28 MAY 2016 ISSUE 342
10 04 GENERAL
MARRIOTT REVEALS AMBITIOUS REGIONAL PLANS
SAUDI ARABIA LEADS IN TOURISM INVESTMENT
16 17 Rendezvous QATAR AIRWAYS TO LAUNCH ATLANTA SERVICE
21 Agent Corner 22 Travel Channels
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
ETIHAD: BEST FINANCIAL FIGURES YET
ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu 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
Etihad Airways recorded its strongest annual financial results to date, with a net profit of USD103 million on total revenues of USD9.02 billion.
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WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
he performance, which marked the airline’s fifth consecutive year of net profitability, also saw earnings before interest and tax reach USD259 million, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rentals soar to USD1.4 billion, representing 16 percent of total revenues. All in all, the carrier transported 17.6 million passengers in 2015 – an increase of 18.9 percent year-on-year – on 97,400 flights with an average load factor of 79.4 percent. Revenue passenger kilometres surged 21.3 percent to 83.2 billion, while available seat kilometres grew by 21 percent to 104.8 billion.
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
RJ REDUCES LOSSES IN Q1
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of COUNTRY
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27.5.2016 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
110.23
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
8.87
Iran (IRR)
Rial
30,446.27
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,169.00
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,506.68
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.37
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.73
Syria (SYP)
Pound
219.85
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.08
Yemen (YER)
Rial
249.10
Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) registered decreased losses in the first quarter (Q1) of the year with the figure improving by JOD1 million (USD1.4 million) compared to Q1 2015 to JOD7.3 million (USD10.3 million).
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he development occurred despite the fact that revenues during the three-month period were reduced by five percent, to JOD140.4 million (USD197 million). The carrier strives to become profitable by improving its services and continuing the implementation of a five-year business plan that started in 2015 and involves controlling costs, increasing revenues and reassessing route network, among other measures.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
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SAUDI ARABIA LEADS IN TOURISM
Investment SAUDI ARABIA IS RANKED FIRST IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND 36TH INTERNATIONALLY, IN REGARDS TO THE SIZE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM INVESTMENTS IN 2015 IN THE WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL (WTTC)’S REPORT, WITH THE SECTOR’S YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE REACHING 12.1 PERCENT.
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s per WTTC’s data, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the national GDP climbed to USD15.9 billion in 2015, with investment volume in the Kingdom exceeding USD21.6 billion. The document also revealed that globally, the industry was responsible for some 7.2 million jobs, and supported an additional 284 million interrelated positions.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
New Desert Tour and Camp Regulations in Dubai
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ubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) unveiled a list of new desert tour and camp rules to further elevate the emirate’s desert experience. As part of the initiative, the authority established quality benchmarks for all desert tour operators, including those managing outdoor, cultural and hospitality activities. “Close to 20 percent of all tourists who visit Dubai include a desert experience as part of their agenda and desert-based activities have consistently ranked amongst the top 10 must-do activities in Dubai,” revealed the segment’s importance Khaled Bin Touq, executive director, tourism activities and classification sector, DTCM.
New Campaign for Sharjah
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harjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) launched a new project to support the family tourism sector and strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading regional destination for family travel. As H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, explained, the segment represents 12.5 percent of the global tourism market with a total value of USD1.7 trillion in 2012. The Sharjah My Family Destination campaign is part of the authority’s pursuit to build on the achievements in the sector and develop it even further. In line with the initiative, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority opened several new environment tourism projects that offer innovative facilities in various locations.
Sharjah
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Dubai Expands Holiday Home Market
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ubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) updated the regulations for holiday residences. The most significant amendments apply for individual owners and aim to enhance the segment through greater transparency, safety, standardisation and competitiveness. Under the new guidelines, private home owners can apply for a holiday home licence without having to go through an approved operator, providing all criteria are met. In addition, tenants renting a property can also lease their accommodation as a holiday home by attaining a short-term permit.
RAK Targets India and China
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H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler, Dubai, launched Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, a global initiative that aims to exploit technology and promote the status of the UAE as a leading hub for 3D printing technology. “Our key goal is to ensure that 25 percent of buildings in Dubai are based on 3D printing technology by 2030, and we will raise this percentage with the development of global technology as well as growth of market demand,” he revealed, further explaining that the technique is capable of transforming the construction sector.
28 MAY 2016
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WEEKLY NEWS Ajman to Enhance Tourism Opportunities
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Bahrain: 15 Million Tourists by 2018
Ajman’s stand at Arabian Travel Market
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he Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) will continue to develop effective strategies to improve tourism opportunities in the emirate after seeing great interest from visitors and exhibitors at this year’s Arabian Travel Market. H.E. Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager, ATDD, enthused, “After the launch of the new destination website, we have received enormous interest from other participating delegations including government entities, travel agencies, investors and the international media who would like to learn more about Ajman.” Al Nuaimi believes that the move will eventually result in higher volume of tourists to the destination which, according to him, is on the right track to record five million annual arrivals by 2021.
aving welcomed 11.6 million visitors in 2015, up 11 percent over 2014, Bahrain now aims to attract 15.2 million annual travellers by 2018. The goal was announced by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority during a roundtable session at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference where Jerad Bachar, executive director, tourism and leisure, Economic Development Board, Bahrain, revealed, “There is strong investment currently underway in Bahrain’s tourism sector […].” As Bachar explained, the recentlylaunched tourism brand identity aims to enhance the Kingdom’s standing as a tourism destination and enhance collaboration within the greater tourism community.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS Association of Hotel Managers Introduced to Industry
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Saudis Trained on Selling Tourist Goods
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he International Association of Hotel General Managers recently hosted its UAE launch event. During the networking session, the president, CEO and the board of governors met with current and prospective members to outline the association’s aims and objectives in more detail. Since its inauguration, the entity has already introduced its own career management centre, enabling members to achieve their individual career aspirations by providing assistance and support and offering them job opportunities that best meet their interest. The membership also grants access to a range of portable benefit plans, such as medical and retirement/pension planning options. An accredited academy for professional development is also in the pipeline.
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he Saudi National Center for Tourism Human Resources Development organised a training session to hone the skills of tourism product saleswomen and help them best serve visitors to the Kingdom. The five-day course also highlighted the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage’s role in the development of the sector, and introduced the concept of domestic tourism, while retailers received valuable advices on how to market their products effectively.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Marriott Reveals Ambitious Regional Plans Marriott International announced the signing of the 300-suite Doha Marriott Executive Apartments, due to launch in 2019, and unveiled plans to open 17 new properties across the Middle East and Africa this year.
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s part of its expansion drive, the company’s footprint is set to significantly increase in priority markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia with 10 new establishments representing 4,600 rooms expected to be launched in the two countries between now and 2017. In the Kingdom alone, Marriott International targets 21 new addresses by 2025. The hotelier has also set its sights on new territories within the region and is poised to debut in Iraq, Tunisia as well as Libya.
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HMH Counts on Technology
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ospitality Management Holdings (HMH) showcased its technological credentials at the recent Arabian Travel Market. The UAE-based company has over the years heavily invested in tools and solutions. “Our fully integrated central reservation and revenue management systems are at par with international brands. We optimise performance, improve return on investment and maximise profits with strategic revenue management and strong distribution network across markets worldwide,” analysed Ilham Ismail, head of information technology, HMH. “It is not only about addressing the current needs of our guests but preparing ourselves for the future,” he stressed.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Four Seasons Adds New Abu Dhabi Address
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InterCityHotel Introduced in the Region
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island
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ontinuing its expansion in the Middle East, Steigenberger Hotels has chosen Oman to launch its first InterCityHotel outside of Europe. Expected to open in July, the eight-storey InterCityHotel Salalah will offer 70 rooms as well as a restaurant and gym, while a rooftop swimming pool promises to be a particular highlight. Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Steigenberger Hotels, commented, “Following our Steigenberger debut in Dubai in November [2015], we are now bringing our InterCityHotel brand to the Middle East for the first time. This represents a further important milestone for us.”
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new landmark of warm hospitality and luxury is now open in a prime waterfront location in the UAE capital. Developed by Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure, the 34-storey Four Season Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island features 200 rooms and suites, including the 267m2 royal suite and a presidential suite, four food and beverage outlets, a spa with eight treatment rooms, two separate fitness centres – one for women and one for men – and a rooftop pool terrace. Boasting what is hailed as Abu Dhabi’s only ballrooms that open onto the water’s edge, close to 2,000m2 of event space is highlighted by the Al Maryah Ballroom for up to 530 guests.
The dusitD2 Brand Comes to the UAE
dusitD2 Kenz Dubai
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usit International will debut its dusitD2 brand in the UAE with dusitD2 Kenz Dubai set to launch in July, joining Dusit Residence Dubai Marina in the emirate. Located in the TECOM district facing Sheikh Zayed Road, the upscale hotel will offer 237 modern rooms and suites, an all-day restaurant specialising in Mediterranean cuisine and Wise Kwai which serves authentic Thai street food in a chic atmosphere. Other hotel facilities will include three meeting rooms, a boardroom, rooftop pool, spa and a fitness centre.
28 MAY 2016
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Armani Hotel Dubai Remains Popular
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Wyndham Expands in Oman and Iraq
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rmani Hotel Dubai, located in Dubai’s famous Burj Khalifa, reported healthy occupancy levels in 2015, with bookings for this year already looking promising. According to Spencer Wadama, general manager, Armani Hotel Dubai, the property is the perfect choice for discerning guests for stopovers in the emirate. Consequently, as he revealed, long-haul destinations, such as the US and Brazil, have shown growing interest. “In fact, apart from the growth in long-haul visitors, as mentioned, we see notable increase in traffic from the markets of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. We also see robust growth in the number of guests from Scandinavian nations and other key African markets,” Wadama divulged.
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yndham Hotel Group announced plans for two new properties in Muscat and for two more in the Iraqi city of Najaf; all expected to open in 2018. The three-star Ramada Encore Muscat Al Ghubra and the four-star Ramada Hotel & Suites Muscat Al Ghubra will offer 200 rooms and 90 high-end suites, respectively, and will boast shared facilities, including a fitness centre, rooftop pool and a café, among more. Catering to the needs of the booming religious tourism sector in the city, the co-located Ramada Plaza Najaf and Ramada Hotel & Suites Najaf will feature 225 units and 149 studios, respectively. The new four-star projects will join the existing Ramada Sulaymaniyah to become the second and third Wyndham Hotel Group properties in Iraq.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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SuperCasa to Launch on Al Marjan Island
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SuperCasa’s new project on Al Marjan Island
lobally renowned developer SuperCasa announced its first five-star hotel to be located on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah’s manmade island project. Construction on the property, which will feature 320 beach-facing rooms, four restaurants, a pool, as well as spa and gym facilities, is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of the year and be completed by the end of 2018. “Investing in Ras Al Khaimah is attractive due to huge advantages enjoyed by investors, as well as quick return on investment and growth opportunities. We have selected Al Marjan Island because of the high guest numbers all year round,” said Abdulrahman Al Houti, director, SuperCasa.
City Seasons Signs USD0.5 Million Deals
Downtown Rotana Opens New Restaurant
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ity Seasons Hotels reached agreements worth AED2 million (USD0.5 million) in confirmed revenue at the recent Arabian Travel Market. Not hiding his satisfaction, George Demitry, group general manager, City Seasons Hotels, commented, “An efficient sales strategy backed up by a strictly organised presence at the stand over four days had turned our team into a very efficient unit which has borne fruit. Moreover our presence for the third consecutive year in a prime location ensured visibility as well as great exposure.” Demetry also disclosed that over the past five years the company has achieved an annual average gross operating profit increase of 12 percent, a brilliant result, as he said, in an industry which is constantly challenged.
ahrain’s newly-opened five-star Downtown Rotana launched its latest signature food and beverage outlet, Teatro Downtown. As the hotel’s premiere restaurant, the new venue presents an East-meets-West concept menu, complemented by warm design motifs and chic interiors. “The quality and diversity of Bahrain’s gastronomic offerings is one of the country’s main attractions; the Kingdom has a lot to offer in terms of variety, creativity and innovation in international cuisines, which makes it a magnet for food lovers,” explained Lilian Roger, general manager, Downtown Rotana, reporting a surge in investment from both the private and public sector, enhancing the country’s position as a hub of culinary excellence in the region.
28 MAY 2016
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
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Emirates Takes A380 to Taipei and Prague
E Qatar Airways' First Class A380 cabin
Qatar Airways will mark a new chapter in its history of operations to the US by deploying its Airbus A380 on its maiden Doha – Atlanta flight on June 01.
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he inaugural service will allow the airline to showcase its superjumbo to the country for the first time, after which the route will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft. “Qatar Airways will inaugurate Atlanta, its 10th destination to the US, […] and in honour of that, we wished to provide our passengers with a unique experience, in addition to the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777 which are signature products that we currently fly across all our gateways in the US,” commented Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways.
mirates expanded the network of destinations served by its flagship Airbus A380 with the launch of new scheduled itineraries to Taipei and Prague, becoming the first and only airline to operate the jumbo jet to the two cities. The Taiwanese capital was introduced as a daily Boeing 777 flight on February 10, 2014 and has since served nearly 450,000 passengers between the destinations. The Prague route was launched on July 01, 2010 with a daily A330 connection and Emirates has since carried over 1.1 million passengers between Dubai and the European capital. Thierry Antinori, executive vice president, Emirates, commented that the airline is committed to Taiwan and the Czech Republic and is proud to offer its iconic Emirates A380 experience to customers.
28 MAY 2016
RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
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ANITA MEHRA SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND REPUTATION, DUBAI AIRPORTS
HAVING HANDLED SOME 78 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2015, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL (DXB) REMAINS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BUSIEST HUBS, WHICH, ACCORDING TO ANITA MEHRA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND REPUTATION, DUBAI AIRPORTS, HAS BECOME PART OF THE OVERALL DUBAI EXPERIENCE.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How important is it to Dubai’s overall image to leave a lasting impression in visitors? ANITA MEHRA: DXB is one of the busiest international hubs in the world with an average of seven million passengers travelling through it every month on more than 100 airlines to 240 destinations around the world. For a significant 28 MAY 2016
number of those passengers, DXB is their only experience of Dubai as they spend a few hours here on transit. We believe that their experience at DXB has a major influence on their idea of what Dubai would be like. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the most outstanding features of DXB? ANITA MEHRA: As the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, DXB caters to the most diverse customers imaginable. To meet and exceed these expectations, Dubai Airports is constantly looking at ways to make journey through DXB smoother and memorable. Our initiatives range from a steady expansion of the infrastructure to offering the widest and best range in dining, retail and relaxation. In 2015, we added live music and art to liven up the ambience at the airport through the musicDXB and artDXB initiatives. Keeping in mind the increasing number of social media users and the evolution of wearables, Dubai Airports is actively engaging customers on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dubai Airports also worked in 2015 to provide smartwatch integration for its app on both Android and iOS platforms. Concourse D, which serves some 60 airlines that operate into DXB’s Terminal 1, has an exciting line-up of familiar and new retail and food and beverage brands, ranging from convenience retail and quality fast food to luxury retail brands and fine dining - all cohesively designed to elevate traveller experience to new levels. World-renowned brands have been introduced for the first time […]. The new concourse offers plenty of comfortable seating spaces and wellbeing concepts such as Be Relax and the ever-popular SnoozeCubes, which provide a convenient way to rest between
flights. It also features a total of nine lounges spread over 6,926m2, including five airline lounges, a new Al Majlis lounge, two Dubai International Hotel lounges and a Marhaba VIP lounge. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Arrivals to Dubai are expected to reach 20 million visitors by 2020. What plans have been outlined to ensure the highest levels of safety and security, while also further enhancing the overall passenger experience? ANITA MEHRA: At Dubai Airports, we believe that our planning should ensure that traffic plays catch up with capacity than the other way round as it ensures unhindered growth and better airport experience for our customers. Accordingly we have timed our expansion plans to keep ahead of the traffic growth at the airport. Even before Dubai was chosen as the venue to host Expo2020, we had announced a USD7.8 billion Strategic Plan (SP) 2020 under which DXB’s annual capacity was to be increased to 100 million passengers and the Dubai World Central (DWC) expansion plans were already under review to accommodate projected growth anticipated. We completed the SP 2020 earlier this year when we opened the USD1.2 billion facility Concourse D increasing our annual capacity from 75 to 90 million passengers. More recently Dubai Airports announced plans to expand the capacity of the existing passenger terminal at DWC from six million passengers to 26 million to accommodate future passenger growth. The expanded facility is expected to open in 2018 and is a precursor to the USD32 billion expansion to create the world’s biggest airport. DXB and DWC will together ensure that visitors to the world Expo2020 experience the world class experience that they expect from a city like Dubai.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL Malaysia to Lure Regional Visitors
ONYX Secures Hong Kong Property
NYX Hospitality Group signed a management agreement to rebrand a 24-key serviced apartment in Hong Kong to Shama Midlevels. The establishment provides personalised housekeeping, 24hour security, a business corner and concierge services. Tommy Lai, vice president, North Asia, ONYX Hospitality Group, analysed, “As the global economy is slowing down, we see most of the relocation projects of the foreign and multinational companies tend to be mid- to short-term ones together with an upward trend, making serviced apartments [...] a desirable accommodation choice for them.”
Shama Midlevels
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n a step that targets Iran, West Asia, as well as the North and South African regions, Tourism Malaysia launched a campaign targeting travellers from these segments with a special focus on shopping, luxury holidays, eco adventure, family fun and honeymoon options. The initiative is in line with the authority’s goal to boost arrivals from the West Asian market. In 2015, Malaysia received 316,209 tourists from the region, signifying a drop of 10.7 percent compared to 353,955 arrivals in 2014.
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Marriott Manila to Attract Arab Travellers
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Marriott Café
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arriott Hotel Manila is intensifying its efforts to become a Halal-friendly establishment offering services that help fulfil the Philippines’s vision to turn the country into a preferred destination for Muslim tourists. The five-star property was recently recognised by CrescentRating with a high mark for its Halal services and facilities which also include a Halal food section in Marriott Café. CrescentRating of the Hotels and Resorts is part of a series of initiatives rolled out by The Philippine Department of Tourism to create a long-term infrastructure across the country to diversify its market mix by attracting Muslim visitors, especially from the neighbouring southeast Asian nations and the Middle East.
28 MAY 2016
FARRAH ISMAIL 28 MAY 2016
WHO’S MOVED
PETER BAUMGARTNER has been promoted to CEO of Etihad Airways. He will now have overall responsibility for the airline’s flight operations, safety and quality, as well as guest services, aviation security, sales, network operation and marketing. He also will also spearhead Etihad Airport Services’ ground and catering operations. Baumgartner brings with him a wealth of experience in various aspects of the aviation business. He joined Etihad Airways in April 2005 from Swiss International Air Lines and has managed the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s global commercial efforts during a period of rapid growth, both in terms of commercial expansion and the introduction of innovations.
EMIL NILSSON
PETER BAUMGARTNER
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EMIL NILSSON has been appointed director of sales at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi. Nilsson brings to the hotel 12 years of hospitality experience, nine years of which he spent in sales in the Middle East. He enjoyed an extensive career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, having held a variety of positions such as complex director of sales and marketing for W Retreat & Spa, Maldives and Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. He also served at The Westin Dubai and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Spa, firstly as a complex senior sales manager before being promoted to complex assistant director of sales. Most recently Nilsson headed the sales and marketing department of Dusit Thani Maldives.
FARRAH ISMAIL is the new director of sales and marketing at Ramada Downtown Dubai. Boasting 25 years of hospitality experience from Asia and the Middle East, she started her career path with InterContinental Hotels Group in Malaysia as a sales executive before continuing as assistant sales manager. She worked for Meritus Hotel & Resorts in Kuala Lumpur as part of a pre-opening team and progressed to head sales, conference catering and revenue management. Ismail later moved to Bahrain and then to the UAE to serve a range of acclaimed brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Dusit Thani, Millennium & Copthorne, Novotel, ibis, Adagio and Meliá. She is now tasked with developing and executing new sales schemes that will yield higher profits for the property.
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TRAVEL TALK
PRESIDENT, EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP
“Najaf is a thriving Holy City [...]. This growing number of visitors seeks quality accommodation which we offer under the umbrella of our Ramada brand, as well as the convenience of being located just 800m down the road from the sacred site. The significant number of jobs [Ramada Plaza Najaf and Ramada Hotel & Suites Najaf ] will create for local people will help to boost the city’s growing tourism industry even further.”
GENERAL MANAGER, AL FAISALIAH HOTEL, RIYADH
GENERAL MANAGER, MARRIOTT MARQUIS CITY CENTER DOHA HOTEL
ANDREAS WISSDORF
DAN RUFF
Najaf is a thriving Holy City
ALEXANDER BLAIR
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All 224 rooms and suites [will be] transformed
“We recently embarked on an exciting and ambitious upgrade programme which over the next two years will see all 224 rooms and suites transformed with designs by global interior and architectural firm HOK. […] Internationally acclaimed design house Super Potato is working on the space formerly occupied by La Brasserie to create the consummate restaurant design which along with the first phase of 120 new rooms will debut in the third quarter of the year.”
We show our commitment to the next generation
“Partnerships like this [with Mighty Jokerz, official organiser of the World BBoy Classic Middle East Qualifiers] allow us to inspire our guests of today and tomorrow to experience something unexpected, whether it is within the destination or even within the hotel itself. […] By supporting these young and talented individuals, we show our commitment to the next generation, enabling them to use our hotel as a platform for this intercultural interaction and exchange to take place.”
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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28 MAY 2016
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AGENT CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT NAME: When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry? I entered the industry in 2001, once I completed my studies at a tourism training centre in Zanzibar. What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/ tour operator? Partnering with agents overseas is one of the best distribution strategies you can deploy for your tour or activities
Mzee Abdalla Yussuf Ndamungu
POSITION: Managing director COMPANY: Mercury Tour and Safari LOCATION: Zanzibar, Tanzania WEBSITE:
www.mercuryzanzibarsafari.com
business. After all, they can put you in touch with travellers that you would not be able to reach otherwise. In the agent – supplier relationship, the agent represents you in their destination and market. What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? They are related to the duration of the tours and also to pick up and drop off services. What are the must-visits and mustdos in Tanzania that no one should miss? Of course, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar. Which destination is on your bucket list? The Selous Game Reserve and the Mikumi National Park, both in Tanzania. 28 MAY 2016
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
ETIHAD SUPPORTS CHILDREN IN DHAKA
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CORAL BEACH SHARJAH ENTERTAINS ORPHANS
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oinciding with the airline’s 10th anniversary year of operations to Bangladesh, a team of eight volunteers from Etihad Airways and local cricket star Mushfiqur Rahim brought happiness to underprivileged children of the Choice To Change Elementary School in Dhaka by joining the youngsters for their annual fun day. The group also offered much-needed items, including blankets, school supplies and toys, to support the pupils and their families, and participants also visited homes to better understand the children’s living conditions. Launched in July 2010 by a former cabin crew member, the foundation now supports poverty-stricken children by providing free education, food and basic health care.
Etihad Airways volunteers with the children The children at Coral Beach Resort Sharjah
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oral Beach Resort Sharjah, in association with Emirates Red Crescent Society, hosted a group of 100 orphaned children. As part of the initiative, the property organised a number of activities to entertain the kids, who were then treated to international delicacies specially prepared for the occasion by the hotel’s chefs. “Orphans need love and care and we are committed to support any initiatives to enhance their lives. Corporate social responsibility activities are integral to our day-to-day operations and community engagement programmes. We are grateful to Emirates Red Crescent Society for giving us the opportunity welcome and entertain these underprivileged children,” said Haytham Aziz, hotel manager, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah.
R HOTELS AND CUCA SIGN JOB PLACEMENT DEAL
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Hotels and City University College of Ajman (CUCA) inked a memorandum of agreement for internship and job placement of students graduating from the institute’s hotel and tourism management programme. As Sumair Tariq, managing director, R Hotels, explained, the company constantly invests in human capital and the deal further strengthens its drive to attract the most talented aspiring hospitality professionals to support R Hotels’ development plans. Imran Khan, president, CUCA, said, “Alliances like this one, not only improve our students’ employability by providing them better realworld experience, but also give them better opportunities for permanent employment.”
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28 MAY 2016
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PHOTO ALBUM
Michael Kasch, general manager, Centro Sharjah (front, centre) was awarded Manager of the Year by Rotana
Arsenal superstar Mesut Ă–zil visited Arsenal Soccer Schools Dubai
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Al Bustan Centre & Residence organised a Health Screening Campaign for employees
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Dollar Rent A Car was recognised as a Dubai Service Excellence Scheme member
28 MAY 2016
UAE World Corporate Golf Championship took place for the first time at Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Hamra Golf Club
Oman Air offered students the chance to visit this year's Arabian Travel Market
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NEWS & EVENTS Airport Show Supports Women
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his year’s Airport Show provided a dedicated platform to support Arab women in aviation and inspire young adults to browse career opportunities available in the sector across the Middle East. Supporting the initiative, Bernard Dunn, President, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Boeing, commented, “Leaders in aviation should continuously and consciously work to attract women and create a working environment that promotes gender diversity. […] We continue to work with organisations […] to ensure we are doing everything we can to remove gender disparities in this exciting industry.”
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EVENTS ILTM ASIA Shanghai, China May 30 – June 02 www.iltm.com An invitation-only event, where travel agents and advisors from across Asia meet the world’s very best luxury travel experiences.
TURKEY & NEIGHBOURS HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE Istanbul, Turkey May 31 – June 01 www.cathic.com Now in its sixth year, this programme for the hotel investment community gathers over 1,000 delegates from across the globe.
THE MEETINGS SHOW
Sharjah’s Growth Showcased at MEIS
T
he government’s role in supporting and growing Sharjah’s real estate sector was a key topic of discussion at the Middle East Investment Summit (MEIS) in Dubai. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)’s participation focussed on the significant take-off of the segment and the governmental support which contributed to its exponential growth in the emirate. In discussing efforts to promote the destination, Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq, pointed to a series of seminars and workshops aimed at exploring solutions and encouraging investment in Sharjah’s real estate market. All in all, this year’s instalment attracted more than 700 attendees.
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London, UK June 14 – 16 www.themeetingsshow.com A premier gathering for the UK inbound and outbound conference industry, organised by meeting professionals for meeting professionals.
BALI & BEYOND TRAVEL FAIR Bali, Indonesia June 22 – 26 www.bbtf.or.id This year’s event is expected to conclude in deals worth IDR17 trillion (USD1.2 billion) from 275 buyers from all over the world.
28 MAY 2016