18 NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 419
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort DISCOVER THE PEAK OF WORLD-CLASS LUXURY. EXPERIENCE THE HEART OF OMANI HOSPITALITY.
directoryoffers.traveltradedaily.com • maximise your business exposure • drive traffic directly to your company's website • promote your special offers and packages • expand your customer database • target market those who are looking to buy • create your own 'mini website' in an already established readership base
Be a unique competitor
Add your business today! For FREE
18 NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 419
08 DUBAI TO WELCOME BULGARI RESORTS & RESIDENCES
07 WEEKLY NEWS
EXPO 2020 BUILDINGS RISE FROM THE GROUND
12 03 Technology EMIRATES EXPANDS SERVICE TO ALGERIA
13 International 16 Rendezvous
MARKET UPDATE
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
Middle East Carriers’ Fleet Size to Be Expanded According to Airbus
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou 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 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515, neil@globetm.com
According to the Airbus Global Market Forecast, the fleet size of operators in the Middle East is forecast to grow more than double from 1,250 to 3,320 aircraft over the next two decades.
T
he region will need some 2,590 new aircraft by 2036, for replacement of 520 older generation aircraft, and 2,070 aircraft for growth. This demand includes 1,080 for twin-aisle aircraft, with the same number of single-aisle aircraft and 430 very large aircraft. “[…] The region’s proximity to the world’s population and growth markets has been a key in its aviation success and Airbus is proud to have been a partner in its development from day one,” said John Leahy, chief operating officer, customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735, kuka@rmamedia.com
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456, david@simpson-media.com
Mixed Results for Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern Hubs
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of 16.11.2017
2
COUNTRY
CURRENCY USD1=
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
114.76
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
17.63
Iran (IRR)
Rial
35,241.35
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,172.30
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,510.56
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.37
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.43
Syria (SYP)
Pound
515.04
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.49
Yemen (YER)
Rial
250.55
Dubai International
According to data released by Airports Council International, passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern airports in August grew by more than 6.2 percent and 5.2 percent respectively, compared to the same period in 2016.
R
obust domestic passenger travels continued to stimulate growth in India with monthly growth rate consistently maintained at above a10 percent level, something which is also the case for China. In the Middle East, passenger traffic showed mixed results in August with Doha reporting a decline of 13.1 percent, impacted by Qatar’s diplomatic crisis while a number of neighbouring states such as Kuwait, Beirut and Muscat reported growth.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Apple Pay Joins Etihad Airways Etihad Airways announced the launch of Apple pay for its customer, transforming mobile payments with a convenient way to pay for flights and travel.
T
Apple pay
he feature is available on the airline’s mobile app where customers can buy flights, extra legroom seats, preferred seats and excess baggage through their phones. Justin Warby, vice president, digital strategy and innovation, Etihad Airways, said, “We are proud to partner with Apple Pay to bring the latest mobile payment and technology innovations to our guests in the UAE and around the world. We were able to quickly adjust the release cycle of our mobile app to ensure we coincided our launch with Apple in the UAE.”
Visa Moves Payment Security Beyond Passwords
A
iming to maximise security as well as to create convenient ways for consumers to pay and bank, Visa ID Intelligence has introduced a selection of authentication technologies with simple integration allowing clients to adopt new authentication solutions, such as face, fingerprint or voice recognition, document verification, or device and user identification. Targeting 20 billion connected devices by 2020, Visa ID Intelligence is expanding the devices and environments in which commerce can take place. Mark Nelsen, senior vice president, risk and authentication products, Visa said, “[...]. We built Visa ID Intelligence to help accelerate smarter and easy-to-use authentication solutions for any commerce environment—to better protect against fraud [...].”
18 NOVEMBER 2017
Blockchain to Transform the Future of Travel
A
ccording to a recent paper published by Amadeus, blockchain has the most potential to transform the travel industry, promising to change the way people can exchange value digitally. Just as the Internet’s design has allowed to exchange information very easily and quickly, so could the blockchain open the door to a new iteration of computing that allows value, to be exchanged between businesses, governments and individuals. Apart from blockchain, the company has also identified five additional core themes with the most potential to transform the travel industry including extended content, improved conversion, messaging platforms, operations and performance, and disruptive forces.
Hotelogix Adds Centralised Guest History
H
otelogix, a cloud-based hotel management software, has added centralised guest history to its hotel management solution solving one of the core issues of multiproperty hotels. These businesses that have multiple properties can now access guest data captured at the time of reservation at any of their properties. This helps them on improving the experience when the guest returns to one of their hotels at another location. “We find today’s guests consistently vying for more. While hotels are under continuous pressure to deliver on their demands, centralised guest profiles and their history will help them capture data of their guests at a click of a button,” said Prabhash Bhatnagar, founder, Hotelogix.
3
WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY Desbravador Consolidates TravelClick’s iHotelier
T
ravelClick and Desbravador, a property management system (PMS), have come together to integrate TravelClick’s iHotelier Central Reservations System into Desbravador Intelligent Management Software’s PMS. This new integration will provide real-time transmission of hotel rates, inventory and restrictions from Desbravador to TravelClick, as well as facilitate seamless communication of hotel room reservations that are made through TravelClick and delivered to the PMS. Through the integration, hoteliers can increase efficiency through automation, optimise guest satisfaction and maximise revenue. “Hotel partners, whether independent or international brands, actively seek property management and central reservations systems that ultimately support the immediate flow of information,” said Débora Leite, marketing director, Desbravador.
4
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Fornova Partners With eRevMax
A
iming to create a one-stop shop for smart distribution, benefiting hotels worldwide, Fornova recently announced that it is joining forces with eRevMax, the travel technology company that assists hotels through channel management, bringing its market intelligence and market visibility tools to the eRevMax LIVE OS platform. Commenting on the partnership, Dori Stein, CEO, Fornova, highlighted, “[…] Joining Fornova’s Strategic Distribution Management tools with the LIVE OS platform will help hotels leverage the fundamentally dynamic nature of the online marketplace, price their products better, and distribute them more effectively. It is a great way to optimise the booking path to a hotel’s advantage - and maximise visibility."
Sabre Launches Analytics Platform
S
abre has developed a hospitality industry analytics platform to use artificial intelligence in order to maximise total hotel revenue, namely SynXis Analytics Cloud. SynXis Analytics Cloud identifies opportunities for revenue and guest experience improvement and helps hoteliers avoid lost revenue by analysing data from operations, finances, room-stay production, ancillaries and rate-room-channel configurations to deliver targeted, actionable insights. “Our vision for SynXis Analytics Cloud is focused on solving the hospitality data integration challenge and meeting hoteliers’ need for self-service business intelligence and artificial intelligence capabilities [...],” said Balaji Krishnamurthy, vice president, global strategy, corporate development and business intelligence, Sabre Hospitality Solutions.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTS
Global Airport Industry Hits Climate Action Milestone
A
irports Council International (ACI) released the annual report for Airport Carbon Accreditation, showing how the global airport industry is delivering on its commitment, which was made in 2007, to lower its own CO2 emissions. At this year’s ACI World & Africa Annual General Assembly hosted by Airports of Mauritius, the global airport industry issued an update on the progress it has been making. Angela Gittens, director general, ACI World, commented, “This past year has seen continued engagement from airports with 36 new applications to Airport Carbon Accreditation and more airports reaching a higher level of certification within the programme. As a result, we are able to announce that we now have 201 airports participating in Airport Carbon Accreditation.”
18 NOVEMBER 2017
ACI and IATA Launch NEXTT
A
irports Council International (ACI) World in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the New Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT) initiative. In light of the projected traffic growth, new on-ground concepts are, and will increasingly be required, to optimise the use of emerging technologies, processes, and design developments. NEXTT aims to deliver this future by developing a common vision to enhance the transport experience, guide industry investments and help guide governments towards improving the regulatory framework. “NEXTT will seek to provide a seamless journey by exploring increased off-site processing options [...],” said Angela Gittens, director general, ACI World.
BAC Strengthens QHSE Standards
B
ahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport, has upgraded and widened its quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) standards to cover its entire operations, resulting in three new ISO certifications. Integrated Management Systems certificates will consolidate BAC’s quality assurance strategy to put in place an organisation-wide framework to better assess and manage quality, compliance and risks assessment. The move follows a decision to raise QHSE certification coverage from airside operations only to a more comprehensive organisational level, as BAC continues its efforts toward the ambitious and transformational Airport Modernisation Programme.
5
WEEKLY NEWS
Water-Taxi Shuttle rendering
First Water-Taxi Shuttle Service in Abu Dhabi
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Egyptian Hotel and Tourism Sector Recovers
W
hile conditions remain challenging across Cairo's real estate market, elevated interest from major investors and developers coupled with associated economic reforms signal a return to a more stable market, according to Jones Lang LaSalle's (JLL) Q3 Cairo Real Estate Market Overview. The hotel and tourism sector has witnessed improved occupancy rates on the back of the government's campaign efforts to boost domestic and international tourism while further projects have been announced in Cairo and across Egypt demonstrating restored investor confidence. "[…] Increased investor confidence suggests the residential market is approaching the bottom of its current cycle, paving the way for overall improved market conditions in 2018,'' explained Ayman Sami, head, Egypt, JLL.
O
n October 24, Abu Dhabi Ports, Fujairah Terminals and the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi signed an agreement with Jalboot Marine, a local-based company that provides ferry services around Abu Dhabi, to begin cruise trips around the capital. The agreement allows Jalboot Marine to operate cruise ships and tours from Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Mina Zayed, hailed as the first water-taxi shuttle services for passengers around main landmarks in the capital. Set to be available by the end of the year, it will include several stops at lively destinations such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Island and Etihad Towers.
Cairo
Archaeologists Shed Light on Abu Dhabi’s Prehistory
O
ngoing excavations at an ancient village on Marawah Island have revealed crucial information about Abu Dhabi’s earliest inhabitants. Radiocarbon dating indicated that the settlement dates back to the Neolithic period and the hundreds of artefacts found within it have allowed experts to piece together a comprehensive picture of what life was like in the UAE 7,500 years ago. Commenting on the archaeological excavations currently underway on Marawah Island, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, highlighted, “Ancient sites, such as those found on Marawah Island, are priceless resources through which we can explore the history of our ancestors and understand the roots of our heritage [….].”
6
Bahrain to Revive Pearling Industry
I
n line with Bahrain’s national plan to revive its pearling industry, Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat) recently established Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat). Serving both local and global markets, Danat will bolster Bahrain’s reputation as a leading centre for gemstone expertise. The institute, which combines local and international experts with the latest technologies, will collaborate with leading institutes from around the world. “[…] Danat was established to build on Bahrain’s distinguished pearling history and heritage, and to tap into the rapid growth of the jewellery industry across the world. The institute is supported by a diverse team of local and international gemmologists and pearl experts,” explained, Mahmood Alkooheji, CEO, Mumtalakat.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Expo 2020 Buildings Rise from the Ground
F Expo 2020 Buildings
or some participant countries, Expo 2020 Dubai’s pavilions have reached aboveground level, a key milestone in construction on the 4.38 km site in Dubai. The expo’s three theme districts, Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, are the first structures
to reach above-ground level. Some of the pavilions will be built by countries themselves while the expo is constructing others to be rented. Work on the districts began in March after Dubai-based Al Futtaim Carillion was awarded an USD599 million contract.
Dubai Launches First E-Commerce Free Zone
D
ubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) announced the launch of Dubai CommerCity, an AED2.7 billion (USD740 million) joint venture between DAFZA and Wasl Asset Management Group, in the Umm Ramool area. Dubai CommerCity, the first free zone dedicated to e-commerce in the MENA region, is strategically intended to promote Dubai's position as a leading platform for international e-commerce and to support economic diversification and smart transformation strategies. The project will accelerate the growth of the e-commerce market which is expected to reach USD20 billion in 2020 in the GCC countries, providing an environment that stimulates creativity and attracts more direct foreign investments in line with Dubai Plan 2021 which aims to create a unique and sustainable economy based on innovation.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
7
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Dubai to Welcome Bulgari Resorts & Residences
B
ulgari Hotels & Resorts has recently announced the opening of a new property in Jumeirah Bay, which will add a new jewel to its luxury hospitality collection. Designed by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, a renowned Italian architectural firm that has created all Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, the 158,000 m2 property is a first-of-its-kind development for the luxury brand both in scale and magnitude and is expected to open its doors in December. Charming with a Mediterranean village feel, the complex will feature the Resort, six residential buildings with 173 sea-facing apartments, 15 private mansions, and Bulgari’s first-ever Marina and Yacht Club. Moreover, it will offer a full range of amenities, including gourmet restaurants and cafes with private beach and a unique mosaic-design outdoor swimming pool.
8
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Wyndham Garden Announced Opening
W
Bulgari Resorts & Residences Dubai rendering
yndham Garden Ajman Corniche gears up its preparation for its opening, through participation in road shows organised by Ajman Tourism Development Department. The property was also showcased in Natalie Tours’ annual congress and hotelier workshop held in Dubai. More than 200 top agents from Russia and CIS region were in attendance to learn about the latest promotions and updates on Dubai and UAE in general, as a leisure destination. Iftikhar Hamdani, cluster general manager, Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, said, “We are all excited to welcome guests at the new Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, and take part in all these activities happening from September to November.”
18 NOVEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS AIR Emirates to Build First Aviation X-Lab
I
n the continued effort to achieve the vision of UAE Centennial Plan 2071, Emirates and a consortium of industry partners collaborated to build what is said to be the world’s first sector-wide Experimental Lab to co-create the next era of human transportation at Area 2071. The Aviation X-Lab is a historic effort to host airlines, manufacturers, ground logistics, regulators, engineers, academics, and startups under a single roof in order to envision a new transportation paradigm and seek solutions that no single organisation or programme has had the resources to deliver on their own.
10
SalamAir Adds Flight to Doha
A
s of November 22, SalamAir will start flying to Doha, with five weekly flights from Muscat International Airport to Hamad International Airport. “Since its launch, SalamAir has been committed to deliver on three key promises, to offer travellers in Oman and across the region a safe and reliable budget travel alternative, to represent Oman and promote its tremendous tourism potential and alternatively contribute to the economic growth of the Sultanate,” said Mohamed Ahmed, CEO, SalamAir. He added, “With the launch of our eighth destination, I am proud to say that we are taking one step closer to achieving what we envision for the airline by increasing connectivity to thriving tourism, commercial and economic hubs in the region.”
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Qatar Airways Upgrades Doha-Shiraz Route
I
n order to meet the increasing demand of its passengers, Qatar Airways upgraded its operations to the southern Iranian city of Shiraz from an Airbus A320 to an Airbus A330 on November 02. The 260-seater Airbus A330 aircraft increases capacity on this route by 81 percent, with 464 more seats available per week for those travelling on the Doha-Shiraz route. H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “Our Doha-Shiraz flights have performed exceptionally well since we launched the route six years ago. We have gradually increased capacity on the route by adding additional flights, and are delighted to now offer a larger aircraft with more seating capacity onboard our Airbus A330.”
18 NOVEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Emirates Expands Service to Algeria
Algeria
E
mirates has unveiled plans to add an extra flight to its service between Dubai and Algiers, making it a daily service as of December 13. The launch of the additional flight will complement the carrier’s current six flights a week, while also boosting inbound and outbound passenger traffic and cargo flows between Algeria and Dubai. “In line with healthy commercial demand, we are pleased to introduce an additional service to Algiers which will offer our customers even more choice and convenience to connect to Dubai and onward destinations particularly in the Middle East, Far East, West Asia, Indian Ocean and Australia,” said Orhan Abbas, senior vice-president, commercial operations, Africa, Emirates.
Air Arabia Receives New Aircraft
Qatar Airways to Launch Flight to Pattaya
A
12
Pattaya
R
esponding to increased customer demand for services to Thailand, Qatar Airways will launch a direct flight to Pattaya, the airline’s fifth route to the country. The four-times weekly flight will commence on January 28, 2018, adding to the airline’s existing flights to Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket and the soon to be launched, Chiang Mai, starting December 12. H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “[...] Thailand is continuing to grow in popularity with our passengers who love travelling to this beautiful country to enjoy its incredible culture, cuisine and natural scenery. Qatar Airways is committed to responding to customer demand [...].”
s part of its continuous fleet expansion strategy, Air Arabia recently announced the launch of a new Airbus A320-200 aircraft which brings the airlines’ total amount of Airbus A320s to 37, as recorded by the CAPA Fleet Database. Meanwhile the carrier is awaiting the delivery of three additional jets of the same type. Meeting the requirements of today’s challenging market, the aircraft features the latest advanced design, hailed as the most cost-efficient, reliable and capable airplanes. Along with facilitating an improved passenger experience, the jet’s addition to the carrier’s fleet aims to elevate the quality of services across the airline’s expanding network.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
INTERNATIONAL: AFRICA
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
South African Tourism Launches Nordic Roadshow
S
outh African Tourism took 20 South African suppliers to the Nordic countries for the inaugural roadshow, coinciding with the recent announcement that South Africa won its first award from the Nordic region, and came in second in the vote for Best Travel Destination outside Europe, at the Danish Travel Awards. The roadshow started in Copenhagen on October 23, and continued to Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki before concluding on October 26. The roadshow was followed by a familiarisation trip which brought a large number of Nordic agents to South Africa. The trip was a collaboration between South Africa Tourism, South African Airways and destination marketing companies.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
Kenya to Get 4,000 New Hotel Beds
K
enya is set to get an additional 4,000 hotel beds in the next five years as this years targeted annual traveller count is 1.4 million. Speaking during the World Tourism Day fete in Nairobi, Keziah Odemba, director, Ministry of tourism, Kenya said that the expected multibillionshilling investments showed that Kenya's tourism projections were positive. The investors include Swiss Lenana Motel, Radisson Blu, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Golden Tulip, Amber, Ibis Styles and other brands. “It is cheaper to fly from Dar es Salaam to Kigali than it is to fly from Nairobi to Mombasa. Hotels also need to come up with an innovative pricing model that embraces cheaper pricing for advance family bookings for locals,” commented Cyrus Onyiego, online travel marketer, Jumia Country Manager.
Zimbabwe Welcomes New Adventure
A
new outdoor adventure in Zimbabwe was launched in October, namely the Mutarazi Falls Sky Walk and Sky Line, a product of Far and Wide Zimbabwe, offering 360° panoramic views of Zimbabwe's highest waterfall. Bernie Cragg, director, Far and Wide Zimbabwe, said, “There are two bridges connected by a small field stone walkway, one 37 m and the other 90 m long. Sky Line is world's highest zip line, above the 762 m high Mutarazi Falls. There are two zip lines next to one another, enabling participants to fly with a friend. The zip line is 400 m long.”
13
INTERNATIONAL: AMERICAS Cambria Hotels Opens in New Orleans
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
JW Marriott Essex House Transformed
J C
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Expands in Mexico
I
nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced the opening of a new 140-key address in Bajío. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Leon Aeropuerto is in close proximity to Bajio International Airport, making it an ideal place for both business and leisure travellers. Commenting on the occasion, Gerardo Murray, regional vice president, brands and marketing, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG, highlighted, “We are excited to increase our presence in Mexico´s Bajio Region, one of the most important areas of industrial development in the country. Holiday inn express & suites Leon Aeropuerto brings travellers a fresh new option close to the airport and key business districts in the area.”
14
New Orleans
hoice Hotels International, in collaboration with Fillmore Capital Partners and Fillmore Hospitality, announced the opening of the newest addition to the Cambria Hotels portfolio, the Cambria Hotel New Orleans Warehouse District. The 162-room hotel is located in the Arts and Warehouse District offering numerous dining and entertainment options and the action of the French Quarter. The hotel is just blocks from the New Orleans Convention Center, and is adjacent to the central business district. Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels, said, "This is another important milestone for the Cambria Hotels brand as we continue to open in markets with a balance of cultural and corporate offerings demanded and valued by today's modern traveller."
JW Marriott Essex House New York
W Marriott Essex House New York announced the completion of USD38 million transformation for its 426 guest rooms, 101 suites, and corridors, redesigned to interpret a new and modern aesthetic. The hotel’s structure and lines of its art déco heritage have been softened and expressed in a re-defined way. The new design evokes a strong historical rooting but with a fresh twist. A bold but neutral colour palette plays to fashion’s own rebirth of the period. Carpet patterns are geometric, based on art déco but simplified in modern charcoal and cream colours. John Rieman, general manager, JW Marriott Essex House, said, “For over 80 years, guests have enjoyed the hotel’s unique and beautiful architecture, warm luxury and personal service.”
San Jose North Welcomed Homewood Suites
H
omewood Suites by Hilton has welcomed its newest property, Homewood Suites by Hilton San Jose North. The property offers 145 suites, consisting one- and two- studios with fully equipped kitchens and a separate living area, as well complimentary breakfast, fitness centre, a pool and meeting space, to name a few of the amenities on offer. "The new Homewood Suites is a perfect extended-stay option that provides comfort for both business and leisure travellers seeking spacious accommodations at a value-driven price point. Our San Jose North property is conveniently located in the heart of Silicon Valley, as well as Santa Clara Convention Center and California's Great America Amusement Park. It is the perfect place to call home for a night, a week, or longer," revealed Martin Murallon, general manager, Homewood Suites by Hilton San Jose North.
Costa Sur Resort & Spa Remodels
C
osta Sur Resort & Spa, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is to increase its Ocean Front Suites offering on December 18 with the addition of 60 new suites to its room inventory. Three floors of the hotel’s North Tower have been re-envisioned in the 60 new Ocean Front Suites, which are luxuriously detailed with touches of natural stones, modern furnishings, spotlight lighting and chromotherapy equipment. Of the 60 new units, 24 are adult-only honeymoon suites and 36 are deluxe studio suites. The deluxe studio suite is a new category that features the same amenities as the honeymoon suites, except that they are for families and located on their own floor.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Positive Numbers at Hong Kong Airport
A
ir traffic at Hong Kong International Airport continued to grow across all three categories in September, handling 430,000 tonnes of cargo during the month, soaring 9.1 percent over September 2016. Passenger volume and flight movements increased by two percent to 5.61 million, and a seven percent year-on-year growth in Hong Kong resident travel was the main driver of the growth in passenger traffic in September. On the cargo side, exports registered a robust 14 percent year-on-year growth, continuing to lead the growth in cargo volume. Over the first nine months of the year, passenger throughput and air traffic movements have climbed 2.1 percent to 54.4 million and 1.4 percent to 313,095 respectively compared with the same period in 2016.
18 NOVEMBER 2017
INTERNATIONAL: ASIA PACIFIC EASA Establish Singapore Office
T
he European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) officially opened, on October 11, a regional office in Singapore. EASA’s Singapore office aims to support the aviation industry from Singapore and Europe. In addition, the regional office will be competent for the entire South-East Asia region. Singapore is the fourth EASA regional office after Washington D.C., Montreal and Beijing. Henrik Hololei, director general, mobility and transport, European Commission declared, “I am very pleased to see that on the day we launch the first ever EU-ASEAN Transport Dialogue, we also open the EASA office in Singapore to work with the whole ASEAN block. This is a clear sign of our commitment to the region and further deepens our very good and close cooperation [...].”
Disabled Passenger Lifts for Cebu Pacific
T
o create a more efficient and comfortable boarding experience on Cebu Pacific flights, Disabled Passenger Lifts (DPLs) have been inserted in main airports nationwide. Persons with reduced mobility, as well as pregnant and elderly passengers who may have difficulty climbing stairs to board their flights, now have access to these free of charge DPLs. The first 35 DPLs were installed in March in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 for overall assessment. The airport has a target completion of June 2018 for the rest of the DPLs aiming for six more units to be established at the NAIA Terminal 3, as well as other areas of the country such as Clark, Kalibo, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao. "We are looking at initiatives to improve the passenger experience for everyone," said Michael Shau, vice president, airport services, Cebu Pacific.
15
Q & A with
RENDEZVOUS
ZIED MAGHREBI DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING MÖVENPICK RESORT & MARINE SPA SOUSSE
FOLLOWING A COUPLE OF CHALLENGING YEARS, TUNISIA IS LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY ITS SELECTION BY DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TOURISM, CAPITALISING ON A RENEWED SENSE OF STABILITY. ZIED MAGHREBI, DIRECTOR, SALES AND MARKETING, MÖVENPICK RESORT & MARINE SPA SOUSSED REVEALS HOW THE ADDRESS REMAINED LOYAL TO ITS EXPANSION STRATEGY, SENDING A POSITIVE SIGN TO ITS INTERNATIONAL CLIENTELE.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: 2015-2016 has been a challenging period for Tunisia’s tourism sector, however things have gradually changed. What kind of initiatives have been undertaken by your property in order to further boost tourism?
16
ZIED MAGHREBI: Tunisia’s tourism industry is getting better from day to day. The destination is recovering its prosperity after very tough years of crisis. Tunisian authorities are doing their best in maintaining excellent levels of security, while tourism sector professionals are taking good initiatives to improve the tourism offering and diversify it with new hotel concepts including boutique guest houses. Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse has chosen the same path by consolidating its premium position in terms of quality of services and image while assuring a targeted communication in all of its market sources. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How was the first half of the year (H1) in terms of bookings at Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse and how many of your guests derived from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region? ZIED MAGHREBI: During H1 the demand for Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse was respectable. We registered a slight growth of 10 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2016. The majority of our guests’ derived from Europe, representing 55 percent of the market source mix. Italian market is considered as one the main market sources as well as Russia and some other the Eastern European markets. Visitors from the north, especially Tunisia and Algeria represent more than 42 percent of the number of visitors while Middle Eastern market remains among the less productive ones.
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Furthermore, the hotel offers a diversity of cuisine from around the world. Many actions have been undertaken to promote the large array of cuisines. We are proposing a daily business lunch menu in Tapeo, a Spanish restaurant as well as the Sunday brunch on weekly basis. We have launched a new lounge and restaurant concept within La Villa outlet to attract local guests. We have achieved also good performances during the holy month of Ramadan by organising a daily Iftar meal. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Can you share with us some of your future plans, aiming to further enhance wellness and dining experiences? ZIED MAGHREBI: Many actions are undertaken to develop both wellness and dining experiences. New spa packages are created every month and we launched a cold package for the summer. We have launched courses of aquatic gym at the swimming pool. We have also changed the aspect of the tearoom as well as the variety of herbal teas. New cures and concepts will come to light very soon. Regarding the dining experiences, we are planning to organise two gastronomical weeks during the last quarter of this year. It will be an opportunity to drain more local people [welcoming them] to discover our restaurants and to taste new flavours and experiences.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Tunisia is very popular for its wellness and culinary offerings. How do you promote both aspects at your establishment? ZIED MAGHREBI: Movenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse offers to its guests unique wellness and culinary experiences. The hotel is featuring a luxurious Marine Spa centre as well as five restaurants and six bars. Marine Spa, claimed to be one of the most beautiful spas in Tunisia, has developed some special actions all above the year, in order to attract more customers and to generate profit. In line with this, we have launched new treatments and cures, innovative packages combining spa and food experiences including a Sunday brunch programme a unique experience combining relaxing massage and special buffet meal.
Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse
18 NOVEMBER 2017
TRAVEL TALK
GENERAL MANAGER, RAMADA HOTEL AND SUITES AJMAN
“I accept Low Cost Airline of the Year award on behalf of our 492 committed staff who works tirelessly to deliver a great service on the ground and in the air. I also want to dedicate it to the 1.3 million passengers who flew with us over the past 12 months and have shown their preference to fly with Jazeera Airways, all we do is focused on ensuring we live up to their expectations. When our Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways, launched this airline 12 years ago he had a vision to revolutionise the aviation market in Kuwait and offer better choice and better fares for travellers.”
MICE is an important segment for us
GENERAL MANAGER, MILLENNIUM AIRPORT HOTEL DUBAI
We have learned a lot from Scandinavian countries
“We are in Scandinavia to promote Ajman as a tourist destination, and our three hotels. When I mentioned our sustainable initiatives, I got an overwhelmingly upbeat response, as these countries have always been in the forefront of global conservation. We have learned a lot from them and were truly inspired to further our efforts. We are proud to establish not just a business partnership with them, but a common goal on protecting the environment.”
SIMON MOORE
We live up to our customers’ expectations
“MICE is an important segment for us that is why we upgraded our ballroom and meeting facilities with a massive expansion of eight new meeting rooms as well as Al Garhoud Ballroom with over 599 m2 space. These developments will help our growing share in the MICE business and will greatly boost our positioning in the local and international market.”
we have strived to set new standards of luxury
AYMAN GHARIB
CEO, JAZEERA AIRWAYS
IFTIKHAR HAMDANI
ROHIT RAMACHANDRAN
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
GENERAL MANAGER, RAFFLES DUBAI
“We have great pride in what we have accomplished over the past 10 years and we could not have achieved this success without the dedication of our colleagues, several of whom have been with us since we first opened, as well as the support of our loyal guests for whom Raffles is their home away from home. Since Raffles Dubai opened its doors a decade ago we have strived to set new standards of luxury, excellence and service in the city.”
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
18 NOVEMBER 2017
17
TRAVEL CHANNELS
Dubai Chamber Participated In A Day Without Service Centres
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
TCA Abu Dhabi Participates in Sharjah International Book Fair
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
T
he Dubai Chamber of Commerce (DCCI) and Industry has announced its participation in the A Day without Service Centres initiative which saw the chamber only accept payments through smart channels on October 26. Recently, it has achieved 100 percent smart transformation of core services that are provided to its members and the local business community. The initiatives aim is to raise customer awareness about the benefits of using smart systems and services to process transactions. DCCI members and customers are required to make payments through the organisation’s website and app, which includes features that allow companies to settle business disputes in a cost-effective and amicable manner, while it can also track new and previous applications and receive status update reports.
A
bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) was featured at the Sharjah International Book Fair which took place on November 01–11 at Sharjah Expo Centre, with the theme A World Inside My Book. The department's participation at the fair focused on showcasing the Emirati national identity and heritage by presenting cultural projects, its authored and translated publications and the latest developments related to the 28th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The pavilion featured publications from the National Library, including The Orient Pioneers series, in addition to a set of specialised publications by local and Arab researchers and translated works from other languages on various subjects.
G Guestlogix: Empowering Passengers
18
uestlogix, the global provider of airline commerce technology and a pioneer in onboard retailing and ancillary revenue generation, has published an academic report identifying the psychological concept of learned helplessness which inhibits airline passengers from enjoying their experience and negatively impacts airline revenues. The report notes that ancillary revenue has grown from 10 percent to 33 percent of overall airline revenue, which means that airline business models are changing and airlines can no longer afford to accept the cycle of learned helplessness that inhibits ancillary selling. Robin Hopper, senior vice president, product and marketing, Guestlogix , highlighted, " [‌]Now is the time to fulfil the original promise of airline deregulation, so that better consumer choices are realised and airlines thrive as businesses."
18 NOVEMBER 2017
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
PHOTO ALBUM
The Trucial Scouts Life and Times exhibition was inaugurated at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority produced a masterful display to seal a comprehensive six-shot victory in Golf Challenge Pro-Am
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Αbu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has ended its highly successful first leg of a two-city tour to India in Mumbai
Emirates welcomed its 100th A380 aircraft with celebratory deals
18 NOVEMBER 2017
19
NEWS & EVENTS
Airport Solutions Dubai Returns
A
irport Solutions Dubai took place on November 14–15 during Dubai Airshow. Relaunched by Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, the conference and pavilion provided the ideal meeting place for key decision makers in the region and included panel discussions on going beyond stakeholder collaboration with a particular focus on airport development in the Middle East. Passenger traffic in the Middle East is predicted to double by 2035, and the GCC is expected to invest USD100 billion in airport expansion and construction projects across the region. This growth is an opportunity for all sectors of the airport industry and Airport Solutions Dubai aims to provide the platform to drive this conversation.
FITUR: 90 Percent Booked
T
he upcoming staging of FITUR 2018, which is organised by IFEMA and set to take place on January 17 – 21, 2018, at Feria de Madrid, is to once again become the major international benchmark event of the tourism industry. The excellent outlook for participation, with more than 90 percent of the space already allocated three months ahead of the staging, is added to the broad diversity of proposals contained in its offering, turning FITUR into the worldwide professional centre of attraction. The event will place special emphasis on sustainability and technological innovation as the keys to the current transformation of the tourism industry.
20
www.traveltradeweekly.travel
EVENTS ITW ABU DHABI (International Travel Week) Abu Dhabi, UAE November 25-26, 2017 www.itwabudhabi.com ITW Abu Dhabi is the world’s only dedicated Muslim majority travel event.
IBTM Barcelona, Spain November 28–30 www.ibtmworld.com ibtm world delivers inspirational days of business, networking and education to a community of international suppliers and buyers.
ILTM Cannes, France December 04 – 07 www.iltm.com The flagship inspirational show provide opportunities for more contacts, more insights and more markets than anywhere else.
MEDTRAVELEXPO Moscow, Russia December 04 – 08 www.mte-expo.ru It is one of this country’s main platforms which brings together industry professionals to discuss the latest technologies in health sectors
18 NOVEMBER 2017