23 DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 424
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23 DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 424
06 WEEKLY NEWS
DUBAI AMONG TOP 30 GLOBAL CITIES
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JUMEIRAH GROUP TO MANAGE BAHRAIN LUXURY HOTEL
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AIR ARABIA ADDS ERITREA TO ITS NETWORK
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MIDDLE EAST AIRPORT’S PERFORMANCE
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
According to Airports Council International (ACI), September saw Middle Eastern airports record a decline of 0.8 percent compared to the same period in 2016. For the year-to-date, there was an increase of 5.6 percent.
PRESS Efi Rousi Maria Angelica Constantinou Athena Karsera Yiazou 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 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
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of 20.12.2017
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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
115.26
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
17.88
Iran (IRR)
Rial
35,752.56
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,188.64
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,515
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.36
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.43
Syria (SYP)
Pound
515.02
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.48
Yemen (YER)
Rial
250.24
Hamad International Airport
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assenger traffic showed mixed results as growth was affected by religious holidays. Doha resulted in an 18.4 percent drop, whereas Muscat and Kuwait recorded growth rates of 11.4 percent and 10.5 percent respectively. In terms of air freight, Middle East grew 7.3 percent in September, and for the year-to-date there was a 7.7 percent growth. The pace of growth maintained strength, Dubai grew by 5.8 percent and Doha grew by 9.2 percent. Overall, air freight delivered very strong results for the first nine months of the year. Monthly growth in Middle East maintained consistency between nine to 10 percent in the third quarter.
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC INCREASES Dubai International Airport welcomed 6.9 million passengers in October, according to the monthly traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports.
P Dubai International Airport
assenger traffic at the airport reached 6,865,296 in October compared to 6,420,208 recorded in the corresponding month in 2016, an increase of 6.9 percent. Year-to-date, passenger numbers have risen 5.9 percent to 73,433,846 compared to 69,366,094 recorded during the first ten months of 2016. South America was the top region among markets with the highest growth rate in October having increased by 39.9 percent, followed by Eastern Europe with an increase of 23.5 percent. During the month under review, London was the top destination city out of Dubai with 327,400 passengers followed by Mumbai, 219,512 passengers and New Delhi, 184,754 passengers.
23 DECEMBER 2017
CRUISING
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American Song
American Song Riverboat Introduced American Cruise Lines announced that its brand new riverboat will be named American Song, integrating modern design, while being wider, faster, quieter and also environmentally friendly.
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he cruise features a four-storey glass atrium and spacious lounges, staterooms, private furnished balconies, full-size bathrooms and all amenities available in cruising. The inaugural season aboard American Song will begin in autumn 2018 on the Mississippi River and then continue to the West Coast in 2019, for American Cruise Lines’ Columbia and Snake River itineraries.
Carnival Cruise Lines’ Vista-Class Ship Named
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arnival Panorama has been chosen as the name of Carnival Cruise Line’s new 121,109 tonne ship scheduled to debut in fall 2019. Carnival Panorama will join its sister ships Carnival Vista, which entered service in 2016, and Carnival Horizon, set to debut April 02, 2018. The new ship will offer venues with both indoor and al fresco experiences, including the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, library bar, and bonsai sushi, along with open-air attractions like bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction SkyRide, a WaterWorks aqua park, and the SportSquare recreation area. Also featured will be a Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor, the Family Harbor Lounge, a Cloud 9 Spa and Ocean Plaza.
International Cruise Summit 2017 Looks at Growing Industry
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23 DECEMBER 2017
he seventh edition of International Cruise Summit saw over 400 stakeholders meet in Madrid to learn more about their growing industry. José Llorca Ortega, president, Spanish State Ports, inaugurated the November 29 – 30 event. The keynote speech was delivered by Airam Díaz Pastor, president, MedCruise, who spoke about the value of developing marketing strategies to per-
suade Asian tourists to take cruises. The event also strengthened Spain’s image as a European cruise ship destination and Madrid’s as a venue for international congresses. In addition, Spain has consolidated its position as a reference in the sector for its infrastructure, variety of destinations with cultural immersions and a leisure for all tastes.
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AIRPORTS
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ACI Airport Exchange 2017
Hamad Airport Unveils Plans at ACI Airport Exchange Hamad International Airport participated in the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Exchange as a Gold Sponsor.
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he event was hosted in Muscat on December 05 – 07, gathering several leading experts from across the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific to exchange insights and knowledge about the aviation sector. While Ioannis Metsovitis, vice president, operations, Hamad International Airport, shared the details of the airport’s expansion plans to welcome more than 50 million passengers before hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sujata Suri, vice president, strategy, Hamad International Airport, presented the Digital Innovation session.
ICAO Seminar Progress on Green Airports
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ang Liu, secretary general, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), opened the United Nations aviation agency’s seminar on Green Airports in Montréal. The seminar was organised to permit ICAO Member States and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas on the latest technological, operational and policy advancements with an environmental focus which can assist the ongoing efforts of airports globally to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and assure more sustainable operations. During the event, ICAO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) launched a compendium of new guidance material, tools and resources for governments.
23 DECEMBER 2017
TECHNOLOGY
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Amadeus Signs Agreement with 15 Airlines
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10-year framework agreement was signed between 15 airlines from the Middle East and North Africa and Amadeus for distribution services, negotiated and led by the Arab Air Carriers Association (AACO). The airlines participating in the framework agreement to date carried 110 million passengers in 2016, meaning that these airlines will serve over one billion passengers during the 10 year duration of the agreement. The contract follows a previous 10 year agreement with 13 AACO airlines, signed in 2008. Participating AACO airlines will work with Amadeus to explore how to further develop and maximise the potential of Amadeus’ .
23 DECEMBER 2017
Marriott International
Marriott, Credit Card Agreements Marriott International has reached new agreements with JPMorgan Chase and American Express for the US-issued, cobrand credit cards associated with its loyalty programmes.
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hese multi-year agreements will extend Marriott’s relationship with both card issuers and cover the Marriott Rewards and Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa credit cards from JPMorgan Chase, and the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) credit cards from American Express. Marriott also expects to introduce new, co-brand products starting in 2018 with enhanced member benefits, and additional details will be shared then. Members using the Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa credit cards from JPMorgan Chase, as well as the SPG credit cards from American Express will continue to earn and redeem points as usual.
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Dubai
Dubai Among Top 30 Global Cities
DUBAI RANKED AMONG THE TOP 30 GLOBAL CITIES ACCORDING TO JLL’S ANNUAL GLOBAL CITIES RANKING, GLOBAL300 SURVEY FOCUSED ON EVALUATING 300 CITIES THAT ARE CENTRED ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY.
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anking 27th place out of the 300 cities surveyed, Dubai has moved up the ranking in each successive year from 36th place in 2014 highlighting the city's growing global influence and efforts to boost corporate attraction ahead of Expo 2020. This ranking is assessed on a range of different social, demographic and economic indices that have been combined to provide a score of a city's overall commercial attractiveness. The cities covered by JLL now account for 18 percent of the global population, 40 percent of the world's economic output, and more than 70 percent of total global real estate investment.
Bahrain Participated in Council of Arab Tourism Ministers
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delegation from Bahrain participated in the 20th session of Council of Arab Tourism Ministers held at the general secretariat of the Arab League’s headquarters. During the session, the council discussed 15 items kicking off the discussion with the development of the Arab Tourism Strategy, implementation of its programmes and the facilitation of tourism traffic amongst the Arab region, while also improving airport services and Arab tourist destinations in countries hosting tourists. The council also proposed to activate accessible tourism in the Arab world, as well as discuss the lack of standards and requirements in some Arab countries towards supporting tourism to become accessible to all amidst tourism policies and strategies.
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20th Session of Council of Arab Tourism Ministers
23 DECEMBER 2017
ACCOMMODATION
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The Skyline Residences
Eagle Hills Jordan Begins Skyline Residences Handover Eagle Hills Jordan has begun the handover of residential units at The Skyline Residences serviced by W Amman.
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ith a total of 41 furnished residences, owners of The Skyline Residences now belong to a one-of-a-kind inclusive community, granting them access to a wealth of services and amenities, including 24-hour security, a dedicated reception, community spaces, and an array of standard and à la carte services provided by W Amman. The project also features a retail component, providing residents with an array of premier retail outlets and facilities at their doorstep. Abdallah Al Fraihat, executive director, operations, Eagle Hills Jordan, said, “The handover […] is an extraordinary milestone for all of us at Eagle Hills Jordan, as we are concretely delivering on our commitments to our stakeholders.”
Sundus Rotana Opens to Guests
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undus Rotana has opened its doors for guests, located minutes away from the Muscat International Airport and the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. All 215 rooms and suites are designed to maximise guest comfort with many options available to suit individual needs, while offering guests several added benefits, from personalised services to executive lounge access. The property introduces three dining
Nakheel and AccorHotels Debut Raffles in Dubai
experiences to Muscat, with Ginger, all-day dining restaurant, Teatro, where east meets west, and the Lobby Lounge, serving tea, coffee and snacks, there is an option to suit every occasion. For guests staging meetings and events, the new hotel offers a ballroom and six meeting rooms. The Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club features a modern gym, swimming pool and steam rooms.
PALM 360
A Sundus Rotana
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ccorHotels signed a management agreement with Dubai-based Nakheel for the expansion of Raffles Hotels & Resorts. Set to open in 2021, PALM 360 is said to be the first beachside resort for Raffles Hotels & Resorts in Dubai and the tallest structure on Palm Jumeirah. At almost 260 m high, the resort will offer a 155 m long sky pool, connecting the towers 170 m above the ground, from where guests can also enjoy views from a unique vantage point. The hotel component will offer 125 hotel rooms and suites, whilst the 359 branded residences including 16 penthouses that will each have their own private infinity pool, gym and cinema. Residence owners will be able to enjoy services, including concierge, private transportation and in-residence dining. 23 DECEMBER 2017
ACCOMMODATION
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Jumeirah Group to Manage Bahrain Luxury Hotel
Anantara Resort to Open in Sharjah
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ubai Holding and Sevens Holding announced the signing of a management agreement for Jumeirah Group to operate a luxury hotel in Bahrain. The new property will be named Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain and is scheduled to open on February 27, 2018. The hotel is located on the Bahrain shoreline in a premium beach front position and will offer 167 guest rooms including two royal suites as well as a variety of dining and recreational choices encompassing a state of the art health club and spa. Edris Al Rafi, CEO, Dubai Holding, said, “We have been looking to bring Jumeirah to Bahrain for a number of years and we are delighted to partner with Sevens Holding for Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain.”
Anantara Sharjah Resort
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inor Hotels has signed a management agreement with Basma Group and ARADA for a new Anantara resort in Sharjah. Scheduled to open in mid-2020, the 233 room Anantara Sharjah Resort will be located on a prime beachfront location, approximately 30 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport and 15 minutes drive from Sharjah International Airport. The new-build resort will offer a selection of accommodation options and facilities including multiple dining options with a specialty restaurant located on a pier, a spa and wellness centre, a kids’ club, a swimming pool and a ballroom able to accommodate up to 540 guests for a banquet.
Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain
Rezidor Signs Six New Hotels in Five Countries
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he Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the signing of six new hotels expanding in capitals and primary locations in Poland, Cameroon, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Featuring an array of dining options, gyms, saunas, meeting
Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Apartments, Dammam
23 DECEMBER 2017
rooms, and ballroom as well as ski facilities the new portfolio will consist of personalised, locally inspired hotels. "We are delighted to have signed new hotels in a number of our key target regions, signaling our commitment to deliver a renewed asset-right strategy with a strategic mix of emerging and mature markets. Radisson Blu continues to rise from strength to strength, while our mid-market champion, Park Inn by Radisson is rising too to become a leader in its own segment across Europe, the Middle East & Africa," said Elie Younes, executive vice president, The Rezidor Hotel Group.
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AIR
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Bahrain
Gulf Air Launches Bahrain Tourist Visa Service Gulf Air in partnership with VFS Global, visa service provider, launched a Bahrain Tourist Visa service for passengers flying across its global network to Bahrain.
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Qatar Airways Reconfirms A321neo Order
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ravellers with return Gulf Air tickets can now conveniently apply for a visa to Bahrain online via visa.gulfair.com or by visiting their local Gulf Air sales office with the necessary documents no more than 30 days prior to travel to fill in the relevant forms and submit their application. The visa service takes a minimum of four working days to process and is done in coordination with the relevant ministries and government entities. Waleed Abdul Hameed Al Alawi, deputy CEO, Gulf Air, said, “Promoting Bahrain as a many faceted tourist destination is key to Gulf Air’s longstanding mission.”
n a signing order, Qatar Airways has reconfirmed and upsized its earlier order for 50 A320neo with a firm order instead for 50 of the larger A321neo Airbus Cabin Flex configuration (ACF). Joining Qatar Airways’ fleet of 50 A320neo from 2019 onwards, the new aircraft will support the continuous development of the airline’s global network leveraging from the A321neo range capability and unprecedented customer experience. The total value of the deal is at USD6.35 billion at list prices. H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “At a time when Qatar Airways is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion, the need for efficient, reliable and modern aircraft has never been greater.”
23 DECEMBER 2017
AIR
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Air Arabia Adds Eritrea to its Network
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ir Arabia announced that Asmara will become its first destination in Eritrea, starting from December 10. The airline will operate once a week between Sharjah International Airport and Asmara International Airport. Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.
Along with facilitating an improved passenger experience, the airline’s addition to the carrier’s flight frequencies aims to elevate the quality of services across the airline’s expanding network. Meeting the requirements of today’s challenging market, the airline showcases newly designed airplanes, said to be the most cost-efficient and reliable.
Asmara
Etihad Airways Introduces Second Daily Flight to Jordan
An Etihad Airways Airbus A320
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tihad Airways is launching, from March 25, 2018, a second daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Amman. The airline anticipates the double daily year-round schedule which will provide local passengers greater choice through early afternoon and evening departures from the capital cities. The additional flights, operated by an Airbus A320, will also improve connectivity over Abu Dhabi to a wider network of destinations across Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. Peter Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways, commented, “Increasing frequency to some of our destinations globally, is a focus as it ensures more travel options for guests looking for greater flexibility. We are therefore delighted to soon offer double daily year-round flights between Abu Dhabi and Amman to cater to growing local demand, and boost business and leisure travel to and from Jordan’s capital.” 23 DECEMBER 2017
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INTERNATIONAL
22nd Annual South Florida Business Leaders Luncheon
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olland America Line hosted the 22nd annual South Florida Business Leaders Luncheon for the Seafarers House aboard MS Oosterdam on November 17 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Line, was in attendance to celebrate the long-standing partnership with the local organisation. During the event, Seafarers House also honoured Bob Swindell, CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, this year’s Business Leader of the Year. Commenting at the event, Ashford said, “Seafarers House is a vitally important organisation for our crew when our ships are visiting Port Everglades, giving them a place to turn for guidance or simply relax when they are so far away from their own homes. I am thrilled that I was able to come in from our Seattle headquarters and attend the luncheon [...].”
Nevada Tourism Agencies Receive Grants
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he Nevada Commission on Tourism approved USD660,600 in grants for rural tourism organisations to promote their destinations. The grants will be distributed by the Nevada Division of Tourism, TravelNevada, through its longstanding Rural Marketing Grants programme. Among the funded projects were the Carson City Visitors Bureau to promote Nevada’s Single-track Mountain Bike Adventure; the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority, the Lander County Convention & Tourism Authority, Nevada’s Indian Territory, Nevada Silver Trails, and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
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AMERICAS
Tohono O’odham Nation to Open Arizona Casino
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he Tohono O’odham Nation has broken ground on a new USD400 million casino west of Phoenix. Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise is to build the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino near 91st and Northern avenues. The new building will have a 7,000 m2 casino floor with slot machines, poker, live bingo and blackjack tables. After completion, the development could total 93,000 m2 and have a resort hotel and spa. Other amenities of the casino include five restaurants.
Desert Diamond West Valley Casino
North American Outbound Travel Grows
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n increase in North American travel to Europe and Latin American has been revealed by ITB Berlin’s latest results from the World Travel Monitor. North Americans are travelling strongly this year, with a 7.5 percent increase in outbound trips between January and August, according to the latest figures. This is even higher than the expected six percent rise for this year, as predicted by 2016 figures. Travel from North America to Europe is increasing with a very strong 15 percent increase over the first eight months of this year. Latin American outbound travellers went on more international trips in the first eight months of this year. The number of outbound trips grew by five percent and hence even exceeded the initial forecast of three percent.
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Bogota Impacts Colombia’s Tourism
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ogota’s tourism GDP accounts for 2.5 percent of the city’s economy, a total of USD1.8 billion, as revealed by a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Latin American City Travel & Tourism Impact. Bogota’s tourism economy represents 29.1 percent of Colombia’s tourism activity. International spend accounts for 41 percent of the region’s tourism revenue, highlighting the importance of international visitors for the city with most trips being for leisure rather than business purposes. The top international markets are the US at 27 percent, Mexico with 10 percent, Spain and Brazil contributing five percent, and Argentina four percent. Domestic demand is still responsible for 59 percent of tourism revenue, and spending from Colombian arrivals is forecast to double by 2026.
Visit Florida Announces Blitz Campaign
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ick Scott, governor, Florida announced a record quarter for tourism, with Florida welcoming over 88 million visitors through the first nine months of the year, representing a 3.3 percent increase over 2016. Stephen Lawson, vice president, government relations, Florida, revealed the launch of the new fourth Visit Florida’s Quarter Blitz Campaign, which will aim to encourage lastminute, impulse getaways during the holiday season. The campaign will include digital advertising, radio promotions, Facebook live broadcasts, and shopping mall takeovers targeted towards the largest markets on the East Coast, such as Atlanta, New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Radio promotions will give listeners a chance to win a trip to Florida while Facebook will feature six Florida cities.
23 DECEMBER 2017
AMERICAS
INTERNATIONAL
Staybridge Suites Silao Opens
South Carolina to Welcome Cambria Hotel
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The Ascend Hotel Collection Adds to Portfolio
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he Volaré hotel in San Clemente, Orange County, has joined the Ascend Hotel Collection global portfolio. The 73-room property located in the heart of San Clemente, offers a range of lodging options, including suites with kitchenettes and in-room hot tubs, as well as standard rooms with wrap-around balconies and views of the ocean. Guests can enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, an outdoor pool, fitness centre, trolley rides to the beach, and laundry facilities. Dedicated to protecting the environment, the hotel utilises sustainable materials and renewable resources without compromising modern conveniences and upscale sophistication for guests.
23 DECEMBER 2017
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Grupo Presidente announced the opening of the Staybridge Suites Silao, making it the first property in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. The property features a total of 121 suites over eight floors, a laundry facility, 24-hour fitness and business centres, an outdoor swimming pool, outdoor patio, and a multi-use sports facility. Gerardo Murray, regional vice president, brands and marketing, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG, said, “IHG is thrilled by the vote of confidence that Grupo Presidente has shown in our Staybridge Suites brand to offer a more innovative hospitality experience [...], by meeting the needs of [...] travellers visiting this destination.”
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hoice Hotels International has signed an agreement with Sand Hospitality, to develop the new Cambria hotel in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Expected to open in 2019, the 110room Cambria hotel is designed to offer visitors a new upscale lodging option. In addition to a spacious rooftop pool and bar, the property will feature a state-of-the-art fitness centre, 304 m2 of meeting space, as well as on-site dining options. "As one of the fastest growing regions in the country, we are thrilled to continue our expansion in the Carolinas. In addition to Rock Hill, there are several Cambria hotels coming soon [...]," said Mark Shalala, vice president, development, upscale brands, Choice Hotels.
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INTERNATIONAL
ASIA PACIFIC
Tourism Western Australia Signs MoU with Ctrip
Steady Growth for Asian Outbound Travel
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ourism Western Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shanghai-based Ctrip. The MoU will pave the way for the two companies to work on cooperative campaigns to promote Western Australia and local tourism products to millions of consumers in China. After visiting officials in China, Mark McGowan, premier, Western Australia, wrapped up his trip by launching a digital campaign designed to promote Perth as a great place to study and visit for Chinese students and their families. The campaign includes a website hosted in China and a social media campaign.
Qantas Partners with Uber
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antas customers are now able to earn points on Uber trips to-and-from eligible airports in Australia, by booking on the latest version of the airline’s app. The partnership means the airline’s frequent flyers can manage their whole travel experience through the app, from booking their flight through to leaving home, boarding their flight and then making their way to their end destination. In addition, members who sign up to Uber for the first time and book a ride via the airline’s app will earn 2,000 bonus Qantas points on their first Uber trip anywhere in Australia.
New Zealand Travel Agents Visit Ireland
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ain trends for Asian travellers over the first eight months of this year included a continued rise in sun and beach holidays, more city trips and travel to Europe, according to the 25th World Travel Monitor. The number of outbound trips by Asians grew by five percent between January and August this year. In terms of destination regions, Europe has proven popular with Asians with a seven percent increase in trips over the first eight months. In comparison, there was only a low two percent increase in Asian trips to the Americas during January-August. Most Asians, however, travelled within their own region, showing a healthy 4.5 percent increase between the months under review. IPK International predicts a six percent rise in Asian outbound trips in 2018.
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Klook Partners with LOTTE Duty Free Shop
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look, Asia’s travel activities booking platform has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding in partnership with duty free retailer, LOTTE Duty Free Shop (LOTTEDFS), to attract more travellers to South Korea by offering shopping deals. The partnership will introduce attractive shopping discounts for Klook users offeredby LOTTE DFS. In addition, LOTTE DFS customers can also enjoy up to 70 percent discount off retail price on Klook platforms to satisfy their wanderlust by tapping into experiences in over 120 destinations globally. The marketing campaigns will be rolled out in later December for travellers to enjoy with more details to follow.
NTAT Initiate Hermannsburg Master Plan
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group of New Zealand travel agents enjoyed an action-packed visit around Ireland, as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Qatar Airways. Aiming to showcase some of the experiences offered in Ireland, the agents had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the area and be better prepared when advising their clients and booking their holidays to Ireland. Darragh Walshe, representative, New Zealand, Tourism Ireland, said, “Working with the travel trade is a key element of our promotional activity in New Zealand, so we are delighted that these travel agents have taken time out of their busy schedules to come.”
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West MacDonnell National Park
he Northern Australian Territory Government (NTAT) has inaugurated a new programme which provides a solid foundation for the direction of new and innovative Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal tourism businesses. It also encourages local community members to become appropriately trained to run sustainable businesses. The Hermannsburg Regional Visitor Master Plan has identified the key tourism opportunities in Hermannsburg and the surrounding region. The master plan aims to benefit from visitor numbers to the area which would ideally increase with the completion of the Northern Australian Territory Government’s AUD25.5 million (USD19.9 million) project to seal the remaining section of the Mereenie Inner Loop road.
23 DECEMBER 2017
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ASIA PACIFIC
COSI Hotel Opens in Samui
Mövenpick Opens New Resort in Boracay
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he new COSI Hotel on Samui Island has opened to guests. The hotel brings innovative ideas since there is no lobby counter or check-in queues and travellers can check their selves in and out at the digital self-service stations. COSI is designed to work well with the smartphones in the pockets of today’s travellers. Guests can book and check in with their smartphone, and play videos or catch-up with their latest boxset on their room’s 43-inch SmartTV screen, which can mirror their phone screen, with free Wi-Fi available.
övenpick Hotels & Resorts has launched a new resort on an unspoiled beach in the Philippines. Overlooking Punta Bunga Cove, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, is a low-rise property designed to blend with the natural environment. Located 30 minutes from Caticlan Airport, the resort features 312 contemporary rooms and suites, most with sea views, while seven bars and restaurants serve a wide range of high-quality cuisine. Resort facilities also include a spa, a 3,300 m2 swimmimg pool and fitness centre and indoor and outdoor meeting and event venues.
INTERNATIONAL
Marriott International and YTL Hotels Sign MoU
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arriott International and YTL Hotels announced agreements for new hotels across Asia. During an official ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, the two companies agreed to develop two new luxury hotels in Malaysia under the JW Marriott and EDITION brands and signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) for two hotels in Japan, an EDITION and a W Hotel in Niseko Village, Hokkaido. Craig Smith, president, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, said, “We are pleased with […] our goal of doubling our luxury presence in Asia Pacific. With the addition of these hotels to our system, our guests will have even more luxurious opportunities to explore Malaysia and Japan, [...].”
IHG Steps Up Growth with Holiday Inn Melbourne Werribee
Holiday Inn Melbourne Werribee
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ontinuing its Australian momentum, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed Holiday Inn Melbourne Werribee. Opening in 2020, the 150-room property will be the newest hotel in Western Melbourne, a rapidly growing region of Victoria, and part of a mixed-use development project including offices and retail space. A partnership with Pelligra Group and Citinova, the hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant and bar, gym, parking and 300 m2 of meeting facilities including a function room for up to 400 people. Boasting a prime location, the new venue will have easy access to all the area’s tourist attractions. IHG will also open Holiday Inn and Suites Geelong in 2020.
23 DECEMBER 2017
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RENDEZVOUS
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WITH DUBAI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND COMMERCE MARKETING (DTCM) HAVING IDENTIFIED INCREASING THE NUMBER OF REPEAT VISITS AS ONE OF THE THREE CORNERSTONES IN ITS VISION 2020, CHARLIE TAYLOR, GROUP DIRECTOR, JUMEIRAH HOTELS & RESORTS, EXPLAINS HOW THE GROUP IS CONTRIBUTING TO ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE.
Q&A with Charlie Taylor GROUP DIRECTOR, BRAND COMMUNICATIONS, JUMEIRAH HOTELS & RESORTS
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How successful has the first half (H1) of the year been and where does the success derive from? CHARLIE TAYLOR: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts in Dubai experienced a 19 percent increase in room nights year-on-year from January-June. Visa rules have been relaxed for a number of countries so this year we have been working hard to deliver the ease of access message. Russian travellers can now obtain a visa on arrival and Indian visa rules were also relaxed, enabling Indian passport holders, with an American visa or Green Card, to obtain a visa on arrival into the UAE. India is now Dubai’s biggest source market and we believe there is potential for growth for more guests from the country in our hotels in the city. [...]. We are expecting 15-25 percent growth over the next year from the Indian market. China saw visa on arrival changes in 2016 and the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has always been popular for Chinese guests [...]. In light of the visa changes, we have increased awareness of our other hotels to the Chinese market as we see potential growth for most of our Dubai hotels from China, especially with enhanced brand awareness of Jumeirah with the upcoming opening of our second hotel in China – Jumeirah Nanjing. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: DTCM identified increasing the number of repeat visits as one of three key objectives in its Tourism Vision 2020. What is the group doing to support Dubai Tourism’s objective of attracting repeat visitors? CHARLIE TAYLOR: We work closely with DTCM on
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joint initiatives, tactical activations and destination marketing, and as a home-grown brand, our position within the destination is key. Our strong partnerships with travel trade partners is proving highly beneficial and we continually look at ways we can further enhance our relationships with both highend luxury travel agents and retail partners. The work DTCM has done to deliver strong messages regarding the breadth of destination offering that Dubai now has, is commendable and this is key to both ensuring that once visitors come once, they come again, and to extending length of stay. We have a similar aim and are continually looking at our own offerings. One example is that over the past two years, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has seen a significant transformation in its guest experiences, including the creation of Burj Al Arab Terrace, the opening of Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara and the opening of Gold on 27, and these additions ensure that it retains its appeal to the GCC and key markets and its status as one of the world’s most luxurious hotel. Another example is the current renovation work taking place at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. In terms of specific examples of supporting DTCM, we have recently collaborated with Russian and Chinese campaigns [...] to drive guests into Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah. We will also be supporting DTCM’s new Winter Sun campaign with Jumeirah Al Naseem and we supported the Stay Sunny campaign which targeted Europe [...]. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the demographics of travellers who have previously visited Dubai and what are their expectations?
CHARLIE TAYLOR: The home markets of the UAE and the Gulf region are critical along with our key source markets such as the UK which continues to be one of our top source markets. Our UK guests do not necessarily look for cheap holidays but they do look for value for money so we ensure the experience they receive is superior and seen as money well spent. Our Jumeirah Flavours and Suite Sensations both offer great value. Due to the impact of Brexit and the impact on the sterling, we were expecting a decline from the UK market, but to date this has not been as sizable as expected. We are focusing on protecting this market via strong partnerships and cooperative marketing with travel trade partners. Russia and Germany have traditionally been strong markets for our Dubai hotels. Thanks in part to the work we put in to delivering the message that the changes to visa regulation really did make a visit to Dubai logistically very simple, from MayJuly we saw a 31 percent increase in room nights from Russia. Business from Germany has also been good – the H1 of the year saw a 19 percent increase in room nights. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the group’s priorities going forward? CHARLIE TAYLOR: [...] Dubai needs to continue to develop to accommodate the demand. In line with this, Jumeirah Group has a strong and robust pipeline of hotels planned, with an existing portfolio of more than 5,500 rooms across 20 properties in nine destinations. Future openings will include luxury hotels in the UAE, Indonesia, China, Oman, Jordan, Malaysia and the Saudi Arabia.
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Abu Dhabi Ports Football Tournament Concludes
Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Winner Receives USD1 million
Abu Dhabi Ports has wrapped up its annual football tournament, announcing Tabab as the winning team of the accolade. The tournament took place at Abu Dhabi Ports’ football courts located at Zayed Port from November 13 – 22. For nine days, approximately 80 employees from across the company’s business units participated in the tournament, where they were split into two groups that included four teams. The tournament, which first began in 2014, is part of Abu Dhabi Ports’ employee happiness initiative programme that aims to boost employee morale and wellness. Football is considered to be one of the most popular games in the community.
Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project Releases Turtles Jumeirah Group celebrated the UAE’s 46th National Day with the release of 13 rehabilitated sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf next to Jumeirah Al Naseem. The turtles released were from three species; the loggerhead, green and hawksbill sea turtles. Five of the turtles, were fitted with satellite linked tags, sponsored by the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. The tags will enable the teams to collect vital data about their progress in the wild. Warren Baverstock, operations manager, Burj Al Arab’s Aquarium, said, “We have rescued 290 turtles this year alone and are very proud to celebrate National Day by releasing 13 rehabilitated sea turtles back into their environment. We would like to thank everyone that has brought injured turtles to us so we were able to rehabilitate them.”
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From left: Mcloughlin, Tahlak
On November 28, the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion in Series 258 was held at Dubai International Airport. One lucky West Australian national, Jeremy K. won USD1 million as he was travelling to Brazil. A Finest Surprise Draw was conducted directly after the Millennium Millionaire which resulted with two online winners; Alberto Stringl, who won the BMW R Nine T Scrambler in Series 320 and David Kingen, who took home a motorbike BMW R Nine T Urban. Present at the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw was Colm McLoughlin, CEO, Dubai Duty Free, Salah Tahlak, executive vice president, corporate services, Dubai Duty Free, Sinead El Sibai, senior vice president, marketing, Dubai Duty Free, and Sean Staunton, senior vice president, retail sales, Dubai Duty Free.
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National Museum Riyadh
Fred Hollows Foundation Targets Dubai with New Office
Foundation Stone Laid at Al Qassim Museum
The Fred Hollows Foundation, that works to eliminate avoidable blindness internationally, has announced the opening of a new regional office in International Humanitarian City (IHC), Dubai. According to the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness there are 15 million people in Middle East and South Asia who are blind. Four out of five of these people can easily be treated but they do not have access to eye health care as they live in poverty and cannot afford the cost of travel or treatment. After announcing the new office opening, John Brumby, chairman, Fred Hollows Foundation, said “In 2018 in South Asia and the Middle East alone, The Foundation plans to screen more than one million people. [...] Having a base in the IHC will help us in these efforts.”
From left: Prince Salman
Riyadh National Museum Offers Workshops
H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (STCH), along with, H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Mesh’al bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz, governor, Al Qassim, laid the foundation stone of Al Qassim Museum. The 10,000 m2 museum has the value of SAR67 million (USD18 million) and it falls within the projects of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cultural Heritage Initiative. Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz also visited the local branch of SCTH, which is under construction in Buraidah, implemented at a total cost of SAR18 million (USD4.8 million). During the visit, Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, said, ”Such projects support tourism in the Kingdom and reflect the heavy turnout of visitors in light of the Saudi Arabia’s huge historical heritage,” expressing hope to see these museums built in different parts of the region.
The National Museum in Riyadh will continue to offer programmes, events and interactive workshops, which will start on the sidelines of the events of First Saudi Archaeology Convention on December 07 – 25. The programmes include a workshop under the slogan Made by my own hands, which includes several parts such as a pottery as practiced by a professional artisan in front of visitors who will recognise the main elements of pottery, such as kneading, shaping pots, and the use of pottery-making tools. There will be a number of events, interactive programmes and workshops which aim at documenting the relationship between the National Museum and the members of the society in a way that enhances the spirit of participation and responsibility.
From left: Giuseppe Saba, CEO, IHC and Brumby
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NEWS & EVENTS SCTDA Organises Fourth Hospitality Industry Forum
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he Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) organised the fourth Hospitality Industry Forum, on December 04 at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Held under the theme Sustainability of Tourism Innovation, the event gathered leading experts and specialists of the tourism industry, highlighting discussions of the latest developments covering the hospitality segment. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, stressed that the Hospitality Forum covered many key issues, especially timely topics covering the future of Sharjah's tourism segment. Participants are expected to develop innovative solutions to help achieve the goal set forth in the Sharjah 2021 vision."
Dubai Hosts the First Visual Art Iraqi Spaces Exhibition
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ubai is to hosted the first Iraqi visual art exhibition, Iraqi Spaces, organised by the Iraqi Business Council as part of the public celebrations witnessed by the UAE on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of its union. Sponsored by Sahara Media Group, the exhibition was hosted by the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation in Dubai from December 07–10. Iraqi Spaces is considered to be the largest in terms of the display of diverse visual works of art, hosting around 60 Iraqi artists from nine different countries, including 26 from Iraq, 22 from the UAE, four from the US, two each from Canada and Jordan, and one each from Australia, Egypt, the UK and Turkey will participate in the Iraqi Spaces exhibition.
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EVENTS VII EUROPE+ASIA EVENT FORUM (EFEA) St Petersburg, Russia January 17 – 19 euras-forum.com/en/index.html EFEA serves as a communication site for active interaction between events industry professionals such as forums and conferences and incentive tourism.
FITUR Madrid, Spain January 17 – 21 www.ifema.es FITUR is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
EMITT Istanbul, Turkey January 25 – 28, 2018 www.emittistanbul.com EMITT, attracts over 46,000 industry professionals and tourists, annually, looking for new travel opportunities from destinations and travel service companies from across the globe.
HOSPITALITY INDONESIA CONFERENCE (HIC) Jakarta, Indonesia January 30 – 31 www.hospitality-asia.com HIC focuses on delivering a sea of timely market insights that facilitate corporate strategies and growth on a regional scale.
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