17 MARCH 2018 ISSUE 436
Your Mountain Escape awaits at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort.
17 MARCH 2018 ISSUE 436
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Jumeirah Makes Bahrain Entrance
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SAUDIGULF AIRLINES BEGINS DUBAI SERVICE
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RAS AL KHAIMAH TO HOST 2018 WTA MIDDLE EAST GALA
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MIDDLE EAST AIRPORTS RECORD 2017 PASSENGER GROWTH
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
In December 2017, passenger traffic at Middle East-based airports grew by 0.7 percent, compared to the same period in 2016, according to Airport Council International (ACI).
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
Kuwait International Airport witnessed the strongest airport growth across the region
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
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assenger traffic continued to show mixed results in December 2017; Dubai International grew by 1.9 percent, while Qatar’s Hamad International Airport experienced a 16.9 percent decrease. The airport continued to be negatively impacted by Qatar’s diplomatic crisis with neighbouring states, reported ACI. Kuwait International Airport and Muscat International Airport witnessed 17.1 percent and 14.8 percent growth respectively. For 2017, Middle East air freight grew by six percent, the findings added. Looking ahead, considering low cost carriers’ expanding growth across the region, and various holiday periods during the first quarter this year, passenger traffic is expected to remain solid going into the New Year.
STR HIGHLIGHTS MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA OCCUPANCY RISE
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of 16.3.2018
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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
114.07
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
17.62
Iran (IRR)
Rial
37,828.88
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,196.53
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,513.26
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.33
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.18
Syria (SYP)
Pound
515.23
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.39
Yemen (YER)
Rial
249.90
STR has revealed that Middle East-based hotels reported mixed performance results this January, while African posted growth across three key performance metrics.
A Saudi Arabia's January school holiday pushed a 16.4 percent rise
ccording to the hotel market data and benchmarking provider, Middle East occupancy rose 1.9 percent to 69.1 percent, while a 3.4 percent ADR decline to USD170.28 pushed RevPAR down 1.6 percent to USD117.75. Particularly, Saudi Arabia’s hotel development pipeline represents 76 percent of the country’s existing room supply. However, STR analysts stressed the importance of considering the long-term tourism and hospitality investments being made as part of Vision 2030. Africa's hotel industry saw occupancy increase 5.7 percent to 53.4 percent, ADR increase 2.6 percent to USD126.55 and RevPAR increase 8.4 percent to USD67.54 during the month.
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AGENTS
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Sabre is among the world’s largest marketplaces, processing over USD120 billion travel spend each year
Rehlat Renews Sabre Partnership Online Middle East travel agency, Rehlat, has renewed a long-term agreement with leading global travel technology provider, Sabre Corporation, to continue using its technology to power its online platform.
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or the past two years, Rehlat has been using Sabre’s industry-leading technology and travel management services to help increase its online conversion performance, grow revenue, improve customer satisfaction levels and personalise services to customers. “We have witnessed strong double-digit growth since we launched in 2015,” said Bader Al Bader, president, Rehlat. “Sabre’s global expertise in online travel, impressive dedication and cutting-edge technology has enabled us to succeed in a highly competitive marketplace and tap into the growth of the online travel industry.” Rehlat has also used Sabre’s APIs to roll out new mobile capabilities to meet the tech-savvy travellers’ growing expectations.
roomsXML Improves Agent Selling Process
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otel platform roomsXML has rolled out new agent inspired upgrades which are designed to make selling easier and more efficient. The changes are said to reflect the company’s passion for continual improvement. Room type descriptions have been upgraded to describe room furnishings, floor plans and its size, in addition to which floor each room is on, allowing agents to simultaneously identify upgrade opportunities. roomsXML has also implemented new hotel rating algorithms that not only aggregate reviews but trawl social media to get a feel for what guests are actually saying about the property. Cancellation policies have also moved upfront developing a fewer button click policy, for agents to get the important information they need faster. “Improving two million lines of code is like opening a can of worms, but if it is what agents want, it is our job to seamlessly implement solutions that make their job easier,” outlined Anuj Bang, product development director, roomsXML.
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TECHNOLOGY
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OMRAN Strengthen Oman’s Tourism Infrastructure
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi’s Gotham City Set to Thrill Guests
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nhancing its commitment to strengthen and diversify Oman’s tourism sector, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), has generated substantial momentum after announcing successful accomplishments across its projects over the last three years. Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) which opened in 2016, is Muscat’s Madinat Al-Irfan Development phase one centre piece. It has played an integral role in driving Oman’s MICE sector and has hosted more than 184 regional and international events and conferences to date. OMRAN’s hotel portfolio has grown to 18 properties, including new hotels, which welcomed 405,000 guests in 2017. Peter Walichnowski, CEO, OMRAN, said, “This year will see OMRAN completing a number of major projects.”
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park, has unveiled details about one of its most anticipated lands, Gotham City.
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hen the park is expected to open this summer, Batman fans will have the chance to walk Gotham City’s streets alongside super-villains such as The Joker, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Catwoman and Harley Quinn. The theme park will feature interactive experiences, including four all-new state-of-the-art rides and attractions, themed restaurants and souvenir shops — all inspired by the characters and stories from DC’s famed comic books and movies. “Batman will emerge from the shadows to help fight crime and stop the city’s Super-Villains. From heart-pounding flight simulators to authentic landmarks, this land is sure to leave a lasting impression on guests of all ages,” said Mark Gsellman, park general manager, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
OCEC has hosted more than 184 events and conferences, with more than 50 future events already confirmed
Nature-Inspired Cityland Mall on Schedule for Completion
C Over 50 per cent retail space has been leased and committed
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ityland Mall, which is expected to be the world’s first nature-inspired shopping destination, remains on track to open during this year’s fourth quarter. The Mall’s construction is reportedly around 60 percent completed. Fahimuddin Sharfuddin, CEO, Cityland Group, said, “We have received strong interest from retailers and we are working to conclude the leasing activities by adding an additional 30 percent leased retail space by the year-end. We anticipate the balance of the retail area to be fully committed by end of the first quarter 2019.” The Mall will be providing a strong retailer portfolio covering various categories, including a 9,290 m2 Carrefour hypermarket; over 75 shops and services for every day essentials; over 20 food and beverage outlets; 22 full service casual dining concepts with outdoor terraces facing out to Central Park; over 100 retailers selling fashion and apparel; and a VOX Cinemas with 10 screens. 17 MARCH 2018
TECHNOLOGY
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Atlantis, The Palm Creates Social Media Suite After reaching one million Facebook fans, Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm announced it will launch the world’s first social media suite from March 18.
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Atlantis Fan Suite guests will also receive additional VIP amenities and experiences
Travelport Reports Record Month
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acebook fans are being invited to book a free one night’s stay inside the Atlantis Fan Suite. The unique room will be specially adapted to suit a social media user’s every desire. Guests enter their log-in at the door to unlock and can tune into the special Facebook Fan channel via their in-room TV. Guests can ‘poke’ their personal butler using an in-room intercom system and use the suite’s Facebook Live Lounge. A social media mirror located within the bathroom is in a prime position to message friends, while bath soaps and flip flops depict social media slogans.
ravelport announced that it had a record-breaking January for fare shopping. Peak shopping rates increased 77 percent year-on-year and single-day message volume increased 79 percent year-onyear. Total shopping message volumes received during a single 24-hour period also saw a 79 percent increase, compared to the highest such single-day volume in January 2017. “Travelport’s strong surge in this January’s shopping messages is due to the growth in its business and customer confidence,” noted Matt Minetola, executive vice president, Travelport.
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The venue will include a gourmet market with eight live cooking stations
Egypt Growth for Steigenberger Hotels Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts’s nine property-strong Egypt portfolio is set to be joined by a tenth member from November, with Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle, Hurghada.
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un by developer ALDAU Development via a franchise agreement, it will be positioned within the high-end five-star lifestyle segment. The property will be included within Mega Steigenberger ALDAU Resort, and will be a suite-only hotel, offering 110 rooms boasting a minimum 55 m² size. Various restaurants will serve Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, while a gourmet market with eight live cooking stations will serve guests 24 hours-a-day. Guests will also enjoy access to a private sandy beach with its own Beach Club and co-use all pool facilities at the adjacent Steigenberger ALDAU Beach and Steigenberger Aqua Magic. “This new build will deepen our partnership with ALDAU Development, and we are confident that the Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle Resort will turn out to be another complete success,” said Thomas Willms, CEO, Steigenberger Hotels.
Marriott Reinforces its Commitment to Saudi Arabia
Marriott currently operates 23 hotels across nine brands within Saudi Arabia
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arriott International reiterated its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Hotel Investment Conference (SHIC) 2018. With more than four decades operating within the country, Saudi Arabia is Marriott’s second largest Middle East market with currently 23 operating hotels.
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The Group’s future growth strategy is testament to the Kingdom’s vision aiming to raise USD160 billion non-oil revenue by 2020, up from 2017’s USD43.5 billion. Marriott International also recently rolled out its Tahseen programme, a hospitality management development plan focused on fast tracking future Saudi hospitality leaders.
“The renewed focus and investment in the sector opens up a wealth of opportunity for Saudi nationals,” commented Alex Kyriakidis, president, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Our Saudi Arabia growth plan, along with the implementation of our programmes that aim to foster local talent, underpins this collaborative approach.”
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ACCOMMODATION
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Jumeirah Royal Saray provides luxurious poolside cabanas to its guests
Jumeirah Makes Bahrain Entrance JUMEIRAH GROUP’S FIRST BAHRAIN-BASED HOTEL HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS. MAKING ITS DEBUT ON FEBRUARY 28, THE 174KEY JUMEIRAH ROYAL SARAY FEATURES ROOMS, SUMMERHOUSES, ROYAL RESIDENCES, AND POOLSIDE CABANAS.
Elaf Expands Saudi Arabia Portfolio
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he Palm Lounge overlooks the Arabian Gulf, serving coffee by Colombian baristas and a French Patisserie. The Al Hadiqa pool cabanas offer guests fresh blended cocktails among a Mediterranean ambience complete with ancient olive trees that adorn the pool area. Additionally, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces accommodate over 400 people and Talise, Jumeirah’s own brand, will eventually offer a various signature treatments from a destination Spa, sitting within its own wing. Alongside the hotel’s restaurant and gin bar, PLAY Restaurant & Lounge, a Timeout Restaurant Awards Dubai concept by chef Reif Othman, has also opened within the property. “We are confident that this landmark, understated luxury hotel will have great appeal to the growing number of tourists visiting Bahrain every year and become a particular favorite of Bahrain residents,” outlined Nordine El Yafi, general manager, Jumeirah Royal Saray.
Najran Gets its First Park Inn by Radisson
P Elaf Group began operations 37 years ago
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laf Group, a SEDCO Holding Group company, announced it has opened the five-star hotel Galleria by Elaf, Jeddah. Galleria by Elaf provides 364 rooms spread across seven storeys on two separate wings enclosed by a vaulted glass and metal roof. The property also features banquet events facilities, an executive lounge and other recreational facilities, including a health club and spa. Restaurants providing fine dining inside the hotel, include; The Kitchen, El-Vaquero, The Birdcage, Milano and Aqua. Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group, said, “The [hotel’s] opening is in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen our leading [Saudi Arabia and GCC] presence. The country's booming tourism industry, as reflected by its continuous year-on-year growth, allows room for such developments.”
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ark Inn by Radisson has joined Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s growing Saudi Arabia portfolio, with Najran welcoming the hospitality group’s latest property. The hotel's Live-inn Room concept, offers a common social space where guests can enjoy breakfast, while it also boasts an RBG restaurant and Shisha Lounge. The property’s meetings and events space include five modern meeting rooms, spanning 180 m2. The event space accommodates 50 attendees. “The hotel is an ideal choice for business travelers visiting the nearby ministries, chamber
of commerce and corporate offices, while we also look forward to welcoming leisure guests and families visiting Najran,” outlined Qayum Minhas, hotel manager, Park Inn by Radisson Najran. The hotel overlooks Najran Football Stadium and is close to the city's shopping centres, while various historic attractions surround the city such as Turki Al Madi Palace, Raoum Castle and Najran Valley Dam. This opening takes the group's Saudi portfolio to 38 hotels, and over 10,000 rooms in operation and under development.
The 113-room hotel is located on King Saud Road, Al Fahad District
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Saudi Arabia set for Mid-Market Hotel Growth
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A. Al Moosa Enterprises LLC, a service oriented business conglomerate, celebrated opening the four-star Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah. The hotel features 343 rooms and suites that have been designed to cater to both business and leisure travellers. “This property will help address the gap in mid-market hotels in the UAE,” remarked Faisal Al Moosa, owner, Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah. According to Al Moosa, the UAE has been experiencing an increasing demand for mid-scale properties due to the rise of mid-market guests or travellers who are spending less on accommodation in order to spend more on leisure.
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ohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, outlined the importance of mid-market hotels to Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry during the inaugural Saudi Arabia Hotel Investment Conference (SHIC), which took place on February 26. According to new research, published prior to SHIC by Colliers International, recent reforms and widespread investment into the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism industry will drive mid-market hotel sector growth at a 16 percent compound annual growth rate between 2017 and 2021. The supply for mid-market hotels is expected to increase over the next five years with Mecca, Riyadh
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Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah Welcomes First Guests
TIME Hotels is set to expand its Saudi Arabia presence
and Jeddah to see the majority of hotel openings – accounting for 54 percent, 16 percent and 12 percent of the country’s forthcoming midmarket supply.
Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah is managed by global hotel giant Wyndham Hotel Group
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AIRPORTS
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The southern runway refurbishment project will involve 60,000 tonnes of asphalt and 8,000 m³ of concrete
Dubai International to Upgrade Runway Dubai Airports has confirmed plans to close Dubai International’s southern runway for a 45-day period in 2019 to conduct a comprehensive upgrade.
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o limit the impact on service, the upgrade work is scheduled to take place from April 16 – May 30, 2019 when passenger traffic ebbs due to a seasonal lull. The upgrade is designed to boost safety, service and capacity levels at the airport which operates around the clock, 365 days a year with over 1,100 aircraft movements per day, and featuring predominantly wide-body aircraft. Dubai Airports noted that while ongoing runway maintenance is scheduled on a weekly basis, more extensive upgrades require a complete runway closure. The southern runway is nearing the end of its design life and requires the complete resurfacing and replacement of the airfield ground lighting and supporting infrastructure.
January Passenger Record at Jordan’s QAIA
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ordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed over 620,000 passengers during January this year, the most ever recorded for the month. Specifically, the airport welcomed 624,207 passengers, marking a 8.2 percent year-on-year passenger number increase as compared to the 576,912 passengers received during January
2017, according to Airport International Group (AIG). In January, the airport also registered 5,672 aircraft movements (ACM) as opposed to 5,819 ACM during 2017, affecting a 2.5 percent yearon-year drop. Meanwhile, cargo figures increased by 14.8 percent as the airport handled 8,074 tonnes,
compared to 7,036 tonnes during January 2017. Kjeld Binger, CEO, AIG, commented, “We aim to see 2018 be yet another successful year to add to our repertoire, as we implement strategies that will improve our services and bolster our operations so that we may continue to maintain QAIA’s standing as Jordan’s prime gateway to the world.”
This January was the best performing during the airport’s 35-year history
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AIR
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Dubai represents the airline’s first international destination
SaudiGulf Airlines Begins Dubai Service SaudiGulf Airlines launched its first international operations, commencing with double daily flights from Riyadh to Dubai.
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ommenting on the inaugural flight, which commenced on March 01, Samer Majali, CEO, SaudiGulf, said, ‘’The successful launch of the airline has witnessed an elevated level of passengers’ satisfaction, and for that we are pleased to announce the start of international operations offering our travellers a boutique experience to Dubai.’’ Saudi Arabia’s second full service national carrier, SaudiGulf Airlines operates the Dubai service with its Airbus A320 aircraft, offering passengers 16 business class seats and 120 economy seats. This strategic decision was taken by SaudiGulf Airlines considering the strong relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and supported by Dubai Tourism to provide greater varieties to travellers from both countries.
Etihad Airways Links Abu Dhabi and Baku
Azerbaijan introduced a visa waiver programme for UAE nationals visiting the country
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tihad Airways has launched the first ever scheduled flights linking Abu Dhabi and Baku, Azerbaijan. Etihad Airways and Azerbaijan Airlines announced a codeshare partnership which now sees the Azerbaijani carrier place its J2 code on the UAE national airline’s services between Baku and Abu Dhabi. Under this partnership, Azerbaijan Airlines guests will be able to book codeshare flights to and from Abu Dhabi and connect onto Etihad Airways’ extensive global network. Peter Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways, said, “There is strong demand from both markets for a direct, full-service operation on the route. The new flights will further boost traffic from the UAE and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations.” Flights are scheduled as three times weekly using Airbus A320 aircraft.
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AFRICA
Egypt Enticing Czech Travellers at Holiday World
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Turkish Airlines Expand Africa Network
T Egypt is increasingly proving to be a popular destination among Czech tourists
urkish Airlines expanded its services to Africa with a new route to Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since February 24, the airline began operating flights to Freetown two times per week. The services will be providing a link between Istanbul Atatürk International Airport and Lungi International Airport via Ouagadougou. Turkish Airlines’ Africa network includes services to; Accra, Lagos, Bamako, Conakry, Dakar, Abidjan, Cotonou, Douala, Yaounde, N’Djamena, Ougadougou, Niamey, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and more.
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aving welcomed more visitors from Czech Republic in 2017, Egypt further showcased its tourism offering at this year’s Prague-based Holiday World travel show. Tourism traffic from Prague to Cairo increased by 125 percent to reach 203,000 tourists in 2017, compared to 90,000 in 2016. Building on this impressive success, a large Egyptian Embassy pavilion grouped together several airlines, travel agencies and hotels at the show’s 27th edition. According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Holiday World is the most important event in the travel industry, not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Central Europe.
World Bank Funds Tanzania Project
Cape Town Promotes Water-Wise Tourism
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amia Suluhu Hassan, vice president, Tanzania, has launched a World Bank-funded project, the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW), aimed at promoting destinations along the country’s southern tourist circuit. REGROW aims to assist with improvements to tourist-linked infrastructure. Hassan described REGROW as a way to unleash the area’s tourism potential, a region that is already appealing for tourists, but suffers due to difficult access as it lacks adequate roads and airstrips. Attractions include Kalenga, Isimila, a Stone Age site located within the Iringa region, and the Songwe Region’s Mbozi meteorite crater.
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ulnerable to the effects of climate change and susceptible to periodic droughts, the Western Cape is currently going through a significant lack of rainfall. However, as recently noted by World Travel Market (WTM) Cape Town and the Western Cape are open for business despite the current drought. “Visitors and delegates will arrive in a place with a significant breadth and depth of experiences, and exceptional beauty, but we encourage you to be mindful of water-wise tourism and business travel when you’re here,” noted a WTM report. Cape Town has also put up various initiatives to increase the water supply and make provisions for extreme water shortages.
Freetown is the airline’s 52 African destination
Ryanair Recruit South Africa Engineers
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yanair visited South Africa from February 19 – 21 to recruit local engineers interested in working in Ireland and across Europe. Positions were open for a range of engineering-related staff, ranging from technical services engineers to junior aircraft engineers. The low-cost airline’s recruitment roadshows took place at Johannesburg and Cape Town. The airline currently carries 129 million passengers per annum on a fleet of over 425 Boeing B737-800 Series aircraft. Between this year and 2024, Ryanair anticipates passenger numbers to increase to 200 million and its fleet to 580. In 2019, the airline also expects to introduce Boeing B737 MAX 200 aircraft.
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AMERICAS
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American and Qantas Seek Joint Business
INTERNATIONAL
Puerto Vallarta Celebrates Centennial at MEXORC
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S aviation giant, American Airlines, and Australia’s Qantas have filed an application with US Department of Transportation seeking approval to form a joint business better serving customers flying between North America, Australia and New Zealand. The airlines said the proposed joint business would significantly improve service, stimulate demand and unlock more than USD300 million annually. This includes up to a USD221 million value from expanding codesharing between American and Qantas, and opening more connections to more destinations. Up to USD89 million could also be achieved by offering more fare classes across each airline’s networks, including lower fares and discounts. The joint business will also give American and Qantas the opportunity to launch additional routes, including new flights to city pairs currently not served by either carrier. Bay of Banderas hosted this year’s events with seven regattas completed under four classes
P Qantas and American Airlines say their joint business will be extremely profitable
uerto Vallarta, Mexico hosted the 42nd Mexican Ocean Racing Circuit, MEXORC, from March 09 – 14 as part of the festivities taking place for its 100th anniversary. The destination received some 30 ocean-type sailboats ranging from 11.28 m to 21.34 m lengths for this edition, each with an average 12 crew members. Teams arrived from Mexico, the US, Canada, Germany, Holland, France and various South American countries. This year’s competition began with the Centennial Puerto Vallarta Race to celebrate Puerto Vallarta’s centennial. Javier Aranda Pedrero, general director, Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, commented, “Puerto Vallarta is an ideal destination for the sports tourism market and it is important for us to show that our coast has everything needed to practice any sport.”
Homewood Suites by Hilton Enters Greater Washington
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omewood Suites by Hilton announced its newest property, Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington Rosslyn Key Bridge. With 168 suites, the hotel is situated within Rosslyn’s business district. Guests are also provided all the essentials needed for a comfortable stay, including; complimentary daily full-hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, well-equipped work areas and a
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grocery shopping service, to name a few. The property also features comfortable lounges, a distinctive fire wall and grills for guest cooking, expansive lobby seating, a business centre and fitness centre. "The continued growth of the region provides the ideal opportunity to expand Homewood Suites' offering with spacious suites and value-driven amenities for short or extended stays,” said Adrian Kurre, global head, Homewood Suites by Hilton.
The hotel offers access to premium shopping, entertainment and dining experiences
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INTERNATIONAL
AMERICAS
Allianz Assistance: Top 2018 Spring Break Destinations
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llianz Global Assistance USA, a leading travel insurance provider, analysed US travellers’ Spring Break, February 23 – April 16, travel plans this year. Results showed that Orlando (9.5 percent) was the number one domestic destination for Spring Breakers. Following is Phoenix (5.2 percent), Honolulu (4.7 percent), Fort Lauderdale (4.4 percent), Las Vegas (4.2 percent), Fort Myers (4.1 percent), New York (3.8 percent), Los Angeles (3.4 percent), Miami (3.3 percent) and Maui (3.2 percent). Internationally, the top three destinations are Mexico, with Cancun (14.2 percent) leading the list, then San Jose Del Cabo (6.3 percent) and Puerto Vallarta (5.1 percent). Rounding out this year’s Top 10 list as the only European ranking is London, UK (2.8 percent).
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Brevard Zoo Improves Special Needs Facilities
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revard Zoo (Melbourne, Florida) has rolled out several programmes to address the unique needs of its guests with special needs and their families. In 2017, the Zoo introduced its Exceptional Nature Space (ENS), a 437 m2 behind-the-scenes play area. Amenities include fort-building materials, mud paint and a water play table. “We find that due to mobility or sensory-processing challenges, many children with special needs don’t spend as much time outside as their peers,” said Lindsay Mathisen, special needs coordinator, Brevard Zoo. “The ENS is a safe, natural area designed to accommodate individuals’ differing needs.”
Carnival Cruise Line Expands Cuba Offering
C Orlando is currently the most popular domestic Spring Break destination
arnival Cruise Line announced it will offer 17 new sailings to Cuba aboard Carnival Sensation from the 2019 cruising season. The five-day voyages will be the Line’s first to operate round-trip from Miami and feature a day-long call in Havana as well as stops at popular Caribbean and Bahamian ports. “Cuba is a sought-after destination and we are delighted to provide our guests with even more opportunities to experience and explore this fascinating island,” noted Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line. Guests aboard Carnival Sensation can select from nearly 20 different shore excursion experiences that showcase Cuba. Cuban-themed activities and entertainment, including Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance Playlist Productions show, Havana-inspired deck parties, trivia contests and salsa lessons, are also offered. There’s also a lecturer who discusses the country’s rich history and culture.
Air Canada Inaugurates New Phoenix – Montréal Service
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ir Canada has inaugurated a new air service between Phoenix, Arizona and Montréal, which is Québec’s largest city. The new direct flight took off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on February 22, and is scheduled to operate three times a week through to May 28. The Phoenix – Montreal flight is then expected to further resume on September 06 and continue through to May 2019.
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Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) accompanied nearly a dozen Arizona mayors, vice mayors, and tribal leaders on an economic-development mission to Montréal to celebrate Air Canada’s new air service. The Arizona delegation to Montréal, which also included representatives from Arizona Commerce Authority and Maricopa Association of Governments, commenced the mission with a panel discussion about increasing tourism between the two destinations.
Air Canada’s route network services 182 destinations worldwide
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Costa Venezia Inaugural Cruise to Begin
JTB Corp Makes Australia a Focus Destination for this Year
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TB Corp, described as Japan’s largest travel company, has made Australia a focus destination for the year. JTB signed a new memorandum of understanding with Tourism Australia and will run a nationwide campaign promoting holidays Down Under. The partnership will involve marketing activities to expand travel to Australia for leisure and business events through JTB’s 500-strong travel shop network. JTB has also sponsored Australia Now, an eight-month programme from April to November showcasing the country’s innovation, lifestyle and creativity. A press conference, outlining JTB’s marketing focus for Australia, was recently
INTERNATIONAL
ASIA PACIFIC
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osta Cruises' inaugural Costa Venezia cruise set off from Trieste, Italy on March 08, on a 53-day, eastward-bound itinerary that will conclude at Yokohama, Japan, on April 29. Costa Venezia will leave the Mediterranean and cross the Suez Canal and the Red Sea before entering the Persian Gulf. After calling at the UAE, Costa Venezia will then head towards India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The last leg will include Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Japan. The itinerary can be split into three different legs; Trieste-Dubai (20 days), Dubai-Singapore (18 days) and Singapore-Yokohama (17 days), or a combination. Costa Venezia is the first Costa ship to be designed specifically for the Chinese market, and after its first voyage, it will be dedicated to the local market.
held at a function attended by JTB, Tourism Australia and Australia’s ambassador to Japan. Sydney also hosted a press conference, with more than 100 Australian suppliers attending.
Australia is set to welcome more Japanese tourists following the JTB agreement
AVANI Unveils New Brand Extension AVANI+
Princess Cruises Reports UK Bookings Surge
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VANI Hotels & Resorts has announced a new brand extension, AVANI+, unveiling this development with its first hotel, AVANI+ Luang Prabang, Laos. The AVANI+ brand is designed for guests to discover a little something extra, from architecture to design to location and beyond. AVANI+ Luang Prabang aims to offer all that millennial minded travellers would expect when visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site. AVANI+ Luang Prabang's 53 rooms and suites include Frenchstyled louvered wooden doors that open to a balcony or terrace. Diamond Princess is among five ships that will sail across Australia and New Zealand
ACI Recognise Green Airports
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CI Asia Pacific announced the results of ACI Asia-Pacific Green Airport Recognition 2018, which recognises airport achievements concerning their environmental projects. Hong Kong Airport, platinum; Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport, gold; and Indira Gandhi Airport, silver. All three achieve over 35 million passengers per annum. Following with 15 to 35 million passengers per year are; Auckland Airport, platinum; Abu Dhabi Airport, gold; and Kansai Airport, silver. With less than 15 million passengers is; Adelaide Airport, platinum; Rajiv Gandhi Airport, gold; and Christchurch Airport, silver.
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rincess Cruises has stated that UK travellers taking Australia and New Zealand voyages this year will experience year-on-year double growth. Bookings for sailings Down Under are now at their highest ever levels and are among Princess Cruises fastest-growing global destinations. Voyages from Sydney or Brisbane to Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef have experienced the biggest demand spike, with year-on-year bookings up by over 750 percent for the 10-night sailing adventure. Princess Cruises roundtrip sailings from Sydney or Melbourne direct to New Zealand are the next fastest-growing voyage. The 12- or 13-night cruises call at stops including, Auckland, Wellington and Fiordland National Park.
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RENDEZVOUS
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WITH FESTIVALS AND CULTURE BEING A TOP ATTRACTION FOR TOURISTS VISITING SHARJAH, DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA, SENIOR SALES MANAGER, RADISSON BLU RESORT SHARJAH, SHARES SOME INSIGHTS AS TO WHY VISITORS SHOULD CHOOSE THE EMIRATE FOR SUCH PURPOSES.
Q&A with Djamilya Ashykova SENIOR SALES MANAGER, RADISSON BLU RESORT SHARJAH
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Sharjah is famous for its rich culture. What are the emirate’s main characteristics that make this sector stand out? DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: The main reason for such a rich cultural development is the vision of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, ruler, Sharjah, who leads the emirate’s educational, cultural development, and preserving the cultural heritage of the UAE. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What do you recommend to visitors who want to discover Sharjah’s culture? DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: There are lots of sights to visit and activities to do. The most exciting are; Mleiha Archaeological Centre, combining historical museums with an open air activities centre; Al Majaz Waterfront with lots of dining outlets, kids fun zones and spectacular water fountains; Al Qasba, Sharjah’s family Venice-style destination area which also has its signature observation wheel offering spectacular views; Heart of Sharjah, the historical area featuring museums, old mansions, towers, and souqs; Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization; Sharjah Aquarium; Blue Souq, where you can experience traditional shopping. The list is too long to name all and for visitors its not possible to cover all such places during one visit to Sharjah. The emirate will always have something new to offer with lots of new projects yet to come.
DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: Sharjah hosts several major events each year, and with their popularity growing this has a positive impact on the number of visitors coming to the emirate. Some of the popular major events, are; Sharjah International Book Fair, Sharjah F1 H2O World Championship and Aqua Bike Championship, Sharjah Light Festival and Sharjah Heritage Days. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your future plans to attract more tourists to Sharjah? DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: As a hotel we do a lot of marketing activities inside and outside of the UAE, including; sales trips, roadshows, exhibition and fair participation. Our main target is to promote the facilities and services of the hotel, however, we understand that hotels will benefit if the end client will be attracted by the destination itself. For this reason the awareness of our partners
and their clients about Sharjah as a destination and what it has to offer to tourists is so important for us so we contribute by promoting Sharjah’s attractions and events. We also work in close cooperation with Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to see how we can attract more visitors by promoting the emirate. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How successful was 2017 for your property? DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: 2017 was a better year when compared to 2016 occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and total revenue, basically through all major indicators. The hotel has witnessed 1.9 percent room revenue growth and 2.2 percent RevPAR growth. The hotel team managed to reach set objectives by controlling costs and working on different source markets and segmentations. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your main feeder markets, and what are the main reasons they are choosing Sharjah as a destination? DJAMILYA ASHYKOVA: The main segment for our hotel is leisure with the main source market being the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Germany, Nordic countries and China, while we also receive strong support from business groups and government guests. For the CIS market, Sharjah has always been their main UAE destination due to the reasonably priced hotels that provide easy access to Dubai, and providing the best option to combine a resort holiday with sightseeing.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Sharjah hosts a variety of festivals annually. Which ones are the most important to your clients, and how do these festivals contribute to the tourism sector? Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah
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WHO’S MOVED
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MICHAEL WALE is the new CEO at Kezner International Holdings, One&Only Resorts. Wale worked with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he was based at the company’s Europe, Africa and Middle East divisional office in Brussels, Belgium. In his new role, he will be responsible for building on this momentum, developing continued strategic growth, driving the existing collection’s successful operations and developing talent across the company.
Wale will be responsible for developing the existing collection’s successful operations
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H.E. KHALFAN JUMA BELHOUL has been named as CEO at Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). Prior to his new position, Belhoul worked as deputy CEO, strategy at DFF, in addition to his position as CEO, Dubai Future Accelerators. He also also worked as vice president, strategy at Dubai Holding, and board member, Emirates Development Bank. In his new role, Belhoul will empower younger talents, while also highlighting the need to attract qualified national cadres to various leadership positions.
Michael Wale
Khalfan Juma Belhoul
Belhoul will empower younger talents and attract qualified national cadres
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Marhabtain enhances service delivery and improves personnel quality
Tech Companies Unite Against Online Wildlife Traffickers
SCTDA Targets Students to Promote Tourism
Leading e-commerce, technology and social media companies are joining forces with Google and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to render online platforms and apps inoperable for wildlife traffickers who are attempting to illegally trade endangered species. On March 08, some 21 tech companies from North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa came together as the first-ever Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. As members of this coalition, tech companies pledge to work together to collectively reduce wildlife trafficking across platforms by 80 percent by 2020. In collaboration with WWF, TRAFFIC, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), each company will develop and implement policies and solutions to help end wildlife trafficking online. Crawford Allan, senior director, wildlife crime, TRAFFIC, WWF, stated, “Bringing these industry giants together is the best shot at systematically closing the open web to wildlife traffickers. These companies see the problem and are uniting to ensure an Internet where traffickers have nowhere left to turn.”
Dubai Miracle Garden Creates Mickey Mouse Sculpture
Dubai Miracle Garden earned a Guinness World Record for its 18 m Mickey Mouse floral sculpture
Dubai Miracle Garden has celebrated Mickey Mouse’s upcoming 90th anniversary by creating a record-breaking 18 m floral sculpture depicting the popular cartoon character. The Mickey Mouse sculpture – created following a new licensing deal between Dubai Miracle Garden and The Walt Disney Company – also earned the UAE attraction its third Guinness World Record title. The sculpture feature is Disney’s first Middle East character floral display and was made from almost 100,000 plants and flowers, including; White Petunia, Red Petunia, White Geranium, Yellow Viola, Zinnia Marigold and Green Alternanthera. Unveiled on February 26, it weighs close to 35 tonnes and is supported by a seven tonne steel structure with a 50-tonne reinforced concrete foundation. Further Disney characters are planned for November when Dubai Miracle Garden reopens for the winter season.
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced a collaboration with four Sharjah-based universities to continue its Marhabtain Training Programme, My Destination-University Student Orientation Program. Under the programme, SCTDA will conduct orientation tours throughout the year at the American University of Sharjah, Skyline University of Sharjah, Sharjah University, and Al Qassimia University to reach out to their new students. Six tours to existing universities have been conducted so far and 222 students have benefited from the programme’s success. During orientation tours, SCTDA will highlight Sharjah’s famous tourist spots, fresh tourism developments and destinations, and historical and cultural influence to enlist the students’ help when promoting the emirate as a tourism hub. The programme also targets professionals who work within the emirate’s vast portfolio of hotels and other organisations within the tourism industry. More than 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed each year to trade their tusks
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PHOTO ALBUM
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. AccorHotels hosted the Women’s Empowerment and Integration Forum at Sofitel Jeddah with the focus of inspiring a new generation of Saudi women
Al Habtoor Group has extended Habtoor Hospitality and Real Estate benefits for Dubai Police to match discounts given to the Armed Forces of the UAE
Semiramis InterContinental Cairo recently hosted an Indian food fiesta for the second consecutive year in collaboration with the Indian Embassy
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Emirates revealed its new business class cabin area, a mini lounge, to the Boeing B777-200LR fleet
Known as the Mother of All Photographers Sheikha Al Suwaidi, the UAEs first female Emirati photographer, hosted a lecture at Etihad's headquarters on Women's Day
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
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Ras Al Khaimah to Host 2018 WTA Middle East Gala
ILTM – AFRICA Cape Town, South Africa April 15 – 17 www.iltm.com/africa ILTM- Africa is an invitation-only event, where international travel agents and advisors meet Africa’s luxury travel experience providers.
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orld Travel Awards (WTA) has revealed that Ras Al Khaimah, UAE will host its Middle East Gala Ceremony. The WTA Middle East Gala Ceremony 2018 will take place alongside Arabian Hotel Investment Conference which runs from April 17 – 19. Hospitality leaders from across the region will gather for WTA’s Gala at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah to see who has been voted the best within
their respective categories. “Choosing Ras Al Khaimah to be the host of this event is testimony of our growing appeal within the MICE sector and we look forward to the guests experiencing our authentic Arabian hospitality and diverse tourism offer,” commented Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, WTA will also be hosting WTA Grand Tour 2018.
Oman Air Promoting Philippines and Thailand Markets
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man Air recently exhibited at Philippines Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) Travel Tour Expo and Thai International Travel Fair (TITF) to showcase its latest news and products. Oman Air representatives welcomed guests at both events with traditional Omani coffee, dates, and flyers as an incentive to travel with Oman Air. Oman's flagship carrier also announced that both events helped increase its database and showcase the airline to new audiences, while also promoting Oman as a holiday destination to the Philippines and Thailand markets.
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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Bahrain Food Festival Attracts Thousands
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ahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority (BTEA) announced that Bahrain Food Festival has attracted more than 80,000 visitors since its opening on February 22. The Festival’s third edition, which ran until March 10 this year, served as a platform for the many participating Bahraini businesses to showcase their concepts. More than 70 outlets participated at this year’s edition, including local businesses and concepts related to the food industry such as, restaurants, cafés,
nutrition, culinary equipment and more. “We are delighted to see so many promising local ventures in the food sector. BTEA will continue to provide the necessary support for the development of such projects in Bahrain, further strengthening the Kingdom’s position among other countries in the region,” said H.E. Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, CEO, BTEA. Bahrain Food Festival offers visitors varied cuisines, including; Middle Eastern, Western, Asian, Indian, Organic and Healthy
Falconcity of Wonders Supports Arab Land Conference
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alconcity of Wonders LLC, developer of Dubai’s Falconcity of Wonders multipurpose mega project which is currently being built, was a Platinum Sponsor at the recent Arab Land Conference. H.E. Salem Ahmad Almoosa, chairman, Falconcity of Wonders LLC, was presented with an award highlighting the event’s appreciation for its sponsorship. “We find it a valuable endeavor to support such events that contribute to social and economic development, particularly in real estate development in the Arab region,” commented Almoosa. Being held for the first time under the Dubai government’s patronage and Arab League, the February 26 – 28 event served as a strategic platform for discussing the latest research and innovations concerning land governance and other regional experiences. The Conference hosted ministers and other top-level regional government officials and experts.
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