14 NOVEMBER 2015
ISSUE 314
ATM MIRRORS REGIONAL AVIATION GROWTH MORE THAN 11.3 MILLION GCC RESIDENTS TRAVELLED TO SAUDI ARABIA IN 2014, MORE THAN 6.6 MILLION OF WHOM SPENT AT LEAST ONE NIGHT IN THE KINGDOM.
06 INTERVIEW WITH BADER AL MERSHED
19 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
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TECHNOLOGY
09
ACCOMMODATION
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AIR
14
INTERNATIONAL
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RENDEZVOUS
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WHO'S MOVED
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TRAVEL TALK
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AGENT CORNER
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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NEWS & EVENTS
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SAUDI ARABIA: 11.3 MILLION GCC VISITORS
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MARKET UPDATE
Dur Hospitality Profit Soars
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
Dur Hospitality posted a net profit of SAR40.7 million (USD10.9 million) in the third quarter of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 11 percent.
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS
Marriott Riyadh Hotel, owned by Dur Hospitality
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
MENA EXCHANGE RATES As of
13/11/2015
Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar
Marriott Riyadh Hotel, owned by Dur Hospitality
D
uring the three-month period, the company completed renovation on Makarem Annakheel Village in Jeddah as well as Holiday Inn Tabuk and delivered a number of villas in Riyadh, generating major revenue and further adding to the overall improvements in operation and services. The Hajj season was once again a success with properties flying the Makarem flag, Dur Hospitality’s own brand designed for visitors of the Holy Cities, recording 100 percent occupancy rates.
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COUNTRY
CURRENCY 1USD=
Bahrain (BHD)
Dinar
0.37
Jordan (JOD)
Dinar
0.71
Oman (OMR)
Rial
0.39
Qatar (QAR)
Rial
3.64
Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal
3.75
UAE (AED)
Dirham
3.67
Algeria (DZD)
Dinar
107.66
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
7.83
Iran (IRR)
Rial
29,964.00
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,108.75
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,495.40
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.38
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.94
Syria (SYP)
Pound
188.82
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.02
Yemen (YER)
Rial
214.89
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
Destinia Expands in the Middle East International online travel agency, Destinia has enhanced its presence in the Middle East with its entrance into Iran’s market through a new office.
Iran
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he new base now serves as the company’s third hub in the region. Amuda Goueli, CEO, Destinia, commented, “Our objective is to be one of the top three Arabic online travel agencies in the region by 2017. [In 2014,] sales from the MENA region grew by 140 percent and the entrance into the Iranian market is part of a larger strategic expansion by the agency.” The first step taken by the agency was to offer the website in Persian, then to develop and implement a local payment system.
Hertz Signs Iraqi Franchise Deal
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ertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC), entered into a franchise agreement with Khudairi Group for the exclusive licence to provide rental equipment in Iraq using the Hertz Equipment brand and proprietary system. The move will enhance the company’s Middle Eastern network, with HERC Iraq offering light-to-medium equipment fleets in the country serving oil and gas, construction, industrial, and government customers. As Larry Silber, president, HERC, noted, the agreement reflects the corporation’s long-term business strategy to licence franchises, establish joint ventures and open company-owned branches in emerging and growth markets.
ezytrips Launches in Bahrain
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zytrips commenced operations in Bahrain from where it will provide access to a full spectrum of flight and holiday booking services. The online travel agency’s state-of-the-art site is geared towards assisting small travel agencies and end customers who can log on to purchase tickets on more than 180 premium as well as budget airlines worldwide or reserve hotel rooms, arrange travel insurance, car rental and other transfer services. For its establishment in Bahrain, the company has authorised Dadabhai Travel & Tours as its franchise operator, and the deal between the two entities also covers Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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WEEKLY NEWS
SAUDI ARABIA: 11.3 MILLION GCC VISITORS
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S Mecca
Some 11.3 million GCC residents travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2014, more than 6.6 million of whom spent at least one night in the Kingdom, resulting in 37.3 million guest nights for accommodation establishments.
First Hotel Standard for Muslim Guests
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he visits generated some SAR22.8 billion (USD6.08 billion), driven by strong demand from Kuwait and Bahrain, followed by Qatar and the UAE. The most popular region for GCC travellers proved to be Mecca, and the top five also included Medina, the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Asir. In the first half of the current year, the number of GCC visitors to Saudi Arabia reached 7.4 million.
alam Standard, hailed as the firstever online hotel reference tool dedicated to Muslim travellers, has been launched. The one-of-a-kind platform provides information on amenities and services that adhere to Islamic principles and cater to specific accommodation requirements of Muslim guests, who spent more than USD142 billion on tourism in 2014, according to research by Thomson Reuters. “With this figure set to rise to more than USD233 billion in 2020, which accounts for 25 percent of total global travel expenditure, there is a need to provide this influential group of travellers with tourism products that make them feel at home,� explained Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO, Salam Standard.
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WEEKLY NEWS XX Passenger Boom Continues in Abu Dhabi
ATM Mirrors Regional Aviation Growth
Abu Dhabi International Airport
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bu Dhabi International Airport handled some 17.5 million travellers in the first three quarters of the year, indicating a year-on-year increase of 18 percent. The busiest routes for the nine-month period included the UK, US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, Thailand and Germany. Year-to-date passenger numbers between the UAE capital and the US surged 44 percent, while traffic to and from Australia was up 27.3 percent, and significant improvement was also recorded on UK and German services. As Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, explained, increased global connectivity continues to be an important contributor to the overall success.
ince 2012, the allocated space for aviation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has steadily expanded, reflecting the regional sector’s development. As Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, ATM, explained, over the past four years, the area has grown almost 32 percent to reach well in excess of 2,000m2. Noblet-Segers referred to the Gulf heavyweights’ speedy global expansion, noting that low-cost carriers are not being left behind either. Yet, according to her, more could be done to generate additional air passengers, the open skies issue and GCC-wide visas for example are sure to be hot topics for discussion once again at ATM, which will be held between April 25 – 28, 2016 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.
ATM 2015
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ahrain Airport Company (BAC) signed a strategic partnership agreement with International Air Transport Association (IATA), positioning the managing body as an integral contributor to setting industry standards and strategies. Boasting over 400 participants, IATA’s Strategic Partnerships Program provides a platform for the aviation industry to share ideas, collaborate and improve practices and technology. In terms of the deal, BAC will now have full access to the global organisation’s economic data and analysis and will also be able to utilise its resources for industry research in order to further drive the company’s growth and development.
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Yas Marina
BAC Partners with IATA
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS Travelport Merchandising Solution Marks First Year
Ras Al Khaimah TDA and Air Arabia Join Forces
enior representatives from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and Air Arabia led a two-day campaign in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to promote direct routes to the emirate and increase overall awareness of the destination. The road show included a series of workshops, press conferences, meetings and engagement dinners with prominent figures in the two countries’ tourism industry. “We are looking to achieve one million visitors by the end of 2018 and we believe travellers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will comprise a significant proportion of this total, particularly when supported by direct Air Arabia flights,” commented Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah TDA.
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Ras Al Khaimah
Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek
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ravelport celebrated the first anniversary of its Rich Content and Branding, an industry solution that allows airlines to more effectively market and retail their offering to travel agencies around the world. In its introductory year, over 120 network and low-cost carriers signed up for the tool, 90 of which are currently live in the system ready for travel professionals to search, sell and book. The feature allows airlines to fully display all their fares, ancillaries and brand proposition, exactly as they would on their own websites, giving them control over how their products appear on screen.
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TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS
New Tool for Small and Mid-sized Hotels Hotelogix and HotelRunner have come together to create a platform through which small and mid-sized accommodation establishments can boost online sales and better organise operations.
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he strategic alliance brings together Hotelogix’s cloud-based property management system technology that streamlines daily activities with HotelRunner’s Channel Manager that allows access to online booking channels. “Smaller properties have limited resources and face greater challenges when distributing rooms on multiple channels as well as managing fulfillment while maintaining rate parity,” explained Prabhash Bhatnagar, founder, Hotelogix.
US Consumers Increasingly Rely on OTAs
Travelstart Kicks Off Arabic Web Services
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ew research by TravelTech showed that US travellers are increasingly relying on online travel agencies (OTAs) when searching for, comparing and booking their accommodation. The findings showed that nearly seven in 10 of those surveyed consider online booking as safe and convenient and 43 percent are purchasing through OTAs, while 40 percent use hotel booking platforms. “By offering side-by-side comparisons, access to the growing array of travel options and competitive prices, online travel companies have empowered travellers to search, compare and book from the palm of their hand from anywhere in the world,” said Steve Shur, president, TravelTech.
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n a bid to offer its services to a broader segment of the Egyptian market, Travelstart Egypt launched its Arabic language travel services portal. With the initiative, the company has removed barriers by providing its local customers a choice of languages for easier access. Ahmed Saadeddine, country manager, Travelstart Egypt, enthused, “Our vision has always been to introduce online services in Arabic [...]. Travelstart’s focus on tech-savvy, adventurous customers that demand sophisticated online tools has proved very successful for us with almost 300 percent increase in sales over the past year. We hope that the introduction of our Arabic services will boost sales further.”
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Four Seasons Doha’s Al Mirqab Re-emerges Four Seasons Hotel Doha debuted its new 758m2 re-imagined ballroom, Al Mirqab.
Al Mirqab
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ince the venue’s launch a decade ago, it has set a benchmark for memorable events held in Qatar’s capital and remains among the top destinations for corporate meetings, conferences, social events and weddings. Upon an extensive refurbishment over the summer period, with state-of-the-art technology and a capacity to host up to 700 guests, the hotel’s team is set to welcome guests to experience the transformation. Rami Sayess, general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, commented, “I am excited about the prospect of our newly enhanced ballroom to highlight our many luxurious Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts offerings – especially in the area of special events.”
UAE to Welcome Residence Inn
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arriott International revealed plans to debut Residence Inn in Dubai, with the first property flying the brand’s flag scheduled to open in 2019. Commenting on the upcoming Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf, Alex Kyriakidis, president, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, said, “Today it is not only the executive traveller who seeks out an extended stay property, but also young families who are looking for a home-like environment.” Given the increase in tourism and global traffic to Dubai, as well as market predictions for the future, Marriott International sees great potential in Dubai within the extended stay segment, suggested Kyriakidis.
Gulf Executive Residence Unveiled
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he Gulf Hotel Bahrain has completed the refurbishment of The Gulf Executive Residence. Hailed as one of the first luxury residences in the Kingdom, it boasts 97 one-, two- and three-bedroom fully-furnished serviced apartments with European-style kitchens, white oak floors and modern entertainment systems. Residents of the units can also benefit from the facilities and amenities of the complex’s hotel, and enjoy, among others, 16 food and beverage outlets, a lagoon swimming pool with waterfalls and a health club. As Rahim Abu Omar, general manager, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, explained, the project has resulted in refreshed and modern interiors.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Madinat Jumeirah Adds to Culinary Experiences
Starwood Gears Up for Triple Dubai Opening
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Hanaaya
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adinat Jumeirah launched yet another restaurant on the ground floor of Jumeirah Mina A’Salam following a full refurbishment of Al Muna. Hanaaya, which means happiness in Arabic, serves a combination of authentic international cuisine with dishes prepared at live cooking stations. “At Hanaaya, we take an interactive approach to dining that encourages guests to enjoy talking about great food with chefs that know and love the dishes they are preparing,” explained Dirk Haltenhof, resort executive chef, Madinat Jumeirah, adding that the vibrant experience enables diners to make new flavour discoveries and engage with the chefs.
tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide got a step closer to the launch of its three properties in Dubai’s Al Habtoor City with the appointment of the designated management teams. The emirate’s first-ever St. Regis, the UAE’s first W hotel and the largest Westin in the Middle East will contribute nearly 1,600 rooms to the destination’s inventory and will open in a staggered formation, starting with the 234-key The St. Regis Dubai in the fourth quarter of the year. Overlooking all three hotels as complex general manager is luxury hospitality veteran, Andreas Oberoi.
Riyadh
Elaf Group to Boost Saudi Arabia’s Tourism
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laf Group is set to launch a series of strategic marketing tours for select countries in a bid to further boost Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing tourism industry. During its stopovers in Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, Tunisia and the UK, the group will unveil its new packages for travellers planning to visit the Kingdom as well as highlight popular local attractions. Special focus will be placed on tourism for religious purposes amid its continuous popularity, as Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group, noted, “Local reports show [religious tourism’s] contribution to the non-oil sector of the Kingdom’s GDP will increase from 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent by 2020.”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Falcon Starts Scheduled Al Bateen Flights Falcon Aviation Services commenced offshore transportation services from its base at Al Bateen Executive Airport to Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO).
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he corporate jet and helicopter service provider will fly nearly 400 ADMA-OPCO staff members daily to and from Das Island and Zirku Island. As Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, due to its strategic location, fully equipped operational, administrative and maintenance facilities, and fast-on-fast-off processing services, Al Bateen Executive Airport remains the ultimate choice for charter and executive aircraft operators.
RJ: 272 Percent Net Profit Increase
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oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has returned to profitability after recording net profits before tax of JOD27 million (USD38.05 million) in the first nine months of the year, up from the JOD15.7 million (USD22.13 million) net loss in the corresponding period in 2014, marking a 272 percent improvement. Net profit after tax stood at JOD21.4 million (USD30.16 million), a surge of 236 percent. Suleiman Hafez, interim CEO, RJ, deemed the positive results as a quantum leap in the company’s current restructuring process. The carrier’s five-year plan focusses on improvements in all areas, increasing revenues and reducing operating costs. In line with its ambitions, the airline shut down a number of its stations at the end of 2014, while new destinations included Tabuk and Najaf.
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Qatar Airways Expands UK Network
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atar Airways is to launch eight weekly services between Doha and Birmingham, effective from March 30, 2016. The Gulf carrier will operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a twoclass configuration to its fourth UK destination with 232 economy and 22 business class seats. As Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, noted, the flight to the city, which welcomes nearly 34 million visitors per annum, will create new commercial and leisure links between Birmingham and the 152 global locations served by the airline.
Birmingham
14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR Qatar Airways Welcomes First Royal Air Maroc Flight
Emirates Flies A380 to Brazil
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mirates will operate the first-ever commercial Airbus A380 flight to Brazil and South America, with the deployment of the double-decker aircraft on a one-off service to São Paulo on November 14. The flight marks the airline’s eighth year of operation to the country, which will host its annual Formula 1 race, of which Emirates is a sponsor, one day earlier. As Orhan Abbas, senior vice president, commercial operations, Latin America, Sourthern and Central Africa, Emirates, explained, while the carrier has currently no plans to introduce scheduled A380 services to Brazil, customers still have now the opportunity to experience the iconic aircraft.
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oyal Air Maroc has launched direct flights between Casablanca and Doha as part of its business agreement with Qatar Airways. In terms of the partnership, the North African carrier will offer thrice-weekly services between the cities in conjunction with the Gulf airline, increasing the number of frequencies on the route from seven to 10. All flights will be operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. According to Driss Benhima, CEO, Royal Air Maroc, the joint business allows the company to create a bridge between Asia and Africa that will facilitate the movement of passengers in a seamless fashion.
kno u o y d Di
w.
Emirates Airbus A380
the was unch s e t la ra Emi rline to flights i t a c e t s r fir top di the nons between t and s le Ea ica? Midd h Amer Sout
Etihad Enhances Technology Offering
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tihad Airways entered a new strategic partnership with global technology provider, Adobe. As part of the airline’s tactical vision to offer a superior digital service by deploying cloud-first initiatives for its business and its guests, the deal will see the roll-out of a range of worldclass cloud solutions across its business and partners. With Adobe Marketing Cloud and Creative Cloud, the carrier and its associates will be empowered to create a secure and costeffective digital guest experience. Additionally, the technology will enhance the UAE flag carrier’s digital marketing capabilities to provide tailored and personalised services across the globe.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Sanctuary Collection, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
Four Seasons Mauritius Launches Luxury Lodgings
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our Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita unveiled the latest addition to its pool villas with the introduction of Sanctuary Collection. Comprising a newly extended presidential suite offering the flexibility of three to five bedrooms, and six sanctuary pool villas with either direct beach access or sweeping lagoon views, all new accommodations offer leisure activities, spa, international dining options across three restaurants as well as complimentary golf on an Ernie Els Design course.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Increases Share
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olomon Islands continues to gain popularity with international arrivals, remaining on an upward trajectory. In June alone, 2,131 travellers opted for the destination, marking a 9.3 percent year-on-year growth, following double-digit rises in April and May. Australian arrivals continued to dominate the statistics, contributing 49.7 percent to the total, followed by Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and the US. According to Josefa Tuamoto, CEO, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, ongoing marketing activities undertaken by the tourism body in partnership with Solomon Airlines, have helped boost demand.
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RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In terms of both financial and operational results, has Jazeera Airways now reached there where you thought it would back in 2005? BADER AL MERSHED: The first 10 years of a company tend to be incredibly dynamic, especially the first two years when the business plan is tested, and more often than not it is either revised or overhauled. Now we are not just a company; we are an airline operating in the Middle Eastern aviation sector and that alone brings its own unique set of challenges, especially in the last 10 years. No other aviation market in the world has seen as much growth and opportunity as well as crises and turbulence as our market. The major achievement over this period was not in network or passenger numbers, even though our performance is better than what we expected, but in how we adapted to the constantly changing competitive, political and commercial environment. Had someone told me in 2005 that we would go through what the Middle East aviation market has gone through and still be operating, let alone with growing profitability year-on-year, I would not have believed it. But we were lucky to have a flexible business model and a great management team that is dedicated and resourceful. […] To answer the question; are we there? Yes. Will we stay here? No, as we are constantly moving ahead. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Jazeera Airways was the first non-government owned airline in the Middle East and is still one of the few carriers that are not owned by a state. In your opinion, how has the airline changed the dynamics of the regional aviation industry? BADER AL MERSHED: The change was tremendous, especially in our home market where we brought a much needed upgrade in travel culture. Many attribute this change to our affordable fares but that is not the full story. What Jazeera Airways brought to the market was operational excellence and a better and seamless travelling experience, from booking to check-in. State airlines back then were po14 NOVEMBER 2015
Q & A with
Bader Al Mershed VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY AFFAIRS, JAZEERA AIRWAYS
make a trip to the issuer to finalise the booking. Can you imagine spending a couple of hours just to make a booking and pay for it? Then came Jazeera Airways. With our first flight we brought 100 percent confirmed tickets, on-time performance and online booking and payment. And since then we have introduced web check-in, self check-in and many other initiatives that not only changed the culture, but respected customers as well. Soon after, other airlines followed suit. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In June, Jazeera Airways formally submitted a letter of intent to acquire 35 percent of Kuwait Airways, which is currently undergoing a privatisation process. How could this significant step support Jazeera Airways' long-term strategy?
SINCE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS TURN-AROUND PLAN, JAZEERA AIRWAYS HAS EVOLVED INTO A PROFITABLE BUSINESS AND AS BADER AL MERSHED, VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY AFFAIRS, JAZEERA AIRWAYS, SAYS, THE COMPANY IS DETERMINED TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE IN THE ARABIAN SKIES. liticised, inefficient organisations. It was not uncommon for travellers with a paid and confirmed ticket to be bumped off a flight because someone more important […] wanted their seat. It was not uncommon to have long delays that impacted an entire schedule due to waiting for passengers to finish their duty-free shopping. It was a different world back then; in fact, to make a booking a customer had to leave his home at one point and
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WHAT JAZEERA AIRWAYS BROUGHT TO THE MARKET WAS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
BADER AL MERSHED: We see Kuwait Airways, whether as a standalone entity or as a subsidiary of Jazeera Airways, as an operator that complements Jazeera Airways. We see a future where Jazeera Airways does what it has proven that it does best, and that is serving the regional market, while Kuwait Airways focusses on the long-haul opportunity which remains to be underserved in our home market. Together we would create a solid complementary business with relevant and in-demand offerings for both short- and long-haul travellers. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What needs to be done in order to support the growth of regional LCCs? BADER AL MERSHED: […] We have always been strong advocates for a single regulatory market in the GCC and the greater Middle East. The only barrier today for a Kuwait-based airline to serve passengers on the Beirut – Riyadh route or a Oman airline on the Jeddah – Bahrain route is an outdated legal framework that is not helping anyone, not even stateowned airlines. A unified regulatory sky will not only boost commerce, trade and connectivity between cities in the Middle East, but it will also free up state airlines, which are heavy on wide-bodies, to focus on the global opportunity while regional airlines like Jazeera Airways, who excel in regional operation, focus on the rest.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL Rezidor Inks Indonesian Agreements
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tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has launched Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel, the second from the brand to open in the Indonesian city. The 293-room property is part of the Superblock Gandaria City complex and features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor pool, over 3,500m2 of meetings and conventions space and a variety of dining options. Charlie Dang, regional vice president, southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, noted, “The opening of Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel will help meet the rising demand for highcaliber lodging generated by the influx of business and leisure travellers to Jakarta, the gateway to Indonesia.”
C Indonesia
Sheraton Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel
Sheraton Enhances Presence in Indonesia
arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has partnered with Saphir Group for four hotels in Indonesia. The hotelier will introduce its Radisson Red brand to the market with Radisson Red Jakarta CBD and Radisson Red Bali Legian Camakila and will launch Radisson Bali Legian Camakila and Radisson Bali Tanjung Benoa by Janauary 1, 2016. Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, noted, “We are pleased to welcome on board a new partner in the key market of Indonesia, where strong growth opportunities are supported by the government’s pro-tourism measures. With this four-property deal, […] we continue to reinforce our presence in Indonesia, a key market for us in Asia Pacific.”
Citadines Haeundae Busan
Ascott Expands in South Korea
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he Ascott Limited has opened Citadines Haeundae Busan, its first Citadines branded serviced residence in South Korea. Situated in the heart of Busan, the 468-apartment unit property has a prime location in Haeundae, a popular holiday destination, with easy access to major businesses, entertainment and cultural venues. Kevin Goh, managing director, North Asia, The Ascott Limited, said, “Citadines Haeundae Busan is not only our largest property worldwide, it is the first international brand of serviced residence in Busan. Ascott currently has more than 1,000 units across three properties in South Korea including Citadines Han River Seoul which is slated to open in the first quarter of 2016.”
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WHO'S MOVED
CARLOS SALAS
Carlos Salas is the new regional director of Crystal Lagoons for the Middle East. He will oversee the company’s strategic growth, with a total of 10 active, under-development and pipeline projects spread across five key locations. Salas, who will be based in Dubai, brings with him extensive regional experience, having spent the last six years as head of the embassy in Chile in the UAE’s economic department and GCC commercial representative for ProChile.
Salas will be in charge of 10 projects across the Middle East
RAKI PHILLIPS
ANURADHA VENKATACHALAM
Anuradha Venkatachalam has joined Crowne Plaza Sohar as director of sales and marketing. Having worked with various international hotel brands in Kuwait, Bahrain and India, Venkatachalam brings 13 years of experience to the hotel. She started her career in India and joined InterContinental Hotels Group at Crowne Plaza Bahrain as a sales and marketing executive. She was then promoted to sales and marketing manager and was also in charge of public relations.In 2012 Venkatachalam relocated to Crowne Plaza Kuwait as marketing and public relations manager and two years later she continued as cluster director of marketing and public relations with Marriott International in Kuwait.
Raki Phillips is Hospitality Consulting Group (INHOCO)’s newest member, as senior vice president of development. He joins the company after a successful 15-year career in the industry. In the past eight years, he worked at FRHI Hotels & Resorts with his latest role being regional director for the Middle East, Africa and India. Phillips’ expertise include global hospitality sales, marketing, revenue management and hotel development. He played a key role in the launch of well-known projects, such as Universal Studios Islands of Adventure Theme Park, Universal City Walk Nightlife Venue, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando, The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa Doha, Fairmont the Palm Dubai, as well as various food and beverage outlets.
Phillips played a key role in the launch of well-known projects
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TRAVEL TALK
Sharia is […] our way of living
KHALED KAMAL General manager, Al Jawhara Hotel Apartments, Dubai
“Winning the World’s Best Halal Hotel Apartment title at the World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition means a lot for us as it echoes the vision of Saeed Al Lootah [founder, Lootah Hotel Management Company]; he believes that Sharia is embodied not only in the name and address but also in the way of talking, acting, working, our way of living, processing, behaving [and so on]. Sharia is about food, cleanliness, […] it is the service that ensures guest loyalty, tradition that appreciates diversity in culture and values, caring for our guests, people and society.”
At Starwood, our brands are differentiated from a lifestyle perspective
ARIF PATEL Regional director, sales and marketing, South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
“Contemporary travellers are looking for experience focussed travel and hotel experiences, [...] At Starwood, our brands are differentiated from a lifestyle perspective, not price point. Each of our hotel brands have their own personality, their own unique programmes and experiences, which are curated for our guests. For instance, those inclined towards wellness might opt for a Westin hotel whereas a younger, tech-savvy business traveller may choose Aloft hotels as their preferred stay option.”
I have always loved being a hotelier
RAHIM ABU OMAR General manager, The Gulf Hotel, Bahrain
“I am very grateful for [the Helmsmen Award from the Jordanian chapter of the International Association Golden Helmsmen of Tourism] and I would like to thank the association for this recognition, I have always loved being a hotelier and the hospitality industry has been my world. I take pleasure in taking care of my guests and providing them with the highest care and attention to give them a memorable experience. I have always believed that in this field, we do not only serve but to also leave a legacy to our guest.”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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AGENT CORNER
Agent’s Insight NAME:
Tarek Mousa
POSITION:
Chairman
COMPANY:
Egypt & Beyond Travel
LOCATION:
Egypt
WEBSITE:
www.egyptandbeyondtravel.com
When did you get involved in the tourism industry? In 1989. I am a citizen of both Egypt and Australia and have worked for over 25 years in the travel industry in both countries. What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator? Honesty, credibility and [the ability to deliver] what has been promised. What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? When is the best time to visit Egypt. What are the must-visits and must-dos in Egypt that no one should miss? [One must definitely not omit] a visit to the pyramids, Old Cairo and a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, as well as hot air ballooning over the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. 14 NOVEMBER 2015
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TRAVEL CHANNELS RJ Backs Breast Cancer Awareness
Hyatt Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability In its pledge to innovate around sustainability, Hyatt entered a new partnership with fuel cell technology company, Bloom Energy.
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yatt Regency Greenwich, Connecticut has been selected as the recipient of the hotelier’s first-ever 500kW fuel cell installation, which is expected to provide up to 75 percent of the hotel’s energy load, generating significant cost savings. By producing its own energy on-site with the new agreement, the property will reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent compared to electricity purchased from the grid. The hotel group announced the news on the heels of the release of its 2015 Scorecard Report, which outlines the company’s progress towards its social and environmental goals.
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oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), in collaboration with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, hosted Think Pink day at its headquarters. The event, as part of Jordan Breast Cancer Program’s annual campaign Stay in my life… get screened, was held in a bid to help raise awareness about the benefit of early detection of breast cancer which can up survival rates to over 90 percent. The carrier’s female employees were invited to a lecture by Latifeh Zuhdi, an educator and nurse with the programme, who highlighted the symptoms of the disease, the risk factors that increase the possibility of being affected and the needed screening tests.
Rezidor’s Humanitarian Month
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arlson Rezidor Hotel Group shared its Responsible Business Action Month worldwide activities highlights of the year. Now in its 12th year, 1,100 of the hotelier’s properties organised over 1,300 activities, committed more than 37,000 volunteer hours and raised a total of USD360,000 for the World Childhood Foundation and other various local charities. Some of the initiative’s activities from across the globe included book drives, breakfast serving to children in need, mural painting with at-risk youths and clean-up drives. Inge Huijbrechts, vice president, responsible business, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, noted, “I am proud to see the generous and unique ways our hotels and corporate offices get involved not only during Responsible Business Action Month, but also throughout the year.”
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14 NOVEMBER 2015
WEEKLY NEWS & EVENTS NEWS XX SCTH to Strengthen Patriotism
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R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) patronised a workshop held under the theme Strengthening educational and cultural presence on the cultural dimension in education and the media. Addressing the participants, the president said, “To promote citizenship and instilling a sense of national belonging among citizens is an essential issue one of its starting points is to determine the features of the national identity based on the cultural dimension of the Kingdom.” Abdul Aziz pledged to retain a keen focus on cultural dimensions as it is considered a base to enhance citizen’s patriotism.
IATA Introduces Online Education Scheme
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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has partnered with Harvard Business Publishing to launch Aviation Leadership Development Program, marking the organisation’s first educational programme to be taught in real time by instructors in a virtual environment. The initiative is built around the strategic needs of the airline industry in leadership development. This followed an intensive series of assessment interviews by both entities with key associated stakeholders, which identified their strategic business goals, challenges and trends that are required to be addressed in the development of high potential senior managers and business leaders. A curriculum of was developed with three modules; leadership and influence, operational excellence as well as global mindset and collaboration.
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EVENTS IBTM WORLD Barcelona, Spain November 17 – 19 www.ibtmworld.com A leading global event for the MICE and business travel industry, which gathers over 15,500 professionals.
SAUDI INTERNATIONAL HOTEL TECH EXHIBITION Riyadh, Saudi Arabia November 30 – December 02 www.saudihoteltechexpo.com The show brings together hotel equipments, security procedures, interior and exterior providers and information technologists.
INTERNATIONAL LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET (ILTM) Cannes, France November 30 – December 03 www.iltm.com ILTM is luxury travel's flagship event, where international travel agents and advisors meet the world’s luxury travel experiences.
4TH GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CITY TOURISM Marrakech, Morocco December 14 – 15 www.unwto.org International experts in city tourism, representatives of local authorities, municipalities and international and regional associations will discuss challenges and create a platform for the exchange of ideas.
3RD ANNUAL AFRICA HOTEL EXPANSION SUMMIT Lagos, Nigeria January 28 – 29, 2016 africa.hotelandresortsummit.com For the third consecutive year, Noppen is organising the Africa Hotel Expansion Summit, bringing together hotel chains, developers and architects with hospitality institutions.
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