Travel Trade MENA February 2015 by Travel Trade Publications

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FEBRUARY 2015

ISSUE 64

ONSITE: KUWAIT

WHEN OTHERS STOP PRINTING,

WE PRINT MORE!!!

EXCLUSIVE: GOLF

13 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE

ONSITE: KUWAIT

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VISIT: RAS AL KHAIMAH EXPLORE: FUJAIRAH EXCLUSIVE: GOLF TOUR: THAILAND RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL CHANNELS TRAVEL TALK WHO’S MOVED NEWS & EVENTS

04 11 09 13 16 15 20 19 21 20 22 21 23 22 24 24

Travel Trade MENA proudly announces that as of its March issue it will increase its printed-copy distribution in the GCC countries www.traveltrademena.travel

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MENA EXCHANGE RATES As of 28/01/2015

MANAGING EDITOR

HEADQUARTERS

Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

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

ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

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Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar

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

92.35

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

7.44

Iran (IRR)

Rial

27,495.63

Iraq (IQD)

Dinar

1,127.06

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.29

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,498.64

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.34

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

9.54

Syria (SYP)

Pound

189.00

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

1.92

Yemen (YER)

Rial

215.05

STR Global: 626 Hotels Coming Up in MEA The Middle East and Africa (MEA) hotel pipeline comprises 626 hotels with 146,753 rooms, as per the December 2014 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report.

mong the region’s key markets, Dubai reported the largest number of rooms under construction, which reached 10,969 keys. Five other markets boast more than 2,000 units in the making. Sorted with reference to room numbers expected in descending order, those are Doha with 6,576, Mecca with 5,936, Riyadh with 5,491, Abu Dhabi with 3,065 and Jeddah with 2,728.

Middle East Passenger Traffic up 6.1 Percent Traffic at MENA airports continues to grow with Airports Council International Asia Pacific’s preliminary November 2014 results showing a 6.1 percent rise in passenger volumes.

assenger numbers in the Asia Pacific region rose six percent with Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport recording the highest growth rate, while in the Middle East the increase was boosted by Abu Dhabi, up 15.6 percent; Dubai World Central, up 15.4 percent; Kuwait, up 12.9 percent; and Doha, up 11 percent. In terms of freight traffic for the month, the Middle East recorded high growth rate of 12.8 percent with Dubai World Central registering a 301.9 percent improvement, while volumes in Asia Pacific jumped 4.7 percent.

FEBRUARY 2015

MARKET UPDATE

R Holding Secures Funding from CBD R Holding, owner of R Hotels, has received funds worth of AED204 million (USD55.53 million) from the Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD).

IHG Acquires Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has completed the acquisition of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group for a cash consideration of USD430 million.

he funding, which will back the development of its recently announced property on Palm Jumeirah, is part of R Hotel’s AED500 million (USD136.12 million) hotel investment, slated for completion in the last quarter of 2016. The new four-star resort and spa will feature 259 rooms, in addition to leisure and wellness facilities. Sumair Tariq, managing director, R Hotels, said, “We are pleased to have CBD on board, to guarantee that the project is backed by an established financial institution.”

FEBRUARY 2015

The Hotel, Wilshire, a Kimpton hotel in Beverly Hills

he deal, which was deemed another milestone in IHG’s asset-light strategy of investing in high-quality growth, complements the company’s Hotel Indigo and EVEN brands, and brings IHG’s portfolio in the segment to 200 open and pipeline properties across 19 countries. Founded in 1981, San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group is a fully asset-light business that manages 62 boutique hotels across the US with a further 16 hotels in the making, and operates 71 hotelbased restaurants and bars.

ONSITE KUWAIT

Watch a Global Player Ascend CONCENTRATING ON WIPING OUT OBSTACLES THAT MIGHT IMPEDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUCCESSFUL TOURISM STRATEGY, KUWAIT IS MAKING WAVES IN ALL AREAS, AND VARIOUS TOURISM INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS DEEM THAT THE COUNTRY IS IN FOR MAJOR CHANGES IN THE YEARS AHEAD.  Maria Kazeli

writes

ealising the sector’s worth, the Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation is spearheading the upgrade of existing facilities at Kuwait International Airport, plus the construction of a new terminal, while funds allocated for transport infrastructure alone total around USD13 billion. Also, luxury hotel rooms that are expected to come online near 10,000. This was pointed out during the annual Arabian Travel Market road show in 2014, with Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, explaining that the Kuwaiti government has set a target of one million tourists annually by this year, and is committing the nec-

essary resources to develop a five-year plan for the sector. “Kuwait is engaged in a long-term national plan for the development and diversification of the economy, which includes a number of elements favourable to the travel and tourism industry. Among these, a new airport terminal is

KUWAIT IN BRIEF

Capital: Kuwait City Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) Language: Arabic Population: 3.3 million Calling Code: +965 Capital Time Zone: GMT +3:00

FEBRUARY 2015

ONSITE KUWAIT set for completion in 2016, which is likely to almost triple the airport’s capacity, reaching more than 20 million passengers a year. There are also plans for the development of Failaka Island into a leisure destination and Boubyan Island for commercial and tourism purposes,” corroborated Malek Fakhro, cluster director of sales and marketing, Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre Kuwait. He suggested, however, that in the Kuwaiti market, business is not always stable and projects are plagued by de-

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KUWAIT IS ENGAGED IN A NATIONAL PLAN WHICH INCLUDES ELEMENTS FAVOURABLE TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

FEBRUARY 2015

lays, political issues and uncertainty. Appearing more confident, Imad Zaboura, general manager, Al Manshar Rotana, commented that the country recently witnessed a new era of development, as the political stability in the past couple of years has reflected positively on the development cycle. “The need to supply the demand in growth pushed towards improvements in various sectors. […] In this regard, Kuwait is in the process of building the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port in the north of the country. Road infrastructure is having a great boost […]. Another megapromising project is the Silk City, which is an ambitious leap into positioning Kuwait among the leading cities in the Gulf,” he elaborated. The private sector seems satisfied with the outlined developments, and Hakan Petek, general manager, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait, lauded governmental efforts, saying, “Some of the challenges the country faces include opportunities to improve its infrastructures, facilities and 

ONSITE KUWAIT global player. In order for this to happen, Fakhro believes that a priority is to improve domestic tourism, before turning attention to positioning Kuwait as a GCC destination, targeting markets such as

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THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY COMMITTED TO CREATING A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION FOR EVERYONE

attractions. The government, however, is very much committed to welcoming more international hospitality brands into the country and creating a worldclass leisure and business destination for everyone.” UNDENIABLE DOMINANCE A business destination it is, a fact also emphasised by Hassan Hassanein, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel Kuwait. He deemed that the country’s tourism sector is dominated by the corporate and government segments, especially due to its natural resources and high spending power of business travellers. “With a number of contracts signed with the world’s leading oil and gas companies and more in negotiation, Kuwait is in a strong position to capitalise on the MICE opportunities these partnerships create,” corroborated Fakhro, adding that local corporate MICE businesses from the pharmaceutical and banking industry and a pipeline of multinational companies opening new branches in Kuwait will have a positive increase in the MICE sector.

The business segment is more promising than ever, as Aurelio Giraudo, general manager, The Regency Kuwait, observed. “Kuwait is one of the main oil producers in the world and has yet undeveloped treasures of natural gas. It also has a forward thinking vision of the development of the infrastructure which in years to come will further stimulate foreign investment and expand an already strong economy. This makes it a crucial destination for businessmen from around the world,” he said.

Another aspect, which makes the country important to business travellers and investors, is its geographical location, which will play a crucial role in making Kuwait a station for the business world in the future too, as Hassanein pointed out. A TURN-AROUND He went on to say that Kuwait needs to look towards many channels that attract international markets and focus its attention on positioning itself as a

Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. “GCC potential is big and we still need to do more efforts toward this market. Kuwait is one of the favourite destinations for the GCC travellers and we have to be more persistent and aggressive to tap into it,” confirmed Bruno Debray, general manager, ibis Kuwait Salmiya, adding that there is a demand for a family leisure destination within an alcohol-free environment from the GCC market, and Kuwait is all about that. Kuwait also has a lot to offer in terms of shopping and entertainment, and as Michael Nielsen, director of business development, Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait, said, its retail offerings are well known in the region and with the recentlyopened Gate Mall and the Prestige district added to The Avenues commercial centre, travellers will surely flock into the country to experience the worldclass shopping and holiday destination. Khadija Meftah, marketing and communications manager, Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a Kuwait, agreed that the country is known for its metropolitan vibe as it offers a plethora of first-rate shopping malls, museums, modern architecture, splendid restaurants and cultural escapes. “Tourism in Kuwait will continue to grow as the number of GCC families, FEBRUARY 2015

ONSITE KUWAIT especially from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, increases after over year. Most of the families visit the country during the summer season to enjoy the wide range of family activities available, and during Hala February festival. The month-long

FEBRUARY 2015

event features cultural activities […] and also provides a paradise for shoppers, with shopping carnivals offering discounted articles […],” she detailed. The objective of seeing Kuwait diversify its national income also brought

the addition of 1,000 rooms to the countrywide inventory, as Meftah suggested, and Fakhro substantiated this revealing that Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre Kuwait will be unveiled in the first quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, Mazen Al-Mhanna, director of sales and marketing, Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait, discussed the official opening of the newly-expanded property, which now consists of 406 rooms and an indoor pool on the 42nd floor offering panoramic views. Zaboura expressed the belief that Kuwait’s improved hotel industry featuring a large number of world-class hotels that cover almost all the cities, as well as a developed network of roads and infrastructures, will entice tourists to visit the destination and savour a different kind of Arabian hospitality. Kuwait is developing and spreading its wings very fast, highlighted Giraudo, concluding that, “With the vision and benevolence that the government is showing towards the initiation of the mega projects it is sure that Kuwait’s future is very strong, both locally and as an economic and political force in the region, which will stimulate interest in the destination and foster the growth of tourism.” 

VISIT RAS AL KHAIMAH UK (10 percent) ensured healthy business. Based on recent trends, Eastern Europe is also set to emerge as a major source market over the coming months, along with other countries purposely targeted by the tourism authority, including the UK, Italy, India as well as up-and-coming markets such as Saudi Arabia and China, further fuelling the industry’s vigorous growth. POSITIONING IS EVERYTHING

Stay Tuned for More FUELLED BY MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES AND, NEVERTHELESS, A PROACTIVE AND AMBITIOUS STRATEGY, RAS AL KHAIMAH HAS EXPERIENCED EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OVER THE PAST YEARS AND THE EMIRATE IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS SUCCESS STORY.

 Rita Kasziba writes

n comparison, while guest arrivals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi showed a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of eight percent and 15 percent respectively between 2009 and 2013, Ras Al Khaimah recorded a 39 percent CAGR during the same period. While arrivals to the ‘rising emirate’ totalled 600,000 in 2010, thanks to a comprehensive strategy to position Ras Al Khaimah as a premier global afford-

able luxury destination for leisure and adventure, this number has since more than doubled to reach 1.47 million in the first three quarters of 2014. “In 2013, the one million barrier was not broken until November 2013, demonstrating the rocketing tourism growth being experienced by the emirate, which has 65km of prime beach coastline,” highlighted Steven Rice, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA), further disclosing that during the nine-month stretch, guest nights jumped 72 percent, suggesting a positive outlook for the future. Consequently, hoteliers witnessed

significant improvements in business results, with Laresa Sequeira, business development manager, Golden Tulip Khatt Springs, reporting a 25 percent growth compared to previous years, saying that some of the declines from Russia, caused by geopolitical tensions, have been counteracted by increased demand from the local market, as well as other international sources such as Germany and China. Haytham Omar, general manager, Rixos Bab Al Bahr, revealed similar movements, saying that a heavy flow from the resort’s top feeder countries, including Russia (35 percent), Germany (20 percent), UAE (15 percent) and the

“Ras Al Khaimah is already on the right track to increase its global presence. Travel agents are promoting our destination worldwide by describing the premium hotels, spas and beautiful beaches for relaxation that the emirate offers,” elucidated Omar. As Mohammad Hassan Masood, director, Global Hotels Management, pinpointed, the main driving force behind Ras Al Khaimah’s success is its potential to cater to all kinds of clientele – be it leisure or business. In addition, as Masood remarked, the emirate continues to develop rapidly in various fields, creating lucrative business opportunities. In fact, the gradual transformation of the destination from a town into a city resonates well with the ever-evolving travel trends, Badr Helmy, operations and business development manager, RAK and Sun Tourism, noted. “Five or 10 years ago, customers were much into heritage and culture, while nowadays they are more into adventure and fun activities,” said Helmy. “Being in Ras Al Khaimah gets you the most of the UAE with less burden on your shoulders. Ras Al Khaimah is a very quiet and peaceful resort emirate, and even with a lower budget, one can easily cover the visits to the main attractions of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, without having to suffer from the high costs and busy traffic of these [metropolises].”

RAS AL KHAIMAH IN BRIEF

Country: UAE Currency: Emirati Dirham (AED) Language: Arabic Population: 210,000 Calling Code: +971 Capital Time Zone: GMT +4:00

FEBRUARY 2015

VISIT RAS AL KHAIMAH

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BEING IN RAS AL KHAIMAH GETS YOU THE MOST OF THE UAE

TAKING OFF TO SUCCESS Demonstrating the strength of the Ras Al Khaimah brand, the destination managed to achieve record figures in 2014, despite the headwind caused by the closure of RAK Airways in January 2014. Soon after the engines of the flag carrier’s fleet cooled down, Air Arabia stepped in, establishing a new hub at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and launching a number of new routes, opening up new markets and new opportunities. “Accessibility to Ras Al Khaimah is one of the factors to boost its hotel and tourism industry, so I must say that the closure [of RAK Airways] has greatly affected visitor arrivals in the emirate,” admitted Masood, whose company, Global Hotels Management, launched Ramada Hotel & Suites Ras Al Khaimah in May 2014. He confirmed that in light of this, Air Arabia’s prompt response was much welcomed. “We partnered with [the airline] right away in order to cope with this FEBRUARY 2015

challenge,” explained Masood. “RAK Airways was mainly catering to a different market that supports Banyan Tree hotels,” Axel Jarosch, general manager, Banyan Tree Al Wadi and Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach, commented on the same subject, adding that subsequently, demand from within the GCC, where Air Arabia has already built up a strong presence over the years, showed increases in the past months. All in all, Air Arabia coming into the picture has helped boost tourist footfall into the emirate, supported Omar, expressing confidence that the recently launched routes out of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport will further strengthen the destination’s reputation and make it even more appealing to new markets. “We are more optimistic with having a well-established airline as the official carrier of Ras Al Khaimah,” concluded Roger Tannous, general manager, Marjan Island Resort & Spa. The year 2014 was a period of many changes at the airport as well, noted Mohammed Qazi, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, who deemed the establishment of Air Arabia’s new hub a very successful step. “Currently, we are connected to eight destinations in the Indian subcontinent, GCC and Africa, and there are plans to have a number of new routes launched [in the coming months],” disclosed Qazi, further divulging that the seasonal Hajj services also proved popular and boasting about the airport’s on-time performance that soared above 97 percent in 2014.

Likewise, average load factor remained above 70 percent and rose above 80 percent in the last couple of months with the Pakistani routes performing particularly well, delivering load factors of around 90 percent. “It is evident that Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is attracting origin and destination traffic with healthy load factors [especially from] the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East,” attested Qazi, saying that the hassle-free environment offered in Ras Al Khaimah has been paramount to the positive results. “Keep it simple and passengers will love it,” suggested Qazi, referring to the validating results of the latest poll where 90 percent of passengers left positive feedback. At the same time, airlines have also commended the airport for its efficiency, which has led to huge savings for them. “It is cost effective for airlines to operate in and out of Ras Al Khaimah. [Also], we have the best products for tourists ranging from an efficient airport to luxurious resorts, culture, herit-

age, mountains, deserts, beaches and much more,” touted the destination’s multifaceted tourism product Qazi, adding that the airport is working hand in hand with Air Arabia and the tourism authority to develop attractive holiday packages. STRENGTH OF THE BRAND This comes as Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism industry continues to evolve with ambitious projects, such as the USD1.8 billion Al Marjan Island development, hailed as the emirate’s first man-made island, with a cluster of hotels, residential and commercial compounds being erected. As Tannous noted, the fact that over the short span of two months, three hotels opened on Al Marjan Island speaks volumes. “This has created excellent traffic to Ras Al Khaimah and added value to the destination,” explained Tannous. In fact, besides the ever-increasing visitor numbers, the presence of some of the world’s leading hotel chains is yet 

VISIT RAS AL KHAIMAH another testament to Ras Al Khaimah’s rising global status. From Rotana to Hilton Worldwide, Rixos Hotels and regional operator, Bin Majid Group, today, the emirate boasts a diverse hotel portfolio, suiting every budget and taste. “Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector has grown significantly in recent years as a result of the government’s focus on developing the emirate’s tourism offering,” said Rice, reminding that over the past months, three properties have been added to the destination’s hotel portfolio, including Rixos Bab Al Bahr, hailed as the largest all-inclusive resort of this magnitude in the UAE; Marjan Island Resort & Spa; and DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa, all on Al Marjan Island, adding over 1,400 units to the emirate’s room stock. In addition, further expanding the destination’s offerings, Santorini Hotel, Bin Majid Group’s latest project in the emirate, is scheduled to welcome its first guests later this year. In order to ensure that despite the abrupt boom in supply, all existing and upcoming hotels enjoy a fair share of the pie, the authority cannot afford to rest on its laurels. “Since Ras Al Khaimah TDA’s establishment, one of our main goals has been to increase the total number of visitors to the emirate. In order to achieve this target, we are highlighting our confidence in luxury holiday offering; we do promote, raise awareness of and support travel traders both regionally and internationally,” attested Rice, adding that so far, forward bookings are looking strong with interest in the emirate across multiple business sector on the rise. In fact, Ras Al Khaimah is on the right path to emerge as a key regional player, indicated Alain Debare, CEO, Action Hotels, reminding that the emir-

ate’s GDP is expected to grow at 4.8 percent per annum up to 2023. This positive outlook, coupled with the lack of quality mid-market establishments, was singled out by Debare as the main reason behind the company’s decision to launch a three-star property in the fourth quarter of the year. “We see a good opportunity for a mid-economy hotel where the branded supply is mainly in the upscale and luxury sector,” explained Debare, revealing that Tulip Inn Ras Al Khaimah will add 104 units to the emirate’s room stock. TAKE A STAND As Jarosh noted, the fast rate of new supply entering the market is a trend happening on a country-wide level, creating a challenging environment where establishments, such as Banyan Tree Al Wadi and Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach, are not able to efficiently compete in the

current price war due to their product of offering individual villas with private pools rather than just hotel rooms. “We are facing some challenges to get the volume required, but our team is working extremely well in developing the need for our product within new and emerging markets to close the gap created by the present situation,” added Jarosh, insisting that properly positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a primary and nevertheless distinct destination is paramount. “One needs to take a stand; not to follow the trend of everyone else but to create a trend,” reiterated Jarosh. “In order to appeal to the luxury, high-end clientele [we need to] put emphasis on the destination and its natural beauty with, for example, our nature reserve at Banyan Tree Al Wadi or the pristine beach at Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach. Additionally, we need to create awareness of the emirate’s vicinity to Dubai International, meaning that

it often takes less time to reach Ras Al Khaimah from the airport than some points in Dubai.” Moreover, there is also an increased emphasis on promoting the emirate’s cruise credentials, highlighted Sequeira. In addition, enhancing the destination’s nightlife scene and attracting further airlines is also set to boost tourist influx, noted Helmy, adding that the evolution of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism structure allows now for corporate and group business. This was also underlined by Rice, who confirmed that the authority is poised to further develop the emirate’s MICE offerings. “Ras Al Khaimah has more than 5,000 rooms in operation that are able to host big groups. This is supported with the presence of meeting space in almost all the hotels,” pointed out Rice. Accommodating small board meetings as well as larger functions on 826m2, Al Hamra Convention Centre has long been a venue of choice, while Rixos Bab Al Bahr, boosting some 800m2 of events space is another popular option for private and corporate gatherings. Last but not least, featuring two showrooms of 1,800m2 and 3,600m2, RAK Exhibition Centre can cater to large events, and, as Rice noted, various activities can also be arranged for groups from beach activities to desert camps, water park visits, hiking, golfing and many more. “Ras Al Khaimah TDA will continue to build on the emirate’s infrastructure, both by encouraging international investments and by developing local talent and business opportunities,” ensured Rice. As Qazi encapsulated in one sentence, “Ras Al Khaimah is already synonymous with tourism, luxury resorts, culture and heritage.” 

FEBRUARY 2015

EXPLORE FUJAIRAH

Changes Ahead FAMED FOR ITS HISTORICAL AND NATURAL ASSETS, FUJAIRAH HAS POSITIONED ITSELF AS THE DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO ESCAPE FROM THE BUSTLING CITY LIFE, AND A SERIES OF UPCOMING LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS IS SET TO HERALD A NEW ERA IN THE EMIRATE’S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.  Rita Kasziba writes

hile in 2011 arrivals to the emirate stood at 750,000, the figure jumped 60 percent in just a year to reach 1.2 million in 2012 and has continued to rise steadily ever since, with year-end results for 2014 expected to close at around 1.4 million. This is equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent between 2009 and 2013, significantly higher than that of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, demonstrating Fujairah’s evolution into a marketable tourist destination. Hazem Aouad, cluster director, sales and marketing, Radisson Blu Resort, Fujairah and Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai, described 2014 as a reasonably good year, FEBRUARY 2015

considering Russia and the CIS countries’ geopolitical tension that has adversely affected tourist influx to the emirate. “We managed to replace some of this business with visitors from other European countries, as well as the local Emirati market,” explained Aouad, noting that Dubai and Abu Dhabi-bound companies have also showed an increased interest in organising their incentive trips in Fujairah. Still, according to Satish Gujaran, duty manager, Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort, business remained relatively flat. “We did well, but we were not able to achieve our target revenue which should have been at least 10 percent higher than in 2013,” disclosed Gujaran, saying that as hotels and resorts have limited funds to implement far-reaching marketing campaigns to boost business, they heavily rely on the local gov-

ernment and authorities to promote Fujairah both regionally and globally. CATCHING UP WITH THE REST In fact, while over the past years neighbouring emirate Ras Al Khaimah has transformed its tourism industry to offer

FUJAIRAH IN BRIEF

Country: UAE Currency: Emirati Dirham (AED) Language: Arabic Population: 152,000 Calling Code: +971 Capital Time Zone: GMT +4:00

a high-end and diverse product, stealing much of the spotlight on the eastern coast and positioning itself well on the global stage, Fujairah has lagged behind in developing new strategies, aimed at today’s savvy global traveller, and penetrating untapped and emerging markets. “This has to be driven by the Fujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority. More marketing activities should be done in order to increase awareness in existing and new markets. This could be [implemented] in the form of road shows, advertisements, sponsorships and familiarisation trips,” suggested Aouad, reaffirming his team’s commitment to actively supporting such activities. Karim Zaki, general manager, Novotel, ibis and Adagio Fujairah, concurred, saying that in order to capture a larger share of business, Fujairah needs to be promoted as a destination. 

EXPLORE FUJAIRAH “We have to host more events and be visible in international exhibitions,” proposed Zaki, who explained that while Ras Al Khaimah’s rise has had an impact on the popularity of seaside resorts, Fujairah town hotels have lagged behind. Therefore, for the management of Accor’s three-hotel complex that opened at the beginning of 2014, the biggest challenge has been to create awareness. “We are still catering to the petroleum and shipping industries during weekdays and become tourist destination during the weekends,” pointed out Zaki, whose observations corresponded with Aouad’s views who noted that while Fujairah continues to benefit from high demand from the local market a prime retail area and offices, is due for completion in three years. “We are creating a vibrant destination that will not only address [people’s] lifestyle needs of modern retail, entertainment and hospitality, but also connect them to their Arab heritage through [the project’s] attractions,” explained Bin Kalban, saying that through the development, the company aims to capitalise on the investment potential and exploit the diverse business opportunities that Fujairah offers. Over the years, along with manufacturing, tourism has emerged as one of the key investment areas in Fujairah, that continues to bring in major investments, supporting urban development projects such as the planned 3km corniche with during weekends and public holidays, the emirate faces tough competition in winning over international visitors. “For sure Ras Al Khaimah is a threat to Fujairah when it comes to international tourists, therefore we keep diversifying our target markets to spread around Western and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia,” admitted Aouad, revealing that in a bid to appeal to global travellers, free transport is being offered to the airports of Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. As hoteliers fortify their efforts to attract more MICE business and traffic during weekends and holidays, they expect to benefit from upcoming projects and initiatives in the long run. A NEW IMAGE Fujairah’s new master plan is set to lay down the foundations for a framework for urban, cultural and sustainable development, and single out tourism as

one of the main untapped sectors. “We expect the master plan to give us the vision for the next two years and facilitate our decision making,” said Zaki. Similarly, Gujaran urged fast actions that would ensure healthy business levels for the emirate’s tourism industry this year and in the foreseeable future. One of the most anticipated projects is the AED400 million (USD109 million) Fujairah Business Centre, which, according to Khalid Bin Kalban, chairman, Al Taif Investment, will set new benchmarks in urban development in the emirate and act as a catalyst for growth by creating robust opportunities for commerce and entrepreneurship. Covering an area of over 80,000m2, the development will consist of two 19-storey towers, one of which will house a 228-unit Courtyard by Marriott-branded hotel, marking Marriott International’s debut in Fujairah. The complex, which will also include a mall,

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WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO ALL THE POTENTIAL MARKETS TO UNVEIL THIS HIDDEN JEWEL OF THE EAST COAST OF THE UAE

entertainment and leisure facilities, and various shopping and sports facilities. Renowned international brands, such as Swiss International, play a crucial role in supporting this shift. Underlining the emirate’s rising status, the company chose Fujairah to debut in the UAE with Swiss International Concorde, Fujairah. Previously operated independently ho-

tel, the 206-room property, and the destination as a whole, now benefit from the strength of an international brand. “As we expand our footprint in the UAE, we are exceptionally thrilled to contribute towards Fujairah’s growing travel and tourism sector, as well as its social and economic progress,” stated Henri Kennedie, CEO, Swiss International. In addition, the emirate is soon to celebrate the arrival of yet another brand with Millennium Hotel Fujairah set to open later this year. All these developments are expected to help better position Fujairah on the global stage and attract larger number of visitors, and to secure the best possible first impression of the destination, Fujairah International Airport is evolving with the emirate. In a bid to ensure the delivery of an efficient and adequate expansion programme for the hub, the emirate’s Department of Civil Aviation signed a memorandum of cooperation with Abu Dhabi Airports in May 2014, through which Fujairah’s aviation sector is set to benefit from the expertise of Abu Dhabi Airports in developing the masterplan and managing the expansion project which includes a runway extension, parallel taxiway and emergency runway as well as a new control tower, among others. To ensure a collective approach, public and private stakeholders are working in close collaboration. “We are in touch with the authorities and are giving them our feedback from a hotel perspective,” said Aouad, admitting that expectations are high. “We need to reach out to all the potential markets and guests in order to unveil to them this hidden jewel of the east coast of the UAE.”  FEBRUARY 2015

EXCLUSIVE GOLF

The Grass Is Greener Where You Golf GOLF TOURISM WITNESSED A BOOM OVER THE PAST YEARS, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ALONG THIS PATH, AS THE UAE IN PARTICULAR IS AIMING TO KEEP THE INDUSTRY IN THE SPOTLIGHT.  Dominique Christou writes

orldwide golf holiday sales by golf tour operators have grown by more than 20 percent over the past two years, according to the Internation-

FEBRUARY 2015

al Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), the global trade organisation of the golf tourism industry. Headline figures drawn from its 2014 golf tourism survey reveal that golf tour operators’ holiday sales globally increased by an average of 11.1 percent in 2013, on the back of 9.3 percent surge in 2012. Golf tourism is also on the rise in the

region. According to IAGTO, MENA destinations with direct flight connections will do best as golfers are not as adventurous as they might be in other more established golf markets. The UAE, in particular, has been witnessing a record number of golfers over the past years, being ever-more accessible with the country’s carriers flying to

hundreds of destinations globally. TEEING OFF IN THE UAE Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) show the emirate’s golf tourism offering grew by 49 percent in the number of overseas rounds played in 2013 

EXCLUSIVE GOLF the incredible facilities and service levels, as well as weather, we offer in this part of the world,” said Mackenzie. Similarly, Lily Hymes, public relations and marketing executive, Al Badia Golf Club by Intercontinental Dubai Festival City, also pointed out that the golf sector is one of the growing industries in the UAE and Dubai is one of the most in-demand winter destinations. She further confirmed that the golf club’s performance in 2014 was a success, with it being one of the best years since the club opened. For this year, there will be a predicted increase in golf rounds, especially from overseas. NEVER COMPLACENT

compared to 2012. The figures reaffirm the emirate’s status as one of the world’s most desirable golf destinations, validating Abu Dhabi’s strategy to deliver sustainable golf tourism via its Golf in Abu Dhabi initiative. “Golf is a strategic pillar for Abu Dhabi and the emirate’s tourism proposition. Since the launch of the Golf in Abu Dhabi programme, we have seen a significant growth in international inbound guests, a rise of over 300 percent in three years,” said Chris Card, group general manager, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, adding that the two golf clubs saw great performance levels in 2014. “We had a strong year. Membership, rounds of golf and resort revenue all performed ahead of target,” he enthused. This year is to set another record for both clubs, and Abu Dhabi Golf Club has started the year in style with the 10th anniversary of The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. “Golf tourism in the region is positively booming and with new partnerships in place, we are looking forward to welcoming first-time guests from new markets, as well as repeat guests who have made Abu Dhabi their trusted golf destination,” said Card. With golf tourism on the rise, Card highlighted that emerging markets have embraced the positive economic impact that golf has the ability to drive. “The golf demographic and their propensity to spend more on golf travel

than traditional leisure travellers have established the sport as a key ingredient in any major tourism strategy. The additional real estate benefits have also been a major catalyst for the sport’s evolution. However, the market today is extremely competitive and consumers are blessed with a huge range of options and, importantly, a wide range of price points,” he explained. Further commenting on the everexpanding golf sector from the neighbouring Dubai, Alan Mackenzie, club manager, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, said, “It has become more and more competitive for sure, but competition is great, it makes us all look at ways

“

GOLF TOURISM IN THE REGION IS POSITIVELY BOOMING

of improving our product. I can only see the UAE golf tourism market growing further still in the coming years due to

Continuing to push the golf industry in a positive direction, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is always looking for an opportunity to enhance its facilities. This year, the focus will be on the re-development of the Lakeview restaurant. “We have an incredibly busy and popular resort and can honestly say we can now cater for absolutely every level of golfer, as well as our championship course and par three lay-put, we recently added an 18-hole putting course, which is proving to be very popular with new and aspiring golfers,” commented Mackenzie. On a similar note, keeping up with the trends and excelling growth, Card said, “We regularly seek input from our guests and members in order to develop our offering, keep existing clients engaged, and at the same time excite potential guests and members.” Promising to further elevate standards in the Middle Eastern golf sector, golfing superstar Tiger Woods will design the new 18-hole championship golf course in Dubai, to be built by luxury real estate developers DAMAC Properties and operated by The Trump Organisation. Set within the 510ha master community of AKOYA Oxygen, the Trump World Golf Club, Dubai, will include a state-of-the-art clubhouse, world-class restaurant and a pro shop. The course will be situated at the heart of the development, with some of the highest premium, residential developments in Dubai overlooking the course. Site preparation work on the Trump World Golf Club Dubai is already underway, with the course due to open by the end of 2017.  FEBRUARY 2015

TOUR THAILAND

Discovering Thainess THAILAND IS AN IMPRESSIVE COUNTRY, WITH AN ARRAY OF OFFERINGS FOR DISCERNING TRAVELLERS. FROM HIGHLIGHTING ITS RICH CULTURE TO PROMOTING ITS WORLD-CLASS ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES, THE COUNTRY IS WORKING TOWARDS RESTORING THE RECENT DOWNFALL ITS TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED.

 Dominique Christou writes

n 2014, Thailand’s tourism revenue was ranked sixth in the world and third in Asia by the World Tourism Organization. The World Travel & Tourism Council’s report for the country shows that the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the national GDP was nine percent in 2013, and this figure was forecast to stay steady in 2014, but to increase by 6.7 per annum between FEBRUARY 2015

2014 – 2024 to reach 10.4 percent of the total GDP in 2024. According to Chalermsak Suranant, director of the Middle East office, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), there is a marketing plan in place for this year targeting an estimated THB1.4 trillion (USD42.94 billion) in revenue from foreign tourists to the country. HIGH PROSPECTS Suranant pointed out that TAT’s Middle East office in Dubai is very proactive in promoting Thailand as an ideal holiday

THAILAND IN BRIEF

Capital: Bangkok Currency: Thai Baht (THB) Language: Thai Population: 67 million Calling Code: +66 Capital Time Zone: GMT +7:00

destination for Middle Eastern travellers of all ages. Its team is engaged in conducting numerous road shows and familiarisation trips for agents and media, building partnerships with key local, regional and international airlines, meeting with agents and training them on how to sell the destination. They are also hosting events for partners, agents and the media, and are participating in regional and international travel exhibitions and conferences. “This year, we expect a more 

TOUR THAILAND

proactive participation and promotion of Thailand in this region as we conduct a series of road shows in the Levant, particularly in Jordan and Egypt, as well as key markets such as the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. We have also lined up a number of familiarisation trips for agents and media alike to visit new and unknown destinations in Thailand, as well as the neighbouring countries in the Mekong sub-region,” commented Suranant. AIMING FOR THE MIDDLE EAST In a bid to further attract MENA tourists, the destination hosted Thailand Halal Assembly in 2014, a conference to help boost trade and travel within the Islamic

“

IN 2013, THAILAND WELCOMED 26.5 MILLION VISITORS. OF THESE, 630,243 WERE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

world, which was attended by more than 5,000 delegates from all over the globe. “The Middle East is a very important market for Thailand. In 2013, Thailand welcomed 26.5 million visitors. Of these, there were a total of 630,243 tourists from the Middle East. Over 123,000 were visitors from the UAE; 71,000 from Ku-

wait; 28,000 from Bahrain and Egypt; and 21,000 from Saudi Arabia,” said Suranant. Due to the political situation in the country since late 2013, the number of visitors from the Middle East region declined by 21 percent in the first half of 2014, when compared to the same period in 2013. However, since July 2014 when the conditions became more stable, Thailand has witnessed a positive return in the volume of tourists with numbers picking up and returning to normal. Despite a drop in Middle Eastern visitors in the first half of 2014, the MENA market remains an extremely important one for the country due to the propensity of its visitors to have a very high average length of stay and average daily expenditure, according to Suranant. “This year is Discover Thainess year and we have launched a new campaign emphasising the priceless treasures of Thailand, which gives Thainess its charm and makes us unique as people, society and culture,” he indicated, explaining that the campaign will offer foreigners the chance to appreciate the essence of Thainess through the Thai way of life, Thai culture and Thai experiences. This distinctive character is seen as the magnet of the country, which draws tourists to explore and share their experiences with local communities. “Throughout the year, we have numerous festivities and celebrations that we would like everyone, most especially our visitors from the GCC and the rest of the Middle East region, to enjoy and experience,” Suranant enthused. He also pointed out that indeed  FEBRUARY 2015

TOUR THAILAND located in the hearth of Doha and Centara Muscat Hotel, an upper scale hotel with 154 keys located in Muscat, which is known as the important port-town in the Gulf of Oman.” For this year, the company continues to focus on overseas expansion, especially in the Middle East through investment and hotel management. “We continue discussions for opportunities in key gateway cities such as Dubai and in Turkey,” confirmed Chirathivat. RAISING THE BAR HIGHER Over the past months, Thailand has welcomed a slew of new properties, offering visitors an extensive range of options when visiting the country. Local international real estate developer, Country Group Development and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts anvisitors from the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait already comprise the highest spending category of tourists to Thailand. They also play a major role in helping to fill up hotel rooms during the monsoon months when travellers from the traditional markets of Europe and North America experience a slight dip. KEEPING HEADS HIGH However, despite such creative efforts, TAT reported that the number of tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of 2014 was 21.9 million, 8.6 percent down from 24 million recorded in 2013. Local hoteliers are attributing the overall drop in business performance to the political situation in Bangkok in the first half of 2014. According to Douglas Glen, general manager, The Landmark Bangkok, the five-star hotel also saw its business levels suffer. Despite this downfall, it is preparing to welcome this year’s visitors with renovated accommodation facilities, with upgrades being planned to continue throughout the year. “Our brand new product will be completed by the end of this year, with a new reception and lobby area. Additionally, we are planning to open another new hotel in the first quarter of 2016, Lancaster Bangkok, with 230 rooms and four dining restaurants,” indicated Glen. The hotel’s main feeder markets are the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with the MENA region being the third largest in size for the property. Also witnessing a decline in hotel

business was the local Centara Hotels & Resorts, with Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO, Centara Hotels & Resorts, commenting, “Our hotel performance in 2014 was significantly impacted by the political problems, in particular for hotels in Bangkok where the occupancy dropped significantly resulting in a 44 percent fall in RevPAR in the first quarter.” Showing determination to overcome the difficult times, Chirathivat commented, “In 2014, we signed 13 new hotel management agreements consisting of three hotels in Thailand, in Pattaya, Chonburi and Krabi, and nine hotels overseas, in Indonesia, Laos and Oman. Outside of Asia, we have stepped into the Middle East and Africa over the last couple of years. Currently,

“

THIS YEAR IS DISCOVER THAINESS YEAR AND WE HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW CAMPAIGN

Centara operates three hotels in Mauritius and a regional sales office in Dubai and South Africa. In addition, Centara will have Grand West Bay Doha hotel, an upper upscale hotel with 360 keys

nounced plans for a luxury hotel and residential project situated along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. The development, designed to offer a high-end waterfront experience and set a new standard in luxury, will be home to the new Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River and Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. The hotel will include more than 300 rooms and suites, and will offer world-class amenities and dining alongside the legendary customised service discerning guests from around the world have come to expect from Four Seasons. The private residences will consist of more than 350 luxury units in a 73-storey tower offering uninterrupted views of Bangkok’s skyline.  FEBRUARY 2015

RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with Stephen Gee DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ZAYA RETREATS

in our day-to-day job. We are here to create extraordinary and unique experiences. Our core values are based on creating a magical stay for our guests, empowering our staff to take decisions, while being in absolute harmony with our environment. One of our beliefs at Zaya is that wellbeing should be the main focus for both employees and guests, [therefore] we have a director of wellbeing. The creation of a hospitality company was born from an opportunity to develop in parallel with an incredible island retreat. Our first and flagship development is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our innovative slant on hospitality, only 10 minutes by boat from city life. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Zaya Nurai Island offers an exclusive destination to escape from busy city life. How would you describe your target market? STEPHEN GEE: Our target market is a mix between villa owners, hotel guests and outside guests. For the hotel and recreation facilities, we are targeting residents

of the UAE looking for an escape from the city without having to fly abroad, and we are also expecting overseas tourism, especially from the GCC region. [...] The island has 23 residential villas, 32 beach villas that run as the hotel, and plenty of family activities, including aqua sport activities, a spa, kids club, dive centre and more. We welcome day visitors [...] and our facilities also allow us to work on certain events such as weddings, private parties, kids’ birthday parties and so on. Although at the moment we offer a fantastic in-villa spa experience where our therapist comes to your villa to offer you treatments, we will be opening the doors of our signature spa to residents, hotel guests and outside guests in the first quarter of the year. Zaya Nurai Island will also [soon] open its own [Professional Association of Diving Instructors] (PADI) dive centre, as well as offer dive classes, a retail boutique and PADI-certified courses. In addition, we are also looking forward to opening new exciting food and beverage concepts as the year goes on. 

ZAYA NURAI ISLAND BRINGS A NEW CONCEPT TO ABU DHABI; WHICH INVIGORATES THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR WITH FRESH ENERGY, AS STEPHEN GEE, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ZAYA RETREATS, SAID. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: What is the impetus for creating Zaya Nurai Island?

ing an eclectic boutique hotel experience within the island paradise of Nurai.

STEPHEN GEE: Zaya Nurai Island – derived from the Arabic word Noor, meaning light - was conceived by Zaya’s CEO, Nadia Zaal to provide a sanctuary for discerning individuals. Zaya has developed Zaya Nurai Island into an exclusive community of limited edition beachfront estates, water villa homes and Zaya Hospitality’s first boutique resort. [...] The stunning Nurai Island is now home to the first Zaya Nurai Island, a 32-villa understatedly elegant boutique resort. Zaya prides itself on doing things differently and wants to invigorate the hospitality sector with fresh energy, offer-

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: What distinguishes Zaya Nurai Island from other projects in or around Abu Dhabi?

FEBRUARY 2015

STEPHEN GEE: Zaya Nurai Island is a completely new concept, not similar to any other in Abu Dhabi or the UAE. We aim to create a fresh, unique hotel brand where our guests feel comfortable and not oppressed by the over-standardised staff. Luxury is simplicity and having staff available at all times for the guests, but not being too overbearing. [...] Our core values push each and every one of us on the island to go the extra mile

TRAVEL CHANNELS

Dubai Honours Congress Ambassadors Dubai’s government recognised 28 individuals and organisations for their efforts to attract and host international conferences in the city at the recently held 4th Annual Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors Programme’s Networking and Recognition Event.

heir combined efforts resulted in 10,000 global experts visiting the emirate in 2014. As Hamad Bin Mejren, executive director, Dubai Business Events, noted, while the immediate impact of these conferences helps boost Dubai’s economy, the real value comes when they give the local community access to jobs, new technologies, intellectual capital and educational exchange. “We aim to see Dubai grow not only as a business centre, but as a vibrant and innovative knowledge hub,” he added.

4th Annual Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors Programme’s Networking and Recognition Event

SkyTeam Reaches Out to Greater China via WeChat

Oman Air Supports Authentic Cuisine

man Air Catering Business Unit is an important player in supporting the Omani government’s promotion of authentic local cuisine to international audiences. The carrier’s Catering Business Unit recently hosted an event at which three of the Sultanate’s leading chefs presented a range of new dishes. Each dish combined traditional Omani cooking with the latest global culinary trends, and was created with the support of the airline’s in-house chefs. “We look forward to seeing Omani food gain even greater recognition at Expo Milano, and to taking [our] cuisine to many more destinations as Oman Air’s network continues to grow,” commented Jassim Al Balushi, general manager, catering, Oman Air.

UK’s Qatar Foundation Hosts Joint Forum

igh-level discussions between leaders of Qatar Foundation and partners from the UK’s leading research, development and higher education institutions took place at the Qatar Foundation-United Kingdom: The Road Ahead forum. Participants shared the latest developments in ongoing partnerships and explored potential collaborations and initiatives of mutual interest. With the foundation’s support, over 1,700 British schoolchildren are benefitting from educational and cultural initiatives, and 40 Arabic language teachers are gaining qualifications through the Arabic Language and Culture Pilot Project.

lobal airline alliance, SkyTeam has celebrated the launch of its official WeChat account, aimed at facilitating interaction and communication with customers across Greater China as out of almost 440 million users on WeChat, only 70 million are based outside the region. Fatima da Gloria, director of brand and communications, SkyTeam, explained, “Greater China flights account for more than a quarter of all SkyTeam’s daily departures and we are delighted to be reaching our thousands of social media-savvy customers through their preferred channel.” SkyTeam’s WeChat presence complements the one on Sina Weibo, hailed as one of the most popular social networks for Chinese users.

Qatar Foundation’s forum

FEBRUARY 2015

TRAVEL TALK

FERGHAL PURCELL General manager, The Ajman Palace

Our objective is to offer consistently high levels of service

Technology plays a key role today in the success of any business

“We are truly proud of [topping the guest feedback charts of Market Metrix Hospitality Index]. Our objective is to offer consistently high levels of service to our guests. The Market Metrix Hospitality Index is the most in-depth and reliable source of hospitality performance information available today. It allows us to know and improve the guest experience by addressing their problems that in turn helps boost guest retention and loyalty.”

“Technology plays a key role today in the success of any business and more so in our industry. One of our greatest strengths at HMH is the adoption and integration of latest technology into every aspect of our business, from management to operation. We have invested heavily into technology that places us at par with top international brands and enables us to optimise our performance to deliver superior results.”

LAURENT VOIVENEL CEO, Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH)

Winning these awards [is an] excellent accomplishment

HUSSEIN HACHEM Cluster general manager, Al Bustan Rotana Dubai and Al Murooj Rotana

“We are proud of receiving [the Middle East’s Luxury Airport Hotel award for Al Bustan Rotana Dubai and the Middle East’s Luxury City Hotel accolade for Al Murooj Rotana at the World Luxury Hotel Awards], which is a clear manifestation of the high quality of products and services we provide in both properties. Winning these awards and being the best, not only in the country but in the entire region, are excellent accomplishments, which we cannot achieve without the hard work and dedication of our entire team […].”

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

FEBRUARY 2015

WHO’S MOVED

ANTOINE LHUGUENOT

RICHARD BLEAKLEY

Antoine Lhuguenot has recently been welcomed by the five-star Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach as the property’s new general manager. Lhuguenot has been part of Accor for more than 25 years, and during this time he held general manager roles at various properties across Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. Prior to his move to Dubai, he was tasked with managing Sofitel Plaza Hanoi in Vietnam. Brining with him more than three decades of experience within the hospitality industry, Lhuguenot is now focussed on translating the brand vision at the property, while promoting quality service and driving revenue. He is also keen on introducing creative ways to further enhance and elevate visitor experience.

Richard Bleakley has taken on the role of general manager at the newly-launched Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi. Bleakley has been with Marriott International since 2000, when he began his career as area sales manager for the UK, rising through the ranks and holding a number of key roles before being promoted to general manager at Northampton Marriott Hotel, where he remained until December 2011. Bleakley then relocated to the UAE where he most recently worked as acting general manager at JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, Marriott International’s first property in the UAE.

Bleakley has been with Marriott International since 2000

OSMAN NASIR

MINI JOSHI

Osman Nasir was named director of sales and marketing at Hawthorn Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence. Nasir, who has 16 years of hospitality sales experience, was formerly director of sales and marketing at Dusit Residence, Dubai Marina. His career included positions at Nuran Serviced Residences and Somerset Al Majara in Dubai Marina. Nasir’s new responsibilities include leading the sales and marketing department in setting and achieving targets to maximise revenue, and he will direct corporate sales and marketing strategies to successfully compete in the market. He will also work on further strengthening the relationship with existing partners and generating new business leads.

Mini Joshi has returned to the hotel industry to join the team of Ramada Downtown Dubai as the new director of sales and marketing. Joshi, who has 30 years of sales experience in the field of hospitality, started her career in corporate sales and later moved to the leisure segment. She previously worked as assistant deputy general manager and director of business development at Metropolitan Hotel Dubai, before moving on to establish her own catering company. In her new role, she will lead the sales and marketing team to successfully execute various strategies that will drive profit and optimise hotel revenue. In addition, she will also drive her business development colleagues in generating leads and reinforce the existing ties with the property’s key partners.

FEBRUARY 2015

RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How would you describe 2014 in terms of tourist arrivals? Have you experienced an increase in visitor volumes? KHULOOD AL NUAIMI: Numbers for the first three quarters [of 2014] were high. Our target is [reaching] a 15 percent increase in the number of visitors to Ajman. In the first half of 2014, the number of visitors was 415,000, compared to 285,000 guests during the same period in 2013; namely a 46 percent increase. In the third quarter of 2014, the number reached 161,000, compared to 122,000 guests during the same period in 2013; [marking a] 31 percent increase. The total number will be announced [shortly].

Q & A with

Khulood Al Nuaimi DIRECTOR OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING, AJMAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Ajman

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Which are the emirate’s main markets for this year?

destination where you can feel the UAE culture in all its products.

KHULOOD AL NUAIMI: According to our latest statistics, our main feeders

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How is the authority trying to attract new tourism investments in the emirate and what are your plans for this year?

“

AJMAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A UNIQUE FAMILY DESTINATION

are still Germany, Russia and the CIS markets, followed by the GCC and other Arab countries, which represent the main source markets for the emirate of Ajman. ATDD is planning to probe the possibility of attracting visitors from other regions during this year. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Major hotel chains have launched or are preparing to launch properties in Ajman. Why is the emirate the ideal pad for international and regional hoteliers? What are its advantages compared to other emirates? KHULOOD AL NUAIMI: I need to emphasise that Ajman had never thought of competing with Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Ajman’s tourism role is part of the UAE tourism role. However, we need to underline that Ajman has always been a unique family FEBRUARY 2015

AJMAN’S AUTHENTICITY MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE TO THOSE WHO SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE ARABIAN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE. KHULOOD AL NUAIMI, DIRECTOR OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING, AJMAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (ATDD), DISCUSSES THE EMIRATE’S KEY ADVANTAGES.

Ajman

KHULOOD AL NUAIMI: Plans for this year can only be announced […] once they are approved by the government of Ajman. What I can say, is that Ajman’s government is widely supporting ATDD. Procedures and potentials are always facilitated to help ATDD complete all its projects. To this end, the government allocated about 100,000m2 to ATDD to set up a number of projects at the beginning of [this year], that would increase the number of visitors to the emirate. The projects will include the establishment of a number of international restaurants. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Plans for Ajman International Airport have been on hold for some years now. What is the department’s stand and how will the airport boost the emirate’s tourism sector? KHULOOD AL NUAIMI: All details on the project of Ajman’s airport will be announced by the concerned Ajman government department [shortly]. What really matters is that such a project will pave the way for a sustainable development of Ajman’s area of Al Manama, a matter that would really require from ATDD to plan for new projects in the area. 

NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS

Regional Online Travel Bookings Soar

IBTM ARABIA Abu Dhabi, UAE February 10 – 12 www.ibtmarabia.com Formerly GIBTM, this event brings a fresh new format with one-toone meetings and an exclusive closed community experience.

TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION Tehran, Iran February 12 – 15 www.titexgroup.com The eighth edition of the event covers an area of 21,000m2, a 55 percent growth compared to 2014.

Ahmedabad, India February 21 – 23 www.itmtravelmart.com Organised across many Indian cities throughout the year, it showcases travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries.

Nadege Noblet

INDIA TRAVEL MART

nline travel bookings in the MENA region increased 10 percent in 2014, with 31 percent of those surveyed by YouGov managing all of their travel requirements online. Around a quarter used their smartphones to book hotels online, while mobile usage to access online travel guides or to book leisure activities rose six percent. “The industry as a whole is embracing technology like never before, to compete in a digital market place where accessibility and speed are critical to the demands of today’s tech-savvy travellers, especially mobile-compatible sites for hotels, tour operators and leisure attractions,” explained Nadege Noblet, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), revealing that travel technology will come into focus at this year ATM.

Region’s First Street Feast in Abu Dhabi

he inaugural Abu Dhabi Food Festival, set to run between February 5 – 21, will feature the region’s first Street Feast with a caravan of local and international food trucks serving delicacies from around the world. Taking place over three successive weekends, first in Madinat Zayed, then in Al Mubazzarah Park and finally in Al Ain and the Corniche of Abu Dhabi, Street Feast is set to secure the emirate’s place on the global culinary map, according to Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director, tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority. The festival will also include Emirati Kitchen between February 5 – 7 and Gourmet Abu Dhabi between February 11 – 20.

ITB BERLIN Berlin, Germany March 4 – 8 www.itb-berlin.de A leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry as in 2014 some 10,147 companies from 189 countries exhibited their products.

ibtm arabia Partners with Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau

btm Arabia has named Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau as the exclusive premier partner of the event, set to take place at The St.Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi from February 10 – 12. Lois Wilcox, exhibition manager, ibtm arabia, commented, “Abu Dhabi is rapidly evolving into a world-class, sustainable meetings industry destination and our strong relationship with Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau has really allowed us to showcase the destination’s potential to prospective meeting planners from across the globe.” She further revealed, “This year, our exclusive one-to-one event will bring a whole new concept to the region, creating a three day community where everyone does everything together; business, education and networking.”

FEBRUARY 2015