ATM Dailies – Day2

THE OFFICIAL SHOW DAILY 6 – 9 May 2013

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DEFINING LUXURY IN ABU DHABI

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Contents 04 EXHIBITOR NEWS 14 Focus NEW FRONTIERS AWARD 2013 16 Interview WITH ROSEWOOD'S LUIGI ROMANIELLO 21 Technology GAMIFICATION: A HOT NEW TREND 25 SEMINAR PROGRAMME 29 Interview STARWOOD DRIVES DEVELOPMENT PLANS 30 Interview LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD 34 EXHIBITOR TRAILS 37 DESTINATION PROFILES 42 EXHIBITOR EXPECTATIONS

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2 Tuesday 7 May

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REGION’S AVIATION SECTOR FLYING HIGH GCC ACHIEVING WORLD HUB STATUS THROUGH CARRIER PARTNERSHIPS AND EXPANSION

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways

The GCC’s aviation industry is on track to achieve world domination if the region’s carriers and airports fulfill their ambitions for growth.

With airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways forging ahead with expansion and inking landmark partnerships and the region’s aviation infrastructure being built to world-class standards, the Gulf is well on its way to achieving global hub status.

This was the consensus among industry professionals on day one of Arabian Travel Market when the region’s carriers revealed their ambitious plans for the future.

Emirates airline President Tim Clark and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce discussed the implications of their groundbreaking partnership in ‘The Big Conversation’ seminar session, while Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways talked about his expansion plans in a dedicated press conference.

The 10-year deal signed between Emirates and Qantas has been hailed “a new era for global aviation” with the airlines offering the largest joint fleet of Airbus A380s and operating 98 flights a week between Australia and Dubai. It saw the Australian carrier end a 17-year pact with British Airways, proving the pulling power of

fast-growing GCC carriers and their strategically located hubs.

“The reasons for this partnership were simple: we needed growth, we needed to expand and at the same time, give our customers choice,” explained Clark during the seminar.

“The proposition was clear. Qantas had shrunk its international operations, but Qantas customers still wanted to travel to Europe, while we knew we could leverage the brand presence of Qantas in one of Emirates’ key markets, Australia.”

He and Joyce expressed ambitions to expand their transPacific route network if air route rights permitted and to achieve growth in Oceania where Qantas already has a strong foothold.

Joyce said there had been a “huge uptake” in Qantas bookings to Europe since the joint venture took off on March 31 while Emirates’ sales for certain Qantas domestic destinations had increased five-fold.

Clark ruled out forging similar partnerships with other global carriers in the short term, but

HRH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, opens the show

DUBAI TO DOUBLE VISITOR NUMBERS BY 2020 The Dubai Government has revealed ambitious plans to fast-track the contribution of the tourism industry to the emirate’s economy by 2020 and has urged the public and private sector to join forces to achieve this goal.

Developed by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) under guidance from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the ‘New Tourism Vision’ sets out how the city will both double its annual visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million in 2020 and triple the tourism sector’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP to around AED300 billion (US$81.67 billion) annually.

“We are confident the DTCM is capable of achieving what it aims for, given the previous accomplishments and the positive results attained,” said HH Sheikh Mohammed.

“[But] it is important other government departments and institutions share this responsibility. Moreover, we expect the private sector to play a similar role in supporting this goal within the framework of the partnership that we established decades ago.”

HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DTCM, added: “The strategy behind the Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020 will further leverage a sector which has been a central pillar in the city’s economic growth, success and diversification.”

He said the 2020 strategy would be achieved by widening Dubai’s tourism offering and ramping up marketing efforts.

The DTCM would focus on becoming a leading global destination for events, family holidays, business and meetings.

Also central to the vision was to increase repeat visits and drive up average length of stay (currently 3.76 days).

06/05/2013 22:43

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) UAE 2450 info@ajmantourism.ae

‫ﻣﻦ ﻗﻠﺐ ﻋﺠﻤﺎن‬ From the Heart of Ajman

NEWS

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REGION’S AVIATION SECTOR FLYING HIGH

‘The Big Conversation’ seminar session

added “we never say never in an age where the world is changing at such as fast pace”.

Emirates operates a fleet of 200 aircraft with 200 more to be delivered over the next five years. The airline flies to 130 cities in 77 countries across the six continents and flew more than 34 million passengers in 2012.

“In seven years when Dubai hopefully hosts Expo 2020, Emirates will be 50 to 80 percent bigger than it is today,” revealed Clark.

Qatar Airways is also making its mark with orders

placed for more than 250 aircraft worth US$50 billion.

"We operate a very young fleet of less than four years old and this year we are adding one aircraft to our fleet at an average of every 12 days,” said Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker at the airline’s Arabian Travel Market press conference.

The Doha-based carrier has also become the first major Gulf airline to join a global alliance after being invited to join oneworld in October 2012.

“What made us accept the invitation so quickly was that

oneworld is the only alliance that does not dictate how you do business,” said Al Baker.

“They will not restrict your growth and, at the same time, they will support you if you want to codeshare with another alliance member. It fits exactly our mentality of how we want to do business."

Qatar Airways and Emirates are the only two Middle East airlines to be ranked in the global top 20 carriers according to CAPA (Centre for Aviation).

At the end of 2012, Emirates ranked as the region’s largest airline and third largest worldwide by available seat kilometres behind US giants United Airlines and Delta Airlines, while Qatar Airways was placed at number 17.

“In a few years’ time, I am sure we will rank among the top 10 airlines in the world, by number of aircraft and passengers,” said Al Baker.

Airport infrastructure in Dubai and Doha is expanding in line with these home carriers. Dubai International was the fastestgrowing airport in 2012, according to OAG statistics and the second busiest airport for international passenger traffic, according to Airports Council International data.

UNWTO FORUM SETS AGENDA Tourism ministers and leading figures in the aviation industry will gather to discuss how to build a common agenda for growth at the UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum taking place today (7 May) from 11.00 to 13.15 in the Al Multaqua Ballroom.

Returning to the show for the second time, the forum will see high-level speakers discuss how the tourism and aviation sector can work together to foster economic growth and sustainable development, taking the Middle East as an example. Talking points also include identifying the current obstacles and opportunities for growth, as well as how to encourage tourism between the Middle East and other regions around the world.

According to the UNWTO, the rapid growth of international tourism over the last six decades – from 25 million tourists in 1950 to one billion in 2012 – can be attributed to a number of factors, including advances in air transport, the rise of the middle class, the growing wealth in industrialised and emerging countries and the forces of globalisation.

Despite the links between aviation and tourism, UNWTO says separate policies can result in conflict, putting constraints on both sectors.

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Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, this year’s forum has an impressive line-up of participants. Speakers include HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities; HE Mr Alain Saint-Ange, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Seychelles; HE Mr Hisham Zaazou, Minister of Tourism of, Egypt; HE Mr Issa Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Chairman, Qatar Tourism Authority; HE Mr Jamel Garma, Minister of Tourism of Tunisia;

Mr Vijay Poonoosamy, Vice President International & Public Afffairs, Etihad Airways, HE Mr Obediah Wilchombe, Minister of Tourism, Bahamas; and Dr Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director Jordan Tourism Board.

UNWTO forecasts the number of international tourists will reach 1.8 billion by 2030, 52 percent of whom will arrive at their destinations by air. A strong aviation and tourism agenda will be key to addressing issues such as taxation, regulation, visa facilitation and climate change.

The meeting's conclusions will be discussed at the World Travel Market UNWTO Ministers Summit in London in November 2013.

UNWTO Forum 2012

The facility also recently claimed the title as the world’s leading hub for A380 operations according to published airline industry flight schedule data for 2012.

Dubai’s newest airport, Al Maktoum International – Dubai World Central, is also on track to hit the record books: it will be able to handle 160 million passengers annually when it is fully operational in the 2020s.

Meanwhile, phase one of Doha’s new airport, Hamad International, is almost completed.

The growing global significance of the Middle East’s aviation sector is set to be emphasised in an Ernst & Young report revealed at Arabian Travel Market tomorrow (8 May).

The seminar session ‘Looking to the skies: global aviation trends 2013-2014’ (16.00 to 17.00) will be presented by the firm’s Director, Aviation Sector MENA, Sunil Malhotra.

“According to the report, AsiaPacific will lead world traffic by 2031, with a 32 percent share, while the Middle East will rise to 11 percent in 2031 from the current figure of seven percent,” he said.

Aviation will also be a key component of the UNWTO Forum (see below).

The RitzCarlton leads digital drive The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is pioneering social engagement at this year’s Arabian Travel Market. The hotel company’s fully integrated social media campaign includes a dedicated ‘Tweet Bar’ on-stand that provides timely updates, such as seminar highlights, direct from the show floor.

Anyone checking in to Arabian Travel Market on Foursquare will also receive snippets of information on what to do and see in Dubai from the concierges at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre and The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, in Dubai Marina. In addition, a series of QR codes at the stand can be used to download recipes from the hotel’s chefs and enjoy virtual tours of the properties.

“We want to enrich the experience at the show for visitors, in addition to being a great luxury travel information resource for our Twitter followers by providing news as it is happening from the show,” said Chris Gabaldon, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The Ritz-Carlton’s social media campaign has led to year-on-year increases in engagement across all leading platforms, including Facebook, which now has more than one million ‘Likes’ across the company’s brand page and 48 hotel Facebook pages.

The company’s official Twitter handle is @RitzCarlton.

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SHOW DAILY TEAM: EDITORIAL Group Editor Faye Rowe faye.rowe@npimedia.com Production Editor Debra Freeman-Thorpe Contributors Jacqueline Castelluccia Naomi Chadderton Olivia Cuthbert Gemma Greenwood Rachel Ingram Cavell Mallett Sarah McCay Eddie Taylor Kirsty Tuxford STUDIO Senior Art Director Andrea Tempesta Senior Designers Prachi Bhaumik, Kelly Massie Designer Hiral Kapadia Photographers Adham Sneeh, Grant Pritchard, Martin Pfeiffer Production Co-ordinator Naveed Aziz ADVERTISING Advertisement Manager Irene Fernandez irene.fernandez@npimedia.com International Sales Manager Rose D'Souza rose.dsouza@npimedia.com Sales Co-ordinator Carol Milan PUBLISHING Publisher Rob Nicholas rob.nicholas@npimedia.com

Visit NPI at stand UAE3155

Visit stand HC5240

06/05/2013 22:49

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Spain Tourist Office press conference

Visit stand EU7320

Spain highlights arab heritage Spain is ramping up its efforts to attract visitors from the Middle East. Focusing on Andalusia, Madrid and Barcelona as the favoured destinations for Arab source markets, the Spanish government is hoping to entice more visitors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

Isabel Barrego, Secretary of State for Tourism, said: “At present, 100,000 UAE tourists

pass through Spanish airports and just 26,000 stay on to visit the country.

“Our presence at Arabian Travel Market this year aims to promote and develop Spain as a favourite destination for Arab nationals. In 2013, we hope to increase the number of UAE visitors by 50 percent.” Spain’s intention is to emphasise the Arab-influenced cultural heritage of the Andalusia region

in addition to highlighting the retail, cultural and leisure attractions of nearby Madrid and Barcelona.

Barrego said: “Visitors from this part of the world are interested in more than sun and beach. They want culture and this is something we are working to promote as Spain, with its broad mix of leisure, retail and historical attractions, is the ideal destination for the Arab visitors.”

Viceroy New York to open in September Viceroy Hotel Group is adding to its international portfolio with the upcoming opening of Viceroy New York in September 2013. As the group’s first property in Manhattan, the hotel will feature a striking doubleheight lobby, a signature restaurant, a rooftop dining and lounge venue and 241 luxury guest rooms, many with a view of Central Park.

Design emphasis is being placed on creating a timeless and stylish aesthetic. Design team Roman and Williams are further enhancing the Viceroy brand across both the façade and bespoke interiors of the hotel, which feature a hybrid of fine-crafted metal details with classic woodwork.

Bill Walshe, CEO, Viceroy Hotel Group, said: “The New York market has been waiting for the Viceroy name for some time and we have wanted to be there. Our first Viceroybranded hotel in the city has to be exceptional and this development is quite simply perfect. This is a hotel that will stand apart from its competitors.

It will be incredible.”

Visit stand HC5670

India’s many faces India Tourism press conference

India Tourism is highlighting the destination’s lesser-known attractions alongside its most high-profile landmarks at this year’s Arabian Travel Market in response to rising visitor numbers from the Middle East.

“India is a versatile destination with luxury, wildlife, wellness and medical tourism,” said Vikas Rustagi, Regional Director (West Asia & Africa).

“Of interest to Middle Eastern travellers is India’s rich Islamic heritage. We have beautiful mosques and halal food. India

has the second-highest population of Muslims in the world,” he added. Tourism to India is increasing and Middle Eastern travellers are among those eager to discover the country. Visitor numbers from the UAE have risen from 47,234 arrivals in 2009 to 66,383 in 2011.

“Research shows that 42 percent of international arrivals to India are repeat visitors and so the government has taken positive steps to ease visa restrictions and lifted the two-month restriction for foreign nationals wishing to re-enter the country,” said Rustagi.

Visit stand AS6720

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Put the pedal to the metal FOR formula 1 Racing enthusiasts should head to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) stand where they will be offered the chance to win tickets to this November’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

TCA Abu Dhabi, together with Yas Marina Circuit, the state-of-the-art home to the annual Grand Prix, are mounting a simulator challenge in the Arabian Travel Market concourse and the winner of the fastest lap will be awarded two tickets to the F1 held from November 1 to 3.

“At the show we want to get the message across that there is so much more to Abu Dhabi and its Grand Prix programme this year,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions and Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi. “The winners will go to an event that features an expanded entertainment programme and a greater number of ticket categories that start at just AED365 (US$100) per person.”

Among the new Abu Dhabi Grand Prix categories are family ticket packages, a Friday Brunch Ticket, an Abu Dhabi Hill General Admission Ticket, as well as exclusive options, including the Yas Trackside Terrace and the Yas Marina Tower. Visitors and residents can also buy a Yas Pass, which extends the fun of the F1 weekend to include access to neighbouring

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport stand

Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Fans can also take advantage of a 20 percent ‘early bird’ discount on selected tickets until May 31.

“The challenge will set in motion a vibrant Abu Dhabi promotion at this year’s Arabian Travel Market and put the Grand Prix in both the trade and consumer spotlight,” added Al Nuaimi.

roping in new business

Grand Prix simulator on the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority stand

Visit stand UAE2210

Turkish Airlines' NEW OFFICE MEETS DEMAND

Facilitating non-stop flights to 200 destinations, Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport has reached a major milestone. In reaching the big 200, DFW joins a select group of airports worldwide with the same distinction, including Frankfurt Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Munich Airport.

“Even with this achievement of 200 destinations, our airport still has plenty of room to grow and add more capacity,” said DFW CEO Jeff Fegan.

DFW International Airport has added seven new passenger airlines, three cargo carriers, 14 international destinations and 10 domestic destinations in the past three years.

“DFW International Airport is a gateway into the Americas due to its frequent connections,” said Ken Buchanan, Executive Vice President, Revenue Management. “The airport is actually the world's fourth busiest, with 1,900 flights per day and 58 million passengers a year. For five consecutive years, DFW has ranked in the top five for customer service among large airports globally in

surveys conducted by Airports Council International.”

New services set to begin in June include two new routes

by American Eagle airline to Mexico, which comprises a daily service to Hermosillo and flights three days a week to Zacatecas from the Dallas hub. Another new route is being launched

by WestJet from Calgary later this year and a new American Airlines route from the Dallas hub to Lima started on April 1.

DFW International Airport has seven runways, five terminals and 155 active gates. Upgrades are currently underway to the airport’s four terminals.

Visit stand AM7140

Time to party!

Join us for an evening filled with action, excitement and entertainment at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ official Arabian Travel Market 2013 industry party. The Bond-themed event is taking place this evening from 19.00 to 22.30 at the Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Turkish Airlines at Arabian Travel Market

Led by increasing demand for flights from the emirate, with 36 percent growth in passenger traffic reported in the last two years, Turkish Airlines opened a new Dubai office in April. It is hoped the move will help build on the good momentum recorded across the airline’s Middle East network, as well as encourage growth in other regions.

Celebrating 30 years of flying to Dubai this year, Turkish Airlines now operates 14 weekly flights from the emirate, connecting travellers to 221 cities globally, across

98 countries – the largest country network for an airline. Among the recent announcements is a new route from Dubai to Houston, the airline’s fifth destination in the US, offering attractive ticket prices to stimulate uptake.

Ayse Misirli Mirza, General Manager for Turkish Airlines in Dubai, said: “The increase in passenger numbers from Dubai is testament to the growth in demand from both business and leisure travellers to Turkey from the UAE. We have witnessed significant increase in the uptake of our business class seats

Visit stand EU8350

which reflects the increasing business and trade relations between the two countries.

“The travel industry in Dubai has been integral to our growth in the emirate over the last 30 years and we are confident that, with our award-winning in-flight service and competitive pricing to Turkey and beyond, the upward growth will continue.”

The construction of Turkey’s new airport in Istanbul, which is set to be the largest in the world with capacity for 150 million passengers, is paving the way for further expansion of Turkish Airlines’ operations worldwide and across the Middle East.

Turkey has 48 airports with an annual passenger capacity of 50 million Source: GoTurkey.com, the official tourism portal of Turkey

Gate – Dubai. Dress code is smart/casual. Entry is exclusively by ‘passport invitation’, so make sure you’ve collected yours from the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts stand HC5640 in Sheikh Saeed Arena. Shuttle buses will be available from the Metro Station Ibn Battuta Mall.

Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate – Dubai

Find the falcon Win great prizes by taking part in two online games, featuring Shaheen, the travel agent mascot. The games include a car parking challenge sponsored

by Emirates. The user with the highest score will win an economy flight to Venice.

The second is a penalty shootout game sponsored by the UK Pavilion. The winner will receive a Fortnum & Mason hamper.

Both games can be accessed via the show's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ arabiantravelmarket. The deadline is 22.00 on Tue, May 7.

Also, look out for Shaheen on the show floor. The mascot will

be encouraging travel agents to fill their special issue TNN ‘passports’ with stamps from exhibitors. Completed TNN passports will be entered into a prize draw, so make sure you pick yours up at Registration.

Winners will be announced on Thursday at 14.45 in the Google Technology Theatre.

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Saudi’s Hanco launches in UAE

Hamad Al-Sulaiman

Saudi Arabian car rental and leasing company Hanco has announced its first overseas expansion with a UAE office to open next week in Dubai Marina.

It also plans further expansion of four new office openings in the emirate later in the year.

Hanco currently has 100 vehicles in operation in Dubai, bringing the total to 20,000 worldwide.

Hamad Al-Sulaiman, CEO & Managing Director, Hanco, said: “Before we decided to

launch in Dubai we wanted to build what we call the ‘fortress effect’ in Saudi. We think we achieved that in 2011.

“In Dubai we will reach a total of 2,000 vehicles by the end of the year and we will be able to take a substantial market share.”

With the expansion, the award-winning company is targeting both customers from the kingdom who travel overseas as well as new clients overseas.

Al-Sulaiman estimates the company’s UAE business to be valued at more than US$545 million with annual market growth in excess of five percent.

“Our geographic expansion will encompass most of the GCC countries because that’s a natural extension for us,” Al-Sulaiman added. Countries include Oman, Qatar and Kuwait by the end of 2013, with others such as Turkey under consideration.

Visit stand CR1416

Hoss Vetry

Frasers Hospitality knows no bounds Serviced apartments are a growing segment of the hospitality industry, especially in the Gulf region, prompting Frasers Hospitality to reveal plans to expand in this sector within the Middle East.

Two properties are scheduled to open in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2013, closely followed by new openings in Oman and Doha within the next two to three years.

“Saudi Arabia is a huge market for us,” said Olivier Briand, General Manager, Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain. “There has been a lack of international products in the destination and we anticipate a lot of potential.”

The Singapore-based group is also growing in Asia – focusing on new developments in India, marking a new market for the company – and China.

Frasers Hospitality offers luxury, spacious accommodation for those looking for a home from home with personal space and five-star services.

Visit stand HC5570

BOOK DUBAI BOOK DUBAI with AURIS BOOK DUBAI with AURIS

Putting on the Ritz in Doha The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, situated in the West Bay Lagoon area, is showcasing its luxury services and hospitality at Arabian Travel Market.

Set on its own private island, the five-star hotel is located only 25 minutes’ drive from Doha International Airport. Each of the 374 rooms and suites, ranging from 47 square metres to 190 square metres, is elegantly furnished and many boast stunning views of the Doha city skyline.

With two grand ballrooms and six meeting rooms spanning a total area of 3,650 square metres, the property is positioning itself for both business and leisure, as well as for groups with its range of meeting and conference space, wedding hosting capabilities and suitability for a range of other social functions.

Cluster General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, Hoss Vetry said: “The hotel fulfills all of the expectations that one would anticipate from a Ritz-Carlton property. The unique and beautiful location, exotic property and legendary Ritz-Carlton services from all of the dedicated staff are here.”

Visit stand HC5850

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Tailormade FOCUS ON TRIPS TO THAILAND

Arabian Travel Market: 20 years of UAE success In the 20 years since the first ever Arabian Travel Market, the event’s rapid growth has mirrored the development of the UAE as a major tourism, hospitality and aviation hub. Dubai welcomed 10 million international visitors last year to its near 600 hotels.

Similarly, this year’s Arabian Travel Market will set records of its own, hosting 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries.

Reflecting on the past two decades of Arabian Travel Market, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, CEO and Chairman of the Emirates Group and the Department of Civil Aviation, acknowledged the connection between the success of Arabian Travel Market and the UAE’s tourism sector.

“As we mark the 20th anniversary of Arabian Travel Market, we recognise that the event has played a significant role in the development of Dubai.

Over the past 20 years, the influence of tourism and aviation has been so spectacular that they have formed the bedrock of the UAE economy,” he said.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

“It’s difficult to imagine what everyone at that first Arabian Travel Market talked about,” he added, referring to the 7,000 industry professionals who gathered at the first event in 1994. “But how dramatic and how rapid has the transformation been? Dubai has achieved so much at a pace that many other cities can only dream of.

“We are all familiar with the picture of Sheikh Zayed Road in the early 1990s,” he said.

“Sand as far as the eye can see and with just a few tower blocks in the area of the Dubai World Trade Centre. There was no Dubai World Cup, no Burj Al

Arab and no shopping festivals. We had no more than three malls.

“Now, as we look to the future, I hope Dubai will become an even more attractive place to live and visit with an enhanced position as a global hub for trade, commerce and tourism.”

Looking ahead to the next 20 years, HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), agreed there is much more to come – and not just from Dubai.

“When we look at the number of tourism projects across the Emirates, in Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Sharjah we are seeing the creation of a real tourism eco-system,” he said.

Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales Worldwide at Emirates airline, placed the country’s tourism potential in clear terms. “Two-thirds of the world’s population lives within an eight-hour flight of Dubai,” he said. “Geographically and demographically, this is now the centre of the world. This is a huge opportunity for everyone.”

Bespoke itineraries and activities for groups and individual visitors is the key focus for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“Middle East travellers are perfectly suited for this campaign which will be more focused on the needs of individuals, couples, groups and families,” said Chalermsak Suranat, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East.

The TAT Dubai and Middle East office’s strategy is to build on the success achieved in 2012 with the goal of achieving higher revenue through a focus on creative tourism and niche product promotions. A key part of the plan is expanding its tourism promotion in the GCC and Levant countries and using digital marketing, via a revamped TAT Middle East website. Thailand’s rich culture will feature prominently in future promotions.

“TAT has also recently introduced the concept of

‘Experiential Holidays’ where visitors have the opportunity to discover and experience some of Thailand’s ancient crafts and traditions,” said Suranat.

“From cooking authentic Thai dishes to Thai boxing and growing rice to the ancient art of Thai massage, the ‘Experiential Holiday’ packages invite visitors to discover a variety of new skills. In locations across Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the island of Koh Samui, visitors can team up with local experts to embark upon an inner journey of discovery.”

TAT has set a target of 22.22 million international tourist arrivals for 2013, which will generate an estimated foreign exchange revenue of THB966 billion (approximately US$33.24 billion).

“The new trend in promoting tourism in this region is through social media and digital marketing,” said Suranat.

“The internet has changed

consumer behaviour in many ways, both in terms of the way people buy their travel products, the destinations they chose, the amount of time they have to travel and the amount of money they spend.

“People are eager to share experiences via social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

TAT is responding to this changing environment by creating a package of online marketing strategies designed to take advantage of the rapidly growing social media networks.”

The plan will see TAT boosting co-operation with Facebook, Google (Street View), TripAdvisor and Zizzee with new features designed to support a number of mobile devices and downloads available in three languages: English, Arabic and Farsi.

According to the Thailand Immigration Bureau, the UAE remains the largest market for Thailand with 108,994 visitors in 2012.

Visit stand AS7150

nasair strengthens DUBAI ties

nasair at Arabian Travel Market

nasair, the Saudi Arabian airline, is building on its strong connections with Dubai at this year’s Arabian Travel Market by exhibiting for the fifth time running.

Since its launch in February 2007, the airline has provided competitively priced travel to more than 11 million

passengers on both domestic and international routes and is currently operating 950 flights per week. Later this year, the airline will be launching a service from the new Dubai World Central

(DWC) airport, which will be a focus of much of their activity at this year’s show.

“As one of the leading airlines in the Middle East and North Africa, we are extremely excited to be the first airline to launch services from DWC on 28 October 2013,” said nasair’s Chief Executive Officer, François Bouteiller. “Arabian Travel Market provides the ideal international platform to discuss our new focus on Dubai and share key announcements.

We look forward to strengthening ties with Dubai in order to provide even better services to our customers.”

Visit stand ME4440

Auris’ freedom to grow

Hatem Gasmi

With a goal to expand in the Middle East and North Africa, Auris Hotels is keen to discuss business opportunities with Arabian Travel Market attendees.

“Auris Hotels is taking advantage of this opportunity to grow our network in the travel trade sector, especially with hotel professionals, investors and developers,“ said Hatem Gasmi, Managing Director of Auris Hotels Management.

“Arabian Travel Market is also the perfect platform to announce new and exciting projects that we have for this year and in the near future.“ Dubai-based Auris Hotels is revealing future projects in line with the group’s ’Freedom of Choice’ philosophy, which allows guests to choose from its 1,313 rooms in boutique and five-star

hotels in Dubai and its upcoming property in Sohar, Oman.

“Growth will be achieved by continuously developing our hotels and ensuring each and every project is consistent and gives only the best value to our partners, clients and customers,“ said Gasmi. “We consider the continuous growth of Dubai as both a challenge and an opportunity for us and the entire hospitality industry. More-over, we consider Saudi Arabia and the UAE to be countries that offer the largest markets and opportunities for our brand to grow.“

Visit stand HC5460

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Dusit THANI EYES events

Opening in May, the UAE capital’s new Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has revealed details of its flexible convention facilities developed with the region’s rapidly growing business events market in mind.

The five-star venue includes a variety of function rooms, including the 785-square-metre Onyx Ballroom, with capacity for up to 2,000 people. Meeting rooms can be configured into different set-ups, ranging from 210 square metres to 365 square metres. A highlight is the glass-

panelled 2,000-square-metre Skydome, which is ideal for car launches and exhibitions.

“Business events are one of the fastest-growing segments in the regional hospitality sector, particularly in Abu Dhabi,” said Scott Mawhinney, General Manager. “This is driven by the strategic geographical advantage that the capital enjoys coupled with its growing significance

in the business landscape.

The innovative design of the pre-function area with its Skydome, the elegance and convenience of each function room, together with state-of-art facilities and attentive service, make Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi the perfect venue to host memorable events of every size and scale, from major business conventions or product launches to more personal events like weddings or birthday parties,” he added.

Two 35-square-metre boardrooms and a fully equipped business centre complete the hotel’s meeting facilities.

“The meeting rooms are ideal for training purposes, providing the perfect option for breakout sessions amid the growing need for world-class venues to host training and smaller workshops,” said Mawhinney.

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi also has a VIP room, affording privacy for speakers and dignitaries.

Visit stand HC5870

Santorini Hotel to open in RAK Bin Majid Hotels has announced the opening of the Santorini Hotel on Marjan Island, the first manmade island project to be developed in Ras Al Khaimah, by the end of 2013.

The Santorini Hotel will offer 265 rooms and suites, a selection of upmarket restaurants, a spa, gym, swimming pools and direct access to the beach.

Dr Ali Kasapbashi, Group General Manager, Bin Majid Group, said: “We are pleased to announce the addition of Santorini Hotel to our existing properties in Ras Al Khaimah. The hotel will cater to the demands of both leisure and business guests.

“The hotel is part of our goal to expand the brand in the region. It has been a very good start for 2013 and we can’t wait to welcome new guests,” added Dr Kasapbashi.

Bin Majid Hotels has four hotels in Ras Al Khaimah, in the city, the beach and industrial areas.

Each property promises luxurious service, warm Arabian hospitality, modern amenities and business facilities.

Visit stand HC5160

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE At.mosphere Burj Khalifa’s signature restaurant, At.mosphere, offers a new definition of high-end dining and is hoping that interest in the restaurant will soar at Arabian Travel Market.

Holder of the Guinness World Record for the World’s Highest Restaurant from Ground Level, At.mosphere is situated on Level 122 of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The sleek lounge and restaurant has capacity for 210 guests and boasts stunning vistas of the Arabian Gulf. The journey to the venue begins by stepping inside one of the world’s fastest elevators. At a speed of 10 metres a second, guests ascend to a height of 442 metres (1,350 feet) in less than 44 seconds.

Once in the restaurant, visitors can dine or unwind overlooking Downtown Dubai and view the performing fountains.

Visit stand HC5320

where natural wonders and adventure meet visit us at Indonesian Booth No. AS6550

It’s place to lose oneself among breathtaking scenery and natural wonders and nd what you’re really made of in the countless of challenging activities that promise fun and excitement.

It’s a place that offers abundant opportunities to enjoy and be one with nature.

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HEAVENLY RETREAT IN TURKEY Angel’s Peninsula, located along the shoreline of the Aegean Sea in Turkey’s picturesque Burunucu region, has something to offer leisure and business travellers alike.

Stretching over 80,000 square metres of land, Angel’s

Peninsular Hotel boasts 182 rooms, suites and villas. Key features include the ladies-only pool Hidden Sea and no less than seven restaurants and cafés, all of which are alcohol-free.

The 1,600-square-metre spa and health centre features a

The Angel's Peninsular stand

wealth of facilities including a Turkish bath, salt room and an expansive indoor pool.

Among the relaxing treatments on offer are Thai and Balinese massages, while special detox and diet programmes can be tailored to suit guests’ individual needs.

For business travellers, Angel’s Peninsula Hotel has a choice of meeting rooms, a conference room and a 3D and 5D cinema with capacity for 40 people.

Adventure seekers can make the most of the various water sports on offer, as well as the on-site tennis courts, bowling alleys, basketball and volleyball courts and more.

There’s also a Mini Club for children, run by an experienced team of child development and education professionals.

Visit stand EU8260

The Jetwing Hotels stand

Jet towards expansion Jetwing Hotels, the Sri Lankan family-owned hotel group, is planning rapid expansion on the island, where tourism currently accounts for just 1.6 percent of GDP. The company has been operating hotels on the South Asian island for 40 years and is now dramatically adding to its inventory by constructing four new hotels in key locations – Colombo, Yala, Dambulla and Uppuveli – with a total increase of 350 rooms.

The growing portfolio will be the focus of Jetwing’s showcase at Arabian Travel Market.

Jetwing Colombo, slated to open in April 2014, is the first hotel by Jetwing in the country’s capital. With 70 rooms and 28 serviced apartments designed by a leading architectural firm in Singapore, the hotel will be equipped to deal with business and leisure travellers, with overseas visitors in mind.

Opening in September 2013, Jetwing Yala, on the outskirts of the famed Yala National Park, is an exclusive wildlife safari property delivering a gamelodge experience. The former Yala Safari Lodge, destroyed by the 2004 tsunami, is being

rebuilt as an eco-friendly hotel with 80 dwellings and 10 luxury villas. Room lighting and hot water generation are powered by a solar photovoltaic system.

Jetwing Reef in Uppuveli, on the island’s up-and-coming east coast, is a luxury resort hotel with an integrated villa complex, boasting a Mediterranean ambience for 64 guest rooms and two luxury suites. A rejuvenation spa with treatment cabins is a highlight of the resort, set to open in December 2014.

Further projects are also in the pipeline, planned for Nergombo, Jaffna and Dambulla.

Visit stand AS6750

Al Wahda FOCUSES ON MEETINGS

Moine Kandil, Vice President Operations and Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, President and CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels

Following the addition of 12 new meeting rooms and a banquet hall, the Grand Millennium Al Wahda is ramping up efforts to attract conference and events business, with a particular focus on larger groups.

“In addition to the fact that the Grand Millennium Al Wahda is the largest hotel in Abu Dhabi, it is also the only hotel in the city capable of accommodating large groups requiring 330 or more rooms under one roof,” said Hotel Manager Marwan Mseikeh. “This unique ATM show dailies artwork.indd 1

15/04/13 17:30

combination of factors gives us a distinct edge when competing for corporate and large groups.”

The hotel’s meeting and banqueting facilities are spread between the hotel and the adjoining office tower which can be reaching via a connecting bridge. Its 12 meeting rooms can cater for more than 240 delegates in total.

The four meeting rooms within the hotel can be

configured in a variety of ways for small board meetings or larger corporate gatherings of up to 50. All rooms are Wi-Fi-enabled and there is also easy access to a business centre for photocopying and general office requirements.

The eight meeting rooms located in the office tower offer flexible options for meeting planners and come with the added bonus of data screens.

In addition, the banquet hall located on the ground floor can accommodate up to 250 for a theatre-style gathering or 150 for a gala dinner.

The Grand Millennium Al Wahda has over 585 contemporarily furnished luxury guest rooms and 265 stylish residences. It also boasts the largest health club in the city with a 2,700-square-metre spa, rooftop swimming pool and a state-of-the-art gym. There are multiple dining options, serving a range of international cuisines.

Visit stand HC5550

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Wego reveals web trends With this year’s Arabian Travel Market reflecting an increased focus on technology in the travel and tourism industry, it’s fitting that Wego has chosen the event to unveil the findings of its latest online travel booking trends research. As the leading travel meta-search site in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, with millions of people in the Gulf and North Africa using the system to

compare over 700 travel sites for flight and hotel options, Wego has a wealth of insight into user behaviour and interests.

Mohamad Ibrahim Masri, Managing Director, Wego Middle East & North Africa, said: “Wego has identified common online search and booking characteristics within this region which are quite different to other locations.” Research found that

Mohamad Ibrahim Masri

Visit stand TT6466

40 percent of the region’s users are between 25 and 35 years old, a third are female and most hold a professional or managerial position powered by internetenabled devices.

Travel plans tend to be made for family groups, almost half are decided jointly and an enormous appetite is shown for booking alternative destinations compared to regular hot spots, especially for leisure travel purposes. Technological advances are also making an impact.

“Middle Eastern travellers expect travel information instantly and like to share their plans, especially when they involve new and trending destinations,” Masri added. This is reflected by the numbers (31 percent) who use mobile devices to access travel content, a figure growing across all 11 markets analysed by Wego,” said Masri.

Carsten Schaeffer (second from left) on the Lufthansa stand

Lufthansa has the ‘wow factor’ Lufthansa Group’s Carsten Schaeffer, Vice President Sales and Services Southeast Europe, Africa & Middle East, talks about the airline’s development strategies in a crowded marketplace and the continued investment the airline has rolled out for fleet renewal and modernisation.

Julian Luther, Marketing Manager.

1 of 562 AVIAREPS employees worldwide.

We give our best every day – because your success is our success.

Meet the professionals at www.aviareps.com/the-tourism-people Whether you are looking for new opportunities or pushing for higher performance in your existing markets, we provide solutions for all your needs. As the global specialist with excellent local expertise in sales & marketing and PR, we are working today with over 80 destinations, hotels and resorts, car rental companies, cruise lines and railway companies to constantly improve brand and sales results for our clients, endeavouring to maximize their ROI. AVIAREPS – bringing people to the world and the world to people.

The Tourism Representation

Australia • Austria • Baltics • Belgium • Brazil • Canada • Chile • China • Colombia • Czech Republic • France • Germany • Hungary India • Israel • Italy Japan • Korea • Mexico Netherlands • Pakistan • Peru • Poland • Russia • Scandinavia • South Africa • Spain • Switzerland Taiwan • Turkey • UAE • United Kingdom • Ukraine • USA • Venezuela

How does Lufthansa Group differentiate itself from its competitors?

Lufthansa Group has longstanding experience of providing exclusive premium services, giving its customers relaxation and peace of mind whether on board or on the ground. Worldwide, 60 stateof-the-art lounges with a total space of 38,000 square metres invite customers to relax and escape the busy atmosphere of the airport.

By 2015, lounge space will be increased to 44,000 square metres as part of the airline’s active product investment.

Furthermore, we have a vast number of on-board service initiatives featuring carefully selected drinks and dishes created by top chefs, the widest first class bed in the industry and a state-of-the-art fully flat business class seat.

Lufthansa is also proud of its purpose-built first class terminal.

It offers concierge services, limousine transfer direct to the aircraft, an exclusive ambience with a gourmet restaurant and personal attention to guests from arrival at the airport right through to take-off. All of the usual procedures when arriving at the airport, from parking the car to check-in, security controls and customs, are taken care of in order to save time and make the customer’s journey hassle-free.

What investment has Lufthansa made in its fleet recently?

Lufthansa Group is undergoing a fleet expansion and has 236 aircraft on order, valued at more than EUR22 billion at list price and scheduled for delivery by 2025. With its ongoing expenditure in fleet renewal, the group is consistently making the fleet more cost-efficient and its operations more environmentally friendly. The fleet modernisation includes not only the addition of new aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and the Queen of the Skies Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, but also new first class and business class seats.

Lufthansa’s first class cabin is the quietest available. It features sound-absorbing curtains, special sound-insulating material in the aircraft’s outer skin and soundabsorbing carpeting which blocks footstep noise. The peaceful atmosphere allows passengers to forget that they are travelling by air. Another important factor in customer comfort is the newly developed ergonomic seat, which is 2.07 metres long and 80 centimetres wide. The air humidification system – the first of its kind on commercial aircraft – and the lighting concept, which adjusts according to the time of day, also contribute towards passengers’ wellbeing on board.

Passengers’ comfort and convenience also tops the agenda in the new business class cabin.

Can you provide passenger figures for flights in the Gulf region with Lufthansa?

Lufthansa Group has seen record passenger numbers in

2012. More than 103 million customers have chosen our network globally, with Middle Eastern customers accounting for over five percent of travellers.

We have been continuously investing in our products and services for the Middle East.

This summer we are operating 145 flights per week to 14 destinations in the region, an increase of 10 percent. Strong growth is expected in Saudi Arabia as we are operating more flights to Munich from Jeddah and Riyadh.

In the UAE we will increase capacity on the flights from Dubai to Frankfurt. We have seen more customers relying on our efficient hub in Frankfurt, which was recently ranked first in the European punctuality ratings by the Belgian consumer protection magazine Test Achats.

What is the airline’s future development strategy?

The focus for Lufthansa is and will always be the customer. For the next 1,000 days we will invest EUR1 million every day in better ground and onboard services (excluding the new airplane orders). We will continue to set the standards in first class travel since we are the only western network carrier holding a five-star SkyTrax rating. For leisure travellers, we will work on even easier self-service solutions and more competitive prices. Specifically in the GCC, Lufthansa will have very attractive offerings during the next weeks and months.

In addition, we plan to restructure internally in order to increase our focus within the aviation business environment.

Visit stand EU8140

A n e w l u x u r y d e s t i n At i o n , r i c h i n c u lt u r e , with its eyes set on the future.

rosewood Abu dhAbi. now open 1 8 9 ro o m s an d s u i t e s . 8 e v e n t s pac e s . 9 r e s taurants and loung es located on sowwah square | al maryah island | abu dhabi

F or in F or m ati on an d reservati on s, c on tac t your t r av e l p ro Fe ssio na l, c a ll + 971 (0) 2 813 5555 or vi si t

rosewoodhotels.com/en/abudhabi

NEW FRONTIERS | FOCUS

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New Frontiers winners unite Countries adversely affected by natural disasters are joining forces at Arabian Travel Market to talk about how they rebuilt and rebranded their tourism industry, proving that they may have been down for a short time, but they are definitely not out

Previous winners of the New Frontiers Award have been invited back to Arabian Travel Market for the first time to discuss how the recognition has helped them on their road to recovery and what future plans they have for rebuilding their communities.

Representatives from countries including Phuket, Thailand, which was devastated by the 2006 tsunami and last year’s recipient, Japan, will be taking part in the roundtable discussion taking place today

(Tuesday May 7) from 16.30 to 17.30 in the Seminar Theatre – Hall 1. The New Frontiers Award winner for 2013 will also be announced during the seminar.

“This year’s awards coincide with our 20th anniversary celebrations and it is a poignant moment for the industry as a whole to reflect on the devastation that natural disasters can wreak on human life, habitat and infrastructure, irrespective of their international status,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

“Participants will have a chance to share their experiences once again and report on how, in the intervening years, their respective tourism destinations have, quite literally, picked up the pieces and gone on to rebuild and recover,” remarked Walsh.

For regions that depend on tourism for income, the devastation runs deeper than the initial destruction, as affected nations have to face the task of rebuilding and encouraging visitors to return post haste.

Japan receiving the 2012 New Frontiers Award

“However, it’s not just a question of physical recovery,” added Walsh. “Tourism strategies need to be re-evaluated and revised marketing plans put in place to reposition a destination and to create confidence among its target markets.”

In 2010, New Frontiers Award winner Chile suffered an earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale. It caused widespread destruction and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimated that losses to the economy were between US$15 and 30 billion.

Carlos Salas, Trade Commissioner of Chile, said: “It was an honour to be nominated.

We recovered our touristic activity with unexpected speed.

“The biggest challenge was reconnecting the affected areas, but they are now completely recovered.“ The 2013 nominees, New York State, the Philippines and Pakistan, each bore the brunt of crippling natural disasters in 2012 and all have proved successful in overcoming the challenges to their tourism development.

New York State in the US was blasted by Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012, leaving a trail of destruction across the Eastern Seaboard. Businesses, homes and the tourism heart of Manhattan were left bereft, without vital resources and the local economy suffered billions of dollars of cumulative damage.

At the end of 2012, Typhoon Bopha ripped across the Philippines causing substantial loss of life and hitting the

tourism economy hard. It devastated large tracts of land and communities on the southern island of Mindanao and swept across the popular tourist island of Palawan.

Speaking about the award nomination, Assistant Secretary Benito C Bengzon Jr, said: “It is an honour and a clear recognition of the resiliency of Filipinos and the ability of the Philippine tourism industry to immediately bounce back in the aftermath of natural disasters and other challenges that we faced.

“Additional rains hindered recovery, but rebuilding continues with the assistance of donor agencies.

“The greatest challenge after reparation is image rebuilding. Slowly, as sales agents and journalists have seen, the situation on the ground, through familiarisation trips, trust and confidence, is regained,“ added Bengzon.

In Pakistan, September floods caused by heavy monsoon rains affected more than five million people as well as the economy, with damage extending across the country. Over half a million acres of crops were lost as well as livestock, which critically affected food supplies.

Launched in 2005 by Arabian Travel Market, The New Frontiers Award was created to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism development in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The award is a vital element of Arabian Travel Market’s commitment to support the global tourism industry and provides a platform to drive awareness and assist destinations in the recovery process through participation at the show.

Arabian Travel Market will support the winning destination for 2013 by donating exhibition space at the event to the value of US$10,000.

Palawan, Philippines

ROSEWOOD | INTERVIEW

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Rosewood at the ready The latest five-star hotel on the Abu Dhabi block, Rosewood Abu Dhabi opened its doors on May 1 and Managing Director Luigi Romaniello has plenty to promote at Arabian Travel Market

What special features does the Rosewood stand have to offer this year?

If you want to learn more about the latest addition to the UAE capital’s hotel scene, just stop by the stand where our team will be delighted to present our inspirational hotel facilities, refined meetings and events spaces and exclusive restaurants.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi Sowwah Square

What are your predictions for the hotel’s business over the next year?

Our plan for Rosewood Abu Dhabi is to ramp up business slowly during the summer and reach a more robust performance in October and November.

The vital signs for Abu Dhabi and the region are extremely healthy. As the destination

evolves and becomes more mature in the leisure segment, we can expect incremental business from new markets at the same time as the corporate business continues to prosper.

Are there any further deve­ lopments that we can expect?

Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Sowwah Square will continue to evolve in the coming months, with the addition of new facilities. The Rosewood Sense Spa will open in September 2013 as well as a new Indian restaurant. Our creative team has also prepared an exciting calendar of events with activities for families, couples and friends, with many more surprises to come before the end of the year.

Luigi Romaniello

What message does Rosewood Hotels & Resorts have for attendees at this year’s Arabian Travel Market?

We want to build and develop our long-term relationships with key partners and the travel sector within the region.

Our aim is to create awareness about Rosewood as a new five-star luxury brand coming into the UAE market. We’d like to communicate the opening of Rosewood Abu Dhabi this month, as well as position Sowwah Square at Al Maryah Island as the new leading mixeduse destination in Abu Dhabi.

What is the philosophy behind Rosewood Abu Dhabi?

Rosewood Abu Dhabi, as well as every other hotel in the Rosewood Collection, tailors its offerings and services to adapt to local culture. Our ‘A Sense of Place' philosophy’ reflects

the history, architecture, scale and traditions of Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region. To that end, all Rosewood Abu Dhabi staff will be trained extensively and to the highest standards to ensure that they understand local and regional sensitivities and traditions and respect them on and off the job.

How are you making the most of your strategic location to leverage business?

To serve the business community we are intentionally positioned in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s new Central Business District (CBD). Sowwah Square on Al Maryah Island is at the midpoint between Abu Dhabi's existing downtown and new business and residential districts.

Sowwah Square marks the completion of phase one of Al Maryah Island’s development and an important milestone in

the government’s strategic urban development plan. The island has been carefully designed to meet the long-term commercial and community needs of the capital. Operational since March 2012 and now home to 46 tenants, Sowwah Square has enjoyed significant commercial and project development success in its first year of activity.

To further complement our luxury offering, The Galleria at Sowwah Square – a distinct shopping and dining destination due to open its doors in August 2013 – has direct connectivity to the Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel. With panoramic views of the Abu Dhabi cityscape, extensive spa and recreational facilities and only minutes away from the beach and golf clubs on Saadiyat Island, Rosewood Abu Dhabi will combine the key elements of urban living with a luxury getaway.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi, as well as every other hotel in the Rosewood Collection, tailors its offerings and services to adapt to local culture. Our ‘A Sense of Place' philosophy reflects the history, architecture, scale and traditions of Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel suite bedroom

Visit stand HC5120

Spotlight on new openings Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is devoted to creating luxury hotels and resorts unlike any other in the world. Since 1979, it has ensured that each of its properties has a unique ambience and style.

The following hotels, due to be opened over this year and next, are no exception.

Rosewood London – October 2013 Born from a US$130 million (GBP85 million) renovation of a 1914 Edwardian, Grade II-listed building in High Holborn, this property blends English heritage with contemporary sophistication.

Offering 262 guest rooms and 44 suites, the Rosewood London boasts the only hotel grand courtyard arrival in the capital. The hotel will feature 11 event spaces, including a ballroom which will accommodate up to 435 guests and separate meetings and special events rooms for groups of 10 to 85. Leisure facilities include a signature spa and a fitness suite.

Rosewood Beijing – autumn 2013 This 279-room property is Rosewood’s first in China, offering more landscaped outdoor space than any other Beijing luxury hotel, with terraces, gardens and balconies integrated into the design of many of the restaurants, spa, recreational facilities, meeting and function areas. At 538 square feet, its guest rooms are among the largest in the city.

There are seven restaurants and lounges and a spa with five spa suites designed for overnight stay. Meeting and function space will total almost 33,000 square feet.

Rosewood Phuket – 2014 Rosewood’s second property in Asia, the resort features 87 villas, 20 residences and five hideaway homes located on the 1,968-foot (600-metre) Emerald Bay beachfront in Western Phuket. Designed to integrate organically into its hillside forest surroundings, key design features include retractable glass walls and ‘green’ rooftops with living plants. There are six restaurants and lounges, a spa and The Pavilion residential-style meeting and function venue.

Residence & Spa

Dubai’s most romantic beach resort Renowned as Dubai’s most stylish beach sanctuary, the Residence & Spa is a favourite of discerning travellers everywhere. With just fifty suites, one Garden Villa and an award winning Health & Beauty Institute, it’s not for everyone. But for those who appreciate finer things, there are few retreats quite like it.

For reservations and further information, please call + 971 4 399 99 99, email reservations@oneandonlyroyalmirage.ae or contact your preferred travel professional. oneandonlyroyalmirage.com

LUXURY IN ABU DHABI | FOCUS

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IN THE League of luxury With a raft of five-star properties opening in Abu Dhabi in 2013, hoteliers share their strategies for standing out in an increasingly competitive environment and EXPLAIN how perceptions of luxury are evolving

Building on its rich culture and heritage, Abu Dhabi's world-class attractions, five-star resorts and luxury shopping facilities have helped to raise awareness of the emirate among discerning travellers around the world.

The UAE capital received a record 2.3 million visitors in 2012 and has ambitious plans to attract a further 200,000 visitors this year. All signs point to success, with latest statistics showing double-digit growth in February in terms of the number of guest nights, revenue, occupancy and average length of stay across the destination's rapidly growing hospitality portfolio of 141 hotels and hotel apartments.

The growing number of up-scale attractions, including the recently opened Yas Waterworld water park and new beaches on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island show that the emirate is coming of age in terms of its leisure proposition, while business tourism is also getting a boost thanks to the launch of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau (ADCB) in March.

With more visitors arriving and staying for longer, it follows that there is a raft of new hotels in the pipeline to cater for demand. Over the years, the hospitality sector in the emirate has been mainly weighted to luxury and, while there are certainly more affordable properties opening their doors to service the growing number of business visitors, the five-star segment is holding strong.

Among iconic brands putting their stamp on the destination is Rosewood Abu Dhabi, located on Al Maryah Island, which opened on May 1. There's also a second St. Regis property, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi on the Corniche, which

is pegged to open on August 15.

Next year will see Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts make its debut in the UAE with the exclusive Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island.

With the hotel landscape growing increasingly competitive, it can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd and hoteliers are working overtime to differentiate their offer. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, which opened in November 2011, says that keeping a close eye on customer demand is the driving force behind its success.

According to General Manager Doris Greif, luxury travel trends are in a constant state of evolution and hoteliers need to keep abreast of the visitor dynamic as well as international trends in order to stay ahead of the pack.

“This requires us as hoteliers to also evolve and continue to keep a finger on the pulse in order to remain at the top of our game. Luxury travellers today seek welcoming and informal experiences, supported by efficient, personalised services that are surrounded with quality interiors and design. Technological and communications support is also expected as a norm,“ she said.

Its location on the doorstep of high-end shopping mall Avenue at Etihad Towers also helps set the hotel apart as a favourite among those with a passion for retail. Considering the emirate is currently experiencing a rise in the number of visitors from China and Russia, this unique selling point is sure to stand the property in good stead in future.

Meanwhile, one of The RitzCarlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal's key tactics lies in providing

Moritz Klein, Area General Manager of Anantara in Abu Dhabi

Oliver Key, General Manager, St. Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi

Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

With the hotel landscape growing increasingly competitive, it can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd and hoteliers are working overtime to differentiate the offer value for money along with the intangible promise of special memories. Having opened its doors in March, the property features 447 luxurious rooms and suites, in addition to 85 private one- and two-bedroom villas.

The luxury resort is the first The Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi and the ninth property in the Middle East for the luxury hotel operator.

General Manager Pep Lozano says: “Customers will pay for service, but demand more for the dirham. More importance is now placed on broader services, an outstanding spa, activities tailored for children and families and unique experiences and special memories,“ he explained.

Highlights of The Ritz-Carlton Abu

Dhabi, Grand Canal include the 1,600-square-metre outdoor pool – one of the largest in UAE – the 2,000-square-metre rejuvenating spa and 10 on-site restaurants.

The August opening of the St. Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi is set to provide yet another boost to Abu Dhabi's luxury hotel portfolio.

Located within Nation Towers, the hotel will feature 10 dining establishments including Rhodes 44, by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.

It will also have a 3,000-squaremetre spa and health club including the city's first Hommage Grooming Atelier and the Nation Riviera Beach Club set along 200 metres of private beach.

Oliver Key, General Manager of The St. Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi,

Doris Greif, General Manager, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

Pep Lozano, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal

said: “St. Regis is renowned for meticulously choosing only the best addresses across the globe.

Our goal at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is to be at the forefront of the emirate's vision for the future. This includes catering for a new breed of global traveller that has emerged during these economically turbulent times, a traveller who is multi-national, cross-generational, mobile, jet-setting, knowledgeable and adventurous Ð someone who seeks out travel as a life-enriching experience.“ A highlight of the property is the Abu Dhabi Suite located on the sky bridge between the two Nation Towers. The highest of its kind in the world, the 1,100-squaremetre suite has 360-degree panoramic views over the city.

“Luxury in a hospitality setting should mean more than just opulence and extravagance created randomly and without reference points or thoughts to surroundings. Luxury should be about providing an environment of total comfort and relaxation that is tailored carefully to the local culture,“ said Key. Another brand that places importance on cultural accuracy and heritage is Anantara. Offering a triumvirate of desert, city and island getaways, Anantara's Qasr

Al Sarab Desert Resort, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa and Desert Islands Resort & Spa are renowned for making the most of the landscape, offering guests an authentic experience.

“The human factor plays a key role in Anantara's five-star luxury service, where passion and dedication make the difference in creating an indigenous destination experience that reflects the local spirit of Arabian hospitality and the environment of our individual hotels and resorts,“ said Area General Manager Moritz Klein.

Anantara's Abu Dhabi portfolio expansion in 2013 includes the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Al Yamm Villas, 30 luxury beachfront villas along the east coast of Sir Bani Yas Island and the Anantara Sir Bani Yas Al Sahel Villas, another 30 luxury villas located within the Arabian Wildlife Park on the island.

“Over the past five years Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in providing tourists and visitors with a world-class airport and other transport links, exceptional leisure and entertainment facilities such as Yas Island as well as many more exciting projects in the pipeline,“ said Klein. “Ultimately the focus of Abu Dhabi, like Anantara, has been to provide people with a memorable destination experience.“

The Meydan Hotel raises the bar for service, style and sheer indulgence and a visit to this iconic Dubai landmark will leave you breathless.

Luxurious accommodation, several sensational restaurants and plenty of horse racing action make The Meydan Hotel the perfect weekend getaway.

A decision so difficult, trying both is the only option.

Situated in the heart of the Dubai desert, nestled between majestic dunes and clear blue skies, lies an exclusive traditional resort.

Renowned for its traditional Arabic hospitality and unique setting, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is the ultimate luxury getaway.

For more information call +971 4 381 3231 or email info@meydanhotels.com www.meydanhotels.com

TECHNOLOGY | GAMIFICATION

21

All in the game One of the hottest digital trends around, gamification is used to drive engagement and brand loyalty and now the travel and tourism industry is reaping the benefits, writes Eddie Taylor

Gamification is a word that brand owners will need to get used to hearing. Rapidly gaining currency as one of the most powerful strategies for customer engagement on digital platforms, gamification was singled out in Deloitte’s 2013 Tech Trends report with the prediction it will become “a central part of enterprise solutions” in the year ahead.

At its core, gamification is the application of gaming dynamics in a non-gaming context. It could be the award of badges or ranking points to recognise interaction on a website. It could be the addition of fun, targetdriven tasks to a staff-training programme. It could be an actual game that requires ongoing commitment to play, such as fantasy football and through which key brand messages can be conveyed and shared.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the word, it’s a reasonable assumption that you’ve already participated in a ‘gamified’ environment. If you’ve seen the star by your name on eBay change from yellow to blue, or been spurred to complete your LinkedIn profile by praise and a progress bar, a gamification concept has tried to persuade you to stay, do and share more on a favoured website.

“Successful gamification is about allowing users to spend time with your brand and be rewarded with a sense of achievement for doing so,” says Mady Keup, Course Director in Strategic Event Management and Tourism Management at Skema Business School, France. “The new generation of

consumers is too sophisticated to have messages forced on them. Gamification can ensure brand values are conveyed via a fun, immersive experience – especially one that can build skills or, with a social component, allow you to compete against your friends.”

The travel and tourism sector is already on board with the process of gamification, as any regular user of TripAdvisor will testify.

User profiles come with a roll of honour that includes the number and usefulness of reviews submitted and any badges earned for perceived expertise on, say, restaurants or spas.

The principle here is simple: a site that depends on comments and votes to stay relevant needs to keep those comments and votes coming.

Like FourSquare, the platform that popularised badges to reward ‘checking in’ at locations, TripAdvisor harnesses the very human desire for recognition.

“If you’re a travel portal and your goal is to achieve more time on the site, more shares, more comments, then gamification is becoming a must-have,” says Sherif Dahan, Co-Founder of The Gamifiers, the first specialised gamification agency in the Middle East and the exclusive partner of Badgeville in the region.

“The analytics that come with it – who is coming on your site, where are they coming from, what are they doing when they arrive – are also extremely important. If the concept and design are right, brands will see results extremely quickly.”

Those results can certainly be significant. According to Gigya, a digital agency based in the US that has worked with Pepsi, Nike and Dell, gamification can boost commenting by 13 percent and sharing to social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter by up to 22 percent.

For many travel brands, though, rewarding repeat behaviour won’t make sense if the goal is a once-a-year or even a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. Kuep believes VisitNorways’ Holmenkollen Ski Jump, a simple but incredibly addictive Flash

At its core, gamification is the application of gaming dynamics in a non-gaming context.

It could be the award of badges or ranking points to recognise interaction on a website Bruce Martin

game in which users launch and then land a jumper, is a good example of how a single destination can use gamification.

“It’s a very ingenious way of highlighting a tourist offering,” she says. “It’s fun, it’s sticky, it has leader boards and rankings, but it also has a very strong brand association – and importantly, the messaging isn’t forced on anyone.”

Discovery channels The notion of ‘discovery’, in which the user is an active participant in brand engagement, is another element of gamification applicable to the travel sector. The new website of Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, for instance, takes users on a journey through a waterfall of images and information, with a quiz question coming at the end of each section – all designed to engage and educate potential guests and travel industry professionals.

A similar concept is used by OTT, a UK company that delivers e-learning programmes to travel agents. Their courses enable tourist boards, resorts, hotels and airlines to educate point-of-sale travel professionals about their brands and, in turn, improve the likelihood they will be promoted to the customer.

“Our business is based on maximising the number of agents who pass each programme,” says Bruce Martin, OTT’s Operations

Director. “As part of a rebranding in November 2012, we introduced a gamification component, which now awards badges and travel prizes to participating agents.

In just five months, we’ve seen a 65 percent increase in course completion, which means more agents are spending time learning about, or re-learning, our clients’ products and services.”

Even that relatively small window has been enough to convince Martin about gamification’s possibilities.

“We’re only at the very start,” he says. “The next phase is to introduce leader boards and social sharing, but we already see it as intrinsic to our business.

In five years, I believe it will be a normal, accepted part of everyone’s marketing activity.”

As with all new technologies, though, gamification shouldn’t be considered a magic bullet.

Just creating a ‘game’ or a gamelike environment won’t work unless it’s closely aligned to your business goals – and properly managed and monitored.

“Brands have to realise that you can’t turn everything into a game,” warns Dahan.

“We’re still in the early stages, especially in the Middle East, so it’s important companies choose a supplier wisely and be prepared to tweak their games along the way. Adopt early, though, and companies will see the benefits.”

“Gamification should be about enhancing people’s lives not wasting their time,” concludes Keup. “If done well, it will make a person feel good about themselves and, by extension, good about your brand.”

Want to find out more?

Don’t miss the seminar on ’Gamification: The global trend that’s boosting engagement, branding, loyalty and learning in travel’ taking place on Tuesday May 7 from 12.15 – 13.15 in the Google Technology Theatre

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y a d e h t f o ip d t s The fir

SEMINAR & DEBATE | PROGRAMME

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Arabian Travel Market Seminar Schedule 2013 Keeping delegates up to date with the latest industry news and developments, this year’s free-to-attend educational seminar programme covers a widevariety of topics and features a diverse range of high–profile Speakers WEDNESDAY 8 MAY

Seminars take place in the Seminar Theatre – Hall 1 TUESDAY 7 MAY 11.00 – 12.00 Loyalty programmes – incentive to travel?

The prospect of added value is tempting for everyone, which is why loyalty programmes

are such an attractive incentive for many travellers and a guarantee of repeat business.

But when the gloves come off, are they a blessing or a curse?

Speakers: Ayman Al Deik, Group Director Brand Loyalty, Jumeirah Group; Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President, Skywards; Hatem Chatter, Regional Director – Middle East, Leading Hotels of the World; Folker Heim, Head of Loyalty, Global Hotel Alliance; Haitham Mattar, Regional Vice President Sales & Marketing MEA, Hilton Worldwide

Moderator: Mary Gostelow, Luxury Freelancer, The Gostelow Report, www.girlahead.com

How to corner the inbound market Increasingly, travel companies are looking to establish inbound operations as more travellers visit the region, driven by a booming airline business. We look at the opportunities for agencies to attract more inbound business.

Speakers: Ali Abu Monassar, Chairman, The Vision Destination Management; Scott Booth, Associate Research Director, YouGov; Alison Gilmore, Exhibition Director, ILTM, RTE; Mary Samways, Freelance Incentive Travel Specialist & Manager, Arabian Expedition Moderator: Jon Barber, Corporate Communications Manager, DAMAC Properties 12.15 – 13.15

13.30 – 15.00

15.15 – 16.15

WTM Vision Euromonitor International will present the findings of its Travel and Tourism 2013 research and The Ritz-Carlton will discuss CSR. Speakers: Sana Toukan, Senior Research Analyst, Euromonitor International; Sue Stephenson, Vice President, Community Footprints, Ritz–Carlton Hotel Company, LLC. Moderator: Micaela Juarez, Head of Communications, WTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions Aviation outlook 2013. The challenges and opportunities The airline industry faces a mix of challenges, from teething problems with new aircraft, high fuel prices and difficult economic conditions in some markets. How are leading players tackling these realities and succeeding in tapping into opportunities offered by next-generation planes, new markets and business models?

Speakers: Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai; Carsten Schaeffer, Vice President MENA, Lufthansa; Randy Tinseth, Vice President, Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airlines Moderator: John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting

16.30 – 17.30 New Frontiers. Recover. Repair. Rebuild

For the past six years, Arabian Travel Market has recognised, through its New Frontiers

Award, destinations that have overcome great adversity to bring much-needed tourism

back to their shores. This year invites past award recipients to discuss how New Frontiers

recognition has helped them on the road to recovery. This session will also announce the 2013 recipient of the New Frontiers Award.

Speakers: Benito C Bengzon Jr, Assistant Secretary (Deputy Minister), Philippine Department of Tourism – Middle East Office; Daisuke Matsunaga, Consul General, Japan; Carlos Salas, Trade Commissioner of Chile, Embassy of Chile in UAE; Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions Moderator: Mike Hayes, Editorial Director, Limetree Media

11.00 – 12.00 Taking the right angle of approach TTG MENA Knowledge bring to the stage a dynamic line-up of professionals from the golfing industry. Together, we will take you on a tour of the latest flagship developments, guide you through current trends and, via energetic and insightful debate, explore how, with a closed grip and perfect balance, this sport of gentlemen has taken the right angle of approach along its evolutionary journey towards becoming a sport of positive influence for the region's travel and tourism industry.

Speakers: Chris Card, Group General Manager, Troon Golf Abu Dhabi; Stephen Deane, Head Academy PGA Professional, Emirates Golf Club Dubai

Moderator: Eleni Henderson, Editor, TTG MENA

12.15 – 13.15 Selling to niche segments (outbound) The region's travellers are becoming ever more discerning in their travel tastes. As the population grows, agencies and tour operators need to cater to a wider range of travel and leisure tastes, from holidays at sea and adventurous expeditions to eco-friendly pursuits and top-end experiential travel. This panel discusses the opportunities to sell niche travel experiences.

Speakers: Ron Steyers, Co-Founder and Manager, Real Expeditions; Jacqueline Campbell, Managing Director, Travel Collection; Mark Allvey, Vice President, The Set Hotels; Dina Al Herais, Vice President, Emirates Holidays; Ian Stazicker, Tourism Director, Chic Outlet Shopping by Value Retail

Moderator: Charmaine Fernz, Editor, Travel Daily Middle East 13.30 – 14.30

Assessing the Middle East online travel opportunity In this session, PhoCusWright presents the results of a landmark research project, sharing key data and analysis of the Middle East travel market.

Speakers: Mona Faraj, Research Analyst – Middle East, PhoCusWright Inc Moderator: Florence Kaci, Director, Sales, EMEA and European Market Specialist, PhoCusWright Inc

14.45 – 15.45 Is home-working for you?

The home-working trend that has taken off in the UK, North America, Australia and South Africa is now about to take the UAE by storm. A panel of experienced home-workers and travel agents discuss the benefits and potential of home-working in the Middle East.

Speakers: Debbie Duncan–Studart, Travel Counsellor, Travel Counsellors; Leo Fewtrell, General Manager, DTTAG/Gulf Reps; Malcolm Hingley, Sales Director, Travel Counsellors; Harvey Lines, Travel Counsellor, Travel Counsellors

Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Freelance Journalist 16.00 – 17.00

Looking to the skies. Global aviation trends 2013 – 2023 A look at future aviation, examining the key trends and industry outlooks based on empirical evidence and facts. How is the airline business model becomig more divergent and different. What are some of the leading practices which will influence the future?

Business models need to keep pace with dynamic macro economic and geopolitical changes with a view to adapting to a new business world.

Keynote speaker: Sunil Malhotra, Director – Aviation Sector, MENA, Ernst & Young

thursday 9 MAY 11.00 – 12.00 Storming to performing...Getting teams to work together Effective teamwork is essential in today's world, but you can't expect a new team to perform exceptionally from the very outset. This seminar looks at ways to build effective, motivated teams.

Speakers: Hatem Gasmi, Managing Director, Auris Hotels, Mark Lee, General

Manager, Media One Hotel, Michael R. Payne, General Manager, One&Only The Palm,

Rupprecht Queitsch, General Manager, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Moderator: Lynne Bellinger, Managing Director – UAE, Purple Cubed 12.15 – 13.15 Rising stars As part of the Careers Day programme, Arabian Travel Market talks to rising stars from the travel, hotel and hospitality sector.

Speakers: Lamia Al Ansi, Contracts Manager, Oman Tourism Development SAOC – OMRAN; Rashid Alawadi, Retail Travel Manager, dnata; Madiya Bin Hadi, Operations Manager, Arabian Adventures; Elie Milky, Director of Business Development MENA, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Christophe Mousset, Hotel Manager, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Moderator: Phil Blizzard, Broadcaster, ameinfo.com

SEMINAR & DEBATE | PROGRAMME

26

'20 years. Now, then and tomorrow' seminar held on 6 May

Technology Theatre All seminars take place in the Google Technology Theatre, Sheikh Saeed Hall 1 TUESDAY 7 MAY 11.00 – 12.00

TripAdvisor. Working smarter with the worlds largest travel site Keynote speaker: Richard Boardman, Sales Manager – Middle East & Africa, TripAdvisor

12.15 – 13.15

Gamification. The global trend that’s boosting engagement, branding, loyalty and learning in travel Speakers: Mady Keup, Course Director, SKEMA Business School; Sherif Dahan, Co–Founder of The Gamifiers Moderator: Bruce Martin, Operations Director, Online Travel Training

13.30 – 14.30

Being sociable Speakers: Dan Cross, Territory Manager MEA, TripAdvisor; Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, Managing Partner International, T2 Impact; Ruth Haffenden, Social Media Account Director, Four Communications Moderator: Paul Richer, Senior Partner, Genesys – The Travel Technology Consultancy

14.45 – 15.45

How to use social media to drive user engagement and direct performance Keynote speaker: Jerome Touze, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, WAYN.com

16.00 – 17.00

Online revenue optimisation – developing your hotel’s online revenue optimisation strategy Keynote speaker: Vikram Singh, Co-Founder and CEO, Evision Worldwide

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 13.30 – 14.30

14.45 – 15.45

NTOs vs Travel Agents NTOs are getting increasingly frustrated with travel agencies’ “lack of cooperation”.

Arabian Travel Market gets the two parties together to battle out issues and to forge a path forward for better co-operation.

Speakers: Leo Fewtrell, General Manager, DTTAG/Gulf Reps; Bill Horsley, General Manager, Al Futtaim Travel Management Company; Karim Mekachera, Director Middle East & Turkey Regional Office, Atout France Dubai; Maheen Mohamed, General Manager, Nasser Air Travel (NASA); Sai Rattan, Senior General Manager UAE, SNTTA; Vassilis Theocharides, Director, Cyprus Tourism Organisation Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Freelance Journalist

11.00 – 12.00

Using blogging and social media effectively Keynote speaker: Michael Hodson, Travel Blogger, GoSeeWrite.com

12.15 – 13.15

Technologies to enhance customer experience and loyalty in the travel and hospitality sector Speakers: Dr Des O'Mahony, CEO and Founder, Bookassist; Paschal Nee, Consulting Director and Co-Founder, Mobile Travel Technologies (MTT); Matthew Maxwell, CEO, Guest IQ

15.00 – 18.00

Google Think Travel Google's invite-only session will provide an insight into the latest travel industry trends and digital innovations, essential for business leaders.

Speakers: Mohamad Mourad, Regional Manager Gulf, Google; Dr Bernd Fauser, Global Head of Travel Top Accounts at Google; Maciek Nowakowski, Product Manager for Google Hotel Finder, Google; Marie de Ducla, Industry Head Travel – Gulf; Edouard Mailfait, Top Account Mobile Lead, Google; Nigel Huddleston, Industry Head of Travel – UK, Google Algonso de Gaetano, Industry Head - Gulf Region, Google, Subramanya Sharma, CMO, Cleartrip

What’s your company value? Fostering values in employees and companies Whether people admit it or not, everyone has personal values – the guiding principles by which they live their lives – and the same applies to companies.

This seminar investigates employer values that lie at the heart of every business.

Moderator: Lynne Bellinger, Managing Director – UAE, Purple Cubed ,Patrick Antaki, Complex General Manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort & Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Caron Jones, Independent HR Consultant, CJHR, Julie Spring, Independent HR consultant & Business Coach, Formerly HRD & board member for Pizza Express UK

THURSDAY 9 MAY 11.00 – 12.00

Travel blogging – What's your perspective?

Speakers: Victoria Pearce, International New Business Manager, Think!SocialMedia.

Moderator: Michael Hodson, Travel Blogger, GoSeeWrite.com

12.15 – 13.15

Using Arabic online Speaker. Joe Akkawi, Owner, PAZ Marketing & Bambinoz Middle East, Byron Koller, Digital Marketing Director, Cobone.com, Mo Elzubeir, Managing Director, Mediastow Moderator: Shamim Kassibawi, PR Consultant & Video Blogger, Fikra

13.30 – 14.30

Tech showcase – Back by popular demand. Using the GDS to make big bucks Speakers: Assita Kone, Hospitality Business Development Manager, Travelport.

Ahmed Youseef, Regional Director, Marketing & Operations Middle East & North Africa, Amadeus IT Group SA; Darren Wickham, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Moderator: Kim Thomson, Publishing Director, TTN

14.45 – 15.45

And the prize goes to…

We'll be wrapping up Arabian Travel Market's viral campaign by announcing the prize-winner and drawing the winners of the Travel Agent Programme Passport Competition. Make sure you put yourself in the running for these great prizes.

Destination Briefings Join Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East to discover Europe's next travel hot spots. Discover new destinations within the region and find out what new activities await travellers with a bit of insider knowledge. All sessions are taking place in the Google Café, Sheikh Saeed Arena.

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 11.00 – 12.00 15.00 – 16.00

Destination Europe. Opening up Eastern Europe. New destinations. New routes Destination Asia Pacific. The rise of eco-tourism and the different experiences that brands are offering

THURSDAY 9 MAY 13.30 – 14.30

Destination Africa. The development of the East Coast for luxury tourism

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Al Faisaliah Resort & Spa, Durrat Arriyadh

Building the future... inspired by the past

Al Shohada Hotel, Makkah

Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina, King Abdullah Economic City

Al Faisaliah Center, Riyadh

Al Faisaliah Hotel, Madinah Al Khozama managed portfolio

Experience, diversity and powerful business partners Since 1995, Al Khozama Management Company has been at the forefront of commercial property management and development across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our diverse portfolio includes some of the country’s most iconic hospitality, retail and mixed-use complexes. This constant innovation comes from a fundamental belief in quality, exceptional service and insight into the needs of tomorrow’s consumers – as well as the steadfast support of our business partners.

Al Khozama is committed to the future of the country and region. We’ll continue to create groundbreaking Middle Eastern environments, where communities, business and tourism can thrive in unrivalled surroundings.

Visit us at ATM Dubai, Stand Number HC 5260, Sheikh Saeed Arena.

OWNERSHIP AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT · HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT · RETAIL MANAGEMENT · INVESTMENT P.O. Box 4148, Riyadh 11491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. T: +966.1.273.0005/6 F: +966.1.273.0001

Y o u ’ l l f i n d a w a Y. Meydan Beach. The exclusive beach experience you ’ll do anything to be a part of.

CHill dinE RElaX discover Mediterranean tranquility in the heart of dubai. Meydan Beach welcomes day guests and members to relax by its deep blue infinity pools, take time out for spa pampering, indulge in italian dining by Giannino or chill out with Café del Mar ’s resident dJs through sunset and into the night. find out more at Meydan’s stand uaE 3210 in Hall 3, or come and visit us in person.

Call us on + 971 44 333 777 or visit www.meydanbeach.com Meydan Beach, The walk, JBR, dubai.

B E l o n G.

interview

29

starwood’s middle east adventure With its Middle East portfolio going from strength to strength, 200 members of the Starwood senior management team spent a month on location in Dubai to help drive development

In March, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced plans to increase its presence in the Middle East & Africa by more than 60 percent, with almost 50 new hotels to open in the region over the next five years.

The announcement came during a month-long sojourn in Dubai, which saw the company shift its headquarters from Connecticut in the US to the emirate.

The motivation behind this upheaval, said Frits Van Paasschen, President & CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, was to accelerate development in one of the hospitality company’s key growth markets working out of Dubai, which boasts the largest concentration of Starwood’s nine hotel brands after New York.

“With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it is simply not possible to lead a truly global business from a boardroom in Connecticut. Dubai epitomises the future of global travel markets and the insights that come from experiences like this move make us more agile in today’s rapidly changing world,“ he said.

The initiative of having employees on the ground is carrying through at this year’s Arabian Travel Market, where a team of 30 Starwood employees will be in attendance to represent almost 300 hotels from all four geographic divisions of the company.

“In total, we have scheduled around 1,100 meetings over the four days, which marks a 15 percent increase on our activity here during 2012,“ said Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East.

“For this year’s show we also have a number of firsttime participants, including Sheraton Lisbon, Westin Siray Bay, W Washington, Sheraton Rio de Janeiro and Sheraton Buenos Aires, which indicates just how important the Middle East and its travellers are to Starwood and our properties.

As the world’s biggest luxury and upper-scale hotel operator, we will also be participating in ILTM@ATM,“ he added.

ILTM@ATM provides an opportunity for luxury buyers to meet suppliers, which has particular relevance for Starwood’s St. Regis, W and Luxury Collection brands and the company’s loyalty programme, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG.) “Given the region’s status as a global crossroads and the growing volume of new global travellers from emerging markets, we expect this year’s Arabian Travel Market to be a dynamic platform on which we can showcase our brands and properties,“ de Wilde said.

“We are also confident that we can build on the recent

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

Frits Van Paasschen

success of the relocation to Dubai of our senior global leadership team, led by Frits Van Paasschen, which has been incredibly beneficial in cementing both new and existing relationships in the region,“ he added. With over 50 years’ experience and 45 hotels in the Middle East region (and 34 more in the pipeline) de Wilde described Starwood’s position here as “very solid“, explaining that “our brands resonate very well in the Middle East, allowing us to grow further and faster“.

A significant portion of this growth is focused on the luxury

Bedouin Suite, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

Over the past five years, Starwood has doubled its luxury footprint, which now accounts for half of the company's Middle East portfolio sector. In the past five years, Starwood has doubled its luxury footprint and the division, which includes the St. Regis, W and Luxury Collection brands, now accounts for 50 percent of the company’s Middle East portfolio.

One of the key growth markets for this sector is the UAE, in particular Dubai and Abu Dhabi, (which will soon be the only city in the world to host two St. Regis hotels).

Commenting that the pace of change in the travel and tourism sector is faster today than it has been at any other time in history with luxury travel and technology driving new trade routes, capital flows and wealth creation, Van Paasschen said that nowhere epitomises this better than the region as a whole and Dubai in particular.

“I think the heart of Dubai’s success is having a government that is not just supportive of travel and tourism, but active in promoting the sector. When I speak with governments in other parts of the world, I talk about the benefits of the travel and tourism industry as a force for economic development and the UAE, specifically Dubai, is the first example I use to show what that can mean,“ he said.

This is the second time that Starwood, which operates 1,100 hotels in almost 100 countries

worldwide and counts St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element among its brands, has transferred its headquarters overseas. Prior to this, in June 2011, the company based operations in China for a month to support the addition of 100 new hotels to its Chinese portfolio.

The venture met with great success, resulting in 53 new hotel deals and a six-point growth in market share.

“There are direct and indirect connections between the increase in our performance and the time we spent in China, whether it’s in terms of marketing our loyalty programme, which has doubled in membership since, or generating materials to train staff,“ Van Paasschen said.

The company anticipates equal success from its Dubai relocation, both in terms of growth in the region and operational initiatives it can apply across its international portfolio. “There are a number of areas in which we are bringing back ways to improve our business overall, whether it’s using the Middle East as

a place to train and recruit staff or taking best practices from the extraordinary levels of service and guest satisfaction that the hotels here deliver,“ he explained.

Starwood’s Dubai properties produce some of the highest guest-satisfaction scores across the company, a fact Van Paasschen attributes to successful leadership practices.

“We have some beautiful hotels here, but when I look at a 30-year-old property like Le Méridien Dubai, which yields some of the best guestsatisfaction results in the company, I know that it isn’t simply the facilities.

“After the renovation that is currently underway, it will once again be a spectacular, up-todate hotel, but its success today has everything to do with the passion that staff there have for delivering service. The ways they use social media, approach interaction with guests and keep track of guest preferences are the real reasons that Le Méridien is so successful.“ With 82 operating hotels across the Middle East and Africa and 20 more expected to open by the end of 2015, Starwood is en route to achieve its target of 100 hotels in the region. By 2017, this figure is expected to increase to 130 hotels in MEA, 30 of which will be concentrated in the UAE, with expansion into Sharjah and Ajman planned over the coming years.

Visit stand HC5440

Hatem Chatter | interVIEW

30

Leading BY EXAMPLE The ‘Leading Hotels of the World‘ is a collection of deluxe properties from around the globe, this year celebrating its 85th anniversary. Hatem Chatter, Director Middle East, reveals his thoughts on all things ‘leading‘

Hatem Chatter

Eagle Island Camp dining, Orient Express

You travel to a lot of incredible hotels...

Yes and I'm so happy to be able to do that. I am dealing with many royal families, so people can come to me and say, 'I have a VIP travelling with me' and I know what to do. Take Tokyo for example if the client wants a hotel in the city and they want a big lobby with high ceilings, we can guide them to the Imperial Hotel. Or maybe there are princesses travelling and they want to go shopping then I can recommend a boutique hotel such as the Hotel Seiyo Ginza, which is close to luxury shops.

We can arrange for staff to assist them with their shopping, to have the latest collections brought to their suites, or even request shops to open after hours to afford them privacy.

Is this kind of business very competitive?

There are a lot of competitors, but to be honest, we don't really worry about them, because we give a full concierge service, which other companies don't. For example, if you have a booking in Spain for a group of friends and the men want to go to a football match and the ladies want to go to the museums, we'll have the tickets waiting for you in your room. We can also arrange for cars, make dinner reservations and spa appointments. Guests don't have to worry about a thing.

What are some of the most memorable moments of your career?

Last year, we had a booking for more than US$1 million... It was one booking, for one holiday – a wedding – and all covered by one person. It was in Marbella, Spain and involved three separate properties for a royal family from Saudi Arabia. That just shows how strong the Middle East market is.

What is one of the top destinations you would recommend for a holiday?

My last three visits were to South Africa. It is amazing. Cape Town is a very nice destination. You have the beach and the mountains and there are a lot of activities.

Johannesburg is great too. I was very surprised how safe it is. It's not at all what I thought it would be. There are numerous nature activities such as safaris and game treks to see the Big Five and other exotic animals that appeal to adults and children alike.

Africa, as a whole, still has to be developed, but as an introduction to the continent, it makes sense to go to South Africa because everyone speaks English. I would also strongly recommend Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, there are people on the beach, drinking caipirinhas and watching football – it's very relaxing.

This is especially good for those of us who live in Dubai, as we work so hard all the time!

What are the criteria to become a Leading Hotel of the World?

Our standards are hard to meet.

We insist on stringent criteria and are very strict with all our hotels. We are working to promote the hotels that meet our many standards, covering everything from the reservation process to departure, from bedding, decor and cuisine, to facilities and, above all, service.

The list is comprehensive and very detailed.

Where do you send your clients for a romantic holiday?

I would send people to Venice.

It's classically romantic and you can't go wrong with that.

Can you explain the Leader's Club?

When you join the Leader's Club you have automatic advantages such as complimentary breakfast and Internet access. Even if the hotels don't pay for it, we will absorb the cost. Others include room upgrades, access to

members-only rates, early checkin and late check-out privileges.

One of the biggest advantages is that for each five stays in at least two Leading Hotels in one year, members can earn one free night that can be redeemed at any one of our 430-plus hotels around the world. One of my clients in Dubai travels very frequently to Saudi Arabia and once every few months he will call us to collect four redeemed nights, which he can use to take his wife to the Seychelles, the Maldives or Bali.

their lives, so they really know good service. In addition, many of the young front-of-house staff have trained at the finest hotel schools in the world and bring a level of international sophistication.

Which region has the best hotel standards and service you've seen?

Dubai, as there are so many extraordinary and brand new hotels. Thailand is another as the service level is high and visitors are treated like royalty. In New York the service is amazing as the waiters and concierges are often older and have been performing their jobs for most of

What is the best airline?

I prefer Qatar Airways because their business class lounge is incredible. You can order à la carte, or use the sauna while you wait. In addition, the service is outstanding on the flights as well.

The business class lounge is like a hotel in the terminal. It's a very special treat to spend three hours on a stop-over there.

Where have you been that has the most impressive natural setting?

Switzerland, due to all the lakes and mountains. When you open the windows it's like revealing a painting of flowers, trees and sky – it is stunning.

Last year, we had a booking for more than US$1 million... It was one booking, for one holiday – a wedding – and all covered by one person

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Swiss Alps

Visit stand HC5270

JW MARRIOT T® MARQUIS DUBAI

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MÖVENPICK | INTERVIEW

32

Moving on up Bringing together its largest ever number of hotels to exhibit at an international show, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is showcasing its continued support for Arabian Travel Market this year. AS it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Mövenpick’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing – Middle East Toufic Tamim discusses the group’s ambitions to open 100 properties by 2015 private residence club. Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh will be our 10th hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to open in Q4 2013. The hotel comprises 433 rooms and suites, four speciality restaurants, 14 conference rooms, a ballroom for up to 1,200 guests and a swimming pool.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts stand

Toufic Tamim

To celebrate Arabian Travel Market's 20th anniversary, Mövenpick is building on its partnership with Reed Travel Exhibitions by hosting international press and key buyers at six of its properties in Dubai. What is on the agenda for hosted delegates?

The 20th anniversary of Arabian Travel Market coincides perfectly with the 40th celebrations at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, one of many good reasons to continue our partnership with Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) at this year’s show.

Naturally, it’s a privilege to welcome over 150 international and regional hosted buyers and members of the media to our properties across Dubai.

Among many treats, we will be pampering them with special Mövenpick products that we have flown in for the occasion.

In addition, to celebrate the upcoming opening of Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, all media members will be invited for a private breakfast in the hotel lobby lounge, which will be specially catered for by all our Mövenpick hotels in Dubai.

The Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts annual party in collaboration with RTE has become a must-attend event during Arabian Travel Market.

Last year, Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate hosted 2,800 delegates and we expect the incredible food and spectacular shows at this year’s reception to attract similar numbers. Our 2013 party is themed around James Bond and the entertainment, decoration and food will be showcased accordingly.

Mövenpick The Square Dubai is making its debut as part of the official accommodation portfolio.

How do hotel apartments fit in with your future expansion plans for the brand?

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts took a decision at board level seven years ago to enter the fully serviced hotel apartment market and, to do this, we adapted our standards accordingly.

We currently operate over 10 fully serviced hotel apartment properties across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square Dubai fits the concept well and the property has been running at 80 percent occupancy since its opening in January this year with 180 deluxe, serviced hotel apartment suites. We foresee major demand in the summer period from GCC travellers looking for fully serviced, fully furnished short-, medium- and long-term accommodation. The hotel is located in Al Mamzar in Dubai’s eastern district of Deira and we are very pleased to be the first international hotel company to operate in this area.

Which area of the Middle East do you see as having the most potential for further tourism development, building on where it is today?

The robust economy of Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s continued status as a world hub make these two strong candidates for continued growth. From our perspective, we are also keen to explore opportunities in Oman.

Saudi Arabia is already an

important destination for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

The country is making important investments in infrastructure and we have noticed a significant increase in Saudi nationals travelling within the kingdom for leisure and relaxation. We also anticipate a significant growth in religious tourism over the coming five years, as hospitality projects develop in Makkah and Madinah.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts currently operates nine hotels in Saudi Arabia with our 10th hotel set to open in Riyadh during Q4 2013. Our development strategy includes plans to double this number in the kingdom over the coming 10 years.

In the UAE, there are two extremely strong airlines with aggressive expansion strategies, making Dubai and Abu Dhabi important international hubs for visitors from around the world.

Where are the priority markets now for Mövenpick to hoist its flag internationally?

Mövenpick has always believed in growth, but at a sustainable pace. In every region, from Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Europe and Africa to the Middle East and Asia, we have carefully consolidated our developments to maintain a balanced portfolio distribution that ensures decision-making is effective, resources are efficiently utilised and development is sustainable.

Last year, we brought the company’s total number of operating and planned hotels worldwide to 100. Among the many milestones were taking over a 298-room upscale Red Sea property in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and opening our first property in Ankara, Turkey. In December 2012, we opened our first hotel in France, a 282-room property in Paris’ exclusive suburb of Neuilly.

Asia represents a critical part of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ growth strategy and our vision is to operate 25 hotels in the region by 2015. We already operate seven hotels in Asia, including two in Thailand, two in Vietnam and one each in the Philippines, India and Singapore.

At the moment, we have a total of 19 signed agreements within Asia for projects in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We are very optimistic about the prospects in Asia and we believe this region will continue to offer excellent opportunities for the development of our brand.

This year, we will be opening six hotels in Asia, including the 286-room Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai in Thailand and a Mövenpick property on Huma Island, a private island in the stunning Philippine archipelago of Palawan.

Do you have any overall objectives in terms of split of resort/business hotels internationally as you expand?

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts brand and during the last four decades our hotel company has grown to 78 operating properties.

By 2015, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts aims to have 100 properties open across the world, with roughly 25 hotels each in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, incorporating both leisure resorts and corporate business properties.

What are your aims for exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market this year?

A total of 28 of our hotels are participating, representing the largest number of our hotels to ever participate together in any international show.

Our aim is to promote our new hotels in Paris, Phuket and Koh Samui, while also highlighting, for the second year, our global ‘Summer Savings’ offers with discounts of up to 30 percent in over 75 hotels.

Will Mövenpick be making any new announcements from the show floor?

There will be no new announcements, although we will be talking about our two upcoming regional properties.

Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers is set to be our sixth hotel in Dubai, offering 168 rooms and 307 apartments as well as a

How does your regional forecasted performance for 2013 compare to your international projections?

Q1 2013 has just finished with exceptional results compared to both our budgets and last year’s results. Our forecast for the remainder of the year shows a clear upward trend.

What are the key hallmarks for Mövenpick that create differ­ entiation from your competitors?

We are an international company with a strong Swiss heritage. We are deeply committed to achieving culinary excellence and stay true to our gastronomic heritage.

Our company has a clear position in the upscale segment and we are known for our quality, reliability, care and personalised service. We are not a hotel chain.

We are a collection of properties, each representing something unique about its location.

What can we expect to see from Mövenpick in the future?

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has invested significant resources to set up systems and initiatives with the aim of doubling revenues through our digital distribution within the coming three years.

We have recently launched a fully optimised website featuring Arabic capabilities and a dedicated booking engine. One of our main goals during 2013 will be to improve our digital channel distribution and increase production through our website in terms of room nights versus 2012.

Investments are now in process for search engine optimisation (SEO) and other marketing strategies in order to maximise revenue from digital distribution.

The ATM Official Party is taking place at M venpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate tonight from 19.00.

Visit stand HC5640

Make your weekend a Mövenpick weekend. Relaxing days by the pool.

Rejuvenating treatments in soothing spas. Culinary experiences as the sun sets. With ‘My weekend, my choice’ offer, the longer you stay, the more you save...

• Enjoy 10% off for one night, 20% off for 2 or 30% for 3 • Up to two children stay free • Late check-out until 4 pm “My weekend, my choice” is available at over 75 hotels and resorts across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

My weekend

To begin your weekend, visit our website www.moevenpick-hotels.com/myweekend or call us toll free: Bahrain 8000 1991, Jordan 0800 222 02, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 800 124 2929, Kuwait 2 225 3228, Qatar 800 2001, United Arab Emirates 800 4934.

my choice.

Middle East: Aqaba · Dead Sea · Petra · Beirut · Bahrain · Doha · Dubai · Kuwait · Sana’a · Jeddah · Madinah · Makkah · Qassim · Yanbu · Al Khobar.

EXHIBITOR TRAIL

34

EXHIBITOR TRAIL: BUDGET TRAVEL BUDGET TRAVEL DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN COMPROMISING ON QUALITY AND THIS YEAR 158 EXHIBITORS ARE PROUDLY SHOWCASING THEIR PRODUCTS…

Al Bustan Center & Residence Bin Majid Group

Visit stand HC5620

The Bin Majid Group is unveiling a new corporate identity and news about its two new properties, the Santorini Hotel and Nehal Hotel. Dr Ali Kasapbashi, Group General Manager, Bin Majid Group, said: “We have announced in the past that we are expanding in the UAE and this is now happening so we invite everyone to visit our stand and be the first to see the images of our new logo and new properties.”

“We want to meet people at our stand so we can make new partners and acquire extensive market intelligence. We also want people to see that we are engaged in planning and introducing new ventures and offering versatile services for all the guests,” said Moussa El Hayek, Chief Operating Officer, Al Bustan Center & Residence.

Visit stand HC5460

Citymax Hotels

Auris Hotels

“The Citymax Hotels stand is slightly larger this year, featuring an innovative and fresh design with bold light settings, created to accentuate and showcase our core product – a Citymax hotel room,” said Russel Sharpe COO. Citymax differentiates itself in the budget sector with its up-scale facilities and services, including four-star restaurants, a gym, pool, banquetstyle breakfasts and complimentary shuttle bus services.

“Visit our stand if you wish to know more about the large portfolio of hotels we operate and the projects we are currently working on,” said Hatem Gasmi, Managing Director Auris Hotels.

“We will be introducing new products this year and our stand is bigger and more spacious, which is reflective of what’s to come in the future.”

Visit stand HC5160

Visit stand UAE3210

EXHIBITOR TRAIL: HEALTH AND WELLBEING THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT DESTINATIONS FOR RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION SHOULD FOLLOW OUR TRAIL TO SOME OF THE BEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING EXHIBITORS AT THE SHOW…

Visit stand AS6720

India Tourism

Breidenbacher Hof

“India has evolved as a year-round destination. Our aim is to promote our well-developed cultural and heritage products and simultaneously develop new niche tourism products centred around sectors including rural, wellness, medical, adventure, wildlife, film, monsoon, golf, sports and MICE tourism,” said K Chiranjeevi, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Offering luxury accommodation and top-notch medical facilities, the Breidenbacher Hof hotel in Germany is a popular choice for medical tourists. While staying at the Breidenbacher Hof, guests can visit the two medical facilities, located within the hotel premises, in absolute privacy.

The first is the Pearl of Aesthetic for convenient aesthetic and plastic surgery procedures. The second is the Preventicum Clinic specialising in nutrition, cardiovascular medical science and preventative medicine.

Ananda in the Himalayas

Rajasthan, India

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Ananda wellness retreat and spa incorporates healing principles of the east and west with a specific focus on ayurveda, yoga and healthy cuisine.

“Visit our stand for an insightful introduction to Ananda – ranked the world’s best destination spa – and uncover its unique features,” said Mahesh Natarajan, Senior Vice President – Sales, Marketing & Business Development.

Visit stand HC5850 Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa Visit the Six Senses stand to find out about the design of the Six Senses Spa at the Sharq Village & Spa in Doha, which reflects a traditional Qatari environment, giving the impression of a true Middle Eastern village that has grown organically over time. It offers crafted guest experiences to stimulate, energise and revitalise the human spirit.

Visit stand AS6720

Visit stand EU7344

Qatar, where the past meets the future.

Qatar – where you can follow in the footsteps of Arabian legends. Marvel at the breathtaking architecture of the past, present and future. Unwind on the golden sands of the Arabian peninsula, with its deep blue sea gently lapping at your feet.

For the ultimate authentic experience, visit Qatar.

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Destination | QATAR – PORTUGAL

Qatar Q

atar – set to welcome the FIFA World Cup in 2022 – has big ambitions when it comes to tourism and putting on a world-class event.

The government has earmarked US$65 billion for infrastructure development ahead of 2022.

Tourism infrastructure also continues to keep pace, with a new airport capable of processing 50 million passengers a year set to open by 2015. According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, the country will see a decade of

development and growth, with more than 85,000 new hotel rooms to bolster the current inventory by 2022.

The Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay is slated to open later this year. Located near the Qatar Stock Exchange, the 42-storey five-star hotel will feature 250 guest rooms and suites along with 80 large serviced apartments. Plans are also underway for a two-storey spa and health club and a rooftop pool, which will open by 2016. The St. Regis Doha welcomed its first

Doha skyline

Qatar at Arabian Travel Market Qatar Tourism Authority ME4210

Portugal Douro River, Porto old town, Portugal

37

guests at the end of March 2012.

The 336-room property marks the brand’s entry into Qatar. Property USPs include catering from Michelin-star chef Gordon Ramsay, an in-house wedding planner and bespoke butler service.

InterContinental Doha The City opened in February 2012 offering the country's highest dining experience and an in-house chocolatier. The property has 302 rooms and 58 suites in addition to 176 Residence Suites, ranging from one- to fourbedroom apartments. For food and beverages, the hotel offers six restaurants and two lounges.

Strata, on levels 55 and 56, is Doha's highest restaurant.

Marriott International recently opened three new properties in West Bay Doha – the 257-room Renaissance, 204-room Courtyard

by Marriott and 123-room Marriott Executive Apartments – all situated in the Doha City Centre Mall complex which also features more than 340 shops and attractions.

Katara Hospitality, previously known as Qatar National Hotels, has announced that the 31-yearold Sheraton Hotel in Doha – one of the oldest international hotels in the city – is to undergo a US$200 million refurbishment.

Works will include renovation of guest rooms together with the conference centre, while the

entrance of the Sheraton Hotel from the Sheraton Roundabout will also be upgraded. Hotel owner Katara Hospitality has also recently appointed The Ascott Limited to manage the 200-unit Somerset West Bay Doha. The serviced residence opened in 2008 and has enjoyed success with business travellers, with average occupancies of over 80 percent. Katara Hospitality alone has more than 4,000 hotel

rooms already operational or under construction, while budget properties are also set to enter the market.

Meanwhile, national carrier, Qatar Airways will launch six new routes in H1 2013, growing its current network to 123 key destinations. All of this development is in readiness to welcome the projected 3.7 million annual visitors Qatar will handle by 2022.

The island archipelago of Madeira sits 400 kilometres north of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.

A popular tourist resort, it receives one million visitors a year, attracted by its Madeira wine, flowers, landscapes and embroidery.

Portugal’s other offshore territory, the Azores, is composed of nine volcanic islands located 1,500 kilometres west of Lisbon

in the Atlantic. The Azores are some of the tallest mountains on the planet, measured from their base on the ocean floor.

The Portuguese government is also working to promote and develop new tourist destinations, including the Douro Valley, the island of Porto Santo and Alentejo. Further underlining its tourism links

with the Middle East, national flag carrier TAP Portugal has entered into a reciprocal codeshare agreement with Emirates, enabling passengers from both airlines to benefit from seamless connections, with a single combined ticket.

Under the agreement, Emirates’ flight number will be placed on TAP services from Lisbon to Porto, Faro and Funchal in Portugal as well as Seville, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain.

TAP will place its code and flight number on several of Emirates’ services between Lisbon and Dubai to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Barzan Towers

The State of Qatar is a peninsula in the east of Arabia, bordering Saudi Arabia and extending into the Arabian Gulf. It is rich in oil deposits and covers 11,437 square kilometres Population: 1.9 million Climate: Summers (May to

Tourism infrastructure continues to keep pace, with a new airport for 50 million passengers a year set to open by 2015

The Portuguese government is also working to promote and develop new tourist destinations, including the Douro Valley, the island of PortoSanto and Alentejo

O

n average, 13 million arrivals visit Portugal each year, making it among the 20 most-visited countries in the world. The tourism industry contributes nine percent to Portugal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – an important revenue earner. It also accounts for eight percent of the country’s workforce.

The Portuguese capital of Lisbon is one of Europe’s great historical cities. Visitors can take in ancient castles, narrow

cobbled streets, Atlantic coast and historical boulevards. It is the second most-popular European city with tourists, after Barcelona, receiving more than seven million tourists a year.

From Lisbon, arrivals commonly visit the Algarve, to the south of the country. Famed for its beautiful and often undiscovered beaches, the region is a popular family destination.

Faro, the capital city of the Algarve region, is the southernmost city on mainland Portugal.

Portugal at Arabian Travel Market Turismo de Portugal EU8170a

National Pantheon, Lisbon

Qatar fact file

September) are hot, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius and alternate between dry and humid. Winters are moderate. Rainfall is negligible all year Local Time: GMT +3 Currency: Qatari riyal Language: Arabic Getting there: Qatar Airways connects Doha to 123 destinations worldwide, and the number is rising.

Doha International Airport welcomes 18 million passengers a year and is served by international carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa and United Airlines

Pigeon house, Katara

Portugal fact file Portugal is 92,391 square kilometres in size and shares the Iberian Peninsula at the western tip of Europe with Spain Population: 10 million Climate: Portugal is one

of the warmest European countries. In mainland Portugal, yearly temperature averages are about 15 degrees Celsius in the north and 18 degrees Celsius in the south. Spring and summer months are usually sunny and temperature maximums average between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius Local Time: Portugal is regulated by the Western European Time Zone (WET), the same time as in the UK and Ireland Currency: Euro Language: The official language is Portuguese, which is today one of the world's most-spoken languages and ranked sixth according to the number of native speakers Getting there: A number of major airlines fly to Portugal including British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Continental and Delta, besides the country's own TAP Portugal

poland — monaco | Destination

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Poland N

estled in central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Poland is a country whose tourism appeal has taken off in the past few years. Recent estimates by the Institute of Tourism show 14.8 million tourist arrivals in 2012, up 11 percent on 2011 figures.

International promotion and international arrivals were given a boost by Poland’s The Medieval Czluchow Gate

Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Kraków

Officially called the Republic of Poland, the country is bordered by Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia and covers a total area of 312,679 square kilometres

shared hosting with the Ukraine of the Euro 2012 football competition. The country’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism predicts that the post-Euro 2012 ‘Poland Effect’ will see tourism arrivals grow by 760,000 per year. Tourism earnings are also expected to jump for the period between 2013 and 2020 from the previously forecast PLN4.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) to PLN7 billion (US$2.15 billion).

Population: 38.5 million Climate: Mostly temperate

Red Army monument, Prague

Poland at Arabian Travel Market Polish Tourist Organisation EU7450

During Euro 2012, over 677,000 foreign tourists and fans visited Poland from 123 countries across the world. Additionally, Poland welcomed 8,400 foreign journalists, 2,400 members of national football teams and 400 foreign volunteers.

According to surveys conducted by the PBS Institute, 85 percent of fans gave a positive assessment of the championship’s organisation, 79 percent plan to revisit the country and 92 percent of foreigners would recommend Poland to their friends as an attractive tourist destination.

Monaco Prince’s Palace

Poland fact file

T

he Principality of Monaco lies on a narrow coastal strip to the south of France. Most famous for its casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco offers a host of historical, cultural and natural attractions.

Monaco-Ville on the Rock is an old fortified town, which includes the Prince's Palace, the ramparts, the gardens, the cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.

The Condamine is the second oldest area in Monaco. Its name dates from the Middle Ages and means the cultivable land at the foot of a village or castle.

Moneghetti is home to the Révoires and the Exotic Gardens on the western border with Cap d’Ail. Monte-Carlo, created in 1866, named in honour of Prince Charles III, hosts a famous casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities, including Larvotto Beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club and the Boulin-grins Gardens. Fontvieille is the newest area of the Principality of Monaco and was created from

Monaco at Arabian Travel Market Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority EU7330

Poland’s tourism attractions are many, including: the 7th century city of Krakow, once Poland’s capital and the trading hub of Slavonic Europe; and its current capital, Warsaw, the ninth largest conurbation in the EU. Other popular cities include Gdansk, Poznan, Lublin and Torun. Away from the cities, agrotourism, mountain hiking and climbing are preferred excursions. Poland’s Baltic Sea coast, its Masurian Lake District and Bialowieza Forest are also areas of extreme natural beauty that regularly attract large numbers of visitors.

land reclaimed from the sea.

This manmade waterfront area features a harbour, stadium and sports complex, a heliport and a pollution-free industrial zone, as well as some shopping areas and the new Columbus Monaco hotel.

Monaco is also renowned worldwide for being the classic home of Formula 1 – offering one of its most notable street circuits, which winds round its

Looking forward, Poland continues to invest in its tourism image. The Ministry of Sport and Tourism is working together with industry partners on its ‘Promote Poland Together’ campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to increase the competitiveness of the economy through the promotion of Poland as an attractive tourist destination.

During Euro 2012, over 677,000 foreign tourists and fans visited Poland from 123 countries

Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco

The Monaco Government Tourist Bureau is now promoting the principality to the Middle East market historical bends. Located on the famous Monaco Grand Prix circuit, the Fairmont Monte Carlo claims to offer the best views of the race with its location on the hairpin bend, which this year will be officially renamed the ‘Fairmont Hairpin’. The hairpin bend has gone through a series of name changes throughout the history of the Monaco Grand Prix. It was originally known as the Station Hairpin for its location on the fringe of the Monte Carlo train station, followed by the Loews Hairpin.

Most recently it‘s been known as the ‘Sun Casino Hairpin’. This year, the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel honours its famous bend by installing 200 VIP stadium seats, sporting the highest views of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit,

throughout the country with warm summers and highs of up to 30 degrees Celsius. However, winters can be very cold with temperatures dropping to below freezing in some parts of the country Local Time: GMT +1 Currency: Zloty Language: Polish, although Kashubian is spoken in some regions Getting there: LOT, the national carrier of Poland, serves 92 destinations across the world. A number of international scheduled and charter airlines also serve Warsaw Chopin Airport, including Air Canada, Luxair, Ryanair, United Airlines, KLM, Delta Air Lines and more

on its roof-top panoramic terrace allowing hotel guests to be at the heart of the action.

The Monaco Government Tourist Bureau is now promoting the principality to the Middle East market, having recently appointed GAA Marta Consulting, a Dubai-based tourism and investment development consultancy, as its Middle East representative. Commenting on the appointment, Nour Aridi, the Senior Account Manager, said: “We are really pleased to receive this appointment from the Principality of Monaco, as Monaco is a permanent entertainment destination in itself and offers a wealth of tourist attractions concentrated in an area of just a few hundred metres.”

Monaco fact file The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city state located on the French Riviera. It covers a total area of two square kilometres Population: 36,000 Climate: Monaco

enjoys a warm summer Mediterranean climate Local Time: GMT +1 Currency: Euro (EUR) Language: French is the official language, while the local dialect of Monégasque is also widely spoken. Italian and English are also spoken Getting there: Monaco is served by the SNCF, the French national rail system.

The Monaco Heliport provides connections to the closest airport, which is Cote d’Azur Airport, in Nice, France. Monaco also benefits from a good road network

Destination | turkey

Turkey B

ridging east and west, Turkey has long extorted its tourism credentials to good effect with 31.8 million arrivals in 2012 and a strong start to 2013, as arrivals for January and February achieved 2.37 million, up from 1.98 million for the same period in Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

2012. Arrivals from the Middle East have jumped in the last 12 months to 94,544, up 134 percent on 2011 figures.

Inbound tourists from Iraq have also increased, up 61 percent to 36,521 visitors in 2012, while Kuwait inbound figures rose 168 percent to 8,681. UAE arrivals accounted for 1,753 tourists, up 41 percent on 2011.

The recent World Economic Forum (WEF) Travel and Tourism (T&T) Competitiveness Report 2013 ranked Turkey 46th among 140 industrialised and emerging economies, moving up four places from 2011.

“The country’s main strength continues to lie in its rich cultural resources, with 20 World Heritage cultural sites, several international fairs and exhibitions and strong creative industries. Turkey gains significantly in a number of areas and has seen a notable

Turkey at Arabian Travel Market Turkish Airlines EU8350 PUB NEW_Mise en page 1 08/04/2013 11:08 Page 1

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Cappadocia, Turkey

Turkey fact file Turkey is over 780,000 square kilometres in size, making it more than three times larger than the UK. It has both mountains and plains Population: 73 Million Climate: The climate in

increase in tourist arrivals over the last two years,” the report stated. Turkey offers a Mediterranean climate and beautiful nature, which provides six months of summer weather in southern parts, especially in Antalya and Bodrum, which are the most popular coastal tourist destinations.

According to GoTurkey.com, the country is home to the most archaeological sites in the world. One of the oldest known human-inhabited areas is in Çatalhöyük, Konya, dating back to 6500BCE. Ephesus (Temple of Artemis), City of Troy, Cappadocia and the cave church

Turkey offers a Mediterranean climate and beautiful nature, which provides six months of summer weather in southern parts especially in Antalya and Bodrum, the most popular tourist destinations of St Peter are among some of the countless important sites to visit. For tourists wanting to bag a bargain, Turkey’s numerous souqs and Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar offer authentic gifts, carpets, rugs, kilims and other tourism favourites. For relaxation, the famous Turkish Bath is prevalent across the

country. Visitors can enjoy a bath, or hammam as it is called, combining massage with aromatic oils and scents. Lastly, there is Turkish cuisine, which is famous the world over. Visitors can also enjoy authentic meze and kebabs, strong Turkish coffee or anise-flavoured Raki, the national drink.

Monaco Government Tourist Bureau Dubaï Office (+971) 44.278.110 www.visitmonaco.com

Turkey is diverse depending on topography and latitude.

The Aegean and Mediterranean coastal areas enjoy the typical Mediterranean climate. The region around the Sea of Marmara, including Istanbul, has a transitional climate between oceanic and semi-Mediterranean.

The Black Sea region has an oceanic climate Local time: GMT +2 Currency: Turkish Lira Language: The official language is Turkish. Kurdish is also spoken by approximately 10 percent of the population Getting there: The major point of entry by air is Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport. Ankara’s Esenboga Airport handles a comparatively limited selection of international flights.

In addition, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which is situated some 50 kilometres east of Istanbul is served by a large number of low-cost carriers

Monte-Carlo Visit us on our stand Eu7330

BRAZIL – India | Destination

40

Brazil

B

Corcovado and Rio de Janeiro

Brazil at Arabian Travel Market Iguassu Falls - Foz do Iguaçu Tourism Board AM7110

India M

arketed under the banner of ‘Incredible India’, the subcontinent offers a multi-faceted destination for luxury, wildlife, wellness and medical tourism.

India offers natural beauty, vivid festivals, exotic beaches and architectural marvels. Visitors can explore palaces and deserts, go skiing in the mountains, swimming or diving at beautiful beaches, take a boat house in Kerala or Kashmir, go camping in

razil receives 5.2 million international tourists a year, attracted by its rainforests, World Heritage sites, eco-tourism, beaches, adventure travel, history, culture and city experiences.

This figure could grow exponentially in 2014 as the country plays host to the FIFA Football World Cup. The 2010 World Cup, hosted in South Africa, welcomed more than 300,000 fans during the fourweek competition.

The 2014 edition of the tournament will be the 20th instalment and it also marks the second time Brazil will play host to the event – the first time was in 1950. Indeed, Brazil is only the fifth country to host the competition twice.

Following hard on the heels of the World Cup, Brazil opens its doors to the sporting elite again in 2016 when it hosts the Olympics. To be held in Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 Summer Olympics will be the first games to be held in a South American city. However, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has been quick to warn Brazil not to expect the two sporting events alone to spur tourism growth.

WTTC President David Scowsill explained: “The World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016 will be four-week bursts of intensity

in terms of overseas visitors, but cannot be relied upon to be the sole drivers of international visitor growth in the future.

“The Brazilian tourism industry has to act and speak as one voice to tell the rest of the world about this wonderful

São Paolo in April. According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the number of Brazilians staying in Abu Dhabi's hotels is on the increase. In 2012, some 3,605 Brazilians stayed in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments

Brazil ranks second in Latin America in terms of international tourists, but the domestic market represents the bulk of the industry, accounting for over 50 million trips annually country and everything it has to offer to put it firmly on the international tourist map.”

Tourism made a total contribution to Brazil’s GDP in 2012 of BRL402 billion (US$200 billion), which was nine percent of GDP. The tourism industry also supports eight million direct, indirect and induced jobs.

Brazil ranks second in Latin America in terms of the flow of international tourists, but the domestic market represents the bulk of the industry, accounting for over 50 million trips annually.

Movement between the Middle East and Brazil is on the increase, with Abu Dhabi having just sent a delegation to the first edition of World Travel Market Latin America, held in

delivering 14,627 guest nights and an average length of stay of just over four nights.

This year, figures so far saw a 46 percent increase in numbers for January and February alone and this is set to grow when Etihad Airways begins non-stop services to São Paolo in June.

India Tourism AS6720

Population: 194 million Climate: Brazil enjoys six

climate subtypes: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical, temperate and subtropical, as well as many areas that boast their own microclimates Local Time: GMT -2 to -3 Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL) Language: Portuguese Getting there: Brazil offers a wide network of airports servicing domestic, international and cargo routes. From the Middle East, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways all fly into Brazil serving Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo

India fact file India is a vast country, more than 3.2 million square kilometres in size, making it the seventh largest country in the world by area

national parks, or enjoy luxurious train journeys. Accommodation ranges from budget to five-star properties and spa resorts.

Its blend of cultural, spiritual, natural and aesthetic experiences continues to draw tourists in their millions.

In 2011, India received 6.29 million foreign tourist arrivals up from 5.58 million arrivals in 2010. India Tourism has set a target of increasing the country’s share of world tourist arrivals

India at Arabian Travel Market

Covering 8.5 million square kilometres, Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and the fifth largest in the world

Two Brothers and Pedra da Gavea

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh, India

Fort Amber, Amer, Rajasthan, India

Brazil fact file

Population: 1.2 billion, second

only to China in population Climate: Mountains, jungles,

from the current 0.6 percent to one percent by the year 2017 and has prepared a multipronged strategy to achieve this.

India Tourism has launched two new campaigns: an international campaign called ‘Find What You Seek’ and a domestic campaign entitled ‘Go Beyond’.

The ‘Go Beyond’ campaign promotes less well-known destinations. The ‘Find What You Seek’ campaign aims to show that India offers something for everyone. India’s Ministry of Tourism is also promoting India’s medical benefits, with the monsoon season being

India Tourism has launched two campaigns: an international campaign called ‘Find What You Seek’ and a domestic one entitled ‘Go Beyond’ underlined as the ideal time for spiritual and physical cleansing.

Monsoon is considered the best season for Ayurveda rejuvenation programmes as the atmosphere remains dust-free and moist, which in turn opens up the body’s pores making them more receptive to herbal oils and massages.

The Middle East remains an important market for India.

There has been a consistent and positive growth in arrivals from the region to India in recent years with 2011 having registered an overall growth of 14 percent.

Countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and Turkey have registered positive growth and are emerging as major tourism generating markets for India.

deserts and beaches, India has it all. It experiences at least three seasons a year: summer, rainy season (sometimes called ‘monsoon’) and winter Local Time: Indian Standard Time is GMT plus 5.5 hours Currency: India rupee (INR) Language: India has 22 official ‘scheduled’ languages. Of these, Hindi is recognised as the main official language with English acting as a subsidiary official language Getting there: Points of entry are Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Airports at these cities are either new or undergoing development

Gateway to India, Bombay

Destination | Abu dhabi

41

Abu Dhabi T

he largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi is the seat of government and has long been the centre of commerce for the

UAE. Traditionally a business hub, the emirate is now working hard to develop its leisure market and engage further with international travellers.

Abu Dhabi received 2.3 million tourists in 2012 and, according to Mubarak Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotions and Overseas Offices at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA

additional rooms would enter the Abu Dhabi hotel market by the end of 2014, taking the total to 21,400 rooms. This represents an annual growth rate of more than 13 percent.

Tourists are drawn to Abu Dhabi by its cultural and historical attractions. Central to this is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The iconic mosque,

JLL reported that 6,700 additional rooms would enter the Abu Dhabi hotel market by the end of 2014

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Abu Dhabi), is on track to receive 2.5 million tourists in 2013.

Keeping up with the surge in tourist arrivals is Abu Dhabi’s tourism infrastructure. A recent report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) highlighted that Abu Dhabi currently has 136 hotels and hotel apartments in operation.

JLL reported that 6,700

which welcomed 4.7 million visitors and worshippers in 2012, was recently named by TripAdvisor as a leading global attraction, joining a line-up that includes: Sydney Harbour, Australia; The Colosseum in Rome, Italy; The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa; and

Abu Dhabi at Arabian Travel Market Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority UAE2210

Central Park in New York, USA. Featuring 82 domes, over a 1,000 columns, 24-carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world‘s largest hand-knotted carpet, the mosque’s main prayer hall is also dominated by one of the world’s largest chandeliers –10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and weighing 12 tonnes.

Abu Dhabi continues to invest in its cultural kudos, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum set to open in 2015 on Saadiyat Island. As part of pre-opening promotions, Pablo Picasso’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’, a work that has never been exhibited before, is currently on display at the ‘Birth of a Museum’ exhibition, taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat until July 20, 2013. Almost 130 artworks are being exhibited, giving visitors insight into the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s narrative and collection ahead of its opening.

In keeping with its cultural and historical roots, Abu Dhabi has also announced plans to develop a traditional souk within the capital city. Located opposite the Maqtaa Tower, between Sheikh Zayed and Al Maqtaa Bridges, the souk will link to Khalifa Park and Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The development will include a modern waterfront, featuring

the traditional souk, together with restaurants, entertainment, an open-air performance space and leisure facilities. Abu Dhabi comprises more than 200 islands, including Yas Island, which is home to the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. These islands provide natural tourism attractions and are central to infrastructure development.

Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi brings 43 rides and slides to the UAE spread over 15 hectares.

The water park tells the fictional story of a young Emirati girl on a quest to find a legendary pearl.

Attractions include a world-first ‘hydromagnetic waterslide’.

Meanwhile, Saadiyat Island, a large, low lying island 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi (and set to become home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi), has added a 400-metre beach facility

Abu Dhabi fact file Reportedly the richest city in the world, Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It is home to the UAE’s federal government and to the President of the UAE Population: 1.6 million Climate: Abu Dhabi has a

hot, arid climate with very little rain. Sunny blue skies can be expected throughout the year Local Time: GMT +4 Currency: AED (Arab Emirate Dirham) Language: Arabic Getting there: National flag carrier Etihad Airways serves more than 85 destinations from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport

Al Jahil Fort

India Tourism Dubai Tel: +971-4-2274848 Fax: +971-4-2274013 E-mail: goirto@emirates.net.ae

exhibitor | Vox pops

42

exhibitor vox pops Sound bites direct from the show floor

Marwan Fadel

DenÉnÉ TÓth Marianna

Craig Senior

Regional Director of Sales & Marketing

Thierry Antinori

Executive Vice President, Passengers Sales Worldwide

Yigit Sezgin

Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Hungarian Tourism

Meydan Hotels & Hospitality

Emirates

The Rezidor Hotel Group

We’re delighted to be at this year’s show and we expect to have more than 30 sales associates representing close to 300 hotels from all four geographic divisions of our company ranging from key destinations in North and South America and the Asia Pacific region as well as New York, Brazil, India, Thailand and Malaysia, plus European destinations including France, UK, Germany and Italy. In total, our associates are set to schedule around 1,100 meetings during the four days of the show.

Hungarian Tourism’s mission is to position itself as a tourism destination internationally and domestically.

Strengthening demand for tourism in Hungary by motivating incoming and domestic tourism is an ongoing objective.

Our communications with the travel trade place emphasis on markets with a B2B focus, which traditionally includes: the US, Northern Europe, Israel, Japan, China, Russia, Spain and the Ukraine. New markets with a B2B focus are: the Gulf region and Asia, particularly India, as well as South America.

Meydan Hotels & Hospitality always exhibits at Arabian Travel Market. It is one of the leading, if not the leading trade show in the region and is a great opportunity for both our Meydan and Bab Al Shams hotels to meet existing partners and promote our products for the upcoming months. Currently, we are promoting our summer rates to launch mid-May and run until the end of August. I am looking forward to meeting with current partners around the region as well as international visitors.

Emirates has been a key supporter of Arabian Travel Market since its inception 20 years ago and has played a major role in the event’s success. The show allows us to spotlight the diversity of travel offerings in this unique emirate and reinforces Dubai’s status as a world-class hub, especially as the city bids to host Expo 2020. Key players in the industry are united and it is important that Emirates plays a role in the meetings, business development, seminars, networking and relationship building that Arabian Travel Market is well known for.

This is our 10th year at Arabian Travel Market. Within the last five years, our company has implemented a lot of projects. We have expanded our portfolio by opening several hotels. Our office here represents over 40 hotels in the Middle East and Africa. The main objective is to drive business and we are using this platform to meet new people, network with established contacts and find out the trends. We actually complete a lot of our business here before we submit our contracts for the coming year.

Visit stand HC5440

Visit stand EU7450

Visit stand UAE3210

Visit stand UAE3310

Visit stand HC5740

Anabela Radosevic

Kent Cooper

Sophie Letard

Susan Evans

KlÁra Major

JA Resorts & Hotels

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Sofitel Luxury Hotels

Kingswood and Camp Beaumont

We’ve been exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market since the beginning.

It’s one of the three most important exhibitions for the travel trade in the world. This is our first year as a new brand, JA Resorts & Hotels, so that’s a big thing for us. On January 1 we opened the Ocean View Hotel on The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence with great success and we’re looking at another opening this year. It’ll be our first international property – an island resort with 10 villas in the Seychelles.

Fairmont will provide an update on new developments rolling out in 2013. This year Fairmont continues to put a strong emphasis on the Middle East, with a number of properties in the UAE and surrounding region under development.

Our guests have told us that art and culture is a key interest, so we are bringing this experience to them through an Artist-in-Residence programme launching in the UAE. Fairmont connects guests to the destination and the programme then enables them to interact with regional artists in their environments.

Over the past five years we’ve had a lot of hotels opening in the region.

During the summer we’re going to open the Sofitel Dubai The Palm, a very big property for the leisure market.

Then we are opening a Sofitel near Burj Khalifa at the beginning of 2014. The GCC market is very important for all our properties in Europe. Paris, London, Munich and Vienna are very attractive destinations, so we need to be present in the country in which we are based, and in the countries which represent key markets for us.

Kingswood operates all year round, offering educational programmes for young people and come July and August we operate as Camp Beaumont and welcome individuals and groups of students to the UK. UK Connections, exhibiting alongside Kingswood caters for groups who want to add, for example, a trip to London or Paris on to the end of their stay. Arabian Travel Market is really important and we’ve only just scratched the surface. We’ve made some amazing contacts here. We’re unique so there’s been a lot of interest.

Tour East Tour Hungary Incoming and Incentives

Visit stand HC5410

Visit stand HC5540

Visit stand HC5650

Visit stand EU8150

Area Director Sales and Marketing for Dubai and Abu Dhabi New Developments

Director of Sales & Marketing

CEO

Vice President, Regional Hotel Sales – Middle East & Africa

Vice President Marketing, Sales & Distribution - Europe, Middle East & Africa

Director of International Sales

Global Director Sales & Marketing

Managing Director

So far Arabian Travel Market is going well – it’s the third time Hungary is here as a destination, and Tour East Tour is here as a travel agent for the second time. Hungary is looking for new markets. Since Qatar Airways launched a flight between Doha and Budapest business has been developing, but we would like to have more guests from this part of the world. Central Europe is not a very well-known destination yet, but we are here to create awareness about Hungary.

Visit stand EU7450

Visit us at stand CR-1416

Excelsior Hotel Gallia Milan - since 1932

KATARA HOSPITALITY, REJUVENATING ICONIC HERITAGE There is much more to being a world-class hospitality organisation than just owning, managing or developing hotels. At Katara Hospitality, our appreciation for the past powers our aspirations for the future. Decades of experience,

an innovative mindset and meticulous attention to detail enable us to craft unique masterpieces that set new standards for others to follow. With us, it is all about our boundless passion for creating legendary hospitality, building on our heritage.

Visit us at stand HC5850

Katara Hospitality Building, PO Box 2977 Doha, State of Qatar T +974 4423 7777 F +974 4427 0707 info@katarahospitality.com www.katarahospitality.com

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