Middle East and North Africa Edition
YEMEN TOURISM Yemen is looking for foreign investors to bankroll a range of new initiatives that the government has approved to stimulate the tourism industry.
Tourism Authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are planning to rework their classification systems to recognise hotels that surpass the five star rating.
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UNITED CONTINENTAL
US airlines Continental and United have agreed the terms of a merger which is expected to be finalised by the end of this year, making the new company the largest airline in the world.
9 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News International Air Travel News Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events MAY 8 , 2010
ISSUE 26
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY Deputy Editor Laura Warne Journalist Louis Dillon Savage
Middle Eastern Declines Were Market Adjustment, Analysts Say Recovery outlooks for the Middle Eastern tourism industry are strong, despite a necessary downward adjustment, Deloitte analysts have said.
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ccording to Bradley Holliday, senior manager for the Tourism Hospitality and Leisure Industry group at Deloitte Middle East, losses experienced throughout the region were best interpreted as a market correction, rather than a crash. He noted that recession in the primary feeder markets for the Middle East in 2009 coincided with an influx of new supply, leading to a necessary recalibration of revenues. “One thing all this has led to is a strong convergence of RevPAR across the entire Middle East, with values in a range between USD120 and USD170,” he continued. “Although this is normal behaviour in a recessionary market, it is a new phenomenon for the region.” Holliday said that the outlook for the region looked increasingly positive, with growth apparent in
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 5/5/2010
Kanoo Travel Signs Joint Venture with Al Sulaimi in Oman
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 (LID)
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both the airline industry and tourist arrivals. However, he observed that many of these arrivals would be transit passengers and the industry would need to work at converting them into revenue producing visitors. “Tourist arrivals continue to grow in 2010 and the challenge now for the industry is to convert the transit passengers into bed nights – to get them out of the airports and into the local hotels,” he said. “The growth of low cost carriers is helping in this respect, though this brings with it a lower potential average daily room rate for hoteliers.”
1USD= 3.67 5.57 3.75 1501 0.37 0.70 46.2 0.28 3.64 0.38 1.45 8.58 9903 206.75 73.89 1.30
Middle Eastern travel management company Kanoo Travel will partner with Al Sulaimi Group to further its operation in Oman. Sunil De Souza, Kanoo Travel’s regional travel manager for the UAE and Oman, said the joint venture would strengthen Kanoo’s presence in the Gulf region. “Through this partnership, Kanoo Travel will have the access to global brands, products, systems, technology and proven international expertise to enable us to offer better services than other multi-national agencies in Oman,” he said. “These features, together with our existing global network and support will allow our regional partners such as Al Sulaimi Group to collaborate on larger national, regional and international accounts, which demand the highest standards of global travel management services and regional coverage.” Abdul Kareem, who has worked for Kanoo Travel for 13 years, has been appointed as the travel manager for Kanoo’s operations in Oman. MAY 8, 2010
Yemen Calls for Investors in USD1 Billion Tourism Scheme Yemen Tourism Promotion Board has issued an invitation to investors as part of an ambitious plan aimed at encouraging tourism to the country.
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mar Babelgheith, Deputy Minister of Tourism Development in Yemen, said the plan would see six major tourism developments built in the next five years, with a total value of approximately USD1 billion. “Each project is worth USD150 to 250 million, which will contribute to support Yemen as one of the main destinations of the world,” he said. The large scale developments include the Midi Coast project on Doyma Island and Al Mark Island projects on the Red Sea coast, as well as projects on the Indian Ocean at Ras Al Araa-Khour near Aden, at Dabdad and at Jasolit.
MAY 8, 2010
Babelgheith said a USD78 million scheme covering small to mid scale developments was being pursued independently of the major projects. “Complementing these large scale schemes is another major project comprising 44 other small to medium projects all across the Republic, including three star hotels of international standards and a variety of resorts: from mountain resorts, stone resorts, mud house resorts and first class restaurants,” he said. According to Babelgheith, development was being pursued in the light of the growing importance of tourism to the Yemeni economy. “Tourism revenue reached to USD903 million in 2009, a two percent increase
compared to 2008,” he said. “We are buoyed by the news that during this year's first quarter, we have witnessed an increase of over six percent in the total number of international visitors compared to the same period last year.” Babelgheith said Yemen would continue to pursue tourism investment and was establishing a hotel and hospitality academy to complement the planned increase in hotel inventories. “Tourism is vital to the future of our economy, especially in the area of job creation,” he said. “Therefore, we are committed to expanding our tourism infrastructure through the development of these exciting new projects.”
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ACCOMMODATION NEWS
Emaar Signs Management Agreement with Southern Sun Emaar Hospitality Group has signed an agreement with Southern Sun Hotels Middle East for the management of future four star hotels in the region.
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he master agreement will see Southern Sun operate at least two upcoming Emaar hotels, in addition to their current stewardship of the Al Manzil and Qamardeen hotels in Dubai. According to Richard Weilers, managing director of Southern Sun Offshore, the success of these properties prompted the ongoing collaboration. “The signing of the master agreement with Emaar Hospitality Group reveals
the quality of the relationship built with the owners of Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels and their confidence in our operational capabilities – which have been ably demonstrated through the success of these two flagship properties,” he said. Southern Sun’s upcoming 17 storey, 350 room Abu Dhabi property will be the first hotel to open under the new agreement. The hotel is due for launch in 2012, followed by a hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December of that year.
Richard Weilers
W Brand Signs First Hotel in UAE Starwood has signed a management deal for the first W branded property in the UAE. W Abu Dhabi will feature 350 rooms and is scheduled to open in 2013. The hotel is being built by Belbadi as part of a rejuvenation of Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Wharf by Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC). Lee Tabler, CEO of TDIC, said the Al Bateen project was integral to Abu Dhabi’s tourism development. “Tradition, heritage and prime location within the city make Al Bateen Wharf an important part of our hospitality growth strategy for supporting Abu Dhabi as it becomes an international tourism destination,” he said.
(L –R) Neil George, vice president acquisitions and development, Starwood MEA; Roeland Vos, president, Starwood EAME; George Papagrigorakis, board director of Belbadi and managing director of Bateen Wharf Properties; Guide De Wilde, vice president, Starwood Middle East; and Bart Carnahan, senior vice president acquisitions and development, Starwood EAME 4
MAY 8, 2010
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Launch New Hotel Classification Systems - Beyond Five Star
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bu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) will introduce a new classification system for hotels, including a category above the current five star maximum and guidelines for environmentally friendly development. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of ADTA said Emirates Palace was an example of a property eligible for the new classification. New classifications for restaurants and desert camps are also being developed and will be launched in early 2011, Al Nayhan said.
According to Al Nayhan, green development guidelines will begin pilot testing within the next two weeks and will ultimately be incorporated into the new classification system. “Our aim is to ensure Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry is on a par with the world’s greenest hotels as we continue our mission to deliver a sustainable tourism sector,” he said. The system is divided between guidelines for existing or new hotels and includes the region’s first mandatory ecological performance minimums. However, Al Nayhan emphasised the achievability of requirements – pointing out
that most hotels could comply by reforming their operational practices. “The great thing about these targets is that hotels can go a long way towards achieving these through operational excellence and the authority is working with the industry to help them adopt measures which will achieve the required results,” he said. Dubai’s Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing has also announced plans to introduce a new rating system for top tier hotels at the end of the year. The Dubai model will see five star hotels divided into three levels: silver, gold and platinum.
Accor Announces Expansion Accor plans a major expansion in the Middle East over the next two years. Two previously absent Accor brands will be introduced to the region and 17 new hotels have been scheduled to open by the end of 2012. Accor’s upscale Pullman Hotels and Resorts brand will open its first Middle Eastern property in the second half of 2010 at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The hotel will offer 481 rooms, including 91 suites. Accor has also declared intentions to introduce the mid-stay, serviced apartment Adagio City Aparthotel brand, with a property in Abu Dhabi set to open this year. The Adagio concept currently operates only within Europe, operating MAY 8, 2010
three star serviced apartments aimed at midstay guests. Other hotels will be spread between Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia. According to Christophe Landais, managing director of Accor Hospitality Middle East, Accor plans to service all market segments with the upcoming properties. “Accor is confident that the next two years will again be landmark years for the group in terms of development, with a target of five new hotels to be inaugurated in 2010, six in 2011 and another six in 2012,” he said. “Accor’s ambitious target sets a new record in number of openings which will enhance our regional network,” he said. 5
Arabian Travel Market Tops 2009 Figures on First Day Overall visitor numbers at Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM’s) opening day were up by one percent compared to 2009 figures and four percent compared to 2008.
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ark Walsh, group exhibition director at Reed Travel Exhibitions, said this was a clear indication of industry recovery. Quality visitors (hosted delegates and Buyers Club members) rose by more than three percent and VIPs, including ministers and dignitaries, rose by 12 percent compared to 2009 figures. Hosted buyers this year included representatives from leisure, golf and MICE sectors, as well as major global companies such as Expedia, American Express and lastminute.com.
“For us, it is extremely positive that the quality of visitor continues to increase, meaning there is a genuine desire on the show floor to pursue tangible business avenues – a critical component of what ATM is all about,” said Walsh. “I think the most promising element to
take out of these numbers is that there is a strong desire by the industry as a whole to actively seek out opportunities to increase business revenue streams, discuss and debate our future growth steps and continue to forge ahead despite any challenges they may face.”
ATM 2010
Travelport Links UAE to European LCCs Global distribution system (GDS) provider Travelport announced at ATM that it would introduce its low cost air solution to UAE travel agents. Available on Travelport’s Galileo platform, the solution will include content from the following low cost carriers: easyJet, Norwegian, kulula, Wind Jet and bmibaby. Travelport is also in discussions with several low cost carriers within the Middle East. The solution has been under trial in Europe for the past 12 months; according to Travelport, European agents have reported improved 6
efficiency compared to booking via the internet, which takes four times longer. Rabih Saab, vice president of the Middle East for Travelport, said the new solution was unique in that it gave agents the ability to book low cost carrier and traditional airline flights in the same passenger name record. “With the growing importance of the low cost sector and the subsequent demands of our agency customers to have low cost air content on the GDS, we are delighted to be able to make this additional low cost carrier content available,” said Saab. MAY 8, 2010
Arabian Adventures Projects 20 Percent Growth in 2010 Arabian Adventures anticipates a 20 percent growth in business volume over the course of 2010, a figure that contrasts positively to projections made by the company earlier in the year.
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n a February interview with Travel Trade Weekly, Frederic Bardin, senior vice president of the Emirates owned company, said Arabian Adventures would target 10 to 15 annual percent growth over the coming decade and beyond. However, speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Bardin indicated that improved outlooks for UAE feeder markets had prompted more optimistic projections by the group. “We believe the tourism sector will rebound substantially this year, particularly in terms of tour operator business and traditional holidaymakers,” he said.
“Consequently we expect to see a steady increase in demand throughout 2010 as the UAE continues to recover.” He said growth would come from both established markets such as the US and Western Europe, but also from emerging sources such as Korea and Japan. Arabian Adventures has expanded the scope of its fleet to better facilitate the expected increase in demand. Where the company had previously operated a fleet of coaches, buses and four wheel drives, but leased private cars for customers through third party suppliers, Arabian Adventures will now run its own limousine service.
According to Arabian Adventures, the addition of a 16 strong fleet of private cars will allow 70 percent of private car transfers and tours to be operated internally.
Frederic Bardin
Cyprus Strengthens Middle East Ties Cypriot tourism officials are seeking to strengthen ties with the Middle East, piggy backing on increased interest from the region. According to Antonis Paschalides, Cyprus' Minister of Trade, Commerce and Tourism, although Cyprus is technically European, its relationship with the Middle East is strong. “Cyprus lies at the crossroads of three continents, where east meets west,” he said. He pointed to growing numbers of Middle Eastern visitors as evidence of the importance of the region to Cyprus. “Tourism arrivals to Cyprus from the Middle East rose by 9.5 percent from January to March 2010 year on year, denoting strong growth,” he said. Cyprus is seeking to increase its attractiveness to Middle Eastern tourists further by encouraging luxury developments in Nicosia, the nation’s capital. Qatari Diar has recently engaged in an equal investment joint venture with the Cypriot government for the development of state owned land near the centre of the city. Paschalides said tourism accounted for approximately 11 percent of the GDP of Cyprus and listed golfing, luxury hotels, cuisine, and natural beauty as its most important attractions. 8
MAY 8, 2010
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Continental & United to Merge into World’s Largest Airline US airlines Continental and United have agreed the terms of a merger which is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.
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ccording to figures from the airlines, Continental and United serve more than 144 million passengers per year together, flying to 370 destinations in 59 countries across the US, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East. Combined benefits of the merger have been projected by the airlines to reach between USD1 and 1.2 billion annually by 2013, including up to USD900 million in incremental annual revenues. Total costs of implementing the merger have been estimated at USD1.2 billion, spread over three years. The combined company is also expected to realise between USD200 million and USD300 million of net cost synergies by 2013. The United name will be used for the combined brand, which will be based in
Chicago but will maintain offices in Houston, which will also serve as its largest hub. Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of UAL Corp (United Airlines’ holding company), will serve as non executive chairman of the combined
company until at least the end of 2012. Jeff Smisek, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Continental, will become CEO of the new United. The combined carrier will continue to fly to all destinations currently served by the separate carriers.
(L-R) Glen Tilton and Jeff Smisek MAY 8, 2010
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AIR TRAVEL NEWS
New flydubai Services to Luxor and Kabul Launch in May Low cost carrier flydubai will launch two new routes in mid-May. Flights to Kabul in Afghanistan will begin on May 17, followed by a new service to Luxor in Egypt on May 19.
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he new flights will bring flydubai’s network to 17 destinations worldwide, according to Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO of the airline. “These routes are a combination of the two different types of destinations we were set up to serve – those which have very few direct links to the UAE and those which are already popular routes but would benefit from having an additional low cost option,” he said. “Kabul is going through a very turbulent time, but providing air links on a quality
airline flying the newest, safest aircraft in the industry will ensure the brave people working to secure and develop the country will have a safe, comfortable and affordable travel option.” The Dubai-Kabul service will operate five times per week and the Dubai-Luxor service will operate three times per week. According to Ghaith, flydubai will also launch a new route to Karachi, Pakistan, seeking to take advantage of the expatriate trade to that city. “There are currently more than 700,000 expatriates from Pakistan working in the
UAE and an extra opportunity for them to travel back home has to be good news,” he said. “We are in the business of bringing more people together more often and we can see the Karachi route being a very busy one indeed.” flydubai aircraft
Saudia Private Aviation Boosts VIP Charter Fleet with Falcon 7X Saudia Private Aviation “It is a unique plane that can fly (SPA), the business aviation nonstop for over 11 hours and unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines, does not require a long runway, has received a boost to its fleet, which saves valuable time by with delivery of the first of four being able to land at lower traffic airports,” he said. Falcon 7X tri-jets. The delivery marks the first Falcon 7X aircraft in Saudi Arabia. SPA will roll out the new aircraft for VIP charter flights within the Middle East and further afield. The aircraft has a range sufficient for it to connect to cities such as New York, Tokyo or Rio De Janeiro from Saudi Arabia. Wajdi Abdullah Al-Idrissi, vice president of royal and VIP affairs, said the Falcon 7X was (L-R) Khalid Almolhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines carefully chosen to suit SPA’s with John Rosanvallon, president of Dassault Falcon Jet clientele. 10
MAY 8, 2010
AIR TRAVEL NEWS
Safi Airways Unveils Rebranding and Fleet Renewal Plan Afghanistan’s Safi Airways has revamped its fleet with new corporate branding and will add two Airbus A320s to boost capacity on its Dubai-Kabul route.
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ahim Safi, chairman of the airline, said Safi had been making a small operational profit for several months. “We have worked hard to achieve the turnaround for Safi Airways during 2009 and we have achieved our goal,” he said. “Looking forward, we see the need to put newer aircraft into service so we will introduce the A320s to our fleet as of late June 2010. “This will enable us to improve passenger convenience and utilise the crew and
MAY 8, 2010
maintenance commonality advantages of having an A320/A340 fleet.” A comprehensive overhaul programme has been planned for the airline’s current Boeing 737 fleet, which will continue operation on charter and ACMI sales, as well as during peak periods. Claus Fischer, chief commercial officer for Safi, said that despite the new fleet additions, the airline would continue to seek partnerships with other airlines. “Our clear goal is code-sharing,” said Fischer. “Our interline agreements with major
airlines like Emirates, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Qatar Airways have helped establish Safi as Afghanistan’s premier airline. “We are also putting a lot of effort into GDS distribution, which makes booking flights to Kabul much easier from anywhere in the world.”
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Indian Online Travel Company Plans to Revolutionise UAE Industry Cleartrip, an Indian online travel company, has launched a new website to serve the UAE market.
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he online travel portal will allow UAE customers to book flights and hotels, said Hrush Bhatt, founder
of Cleartrip. “With e-commerce in Dubai set to hit USD36 billion by the end of 2010, the UAE customer is demanding more choices in online travel and Cleartrip is launching a completely localised UAE product to meet this demand,” said Bhatt. “This is a mature, internet savvy market with over 60 percent internet
penetration. We believe that our bestof-breed products will revolutionise the way the UAE books travel online.” In addition to providing bookings for legacy carriers, Cleartrip’s UAE portal will offer global bookings for low cost carriers, such as Air Arabia, Air India Express and Tiger Airways.
Hrush Bhatt
The UAE customer is demanding more choices in online travel
ADTA and ADNEC Call For Input from Event Promoters Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) will partner with Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) to boost entertainment events in the emirate, following the successful launch of Abu Dhabi Hall at ADNEC. The new facility can accommodate up to 6,000 seated and 8,000 standing and has already scheduled a number of acts, ranging from international musicians to dance performances and children’s events. Ahmed Hussein, deputy director general of ADTA, said the new Abu Dhabi Hall provided the leverage needed to attract big-name acts. “There is an insatiable demand for a multi-purpose events arena of this calibre to meet the interest previously shown by 12
event organisers,” he said. “The catalysing of leisure and entertainment events is a key ADTA strategy as it serves both to enrich the visitor and resident experience while strengthening our destination appeal to our neighbouring GCC markets.” ADTA and ADNEC are encouraging event promoters to submit unique and viable entertainment event concepts, which will be evaluated for financial and non-financial support. The partnership will be promoted internationally through ADNEC’s new Box Office ticketing facility, which reaches more than 35,000 travel agents in Europe, North America and Australasia, as well as 25,000 entertainment industry promoters worldwide. MAY 8, 2010
CAR RENTAL NEWS
Hertz Partners with Oman Air Frequent Flyers
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ar rental company Hertz will provide special offers to members of Oman Air’s Sindbad Frequent Flyer Programme as part of a new partnership with the airline. Michel Taride, president of Hertz International, said the partnership would take effect from June. “As one of the region’s fastest growing airlines, Oman Air has a dynamic growth strategy which aligns directly with Hertz’s ambitions for the region,” said Taride. “With business synergies that include best-in-class service and value for money, we’re confident that the partnership will not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations.”
(L-R) Michel Taride, president of Hertz International with Abdulrazaq Alraisi, general manager of worldwide sales for Oman Air
Alamo Rent A Car Launched in UAE Alamo Rent A Car has boosted its Middle Eastern operations, launching its first services in the UAE. The company, which already has operations in Jordan, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, has opened four offices in the UAE, spread between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A dedicated website and call centre have been established to accompany the launch. Alamo’s new offices are located at the main international airports in both cities, as well as in the downtown areas of each. According to Guy Coghlan, managing director for Alamo’s Middle Eastern division, the UAE represents a strategic market for the company’s expansion into the Middle East. “This is both because it is an incredibly important inbound tourist destination, but also because we know that UAE residents want to be able to access a car rental service that has local knowledge and global reach,” he said. Alamo boasts nearly 9,000 locations across 90 countries and has been operating for more than 30 years. The company focuses primarily on the leisure rental market.
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Dollar Thrifty Moves into Skypark Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group has relocated two car rental counters to the Skypark facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The group is hoping to capitalise on an expected 10 percent increase in traffic through the airport over summer, said Sam Eltibi, executive director of Dollar Thrifty for MENA and Asia Pacific. “It is a fantastic opportunity to have both Dollar and Thrifty brands at the airport, as we benefit from the tourism boom in the emirate,” said Eltibi. “The strategic location of the Skypark facility will enable us to serve visitors from terminals one and three at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.” Dollar Thrifty currently has 50 outlets in the UAE, with a fleet of more Sam Eltibi than 17,550 vehicles. MAY 8, 2010
Halal Help: New Rating System Targets Islamic Tourism Halal-friendly travel is tipped to be one of the industry’s fastest growing market segments, according to Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of Singapore-based company Crescentrating.
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ahardeen cited the ever growing religious tourism industry and an increasingly affluent Arab population under 21 years of age as signs that halal concerns would be front of mind for a wide range of travellers in the near future. “We are seeing massive growth within this market segment and it was something we needed to be part of,” he said. As a result, Crescentrating, a company that provides halal-friendly products and services, has developed a ratings system that has been picked up by a number of hotels within the Middle East, Asia and beyond. The rating system can be used as a quick guide for travel agents who are booking
MAY 8, 2010
travel for Islamic clients. The system rates hotels from one to seven – one being the lowest and seven being the highest. The criteria for rating includes: n Prayer-related facilities n Kibla direction in rooms n Serving of halal food n Respect for the month of Ramadan n Washroom facilities suitable for Muslims n Alcohol-free “A six-rated hotel facility is one that serves halal food and does not serve alcohol at all,” explained Bahardeen. “Those that have been given a one-rating are those whose personnel are at the very
least trained to provide all the necessary information to halal-conscious guests.” Six-rated hotels have already been named in Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Other properties have been rated in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and further afield in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Crescentrating plans to roll out its ratings for restaurants, shopping malls and theme parks in the future.
Crescentrating at ATM
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Michael Scully Managing Director, Seven Tides [announcing his new family resort concept, First and Foremost – a partnership with Leading Family Hotels and Resorts] “We are the first hotel management group with our own market segment that can stimulate real inbound tourism growth in the region. Our hotels operate at 92 percent occupancy, with over 60 percent coming from existing Leading Family Hotels and Resorts clientele, who book directly through our website. This is why we are confident of attracting new visitors to Dubai, giving real growth and benefiting the economy, while offering very favourable returns for hotel owners. We have already spoken to a number of investors and the feedback we have received is very positive, thus we hope to make an announcement in the near future about our first property in the Middle East.”
We hope to make an announcement in the near future about our first property in the Middle East Hotel Alpenrose, a Leading Family Hotels and Resorts property
Michael Scully
Eric Cocher CEO of Media Pro Middle East [on sports tourism] “There are basically three areas [of sports tourism], including event visiting, participation sport and nostalgia. The latter is probably the smallest market, but attracts people who want to come along after an event, such as the Olympics or a baseball match, to see where it all happened, to visit the venues around the city, the associated museums and so on. Event watchers don’t just include those fans who turn up to watch the event at the venue, but also who watch it on TV anywhere in the world. For instance, the Dubai racing attracts a relatively small number of live spectators, but it is watched by some 60,000 to 80,000 people on TV. Of course, it is the active supporters of events that you want to attract to your hotels. In general, it is the females in the family who decide where to go on holiday – the men choose their sport, but the women decide on the details.”
It is the females in the family who decide where to go on holiday
Emirates, FIFA World Cup partner
Etihad Airways, principal sponsor of Abu Dhabi's Grand Prix
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MAY 8, 2010
Ferrari World Opening Date Announced Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will open on October 28 this year, developers of the upcoming theme park have revealed. The opening has been scheduled in close proximity to the second Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, preceding the event by three weeks. Also unveiled was one of the park’s key attractions – the world’s fastest roller coaster, named Formula Rossa. The park will include 20 rides in total upon completion, including another roller coaster and a water ride modelled on the interior of a Ferrari engine. Abu Dhabi’s Aldar has developed the park, which Mohammed al Mubarak, chief commercial officer of the company, claimed would become an important attraction for both leisure and business tourism to the emirate. “Signature projects like this are another element of our commitment and contribution to Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, by delivering attractions that further enhance the Emirate’s credentials as an inspiring place to live and visit,” he said.
Amadeus Launches New Booking Tool Travel technology and distribution system provider Amadeus has announced its new Amadeus Agency Internet Engine (e-Power) Corporate Edition, designed for travel agencies in the Middle East. The system can be used to book flights, hotels and car rentals, combining business and leisure focussed features into a single system. Antoine Medawar, vice president of Amadeus Middle East and North Africa, said the new tool was specifically aimed at the region’s large corporate entities. “The Middle East is a region with a large expatriate population and for many companies issuing an annual family vacation travel ticket requires an internal approval process,” he explained. “E-Power Corporate Edition is a booking engine that supports reservations for employees and their dependents along with profile creation.”
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
MAY 8, 2010
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Gina Costa
Michael Koth
Car rental brand Hertz has appointed Gina Costa as commercial director for the Middle East and Africa. Hertz opened its first regional corporate office for the region in Dubai in 2009, with plans to continue expansion in the Middle East and Africa. Costa has worked in the travel and tourism industry for 18 years, having previously held senior roles with Hertz in Europe and Australia. She also worked in the airline industry, with the now defunct airline Ansett Australia. In her new role, Costa will lead a support team for the 11 Hertz franchisees in the Middle East and 23 in Africa; these franchisees currently operate 66 outlets in the Middle East and 161 in Africa.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Michael Koth as the new general manager of Semiramis InterContinental Cairo, Egypt. Koth has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry with IHG. He has previously worked as a general manager on several other properties across Germany, Greece, Hungary and Qatar.
Michael Koth
Kifah M Melhem
Kifah M Melhem
Safir International Hotel, Kuwait, has appointed Kifa M Melhem as general manager. Melhem previously worked for Ramada International in Muscat. He holds a bachelor of science in business administration and has completed further study in leadership and strategic management. During his 20 year career, Melhem has held several management positions at international hotel chains, including Hyatt, Starwood, Coral International and Wyndham. In his new role, Melhem will focus on developing and implementing new business strategies to revitalise Safir International Hotel.
Geert Boven
Gina Costa
Global distribution system (GDS) provider Amadeus has appointed Geert Boven as managing director for Amadeus Gulf. Boven will oversee Amadeus’ operations in the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Boven previously worked at Etihad Airways as executive vice president of customer services and airport operations. He has more than 30 years of experience in aviation and travel, having previously worked with KLM and Martinair Holland.
Geert Boven
Bassam Abdullatif Al Mosa Etihad Airways has appointed Bassam Abdullatif Al Mosa as vice president of corporate investments and subsidiaries. Al Mosa will manage investment projects for the airline, as well as seeking new strategic investments. He also holds key positions in a number of Etihad subsidiaries, including chairman of the board of Airline Services Centre, board director of Amadeus Gulf and board director of Aldar Etihad Investments Property. He has spent three years working with Etihad’s corporate finance team. Previously, Al Mosa held senior roles at Abu Dhabi Free Zone and Dophin Energy Limited. He holds a bachelor of finance and master degree of public administration. 18
Bassam Abdullatif Al Mosa MAY 8, 2010
Q&A with Taleb Rifai Travel Trade Weekly presents an exclusive interview with Taleb Rifai, secretary general of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Travel Trade Weekly: Could you please tell me about the mission of the UNWTO? Taleb Rifai: The UNWTO is essentially an intergovernmental agency under the umbrella of the UN; and so, in a broader sense, our mission involves the pursuit unity, development and world peace and all the other objectives of the UN. However, as an agency specialising in tourism we are expected to provide global leadership to the industry. We also provide technical assistance and help to our member states. We are less political than the main body of the UN, are more about trying to champion the causes of the industry and to give the industry a political voice. We are unique in the UN system in that we have what we call affiliate members, who are participants from the private sector; all major tourism operators are members with us. We see our mission as providing leadership to the industry, not just the public sector. For instance, we would never work out a policy document with a member state without full partnership with the private sector. So, we do find ourselves sometimes at odds, but so much as the main UN.
Travel Trade Weekly: Is there a conflict of interests when it comes to profit driven companies influencing public policies that might have nonfiscal criteria for success? Taleb Rifai: In a way, the whole world has come together in realising that the public good is important to everyone and that the economy requires everyone’s input to function healthily. This is particularly true in our sector, MAY 8, 2010
where tourism has often come to be seen as the private sector’s responsibility, but we are trying to get governments more involved.
Taleb Rifai
Travel Trade Weekly: What or where is the main focus of your work? Taleb Rifai: All regions need us in different ways. If you divide the world, simplistically, into developed and emerging markets, one hand or the other, then we do different work with each. We dedicate most of our efforts to emerging destinations, where our help might be needed to assess potential, develop assets and improve quality and performance. However, the tourism sector in developed countries has different needs; there the market is mature and saturated, but they need our help to be innovative, to become smarter, to maintain their position. They also need our political work, to get the industry recognised as part of the political agendas in these places. The tourism sector is often left more or less on its own, without strong public sector support, or national policies. We have done a lot of work developing national tourism policies, and I could run through quite a list of countries where this has been very successful; there is China, Vietnam, Maldives and at least a dozen in Africa. We have also helped many countries around the world with updating their legislation in regards to tourism.
Travel Trade Weekly: Do you offer the same policy advice to all countries – is there a UNWTO model for tourism development? Taleb Rifai: We are very uncomfortable with straightjacket approaches, so we
tailor our missions to the needs of the people wherever we are working. Our only overriding objective is to be true to the principles of sustainability. We have twelve indicators of sustainability that we use as a reference, and whatever our intervention looks like, it must be true to these principles.
Travel Trade Weekly: What should be the main priority in the Middle East, when it comes to developing the tourism sector? Taleb Rifai: The Middle East needs to work harder at repositioning its brand and image. Egypt has done this very well, despite occasional incidents, as have Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and even Lebanon in recent times. We need to do more to demonstrate the visitability of the area, and encourage movement between countries. If people could travel more easily between countries it would have a huge impact – no regions are succeeding without allowing more fluid movements. 19
Dubai Summer Surprises Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment has prepared the 2010 edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), which is expected to draw tourists from around the region to boost business during the summer months. Kicking off on June 17, the event will run until August 7, offering shopping, family entertainment and prizes. Laila Suhail, CEO for Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, said the event would include Modhesh World, an indoor entertainment venue that attracted 500,000 visitors during DSS 2009. “Dubai Summer Surprises marks its thirteenth edition this year and comes
after more than a decade of welcoming and entertaining millions of visitors from across the world,” said Suhail. “The event has come a long way in its strive towards positioning Dubai as a leading summer destination and every year the vital economic sectors in Dubai reap the fruits of DSS in the form of enhanced business. “We are looking forward to further elevate the benefits of our summer extravaganza towards all stake holders and attract more tourists from the region and the world this year.” Suhail added that airlines, hotels, government departments and private
organisations had co-operated to provide attractive travel and accommodation packages to encourage tourists to attend the event.
Dubai Summer Surprises
Events HOTEC Middle East Muscat, Oman, May 7-10 (www.mcleaneventsinternational.com/events/HotecMid dleEast2010) Business to business meetings forum for hotel owners, developers and operators to meet with suppliers. China Hotel Investment Conference Shanghai, China, May 12- 14 (www.chinahotelconference.com) Conference focusing on hotel investment in China. Food and Hotel Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 16-18 Meeting of professionals from the Saudi food and hospitality industries. Oman Travel Market Muscat, Oman, May 17-19 (www.oite.com/otm/2010) Exhibition for the promotion of Oman to as an international destination.
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Travel World Expo Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 19-20 Exhibition for domestic, regional and international tourism enterprises. The Hotel Show Dubai, UAE, May 18-20 (www.thehotelshow.com) Exhibition for hoteliers and suppliers to the hotel industry. IMEX Frankfurt, Germany, May 25-7 (www.imex-frankfurt.com) Major international exhibition for the meetings and events industry. Global Travel and Tourism Summit Beijing, China, May 25- 27 (www.globaltraveltourism.com) High level gathering of travel industry chairs and CEOs.
MAY 8, 2010