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08 AJMAN SEES 20 PERCENT RISE IN VISITORS
14 ETIHAD AND PARTNERS TO ENHANCE LOCAL ECONOMY
PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT DWC SURGES 79.8 PERCENT
25 JUNE 2016 ISSUE 346
AIR
GULF AIR ARRIVES IN DHAKA
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
QAIA WELCOMES 2.2 MILLION TRAVELLERS
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITORS Rita Kasziba Maria Kazeli
Queen Alia International Airport
JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
Continuing a consistent streak of traffic growth for the fourth successive month, from January to April, Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) received a total of 2.24 million passengers, registering an increase of 7.2 percent year-on-year.
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oreover, aircraft movements rose 8.3 percent, while cargo handled figures also increased 10.3 percent. Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group, enthused, “We look forward to witnessing more positive results during the upcoming period, not only as a result of the nearing holiday season, but also due to the dedicated efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which has recently launched new campaigns showcasing the Kingdom’s major attractions in order to appeal to more tourists.”
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
GULF AIR DRAMATICALLY CUTS LOSSES
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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24.6.2016 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
110.11
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
8.88
Iran (IRR)
Rial
30,597.28
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,164.22
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,502.69
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.36
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.82
Syria (SYP)
Pound
219.86
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.18
Yemen (YER)
Rial
249.10
Gulf Air revealed a drop of 62 percent in the airline’s annual losses – from BHD62.7 million (USD166.3 million) in 2014 to BHD24.1 million (USD64 million) in 2015.
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tressing that the carrier’s losses in 2015 fell 88 percent compared to 2012, H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, chairman, Gulf Air, said, “With an improved performance, an increasingly positive financial trajectory for our national carrier and consistently falling losses, Gulf Air’s positive 2015 developments are visible across a broad spectrum of deliverables.” On the network front, 2015 saw the company balance its regional stronghold with strategic global links extending to 44 destinations, further enhanced by the airline’s continuous schedule adjustments.
25 JUNE 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
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Petra Authority to Collaborate with UNWTO
Jordan Tourism Board Joins Hands with Emirates
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he work developed by civil society organisations on the protection of heritage is a fundamental part of the tourism sector, and essential for the design and implementation of sustainable tourism initiatives involving and benefiting local communities,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO. Petra National Trust is a non-governmental entity dedicated to the preservation and protection of the World Heritage Site of Petra.
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Petra
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Petra National Trust agreed to promote sustainable policies in cultural tourism, develop capacity building and knowledge sharing, and conduct educational actions.
mirates signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan Tourism Board, which aims to utilise the airline’s global network to further boost tourist arrivals into the country. The two entities will put into effect a range of joint marketing activities, including tourism promotions as well as participation in conferences and exhibitions. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director, Jordan Tourism Board, commented that the main goal is to use the best strategies and practices to increase the Kingdom’s marketing footprint and position it as a preferred destination in markets like Australia, and the growing economies of Central and Southern America.
25 JUNE 2016
WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE
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Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates
P Hotels in Beirut Show Signs of Decline
rofit per room at establishments across Dubai has declined 22.7 percent in the 36 months to April on a rolling 12-month basis, and whilst hotels managed to maintain occupancy at approximately 87 percent in the first four months of the year, it has been at the expense of a significant drop in ARR as the metric fell 9.6 percent year-to-date. As a result of the movement in occupancy and achieved ARR, year-on-year RevPAR for Dubai’s market fell 10.5 percent year-to-date, to USD258.04. And although food and beverage revenue had been on the downturn since December 2014 – dropping 15.3 percent to USD125.22 in the rolling 12 months to December 2015 – yearto-date revenue in this department has now increased 1.7 percent against the same period in 2015.
Sharm El Sheikh: Reduced Profit Beirut
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he 30.3 percent profit drop at properties in Beirut in April is further to a 38.7 percent decline in March, which paints a grim picture for the Lebanese capital. While average room rates (ARR) increased 16.5 percent year-on-year to USD106.76 in the 12 months to February, the numbers suffered a year-on-year demise in both March and April at 6.5 and 10.5 percent, respectively. The rate drop was responsible for the 6.8 percent year-todate plunge in RevPAR to USD79.10 in April, as occupancy in the city has broadly remained stable. The savings in labour and overheads on a per available room basis, were not sufficient to offset the 14.6 percent decline in total RevPAR and as a result the profit per room decline contributed to gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) plummeting 23.9 percent year-to-date.
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Sharm El Sheikh
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rofit per room at hotels in Sharm El Sheikh was recorded at just USD0.50 in April, a 97.9 percent decline from the same period in 2015, with year-to date GOPPAR at minus USD2.85, a 116.7 percent slide on 2015 performance of USD17.04. Year-on-year room occupancy for the first four months of this year plummeted 31.2 percentage points, to just 28.1 percent. This, in addition to a 15.8 percent year-on-year drop in ARR, contributed to the 60.1 percent year-to-date fall in RevPAR to USD12.95.
25 JUNE 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
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Ras Al Khaimah Targets Chinese Market
Gulf Travellers Favour Britain
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25 JUNE 2016
as Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is taking strategic steps to target the Chinese segment. Among this was a two-day initiative where business and leisure travellers as well as investors from the Asian destination toured the emirate. “Following our recent announcement of a strategic partnership with Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, we are positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a tourism investment and travel destination of choice, contributing significantly towards our goal of attracting one million visitors by the end of 2018,” said Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The entity is focussed on leveraging China National Tourism Administration’s plans to send 150 million travellers to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt in the next five years.
Activities during the tour
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CC tourists to the UK broke records in 2015, with 723,773 visitors and GBP1.59 billion (USD2.3 billion) spent. Out of all visits from the region, the UAE registered the highest volume with 347,000 travellers, a yearon-year surge of 34 percent. The top performers list was completed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, with 147,000, 104,000 and 76,000 arrivals, respectively. “British tourism from the region reached new heights in 2015. It is, thus, critical for VisitBritain to continue to promote the destination in a way that fosters the continued growth of tourism from the region,” said Sumathi Ramanathan, director, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, VisitBritain.
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Ajman Sees 20 Percent Rise in Visitors
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harjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) hosted a group of 100 travel agents and a television crew from Ukraine. During the four-day trip, local tourism stakeholders were given an opportunity to meet the team and present their products and services at a workshop which aimed at highlighting the diverse tourism experience offered by the emirate for Ukrainian visitors. “Recent strategic research shows that the outbound Ukrainian tourism is continuing to grow steadily suggesting a market opportunity. With Air Arabia flying direct from there and bulk airline seat sales with TPG, one of the largest outbound operators, we felt that there was substantial opportunity to leverage,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA.
A Ajman
Ukrainian group
Sharjah Eyes Ukrainian Tourists
rrivals to Ajman during the first quarter of the year increased 20 percent, according to statistics released by Ajman Tourism Development Department. The figure reached 142,404 travellers who clocked 313,724 nights, reflecting a 76 percent occupancy rate, a 22 percent increase over 2015. The visitors generated total revenue of AED108 million (USD29 million), which also rose 20 percent year-on-year. Domestic travel from within the UAE remained the primary source of guests, followed by Asian and African countries. Influx from Europe for the first three months reached 13,129 and delivered 56,585 nights.
SCTH Enhances National Feeling through Tourism
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ince the launch of Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH)’s Live Saudi Arabia programme in 2014, about 400 trips have been conducted so far, allowing the participation of some 16,000 youths from all over the Kingdom. The initiative targets secondary school and university students, aiming to strengthen their sense of national belonging and encourage them to discover their homeland by introducing them to their history. The trips of the programme focussed on tourist sites in Riyadh, Al Ahsa, Medina, Hail, Dammam, Taif, Jeddah, Al Qassim, Al Baha, Asir and Al Ula.
Participating students
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25 JUNE 2016
WEEKLY NEWS
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South African Airline Joins Travelport
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ravelport inked a participation agreement with Fly Blue Crane, South Africa’s newest regional carrier. The airline also signed up to Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding merchandising solution which allows companies to present the full value of their offerings to travel agents in a highly visual manner, including
graphically rich images and descriptions. Launched in September 2015, Fly Blue Crane offers customers travel opportunities to various business and leisure destinations within the Southern African region, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Kimberley.
Air Arabia to Improve Passenger Flow
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ir Arabia is set to introduce SITA’s next-generation passenger management system to extract greater efficiency across its operations. The technology will help the airline to better handle boarding while streamlining the turnaround of its aircraft. Through the Horizon Passenger Management and Distribution portfolio, SITA will provide the low-cost carrier with its latest departure control as well as weight and balance systems, which will result in increased fuel savings, among more. Hani El-Assaad, president, Middle East, India and Africa, SITA, said, “For any airline getting all passengers onboard on time while managing every aspect of an aircraft turnaround is an extremely complex operation. Our Horizon portfolio brings all those elements together.”
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY
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Amadeus and Emirates Reaffirm Mutual Commitment
Emirates and Amadeus renewed their distribution agreement to ensure that the airline’s full inventory of fares and flights is made available to Amadeus-connected travel agencies and travellers worldwide.
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s the carrier pushes on with its focus on the customer experience, the two companies are also exploring opportunities relating to the introduction of new merchandising capabilities, including ancillary services and fare families. “Travellers are seeking the ability to compare airline offers in a transparent way through the channel of their choosing. By continuing its partnership with Amadeus, Emirates is ensuring its high-service proposition is available to travellers right across the globe,” said Maher Koubaa, vice president, airline IT and distribution, Amadeus MENA.
dnata Brings Virgin and Delta Together
Air Namibia Joins Travelport’s Technology
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irgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo have signed long-term contracts with dnata to co-locate their freight handling at London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London Gatwick airports where the carriers operate, and at six other UK regional hubs. The new one-roof handling strategy already rolled out across the country will further enhance the airlines’ joint venture partnership. Promising more perks for customers, the move is designed to provide easier single drop-off and collection points for customers of both companies and deliver benefits such as faster truck turnaround times at London Heathrow and enhanced services for premium products.
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ir Namibia signed up to Travelport’s airline merchandising solution, Rich Content and Branding, joining approximately 160 full-service and low-cost carriers across the globe. The tool redefines how airlines manage the way their products are seen on travel agency screens, providing them with greater control over how their content is visually presented. Paul Nakawa, manager, corporate communications, Air Namibia, said, “Our mission is to bring the world to Namibia and Namibia to the world which is proven by our continuous investment in a fast growing network of regional and intercontinental destinations. Signing up to Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding is a strategic move to communicate our value propositions.”
25 JUNE 2016
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Phocuswright: Hostel Marketplace Transformed
W
hile low-cost lodging remains central to hostels, the accommodation segment has been undergoing some big changes, all in an effort to cater to the travel-ambitious, mobile-minded millennial, as Phocuswright’s The Global Hostel Marketplace 2014-2018 revealed. The study features market sizing, forecasts, distribution channel analysis and in-depth reviewing of hostel travellers and properties, identifying five key trends that are driving transformation across the market worldwide. Nowadays, hostels comply with increasing demand for privacy, step up their basic services, pay attention to their common areas as means of social interaction, boost digital presence and team up to form hostel chains.
25 JUNE 2016
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Wyndham to Be Regenerated Wyndham Hotel Group unveiled its vision for the strategic transformation of its iconic brands aimed at elevating the travel experience for Millennials and the diverse global middle class.
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he product of an 18-month study focussed on 50 recognised hotel names along with the primary decision drivers of thousands of business and leisure travellers around the world, the group’s global makeover will reposition and revitalise its 16 economy, midscale and upscale brands. Josh Lesnick, chief marketing officer, Wyndham Hotel Group, said, “It is time for the hospitality industry to get democratisation right – it is not just about value for money, it is about the freedom to explore your world the way you want.”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
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GULF AIR ARRIVES IN
GULF AIR CELEBRATED ITS INAUGURAL FIVE-WEEKLY FLIGHT TO AND FROM DHAKA, BANGLADESH.
Etihad Takes Dreamliner to Perth
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tihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touched down in Perth, marking the start of the airline’s upgraded service to the Australian destination. Featuring business and economy class cabins and 299 seats, the aircraft delivers 14 percent more capacity than the Airbus A330-200 that it has replaced. “Since launching flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi two years ago, we have enjoyed strong two-way demand from business and leisure travellers on the route. The Dreamliner, which adds 518 weekly seats to the route, gives us the extra capacity needed to meet this ever-increasing demand,” said Shane O’Hare, senior vice president, marketing, Etihad Airways.
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Gulf Air representatives and Dhaka Airport officials
DHAKA
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he services are operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft with a total of 16 Falcon Gold business class seats and 120 economy class seats. With seven destinations in Pakistan and six in India, the airline’s Dhaka route enhances the existing Indian Subcontinent operations providing strong connectivity to destinations across the Middle East network and beyond via Bahrain International Airport.
Jazeera Airways Adds Taif
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arking its third gateway into Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah, Jazeera Airways started direct flights to Taif. The service will run until September 23 with four-weekly frequencies. “We are today the only Kuwaiti carrier flying to Taif. This translates our continuous strategy to address our customers’ interest while providing them with our best in-class services on-ground and onboard,” said Mohammed Barakat, vice president, marketing and product, Jazeera Airways.
Taif
Lebanon Linked to Sweden
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ings of Lebanon launched new direct services between Beirut and the Swedish capital, marking the nonstop connection of the two cities for the first time in six years. The new carrier initially introduced twice-weekly links to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, while June 14 saw the addition of one more itinerary to Malmö Airport. “We are very pleased that we can increase access between Lebanon and Sweden. A total of about 11,000 passengers fly each year between Stockholm and Beirut with stopovers, and there is currently strong demand for flights to Beirut from southern Sweden. So, it is really positive that Wings of Lebanon is expanding nonstop service from two of our 10 airports,” said Elizabeth Axtelius, aviation business director, Swedavia.
25 JUNE 2016
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR Qatar Airways Codeshares with SriLankan
Gulf Air: Three Decades in Istanbul
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ulf Air celebrated the 30th anniversary of its direct operations to and from Istanbul. Marking the occasion, the airline invited leading Turkish trade partners and media representatives to a celebratory dinner held at CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel. Shadi Raweh, country manager, Turkey, Gulf Air, commented that since the Turkish city is a key destination for the carrier’s business and leisure customers, the summer schedule, which will launch in July, will see an increase of operations to and from the city to daily flights in order to meet passenger demand.
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atar Airways and SriLankan Airlines, both members of the oneworld alliance, strengthened their cooperation with a bilateral codeshare relationship. Aiming to offer customers additional convenience and flexibility, the two carriers will cooperate on each other’s flights between their respective hubs; Qatar Airways’ thrice-daily Airbus A340-600 operations to Colombo and SriLankan Airlines’ daily Airbus A330-300 flight to Doha. Travellers will also benefit from accruing frequent flyer miles, together with other oneworld privileges such as access to lounges, extra baggage allowances, priority check-in and boarding, fast track security lanes and special fares across both carriers’ networks.
The airline’s celebrations in Istanbul
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR Etihad and Partners to Enhance Local Economy
ICAO: Safety Is Important for Civil Aviation
OAMC Appoints Two Ground Handlers in Muscat
Signing of the deal
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tihad Aviation Group and its equity airline partners will provide a contribution of up to USD9.6 billion to the Abu Dhabi economy this year, according to figures released by Oxford Economics Group. By 2024, the company’s annual input to the emirate’s economy is expected to reach up to USD18.2 billion. “Our two-pronged approach is delivering results for Etihad Aviation Group and it is delivering results for Abu Dhabi. At a strategic level, our equity partners aim to bring network connectivity, generate additional revenues and create economies of scale. Every one of our partners is delivering on this level,” analysed James Hogan, president, Etihad Aviation Group.
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man Airports Management Company (OAMC) signed a strategic contract for ground handling services with Swissport International and the joint venture created by Oman Air and Menzies Aviation. Making the Sultanate the second nation in the GCC to employ more than one ground handling operator, the deal will see the capital’s hub served by the two entities for 10 years, beginning January 2017. “For OAMC, it is important to be operating at maximum efficiency as we gear up for the launch of the new Muscat International Airport terminal. This will truly be a world-class gateway to the beauty and opportunity of Oman, and it is a key project within the government’s economic development strategy,” noted Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO, OAMC.
Oman Air Teams Up with Menzies Aviation
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he Middle East is poised to demonstrate leadership in sustainable aviation, provided a regional approach to safety is developed and enhanced. This according to Fang Liu, secretary general, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), who spoke at the Arab Civil Aviation Commission’s 23rd general assembly. She commented that the effective implementation of ICAO’s standards and recommended practices can lead to safer and more secure local air transport, which in turn fosters increased connectivity and greater prosperity for nations, and the region is no exception to this dynamic. “Safer and more secure air transport services still have a more significant role to play in helping your states to eradicate poverty, fight inequality, and build peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies,” said Liu.
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man Air and Menzies Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture partnership within the last quarter of the year, which will provide ground handling services at all airports across the Sultanate. Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO, Oman Air, said, “Menzies Aviation is a highly professional, global company with a proven track record. Our partnership will enable us to access new technology, improve training and achieve the highest standards with regard to ground handling operations.”
25 JUNE 2016
RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with
InterContinental Jordan
MICHAEL KOTH DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, LEVANT, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP
MICHAEL KOTH, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, LEVANT, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP (IHG), SHARES HIS VIEWS ON JORDAN’S STRATEGIC TOURISM OBJECTIVES AND LONG-TERM PLANS.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Jordan’s National Tourism Strategy (NTS) 20112015 aimed to increase tourism receipts to JOD4.2 billion (USD5.9 billion) by attracting some 9.4 million visitors. How did this strategy support the hotels’ business? MICHAEL KOTH: Our NTS could not foresee at that time the long-lasting neighbouring conflicts and the socio-political developments across the entire region. Over the last decades, Jordan has successfully manifested itself as a cultural and religious travel destination. Visitors from all over the world have taken advantage admiring the cradle of Christianity by mostly combining historic sites […]. This constant stream of visitors has been reduced to a trickle due the current pan-regional dynamics. As we all know, Jordan is a safe country with amazing
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hospitality and touristic infrastructure, yet we must be cognitive of the strong decline of international markets resulting mostly from a media-led perception which has turned into reality. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How have your own targets changed after 2015? MICHAEL KOTH: Our seven IHG city and resort properties in Jordan have shifted their sales and marketing focus towards our domestic clientele. In the absence of international MICE and leisure, the local corporate, governmental and diplomatic as well as non-governmental organisations (NGO) sectors have become our key sources of income. We see RevPAR tightening year-on-year and at best the levelling [of ] our gastronomic income. Nowadays, our resorts cater predominantly to families from the capital, thus, we have adjusted their offerings for the domestic weekend clientele. Had the Jordan Tourism Board not continued in its efforts to promote the country, we would potentially see even less mid-week meetings and international corporate events in Aqaba or the Dead Sea. The potential that I believe in is to expand leisure experiences at the Red Sea in Aqaba; a destination that offers great beach holidays with an increasing diversity. The existing hotels in combination with the new touristic and real estate developments have the potential to attract a new GCC-based clientele as well as international charters. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In light of recent developments and market trends, what products and services do you think are in demand in Jordan at the moment? MICHAEL KOTH: We see continued demand with cruise ship arrivals in Aqaba, linking our ancient heritage of Petra with the stunning natural beauty and solitude of Wadi Rum. Although visitors to Petra and the Dead Sea are heavily
influenced by the recent developments, they remain our largest and most unique window of opportunity to attract the nearby GCC-based expatriates. Being familiar and comfortable with the geopolitical situation, it is easy for a family to escape to Jordan for an extended weekend break and immerse themselves into memories for a lifetime. We have also noticed a steadily growing demand for medical tourism from our GCC neighbours. This is another niche that we are focussing on, in a bid to grow occupancies. Whilst we see clouds across the Levant we also notice a silver lining above Jordan. In the efforts of the world community to support, stabilise and rebuild our neighbouring countries, Amman is the ideal logistic hub for international NGOs. Their increased engagement over the coming years is our call to respond with commercially attractive offers building a reliable base for our hotels, and a welcoming home for their teams working relentlessly under incredibly hard conditions in the field. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your priorities for the coming months? MICHAEL KOTH: On the commercial side, we will further review our business efficiencies protecting operating profits against volatile revenue trends. But the more rewarding focus is the development of our talent. The integration of young and aspiring hospitality graduates is our responsibility. We are working hand in hand with universities and schools to attract the future generation, aiming towards gender balance and helping to be the foundation of a prospering international hospitality career. And lastly, it is about being the best of what we do. All IHG colleagues across Jordan are committed to deliver service excellence. And what better time than today to invest in our own talent, grow their abilities, harness their passion and provide confidence about their professional growth. 25 JUNE 2016
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Best Western Plus Wanda Launched
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est Western Hotels & Resorts introduced its latest Bangkok property, as Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel held its official launch in the presence of company officials, media and travel agents. “As well as celebrating the launch of a wonderful new hotel, our grand opening celebration has demonstrated the quality of event Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel is able to deliver. Many special occasions will be held in this hotel in the coming years, and I am delighted to be part of the first,” commented Olivier Berrivin, managing director, international operations, Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
Hyatt Expands Thai Portfolio
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he 161-room Hyatt Place Phuket, Patong has been launched featuring the brand’s design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities. “Thailand continues to be an important market for Hyatt, and Phuket is one of southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations where demand from both leisure and business visitors continues to grow,” said David Udell, group president, Asia Pacific, Hyatt. The property is the second of the company on the Thai island, and as Udell commented, it is to exceed guest expectations and provide them with everything they need.
Hyatt Place Phuket, Patong
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL Ramada Forges Eastward in Canada
San Pedro Public Market to Get Facelift
he Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a 50-year lease for the new San Pedro Public Market on the site of the current Ports O Call Village. The decision represents a vital step toward the first comprehensive redevelopment of the area since its original construction in the 1960s. “Building the San Pedro Public Market is a key component in our ongoing, broader plan to revitalise and reenergise the LA Waterfront, and improve ocean-side access for both locals and tourists,” said Vilma Martinez, president, Los Angeles Harbor Commission.
Crowne Plaza to Endow USD200 Million in Americas
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) aims to invest USD200 million in Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts in the Americas region. Running for a three-year period, the Crowne Plaza Accelerate plan will help ensure that the brand remains at the forefront of the new way of doing business with design-led, culturally-relevant, technology-enabled solutions to empower, energise and inspire the modern business traveller. IHG’s investment will focus on increased sales and marketing efforts and continuous improvement of the guest experience. Elie Maalouf, CEO, Americas, IHG, said, “The brand is a global powerhouse and this plan will accelerate its growth and performance in the Americas, extending its leadership and guest satisfaction performance in the upscale hotel segment for today’s business travellers.”
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San Pedro Public Market
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yndham Hotel Group agreed with Canalta Hotels to develop 20 Ramada properties over the next 15 years, growing the brand’s Canadian footprint by approximately 25 percent. The deal expands the company’s existing relationship with Canalta, which has already resulted in 39 hotels throughout western Canada in the last 12 years. The 20 new developments will be located throughout Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Prince Edward Island. “Ramada is one of the most recognised hotel brands in the world, and thanks to our continued success in western Canada we know travellers will welcome the familiar pops-of-red in their favourite cities as we expand eastward,” said Cam Christianson, president, Canalta.
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W Miami Has Arrived
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Hotels Worldwide has expanded its Florida portfolio with the opening of W Miami. Located on Brickell Avenue at the epicentre of Miami’s bustling downtown area, the property, which is part of a mixed-use development known for its large infinity pool and spa, offers 148 rooms and suites as well as 38 residential units that are serviced by the hotel. W Miami will undergo a renovation to welcome the brand’s signature W Living Room on the 15th floor overlooking Biscayne Bay, while on the rooftop the vistas from the 50th floor will be transformed into one of Downtown Miami’s most glamorous sky-high destinations, with a stylish and energetic lounge.
25 JUNE 2016
HALA MASSAAD
GENERAL MANAGER, RAOUCHÉ ARJAAN BY ROTANA
We can never give back enough to all the loyal partnerships
“We can never give back enough to all the loyal partnerships Rotana has made over the past years with our bookers, companies, media and friends. With the [meeting with our top corporate accounts, travel agencies, media and bloggers], we [aimed for a] pleasant gathering where we can all have a good time, and share a joyous experience together.”
GENERAL MANAGER, BOLLYWOOD PARKS DUBAI
THOMAS JELLUM
TRAVEL TALK
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The park will be the hottest destination in Dubai “We cannot wait to welcome people into Bollywood Parks Dubai this October. Each show and each ride has all been carefully developed to completely transport our guests into the world of Bollywood […]. Bollywood is cherished and adored not just by people in the region, but by a large global audience and we are positive that the park will be the hottest destination in Dubai this year. Both the attraction development and the rehearsals are going strong, as we gear up to offer Dubai an experience unlike any other.”
VICE CHAIRMAN, LIMAK GROUP OF COMPANIES
SEZAI BACAKSIZ
[Kuwait’s new terminal] is more than an airport “[Kuwait’s new terminal] is more than an airport, it is a link between the two countries; Kuwait and Turkey, between two economies, between two societies. As a result of this link, new technologies will be introduced and transferred, new jobs will be created locally, planned local procurement will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, local businesses will flourish, all while we train and equip Kuwaiti men and women of the future through the various education and empowerment initiatives that we have planned for Kuwait over the next six years and beyond.”
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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YOUSUF MOHAMMED has been selected by Etihad Airways as airport manager for the hub in Medina. Mohammed began his career in the aviation industry in 2004 as an airport services agent. He joined Etihad Airways in 2011 as an operations duty manager and has worked in Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, and most recently, Muscat. In this new post, he will have overall responsibility for the carrier’s operations at the Saudi airport, including safety, security and station performance management.
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FATIMA AL HASHEMI
YOUSUF MOHAMMED
WHO’S MOVED
FATIMA AL HASHEMI has been appointed by Etihad Airways as airport manager for Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, where she will have overall responsibility for the carrier’s operations at the Korean hub, including safety, security, and station performance management. Having joined Etihad Airways in 2012 as a graduate manager and after working in Abu Dhabi and Singapore, Al Hashemi is the airline’s second Emirati female airport manager. She graduated from Zayed University in Dubai with a degree in business administration and information technology.
Al Hashemi is Etihad Airways’ second Emirati female airport manager
MAHMOUD HAGGAG
Mohammed began his career in 2004
MAHMOUD HAGGAG is the new executive assistant manager for The Ajman Palace Hotel. Having commenced his career at InterContinental Hotel Cairo Semiramis and Intercontinental Hotel Hurghada, Haggag has spent over 27 years in the hospitality industry, gaining extensive experience in different capacities at landmark properties, such as Hilton Abu Dhabi and Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort. His most recent posting was at Mercure Center Hotel, Abu Dhabi where he served as rooms division manager. In his new role, Haggag is tasked with assisting the general manager in hotel operations specifically the rooms department while ensuring service quality and guest satisfaction.
Haggag has spent over 27 years in the hospitality industry
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AGENT CORNER
AGENT’S INSIGHT When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry? Back in 2007 I became a licensed rock climbing guide in the UK. I then used my expertise as a ticket around the world, including places such as Egypt, Portugal, Turkey, Greece and Vietnam. What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator? [Being] trustworthy; this is the most important thing between a company
NAME:
Rich Fergus
POSITION: General manager COMPANY: Asia Outdoors LOCATION: Vietnam WEBSITE:
www.asiaoutdoors.com.vn
and customer. Doing the style of tours we do, means people are literally putting their lives into our hands. So we go above and beyond to ensure that trust and safety can flourish on our days out. What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? “How did you come from the UK to work on a tiny island in Vietnam?” What are the must-visits and mustdos in Vietnam, that no one should miss? Kayaking through Lan Ha Bay is an absolute must, alongside some great cities such as Hanoi and Hue to check out from the full Vietnam experience. Which destination is on your bucket list? The Grand Canyon. 25 JUNE 2016
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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UNWTO ANALYSES JAPAN PARADIGM EMIRATES PARK ZOO EDUCATES ON WILDLIFE Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
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ithin the framework of the 28th Joint Meeting of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia held between June 01 – 04, over 400 participants from 26 countries gathered in Nara, Japan to discuss the impact that new technologies are having on tourism and how these can help the sector to further develop. Akihiko Tamura, commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, summarised that the authority’s work embraces not only tourism, but also transportation and infrastructure policies that require the latest advanced technologies. “Finding out how to raise travellers’ satisfaction levels through various experiences and activities during their travels is a challenging but crucial task for us,” Tamura added.
rom July 17 to August 28, Emirates Park Zoo and Resort will host Emirates Park Zoo Summer Camp indulging children between the ages of eight – 12 with exciting activities, projects and interactive games. The initiative has been designed to not only entertain the kids, but also to develop intellect and instigate creative thinking, with educational games that actively involve learning about animals, wildlife and the environment included in the programme. In addition, participants will be able to interact with animals such as elephants, a multitude of reptiles and predators, along with enjoying shows exclusively arranged for the camp.
DUBAI AIRPORTS FOCUSSES ON PASSENGER HEALTH
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enior representatives from Dubai Airports, Dubai Police and the Airport Medical Centre at Dubai International met to discuss the ongoing provision of timely medical services and procedures that ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers. “Many travellers have medical needs as they pass through our airports. We have to be prepared to deal with a wide variety of conditions and ailments. Additionally, many of our customers rely on personal medical electronic devices […] that they must have with them during their travel,” said Chris Garton, executive vice president, operations, Dubai Airports. He assured that the company has procedures in place to facilitate this and will continue doing so through staff awareness and training to meet passenger needs.
Rotana’s team
ROTANA IN DUBAI SPOTLIGHTS OCEANS
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n partnership with Dubai Municipality, Emirates Marine Environmental Group and Dubai’s Filipino Scuba Divers Club, Jumeira Rotana, Rihab Rotana and Villa Rotana did their part in protecting and preserving a globally valuable resource, marking the World Oceans Day. About 26 colleagues across the three hotels and 15 professional divers organised an underwater clean-up at Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary, while Emirates Marine Environmental Group released around 20 rehabilitated baby turtles. Ulrich Hoffmeister, general manager, Jumeira Rotana, said, “We as a company are committed to the protection of our environment and are delighted that we as hotel teams could take part in this cause. It is great to see that this spirit runs throughout our teams and yielded such great participation.”
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PHOTO ALBUM
Corporate clients and media representatives celebrated Iftar at The Ajman Palace Hotel
Nile Air unveiled new special livery
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah distributed Iftar meal boxes as part of the hotel's Ramadan initiative
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Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai hosted Iftar for underprivileged children
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TRYP by Wyndham Abu Dhabi invited children of Emirates Red Crescent for Iftar
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort organised a charity Iftar for Special Needs Future Development Center children and their families
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NEWS & EVENTS Astana Expo to Support the Environment
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stana EXPO 2017 National Company and World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a partnership agreement to work together in order to promote sustainable tourism at the international exhibition, which will be held in Kazakhstan’s capital in 2017, under the theme Future Energy. Besides supporting the international visibility of the fair, the memorandum of understanding undersigned between the parties includes the dissemination of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 and the promotion of energy efficiency in tourism and of the UNWTO Silk Road initiative. “Kazakhstan is rich in energy resources but we need to look into the future and protect our environment, and the future is renewable energies,” commented on the event Akhmetzhan Yessimov, chairman, Astana EXPO 2017 National Company.
Dubai Gathers Meetings Experts
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ubai Business Events and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) organised the first ICCA Middle East International Meetings Forum. Held as a precursor to the 2018 ICCA Congress, the focus of the inaugural event was to establish a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices that will be essential as the region’s meetings industries seek to align products and services with the rapidly evolving demands from international associations and corporations. The forum attracted over 20 internationally renowned speakers and global experts, who discussed trends, the importance of destination teamwork and industry collaboration, as well as the competitiveness of the region as a stepping stone to booming markets in the Middle East and Africa.
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EVENTS FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW Farnborough, UK July 11 – 15 www.farnborough.com One of the world’s largest aviation events for the global aerospace community.
IBTM LATIN AMERICA Mexico City, Mexico September 07 – 08 www.ibtmlatinamerica.com Leaders, organisers and specialised suppliers for events will convene for business adventures.
SEATRADE CRUISE MED Tenerife, Spain September 21 – 23 www.seatradecruiseevents.com A major biennial event focussed on the world’s second largest cruise destination, the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
IMEX AMERICA Las Vegas, US October 18 - 20 www.imexamerica.com Among more, the Hosted Buyer Programme qualifies and brings key buyers to the show, with IMEX America covering travel and accommodations.
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