Middle East and North Africa Edition
doha aviation the second doha aviation Summit will be held at the end of october. organisers said the event had been timed to capitalise on recent improvements in outlook for civil aviation in the Middle East.
The upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi, is expected to draw a host of tourists from the Middle East and around the world, cementing India’s position as a powerful emerging destination.
16 FiRSt PULLMan in a new first for dubai, accor Middle East has opened its inaugural Pullman hotel for the region – Pullman dubai Mall of the Emirates (MoE).
5 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News Air Travel News International News Agents’ Corner Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
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India’s Commonwealth Games 3
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor Laura Warne
Middle East Leads Tourism Recovery The Middle East has experienced the strongest recovery of any world region in the first half of 2010 in terms of international visitor arrivals, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) figures have shown.
Journalist Louis dillon Savage Design & Layout Elina Pericleous Sales & Marketing Marianna tsiamas Evelina hadjigeorgiou Directors andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi Headquarters P.o. Box 25255 nicosia 1308 Cyprus tel: +35722820888 Fax: +35722318958 Website www.traveltradeweekly.travel Emails info@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel
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owever, the strong resurgence (a 20 percent improvement, year on year), is tempered by the exceptionally low figures experienced by the region in the comparable period of 2009. ahmed al nuaimi, chairman of the Qatar tourism authority, pointed out that 2009 had been the worst year for tourism in the past 60 years. “The year 2009 was the most difficult year on the world tourism industry due to the effects of the global economic crisis on the tourism industry and the subsequent travel restrictions because of the spread of h1n1,” he said. “in that year, global rates of visits declined to less than four percent, which is considered the worst rate in 60 years.” nuaimi suggested that ongoing problems for traditional source
Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US dollar
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CURRENCY dirham Pound Riyal Pound dinar dinar Pound dinar Riyal Rial dinar dirham Riyal Rial dinar dinar
This highlights the magnitude and importance of revitalising domestic tourism as an alternative to deal with crises in the tourism sector
MEA Delays Initial Public Offering, Citing Unfavourable Market
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 9/9/2010
COUNTRY UaE (aEd) Egypt (EGP) Saudi arabia (SaR) Lebanon (LBP) Bahrain (Bhd) Jordan ( Jod) Syria (SYP) Kuwait (KWd) Qatar (QaR) oman (oMR) tunisia (tnd) Morocco (Mad) iran (iRR) Yemen (YER) algeria (dZd) Libya (LYd)
markets, such as high levels of debt in European countries, meant that the Middle East would need to focus on building its domestic and regional markets. according to UnWto, Europe in particular is struggling to rebuild, set back to a two percent rate of growth by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano crisis in april. “This highlights the magnitude and importance of revitalising domestic tourism as an alternative to deal with crises in the tourism sector,” nuaimi said. of 140 countries that supplied data to UnWto, 30 remain in negative growth, resulting in the overall average of a seven percent improvement worldwide.
1USD= 3.69 5.70 3.75 1501 0.37 0.70 46.6 0.29 3.64 0.38 1.49 8.71 10,003 237.5 75.35 1.29
Middle Eastern Airlines’ (MEA) planned public share sale has been delayed in light of unfavourable market conditions, Bloomberg has reported. Riad Salameh, governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank, said the sale would wait for a more appropriate time. “We need to have the proper market momentum,” he told Bloomberg. “There is no appetite, we have to be patient.” MEa was originally scheduled to commence its initial public offering (iPo) at the end of this year, but has now put the plan on indefinite hold. MEa was established in 1945 and has survived frequent periods of national upheaval since. Throughout Lebanon’s 15 year civil war (from 1975 to 1990) the airline maintained itself by leasing aircraft and seconding staff to foreign carriers and other aviation companies. Since an extensive restructure between 1998 and 2002, the company has returned consistent profits in spite of regular instability within Lebanon. SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
Operators Expecting Middle Eastern Guests for Indian Commonwealth Games The upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi, is expected to draw a host of tourists from the Middle East and around the world, cementing India’s position as a powerful emerging destination.
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Hyatt Regency Delhi
irlines from the Middle East have been steadily increasing flights to india in the lead-up to the games; akbar al Baker, CEo of Qatar airways, recently pointed out that his airline had increased frequency to the country by 57 percent since 2009. hotel companies have also been rapidly expanding their inventory in the country, with most of the world’s major brands now boasting several indian properties. Thierry Bertin, vice president of sales and marketing for hyatt international in South
West asia, said hyatt’s four hotels in india were eagerly waiting to welcome Commonwealth Games guests. “For the XiX Commonwealth Games 2010 delhi, india will showcase its diverse heritage, culture and its state-of-the-art infrastructure,” said Bertin. “hosting such a formidable sporting event, as well as welcoming visitors from around the world, will be a lasting legacy for india and will secure its place as an economic powerhouse and a global travel and business destination.” The event is due to be held between october 3 and 14.
New Hajj Online Portal in Beta Testing The new HajjMabrur.net web portal, launched recently by Pious technologies, has reported strong interest in its services designed to streamline hajj tourism. Founder hajj Samer osman Ramadan developed the portal with a group of private investors from Lebanon; Pious technologies has spent three years in research and development for the project. The portal offers a range of services, including marketing, bookings, logistics support, asset management, reservations, documentation and reporting. during the research phase of the hajjMabrur.net project, Ramadan said his team discovered, after studying more than 600 hajj and Umrah tour providers, that few were able to produce high quality marketing and advertising campaigns, due to prohibitive costs. he added that the cost of logistical and administration issues was also a major problem for operators. “We will never be able to remove all the problems from hajj; about 50 percent of problems are inevitable, but nearly 50 percent of all problems are related to administrative issues, miscommunication, human errors and management problems,” he said. hajjMabrur.net is currently being beta tested by more than 12 companies in a range of countries. SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
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- Accommodation
Mövenpick Launches 396 New Rooms with Explore-Inspired Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel The first wave of Mövenpick’s upcoming influx of rooms into the Dubai hospitality industry is set to open in October, with the 396 room Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel.
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Jan Kaiser
ver the next seven months, Mövenpick hotels and Resorts, in partnership with Seven tides, will open more than 1,000 rooms across four properties in dubai. ibn Battuta Gate hotel representatives said they planned to take advantage of visitors to the hotel’s neighbouring industrial and professional zones, including Media City, internet City, Knowledge village (tECoM) and Jebel ali Free Zone. Guy Epsom, director of business development at the hotel, was enthusiastic ahead of the opening. “ibn Battuta Gate hotel is a hotel with a difference, indeed differences that are conducive to today’s mobile business traveller and the ever-roving inquisitive nature of the real tourist – someone who
wants to get to the core of a destination,” said Epsom. The new hotel makes up a key component of ibn Battuta Square, which also includes ibn Battuta Mall and a mixed-use residential and office facility. Jan Kaiser, general manager of ibn Battuta Gate hotel, pointed out that the property was designed to invoke reflection on the journeys of its namesake, the arab explorer ibn Battuta. “in a dance between the hotel’s interiors and restaurants, the ibn Battuta Gate hotel offers a true design and taste journey that spans the near East, Far East, Middle East and arab african radius of the journeyman’s era,” said Kaiser. Each of the hotel’s 29 suites has been designed according to one of 10 interior themes, reflecting the travels of ibn Battuta.
Al Areen Palace Joins Leading Hotels Group, Following Banyan Tree Split Bahrain’s Al Areen Palace and Spa (formerly Banyan tree al areen) has joined new York-based luxury hospitality organisation The Leading Small hotels of the World. Khalid anib, general manager of al areen Palace and Spa, pointed out that his hotel was currently the only member of the organisation in Bahrain. “This affiliation is a clear recognition of our commitment and dedication towards our guests and comes after the investment that has been made into the resort following the change of management,” he said. The hotel invested heavily in its banqueting and restaurant facilities after 4
the split with Banyan tree, with the intention of making al areen one of the region’s gourmet, entertainment and conference destinations. The Leading Small hotels of the World organisation is the boutique subsidiary of The Leading hotels of the World, which currently represents more than 450 hotels worldwide.
This affiliation… comes after the investment that has been made into the resort following the change of management
Khalid Anib SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
- Accommodation
Accor Brings Pullman Brand to Middle East In a new first for Dubai, Accor Middle East has opened the inaugural Pullman hotel for the region – Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates (MoE).
Hoteliers to Set Radar for Leisure Guests In the post recession years, leisure guests will be increasingly important for upmarket hotels, according to a think tank of hotel suppliers and operators brought together by World travel Market (WtM). in the meeting of representatives from the global hotel industry, hoteliers said that many corporate clients were adapting their policies to include a ban on five star hotels for their employees. a leading concern was that corporate budgets would remain tight even after the world economy stabilised. Mid-market operators, on the other hand, stated that they were profiting from business travellers downgrading from luxury options. as a result, high-end hotels were actively targeting upmarket leisure travellers, with some abandoning their MiCE campaigns altogether, in favour of the more available holiday market. however, business and leisure travellers alike have become more demanding, according to the think tank. Several hoteliers mentioned that negotiations were becoming tougher, with guests insisting on free wi-fi and internet access, free transfers and discounts on food and beverage.
Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates
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he 24 storey, 481 room (including 94 suites) hotel capitalises on its proximity to one of dubai’s most popular shopping centres, as well as the new dubai Metro link. Christophe Landais, managing director of accor Middle East, said the hotel would target leisure and business travellers, as well as the MiCE segment. The hotel features a dedicated floor for meetings and conferences, with 800m² of meeting space, nine rooms with individual pre-function areas and several spaces for cocktail receptions and breaks. “as our first Pullman hotel in the region, we want to give a whole new meaning to the way guests experience hotels,” said Landais. accor currently has nearly 50 Pullman properties around the world, with plans to expand this number to a network of 150. SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
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- Air Travel
Sama Grounded by Financial Turbulence Saudi Arabian low cost carrier Sama has suspended operations until further notice.
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ccording to reports in local and international media, the shutdown has come as a result of a funding shortfall driven by high fuel costs. arab news reported losses as high as SaR1 billion (USd266.7 million). Sama’s primary competitor is the nationalised low cost operator, nasair, which benefits from higher levels of government support. Bruce ashby, CEo of the Sama, issued a statement blaming regulatory issues for the airline’s difficulties. “We had been awaiting a significant aviation relief package with respect to fuel
subsidies, subsidies for PSo routes, a gradual lifting of domestic fare caps, and additional funds to support the past losses and growth of our business,” he said.
The summer peak season… has not been enough to offset the heavy losses we suffered during the winter ashby noted that investors had been willing to help the airline, but had been unable to act in time to keep the company flying. “We sought for, and found, more than one potential new equity investor willing to
inject cash into the business,” ashby said. “Unfortunately, none of these alternatives came together in the required timeframe.” according to ashby, strong traffic in summer months was not enough to compensate for a slow winter season. “The decision to stop flying was not taken lightly, but we have spent many months seeking alternatives, and now this is the only option remaining to us," he said. “although revenues were up sharply during the summer peak season, it has not been enough to offset the heavy losses we suffered during the winter,” he said. although ashby initially expressed optimism, Sama remained grounded at the time of writing.
Air Arabia to Link Casablanca and Alexandria Hubs Air Arabia has strengthened the interconnectivity of its regional hubs, flagging a route between Casablanca, Morocco, the base of air arabia Maroc, and alexandria, Egypt, home of air arabia Egypt. Flights will commence on october 4, 2010, initially operating three times per week. adel ali, group CEo of air arabia, said the new connection reflected the natural progression of the airline’s services from Morocco. “in one year since the start of air arabia (Maroc) operations, we have been able to 6
organically grow our destination map and fleet,” he said. “We are confident the new services between Casablanca and alexandria will offer customers a great value for money to travel between the two cities.” The link represents air arabia Maroc’s first direct connection to another of the air arabia group’s hubs. The subsidiary currently operates flights to a number of European destinations, but provides access to the rest of the air arabia network only by connecting flights through istanbul, turkey.
We have been able to organically grow our destination map and fleet SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
- International
Starwood’s First European Aloft Property Opens Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has opened its first Aloft hotel in Europe, with Aloft Brussels Schuman.
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Aloft Brussels Schuman
The launch of Aloft in Europe underscores the strength of the Starwood network
he 147 room hotel is located in the European Union district, offering a mid-market version of Starwood’s W hotels concept. More than 40 aloft hotels have opened globally since the brand’s debut in June, 2008, with properties currently operating in the US, Canada, China, the UaE and india. according to Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands at Starwood, aloft will continue its expansion, with new
openings planned in india, the US, UK and Thailand. “The launch of aloft in Europe underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the aloft Brand,” said McGuinness. “aloft’s emphasis on high design and affordability translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travellers.” aloft Brussels Schuman is the fifth Starwood hotel in Belgium, joining Le Méridien Brussels, Sheraton Brussels hotel, Sheraton Brussels airport hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Brussels.
CIBTM Plans to Become Leading ASEAN Meetings Event Organisers of CIBTM 2010 have announced that they expect CiBtM to become the leading meetings event in aSEan (association of South East asian countries) within the next three years. The recently completed 2010 event featured an increased number of exhibitors and trade visitors, plus the largest ever hosted buyer programme. indications show that together, hosted buyers and trade visitors rose by 16 percent compared to 2009. Jeffrey Xu, exhibition manager for CiBtM said the meetings industry in
China was beginning to take shape, with excellent feedback from local industry representatives.
We will not survive as a destination without business from China “in 2009 we launched China Meetings Week and this has clearly increased the profile of the show dramatically, resulting in larger numbers of corporate Chinese buyers – key to the development of the
show and its exhibitors,” said Xu. internationally, exhibitors such as Shane Jameson, director of sales for Jebel ali international hotels dubai, emphasised the importance of China. “CiBtM takes place in the most prolifically fast moving market in the world,” he said. “We are here for the long term – 150 percent – we will not survive as a destination without business from China.” CiBtM 2011 will take place at China national Convention Centre in Beijing, from august 30 to September 1.
Four Seasons Opens New London Hotel, Ahead of Anniversary Four Seasons hotel London at Park Lane is set to open in the next few months, as the hotel company prepares to celebrate its 50 year anniversary in 2011. John Stauss, general manager of the new hotel, said that, in many ways, London is where the Four Seasons philosophy was first born. “This hotel represents all that Four 8
Seasons has learned, all we’ve observed, and all that we anticipate will be important to our guests in the future,” Stauss. one key feature of the new hotel is its tenth floor lounge – a waiting area where guests can have breakfast, use shower facilities, access the internet or relax before checking in. “This unique space has essentially been
created by our guests – we’ve all experienced it, arriving after a long flight and having nowhere to go while waiting for rooms to be ready,” said Strauss. “now there’s an oasis atop the city that welcomes, soothes and refreshes weary travellers.” Four Seasons hotel London at Park Lane features 192 rooms and suites. SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
VisitBritain Launches UAE Agent Training Scheme in Anticipation of Olympic Games A group of travel agencies from the UaE - 25 from dubai and 15 from abu dhabi - have been selected to participate in a destination training course focusing on the UK. The scheme, Britagent Programme, was created by visitBritain, the UK’s tourism promotion body. nominated agencies will be encouraged to select staff members to undertake a series of three online training modules. according to visitBritain, the programme has been instigated in an attempt to increase awareness of the UK as a destination in the lead up to the 2012 olympic and Paralympic Games. Carol Maddison, manager for visitBritain in the UaE, said the scheme would provide practical information for agents engaged in selling British holidays. “travel agents play a crucial role in assisting our visitors to plan and book their holidays to Britain,” she said. “By launching the Britagent Specialist Programme in the UaE, we are able to provide travel agents with the necessary tools to offer improved service to customers, consequently increasing their business.” Maddison added that increasing the profitability of inbound tourism for the UK was a key factor behind the promotion. “We are emphasising our total commitment to the travel trade industry,” she said. “it is very important in helping us achieve our objectives of increasing tourism traffic and increasing the spending of travellers to the UK.” The first module of the course covers practical basics such as visa requirements, language and currency. The second segment focuses on the key attractions and regions of the UK, while the third provides information on activities and further attractions.
Agent’s Insight Name: Myriam Al Qassab Position: Leisure Consultant Company: Bahrain International Travel Agency Location: Bahrain Switzerland
Who travels more – expats or locals? among our clients, locals travel more than expats.
What are your biggest challenges as a travel agent? our greatest challenge is trying to meet all of our clients’ expectations.
When is your quietest selling period? our two quietest selling periods are after the summer holidays and during the month of Ramadan.
Where do you expect the popular winter destinations to be this year? For winter 2010-2011, we expect the most popular destinations to be Lebanon, turkey, Switzerland, austria and France.
Why do people travel to/from your destination? Skiing is becoming very popular in this region and there are more varieties of skiing options being introduced every time.
Our greatest challenge is trying to meet all our clients’ expectations 10
SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
Catch Corporate Business on the Rebound Corporate travel was profoundly affected by the recent recession and many predict that the sector has been permanently changed by the introduction of various cost reduction strategies.
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owever, despite tightened travel budgets there are some indications that the business travel market is in recovery. The Four Seasons hotel chain has reported an increase in corporate group bookings of 26 percent compared to 2009; a figure which far outstrips the UnWto’s seven percent estimate of growth for tourism overall. Susan helstab, executive vice president of marketing for Four Seasons, explained. “Companies are investing in face-to-face meetings again because of the tangible
SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
and significant return on investment they have been proven to provide,” she said.
There is no standard conference and each has its own unique set of needs however, there is evidence that the way corporate travel managers are handling meetings is undergoing a change. a study undertaken by World travel Market has predicted a downgrading trend, with businesses taking advantage of increasing numbers of
four star business hotels. Yet while that study tipped a move away from five star venues for meetings, top shelf operators are still chasing the corporate dollar. “There is no standard conference and each has its own unique set of needs,” helstab said. hilton Worldwide is also chasing the meetings market, offering discounts across its network to discourage a move towards downmarket rivals. With increasing competition and crossover rivalries between the previously discrete four and five star categories, the business meetings sector is up for grabs.
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Roddy Gordon
Andy Watson
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tamani Hotels and Resorts "We have used the summer to execute a strategy we call The heart of hospitality - this is a focused sales campaign to invite a range of travel agents to see for themselves all the virtues of dubai and to have the chance to experience our spacious lifestyle suites at tamani hotel Marina. There is nothing that sells a product more than getting the chance to try it for yourself and this has been the thrust of our strategy. The feedback to date has been very encouraging with more than 95 percent of agents endorsing the hotel, the marina and dubai as a destination.”
Acting CEO, Istithmar World "istithmar World is pleased to introduce to the regional market the concept of remarkable value for money through the easyhotel brand. We believe there is a real gap in the hotel sector here for quality accommodation at affordable prices and easyhotel Jebel ali fills that void beautifully. We are confident that our offer of purpose-built hotel rooms at highly attractive rates and our policy of leaving upgrade decisions solely in the hands of our guests will find resonance in an increasingly costconscious market."
Nothing sells a product more than getting the chance to try it for yourself
We believe there is a real gap in the hotel sector here easyHotel Jebel Ali Dubai
Ian Scott
UK
Director UK and Ireland, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) “new figures show that the UK market to dubai is really starting to recover, and that our strategy so far this year is paying off. We of course recognise the continuing challenges ahead, but the outlook is positive with a range of new projects in the pipeline that will continue to inspire first-time as well as repeat visitors. This, combined with dtCM’s trade support and innovative promotions such as Kids Free this summer, makes for a very positive future for dubai.”
New figures show that the UK market to Dubai is really starting to recover 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 12
SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
Jean-Paul Herzog Retires After 40 Years at Hilton hilton’s area president of operations for the Middle East and africa, Jean-Paul herzog, will retire at the end of this year, after 40 years with the company. Rudi Jagersbacher will replace herzog from January 1, 2011. Jagersbacher is currently hilton’s area vice president of operations for Benelux, nordic and italy. he joined the company in 1974, after holding senior positions at the Savoy and Claridges in London, UK. after joining hilton, Jagersbacher worked as general manager in several flagship properties, before moving to vice president roles in London and dubai. he will continue in his current position until he replaces herzog in January.
Sophie Blanchard Etihad airways has promoted Sophie Blanchard as its first female captain. Blanchard first joined Etihad in 2007 as a first officer and has since completed the necessary training and checks to upgrade to captain. She began aviation training after graduating high school, gaining her commercial license at the age of 18 in the US. Blanchard then worked throughout africa and Europe, joining air atlanta before Etihad. She currently has more than 6,500 hours of flying time accrued.
Patrick Beaury Four Seasons hotel amman has appointed Patrick Beaury as hotel manager. Beaury has a range of management and hospitality certifications and has worked across four continents. he joined Four Seasons in 2003 as food and beverage director of Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. Following that appointment, he worked at Four Seasons properties in Canada and Egypt before moving to amman, Jordan.
Patrick Beaury
Michael von Siebenthal hyatt Regency dubai has appointed Michael von Siebenthal as general manager. von Siebenthal joined Bali hyatt as director of food and beverage in 1988 and has since worked in hyatt properties in Mexico, Thailand and Japan. he is a graduate of Lausanne hotel School in Switzerland. Sophie Blanchard
Ann Kang
Dr Mohammad Ameen Ahmad
hyatt Regency dubai and Galleria has appointed ann Kang as director of sales. Kang has a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and has worked with accor and Conrad hotels across South Korea, Singapore, China and Japan.
Wataniya airways has appointed dr Mohammad ameen ahmad as director of human resources. ahmad previously worked as chief human resources officer at Kuwait telecommunication Company (viva). he has more than 29 years of experience in human resources. ahmad holds a Phd in management strategic planning, a master’s degree in public administration and government policies, and a bachelor’s degree in geology.
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SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
Q&A with Kevork Deldelian Kevork Deldelian is general manager at the newly opened Oryx Rotana in Doha. Here, he discusses the process of opening Rotana’s first property in Qatar and offers his insight into one of the fastest growing countries in the Middle East. Travel Trade Weekly: Firstly, tell us a little about your personal career history and why you've signed on as GM of this new property. Kevork Deldelian: i’ve worked at
We are not a leisure hotel
Travel Trade Weekly: Within the multiple properties over the years – my business and MICE sectors, are there last spot was in Montreal, where i worked particular guests or source markets for three years. i’ve also worked as a that you are targeting? general manager in Muscat, i opened an Kevork Deldelian: While we don’t interContinental property in Saudi arabia, two properties in Jordan and i’ve worked at Crowne Plaza and holiday inn properties in abu dhabi and dubai. i’ve been watching the Rotana brand for a while now and i became very keen to join the company. i see it as a very strong, successful brand with a brilliant concept behind it.
Travel Trade Weekly: There are many new properties coming up in Doha - how will Oryx Rotana stand out from others? Kevork Deldelian: doha is really coming up as a city and is very strongly going after the business and MiCE segments - this property was designed for these markets. We are not a leisure hotel. our location is right next to the airport and close to the main business district. it takes two minutes for us to pick up a client at the airport and get them to the lobby; from there, we have an express check-in system where they do not even need to go to the desk. despite our location, though, we are not a typical corporate airport hotel. We have developed the hotel as a signature food and beverage and entertainment venue that will bring a totally different concept to the city and our guests. We plan to have seven outlets open by the end of december and we expect to cater to the local expat market as well as our in-house guests. SEPtEMBER 11, 2010
have one particular market in mind, we are very focused on the regional countries. dubai, Kuwait, Saudi arabia, Bahrain and abu dhabi are all key feeder markets. We are also targeting the major events and conferences coming to doha. We are quite active on targeting citywide events and working with organisers to make sure we are promoted to visitors. transit business is also a small portion of our market, due to our location. in terms of transit, we focus mostly on business and first class passengers.
Rotana is very excited about Doha Travel Trade Weekly: What is your perspective on the travel industry in Qatar at the moment - how has it progressed and where is it going?’ Kevork Deldelian: There is a lot of effort going into the industry from what i see through my interaction with hoteliers, authorities and various projects. it looks good right now. Rotana is very excited about doha; we are getting another Rotana property in mid 2011 and there are discussions for multiple properties covering all the Rotana brands. We believe doha is set to be a big success story. This summer was significantly better than last year.
Kevork Deldelian
Travel Trade Weekly: What changes would you like to see in the country to improve your business? Kevork Deldelian: one big thing that we would definitely all like to see – and this is already happening – is the expansion of the airport. This is critically required. Qatar airways is growing big time and we can see the numbers increasing year on year through doha. Qatar tourism authority’s activities are giving the country great exposure – of course, more marketing is never a bad thing! one thing that i think would be good for the country, although it would probably not benefit me directly, would be more leisure facilities. This would be good for the resorts and leisure hotels that are coming up. also, major conferences are still a challenge – it’s hard to get the really big mega-events, but we do have new conference centres coming up. Things are happening - we are never satisfied, but as an operator i can see things moving forward. 15
Second Doha Aviation Summit Dates and Topics Announced The second doha aviation Summit will be held at the end of next month, event organisers have revealed. The conference, which will be jointly hosted by events management group naseba and Qatar Civil aviation authority 9QCaa), will run from october 30 to november 1, 2010. abdul aziz al noaimi, director general of QCaa, said the event had been timed to capitalise on recent improvements in outlook for civil aviation in the Middle East. “The aviation world has changed
significantly over the past few months,” he said. “With the worst of economic crisis behind us, now is the perfect time to look to the future. “This year's summit will concentrate on opening up opportunities for growth between the arab states and the international aviation market.” nicholas Watson, global sales director for naseba, said the conference would focus on the increasing importance of Middle Eastern aviation. “The doha aviation Summit will draw on
the wealth of the Middle East as an aviation superpower moving to the forefront of the industry.” among the topics to be discussed is the effect, beyond Europe, of regulatory changes brought about by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano disruptions. also on the agenda are: route management, in line with rapid airport development in the region; the development and implementation of sustainability regulations; financial risks; human resource challenges; and the integration of alternative fuel research.
Events Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress Los Angeles, US, September 22-24 (www.medicaltourismcongress.com)
World Travel Market London, UK, November 8-11 (www.wtmlondon.com)
Forum for the global medical and wellbeing tourism industry.
Global event for the travel industry – four day business to business event promoting a range of destinations and industry sectors to international travel professionals.
International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations Muscat, Oman, October 10-12 (www.rtd4.om) organised by oman Ministry of tourism, UnWto and international Centre for Responsible tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University. Conference for government, private sector, academic institutions and decision makers to discuss new directions for the principles and practice of responsible tourism in global destinations.
Arab Tourism Bourse Travel and Tourism Fair Damascus, Syria, October 19-22 (www.abtfair.com) aimed at promoting the Syrian tourism industry, attracting new visitors and developing tourism in the region.
Hotex Fair Syria Damascus, Syria, October 19-22 (www.hotexfair.com) Fair for arabic and foreign companies in tourism and travel, including hotels, restaurants and equipment suppliers.
Business Travel Show – Dubai Dubai, UAE, October 25-26 (www.businesstravelshowdubai.com) dedicated event for buyers and bookers of corporate travel in the Middle East, focusing on small and medium sized organisations that book business travel.
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World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 22-24 (www.worldgreentourism.ae) inaugural eco-tourism exhibition, featuring tourism authorities, urban city planners, hotels and resorts, property developers, airlines, tour operators, green product suppliers, universities, museums and heritage site organisations.
EIBTM Barcelona, Spain, November 30 – December 2 (www.eibtm.com) Global event for meetings and events industry, including networking opportunities, professional education seminars and a trade show platform for exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors.
Blossom Japan Tokyo, Japan, January 18-21, 2011 (www.blossomjapan.com) a new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on the Japanese market.
SEPtEMBER 11, 2010