ROCS

Solid as ROCS

For the Director of ROCS Travel, RACHEL VELLA, being part of the Dubai Expo is like participating in a magical event. Speaking to Showcase Dubai, Ms Vella looks back with satisfaction at having been a pioneer in this market and sees the confluence of both countries as both natural and mutually beneficial.

“World Expos are some of the oldest and largest international events on the planet, yet I must admit that I have never been as excited than this time round. My clear opinion on the matter is that if it’s happening in Dubai, then it’s bound to exceed all previous events of the sort and more importantly, every single expectation out there.” This was Ms Vella’s opening statement and she was clearly excited for her company and for her country to be part of this prestigious event.

Ms Vella observed that Expo 2020 in Dubai will be a place where the world will truly come together. A total of 191 countries will participate in a festival which will inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world.

A PLACE TO LOVE

Speaking as the Director of a prestigious travel enterprise, Ms Vella’s grasp of the tourism situation was impressive. She noted that with more than 12 million foreign visitors every year, Dubai is the Arab world’s premier tourist destination, “…and it’s a great place for an Asian vacation too,” she added. While Dubai conjures up visions of sun and sand dunes, Ms Vella emphatically pointed out that Dubai is about much more than year-round sun. “It’s the kind of place where one will be blown away in awe during every second of the trip. Gourmet restaurants range from the sushi at Blue Jade to the stunning Indian dishes at Amal. Every cuisine seems represented,” said Ms Vella. And for the more active there are desert adventures in 4x4 vehicles, golf, shopping for luxury goods, snowboarding (yes snow!) Dubai caters for everyone, explained Ms Vella.

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It’s the kind of place whereone will be blown away in awe during every second of the trip.

Emirates Airline Top Passenger Sales Agent Award 2014

L to R: Paul Fleri Soler – Emirates Airline Manager – Malta (March 1998 to date) Thierry Aucoc – Senior Vice President Commercial – Emirates Airline (September 2013 to date) Rachel J. Vella – Director, ROCS Group Charles Alexander Vella – Chairman, ROCS Group

MCCAA - Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority - Top Award Best in Service in the Travel & Tourism Industry in Malta 2017 - 2020

L to R: Rachel J. Vella – Director, ROCS Group Ben Camille – Host, Servizz Bi Tbissma Awards Event

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If ever there was a year to visit Dubai, then that would be now

BRAVE VENTURE

Ms Vella’s enthusiasm is more than justified, having been one of the very first to see the potential in tourism to and from Dubai. “It was 1998 when Emirates first landed in Malta. It was the first ever of its kind in terms of distance, capacity and aircraft size. At the time I used to host a popular television travelogue. So when Emirates came to Malta we met to discuss a possible joint collaboration which ROCS and Emirates could do together,” recalled Ms Vella. As in all beginnings, the road was hard and rocky: “At the time asking someone to travel to the Middle East on holiday was a huge taboo. Erroneously people’s outlook of the Middle East were the never ending conflicts in the region. Little did people know what the United Arab Emirates were, and neither did anyone actually know what the destination in question had to offer,” said Ms Vella. Through hard work, a great nose for business and excellent use of the media, Ms Vella and Emirates made a go of the destination: from a tentative first ever booking of 30 seats, the airline’s first tourist contingent from Malta was a whopping 200. “After some 3 slots, we had booked some 1000 people booked. The response from the locals was just so overwhelming,” smiled Ms Vella, clearly relishing the memory. A lot of water has since flown under that bridge and Dubai, for the Maltese, has become a bucket list destination: “If ever there was a year to visit Dubai, then that would be now,” said Ms Vella with conviction in her voice.

VERVE IN THE FIBRE OF DUBAI

In Ms Vella’s words, it is hard not to admire Dubai for its indefatigable verve, ambition and ability to dream up and realise projects that elsewhere would never get off the drawing board. This is a superlative-craving society that has birthed audaciously high buildings and palm-shaped islands. Sci-fi concepts such as flying taxis, a lightning-fast Hyperloop train and an army of robocops are all reflections of a mindset that fearlessly embraces the future. “With many more grand projects in the pipeline for World Expo 2020, it’s clear that Dubai is a city firmly in charge of writing its own narrative,” observed Ms Vella. As a top retail haunt that hosts not one but two huge annual shopping festivals, shopping is a leisure activity here, and malls are much more than just mere collections of exotic stores or traditional souqs. After dark, Dubai seems like a city filled with lotus eaters, forever on the lookout for a good time. Its shape-shifting party spectrum caters for just about every taste, budget and age group. “You will face two problems in Dubai: you will be spoilt for choice and you will need stamina to sample all Dubai has to offer,” smiled Ms Vella.

CULTURALLY DYNAMIC

Rachel Vella pointed out that Dubai was the first Middle Eastern city to make the UNESCO list of creative cities of design. “Dubai is a bustling microcosm peacefully shared by cultures from all corners of the world. This diversity expresses itself in the culinary landscape, fashion, music and performance. Although rooted in Islamic tradition, this is an open society where it’s easy for newcomers and visitors to connect with myriad experiences, be it eating like a Bedouin, dancing on the beach, shopping for local art or riding a camel in the desert” pointed out Ms Vella. Dubai, she added, is a fertile environment conducive to breaking down cultural barriers and preconceptions.

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Dubai is a bustling microcosm peacefully shared by cultures from all corners of the world. This diversity expresses itself in the culinary landscape, fashion, music and performance

A SOLID CONNECTION

Since the very start, some 23 years ago, ROCS Travel have been handling an average of 80% of all leisure travellers going to Dubai. Yes, each and every year for the past 23 years. “I proudly say that no one else in Malta knows Dubai like ROCS do. It is our second home. We have equally invested a lot of money in our travel team, in order to make sure that once a client opts to speak to ROCS about this fabulous destination, then the full team will be in a position to offer the complete enhanced experience” said Ms Vella.

For the Dubai Expo, Ms Vella said that ROCS Travel are also the appointed agents of the event. “We are very proud of this and we have specific group departures with transfers going and coming to the event too. From corporate travel to guided tours, from independent travel to groups, conference and incentive handling, whatever it is, if it is Dubai, then ROCS is here to help all clients.

We therefore look forward to being of service on the next trip to Dubai. We will not only guarantee the very best package prices in Malta to Dubai, yet we invite you to experience the award winning ROCS Travel service and the way we do it. Dubai in our eyes is not a place to be missed. We believe that moderation doesn’t suit us, and nor this destination. Our ethos is therefore to ‘Go Big, and then go home” said Ms. Vella, concluding with the customary Arab salutation ‘Ahlan wa Sahlan…Marhaban bikom’. n

The Economic Update's Top Entrepreneur Awards – Rachel being awarded as Malta’s Top Entrepreneur

L to R: Rachel J. Vella – Director ROCS Group John Formosa – Publisher Malta Economic Update Charles Borg – CEO of Bank of Valletta (2011- 2015)

Emirates Airline Top Passenger Sales Agent Award 2004-2006

L to R: Paul Fleri Soler – Emirates Airline Manager – Malta (March 1998 to date) Keith Longstaff - Senior Vice President Commercial – Emirates Airline (1983 to 2009) Rachel J. Vella – Director, ROCS Group Charles Alexander Vella – Chairman, ROCS Group

Emirates Airline Top Passenger Sales Agent Award – 20 years

L to R: Paul Fleri Soler – Emirates Airline Manager – Malta (March 1998 to date) Rachel J. Vella – Director, ROCS Group