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MERGER CANCELLED Emaar Properties has cancelled a proposed consolidation with several governmentowned Dubai Holding entities.
Messe Berlin, organiser of ITB, has released a preview of its annual World Travel Trends Report, which indicates that a short to midterm increase in airfares is inevitable in 2010.
2 VIRGIN GALACTIC Richard Branson has unveiled the world’s first commercial spacecraft.
6 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News ILTM International News Cruising and Airlines Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events DECEMBER 12, 2009
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Airfares
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor Laura Warne
Emaar Cancels Dubai Holding Merger Emaar Properties has cancelled a proposed consolidation with several governmentowned Dubai Holding entities.
Journalist Louis Dillon Savage Design & Layout Elina Pericleous
The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, by Emaar
Sales & Marketing Joy Hadjivarnava Jane Davidson Danielle Bragg 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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ollowing intensive feasibility studies, Emaar stated that the proposed consolidation was not economically viable in the current economic climate. Dubai Holding comprises seven member companies, including the Jumeirah Group, which is responsible for hotels such as the Burj Al Arab; Dubai International Capital; Tatweer; TECOM Investments; Dubai Properties Group; Dubai Group; and Sama Dubai. Emaar’s projects include the upcoming Burj Dubai, Dubai Mall and The Address Hotels and Resorts.
Aviation Data Shows MENA Means Business
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 9/12/2009 Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar 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)
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CURRENCY Dirham Pound Riyal Pound Dinar Dinar Pound Dinar Riyal Rial Dinar Dirham Riyal Rial Dinar Dinar
1USD= 3.67 5.46 3.75 1501 0.37 0.7 45.25 0.28 3.64 0.38 1.27 7.73 9940 205.5 72.26 1.21
OAG has released its analysis of the global aviation sector for December, indicating positive year to year growth globally, with particularly strong performances by the Middle East and Africa. Worldwide, flights have increased in frequency by one percent, compared to December 2008. Similarly, capacity has risen globally, with seat numbers increasing by four percent against the same period of 2008. Africa has demonstrated the strongest
growth in terms of inter-regional travel, with traďŹƒc into and out of the continent increasing by 16 percent. Similarly, the Middle East has easily outstripped the global average for in and outbound travel, while claiming the strongest growth in within-region travel. Flights inside the Middle East demonstrated capacity and frequency growth of 23 percent and 19 percent respectively, while travel into and out of the region grew by 10 percent in both measures.
DECEMBER 12, 2009
Kenyan Tourism Board Says UAE Tourists are Big Game Kenya is increasing its activities in the UAE, targeting the Middle Eastern market in response to recently invigorated interest from the region. The Kenyan Tourism Board (KTB) has announced that in the first three quarters of 2009 visits from the UAE increased by 41 percent, making Emirati tourists Kenya’s fastest growing source market. Najib Balala, Kenyan Minister for Tourism, declared the significance of the recently opened Dubai office of the KTB. “The opening of this office not only proves the importance of the Middle East as a developing market for Kenyan tourism, but also our commitment to develop this market further,” he said. Acccording to Balala, the increased interest from the Middle East had been driven by an increase in scheduled flights, and support from regional travel trade operators. The KTB office will continue to conduct extended marketing and public relations
initiatives within the UAE, according to Balala. He added that inbound travel from the UAE was expected to continue its strong growth.
KTB’s first annual Kenya Week promotional initiative was launched in Dubai on December 8 to showcase Kenya as a destination to the Middle Eastern market.
Sunshine State To Step Up Middle East Presence in 2010 Tourism Queensland’s new Dubai based representative, Andrew Oldfield, plans to partner with airlines and travel agents in 2010 to promote a more diverse view of the Australian holiday experience and boost tourism from the Middle East. A road show is planned to promote the destination in early 2010, covering Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. “We want to increase the numbers to Australia and now that the visa application process has dropped down to around two days processing time, we hope to see many more visitors from the region,” said Oldfield. “We want to get the industry and the travelling public aware of what the entire state has to offer; many people come to Queensland for the Gold Coast and rarely DECEMBER 12, 2009
move from there, so we want to show them the stunning islands in the Whitsundays and the tropics in the north.” Queensland is currently the only Australian state with a presence in the region. “It does make a difference being here,” said Oldfield. “I spend a lot of time speaking directly with the industry and we have a great relationship – I get many phone calls and emails wanting urgent information and being able to help instantly can make or break a booking.” Oldfield added that increased airline services from the Middle East were expected to increase tourism. “It has been a difficult 12 months for everyone, but moving forward it is looking good,” he said. “We have just seen the arrival of Qatar
airlines into Melbourne on December 7 and that is exciting for the region; Etihad and Emirates’ commitment to Australia is also fantastic.”
Andrew Oldfield 3
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
Express to Saudi: IHG Announces Holiday Inn Openings Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the first three Holiday Inn Express hotels planned across Saudi Arabia.
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he hotels will be located at Madinah Road, Jeddah; Knowledge Economic City, Madinah; and King Abdullah Economic City. The properties are the first in a franchising deal with Siraj Capital, which will see 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels open in Saudi over the next five years. According to Ibrahim A Mardam-Bey, CEO of Siraj, Holiday Inn Express is undergoing the largest relaunch program currently underway in the hospitality industry, investing USD1 billion across 3,200 hotels globally.
John Bamsey, chief operating officer of IHG in the MENA region said that the introduction of the brand to Saudi Arabia represented the first limited service offering in the kingdom. He said that the country attracted 12 million tourists annually and that the limited service model of Holiday Inn Express would take advantage of the maturation and diversification of the market, which has been traditionally dominated by upscale offerings. Mardam-Bey said he was confident that the Holiday Inn Express brand would prosper, despite being untried in the
Saudi market. “Nine out of 10 travellers have stayed at a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express that's more than any other hotel brand in the world,” he said. “With that level of popularity among international travellers, I am confident that these properties in Saudi will also find favour with domestic and regional business and leisure visitors.” Mardam-Bey also announced a partnership between Siraj Capital and Global Hotels and Resorts to develop the Holiday Inn express brand within Saudi Arabia.
Grand Promotion for Hyatt Regency Istanbul Hyatt Regency Istanbul has been converted to Grand Hyatt Istanbul, following upgrades and new investments in the hotel. There are currently 34 other Grand Hyatt properties around the world. Gebhard Rainer, managing director of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said work would continue on the property. “As expansion of the hotel continues
into 2011 with the restaurant slated for renovation, Grand Hyatt Istanbul will prove to be similar in its scope and services to our Grand Hyatt properties around the world,” said Rainer. Jiri Kobos, general manager of Grand Hyatt Istanbul, said the new status would create a renewed emphasis on employee training in line with the hotel’s new products and services.
One&Only The Palm Opening Announced After two years of planning, the opening date of the One&Only The Palm has been set for October 10, 2010. Sol Kerzner, CEO of Kerzner International, announced that the property would benefit from the success of the existing One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai. “We believe the government’s continuous commitment to developing 4
tourism in the region combined with all the destination has to offer - its constant innovation and its easy international access - make this the perfect place for us to expand the One&Only portfolio,” said Kerzner. The 100-key property, located on the Palm Jumeirah, will offer a range of suites, apartments and private villas. DECEMBER 12, 2009
Looking at Luxury: ILTM
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he future of top-end travel was addressed by key industry figures at the 2009 International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), held in Cannes, France from December 7-10. Engaging travellers with local culture and providing meaningful experiences were two of the suggestions put forward by panelists at the ILTM Ultratravel Forum. Daniel Levine, founder of The AvantGuide Institute, said luxury travellers were more value conscious than in the past. “It’s about education and self growth,” said Levine. More than 1,227 suppliers were present at ILTM, along with hosted buyers from 70 countries.
Soha Al Fadl Moussa, head of promotions at Qatar Tourism Authority, said the Middle East offered attractive destinations for luxury travellers. “We have met many VIP buyers who are looking for inspiration in planning special events and trips for their clients to destinations which offer authenticity and high quality services,” she said. Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Resort, Dubai was named the Middle East winner at the inaugural ILTM Ultra.travel Awards, which recognised the best luxury travel experiences from around the world. Other winners included: Red Travel, Italy, for its Italia in Ferrari tour; Singita Game Reserves, Southern Africa; Explora, Atacama Desert, Chile; and Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing.
Representatives from the Qatar Tourism Authority at ILTM
Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Resort
DECEMBER 12, 2009
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Branson Unveils Virgin’s Space Ship Enterprise Virgin Galactic unveiled the world’s first commercial spacecraft Space Ship 2 (SS2) at the Mojave Air and Spaceport in New Mexico, US, on December 7.
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llthough US engineer and financier Dennis Tito’s flight to the international space station in 2001 is widely recognised as the first example of space tourism, Tito travelled on flights operated by the Russian space agency. As the frontrunner in the astrotourism space race, SS2 is set to become the first commercial aircraft to carry tourists into space. SS2 was officially dubbed Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, and Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico. The craft was designed to be both commercially viable and environmentally benign according to Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic. SS2 will be carried to a height of 16km by the twin hulled EVE mother ship, before disengaging to propel itself into sub-
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Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic
orbital space flight. The mother ship has already completed a year of flight testing, which will be continued following the addition of SS2 to the assembly. Although licenses have yet to be acquired and flight testing remains incomplete, Virgin Galactic has already started taking bookings, charging USD200,000 per passenger for three days of training and a single flight.
The company has designated a number of approved space agents; Sharaf Travel in the UAE is the only operator in the MENA region.
Capsule Hotel First for Russia
London Rising
Russia’s first capsule hotel has opened at Sheremetyevo Airport. The hotel, V Express, takes bookings by the hour with a minimum stay of four hours. The capsule hotel concept started in Japan and has spread to airports around the world, servicing stopover passengers looking for immediate, short term accommodation. Zemfira Yunusova, director of the V Express, said that the new hotel was intended for those needing a short rest who were unwilling to pay for services and time they would not use. Unlike its cramped Japanese counterparts, V Express’ rooms range from 7.5 to 22m2 and all include a personal toilet, telephone and internet access. Guests can order a wakeup call and will receive discounts at cafes and restaurants within the terminal.
Deloitte has reported that London hotels are exhibiting the strongest recovery of all properties in Europe. After 13 months of decline, London hotels have exhibited 10 percent growth in revPAR compared to November 2008 and have averaged occupancy levels of 85.8 percent. According to Marvin Rust, hospitality managing partner at Deloitte, London’s relative strength has been driven by improved value for foreign visitors, resulting from the relative weakness of the UK pound. Rust highlighted that an increase in business conferences and leisure events had also driven demand. DECEMBER 12, 2009
CRUISING & AIR TRAVEL NEWS
Airline Prices Too Low To Profit Messe Berlin, organiser of ITB, has released a preview of its annual World Travel Trends Report, announcing findings by IPK International indicating that a short to midterm increase in airfares is inevitable.
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any major airlines have recorded large losses this year and, according to the report, significant price adjustments will be required in order to return profitability. Furthermore, anticipated increases in taxes and other expenses are expected to be passed on to consumers, increasing the price of airline tickets in 2010.
However, the airline industry is expected to expand dynamically in the coming two decades, with China and South America presenting the strongest potential for future growth. The report also highlights uncertainty as to future trends in passenger behaviour as the world emerges from recession. Dr Martin Buck, vice president CompetenceCenter travel and logistics, Messe Berlin, said that it was unclear
whether businesses that had cut costs by minimising travel would return to the market and whether emerging communication technologies such as video conferencing would affect the sector. Consumers have also been cutting costs by opting for cheaper flight options; according to Buck the future of this trend also remains uncertain. “The currently unanswered question facing the world’s airline industries is whether price-conscious consumers will continue to drive the downgrading trend we are seeing in bookings, or whether we will witness a return to the situation we had before the worldwide economic and financial crisis began,” he said. Despite uncertainty, Buck pointed to a silver lining in the economic stormclouds, indicating that the recession had been responsible for a significant greening of air industry practice. “The over capacity of the world’s airline industries has been reduced and older planes which consume large amounts of kerosene have been taken out of service,” he said.
Emirates to Amsterdam in May 2010 Emirates will launch flights to Amsterdam from May 2010, bringing the airline’s total number of European routes to 23. The non-stop service from Dubai will operate daily. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Airline, said 8
Amsterdam was already an important market for the region, with significant passenger traffic heading from Amsterdam to Dubai and then on to Africa, India and Asia. He added that Amsterdam was also a major freight hub. DECEMBER 12, 2009
CRUISING & AIR TRAVEL NEWS
Bahrain Quadruples Port Capacity
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ahrain’s new Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) was officially inaugurated on December 6. Presided over by the King of Bahrain, the ceremony marked the official opening of the port, which started operations in April 2009. KBSP will provide four times the capacity Bahrain’s existing Mina Salman Port, which has served as the country’s main port for the past 50 years. The new port will accommodate container, passenger and vehicle shipping. Ships with draughts of up to 15m will be able to access the port, allowing the facility to berth the largest passenger ships
currently afloat. According to the General Organisation of Seaports (GOP), which will oversee KBSP, the port will take advantage of increased large-scale shipping in the region and is expected to become the premier shipping hub of the northern Gulf. Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, chairman of the GOP, said that as one of the most modern ports in the region, KBSP would help revive economic activity and attract foreign investment. “It represents a quantum leap for Bahrain in the area of maritime shipping,” he said.
(From left) Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain at the inauguration of Khalifa Bin Salman Port.
Gulf Air Revitalises Website Gulf Air has relaunched its website, gulfair.com. Changes include aesthetic adjustments, streamlined operation and multi-lingual options. The Arabic portal has already been launched, with French and German sites set to go live by the end of 2009. According to Nicola Simionato, head of e-commerce for Gulf Air, major changes have occurred behind the scenes, including integral changes to the DECEMBER 12, 2009
content management system and application architecture of the site. “With the exception of our booking engine, a recent development in itself, every web application has been rewritten to ensure it delivers optimum results for our passengers,” he said. Simionato also announced that further developments were imminent, with the addition of online check-in facilities flagged for inclusion in coming months.
Qatar Flies South For Winter
Qatar Airways has launched its first direct flights to Australia, starting its tri-weekly service to Melbourne on December 6. The airline will also launch direct flights to Sydney in 2010 and provide a one stop service from the UK and several other EU countries. According to Qatar Airways, the flights will be the fastest service between Melbourne and the UK, taking advantage of the significant traffic between the two countries. The service is also intended to take advantage of cyclical travel by the more than 30,000 Australian expatriates who currently reside in the Middle East. According to Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, the airline already has a large number of customers in Australia, but the local market remains largely untapped. “The Australian economy was one of the few in the world that grew in the first quarter of 2009, so this shows that the market there is still very strong, and we believe there is demand,” he said. Qatar Airways’ Australian flights operate as a two-class service, including business and economy class options. 9
Up, Up and Away in Abu Dhabi Balloon Adventures Emirates has officially launched operations in Abu Dhabi, offering hot air balloon expeditions across the desert.
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he company already operates in Germany, New Zealand, Hungary and Dubai. It is fully approved by the General Civil Aviation Authority. Ahmed Hussein, deputy director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) supported the new arrival. “This is another exciting addition to Abu Dhabi’s steadily expanding tourism offering and is a great fit with our target visitor profile,” said Hussein. “We seek to attract people who wish to engage with the emirate and its people... this offering fulfils this criteria.”
Balloon Adventures Emirates now operates a fleet of six balloons in Abu Dhabi, flying from September to May. The balloons fly according to a regular itinerary and are also available for private charter.
Bahwan Marks Travelport’s Largest Global Migration for 2009 Bahwan Travel Consortium’s migration to a new Galileo platform has been named as the single largest migration for global distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport in 2009. Oman-based Bahwan Travel Consortium is the general sales agent for 16 major air carriers and has a customer base of 850 corporate clients, including government
institutions. The group’s reservation and ticketing systems were all switched to Galileo in less than 24 hours. During the migration process, more than 80 front end users were trained in the new system. The conversion followed a multi-year agreement between Travelport and Bahwan earlier this year.
(Left to right) Arijit Munshi, regional business development manager, Travelport; Shyam Sasidharan, country manager, Galileo Oman; Shankar Bose, general manager, Bahwan Travels; and Adeel Syed Shah, market support manager, Travelport 10
Bahrain’s First Waterpark Officially Opens Wahooo! Waterpark in Bahrain officially opened its doors on December 7, announcing itself as the Middle East’s first ever temperature controlled, indoor/outdoor high rise waterpark. The park is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, the company behind Magic Planet and Ski Dubai. Temperature in the waterpark will be controlled at 30 degrees all year round. Damien Latham, general manager of Wahooo!, said the waterpark’s soft opening, two months prior to the official launch, had been successful. “The support for Wahooo! has been phenomenal and we are thankful to the community for giving us such a warm welcome,” said Latham. “We are expecting even more demand once the waterpark is officially open and Wahooo! is ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to its tropical heated pools.”
Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikha Rima, the son and daughter of Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain DECEMBER 12, 2009
Tips and tricks from industry experts, bringing you the latest in emerging destinations, technology, marketing and travel trends. Try Dubai: Bargains Abound Interest in Dubai has spiked since the Dubai World restructuring announcement, as hotels lower rates and tourists come searching for bargains. According to Alison Couper, director of communications as Hotels.com, the emirate’s signature opulence has never been more accessible. Data released by Hotels.com showed that searches for hotels in Dubai have increased by a massive 570 percent since Dubai World announced its restructure, as lower rates place upscale hotels within the reach of more travellers. According to the data, Dubai has been
experiencing falling rates for some time as the global downturn, compounded by an over-supply of hotel rooms in the city, caused hotel rates to drop dramatically in the first three months of 2009. Average room rates for January in 2010 are down by 17 percent compared to the first half of 2009. “Dubai is great value at the moment. There are some fantastic promotions from hoteliers in the city as they try to attract customers, meaning there has never been a better time for travellers to stay in some of the world's top properties for a great price,” Couper said.
There has never been a better time for travellers to stay in some of the world's top properties for a great price
Alison Couper
Luxury Advice From the Top Luxury experts offered their advice and insight at the recent International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM): Tom Storey, president of Fairmont Hotels, said the trick for success was to create lasting memories for guests. He went on to emphasise the value of well trained employees.
ILTM Panel: Keeping Luxury Relevant in Today’s Market
Always under-promise and over-deliver “It’s our single most competitive advantage – our people and our culture,” said Storey. “It’s about empowering the front line people and giving them the framework and relying on them to judge how best to interact.” Andrés Ergas, president of Nomads of 12
the Seas agreed and added that software was more important than hardware when creating a luxury experience.
John Gianguitto, CEO of The Appointment Group had this advice: “Always under-promise and over-deliver.” DECEMBER 12, 2009
Simon Turner
John Bamsey
President of Global Development for Starwood “The potential numbers of new international travellers from India and China are staggering. When you take a look at India and China, you have 40 percent of the world’s population and between them, they are averaging eight percent growth in GDP. Furthermore, by 2015, 400 million Chinese and Indians will have sufficient incomes to travel abroad – as a point of perspective that is seven times the number of international travellers who visited the United States last year.”
Chief operating officer, IHG, Middle East and Africa “The Gulf markets have been dominated by luxury, upscale hotel brands over the past 30 years but, as markets mature and develop, consumers seek out trusted brands. The introduction of Holiday Inn Express in to Saudi Arabia extends our brand portfolio giving our guests even more choice and convenience.”
By 2015, 400 million Chinese and Indians will have sufficient incomes to travel abroad Simon Turner
Barry Brown Chief Commercial Officer Oman Air “Oman is a stunning destination: a taste of the real Arabia that will thrill, delight and surprise visitors. However, in many ways, Oman is Arabia’s best kept secret and, as Oman’s national airline, we want more people to have the opportunity to visit the country and to experience its hospitality, its culture and its natural wonders.”
In many ways, Oman is Arabia’s best kept secret
John Bamsey
Barry Brown
As markets mature and develop, consumers seek out trusted brands
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 DECEMBER 12, 2009
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Mohammed Khamis Bin Hareb Almuhairi
Khaled Ghaleb
Mohammed Khamis Bin Hareb Almuhairi has been appointed as director general of the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities, UAE. Bin Hareb has more than 17 years of experience in tourism and international marketing. He is a member of several tourism bodies and organisations. Khaled Ghaleb
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has promoted Khaled Ghaleb to hotel manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. Ghaleb previously worked as resident manager at Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. He has more than 17 years of experience in the Middle Eastern hospitality industry. Ghaleb has previously worked with Le Royal Meridian, Grosvenor House, Hilton International and InterContinental.
Alan Ewing
Mohammed Khamis Bin Hareb Almuhairi
Alan Ewing has been appointed chairman of the Middle East Aerospace Consortium (MEAC). Ewing has 30 years of experience in the aerospace and advanced technology industry; he is currently CEO of FutureEurope. John Ellis, CEO of MEAC, welcomed Ewing to the consortium. “His high level of expertise, developed over many years of advising on change, restructuring and capital funding for multinationals and SMEs will be an asset to the development of the MEAC,” said Ellis. “As advisor to both governmental and commercial organisations in Europe, China and Korea, Alan’s extensive knowledge of international organisations will no doubt contribute enormously to the growth of the MEAC.”
Alan Ewing
Ken Marshall
Turki Al Shahrani
Etihad Airways has appointed Ken Marshall as its country manager for Nepal. Marshall will oversee the airline’s operations in Nepal, taking over from outgoing manager Kumar de Silva. Marshall previously worked with Etihad as sales manager in Pakistan. He has also worked for British Airways, Emirates and Swiss International Airlines.
Riyadh Marriott Hotel has promoted Turki Al Shahrani to director of sales and marketing. Al Shahrani has seven years of experience in sales and marketing. He joined Riyadh Marriott Hotel in 2006, serving in various positions within the sales and marketing department. Al Shahrani has also worked for InterContinental in Riyadh and Al Faisaliah Hotel.
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Turki Al Shahrani
DECEMBER 12, 2009
Q&A with Antoine Medawar Amadeus is one of the world’s leading providers of technology for the travel and tourism industry. The company has now opened the doors to what Antoine Medawar, vice president, Middle East & North Africa, calls the ultimate online traveller playground. Extreme Search is Amadeus’ latest offering, designed to appeal to a new techdriven generation by putting travellers in the driver’s seat. Travel Trade Weekly spoke to Medawar about how the technology will affect travel agents in an age of increasing consumer independence.
Travel Trade Weekly: How does Extreme Search fit into Amadeus’ agent-focused business? How can agents take advantage of the program? Antoine Medawar: It is a tool for airline websites to help them grow and secure their customer base, capture more revenue, increase efficiency of their ecommerce infrastructure and save costs. It is not yet applicable for online travel agencies but we will roll out enhanced Extreme Search solutions for online travel agents early next year. These will build on our current offering for online packaged travel through TravelTainment, our leisure travel technology business. Beyond that, it is our objective to bring this innovation to all our customers, including traditional travel agencies, but we expect this to take time, especially because these solutions are not turnkey products. They require significant customisation in advance to suit each organisation’s business needs. In fact, Extreme Search development at Amadeus started a few years back with the packaged travel sector (tour operators and online travel agencies) through TravelTainment. The development that has followed has focused first on the online travel arena, as DECEMBER 12, 2009
this is where the biggest challenge lies for travellers because of the massive amounts of information they need to navigate through to find their most relevant option. It was also important that we partner with a targeted customer base to develop the concept further and include in it a key service in travel such as scheduled air. Our vision is to enable Extreme Search for all our customers. However, this will require further development to be carried out first.
Travel Trade Weekly: New technology such as online flight searches are increasingly allowing consumers to plan and book their holidays independent of travel agents: is Extreme Search a response to this? How is consumer-controlled booking technology affecting travel agents? Antoine Medawar: Extreme Search helps consumers get the best offers corresponding to their travel research from what can otherwise be massive amounts of information on the internet. This unrivalled solution is able to find destination proposals even with very open search criteria such as an origin and a budget. The traveller can then easily choose among the best, most competitive destinations. Internet penetration and its usage are growing exponentially. The travel industry – including traditional travel agents – has recognised this and shown it is adapting to this reality. We believe there will still be a role for travel agents because traveller preferences and needs are diverse. This requires multiple/different channels from which to purchase travel.
Antoine Medawar
There will still be a role for travel agents because traveller preferences and needs are diverse Travel Trade Weekly: What advice can you offer to traditional travel agents in an environment of increasing consumer independence? Antoine Medawar: Technology is key to maintaining the competitive edge in the travel sector. The traditional travel agency will have to reinvent itself and propose a richer experience to the traveller, with the offer of value-added services together with the biggest content and consulting approach to the customer’s requirements. 15
UNWTO Flags Summit for 2010
Dr Taleb Rifai
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) will hold the fifth Exceltur Tourism Leadership Forum in Madrid, Spain on January 19, 2010. The forum will bring together ministers from nine of the world’s leading tourism countries to discuss various topics under the banner of Prospects and Challenges for Tourism’s Recovery 2010/11. Representatives from Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, India, Portugal, South Africa and the UK will attend, joined by representatives of major tourism companies and the president of
the World Tourism and Travel Council. Participant nations have been chosen on the basis of their contribution to the tourism sector as source markets, destinations, or both. The UNWTO has emphasised the significance of the event; Taleb Rifai, secretary general of the organisation, said it was likely to be the most important event in the world in early 2010. Rifai also declared that the summit would be critical to the future of global tourism. “Many of the new keys for facing the future of tourism at the international level will emerge [from the event],” he said.
Events Arab International E-Tourism and E-Marketing Conference El Gouna, Egypt, December 14-18 (www.ioeti.org/ioeticonference) Summit focused on improving the application of technology by the travel trade. Food and Hospitality Expo Manama, Bahrain, January 12-14 (www.foodexpbh.com) Hospitality technology, systems and equipment, along with exhibitors from international food companies. Moroccan Travel Market Marrakech, Morocco Jan 14-17 (www.mtm.ma) International fair for tourism professionals. FITUR Madrid, Spain, Jan 28 - Feb 2 Spanish travel show targeted to the business travel market. Middle East Exclusive 2010 Dubai, UAE, Feb 2-4 (www.middleeastexclusive.com) Luxury brand and travel retail exhibition. SME Expo and Conference 2010 Dubai, UAE, Feb 2-4 (www.smeexpo.com) Exhibition and conference for small and medium enterprises.
Business Travel and Meetings Show 2010 London, UK, February 9-10 (www.businesstravelshow.com) Formerly the Business Travel Show, this event caters to consumers and suppliers of corporate travel services. Travel Technology Europe London, UK, February 9-10 (www.traveltechnologyshow.com) Educational and trade event centered on sales, operational, and marketing technology. EMITT Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey, Feb 11-14 (www.emittistanbul.com) Exhibition for travel professionals in the east Mediterranean and Eurasia. Gulfood Exhibition 2010 Dubai, UAE, Feb 21-24 (www.gulfood.com) Food and beverage exhibition. Jordan Travel Mart ( JTM) Dead Sea, Jordan, February 21-23 (www.jordantravelmart.com) Showcase of the Jordanian tourism industry. Meetings Africa 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa, February 24-26 (www.meetingsafrica.co.za) Business tourism exhibition showcasing meeting venues, destinations and industry support services.
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