, night club, spa, three swimming pools and the famous Bab Al Bahr entertainment square, as Haytham Omar, general manager, Rixos Bab Al Bahr Hotel, revealed. “Ras Al Khaimah has a lot of potential to compete with other leisure destinations,” stated Omar, noting that within a short period of time, the emirate’s room inventory has doubled, and Rixos Hotels takes great pride in pioneering the ultra all-inclusive concept to the UAE. Meanwhile, as Ali Kasapbashi, group general manager, Bin Majid Group, revealed, Santorini Hotel & Residences is expected to be operational between the second and third quarter of 2014, and will feature 350-400 rooms as opposed to 230 keys initially planned, further expanding the company’s portfolio in the emirate that already includes four hotels. These properties will join the upcoming 485-key DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa on Marjan Island, the first man-made island project in Ras Al Khaimah, that will add over 19km of waterfront to the emirate. Spanning a total area of 2.8 million m2, Al Marjan Island is envisioned to define the new face of the emirate and set the standard for its future developments. Composed of a cluster of four coral-shaped islands, the project is intent to create a string of resort destination islands, big enough for world-class  NOVEMBER 2013

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beach resort hotels yet small enough that guests do not lose sight of the water, thus ensuring the genuine island feel, as Michael Hernandez, CEO, Al Marjan Island, explained. “Al Marjan Island will enhance the beach resort experience with the concentration of amenities, including marinas, a waterfront promenade corniche, public parks and trails, world-class hospitality, retail

tre, and more retail and food and beverage outlets. Meanwhile, works are soon expected to begin on Al Hamra Marina’s new boardwalk and the additional expansion of the restaurants which is expected later this year. Furthermore, there are also plans to develop Marina Square, a diverse community complex which will include a supermarket, clinic, shops and other community amenities.

Traditional Dance

and entertainment precincts, as well as stunning waterfront residential properties,” asserted Hernandez revealing that besides the soon-to-open four hotels, a number of new projects, that have not been publicly announced yet, will break ground in 2014, while construction works are also set to begin on the Gateway Village at the entrance as well as on the public marina, among others. “Besides the A-credit rating of the emirate, there are many value propositions for investors here on Al Marjan Island, including the fact that the land is offered as 100 percent freehold with title deed, the local resort hospitality market is operating at an annualised 75 percent occupancy, development costs are a fraction of Dubai or Abu Dhabi and Al Marjan Island [company] is building a staff accommodation complex […]. The size of the island also allows for properties to maximise sea views therefore maximising the value proposition to investors,” highlighted Hernandez, further disclosing that the company is also in the process of launching a large resort retreat project in the mountains overlooking Ras Al Khaimah. Elsewhere in the emirate, the 2.3 million m2 Al Hamra Village is a fully integrated luxury community, featuring a plethora of hospitality and leisure attractions, including a championship golf course, Al Hamra Golf Club. As Barry Ebrahimy, head of sales and marketing, Al Hamra Real Estate Development, revealed, development on the village’s latest luxurious villa project is in the final design stages, and upon completion, it will feature 150 exclusive villas, while Al Hamra Mall continues to expand with new cinemas, a family entertainment cen-

FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE To accommodate the projected growth in visitor volumes over the coming years, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) International Airport continues to upgrade both the hardware and software of the airport which, as Mohammed Qazi, commercial and financial director, RAK Airport, informed, welcomed more than 250,000 passengers in the first eight months of the year. “RAK Airport is a growing and flexible airport with a lot of opportunities across the board. We are only 45 minutes from Dubai and have zero slot restriction,” highlighted Qazi. “There are a number of unique selling points that RAK boasts, including but not limited to availability of landing slots, economical and supportive packages for the airlines, operational efficiency due to the small size of the airport, quick aircraft turnarounds, world-class resorts and affordable luxury, dedicated and experienced management team, and a robust and dynamic strategy.” Over the past months, the airport has introduced an array of upgrades and special features, such as a new baggage handling system, increased number of check-in desks, refurbished departure check-in hall, new and improved duty-free offers, a new operational IT platform, and an aviation security training programme, while various initiatives have begun to pay rich dividends, including aircraft recycling, maintenance, repair and overhaul, inflight catering, training, as well as charter and cargo operations. The airport’s developments come at a time when flag-carrier, RAK Airways aims to expand its network to 40 destinations by 2015. The airline, which transported 300,000 passengers in 2012, and recorded a

40 percent year-on-year rise in passenger volumes in the first half of this year, has over the past months increased frequencies on a number of routes and inaugurated new services to Amman as well as Islamabad, in a bid to diversify travel options to the emirate, whether is it for business, tourism or medical purposes. In fact, medical tourism is considered a propitious sector for the emirate, as Sushmit Rana, head of marketing, RAK Hospital, noted, adding that to position Ras Al Khaimah on the global map of tourism, excellent healthcare infrastructure is crucial. Rana, who described the emirate as the UAE’s “best kept secret”, supported that while the UAE’s infrastructure is on par with European and Western standards, it is only a short flight from most of the European, African and Middle Eastern countries, offering an ideal alternative for patients, with RAK Hospital offering a complete spectrum of health care services under one roof. To realise Ras Al Khaimah’s vision for the mutual benefit of all, the emirate’s stakeholders are working in close partnership, as Hani Chahwan, director of sales and marketing, Golden Tulip Khatt Springs, exemplified. “We are working closely with our partners like RAK Airways which expands services to several destinations […]. We have been working hand-in-hand with them and will continue to cater to their needs and extend our services to their passengers,” asserted Chahwan, adding that the management also cooperates with Iceland Waterpark, Tower Links Golf Club, and, of course Ras Al Khaimah TDA.

Flamingos

Speaking about the future key areas of focus, Motik revealed that the authority will lay great emphasis on profiling the newly opened Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, which is expected to be a major draw for luxury travellers, while also intensifying its efforts to expand the emirate’s source markets and increase the destination’s brand awareness outside of its traditional international source markets, thus the authority’s participation in a growing number of exhibitions and events.  NOVEMBER 2013

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UAE  Mario Hajiloizis writes

onstantly striving to capitalise on its pristine coastline, with the success of its tourism and hospitality industry, Fujairah represents one of the smallest emirates with some of the most exciting investment opportunities. Undoubtedly, amongst these is that of an USD817 million resort entitled ‘Al Fujairah Paradise,

Fujairah As the only emirate with a coastline on both the Oman Gulf and the Arabian Gulf, Fujairah has long been blessed with uniqueness.

opening a new property of their own, namely, Fairmont Fujairah. Located on the east coast with views of the Oman Gulf, and against the backdrop of the historic Hajar Mountains, the property will consist of a 194room hotel with 13 branded residences, dedicated meeting facilities, a Willow Stream Spa and a marina. “Fairmont Fujairah will bring luxury beachside resorts to visitors, along with five-star dining and spa facilities for guests,” stated Sami Nasser, senior vice president, operations, Middle East, Africa and India, FRHI. ESTABLISHED QUALITY

Fujairah's Coastline

planned to be located adjacent to Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, with around 1,000 five-star villas as well a 250-room five-star hotel, and a shopping mall. Additionally, other notable projects which are also in the pipeline include InterContinental Fujairah Resort, ibis Fujairah Town Centre, and Novotel Fujairah Town Centre. Millennium Hotel Fujairah, scheduled to open in the second half of 2014, is also amongst the world-renowned brands set to establish themselves within the emirate. Connected to Fujairah Mall, the 22-storey property has been designed to feature 221 rooms, and will contain a number of food and beverage outlets; a health club comprising a swimming pool, sauna, gymnasium, steam room and massage facilities; a beauty salon; and a state-of-the-art business centre with an executive lounge and a range of meeting rooms. “In recent years we have seen significant investment and economic development within Fujairah,” outlined Ramsay Rankoussi, associate director, development and asset management, Middle East and Africa, Millennium & Copthorne. “Projects such as the completion of the Abu Dhabi Fujairah Oil Pipeline and the expansion of the seaport have established greater trade links both within the UAE and internationally,” continued Rankoussi. “Additionally, the creation of the Fujairah Free Zone, combined with improved NOVEMBER 2013

access to major shipping and air travel routes has developed Fujairah as a recognised commercial hub.” Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI) has also recognised this and in 2014 they too will be

Currently operating hotels, which are eagerly anticipating the new properties and positive competition, have also experienced new developments of their own. Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah has recently launched a new bar/nightclub called Heatwave with Janet Fitzner, general manager, Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah, commenting, “As a leisure resort, our guests are expecting a variety of entertainment and recreation activities. During the season, Heatwave will be hosting live DJ performances and various types of guest animations. We are also currently working on a programme covering after-dinner entertainment as well as fitness and spa packages for the winter season.” Meanwhile, Hossam Kamal, general manager, Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, revealed, “We are in a continuous endeavour to upgrade our product for the comfort of our guests. We recently renovated our gymnasium, Bodylines, with state-of-the-art facilities and relocated it to a larger space with a view of the beautiful Hajar Mountains.” Equally striving to ensure that guests have an optimum experience, Joseph Aboudib, general manager, Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort, outlined that the property’s chalets have been renovated and that a new reception has been built. Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments has also opened a new reception, designing it to be more elegant and spacious with Imran Siddiqui, general manager, Emirates Springs Hotel Apartments, stating that it is more visible to the guests with it now facing the main street. Last, but by no means least, Mohamed Fekry, general manger, Concorde by Mourouj Fujairah, revealed that his property had been selected as Fujairah’s official hotel to host the young athletes competing at the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Fujairah Roundabout

With global events placing Fujairah in the spotlight, naturally an increase of travel into the emirate takes place and Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Jet is in the position to capitalise as it currently operates an Embraer 145 aircraft twice a week to Fujairah International Airport from Al Bateen Executive Airport. Moreover, with more events and developments on the horizon, upcoming new hotels, a diverse portfolio of hotels currently in operation, and more, exciting times lie ahead for Fujairah’s tourism industry. 

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Sharjah

Heart of Sharjah Project

With the emirate heavily investing in its tourism and hospitality industry and with a number of ambitious projects underway, Sharjah is set to experience a period of dramatic and exciting changes in the coming months and years.  Rita Kasziba writes

s H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, director general, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), attested, the emirate has witnessed remarkable and all-round growth over the past years leading to a notable surge in both international visitor numbers and investments. “In 2012, Sharjah received more than 1.7 million international tourists, registering a heartening 11 percent growth over 2011. In the first half of the [current] year, the emirate received more than 951,000 tourists, which suggests a significant overall expected increase in tourist numbers this year,” indicated Al Midfa, noting that the recent growth has been spurred by zealous efforts of both the public and government sectors and industry partners. “The authority has been consistently showcasing Sharjah’s authentic Arabian tourism experience in the world tourism market by participating in all major events and exhibitions of the industry. Besides, in the past few months and years we have conducted successful Sharjah roadshows in the Arab world and across Europe and Asia,” elaborated Al Midfa, adding that the roaster of events organised in the emirate, such as the Sharjah Light Festival, Sharjah Water Festival, and the UIM H2O F1 World Championship – Sharjah Grand Prix, attracting 200,000 visitors, have played a vital part in raising the destination’s profile.

As Al Midfa pinpointed, the progress has been in sync with the string of investments in the tourism and hospitality sector, launched by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), which are set to further enrich the emirate’s credentials. In fact, since its establishment in 2009, Shurooq has launched a number of ground-breaking projects in line with its aim to achieve social, cultural, environmental and economic development by exploiting the emirate’s business and investment potential, with Al Qasba or the Al Majaz Waterfront having already gained immerse popularity and global recognition. “Work on the first of Heart of Sharjah’s five phases is progressing well, with the focus currently on the archaeological excavations of Bank Street,” informed H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq, adding that Al Bait Hotel's development, which will form part of the Heart of Sharjah development, is also well underway with ground works on the AED100 million (USD27.2 million) five-star luxury project, hailed as the region’s first traditional Emirati hotel, having already commenced. Spreading over almost 10,000m2, the hotel will comprise 54 rooms and suites, and is set for completion between December 2014 and January 2015. Construction works have also began on the Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan, while the development of Al Hisn Island in Dibba Al Hisn, which will feature a water canal, a host of leisure and entertainment facilities and amenities among others, is currently in its initial phase, Al Sarkal revealed. Billed as one of the largest ecotourism undertakings in the region, the 25,000ha Mleiha Development

Camel

Project, a joint venture between Shurooq and Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority, which will be home to various hotels and resorts, along with an array of food and beverage outlets, is being developed in two phases with the first one slated for completion by the end of 2014. With all these developments, Sharjah’s room inventory is set to expand from 9,000 units to around 12,000-15,000 keys over the course of the next three years, according to Al Midfa, who added, “All this is sure to transform the emirate’s tourism landscape bringing more international visitors and investors [to Sharjah]. Exciting times are ahead which throw up great opportunities as well as challenges before us."

Al Qasba

GAINING TRACTION Despite the growing supply, Sharjah’s 103 hotel establishments reported an average occupancy of 71 percent for the first half of the year, marking a three percent year-on-year increase, triggered by a nine percent rise in guest volumes and a seven percent NOVEMBER 2013

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UAE growth in room nights, reflecting the emirate’s growing appeal to leisure and business travellers alike. Europeans once again contributed the lion’s share, closely followed by the GCC and Asian markets, in line with the visitor patterns of recent years. “We have strong demand from the GCC and the other emirates within the UAE [and] we are also seeing a spike in visitor numbers from Europe, Russia, and the wider CIS region, thanks to the increasing air links,” commented Richard Gosling, general manager, Hilton Sharjah. In fact, since the beginning of this year, Air Arabia launched eight new services, bringing the total route network to 88 destinations from three operating hubs, one of them being Sharjah. “Air Arabia served over three million passengers during the first half of the year, a 16 percent increase over the same period in 2012,” revealed Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, further informing that seat load factor stood at 82 percent, while net profits rose 17 percent to AED134 million (USD36.5 million). “Aviation is one of the main thriving sectors in Sharjah’s economy, and the significant growth that the emirate’s aviation sector has witnessed over the past few years signal that Sharjah is on the right track for aviation and tourism development. The rapid growth of Sharjah’s aviation industry was of course partly spearheaded by Air Arabia’s decade long operations as the region’s first low-cost carrier,” stated Ali. In response to the growing demand, the airline, which currently operates more than 260 flights per week, has over the past months increased frequencies on various routes and introduced a number of new services, primarily within the Middle East region. “Although our feeder market is the CIS, this summer we witnessed huge influx of tourists from the GCC, in particular from Saudi Arabia,” corroborated Ghulam Sajjad, head of sales, Coral Beach Resort. The emirate’s participation, through SCTDA and Shurooq, in leading international exhibitions and events, has also helped penetrate new markets and open up new business channels, ultimately leading to higher hotel performance indicators, Mohamed Saad, assistant director of sales, Ramada Plaza Jumeirah Beach Residence and Ramada Sharjah, explicated, further revealing that while the European and CIS markets also remain on the hoteliers’ radar, the GCC and Middle Eastern markets have shown visible increases all year-round. According to Al Sarkal, every market has significant potential, albeit potential in different formats, thus Shurooq remains meticulous in tailor-making its regional and oversees activities which revolve around four key areas, namely travel and leisure, logistics and transportation, healthcare, and environment, and which saw the authority showcasing the emirate in Germany, Switzerland, Qatar, India, Russia, France, Korea, and most recently the US and Singapore, in the past few months, with the next stop being the World Travel Market in the UK. The destination’s steady growth over the past years has also helped attract various events and NOVEMBER 2013

shows to the emirate and establish its presence on the global exhibitions map. “We are able to take advantage of several factors that range from a growing economy, buoyed by re-

Seawings Plane in Sharjah

cent announcements of some big-ticket projects, a stable political and social atmosphere, and the ex-

Rijhwani, director of sales and marketing, Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah, praising the authorities’ vigorous endeavours, and conveying a message to potential visitors (and investors) to look at Sharjah distinctively and not as an off-shoot to accommodation in Dubai. “Sharjah over the years has developed tremendously with its own features, touristic destinations and is becoming a specific choice for individuals and groups to stay,” added Rijhwani. As Gosling also recited, Sharjah has carved out a strong and distinct identity of its own, one that is anchored in its rich heritage and cultural sites, attracting a diverse clientele. “The emirate has recognised that visitors, leisure and business tourist alike, are interested in the Emirati culture and through The Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communications has created “a window to understanding” the lifestyle and cultural learning of the local population. Sharjah’s strength in the sphere has been evidenced by the emirate being named the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014 in recognition of its remarkable contributions in preserving, promoting, and disseminating culture at local, Arab and Islamic levels and will thereafter assume the title of Capital

Kalba Mangrove

pansion carried out at the centre through which we added some 10,000m2 of exhibition space,” expounded Saif Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, adding that most of the venue’s exhibitions have also been expanded with some of these featuring now a new component, or wider reach and scope. “It is important to note that even during the difficult times post the global financial slowdown, we never discontinued any of our shows, instead we repositioned them with great success,” emphasised Al Midfa saying that hosting The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s Middle East and Africa regional office further accentuates the centre’s international standing, and the management is also looking at tie-ups and collaborations with regional and international entities to further expand the existing shows and add new ones to the calendar. THE IDENTITY “Sharjah is the emirate of contrasts,” supported Kamal

of Arab Tourism in 2015,” enlightened Gosling, noting that at the same time, Sharjah is also known to be one of the most economically diverse cities in the entire region with a growing demand for quality five-star establishments. Echoing similar views, Sajjad, described cultural tourism as the main aliment in Sharjah’s tourism sector, which has been successfully portrayed and positioned by SCTDA on the global stage, while its unique location, has also contributed to a more diverse tourism product. According to Al Sarkal, identifying the destination’s very own unique identity which distinguishes it more from the other emirates and other regional destinations, has been crucial to its uninterrupted development. “No matter what sector of business or enterprises you might be engaged in, effective branding is one of the most important undertakings, which is why Sharjah is constantly pushing to showcase its unique features, of which there are many,” concluded Al Sarkal. 

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Umm al-Quwain  Mario Hajiloizis writes With Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah also flanking each side of the emirate, spanning just 750km2, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'allah, Umm al-Quwain’s ruler, has by no means basked in the shadows of these ‘better-known’ emirates. Despite its small surface, Umm al-Quwain boasts many historical landmarks such as an old fort, Al Dour pre-Islamic site, islands and sandy beaches which are surrounded by dense mangrove forests. According to Ghassan El Kesti, park manager, Dreamland Aqua Park, the emirate is still able to provide unique experiences for its visitors. “It is quieter compared to Sharjah and Dubai,” he said, adding that, “If tourists are looking for a quieter and more relaxing weekend or holiday, they can spend it here. There is no need to hassle oneself in long queues, traffic jams and exorbitant prices of leisure.” Rajan Harikrishnan, resident manager, Barracuda Beach Resort, echoed El Kesti’s statements, outlining, “Being one of the oldest emirates, it is less known to those outside of the UAE, although it has a large tourist potential which needs to be exploited.” 

Ajman Considered to be the smallest of the seven emirates, Ajman has taken great strides to continuously grow its tourism product.

Ajman Palace

 Mario Hajiloizis writes

deally located at the centre of the UAE, Ajman has positioned itself as an attractive destination for tourism investment, with state-of-the-art infrastructure currently available, while ambitious plans have additionally been proposed. Arguably, the most ambitious plan to date is that of Ajman International Airport. Proving to be quite a challenging project to conclude, the Ajman Government is still nevertheless pressing ahead as, once completed, the airport will create over 28,000 new jobs, serve at least one million passengers a year and handle a minimum of 400,000 tonnes of cargo. Estimated to be completed by the first quarter of 2015, the airport is expected to cost AED12.7 billion (USD3.5 billion) and cover a total area of 5.6 million m2, also including residential buildings, hotels, restaurants, and shopping centres. Other large scale development plans for the emirate include that of Al Zorah Development Company which has revealed that the first phase of Al Zorah Resorts, which comprises a theme park, pedestrian walkway and beach club, will be completed by summer of 2015. Stretching over an area of more than 100,000m², the resort is expected to have a 290m waterfront and over 154 rooms, suites and villas, in addition to restaurants, cafes, shops, swimming pools, entertainment centres, a spa and 18-hole golf course. DIVERSE OPTIONS In line with ensuring that Ajman’s tourism product caters to a variety of markets, Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) inaugurated the world’s second largest youth hostel. With a 790-bed capacity, Camel Campus has a full array of activities that range from desert safaris, sandboard surfing scuba diving, cultural tours, sports and gym facilities, a Roman-style amphitheatre, and more. Each room is designed to house four to six people and, according to management, the campus will introduce the world’s largest shisha lounge.

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VISIT “Hostels are the fastest growing sector of hospitality around the world,” commented Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager, ATDD. “Even during the recent 2008 economic crisis many hostels reported increased occupancy numbers in comparison to hotel numbers that have fallen significantly in Europe and America.” Meanwhile, focussing on the more upscale options, Al Nuaimi highlighted that two new five-star hotels are also set to open, namely Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort on December 15, 2013 and Fairmont Ajman in the second quarter of 2014. Fairmont Ajman will be prominently situated on the Corniche and will feature 252 guestrooms and suites, including two penthouses. Dining options will include an all-day outlet, with a multi-kitchen format and two private rooms, which will transform into an à la carte restaurant at night, a lobby lounge and a contemporary eatery offering Turkish cuisine, with an adjoining cocktail bar, as well as a shisha terrace and poolside bar. The hotel will also offer 2,000m2 of indoor function space as well as outdoor facilities. “The location of unspoiled, sandy beaches is ideal for the leisure and incentive traveller,” outlined Sami Nasser, senior vice president, operations, Middle East, Africa and India, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. “In addition, the hotel is close to Ajman city centre, ensuring that it is centrally positioned as the city continues to grow.” POPULAR MARKETS Contributing to this rapid growth, The Ajman Palace will be marking its one year anniversary this December. While the hotel has purposely limited the number of guests it has been receiving, gradually the number of rooms has been increased to 254 keys. “Starting from the pre-opening, we have focused on key feeder markets and still continue doing so,” stated Christian Huschka, executive assistant manager, The Ajman Palace, adding that Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait have been the most popular thus far. In line with this strategy, Tulip Inn Royal Suites Ajman has additionally witnessed an increase in the CIS market, mainly Russia. “Marketing strategies we have include TV commercials, advertisements, participation within Russian magazines and email marketing,” remarked Arun Kumar, group general manager, Tulip Inn Royal Suites Ajman. “Compared to 2012 we have received better business volumes in 2013 from the CIS market. Similarly we started receiving bookings for 2014 from the CIS market and, as a result, the forecast is better. We have also signed new contracts with new business partners which has given a boost to new business and our revenue has been increased,” continued Kumar. Additionally, Kumar expressed his appreciation for ATDD which has been participating at major travel shows taking place all over in Russia, Europe and Asia, hoping that this will enlighten the emirate more globally as a great tourist destination to visit. NOVEMBER 2013

Similarly, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman welcomes more guests from the CIS countries than any other. “Since 2012 our share of the CIS market has tremendously

world-renowned hotel brands set to open, a much anticipated state-of-the-art airport on the way, and a productive tourism department constantly striving to

Fairmont Ajman

increased in Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman as well as the recently opened Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman,” confirmed Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman. “On the other hand, the German market is very proving to be very steady contributing an impressive 25 percent of our leisure business, which is recorded as the same as last year's results,” he continued, further adding that, “In general, we are going to be the leading hotel in the northern emirates in terms of rooms booking once again. In total we had 105,000 room nights booked in 2012, and our 2013 forecast is projecting a total of 125,000 room nights, which will be the highest in the northern emirates again.” Growth has been the key word heard numerous times throughout the emirate’s ever evolving tourism industry. With numerous large, modern and impressive, developments which are currently in the pipeline, and with new upcoming

firmly position Ajman higher on the Middle East tourism map, there is much more growth to come. 

EXPLORE

Iran

Beam of Light Levied by international sanctions which have hurt the country’s economy and image in the past years, Iran looks into the future craving for better days, especially after the newly-elected president assured of an open door policy.

With a network of around 60 destinations, the airline recently restored Rome to its network, while Farhad Parvaresh, chairman, lran Air, had announced that the two-year-old privatisation process is nearing completion, with more than 55 percent of the company expected to be sold to two or three parties. Mahan Air is another local airline which according to Hossein Hosseini, director of marketing and route development, Mahan Air, has experienced a five percent increase year-on-year for the first quarter, with China and Malaysia being the two most successful final destinations. Commenting on challenges faced with regards to air connectivity, Hosseini said, “As with other industries, security issues remain the number one challenge for us as this limits the arrival - departure window as we are only able to operate to Southern Iraq destinations during day time hours.” HOPE

Persepolis Ruins

 Maria Kazeli

writes

“I

IRAN IN BRIEF Capital: Tehran

Heavily depending on political factors, Iran’s future in tourism looks positive. Azam said that with the new president’s administration, hopefully the total stability for the country will improve significantly and good results will appear, like improving of the tourism industry in all of its aspects. Tolouee added that the country may not have an established tourism infrastructure like France or Maldives, but its diversity, authenticity and friendly people make it a competitor in the Middle East market. “We are very optimistic about Iran’s future of the tourism industry, particularly with our new president who has an open door policy and is trying to change the negative perception of Iran portrayed by the media. I am positive that soon Iran will be a tourism hub in the Middle East. The uniqueness of Iran is not just limited to ancient ruins of Persepolis or beautiful mosques in Isfahan. It has

Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)

ran may not be at the top of everyone’s ‘places to visit’ list but it has a certain appeal to seasoned travellers who seek adventure [out of ] curiosity after visiting all the famous places or touristic tracks in the world,” remarked Abbas Tolouee, international business manager, Incredible Iran, a member of Gardeshgaran Group, which is based in Shiraz and has been active in the tourism industry for more than 16 years. Euromonitor International’s latest report on Iran substantiates that the destination recently witnessed continuous positive growth in tourism arrivals, as the country is becoming more attractive to tourists because it is more affordable, and is drawing an increasing number of leisure tourists from around the entire region.

for the agency, although a few more countries have joined its list of target markets, surprisingly enough the US is a big feeder, followed by Italy, Australia and Spain. The same view was expressed by Saeed Azam, marketing manager, Iran Doostan Tours, who said that for the past decade Europe and Spain were big segments, while Asia and specifically China are rising dynamically since September 2011. Led by religious purposes, the majority of incoming visitors are religious travellers, with the main source countries for pilgrimage being Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, according to Euromonitor International.

MARKETING

FLYING HIGH

Tolouee argued that Iran’s key sources are Germanspeaking countries probably due to traditional business ties and relations, and local architecture which is very popular with those tourists. He added that

Statistics by the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization show that Iran Air, the country’s flag carrier, offered 29,195 domestic flights and 5,423 international flights in 2012, occupying the first place nationwide.

Language: Persian

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz

nomad tribes, modern ski resorts, white sand beaches to the south, rain forests to the north, and amazing deserts and oases to the east,” he concluded.  NOVEMBER 2013

ONSITE

 Maria Kazeli

writes

n the past few years Iraq has given emphasis to developing its tourism potential, proved by the launch of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, responsible for tourism planning and management, in 2012. Data shows that incoming tourists to the country for 2011 reached 1.51 million, while the largest feeder market was Iran, whose nationals enter Iraq for religious reasons. A significant increase was also noted for the next largest markets, Pakistan and India. For the area of Kurdistan, visitors amounted to two million in 2012, according to figures provided by the region’s general board of tourism, which aims to soon implement a tourism master plan, identifying more than 400 locations for launching tourism projects including different types of tourism, while also improving tourism zones in relation to infrastructure, accommodation, and tourist activities. At the same time the plan seeks to approach specific strategic goals by 2015, including increasing the number of tourists to four million, hotel rooms to 30,000, tourism investment to USD4 billion and raising the annual tourism income to USD1.5 billion. Thomas Touma, general manager, Erbil Rotana, proudly confirmed, “The government has plans to further develop these touristic areas, its infrastructure in addition to many other activities since Erbil has been named the 2014 Arab Tourism Capital. The city is promised to host a range of [leisure] activities [...] to entertain an anticipated three million visitors in 2014 in addition to promising to hold major medical, oil and gas, cultural and other professional events.”

Iraq

Potential Ahead Iraq’s government is struggling to develop a national tourism strategy with projects that show strong will and commitment towards tourism, a fact which led a large number of global names to enter the Iraqi travel accommodation category, boosting tourism’s dynamic in the country.

our guests are business travellers [...].” Corporate visitors are the main segment for Erbil Rotana, with business tourism being on the rise after major developments in the city, as Touma suggested. “Since the hotel opening, we have seen stability in terms of occupancy and influx of tourists because it has been directly related to Erbil’s developments and opportunities. [...] Our key market remains to be Iraq itself given the domestic business and leisure travellers. Our second feeder markets are the US, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey,” he continued. Cristal Hotels & Resorts realised the country’s prospects as it was the first international hotel operator to enter in Baghdad in over 20 years with Cristal Grand Ishtar Hotel, while the company’s expansion plans include Cristal Erbil Hotel, set to open this month and Cristal Grand Erbil Hotel scheduled for 2015. Kamal Fakhoury, chief operating officer, Cristal Hotels & Resorts, elaborated that the decision to invest in Iraq was triggered by the country’s potential, while the company has huge expectations as Iraq has all the ingredients to become one of the biggest tourism destinations in the region. Another major brand which entered Iraq recently was Wyndham Hotel group which opened the newlybuilt 71-room Ramada Sulaymaniyah Salim Street, which features 58 guest rooms and 13 suites, ranging from 44 to 135m2. Additionally, in August Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide signed an agreement with Mase, a company managed by Brilliant Role Group, to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dohuk. Scheduled to debut in early 2014, Sheraton Dohuk Hotel will be the first of four new Starwood Hotels & Resorts to open in Iraq after 20 years, and will be the first internationally-branded hotel in the emerging city.

IMPROVED OFFERING AIR LINKS Evel Akram, general manager, Erbil Tower Hotel, confirmed that in relation to the Iraqi Kurdistan numbers of tourists are increasing day after day, especially during holidays and events. “In terms of tourism there is a

Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil

IRAQ IN BRIEF Capital: Baghdad Currency: Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Language: Arabic, Kurdish

Highcrest Hotel

large and fast development and we hope for the better in the near future,” he added. Confirming that the region’s main markets are neighbouring countries, as well as Arab business travellers, Rozh Mutabchi, general manager, Highcrest Hotel, said that the Kurdistan region of Iraq has developed tremendously since the history of Iraq war, it is much securer and more stable, however it is still not to an international standard for tourists. She supported, “Of course five-star hotels are opening up in every corner of the city, but the question is what type of travellers is staying in these hotels. 80 percent of

The country’s flag carrier, Iraqi Airways, is completing major steps this year following its return to the UK after 23 years, and the delivery of a brand new Boeing 737-800, the first of 30 that the airline ordered in 2008. “The next-generation 737-800 will play a key role in helping us modernise our fleet and integrate into the regional and international commercial aviation system,” commented H.E. Hadi Al Ameri, minister of transportation, Iraq. In the meantime, Andrew Jones, advisor, Erbil International Airport, said that in 2012 passengers using the facility increased by 53 percent year-on-year due to the introduction of new airlines and routes, including Emirates, Air Arabia, Mahan Air, and Pegasus Airlines. He added that the latest launches from the airport included local airline Zagrosjet in early October with destinations to Beirut, Amman, Ankara and Copenhagen. According to Krekar Gardi, commercial director, Zagrosjet, by 2014 the carrier will commence flights to Jeddah for Muslim pilgrims, while several other destinations in Europe, like Oslo, Amsterdam, and Munich will follow.  NOVEMBER 2013

TOUR

India

Vibrant Growth

Taj Mahal, Agra

Being a booming industry, tourism contributes 6.23 percent to India’s GDP and almost nine percent to the total employment, while the country is positioned 41st in the world rankings as per foreign tourism arrivals.  Maria Kazeli

writes

he World Travel and Tourism Council named India as one of the fastest growing tourism industries for the next 10 to 15 years, as the country offers vast coastline with excellent beaches, rich tropical forests, ancient and majestic monuments, diverse culture, and colourful fairs. Tourism development has always been an integral part of the country’s five year plans aiming to position the industry as a major engine of economic growth and to harness its direct and multiplier effects for employment and poverty eradication, according to a report by the Indian Ministry of Tourism. This tactic has been fruitful as statistics show tourist arrivals to have followed a steady upward path since 2002, with the only exception being 2009. The Ministry of Tourism revealed that for 2012 foreign travellers in India amounted to 6.58 million signalling an increase of 4.3 percent over 2011’s figures, while between January and June this year arrivals reached 3.31 million with a year-on-year growth of 2.6 percent. Similarly, foreign exchange earnings totalled USD17.7 million, presenting a rise of 7.1 percent.

NOVEMBER 2013

EVOLVING PATTERNS “Every year, new hotels are being planned and developed. With foreign direct investment in hospitality in place, global chains are also entering the Indian market and taking hold. As a result, the total inventory is witnessing an aggressive increase, adequate to cater to the incoming tourism as well as domestic,” commented Shagun Sethi, director of sales and marketing, Fairmont Jaipur, suggesting that India’s supply is rather overpowering the demand rate. Citing governmental sources, Priti Chand, vice president, corporate communications and public relations, Zuri Group Global, disagreed however, saying that a shortfall of 150,000 hotel room keys has been identified in the budget sector. Naresh Chandnani, regional director, business development, Indian subcontinent and Maldives, World Hotels, also addressed the same issue observing the lack of three- and four-star quality hotel rooms, while Chand reinforced the argument saying, “The prime focus in the hospitality industry until recently was on the upscale/luxury market. However, the economic conditions have now diverted the emphasis towards branded mid-market and budget hotels.” Detecting this need, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

Diwan i Khas, Red Fort, New Delhi

INDIA IN BRIEF Capital: New Delhi Currency: Indian Rupee (INR) Language: Hindi, English

recently announced the signing of four new hotels in India with three of the properties flagged as Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, the group’s leading mid-market brand. “We are continuing to take the lead in India, and expect to open eight additional hotels there before year end,” said Simon Barlow, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Pinpointing the current trend which prevails in the industry, Chand added that local developers are looking at multinational partnerships and at pairing with strong international brands. “In essence, ‘glocalisation’ or the combination of globalisation and localisation, is the leading principle for international hotel companies striving to succeed in new markets and compete with local, domestic brands,” she remarked. Andrew Harrison, general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, expressed the view that tier one cities are facing oversupply and the current economic and political climate is not helping to stimulate investor confidence. He further added, “Being a seasonal destination, Indian hotels do find themselves empty during the lower season and running high occupancy during the peak periods.” With the New Delhi properties being faced with a similar challenge, Chandnani said that the capital city is a major gateway into India, therefore availability 

TOUR

India

of hotel rooms during high season is always a problem, especially when there are also conferences and exhibitions taking place. Ranjit Kaul, general manager, brands, hotels division, ITC Hotels, reiterated that in the current scenario which demonstrates that demand is actually moving slower than the current supply, there is no inventory shortage. “However, as the global economic situation continues to improve, there will be a required need to increase inventories to be able to cater to the expected increased demand,” he added.

of the world to visit the vibrant capital and witness the heritage and tradition of the ‘pink city’. UK, US, Europe, and Dubai are some of the key markets from where we receive many of the foreign tourists. Business travellers also contribute to the feeder segment as Jaipur has a lot to offer in terms of MICE,” said Sethi. Faced with major challenges like lack of skilled labour, taxation, and insufficient marketing campaigns, India’s tourism industry needs to target new heights and explore new markets, supported Gaurav Sindhwani, director, sales and strategic planning, The Imperial New Delhi, adding, “The other major issues

Charminar, Hyderabad

NEW FOCUS Famous for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, the state of Goa witnessed an increase in visitors from the UAE according to Nikhil Desai, director, department of tourism, Goa Tourism, who is optimistic for the upcoming tourist season and expects a rise in the tourist arrivals from MENA countries. “Goa has good flight connectivity [with airlines] like Air Arabia, Qatar Airways, Air India, which is a good opportunity for us to attract tourists from MENA countries. We want to focus on Goa being the gateway for these travellers,” he said. Desai also explained that the department’s focal point regarding markets is to attract tourists globally, and markets like Australia, New Zealand, US, Russia and UAE seem promising for the coming years. Rajasthan is another popular state which attracted 1.5 million tourists in 2012. Sethi agreed that the state is a leading foreign tourist destination commenting that, “Tourist arrivals to Jaipur have significantly grown in the first half of the year and we are expecting to see a steady rise.” She also elaborated that since its opening, Fairmont Jaipur has received a favourable response which will hopefully grow. “Our main feeder segment would be leisure travellers who come in from all parts

include the visas for the tourist. We have made some headway in making visas more accessible, but the government still has a long way to go in this issue.”

Fairmont Jaipur

However, the authorities have made a significant step towards visa facilitation, which was welcomed by the country’s hospitality players. “The rigid visa rules

that India has had for sometime now is also not helping matters. However, the government has realised that they need to take some urgent steps to increase tourism into the country and [recently] it was announced that visa procedures are being simplified to boost tourism and an additional 40 countries would be added to the list of 13 countries whose nationals can get visa on arrival at the airport,” said Chandnani. OFF TO THE UNKNOWN CAPA – Centre for Aviation estimated that India’s airlines posted a combined loss of USD1.6 billion between April 1, 2012 - March 13, down from approximately USD2.3 billion in 2012. The same source revealed that on the international front an important development was the fact that in FY2013 for the first time a foreign carrier, Emirates, claimed the highest market share for traffic to and from India, while Air India, historically the market leader on international routes was impacted by the grounding of its Boeing 787s for most of the last quarter. Despite the fact that Emirates claims top spot in the Indian aerospace, Etihad Airways recently announced plans for major increase in seats and flights between Abu Dhabi and the Asian destination. By introducing more flights and wide-bodied jets by the end of this year, and with further increases and new routes in 2014, Etihad Airways’ move reflects the growing importance of the Indian market. The belief is shared by Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, who commented on the airline’s launch of four weekly flights between Nagpur and Sharjah, in late October, “This move highlights the growing importance of Nagpur as an integral market for Air Arabia’s operations. Being the first international airline to fly to Nagpur, we aim to maintain a steady expansion and offer better connectivity to our passengers to the UAE,” he said. Following the Indian Cabinet’s approval for foreign airline investment in Indian carriers in September 2012, CAPA - Centre for Aviation predicted that future transactions are likely to be seen by Middle East carriers as a means to leveraging market access. At the same time Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons, a Mumbai-based group, have signed a memorandum of understanding and applied for approval to establish a new carrier in India. An Indian carrier which receives good response is SpiceJet, mainly because of the low-cost model, claimed Priti Dey, assistant manager, corporate communications, SpiceJet. “As per data available [until June], SpiceJet saw an overwhelming [year-on-year] growth of 322 percent in number of passengers and 385 percent growth in number of departures,” Dey added. Commenting on regional performance, she said, “As far as MENA region is concerned, we are currently flying to Dubai, Riyadh, Muscat and Sharjah. We see MENA market as a key growth market despite many operators being present in the area. We have plans to add some more destinations in this region in the coming period.”  NOVEMBER 2013

Medical Travel

EXCLUSIVE

Paving the Way With Middle Eastern health authorities taking great strides to improve infrastructure, in both primary and specialist care, the region is looking at a promising future where both local and incoming patients are to experience all the latest advancements in the healthcare sector.

 Maria Kazeli

writes

he GCC healthcare market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 11 percent to USD43.9 billion by 2015, from an estimated USD25.6 billion in 2010, with the fastest growing markets being Saudi Arabia and UAE, disclosed Hamdan Mohamed Al Murshid, president, Arab Business Club, at the first Annual Health Care Event which was exclusively organised by the company. At the same time an outlook to 2016 by MarketResearch.com concerning the Middle East medical tourism industry, revealed that the sector’s revenue in the region has increased from USD1.24 million in 2006 at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7 percent between 2006 - 2011, while the region is projected to attract 753,500 medical tourists and generate revenue of USD2 billion by 2016. With many countries in GCC, Levant, and North Africa remaining poorly developed in their medical offering, a strong focus has emerged on the lack of quality healthcare in MENA; this according to Dr. Mussaad Al-Razouki, CEO, Kleos Healthcare Corporation, a Kuwaiti company which provides strategic planning for Middle East healthcare entities. Corroborating this view, Renée-Marie Stephano, president, Medical Tourism Association, the global non-profit society for medical tourism, explained that in the next decade, patients in MENA seeking affordable and quality care may be exacerbated by a significant increase in the over-65 population, resulting in a need for advanced medical procedures. “In anticipation of this patient surge, government authorities have targeted new strategies and regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing and developing healthcare infrastructure and, in turn, fuelling greater investment into the medical tourism industry in MENA,” supported Stephano. Also advocating Middle East’s immense growth in the sector, Simon Page, managing director, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, agreed that Middle Eastern health authorities are rapidly improving infrastructure; consequently the region is attracting its own medical tourists to benefit from the quality healthcare provided, and this in addition to the fact that they continue to send their patients abroad for specialist treatment which creates opportunities for all service providers.  NOVEMBER 2013

EXCLUSIVE

According to MarketResearch.com’s report, the countries that attract most of the medical travellers in the region are Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, while UAE is trying to establish itself as a destination for health tourism in the region. HEALTHY INVESTMENT In a recent development, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has chalked out a detailed health chart for the emirate, with the 2013 - 2025 strategy underlining ambitious

Medical Travel

expansion plans and considering customer care to be at the heart of it. While being in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, to provide the population of Dubai and visitors with access to internationally-recognised levels of healthcare, the strategic plan also aims to make the emirate a hub for medical tourism. Commenting on the Dubai health strategy master plan which includes construction of three new hospitals and 40 primary healthcare centres across the geographical areas of the emirate, Essa Al Maidoor, di-

rector general, DHA, said, “The expansion plans have been designed to provide state-of-the-art services to the population of Dubai, as well as visitors who come to the emirate for medical tourism. The expansion plans not only fulfil the main criteria of provision of excellent healthcare facilities and health infrastructure, but also take into consideration landscaping, leisure activities, hotel accommodation for medical tourists, [and] staff accommodation.” Reflecting the emirate’s upgraded status in the medicinal world, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, organisers of the world’s second largest healthcare exhibition, Arab Health, has decided to relocate the International Medical Travel Conference and Exhibition (IMTEC) to Dubai. The event, which took place this year for the first time in Monte Carlo, will be held at Dubai International Convention Centre between March 5 - 6, 2014. CEDARS - Jebel Ali International Hospital adds to Dubai’s rich medical portfolio as it is a multi-specialty facility located in Dubai offering various services such as dermatology, gynaecology, internal medicine, paediatrics, physiotherapy, and much more. Putting emphasis on the human factor, Anne-Susann Becker, deputy managing director, CEDARS - Jebel Ali International Hospital, said, “There are selected hospitals which have the right infrastructure to cater for incoming patients from abroad. But the lack of UAE nationals working in the healthcare industry makes it difficult to establish a cost-efficient healthcare infrastructure.” Commenting on the markets Dubai caters for as a medical hub, Inge Swart, marketing manager, Dubai London Clinic, explained that for outpatient services the facility’s main markets include Dubai and other parts of the UAE, while for general and plastic surgery the main segments are the UAE and surrounding Gulf countries. She added that the clinic has recently signed contracts with agents in the UK and consequently there has been an increase in patients from the UK and European countries. Firm to the belief that Ras Al Khaimah is one of the best-kept secrets of the UAE, Sushmit Rana, head, marketing, RAK Hospital, disclosed that aside the local markets, visitors to the hospital come from West and East Africa, while cardiac and aesthetic surgery are the most popular services offered to MENA patients.  NOVEMBER 2013

WHO'S MOVED

SAMEH SHAWKAT Sameh Shawkat has assumed the position of regional director of sales and marketing for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region at Dusit International. Based in Dubai, Shawkat will focus on building relationships with clients and strengthening the brand’s presence, while also working alongside the development team as the company con-

tinues to expand. Shawkat previously served as regional director of sales for Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Egypt, followed by a lengthy tenure with Hyatt Corporation in Saudi Arabia as regional director of sales, while most recently he worked as executive assistant manager, sales and marketing at Grand Hyatt Doha.

LINDA STEEGER Linda Steeger has been named director of sales and marketing at Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Steeger, who has more than 15 years of experience in the industry, will be working to support the hotel’s sales and marketing activities and will lead her team as they continue to grow in up and coming markets, such as China, Japan, Russia and Brazil. Steeger joined Kempinksi eight years ago as a sales coordinator before becoming sales manager at Hotel Adlon Kempinksi, Berlin. She then moved to Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinksi, Munich where she advanced from assistant director of sales to director of

NOVEMBER 2013

sales and ultimately to director of sales and marketing and essential sales master trainer. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was recently recognised as the ‘Kempinski Director of Sales & Marketing of the year for Europe’.

Steeger will be working to support the hotel's sales and marketing activities and will lead the team

IAN PHILLIPS Ian Phillips has been named general manager at the recently reopened Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa in the UAE. Having spent over 15 years in the industry, Phillips brings a wealth of experience to the hotel. He moves to the UAE from Wales where he served Celtic Manor Resort as rooms division director. Prior to that, he held senior roles

at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and Vittaveli Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives, as well as at Madinat Jumeirah. A graduate of Cornell University’s general managers programme, Phillips is well-known for his high energy and professional approach to leading multinational teams and creating excellent service for guests.

TRAVEL TALK KHALID MOTIK

travel talk is your space

Director, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

“Accessibility to the emirate has played and will continue to play a key role in the growth of its tourism sector. Ras Al Khaimah is just 45 minutes from Dubai International, making it an attractive and accessible destination for both local and international travellers. In addition to this, direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport have been steadily increasing. This was achieved as a result of the enormous support of H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Ras Al Khaimah that he provides to the tourism sector in the emirate.”

MOHAMMED MUBARAK ALSHIKELY General manager, marketing, Oman Air.

“The Oman Air polo team’s fantastic win [at the Oman Air Frankfurt Gold Cup] has, in effect, given us a double victory at Frankfurt. Not only has the Oman Air team taken the title, but, as the proud sponsors of the Oman Air Frankfurt Gold Cup, we have had a wonderful opportunity to share our success with an international audience and to raise awareness of the sultanate of Oman.”

[...] We have had a wonderful opportunity to share our success with an international audience

MUBARAK AL NUAIMI Director of promotions and overseas offices, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

“We have seen some good hotel guest numbers from the GCC in the first eight months of this year, with across-theboard increases, yet we are far from where we want to be, and we know we have all the right ingredients to be front of mind for GCC travellers when choosing their holiday destination. We are a safe and affordable destination and an easily accessible destination from the air, land and sea. We are a competitive destination, with some of the best room rates of regional market, and we are continuously expanding and enhancing the visitor experience. We know the potential is there and we are working very hard to capture our share.”

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, frustrations, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel NOVEMBER 2013

RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Andre Herrenschmidt Over the years, the Waldorf Astoria brand has become synonymous with timeless elegance and inspirational environments and as Andre Herrenschmidt, general manager, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, explains, the recent opening of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, is set to further enhance the emirate’s standing as an affordable luxury destination.

Travel Trade MENA: In your opinion, what makes Ras Al Khaimah the perfect fit for the Waldorf Astoria brand? Andre Herrenschmidt: Hilton Worldwide has long been regarded as a hospitality pioneer. In many markets around the world, we became the first international hotel company to establish a presence across a number of less well-known cities and countries. We […] were the first major hospitality company to launch in the emirate and we are delighted to introduce our luxury brand to the UAE. Now, Ras Al Khaimah has established itself as an increasingly popular choice among a growing number of perceptive travellers seeking an authentic Emirati experience, whether it be leisure, adventure or cultural. Located just 50 minutes from one of the world’s fastest growing airports in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah boasts majestic mountain ranges, expanses of red sandy desert and lush green plains along a series of creeks and lagoons. Surrounded by Ras Al Khaimah’s abundance of charming historic sites, forts and abandoned villages, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is ideally positioned to allow visitors to experience the UAE’s 5,000-year heritage. Travel Trade MENA: How would you describe your clientele? Andre Herrenschmidt: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah attracts affluent guests, high-net-worth individuals and top level executives on corporate trips or holiday excursions from the GCC, particularly from Saudi Arabia. As Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is only a short drive from Dubai, the hotel also attracts a significant number of guests from this popular destination who are looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Travel Trade MENA: Please tell us about your plans for the remainder of the year. Andre Herrenschmidt: As the first international hospitality brand to establish a presence in Ras Al Khaimah, our footprint in the emirate is significant and diverse. Our marketing strategy includes the early bird promotions plus seasonal promotions such as the Great Getaway promotion. These will help us build a strong brand recognition as well booking base to sustain us throughout the year. NOVEMBER 2013

Andre Herrenschmidt Christian Muhr

General manager, Vice president, operations, Egypt and Levant, Waldorf Astoria Hilton WorldwideRas Al Khaimah

recent data from Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone. The government forecasts similar growth for this year in four key [sectors]: industry, import and export trade, services, and tourism. As the most industrialised of the emirates, industry is an important sector for Ras Al Khaimah and new developments such as the Silk Road will continue to bring in trade from Asia and the West. Tourism has also played a key role in the growth of the emirate and the opening of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah in August has attracted a new luxury traveller. During the hotel’s opening month, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed a record number of 95,000 visitors, 28 percent more than the same period [in 2012]. Travel Trade MENA: What are the destination's unique selling points?

Travel Trade MENA: Since the opening of Hilton Ras Al Khaimah in 2001, the company has built up a strong presence in the emirate. In your opinion, what are the main factors behind Ras Al Khaimah’s steady development?

Andre Herrenschmidt: The combination of accessibility and seclusion makes Ras Al Khaimah an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers. Waldrof Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is located just 50 minutes from Dubai International airport and boasts a private beach situated within an extraordinary desert landscape.

Andre Herrenschmidt: Ras Al Khaimah has grown into an industrial and trading hub, since Hilton first opened in 2001. Its economy continues to expand, growing eight percent in 2011 and 2012 according to

The combination of accessibility and seclusion makes Ras Al Khaimah an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

NEWS & EVENTS

Airport Show: Solid Growth Curve More than 64 percent of exhibitors of this year’s sold-out event have already confirmed their participation in Airport Show 2014, which will be held on May 11 - 13, 2014 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the last edition covered a gross exhibitions space of 11,000m2 with 225 exhibitors and six country pavilions, and the next show will collocate with the 2nd Global Airport Leaders’ Forum and the launch of Travel Catering Expo, attracting increased interest and industry support. As Al Maktoum noted, the Airport Show enables decisionmakers to convene in one venue for knowledge-sharing and procurement of products and services, thus the event is contributing to the success of a thriving aviation industry in the region. Daniyal Qureshi, director, Airport Show, added, “The show is growing stronger in all parameters with wider global interest in the region, as it pursues its ambitious airport expansion programmes and positions itself as the new travel hub of this century. When one thinks of global aviation investments, the Arabian Gulf states are amongst the first ones that come to mind.”

EVENTS

UAE Green Festival 2014: Official Launch During a press conference held on September 29 in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, the UAE Green Festival 2014 was officially announced in the presence of representatives from government and private organisations participating in the event. Held under the theme ‘Live, Learn and Have Fun in a Low Carbon World’, the festival is scheduled to start on March 16, 2014, and will be the first event of its kind in the UAE and the region, while it will comprise a plethora of entertaining events and environmental activities, spotlighting the country’s efforts toward ensuring a healthy environment. This one month celebration of sustainability comprises six main pillars which are green tourism, green life, green transportation, green education, green technology and green energy. “The UAE Green Festival mainly aims to support the UAE Vision for sustainability, promote sustainable practices, and forge partnerships with government bodies and corporates that adopt eco-friendly practices and solutions,” commented Lamiaa Chlyeh, CEO, Latest On.