18 APRIL 2015
ISSUE 284
ABU DHABI CRUISE TERMINAL WELCOMES ARCADIA DANAT RESIDENCE WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN THE UAE CAPITAL IN A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY A NUMBER OF PROMINENT GUESTS.
06 DAMAC EXPANDS IN BURJ AREA
12 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
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TECHNOLOGY
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ACCOMMODATION
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AIR
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RENDEZVOUS
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INTERNATIONAL
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AGENT CORNER
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TRAVEL TALK
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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WHO’S MOVED
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PHOTO ALBUM
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NEWS & EVENTS
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DANAT RESIDENCE OPENS IN ABU DHABI
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
OHD Reports Turnaround in 2014 Orascom Hotels and Development (OHD)’s revenues grew 20.1 percent year-onyear to EGP1.43 billion (USD183 million) in 2014.
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ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
he improvement follows strong real estate and construction revenues, increased hotel occupancy rates during the second half of the year and higher land revenues resulting from the successful third-party development agreement between OHD and El Sewedy to sub-develop a piece of land in El Gouna. Despite the severe challenges that the Egyptian hotel segment encountered during the first half of 2014, with the imposed travel bans and noticeable decrease in airlift capacities, OHD recorded a significant rebound during the second half of the year. Occupancy rates reached 60 percent compared to 39 percent in the latter half of 2013 while total RevPAR increased by 40 percent.
El Gouna
North African Hotel Sector Rebounds North African hotels reported a 3.7 percent rise in occupancy to 47.1 percent for February, leading to a 13.8 percent surge in RevPAR to USD40.71 and a 9.7 percent improvement in average daily rate (ADR) to USD86.39.
MENA EXCHANGE RATES As of 15/4/2015
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COUNTRY
CURRENCY 1USD=
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.39
Qatar (QAR)
Rial
3.64
Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal
3.75
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
98.84
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.63
Iran (IRR)
Rial
28,257.00
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,189.00
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,506.50
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.38
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
10.06
Syria (SYP)
Pound
188.93
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
1.98
Yemen (YER)
Rial
215.09
Egypt
Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar
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ccording to STR Global’s data, while North Africa continued to show signs of recovery, driven by Egypt′s mending tourism sector, the Middle East witnessed some declines with RevPAR in particular dropping 1.3 percent to USD159.61, occupancy levels however still remained high at 74.4 percent. The highest ADR increase in the Middle East and Africa region was registered in Abu Dhabi where rates climbed 27.4 percent to USD187.63, while in Doha ADR grew 10.8 percent to USD202.47. 18 APRIL 2015
TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS Travelport and First Class Team Up
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ravelport has entered into a long-term agreement with First Class, one of the largest travel management companies in Poland. First Class specialises in delivering comprehensive and professional business travel management
services, and in organising corporate events and conferences. As part of the deal, Travelport will provide the European company with access to its extensive travel content inventory from some of the world’s
leading airlines and low-cost carriers as well as over 600,000 hotel properties, including 500,000 independent establishments. First Class will also benefit from the innovative features of Travelport Smartpoint and TripGate.
Sabre Marketplace Analytics Launched
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abre Corporation has introduced Sabre Marketplace Analytics, a new solution that enables airlines worldwide to capitalise on travel demand within the Sabre Travel Network marketplace. As Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Middle East, Sabre Travel Network, pinpointed, by leveraging big data and emerging visualisation techniques, the company is delivering unique insights and strong value to help customers more quickly act on travel trends. Until now, airlines have had little-to-no visibility into the shopping activity and travel demand patterns in the global distribution systems and were only aware of a portion of that demand once a booking was made. The new product however provides these carriers with the insights necessary to help boost their business and amplify the value of this distribution channel.
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY Wyndham Launches Automated Revenue Management System
Travelport Merchandising Platform Gains Popularity
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yndham Hotel Group plans to deploy a new, automated, Software-as-a-Service revenue management system across more than 4,500 of its franchised hotels in the US and Canada. Announced at the company’s recent global conference in Las Vegas and leveraging the previously signed strategic partnership with Sabre Corporation, the multiyear agreement gives Wyndham Hotel Group franchisees direct connection to the Infor EzLITE revenue management method. “In just the last six months, we have gone through a significant change in how we at Wyndham Hotel Group approach deploying technology that our franchisees need to be successful. The world of technology is evolving at a rapid pace and we need to enable our franchisees to keep up,” said Gabrielle Wolfson, senior vice president, Wyndham Hotel Group.
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ravelport announced to delegates at the Centre for Aviation (CAPA)’s Airlines in Transition annual event that 100 carriers have already signed up for its merchandising solution, Travelport Rich Content and Branding. The innovative technology, launched in 2014, is integrated into the company’s travel commerce platform and enables airlines to retail their products more effectively to the global travel trade. Essentially, it allows a carrier to have full control of how its products are visually presented and described to agents, utilising images and descriptions in order to drive sales of core fares and ancillaries. Some of the many benefits of the product to travel agencies include the potential increase in ticket sales, and the ability to book through their preferred processes rather than having to go to the selected airline′s website for more information.
18 APRIL 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
Investment Opportunities in Saudi Heritage Villages Highlighted
MSC Sinfonia Returns to Service
Saudi Arabia’s Urban Heritage Center in cooperation with the World Bank is conducting a study on the reality of private investment in heritage villages across the Kingdom.
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Al Ghat, Jeddah
18 APRIL 2015
he research also aims to identify the most serious obstacles and the potential of providing incentives to facilitate the process. Through surveys and questionnaires, World Bank’s experts look into the actual reasons behind the local communities and the private sector’s reluctance to invest in urban heritage sites. The report, which is expected to be finalised by June, will also highlight the incentives offered by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities aimed at encouraging such projects.
ollowing extensive enlargement and enhancement works, MSC Cruises’ MSC Sinfonia has left Genoa to resume operations. The ship, that entered drydock in January, now offers renewed amenities and enriched boardspaces. Passengers can take advantage of even more balcony cabins, spacious public areas, greater choice of restaurants and new clubs dedicated to younger guests. MSC Sinfonia has set sail first for a mini cruise to Ajaccio, Barcelona and Marseille before heading out of Genoa for a series of western Mediterranean cruises, with calls in the Canary Islands, Madeira, mainland Spain and Portugal.
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WEEKLY NEWS
Lebanon’s stand at ATM
Lebanon Banks on Regional Demand
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olliers International forecasts an average occupancy of up to 49 percent for Beirut hotels, as Lebanon prepares to promote its tourism product at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM). Arrivals to the country increased for the ninth month in a row in February, with tourist numbers for January and February jumping 20.5 percent year-on-year. Visitor volumes from Gulf countries showed double-digit growth, with figures from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as well as Egypt and Iran showing strong increases. “Lebanon has long been a favoured long weekend destination for GCC residents, and the added resurgence in Egyptian, and particularly, Iraqi tourists, in recent months, has created new demand,” said Nadege Noblet, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.
Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal Welcomes Arcadia
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Noura Al Dhaheri presents the plaque
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&O Cruises’ ship, Arcadia visited Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Port for the first time. The vessel, which stayed for a full day, received a traditional Emirati welcome, with Ayala dancers along the quayside, a falconer and his falcon ready to pose with the cruise passengers and cooks preparing traditional Emirati food for the visitors to taste. A delegation led by Noura Al Dhaheri, cruise manager, Abu Dhabi Ports, boarded the ship to meet Trevor Robert Lane, captain, Arcadia, and to present him with the traditional maiden call plaque. Arcadia is a mid-sized cruise ship carrying around 2,000 passengers and almost 1,000 crew members. It started her voyage in Southampton, UK and arrived in Abu Dhabi from Mumbai with the next stop being Dubai.
18 APRIL 2015
WEEKLY NEWS Dubai Airports Invests USD1.2 Billion in Upgrades
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Concourse D
ubai Airports will spend a total of USD1.2 billion on new and existing facilities in a bid to provide the over 110 international airlines that operate from Dubai International’s Terminals 1 and 2 the best possible services. Once it opens later this year, the USD517 million Concourse D will become the new home to nearly 100 carriers that currently use Concourse C. The new facility will feature 21 contact stands, of which four will be able to accommodate Airbus A380 or Boeing 747 aircraft, and 11 remote stands. Moreover a total of USD490 million is being allocated for a major phased refurbishment and modernisation project in Terminal 1 and its operational areas, and Concourse D. On the northern side of the hub, a further USD163 million has been put aside to upgrade Terminal 2.
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ith the race season now underway, Yas Marina announced its berthing rates and packages for this year’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Expressions of interest are open to the general public and yacht owners. Fees include allocation of Yas Marina guest passes, which provide access to track side pontoons and the post-race evening concerts. Moreover, berth rates also enable yachts of 10 – 150m to station in the marina between November 22 – 29 and include Wi-Fi, shore power and water access, an onsite Capitainerie with bathrooms and showers, catering and delivery options plus an array of onsite amenities for yacht owners, captains and crew.
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Yas Marina
Yas Marina Reveals Race Week Berth Rates
18 APRIL 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
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orocco recorded 10.2 million arrivals in 2014, marking a 2.4 percent yearon-year increase and bringing the country closer to its goal of attracting 20 million tourists by 2022. Stephan Killinger, president, Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort, attributed the positive development to the well-thought strategy led by the country’s tourism organisation that organised a host of unique celebrations and packages throughout the year. Reaffirming the management’s commitment to contributing the country’s ambitions, Killinger said, “Spring is the ideal season to visit Morocco. The soothing climate and the warm hospitality of Moroccans as well as the high standards of services and top quality attractions are what entice tourists from the region and across the globe.”
Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort
Morocco: 10.2 Million Visitors in 2014
Collective Green Initiatives in Sharjah
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harjah is set to become the launch pad for one of the biggest green initiatives in the region. Green Middle East, which will run between December 16 – 19 at Expo Centre Sharjah, will see key government entities joining hands in a bid to achieve a greater impact in the country and the region. “Bee’ah, Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority, Sharjah Municipality, University and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry have all come together to give the event a new form, meaning and direction from this year onwards,” said Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
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WEEKLY NEWS Elaf President: Exhibitions Are Pivotal
Abu Dhabi Represented in Brazil
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Brazil
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bu Dhabi’s tourism stakeholders are heading to World Travel Market Latin America in Brazil later this month in a bid to bolster the destination’s appeal on the continent. Led by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and accompanied by a nine-strong delegation representing some of the emirate’s leading hotels, destination management companies, tour operators and its flag carrier, Etihad Airways, the UAE capital will have a strong presence in São Paolo between April 22 – 24. “[In 2014] we saw more than 10,000 Brazilians come to Abu Dhabi, an increase of 85 percent on [2013], spending 36,401 guest nights in the emirate’s hotels and apartments, a rise of 70 percent on the previous 12 months,” disclosed Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of promotions and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.
ravel exhibitions are crucial in effectively promoting the tourism potential of Saudi Arabia, especially in the religious tourism sector, according to Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group of Companies, who also serves as a member of the Tourism Development Council of Mecca. Underscoring Bin Mahfouz’s words, the company recently sponsored the annual Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) in Riyadh to, as he said, contribute to the development of the industry as well as to explore the market and update all target groups on the new hospitality offerings. “We aim at exchanging experiences, and highlighting the challenges we face within the industry to offer the best possible solutions. We also seek to enhance the tourism and travel industry in the Kingdom,” concluded Bin Mahfouz.
18 APRIL 2015
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
Sofitel The Palm Dubai Praised for Green Initiatives
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he French Polynesian-themed hotel was recognised for its unwavering efforts to operate in an environmentally-friendly way without compromising on the quality of services. The management picked up three trophies in the categories of environmental performance, green and sustainable building and runner-up for food safety. Reiterating the team’s commitment to sustainable initiatives, Christophe Schnyder, general manager, Sofitel The Palm Dubai, said, “We like to practice our philosophy of helping our ecological society in the daily running of our hotel. This prize rewards the ongoing efforts of Sofitel The Palm’s family to ensure that our hotel maintains the same exceptional level of sustainability and service every year.”
Sofitel The Palm Dubai
Sofitel The Palm Dubai earned three accolades at the 3rd Dubai Environment Health and Safety Awards (EHS).
Rotana Eyes British Market
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uoyed by the past years’ sharp increase in arrivals from the UK to the UAE, Rotana is stepping up its marketing activities in London to tap into the British outbound market. “The UAE continues to climb up the popularity charts for tourists from the UK, who account for a growing share of total visitor arrivals in the [country] and who have been assuming greater prominence within the region’s evolving travel and tourism landscape,” pinpointed Omer Kaddouri, CEO, Rotana, revealing that the UK has also established itself as the top source markets for the company, with tourist inflow from the country making up as much as 19 percent of the total business. In 2014, over 500,000 British travellers opted for Rotana, and the current year-long campaign in London is set to further boost figures.
Rotana UK campaign
18 APRIL 2015
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION DAMAC Expands in Burj Area
NAIA Breeze
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AMAC Properties has launched two new serviced hotel apartments projects in Dubai’s Burj Area. DAMAC Maison The Vogue and NAIA Breeze have a joint capacity of more than 500 suites and mark DAMAC Hotels & Resorts’ fourth and fifth developments in the past 14 months. “After the success of DAMAC Maison, the first hospitality brand we launched, we introduced NAIA as a second brand that represents a different positioning with the same standards of luxury and quality services guaranteed by DAMAC,” explained Niall McLoughlin, senior vice president, DAMAC Properties, suggesting that more projects are to follow.
Almouj Golf and The Chedi Muscat Drive Tourism in Oman
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lmouj Golf and The Chedi Muscat signed an agreement to enhance their ongoing partnership and reinforce their commitment to fuelling the Sultanate’s tourism drive. Building on an existing business relationship, the two companies are aiming to bring one of the region’s most celebrated golfing destinations together with the luxury of Muscat’s five-star property. “Our recent agreement with The Chedi Muscat demonstrates our continued focus on positioning Almouj Golf as a world-class golfing destination and Oman as a global tourism hub. As the most popular domestic course in the Sultanate, we have identified The Chedi Muscat as the right partner to generate increased exposure for the club through branding, events and strategic communication,” said Simon Duffield, general manager, Almouj Golf.
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18 APRIL 2015
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
DANAT RESIDENCE OPENS IN ABU DHABI Danat Residence was officially launched in the UAE capital in a ceremony attended by a number of businessmen, hotel executives and media representatives.
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Dubai Investments Park to Welcome New Properties
anaged by Danat Hotels & Resorts, the 19-level hotel apartment property comprises 186 units, including premium rooms, executive suites and one- and two-bedroom apartments in addition to two restaurants. According to Omar Al Droubi, general manager, Danat Residence, the property is of international tourism standards and constitutes a new concept of hospitality in the capital. As Hany Shaker, director of sales and marketing, Danat Residence, further noted, the apartments provide luxury services to all guests, including holiday-makers, business travellers as well as families from the UAE, the GCC and beyond.
TCA Abu Dhabi Initiates Hoteliers’ Contribution
Dubai Investments Park
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n response to surging demand, eight hotels and serviced apartments will be built over the next five years within Dubai Investments Park (DIP). The new additions to the integrated commercial, industrial and residential community will represent various star categories, significantly enhancing accommodation options for visitors and bringing the number of rooms available in DIP to approximately 2,000. Omar Al Mesmar, general manager, DIP, said, “Since its inception, DIP has always been the preferred destination for businesses and residents, due to its closeness to Jebel Ali Port and other strategic developments. DIP’s proximity to both Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo 2020 site is leading to increasing demand for quality hotel and serviced apartment projects to cater to the anticipated tourists flow.”
bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) launched a hotel industry-led initiative to bolster the growth of the emirate’s tourism sector as part of the revised Industry Development Committees programme. Joined by over 60 of the destination’s fourand five-star hotels, the project has been simplified and improved to spearhead the delivery of the authority’s vision towards 2030. “This group will address the challenges we face in delivering visitor growth to the destination, and identify opportunities which will benefit the hotel sector,” commented Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director, tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi.
Members of the Industry Development Committees programme
18 APRIL 2015
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
Emirates – Qantas: Over Two Million Customers Emirates and Qantas Airways celebrated the second anniversary of their partnership with more than two million codeshare passengers travelling on both carriers since the cooperation’s launch.
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s Gareth Evans, CEO, Qantas Airways, noted, the partnership has delivered significant benefits for customers who now enjoy an integrated network, countless opportunities to earn and redeem points and new levels of travel experience. Thierry Antinori, executive vice president, Emirates, added, “The partnership also provides added value to our customers, with fast one-stop connectivity via our hub in Dubai between five Australian cities and 37 European cities; as well as comprehensive stopover products for travellers wishing to experience the dynamic city of Dubai.” From May, the two airlines will be offering a total of seven daily A380 services from Dubai to Australia.
Etihad’s Darwin Airline Investment Gets Green Light
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tihad Airways’ 33.3 percent investment in Darwin Airline has been approved by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Since January 2014, the Lugano-based company has operated as Etihad Regional under a brand and partnership agreement with the UAE flag carrier. FOCA’s approval now enables the two airlines to leverage fully the benefits of their cooperation and codeshare on each other’s flights. According to James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, the investment was in line with the growing trend of consolidation in the airline industry. He, at the same time, also expressed disappointment that some opportunities for Etihad Airways and Etihad Regional had been diminished or lost because of the length of the regulatory review process.
18 APRIL 2015
Etihad and Alitalia Back Expo Milano Initiative
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s the official global carriers of Expo Milano 2015, Etihad Airways and partner airline, Alitalia pledged their support for the event’s Made of Italians programme by offering discounts to Italian expatriates who are heading to the European country for the show. Under the promotion, the two carriers will enable those enrolled onto the initiative a discount on return tickets to Italy from a range of destinations worldwide, including Argentina, Brazil, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, South Africa, China, Japan and Australia. The offer, which will run until October 31, also includes discounts on services within Alitalia’s domestic network, allowing travellers to visit other regions during their stay.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Jet Airways Adds to Abu Dhabi Operations
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et Airways has commenced daily services from Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad, Pune and Mangalore. The introduction of the new routes further enhances travel options for Indian and international travellers to the UAE and beyond with partner airline, Etihad Airways. With the addition of the three new destinations, the airline now flies to 11 Indian cities from the UAE capital. All in all, passengers can benefit from over 50 daily flights between India and the Gulf countries, including several direct connections to the UAE’s three major airports.
Mangalore
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SAUDIA Undergoes IATA Safety Auditing
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or the purpose of safety auditing, a team from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) completed the inspection of Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA)’ facilities on the ground and in the air. The team included experts of operation safety, aircraft piloting, maintenance, and evaluation of work environment. All safety measures taken by SAUDIA were examined, including ground facilities, aircraft maintenance hangers, Prince Sultan Aviation Academy, as well as aviation services. As Mohamed Motab, vice president, safety and quality, SAUDIA, explained, the IATA Operational Safety Audit was necessary in order to renew operational safety certificates for the company.
Turkish Airlines Honours Abu Dhabi Partners
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urkish Airlines hosted its annual travel agency award show and gala dinner in Abu Dhabi to recognise its esteemed partners who have contributed to a 3.9 percent growth in passenger numbers on the airline’s services from the UAE capital. As Mehmed Akalin, general manager, Abu Dhabi, Turkish Airlines, noted, the carrier’s strong position, improving connectivity, enhanced services and the rising popularity of Turkey continue to attract a growing number of travellers from Abu Dhabi, thus the airline’s decision to increase frequencies on these routes. All in all, demand from the GCC countries surged 6.44 percent in 2014.
Turkish Airlines’ annual award show and gala dinner
18 APRIL 2015
RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In 2014, Dubai’s hotel establishments welcomed more than 11.6 million guests. How has business been at your hotel and in the emirate in general? MOHAMMED IQBAL: 2014 was forecasted to be a flourishing year after Dubai won its long-awaited bid to host Expo 2020. The slogan the city that never sleeps suits Dubai just right as there is always something to explore or talk about. Dubai is not developing day by day, more like day and night. Dubai was, is and will always remain the most popular tourist destination. Business at hotels saw a steep increase in 2014. Khalidia Hotel Apartments, Dubai, managed by Mourouj Gloria Hotels & Resorts, recorded a seven percent rise in business compared to the previous years.
Q & A with
Mohammed Iqbal GENERAL MANAGER, KHALIDIA HOTEL APARTMENTS
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How has Dubai’s transformation helped effectively marketing the destination? MOHAMMED IQBAL: Dubai is a city that is always up to something. Dubai has changed its image in the world with innovative ideas beyond imagination. The visionary leadership of Dubai is the major [force behind] Dubai’s achievements. Thinking today for tomorrow’s living is the simple policy of Dubai. Today, Dubai leads the way in every aspect, be it security, technology or culture. As a destination Dubai has extensively studied each and every source market’s needs […] and ensured that the demand of every tourist is met in terms of hotel rates, be it a luxury fivestar brand or a budget property. The tourism authorities have not left any gap in marketing all aspects of the destination from hospitality to shopping, excursion, entertainment, as well as investment opportunities.
of unique attractions, upcoming projects beyond imagination, attractive investor schemes and many more reasons have helped Dubai increase arrivals to the emirate. Today, tourists from all around the world plan to visit Dubai, especially after the launch of new routes by major low-cost carriers as [before] around 40 percent of the total trip cost of the tourists would have been eaten by air fares. With the constant increase of services by low-cost carriers, budget travellers can now also visit Dubai and still spend on excursions or shopping. Benefitting from this trend, Khalidia Hotel Apartments, Dubai is seeing a great flow of visitors from various markets that have previously not been flying to Dubai. Therefore we have now added to our marketing plans markets such as the Philippines, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, Sudan and Kyrgyzstan among others, in addition to long-established markets, including the GCC, China, India and Malaysia. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your most important plans for the coming months? MOHAMMED IQBAL: Khalidia Hotel Apartments, Dubai has planned a major renovation, starting in the last quarter of the year, in a bid to meet the increasing demand for hotel rooms as well as additional facilities and services.
IN LINE WITH DUBAI’S TOURISM VISION 2020, THE EMIRATE IS SET TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE COMING YEARS, WHICH AS MOHAMMED IQBAL, GENERAL MANAGER, KHALIDIA HOTEL APARTMENTS, DUBAI, EXPLAINES WILL EVENTUALLY BENEFIT ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
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DUBAI WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE MOST POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Dubai has long been synonymous with unique attractions and high-end services, attracting hundreds of thousands of high-net-worth individuals every year. With arrivals to the emirate increasing at a rapid pace year after year and a number of low-cost carriers also flying here, could Dubai’s image change in the long run? MOHAMMED IQBAL: In general we have seen that the constant marketing 18 APRIL 2015
Khalidia Hotel Apartments, Dubai
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Hilton Worldwide Expands in San Francisco
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ilton Worldwide acquired Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco and renamed it to Parc 55 San Francisco – a Hilton Hotel. The property adds 1,024 guest rooms and 54 suites to the hospitality company’s existing portfolio in the American city. Situated in the Union Square area, the newly-launched hotel is one of five landmark properties purchased from the proceeds of the sale of Waldorf Astoria New York. Rob Palleschi, global head, full service brands, Hilton Worldwide, noted, “Parc 55 San Francisco – a Hilton Hotel is a special addition to our rapidly growing global portfolio of more than 550 Hilton properties, and the custom furnished guest rooms, stunning views, massive event space, and key location will give travellers the perfect vantage point to experience all the city has to offer.”
Parc 55 San Francisco - a Hilton Hotel
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BWI Partners with Agoda.com
Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort to be Unveiled
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est Western International (BWI) is connecting its network of more than 4,000 hotels worldwide to Agoda.com. A member of The Priceline Group, Agoda. com provides an Asia-based focus on content and customer-friendly search functionality where travellers can look up properties, examine reviews and book and pay for their selected accommodation in a single mobile or desktop transaction. BWI’s partnership with the platform will provide hotels direct distribution to some of the fastest-growing travel markets including China, South Korea, India, Indonesia and Thailand. ”Partnering with Agoda.com further demonstrates Best Western’s commitment to expanding our distribution in the increasingly important and rapidly-growing Asian market,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president, marketing and sales, BWI.
usit International and MBK Hotel and Resort signed an agreement to rebrand an existing property to a Dusit-branded hotel in Krabi, Thailand. Scheduled to welcome its first guests on July 1, Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort will be located on a secluded stretch of Klong Muang Beach and will boast a fresh and modern Thai design that is in harmony with the lush tropical landscape. The resort will offer 240 spacious guest rooms, three restaurants, a bar, two beachfront swimming pools, meeting facilities, spa, gym, club lounge and a kids’ club. “This is an exciting new project between longstanding partners, which brings the best of each company to the table,” commented Khun Suvait Theeravachirakul, CEO, MBK Group.
Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort
18 APRIL 2015
AGENT CORNER
Agent’s Insight NAME:
Aghiad Corky
POSITION:
Director of business development
COMPANY:
Heysem Group
LOCATION:
Turkey
WEBSITE:
www.heysem.com
Who are you? I am from Syria and I have been working in the industry for 17 years. I moved to Turkey to widen my experience and joined Heysem Travel and Tourism, one of the leading companies in the country. My philosophy in life is [summarised in] an Aristotle quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Being in contact with different people from around the world always opens my eyes, increases my knowledge and sharpens my imagination. When is the best time to visit Turkey? Every time [but] it always depends on the interest of the guest. However spring and fall months are the best seasons to come and visit the country. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? For my next holiday I wish to […] obtain a UK travel visa and see London again. I have been dreaming about this ever since I first visited the city in 2006. [...] I would love to see the Buckingham Palace, The British Museum, Sherlock Holmes' Museum, walk through Hyde Park and [do] many other things. Why should people come to you for travel advice? Every guest is a different experience and a new challenge [for us]. That is why we treat each traveller with special care. [We have] 25 years of experience in serving our guests and clients with personalised, professional and bespoke services. 18 APRIL 2015
Prakash Bang
Bet and Win with roomsXML.com
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o encourage travel agents to make the most of the recent ICC Cricket World Cup, roomsXML.com invited its partners to predict the winners at various stages of the games. The response to the Howzattt Contest was overwhelming with thousands of entries pouring in from across the globe and 51 lucky agents from 11 countries receiving prizes. As Prakash Bang, managing director, roomsXML.com, highlighted, innovation is a key differentiator for the accommodation wholesaler. “Till date we have introduced 10 specific features that were industry firsts. Even the Howzattt Contest is a fun innovation. We do believe that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” added Bang.
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TRAVEL TALK
We aim to make a mark in the Middle East’s [...] hospitality landscape
SUMAIR TARIQ Managing director, R Hotels
“We are expecting fruitful results from our first participation in the Arabian Travel Market. As the top travel trade exhibition in the region, this is an excellent platform for us to promote our properties, highlight R Hotels as a brand, and underline the group’s development and expansion plans. We aim to make a mark in the Middle East’s fastgrowing hospitality landscape by capitalising on strategic locations in the UAE and the region in the next couple of year.”
[The Arabian Nights Food Festival] features our rich culture and heritage
AHMED HAJAR Vice president, Elaf Group
We strongly believe in the need to put ardent attention in the necessary steps in going green
JEROME KANDALAFT General manager, Concorde Hotel Fujairah
“We made sure that we did not miss our participation during the Earth Hour since we strongly believe in the need to put ardent attention in the necessary steps in going green and preserving our environment to make it a healthy habitat for our children.”
We have decided to extend [the Arabian Nights Food Festival] due to the strong response that we have received during its initial run. This highly-engaging event not only showcases traditional Arabic cuisine from all over the region but also features our rich culture and heritage as reflected in the many dishes highlighted in the festival.”
Our hotel is renowned for its creative and flavourful dishes
LANA JWAINAT Director of marketing and communicatios, Oryx Rotana, Doha
“Oryx Rotana has been honoured to be a supporter of Qatar International Food Festival since the beginning. Our hotel is renowned for its creative and flavourful dishes at The Cellar, so it [was] a perfect timing to have some of our best sellers introduced to the public. We also [wanted] to show our swift service in preparing tasty food with grace under pressure.”
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Alitalia and Etihad Support Future Aviation Leaders Alitalia launched a comprehensive new graduate management programme in collaboration with Etihad Airways, providing the opportunity for graduates from Italian universities to develop into future leaders of the airline.
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total of 400 candidates applied for the initiative this year, out of which 24 were selected for enrolment and the first group has already arrived to Abu Dhabi to identify their core strengths and career aspirations. Upon graduation, the students will return to Alitalia as specialists in their respective fields. As Ray Gammell, chief people and performance officer, Etihad Airways, noted, over 1,400 students are being trained at the airline’s academy.
First participants of Alitalia’s graduate management programme in Abu Dhabi
Michigan Tourism Campaign Pays Off
SCTA to Raise Food and Health Standards
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he Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) represented by the licensing and quality assurance department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Riyadh municipality to jointly regulate health and food activities in tourism accommodation facilities in Riyadh province. The agreement urges to apply the municipality’s regulations on each activity and the facility’s administration will be obligated to train work force on health and food safety. To ensure high standards, the two parties will conduct joint inspection visits. Riyadh’s tourism industry also benefitted from increased arrivals during the spring break and to offer visitors unique experiences, SCTA licensed a number of rural and agro tourism farms in the area.
ICAO to Examine Africa and Indian Ocean Region’s Aviation
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isitor spending in Michigan reached USD22.8 billion in 2014, setting a new record for the US state which welcomed 113.4 million visitors. The destination’s Pure Michigan campaign proved to be extremely successful with studies showing that each dollar spent on the initiative generated USD6.87. During the year, Michigan allocated USD12.4 million for out-of-state advertising, that inspired more than 4.1 million trips by visitors from other destinations. Visitor spending motivated by the campaign generated USD1.2 billion for local businesses and USD85.4 million in tax revenues. The total budget for this year’s national advertising campaign is USD12 million.
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he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will be organising a series of open and invitation-only meetings this May to address the main issues faced by the Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) region. Dubbed AFI Aviation Week, the event will take place between May 18 – 21 in Maputo, Mozambique and will focus on key topics such as security, safety and human resources development. As Raymonf Benjamin, secretary general, ICAO, pinpointed, in Africa, aviation supports almost seven million jobs and approximately USD80 billion in GDP. In addition, as he further highlighted, for many states the industry represents an essential lifeline that connects them to regional and global markets while enhancing travel and tourism, the movement of goods and other vital business activities.
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WHO’S MOVED
YOUSEF HASAN
FADI MHEISEN
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Yousef Hasan has been named human resources manager at Al Manshar Rotana Kuwait. Hasan will oversee both the management and non-management hiring process to attract, select and retain a diverse workforce at the property. He will aim to select the best candidates in a cost effective and efficient manner to meet the business need of the operation. He started his career with Egyptian Arab Bank as a human resources generalist. He joined Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa in 2009 as human resources officer before being promoted to human resources training and supervisor. Hasan most recently worked as regional head of training and recruitment at Capital Bank Group in Amman, Jordan.
Fadi Mheisen is the new hotel manager at the newly-opened Park Inn by Radisson Dammam. He moves to Dammam from Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah, where he worked as executive assistant manager in charge of rooms, engineering as well as training. Mheisen joined Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 12 years ago, serving first as assistant front office manager at Radisson SAS Hotel & Resort, Aqaba. He then relocated to Saudi Arabia to the front office of Radisson SAS Hotel, Yanbu, before joining Park Inn by Radisson, Al Khobar Hotel and then Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah. In his position, he will focus on the day to day management of the hotel and will aim to drive business and develop relationships with key partners.
NEERA SHARMA
HAITHAM NASSAR
Neera Sharma has been chosen as assistant director of sales at Emirates Grand Hotel Apartments. She will mainly be in charge of further strengthening business ties with existing clients and stakeholders, as well as generating leads for new accounts. Sharma will also support the cluster director of sales and marketing in the development of strategies and the implementation of sales activities in order to maximise opportunities and revenues. Sharma has more than 12 years of experience in the field. She previously worked as corporate sales manager at Grand Millennium Dubai, and in a similar post at Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates. In addition, she held key managerial positions in hotels across India as well as at Novotel Al Dana Resort in Bahrain.
Haitham Nassar has been promoted to cluster general manager of Ramses Hilton and Hilton World Trade Center Hotel Cairo. The promotion comes after years of hard work and great achievements. Nassar has more than 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He joined Hilton Worldwide in 1988 and has since held various positions with the company in Luxor, Al Ain as well as Sharm El Sheikh. His efforts have been recognised with the Hilton Worldwide Egypt’s General Manager of the Year award in two consecutive years as well as with the area president accolade in the Middle East and Africa region.
Nassar joined Hilton Worldwide in 1988
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Bahrain's The Domain Hotel and Spa has been recognised as a top performing hotel based on guest reviews on Booking.com
Fire drill at Bahrain International Airport
Jannah Hotels & Resorts' team also joined the Easter celebrations
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Easter activities at City Seasons Hotel Dubai
Easter creations at Royal Rose Hotel in Abu Dhabi
The Ajman Palace welcomed Bani Yas Football Club's team
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NEWS & EVENTS Energy Experts Converge in Abu Dhabi
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he International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE) recently made its debut in the Middle East at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Having attracted energy experts from around the world, the seventh edition of the event run until 31 March under the theme Clean, Efficient and Affordable Energy for a Sustainable Future. “ADNEC [was] pleased to welcome international professionals in the energy industry; a key contributor to the company’s diversified event portfolio. As we move into a busy period with several events [...] our robust event infrastructure will help us effectively handle the increase in traffic across our leading venues,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, acting group CEO, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.
Expo Centre Sharjah Hosts Columbian Delegation
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31-strong Columbian group, consisting of entrepreneurs from various fields, visited Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) as part of a 11-day tour in the UAE. The team from the thirds largest Latin American economy met the officials of ECS as well as the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to explore business opportunities in the emirate and the rest of the Middle East. As Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, ECS, revealed, the delegates showed particular interest in shows such as the OIC Halal Middle East, which, according to Al Midfa, could help them find new markets for their products and services.
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EVENTS KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM & TRAVEL FAIR Almaty, Kazakhstan April 22 – 24 www.kitf.kz A major tourism forum in Central Asia presenting resorts, upscale hotels and convenient air connections.
HOTEC MIDDLE EAST Amwaj Islands, Bahrain April 24 – 27 www.hotecme.com The event brings together hotel purchasing, operations and technical directors and key leading domestic and international suppliers.
ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET Dubai, UAE May 04 – 07 www.arabiantravelmarket.com Arabian Travel Market has provided a place to do face-toface business with companies from around the globe for the past 21 years, and this year′s edition promises to be even larger.
CHINA GUILIN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO (CGITE) Guilin, China May 29 – 31 www.cgite.com.cn Part of Conference & Exhibition Management Services’ travel and tourism portfolio, CGITE brings together Chinese and international buyers and exhibitors in one dynamic marketplace.
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