Travel Trade Weekly Issue 259 by Travel Trade Publications

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25 OCTOBER 2014

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ISSUE 259

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ISSUE 259

BIA WELCOMES NEW BOARDING BRIDGES THE FIRST ADAGIO PREMIUM HAS OPENED IN DOHA WITH THE NEW AND EXCLUSIVE APARTHOTEL CONCEPT BEING DEVELOPED BY ACCOR SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST.

14 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE HOTEL PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY ACCOMMODATION CLASSIFIEDS AIR INTERNATIONAL RENDEZVOUS AGENT CORNER TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL CHANNELS WHO’S MOVED PHOTO ALBUM NEWS & EVENTS

02 03 04 10 12 14 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24

ADAGIO CONTINUES EXPANSION IN MIDDLE EAST

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba

Salalah Airport Sees Impressive Traffic Growth Traffic at Salalah Airport surged in the first seven months of the year according to Oman’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic

otal number of flights reached 4,716, marking a 23.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2013. International flights alone rose by 80.4 percent, jumping to 1,692 flights from 938 in 2013. Total number of passengers stood at 450,918, rising 15.6 percent year-onyear, while international passengers increased by almost 66 percent to 131,786. During the same period, Muscat International Airport saw a seven percent rise in passenger numbers with 5,105,199 travellers on records, plus a modest 0.8 percent increase in the number of flights.

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

Arrivals to Turkey Grow

HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism released data on international arrivals to the country for the period between January – August.

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MENA EXCHANGE RATES As of 24/10/2014 Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar

Salalah Airport

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

83.58

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

7.14

Iran (IRR)

Rial

26,731.58

Iraq (IQD)

Dinar

1,177.99

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.28

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,515.64

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.22

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

8.76

Syria (SYP)

Pound

164.00

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.80

Yemen (YER)

Rial

214.81

Turkey

otal number of tourist arrivals reached 25,749,063, marking a seven percent rise against the same period last year. Year-on-year growth was reported for all the months of the year; January rose by almost four percent, February by 6.6 percent and March by a modest 0.6 percent, while April surged 8.2 percent. May and June increased by 2.4 and 6.4 percent respectively, while July saw an impressive growth of 13.5 percent and August of 7.1 percent. Key markets were Germany, Russia, the UK, Georgia and Iran, and most visited provinces were Antalya and Istanbul.

Jazeera Airways Performs Well on Levant and Egypt Routes Jazeera Airways noted a 26 percent increase in total flown passengers in August.

he airline saw an impressive surge in passenger traffic on all flights serving Egypt during the month under review, mainly driven by the summer holiday season. The boost in flown passengers from August 2013 was 36 percent, despite the Assiut International Airport being closed for renovation since June. Jazeera Airways saw a 19 percent growth in travellers on routes serving Istanbul, Beirut and Amman. It grabbed a 37 percent market share on the Kuwait – Beirut route, a 35 percent market share on the Kuwait – Amman route, and an eight percent share on the Kuwait – Istanbul route. 25 OCTOBER 2014

HOTEL PERFORMANCE WEEKLY NEWS Summer Demand Drives Profit Growth in Jeddah

According to the August HotStats survey of full service four- and five-star hotels by TRI Consulting, Jeddah, Doha and Abu Dhabi continued strong as ever, while Kuwait is still struggling. Cairo kept its upward path as due to the relative stability experienced in Egypt, properties in the city welcomed the largest number of guests in August exceeding any other period since the protests intensified, according to Peter Goddard, managing director, TRI Consulting.

Cairo Continues to Amaze

otels in Cairo, encouraged by strong performance results in July, benefitted from a surge in hotel demand as occupancy levels increased by more than 41 percentage points to 62 percent in August. The upswing witnessed enabled hoteliers to adopt more progressive yielding strategies as average room rates (ARR) increased by 5.5 percent in August to USD119.35 compared to the same period in 2013. Consequently, RevPAR and total RevPAR more than tripled. Goddard attributed the positive developments to efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to launch a promotional campaign in July to attract tourists back to the country, which has benefitted hotels and is expected to improve tourism demand in the following months.

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he Jeddah hotel market remains one of the strongest in the region, recording the highest total gross operating profit (GOPPAR) levels amongst the five hotel markets surveyed. The sector experienced a surge in demand as occupancy grew by 6.8 percentage points to 77 percent while ARR increased by 8.4 percent, facilitating an 18.9 percent growth in RevPAR. “The popularity of Jeddah as a premier leisure destination in the Kingdom continues to drive strong levels of domestic leisure travellers to the city, especially during the Eid Al Fitr holiday and summer school holidays,” commented Goddard.

Kuwait Hotels Demand Dries Up

espite commanding relatively higher average room rates in the region, hotels in Kuwait experienced weakening market conditions in August, as occupancy declined by 1.5 percentage points to 35.6 percent while ARR contracted by 3.8 percent to USD261.54. “The absence of any distinct leisure or retail attractions in Kuwait impacted hotels in August as they struggled to capture their fair share of leisure segments from domestic and regional markets during the summer holiday period,” explained Goddard.

Regional Travellers Support Doha

espite witnessing a decline in ARR of three percent to USD215.61 for the month of August compared to the same period in 2013, hotels in Doha were able to record a 24.6 percent growth in RevPAR to USD129.15, driven by a 13.3 percentage point rise in occupancy to 59.9 percent. According to Goddard, the influx of leisure travellers is responsible for the figures, a trend which fares well for the realisation of the National Tourism Strategy 2030 which aims to diversify its demand base to include a greater proportion of regional travellers.

Average Room Rates Stabilise in Abu Dhabi

he Abu Dhabi hotel market continues to elevate its performance levels as occupancy levels rose by 7.5 percentage points to 71.3 percent driving RevPAR growth by 11.7 percent to USD81.74, while ARR remained stable. A proactive approach by the emirate’s tourism authority to promote the destination in emerging markets, particularly in China, has resulted in a 189 percent increase in room nights from Chinese visitors for the first six months of the year, as Goddard suggested.

WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY

Abacus: Convergence Key to Efficiency

he latest Corporate Travel Practices Survey conducted by Abacus has uncovered a series of structural and behavioural issues that, if addressed, could dramatically improve the efficiency of the managed travel sector. The findings come as 83 percent of corporate travel professionals are told to deliver deeper savings from compliance and three quarters to cut costs with negotiated discounts. Representing the views of 82 of Asia Pacific’s top corporate travel brands, the results offer five action points to streamline processing, while maximising policy compliance and control. These include consolidating fragmented content, including airline ancillaries, enabling selfservice, deploying a mobile tool and automating expense management. The survey was presented at Abacus International Conference #AICONF14 held in Abu Dhabi between October 14 – 17.

GB2B and IAS Combine Forces

olden B2b Hospitality (GB2B) and Egypt-headquartered Information Advanced Solutions (IAS) signed a business partnership agreement combining forces and core competencies in order to offer advanced, value-for-money products and services to the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa. GB2B’s performance record, combined with IAS’s dynamism, aims to constitute the best-of-breed in hospitality solutions. GB2B is a business-to-business hospitality organisation with headquarters in Dubai, providing advanced technology solutions and services to the hospitality sector and its related sectors like food service, catering and entertainment.

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Pegasus Airlines Selects Travelport

ravelport announced a new participation agreement with Turkey’s low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, through which access is given to the airline’s best inventory and fares for all Travelport Travel Commerce Platform users globally. As part of the deal, Pegasus Airlines will also take advantage of Travelport’s Sponsored Flights, a point-of-sale advertising tool that places selected flights above the neutral display on the travel agent’s screen for optimum visibility. Güliz Öztürk, senior vice president, commercial, Pegasus Airlines, said, “This partnership will be in line with both our low-cost model and our multi-channel approach and in turn, our ever-expanding network in the Middle East, Caucasus, Russia and Europe will mean that agents can tap into our wide network of 86 destinations in 36 countries, at low cost.”

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WEEKLY NEWS

National Express Enters Bahrain

Expo Centre Sharjah and Al Hader Exhibitions Tie Up

O T National Express announced that its joint venture, Bahrain Public Transport Company, has been awarded a 10-year contract by the Bahraini Ministry of Transportation to operate bus services.

25 OCTOBER 2014

he agreement, which commences on February 15, 2015, will initially see 141 new vehicles serve Manama, as well as inter-urban routes across the entire Kingdom. The contract is expected to deliver in excess of GBP170 million (USD259 million) of revenue to the joint venture over 10 years. Dean Finch, CEO, National Express Group, said, “We are delighted to win this new contract for bus services in Bahrain alongside our partners, Ahmed Mansoor Al A'Ali. [...] We expect this win to provide a platform for further expansion in the region and our team are already working on other opportunities.”

ne of the longest running multiproduct consumer fairs held during the Holy Month at Expo Centre Sharjah, The Ramadan & Eid Fair, will be organised by Al Hader Exhibitions & Conferences from 2015 as the centre has entered into an agreement with the Abu Dhabi-based firm to further expand the reach and response of the show. “We see a lot of scope to add more value and features to the show, thus making it much more appealing to the audience,” said Naser Al Bahri, general manager, Al Hader Exhibitions & Conferences. The tie-up is a significant one for Expo Centre Sharjah, which is aiming to open up its facilities to external organisers following the addition of more space and other facilities in the recent past.

WEEKLY NEWS

Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Host EDUKEX

App Launched for Abu Dhabi Events Website

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n the first week of November, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are to host the 13th edition of Education UK Exhibition (EDUKEX), organised by the British Council. The two shows are due to take place at Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi on November 3, and at Dubai World Trade Centre from November 4 - 5, and will showcase extensive educational opportunities at renowned UK universities. Marc Jessel, director, British Council UAE, said, “Through the exhibition guide, we will help students draw full benefit from their visits by meeting with the participating universities. As a result, visitors will be able to find the right people to talk to and obtain the right information with ease.”

bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has debuted a free mobile app for its Abu Dhabi Events online platform. Free to download, the software is available in Arabic and English and is compatible with both iOS and Android mobile devices. “Abu Dhabi is an eventful destination with a calendar packed with happenings across a host of sectors, including leisure, entertainment, social and business,” explained Mouza Al Shamsi, acting executive director, marketing and communications, TCA Abu Dhabi. “The app, which is another move in our aim of taking our destination direct to our audiences, also helps us to support our ever growing stakeholder base by assisting in building awareness of their initiatives,” she further added.

Funding Boost for Oman’s Construction Sector

ccording to a report by Oxford Business Group, a multibillion-dollar cash injection from the state is to aid new growth across Oman’s construction sector, supporting efforts to encourage the industry to source labour, services and supplies locally to broaden the contribution to its economy. According to the Sultanate’s current five-year economic development plan, running from 2011 – 2015, the government has earmarked around OMR2.5 billion (USD6.5 billion) a year to develop infrastructure. Moreover, a robust infrastructure pipeline and tourism investments are projected to provide growth of 6.4 percent this year, set to average out at 5.4 percent over the next five years.

25 OCTOBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS GCC-Stat Awards Accolades to Former Leadership

o show appreciation to its previous chairman and members of the board of directors, The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) hosted a ceremony at InterContinental Hotel Muscat. Certificates and accolades were presented to H.E. Abdullah Yousef Sa-

har, former chairman, GCC-Stat, as well as former members of the board of directors; H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor Al Thani, former president, Qatar Statistics Authority, and director general, General Secretariat for Development Planning, and H.E. Muhana Abdulkareem Al Muhana, former head, Central Department of Statistics and Information, Saudi Arabia.

The Avenues Bahrain Breaks Ground

ing Faisal Corniche Development Company (KFCDC) held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of The Avenues Bahrain. The leisure and retail facility is aimed to boost the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy and tourism sector. Located off the King Faisal Highway, The Avenues Bahrain will cover a total land area of approximately 265,000m2 spread along Manamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north-facing waterfront and is planned for an early 2016 opening. Yousif Taqi, deputy chairman, KFCDC, said that the project is set to add value not only to the current lifestyle offering in the Kingdom, but will also pose as a major attraction for both Bahraini families and tourists alike.

The Avenues Bahrain

25 OCTOBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS Keynote Speakers at Abu Dhabi’s Air Safety Summit

he Flight Safety Foundation, organiser of the 67th annual International Air Safety Summit to be held in Abu Dhabi from November 11 – 13, announced an array of important stakeholders in the region as keynote speakers at the event. Richard Hill, chief operating officer, Etihad Airways, will deliver the open-

ing speech and provide a valuable perspective on aviation operations and safety, addressing an expected crowd of more than 300 attendees. Another addition to the agenda is Abdullah Al-Sayed, president, NEXUS Flight Operations Services, who will give a keynote address to discuss the importance of just culture.

Ruler of Dubai Launches Happiness Indicator

n a bid to further elevate the service quality of Dubai’s governmental departments and improve the level of satisfaction of its residents and visitors, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, has recently launched a happiness indicator initiative. The project will see all government departments connect digitally to a central network to provide daily reports to key decision-makers who are to monitor customer satisfaction geographically. “As the world constantly changes so are people’s expectations and thus the need to daily monitor these changes to provide services tailored to people’s needs,” Al Maktoum asserted, explaining that government services have a significant impact on people’s lives.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

25 OCTOBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS Silversea Revamps All-Suite Silver Galapagos

Sharjah Boasts New Tourism Website and App

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ilversea Cruises has unveiled its freshly renovated all-suite vessel, Silver Galapagos, which has already embarked on its first voyage through the Galápagos Islands. Following a month-long dry dock in Panama, the ship now boasts reinvented suites, corridors and the Explorer Lounge, all of which are graced with elegant blue and beige tones. These aesthetic refreshments are in line with the 2013’s renovation which had introduced luxurious bathrooms to the vessel, as well as a fitness centre, massage room, beauty salon, outdoor Jacuzzi and an outdoor restaurant, The Grill. The route followed by Silver Galapagos offers guests several complimentary shore expeditions and wildlife encounters with various species of iguanas, tortoises, sea lions, penguins and more.

harjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) used this year’s Gitex exhibition in Dubai to launch its new tourism website, Sharjah My Destination, in addition to the Sharjah Interactive Touchscreen Application. H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, chairman, SCTDA, stated, “The new portal offers all the information and statistics you need to know and understand Sharjah; its climate, rich culture, history, selection of events and festivals, natural resources, accommodation options and investment, leisure and shopping opportunities.” Commenting on the new app, he added, “Visitors can explore Sharjah and all that there is to discover about this beautiful emirate of ours with the help of this touchscreen application [...].”

Yas Island Targets French Market

as Island Destination Management team reported continued interest in Yas Island as a business and tourism destination from delegates at International French Travel Market, one of Europe’s leading business-to-business travel and tourism trade events. Yas Island exhibited at the event in partnership with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, where it was estimated that more than 29,500 visitors from 160 countries attended. Discussing the event, Karim El Guanaini, vice president, Yas Island Destination Management, stated, “The French tourism market has always been an important once for both Abu Dhabi and Yas Island. It is apparent from the enormous interest we received at the conference that the steep growth from the French tourism market is set to continue.”

25 OCTOBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown Opens InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) welcomed its second Holiday Inn and the sixth IHG hotel in the UAE capital, Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown.

he 257-room property, which was converted from what used to be Sands Hotel, features a rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym, sauna, a 24-hour business centre and a banqueting and conference room. Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said that Holiday Inn is one of the world’s best known hotel brands and guests of the hotel will be treated to the friendliness, comfort and warm experience that the brand has been known for over the last 62 years.

Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR Hosts Fam Trips

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Receives ISO

n a bid to promote its property during the winter season, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR hosted fam trips for tour operators from Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. During the trips, the guests were shown around the property to explore its suites and amenities, including the gym, spa and swimming pool. The property also served special snacks and lunch to the guests at its all-day dining restaurant. Wael El Behi, general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR, commented, “Welcoming the tour operators from Russia, East Europe and Ukraine presents a good opportunity for us to tap this important market, which currently marks a spot in our top five year-to-date nationality mix.”

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

W Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has gained the coveted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification for outstanding environmental practices. The hotel is the first JW Marriott, among 67 properties globally, to receive the award. The achieved certification details optimum requirements for environmental management systems within companies, and is gained by effectively implementing policies, procedures, and systems that meet ISO standards.

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ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

ADAGIO CONTINUES EXPANSION IN MIDDLE EAST The first Adagio Premium has opened in Doha with the new and exclusive aparthotel concept being developed by Accor specifically for the Middle East.

ormer Dunes Hotel West Bay was renovated and transformed to create Adagio Premium Aparthotel West Bay Doha, a 21-floor establishment which boasts 83 one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool. Adagio Premium is a concept specially designed to meet the expectations of customers in this region who are always on the lookout for stylish, high-quality products. Olivier Hick, vice president, operations, Middle East, commented, “Adagio Premium Aparthotel West Bay Doha, is elegant, modern, ideally located and designed for an upscale market. All these features will meet the expectations of this city’s travellers.”

Accor to Manage Three Jeddah Hotels

ccor HotelServices Middle East has signed management agreements with Alesayi Group to operate three properties in Jeddah; a Novotel containing 275 rooms, an ibis with 250 keys and an Adagio consisting of 150 apartments. “With its distinctive and iconic design, we believe it will become a new landmark in the city, offering a unique, multi-segment scheme, comprising a mid-scale hotel, economy hotel and serviced apartments,” said Christophe Landais, chief operating officer, Accor Hotel Services Middle East.

Christophe Landais

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Adagio Premium Aparthotel West Bay Doha

IHG Egypt is Moving Forward

eams from the three InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) properties at Citystars; InterContinental Cairo Citystars, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars, visited the new Suez Canal project so as to send a message to the world that Egypt is moving forward, and is now on the right track to development. A total of 80 colleagues went to the project site of Suez Canal in order to support and encourage the workers who are working round the clock to deliver the project by 2015. Refreshments and meals prepared by the three hotel chefs were distributed to the workers as a token of appreciation for their hard work.

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25 OCTOBER 2014

ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

Four Seasons Hotel Amman: New Spa Treatment

he Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Amman expanded its local offerings by introducing the all-new Nabatean treatment. This new experience includes a fullbody scrub using olive oil, followed by a full-body massage using warm Arabic oud oil. The natural oils used in the Nabatean treatment aim at cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating the skin, keeping it smooth and soft. The luxurious Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Amman also provides restorative and relaxing benefits of Dead Sea mud treatments, in addition to salt scrubs imbued with indigenous regional minerals, such as natural sea salts, herbal botanicals and aromatherapy oils.

Four Seasons Hotel Amman

25 OCTOBER 2014

Marriott’s Manama Properties Celebrate Housekeepers Week

howing appreciation to its housekeeping staff as a part of Marriott International’s global campaign Housekeepers Appreciation Week 2014, Marriott Executive Apartments Manama and Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair recently hosted a week full of activities. The celebration saw an opening ceremony breakfast, followed by a giveaways surprise, ladies scarf workshop, fingerprint board, manager’s bed making challenge, a public exhibition and a closing ceremony on rooftop. Michel Sursock, general manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, commented, “Understanding this crucial function, we constantly recognise our housekeeping professionals with the highest appreciation.”

Activities at Marriott Executive Apartments Manama

Marjan Reopens in Muscat

uscat’s popular Indonesian outdoor restaurant, Marjan has reopened at Grand Hyatt Muscat bringing a variety of oriental cuisine to the Omani capital, with original recipes being used to create that special, exotic flavours of the Far East. Its signature dishes include the nasi and mie goreng, udang bakar grilled tiger prawns, gule kambing lamb curry, ikan bakar spicy grilled kind fish and gule hasil laut seafood curry. Guests can opt to sit along the edge of the pool, where they can revel in the tranquility of the evening and enjoy the cool sea breeze, as well as true Asian hospitality.

Marjan Restaurant

WEEKLY NEWS AIR

BIA Welcomes New Boarding Bridges To enhance the travel experience of its travellers, Bahrain International Airport (BIA) is adding new passenger boarding bridges at its terminal.

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his effort to improve the airport’s infrastructure and operating efficiency is conducted with its operator, Bahrain Airport Company, and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation. The installation of new air bridges is one in a series of planned initiatives at BIA and is a part of a wider modernisation programme that will see improvement of facilities and eventually result in the construction of a new terminal.

Enhancing Links between Dubai International and DWC

ith the move of its freighters to Al Maktoum International Airport – Dubai World Central (DWC), Emirates SkyCargo has strengthened the link between Dubai International and DWC through its trucking operations, reinforcing the city’s multi-model logistics capability as a growing and popular global cargo hub. Emirates SkyCargo launched its trucking operations on May 1, in tandem with the start of its freighter operates at DWC. Up until September 1, its fleet of 47 trucks has facilitated the transportation of more than 108,000 tonnes of various commodities ranging from perishables to outsized cargo between Dubai International and DWC, recording over 17,000 round trips, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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AIR WEEKLY NEWS Oman Air Adds Business Class on Four Eastbound Routes

Bahrain’s Government Officials Discuss BIA Modernisation

E. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, transportation minister, Bahrain, recently chaired a meeting of the Airport Modernization Program Steering Committee which discussed the progress of works at Bahrain International Airport (BIA), as well as future milestones. “The role of our partners in other ministries involved in this project is critical and I thank everyone who is doing their part to progress this project […]. I am pleased to see such strong cooperation between all the stakeholders to implement the action plan and accelerate the work […],” said Mohammed, further highlighting the importance of BIA’s infrastructure, especially its new terminal, “When completed, the new terminal will provide increased commercial and retail opportunities for business, enhanced facilities for cargo and create jobs for Bahrainis.”

man Air has introduced business class cabins to four of its most popular eastbound routes; Calicut, Lucknow and Jaipur in India, and Chittagong, Bangladesh, all served by Boeing B737 aircraft. The continued growth of India’s dynamic economy has seen demand for business class seats on these routes steadily increase and the introduction of premium seats is expected to be greeted enthusiastically by customers. Oman Air’s routes to the Indian sub-continent are some of its longest-established international services, laying the foundations for the airline’s subsequent expansion into the long-haul sector which is to see the carrier introducing routes to Europe, Southeast Asia and East Africa.

BIA

Qatar Airways Starts A380 Flights from Doha to London

atar Airways’ first Airbus A380 has commenced services on the Doha – London route, reinforcing the carrier’s presence in the UK with six flights a day between the two cities, in addition to direct services from Doha to Edinburgh and Manchester. Qatar Airways is also set to add a second A380 on the itinerary this December. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “We are delighted to witness the beginning of the first Qatar Airways A380 commercial service. [...] This aircraft, with its customised interior, will set a new level of comfort for our passengers, who will also benefit from a smooth and pleasant passenger experience at the world’s newest airport, Hamad International Airport.”

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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Planet Hollywood Hotel to Open in Goa

yndham Hotel Group has announced the signing of a franchise agreement with JMJ, a large conglomerate with a multi-faceted presence, for the first Planet Hollywood hotel in India and the second in the world. Expected to be operational by the end of the year, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort is a 115-room and 15 luxury tent resort boasting boutiques, a fitness centre, spa, pools, yoga retreats and a variety of food and beverage outlets. Deepika Arora, regional vice president, Indian Ocean, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, Wyndham Hotel Group, said, “We look forward to a successful partnership with JMJ and to continuing to expand throughout India.”

Carlson Rezidor is Fast Growing in India

ver the past few years, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has maintained its pole position as one of the top international hotel operators in India by number of hotels. This year, the company has opened seven properties in the country, while it has over 110 hotels in operation and development throughout 40 cities across India, representative of Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns and Suites brands. The company grows in tandem with India’s tourism and it has established a strong presence in capital cities, while is often the first to establish an international hotel in up-and-coming cities according to Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

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Wyndham Hotel Group Enters Ethiopia

Ramada Addis

yndham Hotel Group has announced the signing of a management agreement for its first property in Ethiopia. Upon opening in the first half of 2015, Ramada Addis will offer 128 guest rooms and eight suites. “Not only can we offer diverse branding solutions and strong onward distribution, we also offer owners the flexibility of either franchise or management contracts. [...] ADM Business, shares our passion for providing great guest experiences and our vision to ensure the Ramada brand continues to act as a benchmark for midscale hospitality in the region,” said Bani Haddad, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group.

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RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Has your property observed any significant differences in customer numbers in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2013? If yes, was this positive or negative, and to what do you attribute it? EMAN YASAKY: Indeed, there was a significant improvement in the flow of guests. Our hotel in Cairo, Kempinski Nile Hotel has been over budget for the past months, with an increase of almost 32 percent compared to [2013] figures. Our beautiful hotel in Soma Bay has witnessed a significant increase with almost 40 percent growth compared to 2013. It has attracted new segments and nationalities that were eager to come and explore the hotel, located on a unique site spanning 176,000m2 within the peninsula of Soma Bay, with year-round sunshine and moderate temperatures. The beachfront hotel features an impressive landscape of pools, a lazy river, waterfalls and lagoons extending more than 7,000m2, leading up to a natural sandy beach with over 400m2 of sea frontage.

Q & A with

Eman Yasaky

AREA DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS, EGYPT, KEMPINSKI

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which markets are the most lucrative for your hotels, and how does your company cater for their specific needs? Is the MENA region a potential future market? EMAN YASAKY: Our top feeder markets remain the GCC, UK and US. These key 25 OCTOBER 2014

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Have you observed any rising trends in the tourism industry, such as ecotourism or diving tourism? What are your plans to meet such demands? EMAN YASAKY: The hospitality market is getting more sophisticated and a lot more segmented than in the past. Generally speaking, new five-star properties coming to the market tend to do so with a new proposition and are capable of expanding the market rather than purely cannibalising it. Instead of dropping prices for value for money and so on, the unique quality of service they provide should be the focus when trying to attract international guests. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your expectations for the remainder of the year in terms of performance levels and how is your team working towards achieving these results?

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your plans to further promote your development? EMAN YASAKY: We have been attending media road shows organised by our corporate office as a new initiative to help spread the word about our brand in general with our new and exciting openings. A number of luxurious hotels and resorts throughout the world are in the pipeline to join the Kempinski collection in the near future, and are currently either in their final phase of development or planning, or under construction. We have a strong focus on our individual hotel news and new developments in our top feeder markets, as well as new markets which proved to be an extremely successful step given the amount of attention we got from the media, especially with new markets.

have the largest ballroom in the Middle East.

EGYPT IS GRADUALLY RECOVERING AND HOTELIERS ARE GRADUALLY APPEARING OPTIMISTIC FOR THE COMING MONTHS. HERE EMAN YASAKY, AREA DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS, EGYPT, KEMPINSKI, SHARES HER OWN VIEWS ON THE COUNTRY’S TOURISM OUTLOOK. markets have been recovering recently. [In July] we saw the return of GCC visitors celebrating Eid, and that is why GCC will stay the top feeder market for Cairo. The relative speed of Egypt’s recovery is due in large part to the strength of the destination. After all, Egypt has attracted business and leisure travellers since before the time of Caesar and Marc Anthony. MICE business will clearly be one of our top targets given the fact that we

“

EGYPT’S RECOVERY IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE STRENGTH OF THE DESTINATION

EMAN YASAKY: We are expecting a continuous growth in numbers for the rest of the year, based on our last quarter’s figures. It is understood that in the current political and economic stability, the general strategy for our properties revolve around two main pillars. [The first one is] the renewed focus on our top feeder markets, Germany, UK and Russia, for mid- and long-term business generation. In doing so, our approach is to promote and communicate highend products and services like luxury suites at excellent rates. For Soma Bay, we have launched an exclusive diving package for the first time that caters to both our clients’ love for adventure and luxury. The package is the first to include the presidential suite. We are excelling by being pioneers and thinking out of the box, introducing new concepts and packages that make us stand out. Last winter we have introduced the Guaranteed Sunshine package to make sure that all guests enjoy the sunny holiday they deserve. Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay offered a Rain Refund if those raindrops should happen to turn up. [The second pillar is] the active development of the local market primarily focussed on maximising food and beverage and ancillary revenue, as well as increasing weekend room occupancy.

WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL The Ritz-Carlton Boosts Its Image App

iming to help its customers better preserve the memories from their travels, The Ritz-Carlton brand has enhanced its app features to allow for the creation of personalised travel posters on smartphones and tablets. Guests can now take photos and transform them into posters by using various effects. Ed French, chief sales and marketing officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, stated, “Our guests can now curate their own images with special filters, effects, the ability to crop, to add destination titles, stamps and to create vintage-style posters that capture their favourite travel memories. They will then be able to share their posters across social media channels [...] storing the travel memory forever.”

Wyndham Hotel Group Expands Further in Kenya

yndham Hotel Group has announced the signing of a management agreement for the first upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in Africa, Wyndham Amboseli Golf Resort and Spa, in Kenya. The 290-room resort, complete with an 18-hole golf course, conference centre and spa, is set to open in 2017, becoming the group’s second brand to launch in the country following the signing of the first Ramada hotel in Nairobi earlier this year. Discussing the expansion in Kenya, Bani Haddad, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group, commented, “As Kenya’s economy continues to grow, demand continues to increase for internationally renowned, world-class brands in virtually all segments.”

Opening of Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa

nantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has opened its second resort in Mozambique, the 12-key Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa. Idyllically located on a tiny private island in the Quirimbas Archipelago, off the country’s northern coast, the resort boasts a boutique collection of 12 thatched beach pool villas with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Each villa has direct beach access and a private pool. In addition, the resort also has a variety of food and beverage outlets, as well as private-dining options and a spa.

Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa

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AGENT CORNER

Agent’s Insight NAME:

Vijay Menon

POSITION:

Executive director

COMPANY:

Dadabhai Travel

LOCATION:

UAE

WEBSITE:

www.dabhaitravel.com

Natalie Tours Hosts Its Annual Congress in Dubai

Who are you? My name is Vijay Menon, [...] executive director of the company for the past nine years. I have over 22 years of experience in the GCC travel trade, having worked with major travel companies with offices in the entire GCC [region] and in various positions [...]. I have travelled extensively around the world and have been responsible for various operations of the company while gaining good experience in all travel and its related services.

AE’s inbound tour operator from Russia, Natalie Tours hosted its 10th Annual Congress at Atlantis, The Palm. The gathering, organised with Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing and Alpha Tours, brought together 230 travel agents from Russia and the CIS. Natalia Vorobieva, CEO, Natalie Tours, said that Dubai is one of the company's most strategic target markets, “We have traditionally seen high tourist traffic into Dubai and the UAE in spite of the economic turbulence.”

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Passing my knowledge onto my working colleagues and taking up challenging jobs. I have a passion for travel and the industry, too. When is the best time to visit the region? Middle East is best to visit from October to March. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? To the Far East. Why should people come to you for travel advice? We are a professional reputable company with a different approach and offer cost effective solutions for travel. The most important factor is that we deliver what we promise with round the clock services. Which is the percentage of MENA travellers your agency welcomes annually? Approximately 15 percent and mainly inbound tourism. 25 OCTOBER 2014

TRAVEL TALK

We would like to thank Business Traveller Asia Pacific for their recognition

AKBAR AL BAKER Group CEO, Qatar Airways

“We are extremely proud to have received this award for Best Middle East Airline. To be recognised for our commitment to providing five-star service and an enhanced travel experience to all of our passengers throughout our network is a great honour. We would like to thank Business Traveller Asia Pacific for their recognition and look forward to offering our passengers in the region the best in Qatar Airways service and hospitality when travelling with us.”

Our latest win has inspired us to push ourselves further

SALEM AL MAMARI Director general, tourism promotions, Oman Ministry of Tourism

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the Pan Arab Excellence Awards Academy for recognising our efforts to provide a highly interactive and unique website that caters to the needs of our visitors from all over the world. The [Arab Strategic Web Award] reflects our success in creatively integrating technological innovations and modern tools into our operations in line with our commitment to provide world-class services at local, regional and global levels. Our latest win has inspired us to push ourselves further, especially in terms of web creativity [...].”

Our success in Houston paved the way for further expansion within Texas

MARWAN KOLEILAT Chief commercial officer, Qatar Airways

“[Our recently-hosted signature event at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, to celebrate the rapid success of our seventh US destination, Dallas/Fort Worth] is in celebration of a long-standing relationship between Qatar Airways and the state of Texas. Our success in Houston paved the way for further expansion within Texas. Dallas/Fort Worth’s response to our award-winning five-star service has been overwhelmingly positive so far.”

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

25 OCTOBER 2014

TRAVEL CHANNELS

TripAdvisor Launches Exceptional Service Awards

STOME Targets UAE Divers

TripAdvisor announced the launch of its inaugural Exceptional Service Awards, running in the US and UK, to recognise remarkable hospitality professionals at hotels, restaurants, and attractions across the globe.

kno u o y d i D

w. .

isor Adv Trip ates in oper untries o 45 c ldwide? r o w

rom October 6 – 24, travellers are encouraged to share their experiences and nominate a hospitality employee, such as a concierge, waiter or tour operator, who has helped improve their trip experience by delivering service they felt went above and beyond to serve them. “Hospitality professionals can be the differencemaker between what makes a trip simply good or absolutely amazing, and TripAdvisor wants to help shine a spotlight on those who do it best,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer, TripAdvisor.

Aircraft Equipment Registry Passes Half Million

he International Registry of Mobile Assets (International Registry), the entity which provides for the registration and protection of financial interests in aircraft objects, such as airframes, engines and helicopters, achieved a major milestone with the announcement that more than half a million registrations have now been filed. The International Registry is supervised by the International Civil Aviation Organization and operated by Aviareto, a joint venture between SITA and the Irish Government. It started operations in 2006 and since then, there have been over 500,000 registrations covering 110,000 aircraft objects with an estimated value of over USD0.5 trillion.

25 OCTOBER 2014

Participants at the Event

n September 24, Seychelles Tourism Office Middle East (STOME) and Emirates Diving Association (EDA), a non-profit organisation, conducted an exclusive event with members of EDA through a film presentation at VOX Cinemas in Mercato Shopping Mall, in Dubai. The event was attended by over 70 EDA members where the video by Elizabeth Fideria, A Paradise Surviving, was shown to the attendees. The highlight of the event was the presence of the guest speaker, David Rowat, chairman, Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles, who shared his knowledge and experiences about the islands' marine life.

US Business Spending on the Rise

ccording to GBTA Foundation, business travellers have spent roughly USD72.8 billion on USoriginated business travel during the second quarter of the year, marking a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase. The GBTA BT Outlook - United States 2014 Q3 forecast also indicated that for the remainder of the year, group business trips are expected to decrease by 3.3 percent; however, spending on group business travel is set to rise by 5.9 percent, showing a greater spending per trip. Business travel spending in general is set to grow by 6.8 percent, reaching USD292.3 billion by the end of the year.

WHO’S MOVED

ASHISH KAPUR

BEHIYE SALK

Ashish Kapur has recently been appointed as Cathay Pacific Airways’ country manager for the UAE and Oman. In his new role, Kapur will be responsible for leading and managing the overall business and operational developments of the carrier in the two countries. Overall, he has accumulated 17 years of experience in the aviation industry, more specifically in passenger and cargo operations. Kapur began his career with the Hong Kong airline as airport services manager in Delhi in 2001 and was later appointed as cargo manager for India, Nepal and Bangladesh in 2007. In 2010, he took over as regional manager for cargo, overseeing South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Behiye Salk has filled the position of director of rooms at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait. She has a 26-year-long career in the hospitality industry with wide experience in pre-opening managerial positions across luxury hotel brands including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Swissôtel in Europe, the US, Canada and the Middle East. With a degree in tourism and hotel management from Turkey’s Uludağ University, Salk has attended training at Cornell University in New York and Hunt Communication in Toronto. In her new post with Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, her focus will be on enhancing the overall guest experience and promoting the hotel’s 316 rooms and suites, 80 residential suites and 12 private villas.

AYSE OCAL ABBAS

CHRIS BRADLEY

Ayse Ocal Abbas has taken the role of area e-commerce marketing manager at The Rezidor Hotel Group’s area support office in the Middle East. Boasting more than eight years of experience in the field of marketing, Abbas is set to act as the e-commerce lead within the area in order to execute the group’s ecommerce strategy with the aim of maximising the direct online revenue potential. She is due to work in close collaboration with the area revenue generation team, as well as hotel marketing teams. Their goal will be to keep driving online profitability, in addition to providing research and analyses on the latest online developments and market trends within the region.

Chris Bradley has been appointed as head of sales at Dubai΄s Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH). With 16 years’ experience across the hospitality and consultancy sectors, he joins the team from Hertz where he was part of the general sales agent team for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Bradley started his hospitality career in Canada with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels Group before moving to the UAE in 2007 with the company’s global sales team. He will now be responsible for HMH’s 20 properties’ sales efforts with a focus on bottom line performance, and will aim to implement new sales initiatives and develop partnerships to maintain and grow HMH’s reputation as a major player within the region’s hotel industry.

25 OCTOBER 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...

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group presented with Fastest Growing Hotel Chain Award at Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Traveller Awards

Etihad Airways renews Sport Australia Hall of Fame sponsorship

InterContinental Hotels Group triumphed at the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia held in New Delhi, India, with 22 prestigious accolades

25 OCTOBER 2014

Arab Idol season 3 is now available for viewing on Emirates inflight entertainment system

Qatar Airways wins Business Traveller Asia Pacific award

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan in Tiffany Paris Fashion Week 2014

NEWS & EVENTS

ADOR Ranks Second in Alicante Race

EVENTS INTERNATIONAL GOLF TRAVEL MARKET Lake Como, Italy October 27 – 30 www.igtm.co.uk The meeting place for the global business-to-business golf travel community.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

bu Dhabi’s Volvo Ocean Race contesting team, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) ranked second in the Alicante In-Port Race, losing tightly to a Turkish-American team Alvimedica. Ian Walker, skipper, ADOR, commented, “I am happy enough with the result […]. But normally, when we get ahead like that during a race, I would expect us to go on and win. We had an issue with furling the headsail at the end of the first lap and that meant we were slow the next time we used it, and that let Alvimedica to close us right down.” As of October 11, the ADOR team is participating in the first offshore leg of Volvo Ocean Race, a 10,500km ocean passage from Alicante to Cape Town.

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SPORTS & EVENTS TOURISM EXCHANGE Durban, South Africa October 28 -30 www.thebereed.co.za A dynamic business-to-business event that is aimed at positioning South Africa as a sports and events tourism destination.

ITB ASIA Singapore October 29 – 31 www.itb-asia.com Taking place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, it is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau.

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET (WTM) London, UK November 3 – 6 www.wtmlondon.com A vibrant event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals.

25 OCTOBER 2014