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The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa (formerly known as Burj Dubai), opened on January 4, reaching a final height of 828m.
VoluntourIsm Jordan’s first voluntourism campaign begins in January with a visit from David Clemmons, the founder of voluntourism.org.
3 Rate Caps The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has declared that it is unlikely to regulate hotel rates during major events in 2010.
5 In This Issue Market Update Accommodation News International News Air & Cruising News Travel Tips Travel Talk Who’s Moved Rendezvous Events JANUARY 9, 2010
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tRaVel tRaDe WeeKlY Deputy Editor Laura Warne
labour market ripe for picking, says Kempinksi
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ccording to Ulrich T Eckhardt, president of Kempinski Middle East and Africa, the time is right to invest in staff development and recruitment. “The labour market is teeming with talent at this point,” he said. “Companies that invest in ongoing human development are very attractive to people looking to build a long and prosperous career in this industry.” A global study published in 2009 in cooperation
with Cornish University surveyed 243 managers in the international hospitality industry, finding that 64 percent of respondents said retention, training and morale were key areas of concern. In the Middle East, managers listed staff attraction as their most important concern. Karen Thorburn, Kempinski regional director of training, said Kempinski used the global downturn as an opportunity to train staff. “With business levels being a little quieter it was the perfect time to take people off the floor and into the classroom,” she explained.
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More Travel Planned For 2010
MENA Exchange Rates Accurate as of 6/1/2010 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= 3.67 5.45 3.75 1501 0.37 0.7 45.5 0.28 3.64 0.38 1.32 7.86 9980 205.76 71.8 1.23
Two recent surveys by travel industry insiders have shown a positive outlook for travel in the year to come. The Business Travel and Meetings Show conducted a survey of business travellers that showed more travel was planned in 2010 than 2009. Of the respondents, 91 percent said they would travel the same or more in 2010 as in 2009. Similarly, online travel agent Travelsupermarket.com revealed data that indicated a boosted leisure market. According to Travelsupermarket’s survey, 10 percent more travellers planned to take one or two holidays in 2010 compared to 2009. Despite the upswing, Travelsupermarket emphasised the importance of value to today’s travellers and listed several countries in the MENA region that were likely to benefit from their reputation as cost effective destinations. Turkey, Egypt and Morocco headed the company’s list of high-value countries. The list also included Poland, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica and Kenya, in descending order. JANUARY 9, 2010
Jordan Volunteers to target tourism niche Jordan’s first voluntourism campaign begins in January with a visit from David Clemmons, the founder of voluntourism.org.
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ordan Inbound Tour Operators Association ( JITOA) established the voluntourism project to highlight the growing trend towards combining volunteer work with tourism. JITOA was awarded a grant of EUR10,000 (USD14,369) by the Jordan Service Modernisation Programme, funded by the European Commission, in recognition of its quick response to the global economic downturn. The funds will be used to explore and
develop voluntourism opportunities and programmes in Jordan, according to Nizar Al Adarbeh, director of JITOA. “We realised the need to highlight this trend as one of Jordan’s niche tourism markets and the crucial need for building solid bridges between the inbound tour operators and NGOs, showcasing the volunteering opportunities in Jordan,” said Al Adarbeh. The project will include a series of presentations, educational seminars and panel discussions.
Voluntourism on the Al Ayoun Trail
Sharjah Takes its Show on the Road with International Event Schedule Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has set a target of participation in 23 international exhibitions and road shows on its promotional agenda for 2010. Mohammed Al Noman said international events had proven to be highly effective in promoting Sharjah’s tourism attractions on a global scale. “We have enjoyed tremendous success through participation in various
exhibitions and travel markets around the world in the past and we anticipate that our activities in 2010 will add to the rush of new tourists to our shores once again,” said Al Noman. “We have a particularly busy year ahead of us in terms of our promotion plans, which include several of the world’s biggest tourism exhibitions. “I have no doubt whatsoever that 2010 is going to be a big year for us and we are
ready and dedicated to meeting its various challenges head on.” In addition to major travel exhibitions such as ITB Berlin, ATM and WTM, the authority will also be present at MITT Moscow, TUR Gothenburg, GIBTM Abu Dhabi, ITB Asia and BITE Exhibition in Beijing. SCTDA will also present a number of road shows across the GCC and Eastern Europe.
Al Masaood Travel Opens New Al Ain Showroom Al Masaood Travel and Services has opened a new showroom in Al Ain, with the intention of cementing its position in the UAE market. Hadi Abou Nasr, CEO of Al Masaood Travel and Services, said the new branch was designed to present a modern, exciting environment for travel services. “We consider our new office to be the only destination for the very best advice in travel,” said Houltby. He added that the company has enjoyed rapid growth and now operates several branches across Aub Dhabi and Al Ain. Al Masaood has three divisions for holidays, travel management and logistics. JANUARY 9, 2010
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ACCOMMODATION NEWS
antique Hotel turns ten, Celebrates Conservation Al Maha Hotel and Resort has celebrated its tenth birthday.
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he hotel was the first property opened by Emirates’ luxury wing, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, and the first of the company’s conservation themed resorts. Emphasising environmental conservation and showcasing Emirati heritage, the hotel now boasts one of the largest private collections of Arabian antiquities in the Gulf. According to Tony Williams, senior vice president for resorts and projects at Emirates Hotels and Resorts, although the items were gathered to decorate the hotel, an emphasis on heritage and education had guided the selection. “It is important for any community to understand its heritage and this collection maintains the region's heritage, preserving the cultural links of this modern society with its history and desert lore,” he said. “From the outset, our goal at Al Maha was to maintain the region's heritage. Recording its history is as much a part of our
Al Maha Hotel and Resort
responsibility as our wildlife conservation programmes. It took a long time tracing and sourcing the right pieces, but the end result has been worth the effort.”
The hotel now accommodates over 2,000 Arabian antiques, including a 260 year old Bedouin tent, ancient camel saddle, furniture, homewares and jewellery.
reservations on January 1. The hotel includes 95 apartments, a 24 hour coffee shop, business facilities, and an
Indian/Japanese fusion restaurant. The hotel apartments are located on the Dubai Marina, three minutes from the Marina Mall.
Lotus Opens in Marina The NMC Group has launched its third hotel apartment property in Dubai, opening the Lotus Hotel Apartments for
North Africa Provides Fertile Fields for Growing Tulips Louvre Hotels and Golden Tulip Hospitality Group has announced a developmental strategy focused on North Africa. The group, conglomerated since mid 2009, expanded rapidly in that year, opening 60 hotels worldwide. Pierre Frédéric Roulot, president of the group, said the company planned to 4
operate 1,250 hotels by the end of 2011. “The goal is to cement our presence in Europe while venturing out to conquer new expanding or developing areas,” he said. Louvre and Golden Tulip recently opened two properties in Tunisia and has announced that the North African region is central to future development plans. JANUARY 9, 2010
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
abu Dhabi room rates uncapped in 2010 The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has declared that it is unlikely to regulate hotel rates during major events in 2010.
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policy of rate capping was implemented for several events in 2009, but according to Nasser Al Reyami, director of tourism standards at ADTA, market forces would be adequate to prevent price gouging in 2010. “Market forces by themselves are producing a more competitive environment, making it easier for major meetings and events producers to satisfy demand from
Grand Spring Opening for Millennium Hotel The opening of Grand Millennium Hotel and Spa Al Wahda has been announced for spring 2010 in Abu Dhabi. The eco-oriented hotel will comprise 850 rooms, suites and apartments, with construction and operation conforming to environmental standards. Abel Damergi, general manager of the hotel, said the property’s connection to Al Wahda Mall offered tremendous potential. “Our aim is to achieve a great harmonisation with this stunning location,” said Damergi.
(L-R) Abel Damergi, general manager of Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi with Tarek Elsherif, regional director of sales and marketing for the Middle East. JANUARY 9, 2010
participants and visitors,” he said. Al Reyami pointed out that 4,500 rooms across 11 hotels had been opened in Abu Dhabi over the past 12 months, giving the emirate a total inventory of 111 hotels with 17,000 rooms between them. “This new hospitality landscape has changed the entire demand/supply equation and competition is increasing with the obvious impact on rate structures,” said Al Reyami. “These makes the need for rate caps virtually redundant.”
Nasser Al Reyami
Sindbad Sails into Rotana Oman Air has added Rotana’s hotel portfolio to its Sindbad frequent flyer programme. Sindbad members will receive 500 frequent flyer miles for each qualifying stay at a Rotana property. Oman Air has also announced that it will offer double frequent flyer miles on Rotana properties until March 31, as an introductory bonus. According to Peter Hill, CEO of Oman Air, the airline is seeking to integrate itself
more fully with its hospitality partners. “Our focus is to create partnerships that go beyond earning miles and offer our members a seamless extension of the hospitality and comfort that they experience with Oman Air,” he said. “Rotana has a strong presence in the Middle East and North Africa and our members will now have a wider choice of properties that offer warm Arabian hospitality, international standards and luxurious splendour.”
Burj Khalifa Opens The world’s tallest building, formerly known as the Burj Dubai, opened on January 4, attracting an audience of 6,000 invited guests. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, unveiled the completed building and renamed it the Burj Khalifa in recognition of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE. At its final height, the project stands 828m tall. In addition to office space, apartments and food and beverage outlets, Burj Dubai
will include the world’s first Armani Hotel, set to open in March, 2010. Burj Khalifa
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Globespan Creditors seek Clear resolution E-Clear, the payment solutions company responsible for credit card payments to the recently bankrupt travel company Globespan Group, has been told to hand over GBP35 million (USD56.5 million) in undelivered payments.
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ccording to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the firm handling Globespan’s administration, E-Clear’s retention of Globespan funds contributed to the group’s collapse. PWC has requested that E-Clear transfer
the funds to a joint bank account immediately, but admitted that little progress had been made in talks with EClear. Bruce Cartwright, joint administrator of Globespan for PWC, said that by transferring the funds E-Clear would demonstrate its willingness to cooperate
with Globespan’s creditors. “We believe our proposal provides a commercial and transparent approach and will help to address the concerns of Globespan creditors. It will also go some way to allowing the parties to demonstrate that they are approaching this matter in a cooperative manner,” he said.
Travelport Points the Way to Bonuses for Travel Agents Travelport has introduced a new incentives scheme for European travel agents using the company’s global distribution systems. The programme is being piloted in Poland, allowing registered agents to earn points for all bookings made through the Travelport systems. According to Marcin Pilarski, regional director for Travelport in North Eastern Europe, these points can then be both
tracked and redeemed on the Travelport website. Incentives include a variety of consumer products, such as iPods and perfume. Piotr Stepniewski, president of the eSky travel company was positive about the scheme and said that he expected the Travelport Points system to motivate workers and increase efficiency. “We are delighted to be participating in the
Travelport Points programme,” he said. Pilarski said that the trial had been very successful in Poland so far and that Travelport planned to expand the programme to include other European countries in coming months. “This [programme] is very much part of Travelport’s continued and sustained investment into Eastern Europe,” he declared.
US Security Measures Could Discourage Travellers Roger Dow, CEO of the US Travel Association, has warned that increased security on US bound flights could impact the desirability of the country as a destination. Despite his misgivings, Dow said that he supported the current measures as being appropriate to current security capabilities. “The Transportation Security Agency's newly announced security policies for international travellers to the US are appropriate steps within the resources available today,” he said. However, he urged a strategy overhaul to ensure that efficiency was not compromised in the pursuit of security. “It is no secret that today's travel security 6
screening processes - domestic and international - are not as efficient and effective as travellers and our country demand,” Dow said. “Recent events highlight the need for a detailed review of our current security apparatus and a comprehensive analysis of the most effective systems, techniques and technologies to secure the travel process.” Dow went on to urge the US government to communicate with travellers and ensure that the country continued to be perceived as a welcoming destination. “Unintentionally making the United States a less desirable place to visit for business, study or leisure will hinder our economic recovery and our public
diplomacy efforts around the world," he warned. Roger Dow
JANUARY 9, 2010
AIR TRAVEL & CRUISING NEWS
Qatar airways expands Fleet Qatar Airways has added four new aircraft to its fleet and declared its commitment to modernising its services.
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he carrier has taken delivery of two Airbus A320 aircraft and two Boeing 777200 long-range
aircraft. For the first time Qatar Airways has introduced seat-back entertainment systems to its narrow body aircraft, with the new planes providing individual access to various movies, television programmes and audio services. According to Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, the incorporation of the entertainment systems was a response to the rising expectations of passengers. “Today's consumer is becoming more demanding,” he said. “We at Qatar Airways recognise the
need to remain at the forefront of the aviation industry by flying modern aircraft and offering the best levels of comfort and inflight amenities." Al Baker confirmed that the deliveries were part of an ongoing growth strategy and that the carrier would continue to expand aggressively. “Our latest order demonstrates Qatar Airways' strong commitment towards continuing its aggressive global expansion strategy. Despite the current economic climate hanging over many economies around the world, Qatar Airways continues to build on a clear long term strategy to develop its operations globally," he stated. Qatar Airways currently has orders outstanding on a further 220 aircraft, with a total value of more than USD40 billion.
Akbar Al Baker
IATA Chief Calls for Safety Rethink Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has called for a new approach to airport security, following the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 on December 25, 2009. Although he noted that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had maintained the confidence of passengers by imposing extra security measures, Bisignani said that a paradigm Giovanni Bisignani
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shift would be necessary to maintain security in the long term. “The air transport system cannot support 100 percent pat-down searches over the long term,” he said. IATA has recommended a smaller percentage of intensive pat—downs accompanied by updated screening technology and procedures to meet immediate security requirements with reduced delays. However, Bisignani stated that a short term intensification of security was a temporary solution and that the aviation industry needed to rethink its approach to screening for hazards. “Instead of looking for bad things—nail clippers and rogue bottles of shampoo— security systems need to focus on finding bad people. Adding new hardware to an
old system will not deliver the results we need,” he said. Bisignani recommended increased cooperation between governments and the private sector, urging an integration of government intelligence with screening technology. “It is time for governments to invest in a process built around a check point of the future that combines the best of screening technology with the best of intelligence gathering. Such a system would give screeners access to important passenger data to make effective risk assessments,” he said. “The data is being collected. The technology exists. Industry is supportive. Now ICAO and governments must work together to make such a process a reality with global harmonisation and data-sharing.” JANUARY 9, 2010
AIR TRAVEL & CRUISING NEWS
GDs providers sign new Content agreements The start of 2010 has seen major global distribution system (GDS) providers Amadeus and Travelport secure new content agreements with key airlines.
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madeus has added full content access to both Lufthansa and swiss airlines to its portfolio, effective from March 1. The agreement will give travel agents access to all Lufthansa and swiss inventories, without surcharge until the agreement expires in 2014. According to Phillipe Chérèque, executive vice president commercial at Amadeus, the contract would streamline the process of booking with the airlines
for Amadeus GDS subscribers. “We are delighted with this agreement which brings comfort, stability and efficiency to the many thousands of travel agents worldwide who make bookings on Lufthansa and SWISS,” he said. Gulf Air has extended a similar full content agreement with Travelport, continuing the availability of its inventory through the Galileo and Worldspan global distribution systems. According to Alana Ngoh, public relations manager at Travelport, the company does not publicise the length of
its content agreements. Lars Denew, director of distribution and e-commerce at Gulf Air, said the partnership would improve distribution efficiency for the airline and help reduce the cost of bookings. “As part of our distribution strategy, we aim to offer our products and service to the global travel agency community at the best possible cost,” he said. “Travelport is ideally positioned to support our needs through its very extensive worldwide network of users.”
Small Ship Cruise Line Plans World’s Longest Cruise in March Small ship cruise operator, Cruise West will launch the world’s longest cruise in March 2010. Lasting 335 days, the Cruises of the Great Explorers package is set to be the longest sailing since Magellan’s 16th century circumnavigation, according to the company. Undertaken by the 120 suite Spirit of Oceanus ship, the cruise will visit 252 ports, 52 countries and six continents.
The itinerary is based on the travels of various historical explorers, including Marco Polo, Odysseus, Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan. Passengers can book for the entire cruise or select individual sailings within the schedule. According to Cruise West, the itinerary will focus on smaller ports and attractions made accessible by the Spirit
of Oceanus’ relatively shallow draught. Highlights incorporated into the cruise include staying with the traditional Emberá people of Panama; the monolithic effigies of Easter Island; Greek and Roman ruins in the Mediterranean; and stops in Egypt, Oman and Turkey, with side trips to Jordan and Eritrea. Bonus offers including cabin discounts and free flights are available for bookings made before January 15.
“It will also give passengers out of Spain much easier access to our international hub in Dubai, where they can travel onwards to popular destinations in Asia and the Far East. “If there is one route that we have been repeatedly asked about in recent years, it
is Spain, so I believe we will make a lot of people very happy with this announcement.” Madrid will be Emirates’ fourth new destination for 2010, following the launch of flights to Tokyo, Amsterdam and Prague.
Emirates to Madrid Emirates Airline will begin flights from Dubai to Madrid, Spain, in August. The new route will bring the carrier’s European destinations to 25. The daily, non-stop service will be unique in the emirate, according to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of Emirates. “The new Madrid route is particularly significant because we will provide the only scheduled passenger service between Dubai and Spain,” he said. JANUARY 9, 2010
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aDta sets sector-Wide Green tourism target Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) will lead a new campaign targeting sector-wide reductions in water, energy and waste by the end of 2010.
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he aim of ADTA’s Environmental, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) is to achieve savings of 10 percent energy, 20 percent water and 20 percent waste-to-landfill. Nassesr Al Reyami, director of tourism standards at ADTA, admitted the targets were ambitious, but said they would bring Abu Dhabi’s tourism offerings in line with the world’s greenest hotels. The initiatives have been rolled out in a
series of seminars and workshops that outlined how organisations could develop and audit individual EHSMS. “We have received a tremendous response to the initiative, with more than 130 representatives from the emirate’s 113 hotels and hotel apartments responding,” said Al Reyami. “Participants have been extremely positive about the initiative, viewing it as a significant investment in the hotel sector.” He added that ADTA’s initiative was the
first in the world developed to encompass an entire tourism sector. ADTA has committed to supporting the hospitality sector throughout the project implementation, with subsidised training workshops. “The requirements have a solid business outcome for the entire tourism sector,” said Al Reyami. “They will boost standards, lift Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a pleasant and safe place to visit and deliver substantial return on investment for accommodation providers.”
Sabre Extends Partnership in Lebanon Sabre Travel Network Middle East (STNME) has signed a three year extension to its current agreement with El Ajouz Travel in Lebanon. Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO of STNME, said El Ajouz would use Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS) exclusively. “This agreement is a testament to the great strides Sabre is making in the Levant market today,” he said. STNME signed a training agreement with Al Manar University of Tripoli in Lebanon in 2009. It now delivers a number of introductory and advanced courses, targeting entry level travel professionals around the region.
(L-R) Daniel Naoumovitch with Hasan El Ajouz, owner of El Ajouz Travel
Technology Show Will Be Venue for iVector Showcase, Intuitive says Online travel agent system provider, Intuitive, has announced that it will showcase updates to its iVector platform at the Travel Technology Show 2010 (TTS) in London, UK. The updates include a range of third party management, monitoring and configuration tools and nearly 20 new interfaces. According to Arthur Moulding, managing director of Intuitive, the enhancements 10
have come in response to feedback from the company’s existing clients. Intuitive clients include LowCost Travel Group, Thomas Cook Benelux, Amro Worldwide and Getabed.co.uk, described by Moulding as some of the biggest and most innovative companies in the industry. Moulding said that the new features would accelerate processing times and lower overheads for users and that an
improved outlook for 2010 made TTS the ideal venue to showcase the updated technology. “We have certainly seen an industry-wide increase in optimism in the later stages of 2009 and we hope to see this reflected at the show,” he said. “The Travel Technology show always provides us with a strong, positive start to the year and in many ways is a bellwether for the industry and the year ahead.” JANUARY 9, 2010
Tips and tricks from industry experts, bringing you the latest in emerging destinations, technology, marketing and travel trends.
IHG’s tips for 2010 InterContinental Hotels Group has shared its insights into the year ahead, listing the top travel trends for 2010. Compiled by Nick Rich, director of consumer insight in Europe the Middle East and Africa for IHG, the big ideas for the next twelve months will be: Traveller Loyalty “Consumers are making decisions based on value, not price” said Rich. Travellers are increasingly returning to hotels that they have stayed in previously, driven by the increasing importance of brands and a growing interest in loyalty schemes. Smaller travel budgets have inspired guests to cash in their previously earned points or favour particular chains in order to maximise loyalty club returns. Always On Keeping abreast of technology will be key in the coming year, according to Rich, and not just for in-hotel applications. The travel industry is seeing new technology emerge rapidly and keeping in touch with the technology that consumers are using will be critical to staying ahead. “In 2010, there won’t be a hotelier anywhere in the world who doesn’t appreciate the influence and power of TripAdvisor,” said Rich. Likewise, Rich advised using Twitter to reach out to guests and emphasised the importance of communicating to guests through the latest data channels.
Luxury Snacking The global downturn has impacted travel budgets worldwide, but travellers are unwilling to give up their indulgences entirely. Rich predicted a trend for quick-fix, shortterm luxury stays in lieu of longer holidays in 2010.
“Bleisure” The combination of business and leisure is more than a silly portmanteau; it is one of the most important shifts of consumer behaviour in recent times. Big in 2007-8, this trend is expected to continue in 2010, with business travellers increasingly supplementing corporate travel with personal leave and exploring the destinations that they visit primarily for work.
The Staycation Stays The trend for travellers to remain close to home in 2009 will continue in 2010 and Rich expects domestic travel to continue to grow. Pop Ups and Third Spaces Instant hotels are set for their moment of fame and multi-purpose living areas will be the new paradigm in accommodation design. “Take the hotel to the guest rather than be limited by the location of their bricks and mortar,” said Rich. Similarly, third spaces - areas not office or home but something other - will continue to emerge. Shared, multi use areas for work, leisure and relaxation should be watched for in the coming year. Female Business Travellers Offerings tailored specifically to businesswomen will increase in 2010, particularly in the Middle East. Rich pointed to the first female-only hotel in Saudi Arabia and said that growing numbers of female travellers would make the expansion of the concept inevitable.
New Feature for Princess’ POLAR Online Booking System Princess Cruises has added a new feature to its online booking engine, POLAR, which will help travel agents stay up to date with their customers’ expectations. The new feature allows POLAR users to track which bonuses and discounts have been offered to a particular customer, which Jan Swartz, executive vice president of sales 12
at Princess, says will make selling easier. “With this new POLAR Online feature, our travel partners will be able to easily look up each of their customers and see exactly what special rates or discounts we've offered to them and use this information to assist with bookings or to help spur sales,” he said. JANUARY 9, 2010
Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan
Nicole Donato
Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) “With ever expanding attractions, tour and infrastructure propositions impacting the face of tourism throughout the emirate, we begin the next 12 months with a solid base on which to move significantly ahead in our aim of developing a world-class destination of distinction. We have, of course, much to achieve, but the huge strides we have made underline exceptional progress for such a youthful entrant onto the world tourism stage.”
“There are a number of our guests who express concern for the environment and often they put forward suggestions – this shows it is an issue and that working together for a better environment can benefit the hotel business.”
Platinum Hotel Apartments
Working together for a better environment can benefit the hotel business
Ghaith al Ghaith CEO of flydubai “The best way to bag the cheapest fares with Flydubai is to book early and book online. Releasing our 2010 summer schedule well in advance will allow our customers to plan ahead, giving them the opportunity to book early and take advantage of better rates.”
The best way to bag the cheapest fares is to book early and book online
Ghaith al Ghaith
Haifa Maskari Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing, Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat
Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan
We begin the next 12 months with a solid base
“I strongly believe it is necessary to have an active cooperation between hotels and educational institutions to create a generation of educated young people. These skills will be recognised at a later stage of their career. In today’s world there is a constant need to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout working life. The students will experience real day to day work challenges; they will learn to be quick, know the system well and above all, have first hand [interaction] with the guest experience.”
There is a constant need to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout working life
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 JANUARY 9, 2010
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Ashwini Kumar
Abel Damergi
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and Hyatt International Corporation have appointed Ashwini Kumar as general manager of Hyatt at Capital Centre in Abu Dhabi. Kumar previously worked as hotel manager of the Grand Hyatt Dubai and spent ten years at the Hyatt Regency Dubai in various senior roles.
Abel Damergi has been appointed as general manager of the new Millenium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi. He previously worked as general manager at properties by Marriott, Shangri-La and Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts. Damergi holds a degree in hotel catering, institutional management and hotel management.
Abel Damergi
Hareb Al Muhairy
Ashwini Kumar
Colin Lubbe Colin Lubbe has been appointed as chief financial officer for Kempinski Hotels. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Lubbe will be responsible for increasing the performance of the finance and IT departments on a corporate, region and hotel level. Lubbe was previously the vice president of financial shared services for Hyatt Corporation in Chicago, US. He has 27 years of experience in international hospitality and has opened 26 hotels in Germany, Switzerland, the US and South Africa. 14
Etihad Airways has appointed Hareb Al Muhairy as vice president of corporate communications. Al Muhairy will be responsible for Etihad’s global media strategy and will function as a media spokesperson. He has held several positions in marketing and product development with Etihad and was posted in London as business development manager. He studied political science and management at the UAE University in Al Ain.
Hareb Al Muhairy
Ma’moun Malhas
Ma’moun Malhas Ma’moun Malhas has been appointed general manager of Petra Marriott Hotel. Malhas began his career in 1981 at Amman Marriott Hotel as sales manager. He has also worked with Jeddah Marriott Hotel and InterContinental Hotels Group. Most recently, he was general manager of Crowne Plaza Resort in Petra, Jordan.
JANUARY 9, 2010
Q&a with Claus Fischer Safi Airways is the first Afghan airline to comply with the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Based in both Dubai and Kabul, the airline currently operates scheduled and charter services from Kabul to Frankfurt, Dubai and Kuwait. Claus Fischer, chief operating officer for Safi, talks to Travel Trade Weekly about the challenges of operating in Afghanistan and the airline’s plans for 2010.
Travel Trade Weekly: How was Travel Trade Weekly: Is the market performance for Safi Airways in 2009? competitive, or does Safi hold the Claus Fischer: Performance in 2009 was majority of market share in excellent. We increased sales by 100 percent Afghanistan? How do you plan to deal with competition in the future? and we enjoy great loadfactors now. Claus Fischer: The market is very Travel Trade Weekly: What are the competitive but we enjoy a strong airline’s plans for 2010? Will the airline loadfactor and most expats only fly Safi. offer new routes? Will there be changes We don’t really look at market share. With 96 percent of flights on time we are to the company’s business plan? Claus Fischer: 2010 is the year of the market leader, because passengers interlining. From February onward we will partner with Lufthansa, Emirates, United and Qatar Airways. For the first time ever travellers can now fly to Kabul with one single fare and ticket. On March 4, we will launch our new Kabul to Doha route and in April, a Kabul to Delhi route.
want that. Claus Fischer
Travel Trade Weekly: What is your target market? Has this changed, or do you expect to see changes to this market in the future? Claus Fischer: We target the visiting friends and relatives traffic of Afghans living abroad, to bring them together with their families. But expats from all over the world make up a big part of our business.
Travel Trade Weekly: The airline is based in Kabul and Dubai – what challenges do you face operating in these cities? Claus Fischer: Having two bases is a Travel Trade Weekly: What is the challenge, true, but the technical state of the tourism industry in environment in Kabul (for example, the Afghanistan? slow internet, no check-in system, etc) Claus Fischer: Given the security issues simply takes more effort, therefore we also have our office in Dubai. JANUARY 9, 2010
there is no true tourism in Afghanistan, although it is such a beautiful country.
There is no true tourism in Afghanistan, although it is such a beautiful country Travel Trade Weekly: What initiatives or strategies do you think would improve the industry? Claus Fischer: There are several initiatives that are needed. Firstly, there needs to be a leveled playing field; passenger insurance should be made mandatory for all airlines (Safi already has this in place). Also, safety standards must be the same across the board. 15
Sharjah Spring Promotions to Kick Off in January The Sharjah Spring Promotions festival will run from January 21 to February 28, according to the event’s organising committee. The festival will promote tourism, trade and marketing throughout Sharjah. It will be organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and will be overseen by Sharjah Economic Development Department, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Sharjah Municipality. Hussein Mohammad Al Mahmoudi, director general of SCCI said the festival was one of the emirate’s major initiatives for stimulating the local economy
and promoting investment opportunities. “Every year we call for close cooperation and communication between the local government and the private sector to ensure the success of this event and present Sharjah as one of the region’s top tourism and investment destinations,” said Al Mahmoudi. “We must all leverage the tourist season and the accompanying school break to attract more local and foreign visitors.” Entertainment, commercial and marketing events will run alongside the festival’s main programme. Rebates, discounts and competitions will be offered by major stores, shopping centres and tourist destinations.
Hussein Mohammad Al Mahmoudi
events Food and Hospitality Expo Manama, Bahrain, January 12-14 (www.foodexpbh.com) Hospitality technology, systems and equipment, along with exhibitors from international food companies.
EMITT Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey, Feb 11-14 (www.emittistanbul.com) Exhibition for travel professionals in the east Mediterranean and Eurasia.
Moroccan Travel Market Marrakech, Morocco Jan 14-17 (www.mtm.ma) International fair for tourism professionals.
Gulfood Exhibition 2010 Dubai, UAE, Feb 21-24 (www.gulfood.com) Food and beverage exhibition.
FITUR Madrid, Spain, Jan 28 - Feb 2 Spanish travel show targeted to the business travel market.
Jordan Travel Mart ( JTM) Dead Sea, Jordan, February 21-23 (www.jordantravelmart.com) Showcase of the Jordanian tourism industry.
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.
Meetings Africa 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa, February 24-26 (www.meetingsafrica.co.za) Business tourism exhibition showcasing meeting venues, destinations and industry support services.
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.
ITB Berlin Berlin, Germany, March 10-14 (www.itb-berlin.com) A combination of trade exhibition, public exhibition and professional convention for the travel trade industry.
Travel Technology Europe London, UK, February 9-10 (www.traveltechnologyshow.com) Educational and trade event centered on sales, operational, and marketing technology.
GIBTM Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 29-31 (www.gibtm.com) International event for the business travel and meetings industry in the Gulf and Middle East region.
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JANUARY 9, 2010