Travel Trade mena, July 2016, Issue 81

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JULY 2016 - ISSUE 81

03 VISIT: SAUDI ARABIA

08

EXCLUSIVE

Hotel Apartments

12 EXPLORE

14 Greece DISCOVER: EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

TOUR

18 Hong Kong

20 Rendezvous


MARKET UPDATE

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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

MIDDLE EAST LEADS TRAVEL DEMAND GROWTH

ASSISTANT EDITORS Rita Kasziba Maria Kazeli JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic

Hamad Internatioanl Airport

PRESS Maria Demetriadou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670

The International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s passenger traffic data for April showed that the Middle East was the only region to witness a doubledigit year-on-year percentage surge in demand, at 12.7 percent.

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apacity grew 14.8 percent compared to 2015, causing load factor to fall 1.4 percentage points to 75.6 percent. On a global level, interest for travel rose 4.6 percent year-on-year, registering the slowest pace since January 2015. Meanwhile, capacity increased 4.9 percent with load factor slipping 0.3 percentage points to 79.1 percent.

Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515, Email: neil@globetm.com

DUBAI TRAFFIC EXCEEDS 6.9 MILLION

Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 Email: kuka@rmamedia.com

Dubai International

Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456, Email: david@simpson-media.com

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

as of COUNTRY

2

29.6.2016 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

110.76

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

8.89

Iran (IRR)

Rial

30,680.00

Iraq (IQD)

Dinar

1,164.85

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.30

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,508.00

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.38

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

9.82

Syria (SYP)

Pound

219.86

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

2.19

Yemen (YER)

Rial

249.85

Dubai International welcomed a total of 6,978,268 passengers in April, a year-on-year rise of 7.2 percent.

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ith 1,644,045 travellers, the Indian subcontinent proved to be the main contributor to the traffic. In terms of percentage growth, Eastern Europe topped the list with demand for routes to the region surging 12.6 percent, followed by Asia at 12.1 percent and the GCC at 10.3 percent. During the first four months of the year, the UAE hub welcomed 27.9 million passengers, an increase of 6.9 percent compared to 2015. Speaking of the expected heavy flow of travellers over the summer peak season, Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, said, “We are actively working with our partners devising a robust operational plan which will involve the deployment of additional staff.”

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VISIT SAUDI ARABIA

NEW

Directions CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO REDUCE ITS DEPENDENCE ON ITS OIL RESERVES AND GIVE A NEW IMPETUS TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY BY ENERGISING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SAUDI ARABIA IS STEERING TOWARDS DIVERSITY WITH TOURISM PLAYING A CRUCIAL AND EXEMPLIFYING ROLE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.

RITA KASZIBA WRITES

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SAUDI ARABIA IN BRIEF

he plunge in oil prices has reCapital: Riyadh inforced the Kingdom’s future Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR) aspirations outlined in the Language: Arabic recently-announced Saudi ViPopulation: 28.83 million sion 2030, which aims to lay Calling Code: +966 the foundation for a robust economy in Capital Time Zone: GMT +3:00 which oil revenues are being replaced by the returns from major investments and a powerful private sector. To rid the economy of oil and boost income from other sources, the government hinted at the privatisation of promising segments, including airports, and is now placing an increased focus on the enhancement of the country’s tourism product. By 2020, some 25.8 million international trips are expected to take place to Saudi Arabia, up from an estimated 18 million in 2015, marking a massive 43 percent surge in just five years, as per Deloitte’s forecast. “The Kingdom already sees strong tourism figures and hotel occupancy rates have historically been relatively high,” elaborated Grant Salter, head of travel, hospitality and leisure advisory, Middle East, Deloitte. In fact, according to HotStats’ report, despite the fast-expanding supply, Jeddah’s hotel sector closed 2015 with an average occupancy rate of 77.2 percent, notably higher than that of Abu Dhabi or Doha, and also recorded the second-best results after Dubai among the region’s leading hotspots in terms of both average room rate and RevPAR. Capitalising on the strong interest, hotel chains are intensively eyeing further opportunities in the market with both the Holy Cities as well as the industrial areas frequented by businessmen being high on their agenda. “There are more than 49,000 new hotel rooms under construction or in the final planning across the country to meet the demands of this significant increase in tourists,” informed Salter, noting that these figures were prepared prior to the government’s Saudi Vision 2030 announcement in which tourism is given an  JULY 2016

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VISIT SAUDI ARABIA

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even more robust role to bolster the Kingdom’s diversification drive. “We believe that with this vision, and improvements to the hospitality and leisure offering throughout the Kingdom, there is a good chance that the projected increases will be met, if not exceeded,” predicted Salter. LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS Further augmenting the Saudi hospitality scene and the country’s appeal in general, over the next four years, a slew of global companies are expected to come on board to operate 75 hotels as the result of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH)’s efforts to establish a sustainable business environment in which investors and hoteliers can thrive. As Salah Al Bakheet Al Talib, vice president, SCTH, revealed, negotiations are underway with a number of international heavyweights after achieving high satisfaction and generating strong interest with the Kingdom’s new regulations of hotel classification. As part of the enhancement of the country’s tourism product, SCTH is also keen on further diversifying the hotel sphere by encouraging the development of midscale projects. As Al Talib noted, the market is currently saturated with five-star hotels in some major cities, creating a dire need for four- and three-star establishments. The entry of trusted brands in these segments is set to expand the offering, thus, meeting the requirements of a broader pool of potential visitors, and ultimately raising the Kingdom’s competitiveness both regionally as well as internationally. As Al Talib highlighted, since overtaking the sector, SCTH has exerted efforts to stimulate hotel investment and attract international companies through a radical development of licensing regulation which also included a shift into stars system as well as measures to facilitate licensing procedures. “In its efforts to support the funding of hotel facilities, SCTH has recently launched the hotel project funding programme […],” added Al Talib, ensuring that the hospitality industry occupies a very high rank among the state’s priorities. As a result of the Kingdom’s flourishing tourism sector and an even more welcoming environment, hospitality giants are lining up to leverage the available opportunities with Marriott International alone planning 21 new addresses with some 4,200 rooms by 2025. Likewise, AccorHotels, which has just recently unveiled its latest venture, Pullman ZamZam Madinah, outlined ambitious plans for the country. Already boasting a portfolio of 15 properties with over 4,500 units in operation, the hotelier currently has

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35 further projects under development across the Kingdom, representing some 9,000 keys. “The consistently high demand in the Saudi market reveals a shortage of quality accommodation and a pressing need to develop the Kingdom’s hotel infrastructure across all segments, from luxury to economy,” explained Olivier Granet, chief operating officer, AccorHotels Middle East, saying that the augmentation of the sector is in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to cater to the evolving needs of its visitors. Hilton Worldwide is yet another titan that has placed Saudi Arabia at the forefront of its growth plans. Having just launched Conrad Makkah, the company is already working towards the next opening. “With another 28 Hilton Worldwide properties in development, we are extremely proud to offer incredibly variety and choice for travellers to the region,” stated Rudi Jagersbacher, area president, Middle East and Africa, Hilton Worldwide. The Kingdom also remains one of the strongest Middle Eastern growth markets for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, confirmed Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. In fact, with 10 operational properties and 13 projects in the pipeline – including the recently signed Westin and Element hotels in Riyadh – the country is

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VISIT SAUDI ARABIA

the company’s second-largest market in the region, demonstrating its growing significance on the global tourism map. European luxury expert, Kempinski is also adding a new address to its Saudi portfolio with its second property in the country set to become fully operational by September. As Steven Pieters, executive assistant manager, Kempinski Al Othman Hotel, Al Khobar, explained, with a bouquet of facilities for both corporate as well as leisure travellers and innovative culinary offerings, besides the area’s everimportant business segment, the luxury city resort is expected to particularly appeal to local families from across the Kingdom who frequently visit the Eastern Province for shorter or longer vacations. “We believe that the time is right [to bring another project to the market], with the diversification of the economy, which we are witnessing right now,”

JULY 2016

said Pieters. “We are confident that with the impending business changes in the oil industry, a wider set of business leaders will begin to visit Saudi Arabia.” OPENING UP As Hafid Laanani, revenue and reservations manager, Holiday Inn Riyadh, Izdihar, noted, the enhancement of the Kingdom’s tourism product is set to increase demand not only domestically but also from Western as well as Eastern source markets. “Saudi Arabia will open up to more international travellers,” suggested Laanani, noting that this comes at an opportune time when due to the expanding supply and the decrease in oil prices, hoteliers give high importance to incoming travellers. 

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VISIT SAUDI ARABIA

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Up and Coming Hub: Dammam

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eaffirming its position as one of the region’s busiest hubs, King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) registered a record 9.6 million passengers in 2015 following six consecutive years of double-digit increases. Apart from favourable macroeconomic factors, such as population and GDP growth, Sher Khan, managing director, KFIA, attributed the robust 12.4 percent annual rise registered between 2009 – 2015 to active airline engagement and improved levels of service. “Through our incentives scheme, we are able to offer airlines the cheapest aeronautical charges in Saudi Arabia. To enhance the passenger experience, we are constantly upgrading the airport infrastructure and facilities,” explained Khan, revealing that over the past six years, the retail and food and beverage space have doubled at the hub, and upgrades are underway to expand the handling capacity of the terminal and construct an airport hotel, among other developments. “We are also looking to enhance our connectivity to long-haul destinations in Europe and Asia, and facilitate the launch of out new home-base carrier, SaudiGulf,” concluded Khan.

To this end, religious tourism remains a pivotal segment with Adel Erfan, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah, saying that besides the local market and GCC residents, countries with large Muslim populations, including Egypt, Turkey, Morocco and even Indonesia, are significant contributors to the business. As Erfan further revealed, apart from these markets, interest has been also hiking from up and coming territories such as South Africa, North America and Europe. As Minwar Al Jawhara, assistant manager, marketing communications, Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah, noted all these developments are in line with Saudi Arabia’s objective to attract 30 million pilgrims per annum by 2025 – part of the Kingdom’s larger vision that places the industry at the heart of the development. “There are many changes […] with the government trying to invest in tourism and make it a supreme economic source for the country,” added Al Jawhara. SCTH is indeed laying down the foundation to lure both investors as well as visitors, in accordance with the Kingdom’s long-term diversification strategy, earning wide international recognition, with David Scowsill, president, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), having recently personally commended the country on adapting tourism as a key sector to reform and boost the economy. “WTTC has been emphasising the importance of travel and tourism as an alternative income stream to oil exporting countries over the last months. […] It is important that any country sees this opportunity, but especially for countries where other income streams are contracting, such as oil exporters,” said Scowsill, applauding the Saudi leadership for fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors and urging relevant authorities to seize the opportunity and turn tourism into a key engine of socio-economic growth. “In order to ensure that the increase in tourism investment will lead to the expected growth, we encourage the government to adopt visa policies that welcome all travellers for business and leisure purposes,” added Scowsill. 

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King Fadh International Airport

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EXCLUSIVE HOTEL APARTMENTS

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AT YOUR

Service WITH PREFERENCES EVOLVING APACE, TRAVELLERS ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS THAT OFFER A HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME FEELING AND ENSURE THAT THEY MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME, WHETHER ON HOLIDAY, ON BUSINESS OR TEMPORARILY IN-BETWEEN TWO LOCATIONS.

RITA KASZIBA WRITES

“G

lobally, one third of all business travel room nights are part of an extended stay. It is even higher in the Middle East, where it is close to 40 percent and yet, there are no hotel brands with a meaningful distribution catering to the longer stay need,” said Diane Mayer, global brand manager, Marriott Executive, Marriott International. To this end, the hospitality giant outlined ambitious plans for the Middle East with a particular focus on the extended stay segment, where new offerings are being designed for travellers who seek balance on the road range

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with large suites and upscale amenities. And the list of hotel chains keen on jumping on the bandwagon keeps growing. Originally developed in the US, the serviced apartment concept has been designed with long-stay guests’ requirements in mind to provide them with all the facilities and amenities that they use on a daily basis at home. Propelled by the Middle East’s astonishing development in recent times, the segment has gained notable ground over the years with globally trusted names taking over the market from the initially privately owned and managed properties.

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EXCLUSIVE HOTEL APARTMENTS

In fact, according to Colliers International, by October 2015, internationally branded serviced apartments made up over 40 percent of the total supply in mature markets such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and experts claim that the Middle East and Africa region is still in a growth phase, boasting a fertile ground for investors and developers. “In the past few years, we have witnessed a positive trend and an increased demand for hotel apartments. This is mainly due to the need of the market [relating to] new developments and projects, especially here in the UAE,” analysed Chadi Nicolas, general manager, Hala Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi, suggesting that the trend is likely to continue for the years ahead with new ventures and large-scale events coming up. “There is a tremendous growth in this segment,” concurred Moussa El Hayek, chief operating officer, Al Bustan Centre & Residence, Dubai, saying that in Dubai, for instance, the trend is bound to continue as the emirate accelerates its preparations to welcome an anticipated 20 million visitors by 2020, who will easily fill the projected 17,000 rooms that are set to come online over the next five years, as forecasted by Jones Lang LaSalle. In fact, due to its appeal to not only tourists but also businessmen and career-oriented talents, Dubai boasts the highest number of serviced apartments in the Middle East followed by Riyadh, as per Colliers International’s data. The model of these establishments, however, varies greatly; whereas in Dubai international players are adding their names to the projects, elsewhere the market is still dominated by locally branded or unbranded addresses. As Samir Arora, cluster general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Jumeirah Beach Residence and Ramada Downtown Dubai, noted, in Dubai too, hotel apartments mostly represent local brands with a few international names having already entered the market, with Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham being one of these. However, times are changing. “Dubai used to be all about the luxury brands, but now, we are seeing a shift in terms of midmarket [accommodation],” suggested Arora. “We might see new international brands of hotel apartments coming in, should there be a higher demand for this accommodation.”

In fact, gone are the days when only stationed businessmen occupied these rooms and suites. As Raed Rabie, general manager, The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman, noted, due to the attractive offering of extended-stay properties, such as The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman, families are also increasingly opting for such accommodation options. “Our clientele has changed in recent years because we have become 

HERE TO STAY As Nicolas noted, along with the changing market dynamics and micro- and macroeconomics, the guest profile has also diversified, with customers now also taking into consideration not only location and space, but also pricing – especially in light of the current economic situation – as well as several technological and other amenities.

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EXCLUSIVE HOTEL APARTMENTS attractive to a wider spectrum of guests, such as families travelling during Eid or summer holidays, professionals conducting business and couples taking a romantic getaway. Those seeking hotel apartments for both short and long periods want the versatility that we offer. This is proven by the increase we have seen in the demand for hotel apartments at The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, and in the Middle East generally,” confirmed Rabie, suggesting that with family tourism booming across the region, hotel apartments are set to benefit from this trends with businessmen also continuing to flock into the these countries. Hossein Garan, general manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Manama and Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair, also deemed the family travel segment a strong driving force behind the growing popularity of hotel apartments. “With the hotel industry becoming more and more consumer driven and the demand for comfort and convenience continually increasing, leisure travellers, especially those with families, are starting to prefer staying in a hotel apartment over a standard hotel room,” commented Garan, saying that this clientele includes not only longstaying guests but also weekend travellers. As Nicolas explained, the majority of guests booking hotel apartments have a length of stay less than a year hence it is more practical and feasible for them to choose such options rather than signing an annual lease agreement. As Mohammed Khoori, general

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manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, Dubai, noted, the fluctuating real estate prices have also prompted people to look at different choices with new residents to the destination also considering serviced hotel apartments as a viable alternative. Real estate in fact, can have a direct impact on hotel apartments’ business, with Abu Dhabi being a prime example of this, where, as Nicolas noted, due to the rising prices, it has become almost more affordable to stay in serviced apartment rather than in non-serviced units, when one takes into consideration all the perks offered by such accommodation options. Another recent region-wide phenomenon is the proliferation of midmarket projects, which, however, as Arora pinpointed, only competes with hotel apartments in terms of pricing for guests booking a stay for the maximum of a week. “Long-stay guests will still prefer a hotel apartment with fully-equipped features rather than staying in midmarket properties, especially now that hotel apartment prices are very competitive,” added Arora. Garan agreed that due to the contrasting requirements of their respective

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clientele, the anticipated boom in the midmarket sector is unlikely to abate the development of the long-stay segment and given the growing economies and the projects shaping these countries’ future, demand for hotel apartments is set to remain strong. Due to the lower operational costs, fewer facilities and lower payroll costs, global brands are increasingly venturing into the serviced apartment segment with the aim to grow profits and enhance their global visibility. With major hospitality players entering the sector, the past years have seen the emergence of a high number of dual component properties, housing both a hotel as well as serviced residences. Creating a convenient option for long-stay guests, branded residences allow them to enjoy comfort and privacy while also benefitting from access to the attached, or often just affiliated, hotel. According to Colliers International’s report, in the future, duplexes and maid’s rooms are likely to gain popularity at serviced apartments in a bid to attract GCC families. A loft-inspired efficient room design is expected to take over, and grab-and-go food and beverage options, as well as connected retail options are also predicted to appear more and more. All in all, industry stakeholders anticipate a bright future for hotel apartments with Khoori stating, “This segment will continue to grow at a steady pace.”  JULY 2016



DISCOVER EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

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A SHRINE OF

Knowledge A REGION IMMERSED IN HISTORY, CULTURE AND CENTURY-OLD TRADITIONS, WITH EXCELLENT ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL AS TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MIDDLE EAST OFFERS BOUNTIFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL. FROM ACADEMIC TRIPS TO EXCURSIONS AND FAMILY ‘EDUTAINMENT’, THE MIDDLE EAST HAS PLENTY TO OFFER.

ANA MLADENOVIC WRITES

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s the region’s most prominent tertiary education hub and home to numerous modern research and innovation centres, supported by excellent accommodation and entertainment options, the UAE is the first to spring to mind when it comes to educational travel. Currently, a number of highly publicised cultural projects are underway, which are poised to further boost the country’s credentials when it comes to this niche market, with these including Dubai’s AED1 billion (USD272.3 million) Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. Hailed as the biggest in the Arab world, the book-shaped structure will boast more than 1.5 million volumes, one million audio books and two million e-books, and is also planned to include a centre for conservation and restoration of historical manuscripts, as well as a museum section with rare artefacts from the collection of the ruling Al Maktoum family. Once completed in 2017, the library is expected to host more than 100 cultural and academic events and attract over nine million visitors per year, both from within the country as well as overseas. The whole area will be transformed, according to Hussain Lootah, director general, Dubai Municipality, who said, “The structure is unique and iconic. It is a challenge.” Earlier this year, as part of the World Government Summit, the public also had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the emirate’s upcoming Museum of the Future – due to open in 2018 – through an exhibition organised by the Dubai Foundation. Students, researchers, academics and the general public were able to immerse themselves in the interactive showcase of the future of robots and artificial intelligence and learn about their impact on human life – themes which will be the focus of Dubai’s new educational and edutainment gem. In the neighbouring Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, on the other hand, the much-awaited Louvre Abu Dhabi has reached yet another important stage, as the removal of temporary sea protection walls and integration of the sea with the museum project has begun. “This is a great milestone in the development of Louvre Abu Dhabi,” enthused H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC). “This delicate process is the result of months of planning and preparation to ensure that the inflow of sea water takes place in a controlled manner around and within strategic places in the museum. We are confident that once it is concluded, future visitors to Saadiyat Island will be able to see the beauty of Louvre Abu Dhabi and experience first-hand how the vision for this project has been turned into reality.”

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DISCOVER EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Apart from education-focussed attractions, the country also lures in students and academics with its many cultural and educational events, such as the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which took place between April 27 – May 03. According to Abdullah Majid Al Ali, director of library management, Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA) Abu Dhabi, this year’s edition of the event was remarkable and distinctive at all levels, having gathered 1,261 publishers from 63 countries. UNEARTHING TREASURES All across MENA, history is literally being unearthed from the desert sands, promising more exciting attractions for future visitors. In Jordan, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has just confirmed the archaeological relevation of a significant monument in the ancient city of Petra. “This discovery brings us closer to our heritage and to understanding the

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prosperous civilisation of the Nabateans,” said H.E. Lina Annab, tourism and antiquities minister, Jordan. “With that said, we are proud to further look into drone technology, satellite imaging and excavation ventures in hopes of bringing more of Jordan’s hidden treasures to light.” She further added, “We are also very excited to see the enthusiasm with which this amazing finding was welcomed globally, hoping it bodes well for Jordan’s tourism industry.” In Egypt, since the beginning of the year, archaeologists have discovered a 3,400-year-old necropolis at a quarry site north of Aswan, as well as ancient stone blocks portraying Queen Hatshepsut on Elephantine Island. In addition, Khaled El-Enany, antiquities minister, Egypt, has approved a major project that will display the country’s military history through the opening of several historical sites to tourists, in addition to setting up of new museum displays. This includes the restoration of the ancient Horus Military Road in Sinai, which hosts the sites of ancient fortresses and military structures, as well as the establishment of a panorama and a museum displaying Egypt’s military history. 

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EXPLORE GREECE

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BEATING THE

Odds

ANA MLADENOVIC WRITES

RISING GOVERNMENT LEVIES, POLITICAL INSTABILITY, NEGATIVE PUBLICITY AND GLOBAL UPHEAVAL; THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH GREEK HOTELIERS ARE SETTING A BENCHMARK WITH THEIR RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY. BY REDEFINING THEIR STRATEGIES AND REVAMPING THE OFFERINGS, THEY ARE DETERMINED TO EXCEL.

GREECE IN BRIEF Capital: Athens Currency: Euro (EUR) Language: Greek Population: 10.93 million Calling Code: +30 Capital Time Zone: GMT +2:00

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“P

eople in our industry believe that hospitality can become the driving force to help the country’s economy out of its present state,” said Manolis Manousos, vice chairman, Cyan Group of Hotels. However, as he explained, the industry has found itself amidst a tax tornado, the effects of which are reflected on business results. “[Occupancy-wise] our company is expected to close the season with a growth of four to five percent compared to 2015, but unfortunately [it is] much lower as far as money is concerned […] and to be honest, we are not sure how and when this tornado is going to end,” he admitted. Similar concerns were raised by Markos Chaidemenos, managing director, Canaves Oia, Luxury Resorts, Santorini, who noted that had business not been growing year-on-year, the company would not have been able to cope. “The problem is that the taxes are very high, there are a lot of indirect taxes as well as the typical ones which increase annually. You cannot plan because every month there is a new legislation with new taxes,” he said. This unpredictability naturally hampers any forward-looking sales efforts. “It creates a big problem for the normal operations of our properties and especially for the contracting for [2017], and it stops our early sales for the next season which show the trends for next year,” said Christos Katsigiannis, sales and marketing manager, Aeolos Beach Resort and Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa. Vasia Theochari, sales and reservations manager, Rocabella Mykonos Hotel, also admitted that her team had to change pricing strategies. “We are uncertain with the policy we have to follow for 2017, although we have already received requests,” she said. As a result, reservations are increasingly made with a shorter notice, and at St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas this is anywhere between five and 25 days. “This is great to fill unsold rooms at short notice, but a bit difficult for planning ahead,” said Costas Zarbalas, general manager, St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas. To make things even harder, new taxes are now being considered, such as the hotel overnight tax which had been postponed to 2018, as Kalia Konstantinidou, director of sales 

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EXPLORE GREECE

and marketing, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel and Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, explained. “We are trying to absorb parts of the tax increases every time but are afraid that if this situation continues, at some point it will become impossible for our business, and for the Greek tourism in general, to operate at a profit,” she expressed. Looking at the bigger picture Eleftherios Boutsioukis, chairman, AEGEON Hotels, warned that new such increases are a disadvantage to the industry. Yet, looking on the bright side, Boutsioukis noticed, “All the difficulties in Greece made us better, more competitive, and had guided us to find new markets with new guests.” In the challenging Greece of today, replacing lost markets with new ones is a top priority. Stella Sidera, hotel manager, Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas, shared that a focus on foreign markets helped to compensate for losses, with one of the top performing international markets being the UK. Zarbalas was quick to notice the opportunities presented by the weakened tourism allure of Turkey and North Africa, and this regional instability is one of the factors that Alex Marshall, owner, Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel, believes is behind the appeal of the Greece. Yet, hoteliers acknowledge that the looming global threats can ultimately hamper tourism even in Greece. “The fear [spread after various events and] a horrible atmosphere has been created within Europe, which pauses most holiday planners from planning,” said Sophie Vrind, general manager, Anemi Hotels. Konstantinidou added, “The start of the year was rather slow […]. Potential and existing clients were quite shocked and discouraged, or even reluctant to travel.” As for the rest of the year, feelings are mixed. Based on reservation forecasts, the management at Blue Lagoon Group expects this touristic season to exceed 2015’s figures. “Halkidiki in general is a very popular destination [...] and attracts tourists from all over Europe,” said Michalis Hadjiandreou, commercial director, Blue Lagoon Group.

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Similarly optimistic is Fotis Kokotos, director of development, Elounda SA Hotels & Resorts, who expects the company’s Cretan resorts to record a turnover up to 15 percent higher than that of 2015. “This optimistic outlook is bourne by current booking trends, where we have already confirmed 67 percent of the total annual 2015 bookings,” he revealed. On the other hand, there are others who are forecasting a weaker performance. Marshall revealed that reservations are down by a fifth at the Rhodesbased boutique property, and cautious estimates were also reported by the Santorini-based Michael Vardaros, hotel manager, Kapari Natural Resort, who said that the expectations for the current season are definitely less optimistic than in 2015. Yet, from room renovations and new facilities to staff trainings and fresh guest entertainment concepts – the Greek hotel market is peppered with novelties. In Corfu, Aeolos Beach Resort and Kontokali Bay Resort & Spa have emerged after extensive three- and four-year multimillion-euro refurbishment projects and equally impressive were the developments at Elounda SA Hotels & Resorts, as Kokotos revealed. “Elounda remains at the cutting edge of Greek travel and tourism by constantly improving and innovating,” said Kokotos. For business travellers to the country’s capital, Novotel Athenes boasts recently renovated meeting rooms as well as a remodelled restaurant, as Evripides Tzikas, hotel general manager, Novotel Athenes, revealed. Yet, despite their individual efforts and perseverance, the industry is ailing for government support in order to remain competitive. “We are afraid that if Greek tourism as a whole does not receive the state support that it needs and is entitled to as one of the most – if not the most – lucrative business sectors of Greece, businesses, in turn, will not be in a position to support the Greek economy,” warned Konstantinidou. 

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TOUR HONG KONG

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THE LURE OF

the East A COSMOPOLITAN CITY DOTTED WITH WORLD-CLASS ATTRACTIONS AND AN EVERENCHANTING CULTURE, HONG KONG HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ITS PURSUIT OF ATTRACTING TRAVELLERS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST TO PROPEL THE INDUSTRY’S LONG-TERM GROWTH.

HONG KONG IN BRIEF Capital: Hong Kong Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) Language: Cantonese Population: 7.23 million Calling Code: +852 Capital Time Zone: GMT +8:00

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PAULINE SHAHABIAN WRITES

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ong Kong recorded 49,200 visitors from the GCC in 2015, coinciding with 2014 figures, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia remaining the key markets from the region. “We expect a slight increase in arrivals by the end of [this year] as we are implementing a number of consumer-specific activities, as well as trade training and relationship building [programmes] throughout the year,” revealed Sammy Musa, managing director, Gulf Reps, Hong Kong Tourism Board [HKTB] representative. Indeed, the authority sees great potential in the region as an emerging market. Accordingly, strong emphasis has been placed on working closely with the entity’s office in Dubai in order to roll out a number of promotional activities. HKTB has also arranged various familiarisation programmes for the industry’s front-line staff in a bid to enhance their knowledge about Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the office has also been very progressive on the digital front, continually developing its Arabic language website and Facebook page. As to what makes Hong Kong so alluring to Middle Eastern visitors, Musa pinpointed the destination’s wealth of diverse culture and lifestyle experiences – the nightlife, restaurants, shopping, natural beauty and unique cultural attractions which make it a preferred location for both business and leisure. Chiming in, Peter Hildebrand, general manager, W Hong Kong, posited that the destination’s rich international trade background, coupled with its close proximity to China as well as its multinational image has helped to attract Middle Eastern exhibition organisers, hence, the surging volume of trade business by the concerned market in Hong Kong. FULL OF POTENTIAL The tourism board’s confidence in the Middle Eastern market is reflected in Hong Kong’s industry stakeholders’ views. As Hildebrand noted, W Hong Kong is still at the early stages of exploring the potentially lucrative Middle Eastern market. Accordingly, the hotel has collaborated closely with HKTB on familiarisation trips

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TOUR HONG KONG

across the region, and has also reached out to its brand office in the area to obtain statistics and subsequently draft strategies based on the gathered information. “The emerging Middle Eastern market is full of potential,” stated Jeannie Crestejo, director of sales and marketing, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, who revealed that the hotel witnessed a double-digit growth in these guests in 2015 over 2014, identifying the hotelier’s strong brand presence across GCC markets as the driver for further growth. “The Middle East is a new market that we have been trying to expand in the past four years,” noted Noel Chai, director of sales and marketing, The Excelsior, Hong Kong, who mentioned a 118 percent year-on-year increase in Middle Eastern guests at the hotel in 2015. “With the global economic downturn and reduction of visitors from the Chinese market, this [segment] would help supplement the underperformance of concerned areas,” added Chai. Similarly, Ally Tsang, executive assistant manager, sales and marketing, Royal Park Hotel, reiterated the Middle Eastern market’s importance, saying that it can help to diversify the guest mix and generate more business opportunities in the long-term. On this front, Jenny An, director of marketing communications, The Langham, Hong Kong, explained that the hotel’s current Middle East versus overall guest mix is still soft, but one that the management hopes to further develop. Indeed, the establishment doubled its arrivals from the region in 2015, and expects to continue in the same manner this year. According to An, with upcoming Langham projects in Dubai and Doha, the hotelier aims to create a stronger footprint and gain further brand recognition in the area. In the case of Royal Park Hotel, although the property’s occupancy from this market remained the same from 2014 to 2015, Tsang is optimistic about the growth prospect following HKTB’s promotional activities. SKY IS THE LIMIT Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways served nearly 600,000 passengers from the Middle East in 2014. Although the figure slightly decreased in 2015, the company remains focussed on adjusting its routes and frequency according to demand and market conditions. “The current 25 weekly flights from Dubai, Bahrain and Riyadh are about right for the market,” stated Nikhil Kilpady, sales and marketing manager, UAE and Oman, Cathay Pacific Airways. Qatar Airways, which celebrated its 10th anniversary of operations to Hong Kong this year, updated the route to Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft, ensuring even greater comfort. This year also saw Qatar’s national carrier resume full double-daily operations from Hong Kong, reinforcing the destination’s importance for the company. “Apart from the lure of East Asia, Hong Kong is also an important hub in the region, with connections to many cities [across] Asia. Hong Kong, hence, becomes a natural stopover choice for Middle Eastern tourists who want a complete East Asia experience,” posited Chan Cheong Eu, country manager, Greater China South, Qatar Airways, also shedding light on the relatively easy entry into the Asian destination for Middle Eastern travellers, with most nations now being eligible for a visa-free stay for a certain length of time. The notion of Hong Kong serving as a stopover hub for further access into Mainland China and Asia in general was acknowledged by Tsang, Chai as well as Crestejo. “The luxurious stay experience in [Hong Kong] and the gateway to Asia [helps] to attract [Middle Eastern] travellers,” stressed Crestejo. As Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president, commercial operation, Centre, Emirates, further commented, with four daily flights offered by the UAE carrier between Dubai and Hong Kong, this route is very popular with Middle Eastern travellers, many of whom travel to China and southeast Asian countries through the city for both business and leisure purposes. “We continue to carefully evaluate our existing operations in Hong Kong, and work closely with the relevant authorities to access possible opportunities if market conditions allow,” notioned Al Mualla pertaining to Emirates’ future plans for the Asian destination. “Air connectivity is essential for Hong Kong to maintain its attractiveness as an international business and tourist hub. [...] As a Hong Kong home carrier, we will continue to work with HKTB and actively support initiatives for promoting Hong Kong to visitors [from] the Middle East,” concluded Kilpady. 

JULY 2016

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Q & A with

RENDEZVOUS

DATUK SERI MIRZA MOHAMMAD TAIYAB DIRECTOR GENERAL, TOURISM MALAYSIA

TRULY ASIA HAS BEEN MALAYSIA’S TOURISM SLOGAN OVER THE PAST YEARS, REFLECTING THE COUNTRY’S RICH CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE. DATUK SERI MIRZA MOHAMMAD TAIYAB, DIRECTOR GENERAL, TOURISM MALAYSIA, TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S RISING POPULARITY.

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: What are Tourism Malaysia’s key priorities for the current year? TAIYAB: This year, the government is targeting 30.5 million tourist arrivals, with tourism receipts amounting to MYR103 billion (USD25.4 billion). To achieve this goal, the government formulated the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016 – 2020),

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which was designed to attract highyield tourists to further increase the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy. Among the strategies proposed was to position ecotourism as a premier segment of the tourism industry, while also promoting heritage sites and cultural products as an added asset to the touristic experience. According to the World Tourism Organization, demand for ecotourism, nature, heritage, cultural and soft adventure attractions are expected to grow rapidly over the next two decades, which explains our latest tourism promotional strategy to tap into these markets. Our promotional strategies are also guided by the nation’s Economic Transformation Programme which emphasises on the development and promotion of tourism along the following five themes: affordable luxury, nature adventure, family fun, events, entertainment and business tourism.

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parks that are popular amongst the tourists such as Legoland, which is Asia’s first Legoland; Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Kidzania. In the pipeline, Resorts World Genting will open its doors to the much anticipated 20th Century Fox World Outdoor theme park. The product owners have participated in the major travel exhibitions in the region such as the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in April. This year, 77 organisations ranging from hoteliers, travel agents, tour-

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How important is West Asia to the country’s overall tourism industry? TAIYAB: The West Asia market is a key tourist source market for Malaysia. Every year, we receive in excess of 316,000 tourists from this region. Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE and the GCC countries are the main source markets. In 2015, their average length of stay has increased from 8.1 to 9.7 nights while their per capita expenditure, too, has grown by 1.3 percent. […] We have positioned Malaysia as a year-round destination for families and as a value-for-money destination. Among others, one of the main programmes that we have embarked on is the joint tactical campaigns with Etihad Airways, from September 2015 to this June. With the success of this joint effort we have decided to extend the campaign for another year. Reasonably priced holiday packages and attractive airfares to Malaysia are being promoted as part of our joint promotions in support of our mainstream advertising campaign. Our advertising campaigns are implemented in the forms of television commercials, printed ads in newspaper and magazines, outdoor billboards and online social media. The television commercials and printed ads portray the various attractions activities for the families and honeymooners as our target segment. We are also promoting our theme

ism organisations and product owners participated in our Malaysia Pavilion. […] In addition we organised familiarisation visits for travel agents and media to have a personal experience in Malaysia. Malaysia is also highlighted as one of the top Muslim-friendly destination which [allows] Muslim tourists to experience their Iftar and Sahur with a wide variety of Middle Eastern culinary treats. As part of our promotions, we work closely with the wholesalers and tour operators to come up with attractive packages that could lure the tourists to choose Malaysia as their holiday destination. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: What aspects JULY 2016


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make Malaysia a top destination for West Asian travellers? TAIYAB: Arab families prefer holidays in Malaysia because of the predominantly Muslim community in the country. The availability of Halal food, as well as religious facilities such as prayer rooms and mosques, cater to the needs of the Middle Eastern traveller. Malaysia is also a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual society.

English is widely spoken and Arabicspeaking tourist guides are available in most cities. Due to all these factors, Malaysia, in fact, was ranked the World’s Top Muslim Friendly Destination in the Master Card – CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index in 2015. Additionally, Malaysia is an ideal family destination which caters to the Arab tourists’ various needs for theme parks, shopping, spas and sightseeing as well as honeymoon destinations. Another plus point Malaysia has is its excellent education system, which has attracted many Arab students to choose Malaysia as the destination for their undergraduate studies. JULY 2016

RENDEZVOUS

Malaysia is also gaining more interest in this market as a medical tourism destination that offers world-class medical treatments. Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, an agency under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, stated that Malaysia is now one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism in the world, as they provide high-quality medical care at very competitive prices. A total of 853,875 medical tourists visited Malaysia in 2015. Out of that num-

Tourism and National Heritage. It is hoped that the cooperation will enhance efforts for culture and arts exchange which will help to boost interest for travel between the two countries. Among the ideas raised was the exchange of museum exhibits through displaying relics related to Islamic history in the Kingdom’s Islamic Art Museum as well in the Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur. We also hope to exhibit the history of Malaysia in Saudi mu-

ber, 6,307 medical tourists came from Saudi Arabia, 1,426 from Oman and 676 from the UAE.

seums in exchange for displaying the story of the emergence of Islam in the Kingdom as the land of successive civilizations in Malaysia’s museums. Malaysia is also set to be the first country which the Kingdom will introduce the After Umrah Programme or Saudi Arabia – the Destination of Muslims where the Muslims are encouraged to travel around Saudi Arabia such as Riyadh and Abha after performing their Hajj/Umrah. H.R.H. Prince Al Saud expressed his desire to have joint ventures with Malaysian travel agencies as well as tour operators and to establish several offices in Malaysia to implement the aforementioned initiative.

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Malaysia has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia on tourism cooperation. How will this deal support the two countries’ growth in the long-term? TAIYAB: The MoU on tourism cooperation between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia was signed by Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, tourism and culture minister, Malaysia and H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, president, Saudi Commission For

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How would you evaluate the past months in terms of arrivals to Malaysia? TAIYAB: Tourist arrivals to Malaysia rebounded by 2.8 percent in the first quarter to achieve 6.7 million tourists. Chinese arrivals to Malaysia have recovered by recording a 35.2 percent growth. Other major markets that posted double-digit growth are Thailand,

Saudi Arabia (up 20.5 percent) and South Korea. We foresee that the positive trend will continue for the rest of the year [...]. We welcome tourists from the Middle East as our main source of arrivals. At the same time, we also see the potential of the neighbouring North African countries which are also an important region that we are looking at, as a potential generating market. These include countries like Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. With the budget constraints we are faced with, it is unfortunate that we are not able to undertake any promotions in these markets, however, we plan to embark on a sales mission to this part of the region in the near future. 

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Q & A with

RENDEZVOUS

GABRIEL ESCARRER CEO, MELIÁ HOTELS INTERNATIONAL

FOUNDED IN 1956, MELIÁ HOTELS INTERNATIONAL (MHI) IS CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE THIS YEAR. GABRIEL ESCARRER, CEO, MHI, TALKS ABOUT THE PAST SIX DECADES AND THE YEARS AHEAD.

TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How memorable has this celebratory year been? GABRIEL ESCARRER: This anniversary is a huge milestone for us because it comes to us when we are stronger than ever […]. My father founded this company in 1956, and after six decades of leadership, we can say that the key for Meliá’s long-term success is basically the capacity we have shown to innovate and reinvent ourselves on a constant basis, whilst keeping intact our strong and solid values that come from the family-owners. Currently, we are launching a new strategic plan for the period between this year and 2018, in which our main goals have to do with the strengthening of our brands, the relationship with our customers and our stakeholders through the digital revolution that we call MeliaDigital, and the enhancement of our reputation.

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Meliá Dubai

We are 60 years old and still making history for the industry […]. We have just announced the signature of the first five-star international hotel in Iran. As leaders in the resort segment, currently we are also transforming the traditional beach and sun hotels by introducing lifestyle concepts that allow personalisation of the experience and a higher generation of value. […] TRAVEL TRADE MENA: What measures have been taken by MHI to adapt to the changing market trends? GABRIEL ESCARRER: On one hand, according to the challenging international expansion we are facing, our business model is currently focussed on managing hotels, rather than on owned hotels, so our expansion strategy is majorly based on low-capital intensive formulas, such as management contracts or leases. This enhances our flexibility to focus on the most dynamic markets, and allows us to grow strategically, reducing our exposure to the economic cycles and to regional and country risks. […] On the other hand, we have a competitive advantage as far as we have several hotel brands in every segment and category, which makes us more flexible and adaptable to changes in the market. So far, our Meliá Dubai and Meliá Doha have been enjoying high occupancy levels this year, and we see a growing interest in the market for these mid- and upscale hotels – versus our traditional only luxury focus – which is a logical evolution as the market consolidates. According to this trend, we have already signed several Innside branded hotels in Dubai and Doha, for instance. Innside by Meliá is the fastest-growing brand of our portfolio, as it features design-led and efficient lifestyle hotels in the best sites of the most important cities.

Our expertise in the MICE segment is another strength of MHI, as MICE is rapidly growing in the region within the budget-wise segment. TRAVEL TRADE MENA: How have Middle Eastern travellers embraced the Meliá concept? GABRIEL ESCARRER: […] MHI has developed seven different hotel brands, of which four are currently present in the Middle East region: Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME by Meliá and Innside by Meliá. In our hotels, we aim to provide a personalised offering, because hospitality is not only about rooms anymore; a hotel brand needs to connect emotionally with the client […]. We now know that discerning travellers, like the Middle East clientele, currently seek a ‘far beyond accommodation’ experience, supplemented with wellness, sports , beauty, fashion , food and beverage, life-enriching activities, technology and so on. […] TRAVEL TRADE MENA: Please tell us about your upcoming developments. GABRIEL ESCARRER: We have 10 further hotels under signature in the region, due to open between 2017 and 2020. The properties will be managed under the Meliá, ME by Meliá, Innside by Meliá and Gran Meliá brands. We view the GCC as a key part of our strategy. On one hand, because GCC cities are the perfect ground for developing our best-class brands in the different segments, specially regarding urban ‘bleisure’ hotels. We are highly focussed on growth in this region, and we are finalising deals in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, whilst closely analysing opportunities in the mid and upscale segments as well as several options in the leisure/resort field.  JULY 2016


JULY 2016

H.H. SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM

CHAIRMAN, EMIRATES

Emirates [will] unlock further growth with the delivery of 36 aircraft this financial year

“We will continue to work with the international financial community to deliver diverse, innovative sources of funding within an evenly spread financing portfolio for our business needs. Our strong business model and long-term financing strategy will position Emirates to unlock further growth with the delivery of 36 aircraft this financial year. ”

GENERAL MANAGER, GRAND MILLENNIUM DUBAI

OUSSAMA CHALAK

TRAVEL TALK

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We have had to strive to be at the top of our game “With a revamp of our restaurant offerings, plus further competition from new accommodation opening up in Dubai, we have had to strive to be at the top of our game. Winning [TripAdvisor’s] Certificate of Excellence for the sixth time – and joining the Hall of Fame – is excellent news and demonstrates we are providing service with a smile for our guests as well as a product that delivers everything they require, whether visiting Dubai on business or leisure.”

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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS

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BITE Concludes on High Note

MEETINGPLANNERS RUSSIA

Beijing International Tourism Expo 2016

Moscow, Russia September 05 – 06 www.europecongress.com Worldwide MICE solution providers will meet with leading Russian and CIS meeting planners within an intensive twoday workshop format.

FOOD & HOSPITALITY OMAN Muscat, Oman September 20 – 22 foodandhospitalityoman.com A business and networking platform promoting the latest products and services in the food and beverage sector.

OTDYKH TRAVEL MARKET Moscow, Russia September 21 – 24 www.tourismexpo.ru The 22nd edition of the Russian show is a must-attend event for negotiations and new business deals.

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) was held between May 20 – 22 in the Chinese capital for the 13th time, attracting 5,819 trade visitors who negotiated business transactions worth CNY5.9 billion (USD896 million), a 5.4 percent increase over 2015.

M

oreover, 19 travel agencies received reservations from about 33,000 customers, grossing CNY93 million (USD14 million) in sales revenue, a 12 percent year-on-year surge. Spanning a floor space of 22,000m2, the three-day tourism event saw almost 1,000 exhibitors from more than 81 countries and regions, as well as 24 provinces and autonomous regions, including Ivory Coast, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

CITE Coming Up IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France September 20 – 23 www.iftm.fr Reed Expositions France puts together a happening that over the years has become a multitarget market event for all travel types.

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Organised by Conference & Exhibitions Management Service and CEMS (Beijing) Conference and Exhibitions, the fourth Chengdu International Tourism Expo (CITE) will be held in the Chinese city between December 02 – 04.

T

his year, more than 400 exhibitors from over 40 countries are forecasted to participate in the event which will boast a floor area of over 10,000m2. The organisers also expect 6,500 international and local trade customers and 20,000 public visitors. For the first time, CITE will see the addition of business travel and niche tourism pavilions, both of which will showcase less-explored destinations for incentive and luxury tourists, demonstrating that the Sichuan province can offer more than the usual postcard attractions.

JULY 2016


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