24 FEBRUARY 2018 ISSUE 433
09 AIRPORTS
Dubai International Retains Busiest Airport Title
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HILTON EXPANDING EGYPT PRESENCE WITH NEW HOTELS
15
QATAR AIRWAYS ADDS CANBERRA TO GROWING AUSTRALIA NETWORK
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
JRCC REPORTS SUCCESSFUL 2017
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre (JRCC) hosted 140,197 visitors across 400 events in 2017, strengthening Sharjah’s place on the regional and international MICE tourism map.
EDITOR Mario Hajiloizis 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
JRCC’s culinary team secured 32 medals from cookery competitions in 2017
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he venue also reported 99 percent customer satisfaction during 2017, according to its poll data. Said to be the emirate’s largest furnished high-end venue, spanning 5,100 m² and with exclusive in-house events and catering facilities, JRCC has hosted more than 1,300 events since it opened its doors five years ago. Specifically, the venue has held 362 events for government bodies and 954 social events since its 2013 inauguration. In total, 526,617 guests have attended events and gatherings organised and hosted by JRCC.
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456, david@simpson-media.com
STR: OCCUPANCY FOR DUBAI HOTELS RISING MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of 23.2.2018
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COUNTRY
CURRENCY USD1=
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.38
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
114.26
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
17.69
Iran (IRR)
Rial
37,200.63
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,189.35
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,513.12
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.33
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.20
Syria (SYP)
Pound
515.23
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.39
Yemen (YER)
Rial
249.95
According to preliminary STR data, hotels in Dubai reported that occupancy rose 1.5 percent to 86.4 percent in January, while ADR declined 0.6 percent to USD221.79 and RevPAR increased by one percent to USD191.67.
S STR will release full January results later this month
TR’s preliminary January 2018 data indicated occupancy-driven performance growth, while supply grew by 3.6 percent and demand by 5.5 percent. High demand was enough to outpace somewhat slowing supply growth and push a positive occupancy comparison. As a result, Dubai saw its first January increase in RevPAR since 2014. Analysts from the hotel market data and benchmarking service further noted that the year-over-year change in supply would be the lowest for any month since November 2012.
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GENERAL
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First Dubai International Medical Tourism Forum Themed Reimagining Experience, the first Dubai International Medical Tourism Forum took place on February 20 and 21.
Middle East Hoping for WCC 2021
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ubai, Oman, Jordan and Iran have been selected as candidate cities for the 2021 World Chambers Congress (WCC), labelled as the largest international event of its kind, and set to attract 14,000 Chambers of Commerce from 100 countries. The 12th WCC will be heading to the Middle East or Africa, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Oman, Jordan and Iran among the countries that are bidding to host the event. The event provides a platform for chamber executives worldwide to share their best-practices, develop networks and discuss innovations, with the aim of transforming the future of business. H.E. Hamad Buamim, CEO, Dubai Chamber, said, “This nomination reflects growing confidence in Dubai.”
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orld experts discussed the latest trends in health tourism, methodologies to ensure patient protection, patient insurance, ways to enhance patient experience and strategies to create an overall environment that fosters medical tourism. In 2016, revenue generated from international patients was worth over AED1 billion (USD272 million), reinforcing the sector’s growing contribution to Dubai’s national GDP. H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, chairman, Dubai Health Authority, commented, “[…] In 2016, Dubai witnessed an overall growth of nine- 10 percent in the number of medical and health tourists […] the emirate received 326,649 international medical tourists.” Dubai anticipates having 4,000 private health facilities and 40,000 health specialists by 2020.
Dubai Welcomes Record Overnight Arrivals – Dubai Tourism
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ubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) announced that a total of 15.8 million overnight visitors visited the emirate in 2017, setting a new record. This resulted in a 6.2 percent year-on-year increase. The latest results show that the five percent growth witnessed in 2016 has accelerated,
propelling the emirate’s momentum towards its 2020 goal of welcoming 20 million visitors per year by the start of the next decade. H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai Tourism, commented, “[...] Dubai’s travel and tourism sector is [...] geared to accelerate its appeal to the diverse and evolving needs of our global travellers.”
Dubai has recorded an increase in tourism-driven economic contribution to the UAE’s GDP
Dubai to Host First Arab Land Conference
D WCC is a world-class forum, gathering business and government leaders
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ubai Land Department (DLD) has announced that Dubai has been chosen to host the First Arab Land Conference which will be held between February 26 – 28. The conference will address many of the most-challenging land-related issues in Arab countries, including how to manage land to reduce conflicts, and how to maximise the use of land and real estate for individuals, countries, and society as a whole. The convention will work towards enhancing regional cooperation, capacity development, and innovation in land management and real estate reform in order to promote social and economic development in the region.
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TECHNOLOGY
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Amadeus and Routehappy Helping Passengers to Preview their Flight Amadeus and Routehappy by ATPCO have partnered to give passengers a chance to see their seat, what amenities they will receive, and what the aircraft cabin will look like before their flight.
DCT Abu Dhabi to Launch Digital Initiative Promoting Culture
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he Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is to launch a comprehensive digital initiative called Abu Dhabi Culture which will act as a reference point for all information relating to culture in the UAE capital. Abu Dhabi Culture, which features a website, mobile app and supporting social media presence, aims to educate culture-seeking locals, expats and tourists, while also becoming a reference point for researchers and academics in search of more detailed information. The initiative aims to make full use of the latest technologies, such as personalised content, 360 degree visuals, interactive floor plans, podcasts from culture experts, and featuring a centralised profiling database across all cultural locations and events.
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ith the new information, passengers can then decide whether they want to add lounge access based on images showing the facility, or upgrade their flight to a premium seat. The move sees Routehappy’s rich content integrated with Amadeus’ system enabling airlines to display product differentiators through multiple Amadeus channels. Routehappy hosted content includes Universal Product Attributes, which include headlines, descriptions, and photos. Integration is scheduled to be completed during the year and will complement Amadeus’ existing content and merchandising capabilities already provided to airlines and travel sellers.
Visa: Shorter, More Frequent Trips Becoming Popular
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isa’s Global Travel Intentions (GTI) Study for 2017 has revealed trips are getting shorter, however people still want to go abroad more often and to multiple destinations. Examining traveller motivations and planning tactics, the GTI Study of outbound travellers from 27 countries and territories found the global average of overseas stays was eight nights, down from 10 in 2013.
It also found that people around the world plan to take an average of 2.7 overseas trips in the next two years, compared to 2.5 trips in the past two years, and that 11 percent of global travel includes visits to multiple countries. Visa’s GTI Study also identified getting, carrying and exchanging cash as an aspect of travel that can lead to anxiety and stress.
Visa revealed that people spend less time on holiday, but travel more often
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Matajer Al Juraina Unveils Extension
S Emaar to Open VR Park at The Dubai Mall
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maar Entertainment announced a first-of-itskind attraction, VR Park. Due to open in the first half of this year at The Dubai Mall, the new VR Park will mark the future of entertainment for the region, bringing together some of the world’s best virtual reality developers to deliver the entertainment experience. Combining augmented reality, virtual reality and
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experiential attractions, VR Park is designed to blur the lines between perception and reality through game-changing experiences, including wholly immersive rides, educational journeys and interactive games. Set across two levels of The Dubai Mall and focusing on the Shared Escapism concept, many of the attractions offer a multi-player experience.
harjah Holding PJSC, a partnership between Majid Al FuttaimProperties and Sharjah Asset Management, inaugurated an AED56 (USD15.2) million extension at Matajer Al Juraina. The extension includes 16 new brands and restaurants, increasing the community mall’s size by a third. Matajer Al Juraina’s enhancement project increased the mall’s size from 6,000 m2 to 9,000 m2 with store numbers growing from 35 to 51. Furthermore, its car park now features 281 spaces for visitors. Additionally, the mall’s contemporary redesigned dining area has been upgraded to now include a shaded pergola for outdoor dining.
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AGENTS
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Sabre Personalising Recommendations with OTA Tools
Discover Qatar Offers New City and Desert Tours
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dvances in technology have encouraged more travellers to shop while on the go – browsing and buying travel experiences on their mobile devices, according to Sabre’s latest study. Research showed that consumers are prepared to pay up to 25 percent more for an improved travel experience that meets their specific needs. Sabre is focusing on enhancing online travel agency (OTA) tools by encouraging more personalised recommendations. OTAs can’t wait for customers to come to them and this is why fare alert tools like Sabre’s FareNabber are helpful as they alert customers when their ideal option becomes available. Sabre’s research concluded that as the travel industry continues to evolve, the key to driving revenue is knowing what customers want and when they want it.
Discover Qatar, a destination management subsidiary arm belonging to Qatar Airways, partnered with Qatar Tourism Authority to offer new pre-bookable city and desert tours for passengers transiting through the country.
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ccording to the company, Discover Qatar Transit Tours are among the world’s leading inbound tourism providers for transit passengers. Passengers with over a five – 12-hour transit time at Hamad International Airport, are given the opportunity to choose from different activities. Tours include key landmarks such as Pearl-Qatar; Katara Cultural Village; Souq Waqif; and Museum of Islamic Art. In addition, passengers can book desert tours, visit Sealine Beach and Mesaieed’s sand dunes. H. E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “The city and desert tours will allow our passengers to enjoy every step of their journey with us.”
Discover Qatar encourages all passengers to consider adding Qatar to their travel itinerary
EAN and Gimmonix Collaborate on Hotel Rates
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xpedia Affiliate Network (EAN) is giving access to rates and availability for over 350,000 hotel accommodations to technology specialist Gimmonix and their Travolutionary travel partners around the world. Gimmonix is now providing EAN with access to Travolutionary, the company’s supply aggregation and distribution platform. The new strategic relationship is designed to broaden and deepen hotel supply offerings through Travolutionary, particularly across the Middle East. EAN will also benefit from access to Gimmonix’s hotel and room mapping product, Mapping.Works, which tracks, measures and facilitates hotel supply mapping across distribution networks. Mapping.Works can accurately map inventory at 98.7 percent, far above the 65 percent industry average.
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ACCOMMODATION
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Mövenpick to Open Basra Property
Qatar Airways Acquires Sheraton Melbourne Hotel Qatar Airways announced that it has acquired Australia’s Sheraton Melbourne Hotel, further expanding its hospitality division, Dhiafatina Hotels, portfolio.
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he five-star hotel is located on Melbourne’s Little Collins Street and includes 174 rooms and suites. Sheraton Melbourne features Little Collins Street Restaurant with its Signature Seafood Buffet and High Tea, East Restaurant and Crux & Co Pâtisserie. The Spa at the Sheraton Melbourne features five treatment rooms, an indoor heated lap pool and state-of-the-art fitness centre. A dedicated floor offers 670 m2 of meetings and events space and an extensive event coordinating and catering facility. “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel as part of the Dhiafatina portfolio, hand-picked to extend the excellent service our passengers receive, both in the air and once they arrive at their destination,” stated H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways introduced its flagship Airbus A380 on the Melbourne route in June 2017
DAMAC Awards Contract for AKOYA Oxygen Development
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AMAC properties has awarded a construction contract to Emirates Electrical Engineering for a third 132/11 KV substation at AKOYA Oxygen. The new substation will feed power to a further 2,888 villas and 855 apartments and is expected to be commissioned within two years. AKOYA Oxygen offers a family-friendly community, with energy-efficient homes, located off the Umm Sequim Road extension and will include an 18hole championship golf course. Community precincts will contain facilities arranged around local plazas that house a variety of functions such as mosques, clinics, schools, nurseries, gyms, post offices, restaurants and local grocery shops.
Arjaan by Rotana Experiences Occupancy Growth
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ubai’s Arjaan by Rotana reported that it experienced an overall 80.4 percent occupancy rate in 2017, equivalent to 49,004 rooms booked throughout the year. Announcing the results at its annual GCC roadshow, a delegation also revealed the venue’s growth, expansion developments and business strategies for this year. Arjaan by Rotana’s newest facilities, including redesigned rooms, suites and lobby, food and beverage facilities, were also showcased. Ayman Ashor, general manager, Arjaan by Rotana, commented, “[...] Our key focus is to continuously nurture relationships [...].”
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ACCOMMODATION IHG Expand Saudi Arabia Portfolio
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh – RDC Hotel and Convention Center. The 326-room hotel is strategically located in the Al Ra’idah Digital City (RDC), offering a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of corporate and MICE guests. The hotel features over 12,000 m2 of exhibition and conference space, including a three-level circular conference centre, a ballroom, large pre-function areas and 12 daylight meeting rooms equipped with modern digital technology. During their downtime, guests can enjoy the hotel’s swimming pools, tennis court or visit the health club.
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Mövenpick Edging Closer to New Tunis Hotel Opening
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övenpick Hotels & Resorts is gearing up to open its new lakeside property in Tunisia’s capital, Mövenpick Hotel du Lac Tunis. The 189-key property, located in the city’s Berges du Lac business and diplomatic district, is due to welcome its first guests this spring. All rooms and suites will offer a choice of city or lake views, while dining options include an authentic gourmet kitchen atelier experience at La Table du Chef, refined all-day dining at Le Grand Restaurant, and a chilled-out lakeside terrace serving mocktails, signature bites and shisha at Al-Diwan. Wellness facilities will include a spa, relaxation pool, sauna, hydro baths and gym, while guests can choose from six venues designed to host tailor-made events, weddings and meetings, including a 750-seater ballroom.
Mövenpick Hotel du Lac Tunis is located five minutes from Tunis-Carthage Airport
Hilton Garden Inn Al Khobar Nearing Official Opening
H The hotel is IHG’s seventh Riyadh-based property
ilton Garden Inn Al Khobar is expected to open and start receiving reservations from February 28. Featuring 199 guest rooms, the new hotel will aim to attract both business and leisure guests. The rooms are expected to include high speed WiFi and an advanced design of an ergonomic desk chair and working space.
DLG Adds Al Furjan to Dubai Portfolio
Additional amenities include a rooftop pool, separate women and men fitness centres and a fully equipped business centre with five meeting rooms, the largest one having an area of 110 m2. Dining options will include Garden Grile restaurant, where parents can relax while their children are entertained at the play area.
Swissôtel Expands Presence With First UAE Hotel
S The new hotel’s décor will be urban and art driven, rendering
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raw Link Group (DLG) has added Assass Investment’s 250-key hotel Al Furjan to its Dubai design portfolio. Supporting Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 and World Expo 2020, the property is located on the expansion borders near Dubai Marina, Downtown, Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo 2020 site. Daousser Chennoufi, CEO, DLG, outlined, “We have developed a contemporary urban interior that incorporates urban elements for the bedrooms and public areas [...]. This three-star business and leisure hotel will embody an international theme known as urban regeneration [...] [which] combines architectural materials with urban connotations layered with softer materials, with an end goal of reaching a setting that is urban, art driven, comfortable and practical.”
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wissôtel has announced the inauguration of Swissôtel Al Ghurair and Swissôtel Living, marking the brand’s first opening in the UAE. Al Ghurair Properties, the property development arm of Al Ghurair, partnered with Swissôtel on the hotel which offers 428 rooms and 192 apartments. The luxury property is situated in the heart of old Dubai, within Al Ghurair Centre Complex, Deira. Guests can enjoy a dining experience, the spa, a fitness centre, swimming pool and tennis courts. Additionally, Swissôtel Al Ghurair houses six meeting rooms and Al Khor Ballroom. The meeting and events facilities can host up to 300 people.
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AIRPORTS
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Dubai International Retains Busiest Airport Title DUBAI AIRPORTS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL IS THE NUMBER ONE AIRPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, WITH ANNUAL TRAFFIC FOR 2017 REACHING 88.2 MILLION PASSENGERS.
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ropelled by high traffic volumes averaging 7.35 million passengers per month throughout the year, including the record months of January, July and August of 2017 when traffic breached the eight million passenger mark, the airport’s traffic reached 88,242,099 passengers for the full year, up 5.5 percent compared to 83,654,250 passengers recorded during 2016. The airport welcomed 7,854,657 passengers in December, up 1.9 percent compared to 7,706,351 recorded in the same month in 2016. Six new scheduled passenger airlines have been added during 2017, including SalamAir, Badr Airlines, and Air Moldova, while Emirates and flydubai added three and 10 new passenger destinations, increasing passenger traffic. Markets showing the most growth during 2017 included Russia and China
KAIA Receives Overwhelming F&B Response
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hangi Airports Saudi Arabia (CASA), the management company behind Saudi Arabia’s new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), Jeddah, has received an overwhelming response following their call for food and beverage (F&B) concessions proposals at its passenger terminal check-in hall. More than 80 representatives from over 30 renowned local and global brands attended the briefing for the first tranche of F&B concessions, which is for two restaurants and three cafes. CASA announced that it will roll out further proposals for a wide range of concessions, including additional food and beverage offers in the near future. Sher Khan, CEO, CASA, stated, “We want to offer [passengers] a wide range of choices, from the familiarity of international cuisines [...] to Saudi delicacies.”
Nearly 10,000 m² at the new airport’s departure floor has been set aside for dining options
NYU to Advance Abu Dhabi Airports Innovation
N Abu Dhabi International Airport
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ew York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi Airports to encourage innovation in the form of a joint initiative which will align with the objectives of the Year of Zayed, titled Innovation and Accelerating the Future. The MoU is set to further accelerate the development of advanced capabilities for Abu Dhabi International Airport. The first phase of the partnership will see NYU Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi
Airports organising joint workshops and events to identify ideas and opportunities to develop the capital’s airport to a new standard of technological progression. Alfred Al Bloom, vice chancellor, NYU Abu Dhabi, said, “Developing this partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports offers the university a stunning opportunity to work with the Abu Dhabi government to strengthen the Emirate’s connections with the world [...].”
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AIR
TUI Group Receives its First Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft Boeing and TUI Group celebrated the delivery of the operator’s first Boeing B737 MAX 8 aircraft on January 30.
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Cobalt Air Adds Abu Dhabi to Growing Network
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he US aircraft manufacturer designed the new single-aisle plane to be more efficient, reliable and comfortable for passengers. Boeing achieved this by incorporating its Sky Interior, the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets, large flight deck displays, and a host of other improvements. The latest developments contributed to making the aircraft the fastest selling airplane in Boeing history with more than 4,300 orders to date from 92 customers worldwide. "The 737 MAX is a great fit for TUI Group, with 14 percent lower carbon emissions and a 40 percent smaller noise footprint supporting its commitment to sustainability," commented Monty Oliver, vice president, European sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Emirates Signs Massive Airbus A380 Order
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mirates has signed a contract for 20 additional Airbus A380 aircraft and 16 options, all valued at USD16 billion based on the latest list prices. The February 11 signing firmed up a memorandum of understanding announced in January, with deliveries anticipated to start as early as 2020. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the World
Government Summit by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman, Emirates Group and Mikail Houari, president, Africa, Middle East, Airbus; and in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, UAE and Edouard Philippe, prime minister, France. This new order brings Emirates’ commitment to the A380 programme up to 178 aircraft, worth over USD60 billion.
Emirates is the world’s largest Airbus A380 operator with 101 A380s currently in service
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obalt Air announced that it will add direct service between Larnaca and the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, from February 25. Services from Cyprus are scheduled to depart each Friday, Sunday and Tuesday, while flights from Abu Dhabi are expected to depart on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. Cobalt Air will use an Airbus A320 on the route, which includes 12 business class seats and 144 economy seats. Andrew Madar, CEO, Cobalt Air, commented, “[...] Abu Dhabi is a key strategic route for Cyprus tourism and business. This route will offer direct flights to Cyprus and connections onward to London Heathrow.”
Qatar Airways Inaugurate First Flight to Penang
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atar Airways’ first non-stop flight to Penang touched down at Penang International Airport, inaugurating the airline’s second destination in Malaysia, as it continues its expansion throughout Southeast Asia. Qatar Airways flight QR850, operated by a Boeing B787 Dreamliner, was led by Ehab Amin, chief commercial officer, Qatar Airways, and was accompanied by H.E. Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Malaysia’s ambassador to Qatar. At a press conference held at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, Amin, announced the Penang route will be boosted to a four-time-weekly frequency effective July 01. Until then, Qatar Airways will fly three times weekly to Penang with its Boeing B787 Dreamliner.
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AIR
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Qatar Airways Adds Mykonos to Greece Network
SalamAir Announce First Flights to Iran
Thomas Cook Resumes Services to Tunisia
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atar Airways has announced that it will launch direct flights to Mykonos, Greece starting May 30. The island will be the airline’s third Greek destination, following Athens and Thessaloniki which is due to launch in March. Four weekly seasonal flights to Mykonos International Airport will be operated by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 business class seats and 132 economy class seats. H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, noted, “Mykonos has long been one of our most sought-after European destinations, and we are very proud to be the first Gulf carrier to serve Mykonos directly. The island’s central location among the Cyclades makes it an extremely attractive holiday destination. We look forward to offering holidaymakers the convenience of direct service to this enchanting island this summer.”
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man’s SalamAir is introducing its first Iran service with two weekly flights to Shiraz. Due to launch on February 28, the low-cost airline will be operating flights to Iran’s third largest city every Sunday and Wednesday. Mohamed Ahmed, CEO, SalamAir, said the new route had been created due to popular demand and is a priority for the airline this year. “Despite its increasing popularity as a medical and tourism destination, Shiraz has remained an underserved route for years with no direct flights from Muscat,” outlined Ahmed. SalamAir also plans to expand its services to Iran with flights to Tehran and Mashhad, supported by three new Airbus A320s.
SalamAir aims to fulfil public demand with its new Shiraz service
homas Cook announced that it has resumed its holidays and flight operations to Tunisia for UK customers from February 13. The programme has started with three weekly flights to Enfidha, from Manchester, London Gatwick and Birmingham, eventually expanding to include Glasgow from April and Newcastle and London Stansted from May. The decision was taken to put the destination back on sale after the UK government changed its security advice for Tunisia. Re-launching holidays to the North African country also reflects customer demand, as since going on sale in August 2017, Tunisia has proven popular with the first three flights selling out completely..
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INTERNATIONAL
AFRICA
Hilton Expanding Egypt Presence with new Hotels
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ilton has expanded its Egypt portfolio with the opening of Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, while also confirming plans to debut its luxury Waldorf Astoria brand in the country, and Africa, later this year. Hilton signed two management agreements with Gulf-Egypt for Hotels & Tourism to operate Heliopolis Hotel & Towers Luxury Hotel under two distinct
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Thomas Cook Begin Inaugural Flights to Hurghada
brands. The 593-room upscale Hilton property is now welcoming guests alongside the 247-room Towers Luxury Hotel, which will eventually rebrand as Waldorf Astoria Cairo following an ambitious renovation programme. Scheduled for delivery before the end of this year, the refurbishment will include a redesign to all 247 rooms and suites, lobby renovation and a refined destination spa. Hurghada is a beach resort town stretching some 40 km along Egypt’s Red Sea coast
T Hilton Cairo Heliopolis is the group’s sixth hotel in the Egyptian capital
DRC’s Kinshasa Joins flydubai Network
Experts Join to Launch Safari Collective
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lydubai announced it is due to commence flights to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from April 15. The daily flights are scheduled to be operated with a stop via nearby Entebbe, Uganda and will also be available for booking through its codeshare agreement with Emirates. The move sees the low-cost carrier become the UAE’s first airline to operate flights to N'djili International Airport and provide links from the region to a new Central African gateway. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said, “[…] With the proximity to the continent and rising demand to more direct links to Africa, we see this new service to Kinshasa playing an instrumental role in further supporting the growing trade and tourism flows in the coming years.”
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team of safari experts have combined their experience and launched a new initiative, titled Safari Collective. The initiative, launched on February 01, is aimed at Africa’s safari industry and is designed to help better their businesses through operations and consulting. The experts will be working together under a single umbrella brand to offer a range of consulting and project management services to the industry, aimed at providing turn-key solutions to various challenges frequently faced by safari lodge owners and operators. Sharon Gilbert-Rivett, spokesperson, Safari Collective, commented, “More than any sector in tourism, a successful safari operation depends on teamwork.”
homas Cook Airlines’ inaugural flight to Hurghada, Egypt, took off from East Midlands Airport on February 09. The direct service is scheduled to operate on a weekly basis until April 27, using Airbus A321 aircraft. Flights are due to increase to twice weekly from November for the winter 2018 – 2019 season. Henry Sunley, commercial director, Thomas Cook Airlines, outlined, “Across the UK we have increased our seat capacity by 14 percent to Egypt this year, flying to both Hurghada and Marsa Alam.”
Protea Hotels Makes Algeria Debut
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rotea Hotels by Marriott announced its expansion into North Africa with the opening of Protea Hotels by Marriott Constantine, Algeria. Strategically located in close proximity to Mohamed Boudiaf International Airport, the hotel is within walking distance of most major city attractions such as Cirta Museum, Ahmed Bey Castle, Le Monument Aux Morts, and the city’s famous seven bridges. The hotel’s 72 guest rooms are spread over six floors and provide city-wide views. Additional facilities include two boardrooms and a ballroom. Protea Hotel by Marriott Constantine joins Marriott International’s portfolio of seven operating hotels in Algeria.
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AMERICAS
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Tribute Portfolio Makes New York Debut with The Wick
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arriott International’s Tribute Portfolio has made its New York debut with The Wick Hotel at 41 Cross Street. The Hudson-based building was constructed as a candle and soap manufacturing facility in the mid-19th century before undergoing a meticulous transformation into a boutique hotel. With 55 guest rooms, including seven suites, the property boasts restored 1860s hardwood floors, denim-style wall coverings, candle-making patents, signature lighting, lobby artworks are by local painter Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, and each guest room has 19th century Hudson River School landscapes by Thomas Cole. The property also features a lobby bar, luxurious spa treatment room, fitness centre, boardroom and event space.
INTERNATIONAL
Mexico to Welcome Hyatt Place Aguascalientes
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exico’s sixth Hyatt Place hotel is set for a 2019 opening, after a Hyatt affiliate entered into a franchise agreement for the 144key Hyatt Place Aguascalientes. Luciano Julio, regional director, operations in Latin America, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, commented, “This opening […] strengthens Hyatt’s strategy to grow its brands in key locations within the country, such as the golden economic triangle.” The property will be located close to industrial parks, automotive manufacturing plants and downtown Aguascalientes.
MSP International Airport Reveals Passenger Record
M The Wick is labeled by Marriott as an upper-upscale hotel
Bermuda Achieves Record Results
inneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) announced its 2017 operational performance, reporting that it welcomed 38,034,341 passengers during the year, a 1.4 percent increased compared to 2016. Aircraft operations totaled 416,213, up 0.7 percent over 2016, while the 2017 operations total remains far below its 2004 peak, when MSP experienced 541,093 aircraft operations. Eight airlines have launched service to MSP since 2008. In May 2018, Jet Blue is set to become the ninth.
Delta Shares USD1 Billion Profit with its Employees
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n 2017, Bermuda’s tourism industry recorded its highest performance in a decade, with the number of air leisure visitors and money spent on-island surging reaching high percentage growth. Air leisure spending during 2017 increased by 22.5 percent, while air leisure arrivals increased by 11 percent, cruise spending by 7.6 percent, and hotel occupancy by 9.2 percent. Around 83 percent of the 2017 leisure air growth is from visitors younger than 45. Additionally, 2017 saw the highest visitor numbers to the island in recorded history. The total estimated amount directly injected into the island’s economy by visitors was USD431 million, which represented a sizeable 20 percent increase over 2016.
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Delta is among the world’s biggest carriers
elta Air Lines has paid out more than USD1 billion profit to its 80,000-strong workforce for the fourth year running. The airline announced that employees earned the payout for delivering a record-breaking operational and customer satisfaction performance, as well as a strong financial performance. In total, Delta has paid out more than USD5 billion through its profit sharing programme over the past five years. Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines, said, “[…] Our industry-leading profit sharing and compensation philosophy reflects a decision we made a long time ago to share the company’s success with our people [...].”
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INTERNATIONAL
AMERICAS
Marriott to Manage New Resort on Las Vegas Strip
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arriott International and global development firm Witkoff announced a plan to open a new resort on 2755 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The integrated resort and casino, to be named The Drew Las Vegas, will debut the EDITION brand in Las Vegas and will also mark The Strip’s first JW Marriott property. Set to open in late 2020, the resort will feature nearly 4,000 rooms and suites as well as over 46,451 m2 of convention and meeting space. Once open, the hotels will be managed by Marriott International. The Drew Las Vegas will be home to a broad offering including a casino, hotels, convention facilities, entertainment, nightlife, retail and dining options.
Puerto Vallarta Reports Record Occupancy and Arrivals
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Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Airport Open for Business
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arriott International announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Airport. Asset managed by BASK Develpoment & Management, the property, previously under the name Clarion Hotel Milwaukee Airport, provides 178 guest rooms, over 1,579 m2 of meeting space, a business centre, 24-hour fitness centre, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests can also enjoy full-service dining at the hotel’s pub and the brand’s Best Brews & BBQ programme. “Designed with the everyday traveller in mind, Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Airport will be a convenient stay for anyone looking to enjoy the world-class attractions of Milwaukee,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president, Fairfield, Four Points.
Montreal-Trudeau Airport Combats Extreme Weather
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éroports de Montréal (ADM) has invested more than USD6 million to prepare for this winter season, after Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport faced an average annual snowfall of 220 cm and 13 episodes of freezing rain in 2017. Vehicles at the end of their service life have been replaced, and the purchase of new equipment, are optimising operations and minimising the impact of precipitation. Due to longer and more frequent periods of freezing rain, ADM proceeded to add spreaders and spreader trucks to its maintenance vehicle fleet, also acquiring additional equipment such as a large loader and three front-end loaders.
2017 was a record-breaking year for Puerto Vallarta tourism
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017 saw Puerto Vallarta, Mexico set new hotel occupancy and international arrival records, according to the region’s Hotel Association. Currently celebrating its 100th year anniversary, Puerto Vallarta Hotel Association reported a 75.6 percent occupancy rate for 2017. Furthermore, Puerto Vallarta International Airport received 3,093,200 international visitors, according to Mexican airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico. Additionally, 293,791 cruise passengers visited the destination in 2017 as 145 cruises called at the city’s port. Visitors from the US make up the largest share of international arrivals with 50.8 percent followed by Canadians at 15.6 percent and Europeans at 1.5 percent. Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board announced that it is already anticipating a successful 2018.
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United Airlines Reports January Operational Performance
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nited Airlines released its operational results for January, revealing that consolidated traffic increased 1.8 percent, consolidated capacity increased 3.3 percent, and consolidated load factor decreased by 1.2 points, when compared to January 2017. The carrier also reported that it continues to expect this year’s first-quarter consolidated passenger unit revenue to be flat, up two percent compared to the first quarter of 2017. “We finished first among our competitors for on-time departures, marking the seventh time in the past 10 months that we have ranked in the top spot for mainline departures, ensuring our customers are getting to their destinations safely and on-time," stated Scott Kirby, president, United Airlines.
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ASIA PACIFIC
Qatar Airways Adds Canberra to Growing Australia Network
SIA to Operate First Ever B787-10 Flight to Osaka
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ingapore Airlines (SIA) announced that Osaka, Japan will be the first scheduled destination for its new Boeing B787-10 fleet, with services expected to begin this coming May. SIA has 49 Boeing 787-10s on firm order, with March being when the first aircraft is due for delivery from Boeing’s North Charleston, South Carolina production facility. Prior to the regular services being introduced to Osaka, SIA’s B787-10s will be operated on selected Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur flights for crew training purposes. SIA will also debut its highly-anticipated new cabin products on the B787-10s, fitted with 337 seats – 36 business class seats and 301 economy class seats.
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Bangkok Airways App Available
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atar Airways’ first flight from Doha to Canberra touched down at Canberra Airport on February 12, where it was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute. Qatar Airways operates the daily service to the Australian capital with a Boeing B777 aircraft, featuring 42 business class flatbed seats and 316 economy class seats. On the launch day, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, attended an official meeting with Steven Ciobo, minister, trade, tourism and investment, Australia, at Parliament House. During the meeting, the new flight between Doha and Canberra, as well as the airline’s ongoing commitment to growth in Australia, was discussed. Canberra is Qatar Airways’ fifth gateway into the country, following Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth.
INTERNATIONAL
Al Baker and Ciobo discussed how to maximise the new flight’s potential
angkok Airways has launched its mobile app’s latest version, with it now available on both iOS and Android devices. In the latest 3.0.0 version, passengers are able to book their flight with preferred-seats, see flight-status updates, check-in online, preview the flight schedule, utilise services such as life insurance and meal requests, among others. Moreover, cashing and payment are now diversified into subtle channels. Bangkok Airways’ app also provides hotel reservation, car rental and other transportation services, with there also being a in-app promotional announcement every month.
Best Western adds new Hotel to Indonesia Portfolio
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est Western Hotels & Resorts has expanded its Indonesia portfolio with Best Western Kindai Hotel. The new property boasts 106 rooms, all with facilities, including; flatscreen TVs, mini-bars, bathrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi and room service. Guests can also dine at the hotel’s restaurants which include an all-day dining outlet, and a Japanese restaurant that is due to open on March 01.
There is also a rooftop Sky Lounge. Best Western Kindai Hotel features four meeting rooms, a ballroom for corporate and social events, as well as a swimming pool and fitness room. “[...] We are delighted to continue our nationwide expansion by [...] entering one of Indonesia’s rapidly emerging regional hubs,” commented Olivier Berrivin, managing director, international operations, Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts..
Moxy Hotels Enters Japan with Playhouse Party
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arriott International’s Moxy Hotels brand created a playhouse at Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho to celebrate the brand’s Japan debut. The party showcased the costume, gaming and underground music culture. Attended by more than 350 guests, the opening party saw the likes of Japanese TV personality Maggy and celebrity DJs Kaori, Yuka Mizuhara and Alissa Ueno. Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho’s ground floor housed the party’s main bar and party scene, with original craft cocktails flowing with DJ Yuka Mizuhara and DJ Alissa Ueno spinning urban beats. The second floor was all about celebrating Japan's gaming culture, and the most eccentric floor in the Moxy Playhouse celebrated Tokyo’s colourful ‘cosplay’ culture.
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RENDEZVOUS
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MATTHEW POWELL, SENIOR DIRECTOR, INDIA, AND AGENCY COMMERCE SOLUTIONS, AMFESA, TRAVELPORT, EXPLAINS WHY HE BELIEVES THE COMPANY HAS STAYED AHEAD OF THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL AGENCY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS
Q&A with Matthew Powell SENIOR DIRECTOR, INDIA, AND AGENCY COMMERCE SOLUTIONS, AMFESA, TRAVELPORT
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the latest trends regarding the global distribution model and how does the company makes sure to follow these?
intelligence, bots and virtual reality, may, to some, seem to be complicating the space but we feel they just present more opportunities to improve interaction with customers.
MATTHEW POWELL: The traditional GDS concept has evolved to manage increasingly fragmented content and the pivot to mobile commerce. We outlined our strategic plan some years ago to manage this, and have focussed our organic and inorganic investments early. For example, we are managing the increased fragmentation of content for our agency customers by combining network and LCC content side-by-side, and integrating IATA NDC API sourced content with the broadest hotel and car content available from anyone in our space. This means agents can avoid switching to different travel websites or systems to fulfil a traveller’s requirements, and improves their ability to upsell. With our entire travel content portfolio available to book within a single and integrated workflow, we believe we are currently ahead of the game, which is why we are winning with large OTAs like MakeMyTrip and innovative mobile players like Hopper.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: With plenty highly accessible and reputable online travel agents, travellers are increasingly comfortable with booking trips independently. In your opinion is that a threat for GDS providers?
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the biggest challenges for GDS – especially considering technology and travel advancement – and what should GDS providers do in order to maintain their market position, remain relevant and meet customer needs? MATTHEW POWELL: Travel technology continues to be an exciting place to be. A constant influx of new technologies, such as wearables, artificial
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MATTHEW POWELL: Having the right content is key to giving customers the choice they want. On the provider-side, as technologies evolve and change, our open platform is able to consume content from all sources. There has been a steady but clear step change in terms of how the industry now is talking about IATA NDC. For example, there is a realisation that it is not just about front-end aggregation but also about how to enable the workflow automation, change management processes, multiple content integration, robotics for fulfilment; data hand offs and so on, which the GDS provides. An API format doesn’t, in itself, address any of these. Professional corporate, leisure and online agencies need all of this, plus aggregation and booking at scale, at speed, with reliability and a reasonable cost which is something where we excel. [...] The value of a true open platform is that no connectivity preferences are out of scope. More than this, our new Trip services investments allow developers to code using lean, restful APIs that are mobile-first, quick to implement and ‘lightweight’ – allowing content to be consumed across devices and
at speed. The trinity of search speed, content and accuracy then gives consumers what they want. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What does the future hold for GDS? Can you share with us some of your future plans, including new products and collaborations? MATTHEW POWELL: Mobile first. Booking to go, while on the go, has become the new norm for the digitally connected traveller. We are tremendously excited about opportunities ahead in our industry, and nowhere more so than in mobile [...]. For Travelport and our customers, the shift to mobile means a number of things. First, investment to deliver a change in our search and shopping, using Data and Analytics so that we can serve up much more relevant content to mobile apps. Second, investing to make our search further refined and even faster [...]. It’s not just the booking. Mobile provides instant micro moments throughout the entire trip lifecycle – from the dreaming phase on the commute to work – through the searching and booking phases and onto the in-destination and post trip selfie-sharing phase. These are all opportunities to engage and deliver experiences to customers, which not only builds loyalty and satisfaction but also revenue. Advanced mobile applications, linked to improved back-end automation represents a massive opportunity for the next phase of growth for the travel industry, in terms of distribution automation. Personalisation also has enormous revenue potential for travel agencies [...]. Travelport is also investing in OTA technology to deliver improvements, not only in speed, but bookability and optimisation.
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WHO’S MOVED
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OLIVIER THOMAS has been named general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island. With over 20 years experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Thomas joins the team from Morocco’s Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca where he held the same position from 2014 to 2017. Thomas earlier served at the company’s properties in Amman, Jordan, his first Four Seasons assignment, and in Prague, Czech Republic. At Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Thomas will ensure that the property demonstrates a keen sense of commitment to the dynamic growth of Al Maryah Island, as it is the UAE capital’s financial hub and a sought-after luxury shopping and dining destination.
GEORGE GANCHEV has been appointed general manager at Blazon Hotels’ UAE-based Ajman Hotel. Ganchev has developed his skills in six different countries, such as the UAE, after preopening Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, Tanzania’s Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski, and others across Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining Ajman Hotel, Ganchev led the team at Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga. Ganchev’s new task is to take Ajman Hotel’s team through an exciting schedule of enhancements, including the rebranding of Blazon Lounge, and the all-day-dining Café Naseem restaurant.
Olivier Thomas
George Ganchev
AZAR SALIBA has been named general manager at Jumeirah Al Naseem, after moving from Jumeirah Al Qasr. Saliba brings more than 11 years’ experience with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, after initially joining the company as front office manager at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. He then worked his way up roles such as director of rooms, executive assistant manager and resident manager. Saliba will report directly to Stefan Bollhalder, the resort’s managing director who has been leading operations since April 2017.
Saliba brings more than 11 years’ experience
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Ganchev will take the team through an exciting schedule
TARAS ETTL has been appointed as managing director, Middle East and Asia operations, at Steigenberger DMCC (SDMCC), Dubai. In his new role, Ettl will play a key role in growing SDMCC. Ettl brings with him many years of experience working in properties such as Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay (Dubai), IntercityHotel Salalah (Oman) and Steigenberger Kantaoui Bay Sousse (Tunisia). Prior to his role, Ettl served as vice president, development, Middle East and Africa, at InterContinental Hotels Group, Dubai.
Azar Saliba
Taras Ettl
Ettl will play a key role in growing SDMCC
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the world’s first-ever Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park
Etihad Launch Aid Mission for Rohingya Refugees
Warner Bros. Reveals Metropolis and Cartoon Junction Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi offered a closer look at two of its six themed lands, Metropolis and Cartoon Junction, which will showcase signature rides, entertainment and restaurants, inspired by the stories and characters of DC and Warner Bros. Animation. The indoor theme park is set to debut this summer on Yas Island, featuring a total of 29 rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and live entertainment across six lands, including Metropolis, Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. As guests walk through the iconic Warner Bros. shield, they will enter a world where Super Heroes like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman fight for justice and animated stars like Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote and Scooby-Doo come to life.
Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has launched a humanitarian aid mission to Bahukhali Bazar, Bangladesh in order to support over 3,000 Rohingya refugee families. An EAG delegation was recently onsite to help distribute garments, dry food packages, and blankets. The mission also included the distribution of humanitarian aid at a hospital jointly operated by Malaysia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Implemented via an agreement between EAG and the UAE Embassy in Bangladesh, the humanitarian mission was undertaken in cooperation with Emirates Red Crescent and Bangladeshi Red Crescent. Additionally, the UAE government has already pledged USD7 million in support of the Rohingya community.
UAE Businessman Launches US Children’s Fund
Al Habtoor: The US is the world’s biggest economy, where homelessness and poverty should not be an issue
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, a UAE businessman and philanthropist, launched a children’s fund in Central Illinois, highlighting that the US needs to do more to address hunger and homelessness. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development acknowledged at the end of 2017, in its annual Point in Time count, that there are 554,000 homeless people in the US. That’s a one percent jump from 2016, while the official poverty rate is around 12.7 percent according to US Census Bureau data. Al Habtoor visited the US to launch Dr Khalaf Al Habtoor and Congressman Paul Findley’s Children Fund. His USD500,000 contribution, which has been awarded to the Central Illinois Foodbank in Springfield, will be used to establish an endowment to fund programmes.
The initiative is funded by Etihad Guest members’ miles donations
SCB Hosts Charity Auction to Support Refugee Children Sharjah Children Biennial (SCB) organised a charity auction between February 15–16, at The Workshop Dubai. The charity event featured 65 artworks from children who participated during the biennial’s fifth edition held in January and February 2017. All proceeds from the auction are due to be shared between the Sharjahbased humanitarian organisation, The
Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), which will use donations to support children at Jordan’s Zaatari Refugee Camp, and Dar Al Ber Society, Dubai. A two-day workshop titled Developing Creativity and Imagination of Children aimed to instil understanding and compassion in children, as well as develop creativity and nurture their imagination.
SCB participated at Abu Dhabi Art 2017
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. Sharjah’s East Coast locations decorated with captivating displays that transfer audiences to a fantastic world during Sharjah Light Festival
The Flag Island, in Sharjah held a weeklong workshop named Island of Science to encouraged visitors to save and preserve the environment
Tamani Marina Hotel and Hotel Apartments celebrated its 10th anniversary reflecting on many achievements and local, regional and international awards it has won
Dubai Safari welcomed people of determination to their newly designed park featuring new amenities, making it universally accessible
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Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Emaar Properties ushered in the Chinese New Year with a dazzling dragon-themed Light Up show on the iconic Burj Khalifa
Etihad Airways executive Andrew Fisher successfully travelled around the globe faster than anyone else and using the fewest flights
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
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Heart of Sharjah Takes the Spotlight
ITB BERLIN Berlin, Germany March 07 – 11 www.itb-berlin.de/en Hailed as a leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers.
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harjah Light Festival, organised by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), is highlighting the emirate’s architectural monuments and landmarks through unique visual displays across 18 separate locations. Being one of the most important historical landmarks in the Gulf, the Heart of Sharjah is witnessing a series of shows that reflect the emirate’s cultural progress.
It was included in the 2014 UNESCO World Heritage List, reflecting Sharjah’s leadership in the preservation of its heritage. Addtionally, The Heart of Sharjah Theater show features a video show called Graphic Playhouse, where artist Bijoy KV takes the ideas of purity, infinity and eternity and moves them to another level with abstract images forming kaleidoscopic variations.
Roads of Arabia on Display at Tokyo National Museum
S ATM Dubai, UAE April 22 – 25 arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com B2B exhibition showcasing over 2,800 products and destinations from around the world to over 28,000 travel trade visitors.
IMEX Frankfurt, Germany May 15 –17 www.imex-frankfurt.com IMEX opens its doors to 5,200 global decision makers with qualified buying power, including the valuable German outbound market.
ILTM - ASIA PACIFIC Singapore May 21 – 24 www.iltm.com/asiapacific Targeting the Asia outbound market, ILTM Asia Pacific will bring international suppliers face-to-face with the very best regional buyers and key international agents.
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audi Arabia’s Roads of Arabia exhibition is on display at Japan’s Tokyo National Museum, the exhibit’s 14th stop in its year-long international tour. Officially opened on January 29, the exhibition includes 466 rare archaeological pieces introducing Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy throughout history. The artefacts cover a timeframe extending from the Paleolithic Period to pre-Islamic periods. Civilisations of the early, intermediate and late Arab kingdoms are also present, as are artefacts from during the early Islamic period, up until the establishment of the Saudi State in its three phases up to the reign of King AbdulAziz, founder of the modern Saudi State. Since its international debut in 2010, the exhibition has been on display in France, Spain, Germany and Russia, in five US cities, as well as China and South Korea.
Mother of the Nation Festival Coming Up
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he Mother of the Nation Festival is set to return to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi from March 22 – 31, according to its organisers, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The Festival is dedicated to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairwoman, Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood. According to its organisers, the Festival will in-
clude a series of displays, activities and performances promoting the importance of family coherence, with a special focus on the mother’s roles in maintaining social values and traditions. Taking place on Abu Dhabi Corniche, this year’s happening is scheduled to be open daily. It will also utilise Miral’s new beachfront leisure development A’l Bahar, which is due to be opened to the public for the first time.
DMCA to Showcase Maritime Solutions at DIBS
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ubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has announced that it will showcase the maritime sector’s latest developments which are based on innovation and smart transformation. The presentation will be part of DMCA’s participation as a government entity supporting Dubai International Boat Show 2018 (DIBS), which is scheduled to be held from February 27 – March 03 at Dubai Water Canal. DMCA intends to provide an integrated portfolio of marine licensing services at its pavilion, including a test platform for obtaining the mandatory marine driving license, in addition to fast and efficient ways to Publishing developments were complete licensing procedures for all kinds of marine crafts. discussed DMCA is also due to showcase several innovative electronic applications.
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