Middle East and North Africa Edition
SAUDI HOTELS Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has created a new pricing policy for the tourism accommodation sector in Saudi Arabia, including hotels and furnished residential units.
Oman’s Salalah Tourism Festival has officially opened this week, with tourism operators across the sultanate gearing up for an influx of regional and international visitors.
4 SPANISH FEVER Connectivity between the Middle East and Spain, one of the world’s busiest tourism destinations, is increasing rapidly, with the country’s recent World Cup win expected to boost visitor numbers.
6 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News Air Travel News International News Agents’ Corner Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events JULY 17, 2010
ISSUE 36
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor Laura Warne Journalist Louis Dillon Savage Design & Layout Elina Pericleous
British airways, american airlines and Iberia Receive EU approval for Transatlantic alliance After years of wrangling, joint transatlantic operations by Iberia, British Airways (BA), and American Airlines (AA) have been approved by the European Commission.
Sales & Marketing Marianna Tsiamas Evelina Hadjigeorgiou
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he formation of the partnership now depends only on approval by the US Headquarters Department of Trade (DOT). P.O. Box 25255 The first two attempts by the Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +35722820888 group to form an alliance were rebuffed as antiFax: +35722318958 competitive. Website This time, approval from the European www.traveltradeweekly.travel Commission came only after the carriers made Emails concessions to competitors, making some of info@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel their slots at London Heathrow Airport in the sales@traveltradeweekly.travel UK available to other airlines. Willie Walsh, CEO of BA, said the concessions would guarantee that the alliance would not diminish competition on transatlantic routes. However, Virgin Atlantic, BA’s primary competitor in transatlantic services, has
Directors Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
criticised the deal despite the concessions. According to Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, too few slots were allotted in the concessions, and the deal would create what he called a monster monopoly. “Consumers are not being put first in the European Commission’s decision making process,” he said. “No evidence of consumer benefits has been put forward.” According to a statement from BA, approval by the US DOT is expected to be finalised shortly. BA and Iberia have already been given the European Commission’s green light on a wholesale merger, which is expected to be completed by late 2010. The merger depends on BA resolving its ongoing industrial relations dispute with its cabin crew staff members.
Google to Enter Online Airline Comparison Arena with USD700 Million Acquisition MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 14/7/2010 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= 3.69 5.70 3.75 1501 0.37 0.70 46.7 0.29 3.64 0.38 1.48 8.71 9953 225.05 74.66 1.19
Google has made further inroads into the travel industry, acquiring travel distribution software provider ITA Software for USD700 million. ITA’s products focus on searching and comparing air fares and provide the architecture for a number of major players’ web search functions. Google has declared its intention to use ITA to develop improved tools for online travel pricing comparisons, encroaching on the turf of meta-search engines and online travel agencies. However, Google has insisted that it would not be entering into competition with ITA’s customers. ITA’s client list includes high profile
online travel companies such as Kayak.com and Farecompare, as well as airlines Alitalia and Continental Airways. ITA also lists Google’s search engine rival, Bing as a current client. However, according to Google, the acquisition will have no immediate effect on the share prices of the two businesses, as they were not currently in competition. Further, Google has stated that its entrance into the travel search arena would ultimately benefit airlines and online travel agencies by funnelling more consumers to their websites. Google will honour all existing agreements with current ITA customers. JULY 17, 2010
Oman set For Tourism monsoon During Khareef season Oman’s Salalah Tourism Festival has officially opened this week, with tourism operators across the sultanate gearing up for an influx of visitors.
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he Dhofar region’s cool monsoon season, from June to September, is traditionally a busy period for tourism, as Middle Eastern visitors escape the summer heat. European tourists are also beautiful during this period, which is known as the Khareef season. In 2009, Salalah saw 300,000 local and international guests during Khareef season; the Oman Ministry of Tourism is set to capitalise on this year’s expected influx, according to Salem Al Mamari, director general of tourism promotions. “The Ministry has lined up several
JULY 17, 2010
initiatives, which will further boost the city’s appeal to local, regional and international travellers,” said Al Mamari.
Salalah has cooler weather compared to other parts of Oman during the summer, so it has strong potential as a tourism hub “We have commissioned a specialised company to draw up a concrete strategy for attracting more Gulf travellers into the city, especially during the festive months.” The Ministry of Tourism recently appointed Al Ketbi Consultancy to boost
the country’s position within the GCC tourism market, as well as enhancing its global appeal. “Aside from its numerous fascinating locations, Salalah also has cooler weather compared to other parts of Oman during the summer, so it has strong potential as a tourism hub,” explained Al Mamari. Promotional campaigns are in development for targeted Omani resort destinations, such as Swiss-Belhotel Resort Masirah Island, Salalah Marriott Resort and Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay. During Salalah Tourism Festival, which runs from July 15 to August 31, tourists can see sporting events, concerts, plays and traditional performances.
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- Accommodation
One to One Hotels Launches Lebanese mountain Property A new One to One hotel has opened in the mountain village of Dhour Chouier, Lebanon, overlooking the bay of Beirut.
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ne to One Hotel – Dhour Chouier features 40 rooms, including one and two bedroom suites, which are equipped with a fireplace and Jacuzzi. Youssef Ziadeh, hotel manager at the new property, said the hotel’s location was perfect for outdoor activities, as well as private romantic breaks. “The hotel provides an excellent base from which our guests can unwind and
explore the nearby forests and mountains in the summer or seek more active pursuits during winter at the nearby ski slopes,” said Ziadeh. Sami Ayari, CEO of One to One, said the international chain’s expansion into Lebanon was part of a strategic plan to enhance the brand within the region. “Furthermore, our property in Dhour
Chouier is an ideal platform to strengthen our social corporate responsibility commitment as it will contribute to the destination’s exposure and local economy,” said Ayari. “Our association with Al Husam Group is the latest in a series of strategic partnerships with resort developments around the world.”
Our property in Dhour Chouier is an ideal platform to strengthen our social corporate responsibility
Kempinski Nile Hotel Opens in Egypt Kempinski Nile Hotel has opened in Cairo, Egypt. Situated on the banks of the Nile River, the hotel is a European style property located in the Garden City district of Cairo. Reto Wittwer, CEO for Kempinski
Hotels, said the company had been interested in Cairo for some time. “Along with TMG, our sturdy partner, we share the same vision of offering authentic traditions combined with European sophistication and hospitality
Kempinski Nile Hotel
that will not only enhance but also provide something new in Cairo,” said Wittwer. The 191 room hotel was officially opened by Zoheir Garaha, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism.
Kempinski Nile Hotel
SCTA Creates Pricing Policy for Saudi’s Tourism Accommodation Sector Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has created a new pricing policy for the tourism accommodation sector in Saudi Arabia, including hotels and furnished residential units. The policy specifies the maximum limit of prices for standard rooms, according to a hotel’s classification. 4
It also allows for special seasonal pricing. SCTA has indicated that hotels and furnished apartments must declare the approved price list in a prominent place for guests to view – a move that SCTA said would improve transparency and enable the authority to monitor compliance. According to SCTA, the pricing policy will be implemented, pending the
issuance of tourism regulation submitted to the government, which will provide flexible policies to deal with supply and demand in the hotel sector. In preparing its pricing policy, SCTA consulted with investors in the accommodation sector and authorities such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry. JULY 17, 2010
- Air Travel
new Routes Opened Between spain and middle East: World Cup Win Expected to Boost Interest Connectivity between the Middle East and Spain, one of the world’s busiest tourism destinations, is increasing rapidly.
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beria Airways, Spain’s flag carrier, has launched its first link to Amman, Jordan, while low cost carrier Vueling has also inaugurated a connection between Amman and Barcelona. Emirates will launch flights to Madrid on August 1, with expectations of extra traffic driven by Spain’s recent World Cup victory. Salem Obaidalla, Emirates' senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe and Russian Federation, said the route had proven popular for presales, even before the World Cup. “Madrid has already turned to be a fast selling destination with very healthy forward bookings for our August 1 launch - even before FIFA,” he said. “Now, we expect interest to intensify in our next European destination.” Obaidalla pointed to Emirates’ visibility as a sponsor of the World Cup as an advantage for his airline in servicing the increasingly competitive destination. “Adding Madrid to our network at a time
when Emirates' branding has been so prominent in South Africa is a winning combination,” he said. Nayef Al Fayez, managing director of Jordan Tourism Board, emphasised the significance of the new links in opening the Middle East to Spain as a source market. “The Spanish market is one of our most important markets,” he said.
“We are very happy that Iberia is now launching direct flights to Jordan and welcome this new addition that will increase the capacity of traffic to Jordan from Spain.”
The Spanish market is one of our most important markets
Qatar Airways Receives Extra Flight Concessions from German Regulators The civil aviation authorities of Qatar and Germany have cemented a deal to expand aviation between the two countries. The deal amends a previous arrangement, held since 1996, and will see an increase in the number of flights Qatar Airways will be allowed to operate to Germany. According to Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), the agreement 6
represents a move by Qatar Government towards a global open skies policy. Universal open skies agreements are being pursued in an effort to establish Qatar as an attractive hub for international carriers. The agreement was signed by Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Noaimi, chairman of QCAA and Hartmut Spickemann, deputy director general of the German Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt). JULY 17, 2010
- Air Travel
Royal Jordanian Expects Record numbers in July Royal Jordanian has become the latest Middle Eastern airline to report strong recovery against the lean times of 2009.
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eat factors for the airline have increased to 70 percent, an increase of 10 percent over last year. Hussein Dabbas, CEO of Royal Jordanian, said the recovery had been helped by the airline’s investment in modernising its product.
According to Dabbas, improved ground handling and in air services had made the airline more attractive to customers. He said the adoption of modern systems, such as electronic tickets and online check-in had also spurred demand. Dabbas said all routes on the Royal Jordanian network experienced a
remarkable upsurge in the first half of the year, and he expected traffic to reach record highs in July. People travelling to Jordan to visit relatives were a major factor in the airline’s growth, supplemented by an upsurge of business travellers connected to investments in Jordan.
Egyptair to Roll out In-flight Internet and Mobile Phone Service Egyptair will introduce in-flight internet and mobile services in August, the airline has revealed. The services will be offered only on the carrier’s new Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in the last week of August. Alaa Ashour, CEO of Egyptair, said the new features were part of a continual upgrade of the carrier’s product. “We are keen on the continuous development and upgrading of our services,” he said. “These new services will enable our customers to keep in touch with their businesses, families and friends throughout the flight.” WiFi and full mobile phone coverage, including SMS, will be included on the A330-300s, as well as the ability to recharge personal electronic devices in passenger seats.
We are keen on the continuous development and upgrading of our services JULY 17, 2010
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- International
aegean air Joins star alliance, adding Greek Islands to Group’s network Greek airline Aegean Air has joined the Star Alliance group of carriers, following a systems upgrade to bring the company in line with the standards of the group.
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oining the group gives Aegean Air access to crossover loyalty programmes and passenger lounges across the Star Alliance network. Aegean Air will also be able to participate in group offers and crossover ticketing with other Star Alliance members. Following the addition of Aegean Air, Star
Alliance now has 28 full members, with Air India slated as a future member. Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, said greater access to Greece would strengthen the network and help develop the country as a destination. “For alliance members, Greece is an important travel market where Athens can be built into a major hub airport with
growing connection traffic,” he said. “It has already become an important player in the southeast European area and we fully expect entry into Star Alliance will support its further development.” According to Aegean Air, one of the major benefits for other alliance members will be seamless access to the Greek islands, to which few carriers offer direct flights. Star Alliance joining ceremony for Aegean Air
(L-R): Theodore Vassilakis, president of Aegean Air with Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance
Travelport Partners With Russian GDS, Sirena - Travel Travelport and Sirena-Travel, Russia’s largest domestic global distribution system (GDS) provider, have signed a strategic partnership agreement. The alliance will give users of Travelport programmes greater access to Russian travel products by integrating Sirena’s existing network of travel agents. Sirena-Travel has been rebranded Sirena-Travel International; the agreement will give existing Sirena 8
clients access to Travelport’s international content through their existing interfaces. According to Sirena, this access will allow up to 40 percent of its clients to book international flights for the first time. Niklas Andreen, managing director in eastern Europe for Travelport, said his company would leverage its alliance with Sirena to improve travel distribution in Russia, while also making
Russian content more accessible. “Our recent consumer market research in Russia has shown major frustrations amongst Russian travellers over the lack of information available and the time it takes when making a flight booking,” he said. “We’re therefore delighted to be partnering with Russia’s leading domestic GDS to offer the local travel industry a remedy to this challenge via Sirena-Travel International.” JULY 17, 2010
Travco Group Expands to Jordan
agent’s Insight
Egyptian travel provider Travco Group has established Travco Jordan in its latest step towards expansion throughout the Middle East and Europe. Travco Jordan, which was officially launched in June, is a fully licensed destination management company, operating out of the Shmeisani district of Amman. Representation offices are also operating in Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea district. Osama Bushra, chief operating officer of Travco for the region, is overseeing the new Jordanian operation; Paolo Nocerino has been appointed as general manager of Travco Jordan. The new branch will offer a range of services, including tour operations, personalised holidays, MICE tourism and cruise handling. In addition to its suite of destination management companies, Travco Group also operates Travco Properties and has partnered with Air Arabia to create Egypt’s first low cost carrier, Air Arabia Egypt.
P N Sathya Narayanan Holidays Manager, Mannai Holidays, Qatar Who is travelling to the Middle East right now? On the whole the Middle East caters to the needs of both business and leisure travellers. Excellent trade relations continue between the Gulf countries and the rest of the world with key markets being the US, UK and Europe, followed by Asian countries for business purposes. Business travellers visiting Qatar often return on vacation with their families to explore and experience the country’s unique culture and luxury lifestyle.
What makes a good travel agent? Providing suggestions and feasible travel options to customers as well as a full range of travel options to ensure hassle-free travel and value for money. The profile of travel agents has transformed to travel professional, as customers are not consulting travel agents just for travel products but for complete travel advice.
ADTA Tourism Youth Summer Camp
When do you think business will return to pre-downturn levels?
More than 100 potential tourism leaders are expected to graduate on July 22, following Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s (ADTA) Tourism Youth Summer Camp. The 30 day training programme covered nine modules focusing on travel agencies, sport tourism in Abu Dhabi, culture and heritage, airlines and general tourism industry awareness. Nasser Al Reyami, director of tourism standards for ADTA, said the response from students – who are aged between 14 and 16 – was better than expected. “Originally we targeted 80 students, but we ended up with 110,” said Al Reyami. “The programme plays a critical role in giving national students a better understanding of Abu Dhabi’s overall tourism landscape and encourages them to consider the industry as a future career path.”
Though the travel business may return to pre-downturn levels by the end of 2010, travel agencies are unlikely to enjoy the same market share as before due to the extra options and channels now available to travellers as vendors adopt dynamic pricing patterns based on their available inventory.
Nasser Al Reyami 10
Where do you take your own holidays? Within my home country India, a nation with a blend of historic and modern ethnicity, famous for its vibrant cultures and widespread traditions. From the snow white mountain tops of the Himalayas to the blue waters of the peninsula to its many cuisines and delicacies of the different regions, I still have many destinations in India to explore.
Why did you get involved in the travel industry? My ambition was to become a doctor, but my priorities changed and I pursued my career as a travel professional and discovered I really loved this career. I keep meeting new people, visiting new places and sharing my knowledge and experience with my colleagues which gives me utmost satisfaction.
Travel agencies are unlikely to enjoy the same market share as before JULY 17, 2010
a Little Help from Your Friends: The Business side of the social Web, Part 4 Social media can be a powerful, but often difficult to understand, tool for marketing your travel business.
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ccording to Douglas Quinby, director of research for PhoCusWright Connect, the uncertainty of the social web is one of its great marketing strengths.
Experimentation According to Quinby, experimentation is perhaps the most important use of social channels for travel businesses. By signing on to your Twitter feed or Facebook fan page, consumers are demonstrating an interest in or loyalty to your brand, even if they have never
booked your services. Quinby said this loyalty, combined with the easy communication offered by social media, gives businesses an opportunity to experiment with products before launching them on the open market. “Social media give you the opportunity to introduce new products to a test group, and to gauge the way they respond,” he said. “You also might have a new service, or web interface, and you want to see how people will use it; social media give you the chance to find that out.” Creating mirror sites and making them available through social networks allows
businesses to assess consumer reactions to everything from new web applications to a new website design or a revamped brand image. According to Quinby, brand image creation is a particular strength of social channels, allowing marketing directors to create a tangible personality for the brand. “Priceline have been very creative with this, by giving their brand spokesperson, The Negotiator, a Twitter feed,” Quinby said. “Other methods include tweeting irreverent offers, to create a sense of fun around the brand.”
Adapt for Success: Regional Travel Trends The post-crisis period, as many in the tourism industry are terming the first half of 2010, has seen a strong change in consumer behaviour. According to Heba Al Mansoori, Middle East director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Middle Eastern tourists are no exception. Al Mansoori said regional trends included travelling closer and for shorter periods of time and demanding value for money. “The regional outbound market is evolving and inescapably requires changes as we need to know and understand consumers better to be able to market to them,” said Al Mansoori. “We have had to adapt to the changing needs of the JULY 17, 2010
consumers and capitalise on trends such as late booking and increasing use of the internet to look and book.” Sri Lanka is clearly a success story - in the first six months of 2010, there was a tourism upsurge of 102 percent from the Middle East region and an unprecedented 142 percent growth in Bahraini travellers to Sri Lanka. The figures show a positive future for the tourism industry, according to Al Mansoori. "Regardless of apprehensions of an unsteady global economy, Middle East's discerning travellers are spending time and money on travel and Sri Lanka has been one of the preferred destinations of choice with a meteoric rise in tourists during H1 2010," said Al Mansoori. 11
Peter Hill
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak
CEO, Oman Air “Historically, Oman Air was a regional carrier for 15 years but now we are reaching for the world. And right from day one, Oman Air’s aim is to be a niche player offering point-to-point services and developing high frequency operations that will in turn generate high yield traffic. Our point-topoint service has delivered relatively high yields and historically we have relied on it to get good returns as we chase down every last customer. During the out of season periods, we will look at network routes not operated by other carriers to see if we can operate a nonstop service. Oman Air has great products where other airlines are also talking about them and we are developing even as many rival carriers are downsizing. We invest heavily in our products and Oman Air’s products have proven to be unique. We have managed to build up loyalty to the brand. Unfortunately, alliances do not allow brand loyalty, so we don’t believe in alliances.”
Managing Director, Emirates Wildlife Society “We live in a travel conscious world that has made tourism an essential part of our daily lifestyle and business activities, and a rapidly growing business sector in itself. The progress of this sector has a commensurate impact on the environment, such as the carbon emissions resulting from the use of transport fuel, high energy and water consumption in hotels and restaurants, and the environmental footprint caused by the construction and development of tourism establishments. The tourism sector plays an important role in the UAE economy and so it is imperative for it to adopt effective initiatives towards sustainable development and reduced carbon footprint. We encourage and support efforts that create a sustainable UAE for future generations.”
Peter Hill
Alliances do not allow brand loyalty, so we don’t believe in alliances
Peter Mansourian General Manager Grand Millennium Dubai “We know that the success of any hotel in Dubai depends on accessing GCC regional markets who supply both leisure and business bookings on a regular basis. The average length of stay in hotels has risen from 2.68 to 2.98 days over the past year and official DTCM figures show occupancies in Dubai increased 8.4 percent during the first four months of 2010 – much of this was made possible by the rapid expansion of low cost airlines in the region which are opening up travel potential for more families and young people, as well as encouraging business travel.”
Mohamed Ahmad Al Sulaity, director of public relations in Qatar’s Ministry of Defence with Peter Mansourian, general manager of Grand Millenium Dubai
The tourism sector plays an important role in the UAE economy and so it is imperative for it to adopt effective initiatives towards sustainable development
The success of any hotel in Dubai depends on accessing GCC regional markets Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak
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
JULY 17, 2010
Marco Nijhof
Afrah Hamdy
CHI Hotels and Resorts has appointed Marco Nijhof as chief operating officer. CHI is the exclusive operator of the Corinthia, Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Nijhof moves to CHI from his most recent appointment as senior vice president of Kuwaiti Commercial Real Estate Center Company, where he was responsible for the operation, development and management of the company’s five star hotel investments. He was also previously employed as senior vice president for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts.
Grand Millennium Dubai has appointed Afrah Hamdy as spa and recreation manager. Hamdy was most recently employed as manager at the VLCC Mirdiff Centre – a Dubai outlet specialising in weight management and beauty treatments. Hamdy has qualifications in accounting and business management, as well as beauty and health therapy. She has worked at InterContinental Sharm El Sheikh as a health club co-ordinator and Grand Rotana Red Sea as a therapist. Afrah Hamdy
Ashraf Naguib
Marco Nijhof
Rezidor Hotel Group has appointed Ashraf Naguib as general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis. Naguib has 25 years of experience in hospitality, including 10 years in management roles. He has worked for a range of hotel companies, including Sheraton, Mövenpick, Windsor Hotels International and Iberotel. He first joined Rezidor in 2003 as general manager of Radisson SAS Resort, Taba. His most recent position was general manager of Radisson Blu, Alexandria. Naguib is a graduate of the Egyptian Hotels and Tourism Institute and has worked as a consultant for the Institute of Management Development at American University in Cario.
Lloyd Kenyon
Ghulam Al Balooshi Global distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport has appointed Ghulam Al Balooshi as director for the lower Gulf region. Al Balooshi will be responsible for leading Travelport’s commercial activity in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. He will be based in the company’s regional headquarters in Dubai – former UAE country manager Faris Azzee has departed to take on a new position with Travelport in Saudi Arabia. Al Balooshi has more than 35 years of experience within the travel industry and has held senior positions at Sabre and Amadeus Gulf. 14
Ghulam Al Balooshi
Reed Travel Exhibitions has appointed Lloyed Kenyon as exhibition manager for Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM). Kenyon previously spent five years working for Reed Travel Exhibitions in Dubai; his most recent role was project manager for Dubai World Trade Centre events and exhibitions department. He played a major role in the development and growth of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and has worked in the UAE for more than 10 years. JULY 17, 2010
Q&a with Jay martens As a former Reed employee and a co-founder of Asia Luxury Travel Market, Jay Martens, CEO of Lucioles, boasts impeccable credentials when it comes to the business of luxury travel. Now, in his latest venture, Martens is introducing Blossom Japan - the first invitation-only event aimed at developing the inbound and outbound luxury travel market of Japan.
Travel Trade Weekly: Who will be attending Blossom Japan – which countries and sectors are represented? Jay Martens: Blossom Japan focuses on the inbound and outbound market of Japan. With this in mind, invitations have been extended to both international and Japanese exhibitors, buyers and media to attend the event. Orient-Express Hotels Trains and Cruises, Aqua Expeditions, Hotel Tsuruga Group and Shanti Maurice, A Nira Resort are amongst the latest exhibitors that have signed up to participate in January 2011. Lucioles will host 200 of the top travel arrangers from around the world to participate in the Blossom Japan buyer programme. Due to the exclusivity of the programme, Lucioles has allocated limited places for luxury buyers from each region, worldwide. Qualification is based on meeting the strict programme criteria, with wait lists already in place for Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, India, Canada, the US and Russia.
Travel Trade Weekly: Do you expect interest from the Middle East - if so, any specific sectors? Jay Martens: Yes, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airways are now flying directly to Tokyo, creating a buzz in both directions. Japanese travellers have interest in the Middle East and see it as a new destination, while the Middle Eastern travellers now have direct access to discover Japan. JULY 17, 2010
Finally, Japanese travellers can now use these new routes to travel beyond the Middle East, making it a convenient hub between Japan and Europe.
Japan should be one of the top priorities in a luxury travel product’s marketing budget Travel Trade Weekly: Japan has emerged in recent years as a strong source market and destination for luxury travel. Can you please give us some insight into recent trends and key areas of development? Jay Martens: Japan as a destination is a fascinating place. The offer for luxury travellers is one of the very best in the world and the various experiences from north to south make it a place not to miss on your travel radar. However, the problem is that it is not well known internationally. There is a need to create ‘Brand Japan’ and position the destination so that it attracts the right travellers. Japan is a well sought-after market for all the luxury travel brands, it represents between 20 and 30 percent of their revenue and currently there is no platform that offers key players in the industry the right access to the country. The travel industry is seeing new developments in Japan, with the emergence of boutique agencies, concierge services and lifestyle and travel advisors. This change has led to a new dynamic in FIT luxury travel and Blossom Japan has been launched to support this new trend by creating the ideal platform for key buyers in the industry to meet with the best luxury suppliers in the world.
Jay Martens
The Middle East is a very attractive market for Japan Travel Trade Weekly: What relationship currently exists between Japan and the Middle East in terms of tourism - and how can this be improved? Jay Martens: The relationship has not been great as there hasn't been direct access in the past, however the Middle East is a very attractive market for Japan because of the amazing products and experiences on offer. Now that there are direct routes between Tokyo and the Middle East, it will improve if the Japanese market is educated. Japan has the largest group of high net worth individuals in the world, second only to the US, and it is the number one consumer of luxury goods in the world. In terms of luxury travel, Japan should be one of the top priorities in a luxury travel product’s marketing budget. 15
World Medical Tourism Conference Adds Spa and Wellbeing Features to Programme The US based Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress has added a spa and wellness stream to the programme of its 2010 event. According to the Medical Tourism Association, the nonprofit organisation responsible for the event, the spa and wellness industry accounts for USD2 trillion in revenue worldwide per year. Topics that will fall under the new banner include integrative medicine, corporate health, global spa trends, special interest products and investment opportunities. Camille Hoheb, who will chair the spa and
wellness conference, said adding the category opened the congress to new sides of the health focused travel business. “There is an extraordinary opportunity to explore new models with new partnerships between spas, healthcare providers, insurance companies and employers,” she said. “Consumers now perceive their wellbeing as a need rather than a want and with corporations understanding the importance for a healthy workforce, wellness tourism is on the rise.” The Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress will be held at the Hyatt Regency
Century Plaza, Los Angeles, US, from September 22 to 24. More than 2,000 delegates from 60 countries are expected to attend the conference. Attendees will include international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators and insurance companies.
With corporations understanding the importance for a healthy workforce, wellness tourism is on the rise
Events India International Travel Market Bengaluru, India, July 10-12 (www.iitmindia.com) A showcase for tourism, leisure, hospitality and related industries. Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Conference Los Angeles, US, September 22-24 (www.medicaltourismconference.com) Forum for the global medical and wellbeing tourism industry. Outdoor Adventure Dubai Dubai, UAE, October 8-10 (www.outdooradventuredubai.com) Adventure sports, outdoor clubs, equipment specialists and holiday destinations. GITEX Technology Week Dubai, UAE, October 17-21 (www.gitex.com) Technology solutions for hotels, businesses and consumers.
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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. World Travel Market London, UK, November 8-11 (www.wtmlondon.com) Global event for the travel industry – four day business to business event promoting a range of destinations and industry sectors to international travel professionals. 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. Blossom Japan Tokyo, Japan, January 18-21,2011 (www.blossomjapan.com) A new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on the Japanese market.
JULY 17, 2010