Travel Trade Weekly Issue 263 by Travel Trade Publications

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22 NOVEMBER 2014

ISSUE 263

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22 NOVEMBER 2014

ISSUE 263

EGYPT RECOVERS WITH A SURGE IN VISITORS STRETCHING 10.6KM AND SPANNING 11 STATIONS IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS AND TOURIST HOTSPOTS, DUBAI TRAM HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED OPERATIONS.

09 RADISSON BLU HOTEL, AJMAN CITY ANNOUNCED

12 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE TECHNOLOGY AIRPORTS CRUISING ACCOMMODATION AIR RENDEZVOUS INTERNATIONAL AGENT CORNER TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL CHANNELS WHO’S MOVED PHOTO ALBUM NEWS & EVENTS

02 04 05 08 12 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

DUBAI TRAM OFFICIALLY STARTS OPERATION

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

omparable owned and leased hotels RevPAR increased 7.6 percent, while 11 hotels were opened and as such, the company’s executed contract base consisted of approximately 250 properties. RevPAR for Europe, Africa, Middle East and Southwest Asia hotels increased 7.2 percent year-on-year in Q3. Occupancy increased 390 basis points and average daily rates (ADR) grew 0.7 percent compared to the same period in 2013. “Looking ahead, group pace for 2015 is up approximately eight percent, providing further opportunity to grow rates and improve margins through higher rooms and food and beverage revenues,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president, Hyatt.

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

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

21/11/2014

Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar

Hyatt reported its third quarter (Q3) financial results which showed that net income attributable to the company reached USD32 million.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli

As of

Hyatt Grows in Q3

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

85.49

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

7.15

Iran (IRR)

Rial

26,822.63

Iraq (IQD)

Dinar

1,161.61

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.29

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,528.19

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.19

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.86

Syria (SYP)

Pound

170.70

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.84

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.90

Grand Hyatt Seoul

Emaar: 37 Percent Increase in Net Profit

Emaar Properties recorded a net operating profit of AED2.48 billion (USD678 million) during the first nine months of the year.

riven by robust financial fundamentals, surging investor confidence and Dubai’s strong economic growth, the results indicate a 37 percent growth against the net operating profit for the first nine months of 2013 at AED1.81 billion (USD493 million). Emaar’s hospitality and leisure business recorded a nine-month revenue of AED1.19 billion (USD326 million), 17 percent of total revenue, by drawing on the upbeat performance of Dubai’s tourism sector. This was 13 percent higher compared to 2013’s first nine months. The Address Hotels + Resorts, Emaar’s flagship hotel brand, recorded an average occupancy of 84 percent during the same period.

Starwood Burgeons in Q3

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide reported financial results for the third quarter (Q3) of the year.

hese indicated that during the period, the company signed 39 hotel management and franchise contracts representing approximately 7,100 rooms, and opened 18 hotels and resorts with approximately 3,500 rooms. Frits van Paasschen, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, said, “We delivered strong results in the third quarter […]. Worldwide RevPAR grew by over seven percent in constant dollars. […] During the quarter, we made significant progress in reaching our target leverage, having repurchased USD857 million in stock.” Notably, RevPAR in Africa and the Middle East rose by 4.3 percent in actual dollars year-on-year. 22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY

Emirates’ Latest Technology Innovation Staff using Journey Manager

Hotelogix Launches Free Cloud Plan

otelogix offered a 'free forever' plan to the public for the first time at the World Travel Market in London. The Freemium Plan is designed for small- and midsized hotels to maximise business potential by removing barriers to adopt a cloud-based property management system (PMS) solution, improving operations and expanding market reach. Prabhash Bhatnagar, co-founder, Hotelogix, explained, “This industry has witnessed high attrition, especially at the front desk. A PMS, requiring high learning curve, further adds to the challenge that hoteliers face. Thus, we wanted to make our product really simple.”

Emirates empowered its airport staff with a mobile application designed to deliver the best service to customers.

eveloped by Emirates, in cooperation with Samsung and Etisalat, Journey Manager is a custom-designed application which enables the airline’s airport staff to get real-time information, allowing them to respond to customers’ needs with greater efficiency regardless of where they are in the airport. “Emirates has always been in the forefront of innovation, and our aim is to continue delivering excellent and more personalised service to our customers,” said Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice president, airport services, Emirates.

Highly Positive Results for Amadeus in First Nine Months

madeus reported financial and operating results for the first nine months of the year, which showed adjusted profit for the period growing nine percent, to EUR557.2 million (USD695.8 million), while this was backed by an increase in revenue of 9.4 percent. Air travel agency industry bookings grew four percent in the third quarter of the year and all regions’ performance accelerated versus the first half of the year. Exceptions were Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa, which slowed due to geopolitical situations in some key countries in these regions. Asia Pacific continued to be the main growth driver in the airline information technology business, while the low-cost and hybrid carriers’ segment boosted travel agency bookings which increased 17 percent this year, according to Luis Maroto, president, Amadeus.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

AIRPORTS WEEKLY NEWS

Enhancing Car Park Facilities at BIA Staying true to its vision of furthering Bahrain International Airport (BIA) as a friendly and efficient national gateway, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) has assigned management of the hub’s car park to its facility management arm, BAC Facility Management (BAC FM).

22 NOVEMBER 2014

H Bahrain International Airport

ince the takeover, a series of noticeable enhancements have been implemented resulting in improved accessibility, ease of entry and exit to the car park areas, as well as faster response times at exit points. BAC FM also started re-training all car park staff to create a more efficient and customer centric culture.

HIA Meets Travellers’ Needs amad International Airport (HIA) has unveiled two new facilities, The Airport Hotel and Vitality Spa. Badr Al Meer, chief operating officer, HIA, said, “[This] is another important milestone for HIA. We are delighted that we can now offer our passengers this sophisticated facility that has been designed with careful consideration of their requirements while they are our guests in Doha.” Hotel guests can enjoy more than 70 retail outlets offering a wide selection of designer labels, high street fashion, electronics and gourmet foods, while all passengers can benefit from the services provided at the Vitality Spa, which includes a 25m swimming pool, full-service gym, and the support of a personal instructor, as well as two squash courts.

WEEKLY NEWS

UAE Arrivals to Greece Are on the Rise now. . n k u o y Did seve , first

ear he he y ng t Duri ths of t owth in mon ong gr visitors a str ational e from m 0 rn inte eece ca 93, 00 2 r to G S, with s? U or the visit

Greece

According to Marketing Greece, UAE leisure and business travellers headed to Greece in greater numbers this year, drawn to the Mediterranean country’s mix of history, culture and beaches.

etween January and September, the number of UAE arrivals in Athens shot up by 27 percent, compared to the same period in 2013. The rise in Emirati tourists is attributed to the fact that Greece is an easily accessible short-haul destination. Direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Athens have boosted tourism to Greece, with Etihad Airways carrying over 400,000 passengers between the two cities since 2009.

Egypt Sees a 200 Percent Increase in Tourists

ourist flow to Egypt has grown tangibly over the past six months according to Hisham Zaazou, tourism minister, Egypt, who recently addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo. He said incoming tourism increased by around 200 percent in September compared to the same month in 2013. Flow rates for July upped by 76.7 percent compared to only 20 percent in the same period in 2013. Moreover, Zaazou further added that this reflects successful efforts of the ministry to revive the sector and restore travel rates to those achieved prior to the 2011 revolution.

Erbil Citadel Included in UNESCO List

he historical Citadel of Erbil has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, formally becoming part of the archaeological and cultural history of the world. In his speech celebrating the event, Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister, Kurdistan Regional Government, said that the inclusion is a source of pride and great honour for Erbil, the people of Kurdistan, Iraq and even the larger Middle East. “The Citadel of Erbil is a place with a long history, over 6,000 years old, putting its roots in the history books. […] The Citadel was used as a fortress to defend Erbil and its people and helped defeat the strongest and most dangerous armies. It always remained a proud symbol in the middle of Erbil,” he commented.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING

MS Rotterdam Opens Abu Dhabi’s Cruise Season Zayed Port welcomed MS Rotterdam, marking the start of the new cruise season which is expected to bring 93 ships and 220,000 passengers to Abu Dhabi.

L Lido Pool onboard MS Rotterdam

ocal travel trade professionals were hosted onboard the vessel for a tour of its facilities. Gary Lemke, executive vice president, ports, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, stated, “We are delighted to welcome MS Rotterdam and its passengers to Abu Dhabi […]. “This year, we have more exciting cruise developments than ever before – work is underway on the development of the new cruise terminal and the Cruise Arabia initiative, which brings together Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman to promote the Gulf region as an exciting destination, is attracting serious attention from the industry and prospective cruise visitors.”

MS Rotterdam at sea

DMCA Joins Seatrade Middle East Maritime

ubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) took part in Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2014, which ran in October. The event, held alongside Dubai Maritime Week, shed light on various aspects of the region’s naval sector. DMCA showcased the emirate’s competitive features as a key player in the international maritime industry. Amer Ali, executive director, DMCA, said that the event allowed the authority to leverage its services and solutions, and encouraged exchange of expertise between decision-makers, industry leaders and businessmen.

Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of Quantum of the Seas

oyal Caribbean International welcomed the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet, Quantum of the Seas. The vessel began its journey to Southampton, where it welcomed the first guests for a trans-Atlantic voyage to its homeport of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey. It will sail from New York to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for its inaugural season, before departing for Shanghai in May 2015. Sister ship Anthem of the Seas will debut in Southampton in April 2015 and sail Mediterranean itineraries. Quantum-class ships span 16 guest decks with 2,090 staterooms, and can carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS Installing Pearls in the UAE

Yas Island Hosts Marathon

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Yas Island

s part of a UAE national initiative called 7 Pearls in Love with the UAE, the installing of the Ras Al Khaimah pearl replica took place at the Al Marjan Island waterfront, to mark the 43rd UAE National Day. Abdullah Rashed Al Abdooli, managing director, Al Marjan Island Company, said, “It is a matter of great pride for us that the Pearl Al Qumasha will be erected at Al Marjan Island waterfront, which is now considered the most prominent landmark of Ras Al Khaimah.” To complete the nationwide initiative, seven locations were chosen along the UAE coast for installing the pearls, as part of a nonstop diving trip starting from the Port of Fujairah and ending on Abu Dhabi coast.

kn Did you

as Island once again welcomed the Abu Dhabi Striders' half marathon and 10km race, an annual sporting event which took place on November 14 and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The partnership between Yas Island and Abu Dhabi Striders allowed both competitors and their supporters to enjoy the leisure destination’s numerous landmarks and icons. As Clive Dwyer, director, Yas Island Destination Management, said, “After the starting pistol fires at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, the course partially follows Yas Leisure Drive and later takes in the Yas Plaza, Yas Marina, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which marks the half-way point.”

Pyramids in Giza

Egypt Recovers with a Surge in Visitors

gyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) reported a year-onyear 91.6 percent increase in tourism arrivals in August, with 195,257 visitors on records. As a result of a joint campaign by ETA and the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Egypt is seeing a steady rise in visitors since the beginning of the year. In the first seven months, 5,162,970 travellers visited Egypt, out of which 214,536 were Saudis, 73,591 Kuwaitis and 19,968 Emiratis. During the same period, 97 percent of tourists chose Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Cairo. The Red Sea Governorate led the way with 42 percent, followed by South Sinai Governorate and Cairo.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

DUBAI TRAM OFFICIALLY STARTS OPERATION Stretching 10.6km and spanning 11 stations in densely populated areas and tourist hotspots, Dubai Tram has officially launched operations.

“T

he tram aims to improve the mobility within Dubai in general and areas of tourist and economic importance served by the tramway in particular. […] It also enhances the business, trade and tourism structures as well as the economic base of the emirate, besides minimising carbon emissions, sustaining the environment and improving the living environment of residents,” commented H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, chairman, Roads and Transport Authority. The tram fleet comprises 11 trams under the initial stage. Some 14 trams will be added in the second stage and the service is expected to serve about 27,000 riders at the start of operations with ridership anticipated to hit about 66,000 by 2020.

Dubai Tram

Cross Egypt Challenge

City Centre Alexandria Supports Rally

ity Centre Alexandria sponsored Cross Egypt Challenge for its 3,000km rally across the country, which took place between November 14 – 22. “As the leading shopping destination in Alexandria, we believe that one of our main roles is taking part in similar remarkable initiatives that aim at supporting the development of tourism and helping to sustain Egypt’s position as a leading attraction spot,” said Mostafa Kholief, mall manager, City Centre Alexandria. Cross Egypt Challenge’s 60 participants started from the Mediterranean’s largest coastal city and crossed Egypt all the way back to Cairo.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS Focussing on the International Maritime Industry

New Head Office for Musafir

Nakheel Introduces Night Souk

usafir.com, the UAE's premium experience travel website, recently opened its new head office in Sharjah. The office, inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, co-founder, musafir.com, was opened as part of the company's expansion in the travel market within the region and includes a state-of-the-art, multilingual contact centre. Al Thani said, “As a part of the ongoing growth in the travel industry, Musafir.com has moved from strength to strength over the last few years and this new head office will help the company achieve long-term success.”

Inauguration of the new head office

he second edition of Dubai Maritime Week, a nautical event organised by Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), witnessed high-profile participation from local, regional and international maritime leaders, government officials, industry professionals, experts, operators and ship owners. Serving as a strategic platform to discuss key issues across both local and global maritime sectors, the event included Dubai Maritime Summit, a gathering aimed at discussing new developments and issues facing the international maritime industry, maritime clustering and the emirate’s current efforts in positioning Dubai as the world’s leading maritime hub.

D The Night Souk

ubai developer Nakheel is leasing thousands of retail and restaurant spaces at the Night Souk, a new shopping and dining destination at its 15.3km2 Deira Islands development. Stretching 1.9 km along the project’s waterfront, the Night Souk, a modern twist on a traditional Arabic souk, will include 5,000 shops, 96 quayside cafés and restaurants. Ali Rashid Lootah, chairman, Nakheel, said, “[The Night Souk] will promote local business and entrepreneurship; serve hundreds of thousands of residents living on and around Deira Islands and act as a major attraction for Dubai’s growing number of annual tourists.”

Dubai Showcased at ITB Asia

Dubai delegation led by Issam AbdulRahim Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, participated in ITB Asia and had a series of meetings with key industry decision makers. The exhibition was also an opportunity to further increase awareness of the destination to buyers and media in Asia, promoting Dubai as family and travel destination. Kazim said, “Holding face-to-face meetings with decision makers in the market is truly valuable in order to cultivate stronger working relationships. On top of this, it gives us the opportunity to really highlight all that Dubai as a destination has to offer and the enhancements that have been made.”

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

The Airport Hotel Opens

ocated in the south node of Hamad International Airport (HIA), the 100room The Airport Hotel offers passengers passing through the hub, services and flexibility depending upon individual travel needs and schedules. “Our focus at the hotel is to offer the very best hospitality experience to all our guests whether they are staying with us for one hour or one day,” confirmed Philippe Anric, general manager, The Airport Hotel. Guests can choose from superior, deluxe and executive rooms or executive suites, which can be booked for up to three, six, 12 or 24 hours, giving them the opportunity to rest in-between flights or to use the room as a base while they explore boutiques and restaurants spread across HIA.

InterContinental Muscat to Debut with New Features

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a multiyear contract extension with Omran for InterContinental Muscat, which will see the 258-room hotel undergo extensive refurbishment, providing guests more amenities and facilities upon completion in 2017. A key addition after the revamp will be a purpose-built InterContinental Concierge Lounge, bringing to life an InterContinental brand hallmark, the Concierge Programme. The hotel’s function space will also undergo reconfiguration, the all-day dining restaurant will be enhanced with a destination bar, terrace and garden, while guests will be able to enjoy time at a new floodlit tennis court and new lap pool. “The new and enhanced features in InterContinental Muscat will definitely help draw more guests through our doors,” said Wael Ahmed Al Lawati, CEO, Omran.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Ajman City Announced

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group is adding another emirate to its UAE portfolio with Radisson Blu Hotel, Ajman City. Featuring 156 rooms and scheduled to welcome its first guests in the first quarter of 2016, it will include signature services such as free high-speed Internet access, a 270m2 all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a lobby café as well as a roof bar, a pool bar and a conference space of 1,300m2. The property will enjoy a prime location within Ajman, with the city’s proximity to Sharjah and Dubai providing easy accessibility to two international airports and four ports. “Ajman is an emerging destination for both business and leisure travellers offering exceptional hospitality while retaining its traditional heritage”, said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group.

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Philippe Anric (left) and Badr Al Meer, chief operating officer, HIA, at the official opening of the property

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22 NOVEMBER 2014

ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS Rotana Set for Aggressive Expansion

Burgu Arjaan by Rotana

22 NOVEMBER 2014

otana is to add 12 new properties to its portfolio. The developments set to open this year include the 391-suite Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman; Sedra Residences by Rotana, Qatar, boasting 250 rooms and suites; and the 311-key ART Rotana, Bahrain. The second quarter of 2015 will see the opening of Banader Rotana, Bahrain; Burgu Arjaan by Rotana, Istanbul; and Tango Arjaan by Rotana, Istanbul, in addition to City Centre Rotana, Doha and Centro Doha in Qatar, Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi and lastly, Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana, Saudi Arabia, comprising 236 rooms and suites. The third quarter of 2015 will see the launch of Capital Centre Rotana, Abu Dhabi and the 412-room Amman Rotana, Jordan.

Cristal Erbil Hotel Opens Its Doors

he five-star Cristal Erbil Hotel, conveniently located alongside the city’s 100m ring road, has been unveiled. The hotel boasts 100 rooms and suites, all of which have high-speed Internet, IP interactive telephones, LED Smart TVs and other amenities. There are three dining outlets, plus a garden restaurant for up to 1,000 persons and a ballroom for up to 300 guests. Leisure facilities include a spa, complete with a gym, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, separate male and female facilities, steam room, sauna and more. Peter Blackburn, CEO, Cristal Group, commented, “[Cristal Erbil Hotel’s opening] offers all the hallmarks of the Cristal brand from strategic location, stunning views to its bespoke service.”

WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Autograph Collection Debuts in Dubai with Lapita Hotel

D Lapita Hotel

ubai Parks and Resorts, a Meraas Holding company, announced a Polynesian-themed family property, Lapita Hotel, set within its entertainment project in the Jebel Ali area which includes Bollywood Parks Dubai, LEGOLAND Dubai and motiongate Dubai. Scheduled for a 2016 opening, the 503-key hotel will mark a Middle Eastern debut of Autograph Collection, a brand of Marriott International. Inspired by the tropical Polynesian landscapes, it will feature a dramatic façade and lush settings with lagoon style pools, themed activities and dining options, and relaxation areas. Raed Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, commented, “With its unique components for the entire family, we are confident Lapita’s distinctive experience will set a new global benchmark in the hospitality domain.”

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, Doha Prepares to Welcome First Guests

Hilton to Open another Garden Inn in Saudi Arabia

Hilton Garden Inn Yanbu rendering

K Marsa Malaz Kempinski

ilton Garden Inn Yanbu will join six properties of the mid-scale brand already under development in Saudi Arabia, following the hotelier’s agreement with Hamad & Ahmed Mohammed Al-Mozaini Real Estate Company. Expected to open in early 2017, the new-build hotel is to be developed in the Red Sea port city and will feature 239 guest rooms, located in a mixed-use development of leisure, residential and retail units. Positioned in the harbour village part of Yanbu’s waterfront, the property is set to provide muchneeded internationally branded accommodation in the region and will feature meeting space totalling 1,100m2, as well as leisure facilities including fitness centres, an outdoor swimming pool and retail outlets.

empinski announced that its much-anticipated flagship resort, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, Doha, is set to receive its first guests on December 1. The new city resort is located on its own secluded island at the iconic The Pearl-Qatar, offering 281 luxurious rooms and suites as well as conference facilities. The property also features an exclusive beach located in a private bay, along with outdoor swimming pools, water sports facilities, the 3,000m2 Spa by Clarins, a tennis court and yacht jetties. “From the opulent and grand rooms and suites to our remarkable service standards, this hotel is set to become a benchmark for bespoke luxury in Qatar and the wider region,” said Wissam Suleiman, general manager, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, Doha. 22 NOVEMBER 2014

AIR WEEKLY NEWS

Oman Air Opens Lounge in Bangkok

airberlin Serves Abu Dhabi Twice Daily

man Air has unveiled its refurbished lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The expanded Oman Air Lounge offers even more facilities than its predecessor, within a significantly larger area. With nearly 100m2 of additional floor space, passengers will be able to relax before their flights on one of the day beds within the new rest area. In addition, the seating has been redesigned to be even more comfortable, and can accommodate 72 customers instead of the previous 34. Food and refreshments are available at a state-of-the-art buffet table and bar, echoing Oman Air’s in-flight dining. A shower room and luxury toiletries, as well as a babychanging station, have also been added to the lounge’s extensive facilities.

Refurbished Oman Air Lounge

22 NOVEMBER 2014

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irberlin now operates two flights a day between Berlin and Abu Dhabi. The upped daily frequency not only opens up additional travel options when visiting the emirate; it also means additional connecting flight options via Abu Dhabi within the global route network of airberlin partner Etihad Airways. Due to the second daily service, passengers embarking in Berlin can travel onwards to numerous destinations in Asia, Australia and India with just one stopover, for instance, to Delhi, Melbourne, Mumbai, Perth, Shanghai or Sri Lanka.

Qatar Airways Assists INTERPOL

s part of efforts to enhance international travel security, Qatar Airways has signed an agreement with INTERPOL to use the world police body’s I-Checkit system to screen the passports of its passengers against INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database. Qatar Airways becomes the first full-service airline to use I-Checkit, joining regional low-cost carrier AirAsia in piloting the INTERPOL initiative which allows partners in the travel, hotel and banking industries to send their clients’ travel document information to be screened against the SLTD database. “We have always placed great importance on the safety and security of our passengers, in addition to offering them an unrivalled service experience,” said Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways.

WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Emirates: In-flight Wi-Fi Is Essential

Etihad Airways Strengthens Its Indian Network

Mumbai

n the first three years since Emirates launched inflight Wi-Fi connectivity, over half a million passengers have connected to the Internet onboard an Emirates flight and this demand is expected to increase exponentially. Onboard Wi-Fi is available on all of Emirates’ 53 Airbus A380s and on 28 Boeing 777s, which serve routes across six continents. The airline also has an aggressive retrofit programme which will eventually see its entire fleet Wi-Fi enabled. “Ultimately, we believe that onboard Wi-Fi will become a free service and a standard that customers will expect on a full service airline, just like onboard refreshments and personal in-flight entertainment. Emirates is leading the way on this,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

tihad Airways will make Mumbai and New Delhi its first destinations in India to be served with triple-daily flights, starting on February 15, 2015 and May 1, 2015 respectively. The UAE carrier will also launch a daily service to Kolkata on February 15, 2015, while its partner airline Jet Airways will soon commence daily services between Abu Dhabi and Goa, Lucknow and Pune. James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, said, “India is expected to become the world’s third largest air passenger market within the next 20 years, and we are focussed on providing travellers with the best possible offering into and out of the country in terms of world-class service, extensive network coverage and multiple flight options each day.”

Turkish Airlines to Up Its Flights to Algiers

urkish Airlines is set to increase its services between Istanbul and Algiers from 18 flights per week to 21 flights per week, as of January 1, 2015. Turkish Airlines has scheduled flights to 45 domestic and 219 international destinations in 261 cities and 264 airports in 108 countries worldwide. During the first nine months of the year, 41.4 million passengers were carried implying a 14 percent increase in passenger traffic. Available seat kilometres and revenue passenger kilometres increased by 17 percent, resulting in a stable load factor of 79.7 percent. The number of passengers transferred across its international routes increased by 23 percent, reaching a 43 percent share within total international figures.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Muriya currently has various development projects under construction. Please give us an introduction to the projects. BAHAA HEFZALLAH: Muriya’s master plan in Oman includes the development of four destinations. We are currently developing two integrated tourism complexes (ITCs), first one is Salalah Beach, located in the governorate of Dhofar in the southernmost part of the Sultanate, and the second one is Jebel Sifah, 45km away from the capital city of Muscat. Once completed, both destinations will offer a total of 13 hotels, freehold apartments and villas, as well as retail and shopping outlets, golf courses and a marina. The strategy behind such developments is to transform them into bustling towns, where ‘life as it should be’ can be experienced. Salalah Beach extends over an area of 1,560ha and is 20km away from Salalah Airport. […] Jebel Sifah extends over an area of 6,200ha, with 5.6km of beachfront. This dramatic mountainous setting is home to freehold apartments and villas of diverse architecture and styles, an international-branded golf course, four five-star hotels, a marina boutique hotel, an 84 berth-capacity inland marina with its own restaurants and cafés, and commercial retail venues. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: At which stage are these developments at the moment? BAHAA HEFZALLAH: At Salalah Beach, we recently opened Salalah Rotana Resort, the largest hotel by room size in the city and the largest single hotel in Oman. With 400 rooms, it is the second hotel at Salalah Beach following Juweira Boutique Hotel which opened in 2012, offering 82 guest rooms with 21 marina suites. With both destinations comprising high-end luxury freehold apartments and villas, 77 units were handed over in Salalah Beach to date. […] One more leisure facility in progress is the two 18-hole PGA golf courses. We are expected to handover several apartments and villas, while breaking ground on a new hotel by the end of the year. In Jebel Sifah, the first hotel we introduced is Sifawy Boutique Hotel, which features 55 suites and rooms in addition to a number of amenities tailored for both business and leisure. We 22 NOVEMBER 2014

Q & A with

Bahaa Hefzallah

MARKETING DIRECTOR, MURIYA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

WITH OMAN POISED FOR A BOOM, BAHAA HEFZALLAH, MARKETING DIRECTOR, MURIYA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, EXPLAINS THE COMPANY'S AIMS TO PUT THE COUNTRY ON THE WORLD TRAVEL MAP THROUGH ITS DEVELOPMENTS SPANNING HOTELS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS AND RETAIL VENUES. brought a charming Marina Town to the centre of the development, built around Oman’s first inland marina. We also added a floating fuel station to encourage more stopover boat traffic. Commercial and retail outlets in the destination include apparel, flowers and frankincense shops, as well as an art gallery and a supermarket. When it comes to leisure and recreation, we have recently brought Extra Divers dive centre to the destination and water ac-

tivities provided by Al Marassi. In addition, the 18-hole golf course designed by Peter Harradine is going at full throttle and the first five holes are expected to be green by 2015. The apartments and villas around the destination project a sense of belonging and to date, we have handed over 82 units. Our focus in both destinations has been on creating experiences that initially attract visitors, encourage them to visit again and ultimately motivate

them to invest in a lifestyle rather than a real estate unit. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How are these initiatives set to promote Oman's growing tourism industry? BAHAA HEFZALLAH: Developing ITCs has always been a key strategy in Oman’s plans to boost tourism and real-estate development. Muriya’s master plans for both Salalah Beach and Jebel Sifah were based on balancing the tourism and real estate to create a unique proposition at our destinations. For example, the Ministry of Tourism forecasts 3,000 rooms to be added by the end of this year alone. This growth is stemming from demand that extends beyond traditional seasontourism such as Khareef in Salalah, but increased interest in Oman as an emerging destination. Muriya is playing a key role in not only promoting Oman as a year-round destination, but as a tourism developer, we are developing unique destinations and communities which feature renowned hoteliers and offer that extra factor of combining luxury hospitality and living. Oman has earmarked tourism as a vital sector for growth, bolstering economic diversification efforts and increasing demand for goods and services, which ultimately means more jobs and, most importantly, driving the growth of private sector and local outsourcing. Studies and reports have illustrated that the tourism industry offers six times more direct jobs than the automotive manufacturing industry worldwide; this speaks volumes on the potential to tap in such a fast-paced growing industry on the global arena and work towards putting Oman as a destination on the world travel map. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which are Muriya’s future plans in the coming months? BAHAA HEFZALLAH: […] We are expecting to break ground on a new hotel before the end of the year in Salalah Beach. We are also looking into partnerships with international tour agencies to bring in a steady flow of tourists to Salalah on an annual basis. With these partnerships in place, we are doing our part in promoting the Oman brand internationally and realising the economic and social benefits that tourism can bring to the local communities.

WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL BWI Launches Vib and Premier Collection

Jumeirah Group Expands Presence in China

J Jumeirah Nanjing

Vib concept

est Western International (BWI) is introducing two new major developments, a stylish new hotel concept and a soft brand, both designed to meet a growing demand for new hotel offerings in urban and primary markets. Firstly, Vib is a stylish and technology-centric hotel concept created to address the needs of today’s connected traveller. It will be cost-effective to build and operate, making it an attractive option for owners and developers. Secondly, BWI’s soft brand, BW Premier Collection, will consist of selected high-quality hotels in primary markets. Properties within the BW Premier Collection will not be part of the official BWI membership but they can be booked on the company’s website.

First DoubleTree by Hilton in Queensland

First Holiday Inn Express for Managua

H Queensland

Managua

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Managua, marking its fourth property in Nicaragua. The new-build Holiday Inn Express Managua hotel boasts 114 rooms and is located minutes away from the city centre. It offers guests a comfortable stay with preferred upgrades and amenities that include an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, free Internet access and a business centre. Gerardo Murray, regional vice president, distribution and commercial marketing, Mexico, Latin America, and Caribbean, IHG, noted, “We are very excited to open the first Holiday Inn Express hotel for Managua as it is ideal for meeting the needs of Nicaragua’s growing business and leisure travel markets.”

umeirah Group has announced three new management agreements to operate luxury hotels and resorts across China. Jumeirah Haikou Resort, set in an exclusive golf community on a private island in Hainan, is to open in 2018; Jumeirah Wuhan, which has a city centre location near to Hankou, is set to launch in 2010; and Jumeirah Nanjing, expected to open in 2016, is located in the Hexi new business district. Gerald Lawless, president, Jumeirah Group, said, “We are delighted to be expanding our portfolio of hotels and resorts in China, which is a significant market for Jumeirah. We are honoured to have been asked to operate these three new hotels in key cities, bringing our pipeline of new properties in China to eight […].”

ilton Worldwide has announced the opening of the first DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Queensland, DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns. The new hotel also marks the fourth DoubleTree by Hilton in Australia overall. The new 237-room haven, formerly a Holiday Inn property, occupies a waterfront location on the Coral Sea in the city of Cairns, and incorporates a unique air rainforest garden with a barramundi pond, providing space for guests to relax. Commenting on the new property, John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, commented, “The opening of this hotel further cements our commitment to the Australian market.” 22 NOVEMBER 2014

AGENT CORNER

Agent’s Insight NAME:

Soheir Gabriel

POSITION:

Sales and marketing director

COMPANY:

Al Marsa Travel & Tourism

LOCATION:

Oman

WEBSITE:

www.almarsamusandam.com

Convenience for Travel Agents from GTA

G Who are you? I am Soheir Gabriel, sales and marketing director of Al Marsa Travel in Dibba Musandam. I am a certified German-speaking guide and have I worked in the tourism sector for more than 20 years with German, Austrian and Swiss tourists in Egypt, and I have been working for Al Marsa Travel since 2007. Al Marsa Musandam was created by two men with a passion for diving and a desire to preserve the unspoilt beauty of the Eastern Musandam region of Oman. We have top-of-the-range Arabic Dhows that cruise you up into these hidden bays. Every vessel we have is fully equipped for cruising and living onboard with airconditioned cabins and large open sun decks.

TA unveiled its first ever mobile tool to make life easier for travel agents and provide them with new revenue opportunities. Emutrip is set to start life as a free itinerary builder but will evolve over time into a sophisticated tool for travellers, accessible in store, at home and on the move. Retail travel agents can use the free emutrip to create, build, edit and organise their clients’ travel itineraries. It quickly and simply automates the process of building a dynamically packaged trip and presents it in a way that is as appealing as the traditional holiday brochure but can be as individual as the traveller.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? I have worked in the travel industry all my life, I enjoy meeting people from different countries and conducting business deals. When is the best time to visit Oman? The best time to visit Musandam Oman is between January – May and from September – December. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? I would like to travel to Greece, Spain and Italy. Why should people come to you for travel advice? Our company is the leading company for liveaboard; we have from one- up to seven-night trips, and we run a unique operation that offers a very special service from diving, food and beverage and more. 22 NOVEMBER 2014

TRAVEL TALK

The refurbishment of InterContinental Muscat will bring the hotel to new levels

PASCAL GAUVIN Chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, InterContinental Hotels Group

“Omran is a valued partner of ours and we are delighted to renew our contract with them. We were one of the first international hotel companies to enter the Middle East with the InterContinental brand more than 50 years ago and guests recognise us as one of the leading luxury hotel brands in the world today. The refurbishment of InterContinental Muscat will bring the hotel to new levels and we are confident it will deliver greater luxury experiences for our guests when the works complete.”

We foster a culture of performance and reward

RAY GAMMELL Chief people and performance officer, Etihad Airways

“Being named one of the world’s most in-demand employers is a tremendous accomplishment. […] Etihad Airways is an employer of choice because we offer exciting, challenging roles around the world at the fastest growing network carrier in history. We foster a culture of performance and reward with excellent opportunities for career progression. We also offer [...] unique employee benefits, including [...] an onsite nursery, ambulance service, a fullservice medical centre, flight benefits, accommodation assistance and education support.”

The Ras Al-Hadd project forms part of a comprehensive government growth strategy

AHMED BIN NASSER AL MAHRIZI Tourism minister, Oman

“The Ras Al-Hadd project forms part of a comprehensive government growth strategy aiming at developing the tourism sector in Oman. The development fully caters to emerging trends in the tourism sector globally, and [...] will provide tourists and visitors with a stunning insight into the unique wildlife in the region, as well as generate broad economic opportunities [...]. This growth strategy […] looks at balancing new developments to cover the different regions of the Sultanate in a sustainable manner.”

TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

22 NOVEMBER 2014

TRAVEL CHANNELS

How Mega Events Affect Tourism

This year’s World Travel Market (WTM) brought together tourism ministers and leading industry experts to discuss issues relating to mega events.

hese have a major impact on tourism destinations affecting investments, employment, infrastructure development, accommodation and transport facilities, branding and more. Participants explored ways to measure the effect of mega events on destinations, ensure proper infrastructure development and promote sustainable events. Speakers hailed from tourism ministries of Brazil, Jamaica, Lebanon, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Tunisia, as well as China National Tourism Administration, Qatar Tourism Authority, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Visit Britain, World Travel & Tourism Council, Japan Association of Travel Agents, and others.

SCTDA Heads to Singapore

he Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) visited Singapore as part of its efforts to attract new tourist markets to the emirate, through highlighting its cultural and distinct tourism attractions and sharing its current status as an award-winning destination. Another aim of the Singapore event was to network with outbound tour companies so as to lay foundations for forging future business opportunities. The Singapore market has been growing over the last few years, and it is fully expected that this road show will pave the way for new partnerships with an increased number of outbound tourism operators.

UNWTO Promotes Adventure Tourism Awareness

NWTO Global Report on Adventure Tourism, published jointly with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), is a first approach by UNWTO towards the topic of adventure tourism. The report provides a deeper insight into the close relation between adventure tourism and responsible tourism, allowing all tourism stakeholders to work from a common base of understanding in one of the most progressive forms of tourism, which both organisations believe will develop into the industry-wide standard. “This report provides critical insight into one of the most dynamic segments driving tourism’s growth. Furthermore, with careful and responsible management, adventure tourism offers effective development opportunities to countries looking for new and sustainable sources of growth,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

WHO’S MOVED

AHMED HEGAZY

ADELINE NG

Ahmed Hegazy has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Kempinski Nile Hotel. With over 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Hegazy worked for some of the world’s finest brands in Egypt. Prior to his current position at Kempinski Nile Hotel, he was assigned as cluster director of sales at Hilton Worldwide’s Egypt office, as well as associate director of sales at Fairmont Towers, Heliopolis. In this extended role, Hegazy will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the sales and marketing activities of Kempinski Nile Hotel. Working closely with the area director of sales and global sales offices, he is to play an important role in fortifying future business.

Adeline Ng has joined InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) as vice president of strategy for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA). Based in IHG’s regional head office in Singapore, Ng will lead the strategic agenda for IHG in AMEA by evaluating market dynamics and identifying emerging growth opportunities, retaining IHG's strong leadership position in the region. She will also lead key business planning processes and support the tracking of IHG’s performance against growth targets. Ng was most recently with the US-based The WhiteWave Foods Company, where she held multiple roles in strategic planning and finance. Her experience also includes positions with global consulting firms, as well as the Supreme Court of Singapore.

BASSEL MOUNZER

Bassel Mounzer has taken over as director of revenue at The Cove Rotana Resort. Having graduated from the National Pedagogical Institute of Technical Education in Lebanon, he holds a degree in general informatics. Prior to joining the Rotana family, Mounzer has successfully filled management positions in numerous hotel chains in Lebanon, which has gained him valuable experience in the hospitality business. In his new position, he will be in charge of overseeing revenue management and distribution strategy of the hotel and manageent of day-to-day yield operations.

Mounzer holds a degree in general informatics

DANIEL RUFF

Daniel Ruff has been appointed as president and managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa and Indian Ocean regions for Wyndham Hotel Group. In this role, he will be responsible for the group’s strategic development and operational, marketing, revenue management and sales services to the franchisees and partners. Ruff joins Wyndham Hotel Group from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in Belgium, where he led asset management for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. While based in London, his market expertise and experience in development, operations and owner relations are set to continue to build strategic partnerships and penetrate new markets.

22 NOVEMBER 2014

PHOTO ALBUM

Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Colm McLoughlin accepting the presidential distinguished service awards from Michael Higgins, president, Ireland

Etihad Airways has been recognised as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most attractive employers on LinkedInâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global 100 InDemand Employers list

Emirates Group raises the UAE flag to mark Flag Day

22 NOVEMBER 2014

InterContinental Doha The City supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Education Above All Foundation received a USD660,000 donation as part of the Qatar Airways partnership

King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre managed by Hilton celebrated Global Week of Service

NEWS & EVENTS Fitur 2015 Welcomes Two New Sections

itur 2015, set to take place from January 28 – February 1, 2015 will launch two new themed sections; Fitur Shopping and Fitur Health. Fitur Shopping is supported by Madrid Shopping Tour, one of the first European companies to specialise in shopping tourism which plans to highlight the unique shopping experience Spain offers. Fitur Health, supported by the Spaincares cluster, will aim at boosting health tourism to the country. It will feature a dedicated space and a forum, plus a section for meetings and appointments. Organised by IFEMA, the 35th edition of the show will offer participants a unique space for the promotion and commercialisation of their tourism products and a comprehensive programme of conferences, experts, panels, workshops and activities.

EVENTS INTERNATIONAL LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET (ILTM) Cannes, France December 1 – 4 www.iltm.com ILTM is a luxury travel flagship event, where international travel agents and advisors meet the world’s top luxury travel experiences.

IRAQ AIRPORTS SHOW Sulaimaniyah, Iraq December 3 – 4 www.iraqairportsshow.com Organised by Babylon International and hosted by Sulaimaniyah International Airport, it will feature over 60 companies from Iraq and overseas.

WTM: An Extraordinary Turnout

his year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London experienced an impressive four percent increase in attendees with the event opening its doors to almost 52,000 delegates over the four days. All visitor groups experienced growth according to unaudited figures, while WTM Buyers’ Club delegates were up seven percent to 9,116. Other visitor group increases included trade visitors at six percent, international media at two percent and exhibitor personnel also at two percent, compared to WTM 2013. Furthermore, overall visits to the even are fast-approaching the 100,000 mark, with this year’s WTM having 98,426 visits and 51,965 unique delegates.

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MEBA 2014 Dubai, UAE December 8 – 10 www.meba.aero Established as a key event on the business aviation calendar, it delivers key buyers and decision makers access to the Middle East aerospace market.

SEATRADE MIDDLE EAST CRUISE FORUM Muscat, Oman December 9 – 10 www.seatrade-middleeastcruise.com Committed to promoting the region as a cruise destination, it will allow delegates to meet with cruise line executives and GCC counterparts.

22 NOVEMBER 2014