17 DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE 371
04 SCTDA TARGETS VISITORS FROM CHINA
07 THEME PARKS
UAE’S THEME PARKS TO WELCOME 19 MILLION VISITORS BY 2020
14 FLYDUBAI LAUNCHES DAILY ROUTE TO BANGKOK
05 Technology
10 Accommodation 18 International
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
Overall Increase in Global Passenger Traffic
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Stella Alexandrou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu 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
After the slowing down of growth in August, global airport passenger traffic increased by 6.3 percent in September.
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nternational passenger traffic grew faster than the domestic segment for the same period, increasing 6.9 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. Total passenger traffic rose 5.6 percent from January – September, compared to 2015 figures. Fuelled by lower fares and strong international traffic, all regions experienced a boost in passenger traffic in September, with the sole exception of the African region. The highest growth rates were observed in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, with surge of 11.9 percent and 9.8 percent respectively. On the other hand, Africa reported a drop in traffic of 0.9 percent. International passenger traffic continued to soar in the Middle East, up 12 percent.
American Express Declares Quarterly Dividend
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735, kuka@rmamedia.com
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MENA EXCHANGE RATES
as of
2
17.12.2016
COUNTRY
CURRENCY USD1=
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
111.47
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
18.42
Iran (IRR)
Rial
32,231.56
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,180.86
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.31
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,506.51
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.43
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
10.18
Syria (SYP)
Pound
213.30
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.32
Yemen (YER)
Rial
250.10
The board of directors of American Express Company have declared a regular quarterly dividend of USD0.32 per common share.
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he Manhattan-based global services company is continuing its endeavours to provide customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The quarterly sum will be payable on February 10, 2017 to shareholders of record on January 6, 2017.
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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE
STR: Poor October for Middle Eastern Hotels
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5.8 percent increase in supply in Dubai during the first 10 months of the year outpaced demand, which was up 5.6 percent. This resulted in a two percent decline in occupancy to 78 percent. Meanwhile, ADR fell 9.8 percent to AED764.63 (USD208.18) and RevPAR was down 11.6 percent to AED596.16 (USD162.13). The drop in visitor numbers is thought to be a result of falling oil prices.
Riyadh Hit with Falling Oil Prices
Cairo
ccording to STR’s Middle East hotel report for October, properties in the region recorded an average 4.4 percent drop in occupancy to 64 percent, while average daily rate (ADR) fell to USD174.19, a year-on-year decline of nine percent and RevPAR fell 13 percent to USD111.48. Overall, the UAE posted a reductions in all three performance metrics, occupancy, ADR and RevPAR dropped 2.9 percent, 9.6 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. Despite ADR decreasing a further 1.5 percent, occupancy in Jordan rose 3.9 percent to 60.6 percent which contributed to a 2.4 percent surge in RevPAR.
Supply Outpaces Demand in Dubai
Positive Outlook for Cairo Properties
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espite a 41.8 percent year-on-year decline in arrivals through September, hoteliers in Cairo reported a 4.6 percent boost in occupancy in October to 57.9 percent and a 4.5 percent rise in RevPAR to EGP478.29 (USD26.86), while ADR remained flat with a slight dip of 0.1percent. It is thought that strong weekend business indicates the return of the leisure demand. In particular, on Armed Forces Day, occupancy soared to 67 percent, nine percent higher than the monthly average.
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s a city heavily reliant on corporate travellers, Riyadh properties suffered due to the drop in oil prices coupled with significant supply growth, up 8.9 percent in the first 10 months of the year. Therefore, occupancy fell 7.2 percent to 56.2 percent, while ADR declines 3.6 percent to SAR796.30 (USD212.31). Furthermore, RevPAR plummeted 10.6 percent to just SAR447.46 (USD119.30)
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WEEKLY NEWS
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SCTDA Targets Visitors from China
Sharjah
Following Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) efforts to boost Chinese tourism to Sharjah, the SCTDA delegation, together with its partner Air Arabia, held a workshop in the north-western Chinese city of Urumqi.
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he team met with the regions major travel agencies and overseas tour organisers to discuss strategies for boosting Chinese tourism to Sharjah, as well as to gain a better insight into the markets current trends. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, explained that China is major international source market for tourism and commerce. Hotels welcomed over 75,000 Chinese visitors during the first three quarters of the year marking a 75 percent year- on- year growth. “[…] We are confident that we can continue the upward trend of this market into Sharjah. We are aiming to confirm 200,000 Chinese guests nights in 2021,” said, Al Midfa.
17 DECEMBER 2016
WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY
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The UAE Embraces Digital The Middle East’s digital industry is currently enjoying continuous growth fuelled by increased enthusiasm from consumers who are ready to quickly embrace new electronic offerings, thus transforming the region into a potential digital hub.
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y 2025, it is estimated that the Middle East will have 160 million potential digital users that will largely contribute to rapid economic growth as more countries in the region with higher GDP are able to spend more on electronic adoption. A report published by the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit noted that digital transformation could generate USD16.9 billion in extra revenue each year for companies in the Middle East from 2017 – 2021, as well as a further USD17.3 billion in annual cost savings and efficiency gains.
African Travel Spend to Rise 24 Percent
Travelport Welcomes IndiGo’s Offerings
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ew research released by global travel technology provider, Sabre, has revealed that African air travel spend is expected to rise 24 percent with the introduction of the pan-African passport in 2018. The new passport will enable African travellers to visit other countries on the continent without a visa. Travellers from four countries, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt were surveyed, with those having flown in the past 24 months saying they would spend 24 percent more with the introduction of the passport. Dino Gelmetti, vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Airline Solutions, Sabre, said, “African airlines have a real opportunity to win the lion’s share of bookings by addressing the pain points of travellers and going the extra mile to improve their experience.”
ore than 300 of India’s travel industry leaders marked the official launch of IndiGo’s fares and ancillaries on Travelport’s platform. Following the announcement of the strategic partnership in September, Travelport now distributes the Indian low-cost carrier’s content to agencies around the world, both online and offline. Commenting on the new service, Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo, said, “Travelport’s technology is providing an opportunity for us to reach new travellers at home and internationally and familiarise them with our unique brand in a highly cost effective manner without incurring the traditional costs associated with participation in the more traditional global distribution platforms.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
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MICE Set to Boost in Oman
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ollowing the October opening of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the establishment will further strengthen and position Oman as a growing business hub for MICE. The OCEC is situated within a purpose built, fully integrated business precinct and has been designed to accommodate world congresses, exhibitions, regional meetings, gala events, performances and concerts. Khalid Al Zidjali, head, Oman Convention Bureau, said, “The ministry’s initiative in establishing the Oman Convention Bureau under its supervision is a milestone towards building a foundation and achieving our objectives in the MICE tourism sector. We will be working as a specialised team to enhance this sector and regulate the processes, and use various external channels to promote MICE internationally.”
Initiatives to Enhance Dubai Retail Sector
Troongolf Introduce True Club Solutions
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ollowing a review of competiveness on Dubai’s retail sector in terms of its global positioning as a shopping destination for tourists, conducted by Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing and included consultations from the Department of Economic Development and key government and private sector stakeholders, it was concluded that some priorities of the industry should be on the set of development. Outcomes of the evaluation cover initiatives to address consumer perceptions, pricing competitiveness, product-mix, experience enhancement, e-commerce and future proofing through digitisation and proactive innovation.
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rue Club Solutions announced its new division, Troongolf Club Solutions, which specialises in advisory services for the club and hospitality industries. True Club Solutions has the ability to draw from decades of experience in the day-to-day management of more than 270 golf and hospitality and supported by nearly 12,000 corporate and field associates who excel in their respective fields of expertise. Commenting on the development, Rich Carter, division president, True Club Solutions, said, “I welcome the opportunity to build the True Club Solutions team and help shape the future of this new division. Our team of professionals will strategically guide clubs and golf or resort destinations through today's competitive landscape offering advisory services in a variety of disciplines, including operations, sales and marketing, agronomy and more."
Royal Troongolf club, Edinburgh
The Dubai Mall
17 DECEMBER 2016
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WEEKLY NEWS THEME PARKS
UAE’S THEME PARKS TO WELCOME 19 MILLION VISITORS
THEME PARK TOURISM, A REPORT BY COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL, HAS FORECASTED THAT THE UAE’S EXISTING, AND NEW GENERATION THEME PARKS WILL ATTRACT MORE THAN 19 MILLION ADMISSIONS A YEAR BY 2020, IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE. IN LIGHT OF THIS, THE ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET (ATM) IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF UAE’S MAJOR THEME PARKS IN ACHIEVING TOURIST ARRIVAL TARGET.
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Yas Island’s Ferrari World
by 2020
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he prediction has been made using existing admissions and arrivals data for Yas Island’s Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld in addition to Dubai’s Aquaventure waterpark and Wild Wadi waterpark as well as a sample of new and upcoming parks. Similar patterns are expected to be seen for IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Parks and Resorts, which opened this year in Dubai. Simon Press, senior exhibition director, ATM, said, “Theme parks are a new addition to the tourism landscape here in the GCC and it is important that destinations are positioned to take full advantage of the benefits they can bring.”
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WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING
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Celebrity Cruises’ Abu Dhabi Departure Celebrity Cruises, the premium cruise line of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCL), is set to launch its maiden voyage from Abu Dhabi as part of a three month long home port deployment at Zayed Port’s Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal.
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Celebrity Constellation RCL
elebrity Constellation, a luxury vessel, is the first ship to make the UAE’s capital its home, strengthening the emirate’s world cruise destination ambitions. The liner sees the highest number of new callers and the highest recorded number of regional rotational callers, and follows extensive collaboration between Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Etihad Airways and Celebrity Cruises in improvement of facilities, product development and marketing. Celebrity Constellation is a 295m, 91,000 ton vessel with a capacity for 2,170 guests, 975 staterooms on 13 decks and will sail nine, 12, 14 and 15 night cruises covering five ports of call until the end of January, 2017.
Key Topics of International Cruise Summit
PortMiami Welcomes Carnival Vista
International Cruise Summit 2016
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he sixth edition of the International Cruise Summit, held in Madrid between November 22 – 23, exceeded the success of previous meetings, and confirmed the importance of this congress within the industry. More than 400 attendees were able to learn about the constantly growing industry, discussing issues such as the importance of harmonising European regulations for ship calls, the growth opportunity that exists in the Chinese market, as well as the great challenge that the current geopolitical situation infers for the industry, among others. This latest edition of the summit was also noteworthy by the multitude of opportunities that the attendees had to interact with the speakers at sessions and presentations as well as the networking occasions in an environment that improves year after year.
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ith a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines welcomed the newest and largest addition to their fleet, Carnival
Vista. Having arrived at PortMiami in November, the liner boasts many extensive features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience, the world’s first ship-based IMAX Theatre and Kaleid-O-Slide, part of WaterWorks aqua park. “Miami has been our home since our company’s inception in 1972 and homeporting the new Carnival Vista here not only provides consumers with a convenient homeport with renovated facilities and numerous operational enhancements but speaks volumes about our confidence in growing this important market,” said Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Lines.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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DAMAC Properties Announces New Developments A unique collection of colourful villas directly facing the international golf course have recently been unveiled by DAMAC Properties.
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he unique concept, AKOYA Manarola Villas, inspired by the village of Manarola on the Italian Riviera, is nestled within AKOYA Oxygen, a five million m2 master development that will showcase the greenest living spaces in Dubai. Home to the 18-hole championship golf course created by Tiger Woods Design, the eagerly anticipated development AKOYA Manarola villas combine modern flair and style with the architecture, culture and spirit of a charismatic small town. Ziad El Chaar, managing director, DAMAC Properties added, “We are very delighted to launch AKOYA Manarola villas in the heart of AKOYA Oxygen, […]. For the first time ever in Dubai, this unique concept of homes fulfils the aspirations of an important segment of home buyers […].”
Dubai Municipality Sponsored Clean Up Campaign
Cairo Hosted Beauty Show
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InterContinental Cairo Semiramis
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olden Sands Hotel Apartments joined Clean Up The World, a global campaign aimed at inspiring communities to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. The team of the property participated in the programme sponsored by Dubai Municipality, by removing waste from various areas in Al Quoz. Commenting on the participation, Mohammed Khoori, general manager, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, said, “We promote Dubai as a safe and clean destination so we need to make sure that when tourists visit the UAE they will have that impression. It not only helps our country but the Earth in general because we want the next generation to enjoy a clean and healthy planet so we need to do some positive action now.”
AKOYA Manarola Floor Plans
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n November 23, InterContinental Cairo Semiramis hosted The Ultimate Beauty Show by DG Beauty, which featured an exclusive fashion show, by Charbel Zoe. Showcasing his designs for the first time in Cairo, the celebrity designer displayed 30 of his most recent creations on the catwalk. Guests of the show also enjoyed informative presentations by renowned plastic surgeon Karim Rafla and makeup artist Samer Khozamy, who filled everyone in on the latest updates in the world of cosmetic surgery and makeup.
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Ahmed Alhatti, chairman, Cayan Group, Nasser Nowais, chairman, Rotana, Omer Kaddouri,CEO, Rotana, Mohan Saini, CEO, Shapoorji Pallonji International, Ziad Kanaan, director, SHUAA Capital
Rotana to Operate Cayan Cantara
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ayan Group announced the appointment of Rotana Hotel Management as the hotel operator for the Cayan Arjaan Hotel Apartments project in Dubai. Forecasting an occupancy rate of 90 percent year-to-date, Cayan Cantara’s Hotel Apartment tower will function under Rotana’s Arjaan brand, which is known for making extended-stays comfortable through the provision of fully equipped multibedroom hotel apartments serviced by 24-hour room service, and leisure facilities such as gyms and pools. Nasser Nowais, chairman, Rotana, highlighted, “We are excited to partner with Cayan Group on yet another one of its iconic masterpieces. With Cayan Cantara Towers we are sure the project itself will marvel the visitors, and it is truly exciting to be a contributing partner in promoting quality, luxury, and an experience in Dubai.”
Park Inn by Radisson Muscat Awarded for Safety
17 DECEMBER 2016
Park Inn by Radisson Muscat
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he four-star hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Muscat has been audited and certified as operating in accordance with The Global Hotel Security Standard of Safehotels Alliance. Safehotels Alliance independently verifies, awards, recognises and certifies consistent safety and security systems in place at hotels and meeting venues. Nuno Neves, cluster general manager, Park Inn Muscat and Park Inn Duqm, said, ” We are proud to share this great achievement with all our guests and employees. Their safety and security is our top priority and will continue to make their stay and workplace to be safe at all times.” The hotel went through a number of evaluations including security equipment, staff awareness and training, fire security and first aid.
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Growth in Middle East Travel Industry
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iddle East travel company, Rehlat, projects a 200 percent rise in web traffic and a minimum 60 percent increase in flight bookings, as the Middle East travel industry is poised to grow vastly over the next few years. According to World Travel and Tourism Council research, the government spending on travel and tourism in the Middle East is set to rise 2.6 percent this year, and 3.5 percent per year over the next decade. Commenting on the key growth factors, Bader Al-Bader, CEO, Rehlat, said, “Travel has grown and so have the number of flights connecting destinations across the world. Rehlat is taking these efforts of making travel easy a notch higher especially for Middle East individuals with its simple booking gateway, local currency payment modes, English and Arabic customer support, and competitive flight rates.”
Yas Island to Feature CLYMB
Rendering of CLYMB
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iral has announced the next new attraction CLYMB, to be developed on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Set to open in 2018, CLYMB will be one of the world’s widest flight chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall, complementing Yas Island’s existing array of experiences. Visitors to the flight chamber will be able to mimic the feeling of skydiving, scale the world’s tallest climbing wall at 43m as well as enjoy a range of retail, food and beverage outlets. CLYMB will also have a space to host parties. Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaabi, CEO, Miral, said, "CLYMB project is an important and distinctive addition to the unique portfolio of destinations developed by Miral on Yas Island. […] We will offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy exceptional experiences that combine excitement and adventure together.”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTS
Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates
Saving Time at Dubai Airport
Dubai International Airport
A new service that enables the use of Emerati identity cards to pass through automated immigration gates at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is gaining popularity, with more than 234,000 UAE residents using it during its phased roll out.
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Completely free of charge and requiring no pre-registration, the initiative makes passing through immigration smart gates fast and convenient for all local residents. Upon inserting the identity cards into the Smart Gate, the system can quickly, accurately and efficiently confirm the identity, travel plans and eligibility of UAE residents to enter and depart the country. Paul Griffiths, CEO, DXB, said, “With a transaction time that averages 10-15 seconds, this is clearly a smarter way to travel. It speeds up the immigration process significantly and shortens queues. Our focus going forward is to get more residents using it.�
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
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flydubai Launches Daily Route to Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport
In an inaugural flight from Dubai International, flydubai launched its daily service to Bangkok.
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s the carrier's first double daily route outside of the GCC, holidaymakers will be able to experience popular adventures, sport, health and wellness retreats offered in the Thai capital. The airline now provides connecting routes for travel through Dubai, in addition to the myriad of travel options into neighbouring South East Asian cities.
Vast Route Expansion for Qatar Airways
Kuwait Airways Selects Amadeus
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Las Vegas
atar Airways has announced eight more destinations for 2017-2018, namely Canberra, Dublin, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Medan, Tabuk and Yanbu. Commenting on the route expansion, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “With [this] network announcement, we will be able to connect more people to more places than any other Gulf airline, and we will ensure our passengers will delight in the journey. At Qatar Airways, we are going places together with our passengers, and we look forward to welcoming these new destinations in 2017-2018.”
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uwait Airways has selected a strategic partnership with Amadeus to transform its business processes. This announcement follows a transformation strategy revealed by Kuwait Airways in September, as well as a new livery and branding of the airline in October, as efforts to double its growth in the next five years. The strategy aims to revive the national carrier’s legacy in regional aviation, with clear infrastructural changes and new technologies, which is estimated be completed by April, 2017. With the help of the technology and business processes offered by Amadeus, Kuwait Airways is completely changing its approach to business, and the airline will adopt a complete suite of Altéa solutions including revenue management, e-commerce, loyalty programmes, inventory, reservation, departure control, payments, as well as mobile and travel intelligence.
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RENDEZVOUS
the Jordan Tourism Board, to explore new opportunities and target new markets which will help us attract more customers.
Q & A with
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Are there any new infrastructure developments or product enhancements that you are planning for 2017?
RAED RABIE GENERAL MANAGER, THE BOULEVARD ARJAAN BY ROTANA
CONTINUING TO OFFER GUESTS EXCITING HOSPITALITY, RAED RABIE, GENERAL MANAGER, THE BOULEVARD ARJAAN BY ROTANA, TALKS ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your main priorities and goals for 2017? RAED RABIE: Ever since our establishment in 2014 in the Abdali area, the new downtown of Amman, we have managed to build an excellent reputation as a hotel that always offers dependable quality, thus securing the satisfaction of hundreds of customers who have stayed with The Boulevard Arjaan. In recognition of our distinguished services, The Boulevard Arjaan won the coveted title The Leading Serviced Apartments for 2016 at World Travel Awards ceremony held this year in Dubai. We are planning to build on this success and we are also hoping to become the destination of choice for visitors from around the globe who choose to come to Amman. In 2017, we will continue to offer our guests with an exciting hospitality experience, while also working with our partners, Rotana’s area sales offices and
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RAED RABIE: We are happy to announce that in addition to our Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club and two roof-top swimming pools overlooking the beautiful city of Amman, The Boulevard Arjaan will witness the opening of the second high-tech gym and the third roof-top pool mid of 2017. Both will provide our guests with the opportunity to enjoy the latest in gym technology as well as spectacular views over Amman, upholding our reputation as the lifestyle destination in the capital. In addition to hotel’s two worldclass restaurants, Café Italia, which serves modern Italian cuisine, and Café Margaux, a stylish French restaurant, what also works to our advantage is our location within the Abdali’s Boulevard. We are the only hotel connected with underground access to the Abdali Mall, which offers a blend of restaurants, cafes, and a wide selection of retail shops and banking services. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which markets will be your main focus in 2017? RAED RABIE: Since our inception we have come to realise that the GCC market is of particular importance to Amman in general and to The Boulevard Arjaan, in particular. We will continue to focus on and cater to our guests from the Gulf Council, who enjoy the cultural similarities that their countries share with the Kingdom, while encouraging more to visit the Kingdom with their families. We have also been paying special attention to the US and UK markets that represent the lion’s share of our business. Our location in Abdali, where many banks and companies have set up shop, and proximity to various entertainment outlets help us attract both leisure and business travellers. And as I said earlier, we are the only one to provide an underground access to the Abdali Mall; offering safe and friendly facilities for all travellers. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What will
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your approach be when it comes to marketing your product and facilities, both online and offline? RAED RABIE: Although the Rotana brand is well trusted and appreciated by hundreds of thousands of travellers, we continue to work with other channels as their partnership is essential for our business, as well as social media. We believe that in order to reach today’s Millennials, who are entering their spending years and are particularly influenced by what they read on the different social media platforms, we need to speak their language. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What incentives and promotional activities are you considering? RAED RABIE: We are lucky to be operating under the auspices of the globally-acknowledged Rotana brand which lends us the services of a vast network of sales offices around the globe. We cooperate and work closely with them to identify new opportunities and to promote our beautiful destination within the city of Amman. Furthermore, we work closely with different partners from the aviation industry as well as local and international media outlets, who help us deliver our messages to a vast audience. In addition to that, we also enjoy inviting decision makers, bloggers and social media influencers, who are the best marketing channels in today’s world, to visit and enjoy the hotel’s different facilities.
The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
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Marrakech
Qatar Airways’ Strengthens Ties with Morocco
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n November 28, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, welcomed national and international media at a press briefing in Casablanca, celebrating a remarkable first year of the airline’s joint business agreement with Royal Air Maroc and its expansion to Marrakech earlier this year. It was also announced that travellers will soon be able to enjoy even more options, as the airlines will offer a number of frequency increases between Doha, and two Moroccan destinations. From December 15, Royal Air Maroc will increase flights between Doha and Casablanca to four times weekly, and from January 05, 2017, Qatar Airways will also add a fourth weekly flight to Marrakech ahead of daily services commencing. In addition, from April 04, 2017, the Moroccan airline will add an extra service to the Casablanca-Doha route, taking the number of weekly return itineraries to five.
Oman Air operating flights to Guangzhou
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n December 9, Oman Air initiated flights from Muscat International Airport to Guangzhou, continuing its network expansion programme, first unveiled in 2014. The launch of the new route, which is the airline’s first destination in China, is in response to significant customer demand, and will strengthen political, economic and social links between Oman and China. The carrier's network expansion programme runs in parallel to a major fleet enlargement agenda that has seen the addition of Airbus A330, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the airline’s fleet, as part of Oman Air’s plan of operating 70 aircraft by 2020.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
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he Ascott Limited, unveils its newest brand, Lyf, designed for and managed by millennials who wish to experience destinations as locals do. The residence will offer a range of apartment layouts from studios to twin rooms and business suites fully equipped with all the necessary tools of a conference room. Going beyond traditional hospitality concepts, Lyf signifies a new way of living and collaborating as a community, connecting guests with fellow travellers and change-makers. Lee Chee Koon, CEO, Ascott, said, “Lyf marks another milestone in Ascott’s innovation journey to design products and experiences for the future of travel. We are on the lookout for sites in key gateway cities for Lyf and we are open to both investment and management contracts to meet the growing demand for such co-living spaces […].”
Bandung Welcomes IHG Hotel Holiday Inn Bandung Pasteur
Ascott Inaugurates Lyf Properties for Millennials
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has added Holiday Inn Bandung Pasteur in the capital city of Indonesia’s West Java province, to its portfolio. The 278-room address joins the IHG family of hotels in Indonesia following the signing of a management agreement with PT Wisma Resortama Propertinda earlier this year. The hotel offers a variety of food and beverage experiences, meeting and event space, an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness centre and a spa. Commenting on the opening, Anil Pathak, regional general manager, Indonesia, IHG, said, “As one of the largest cities in Indonesia, we are seeing an increase in both domestic and international travellers to Bandung, and we are confident the Holiday Inn brand which is widely recognised and loved by people all around the world will be a draw to them as they visit the city.”
Marriott’s Expansion in Latin America
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Marriott Cancun resort
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fter a recent visit to Mexico, Arne Sorenson, CEO, Marriott International, announced the signing of four hotels in the country. Following an aggressive expansion strategy in one of the region’s key markets, Sorenson stated, “We are very excited to continue growing our reach in Latin America with brands as diverse as Renaissance, AC Hotels by Marriott, Westin and Aloft. These new projects are driven by a solid increase in the demand for business and leisure travel to this dynamic part of the world.” A total of 17 hotels have been signed into the Marriott International’s Caribbean and Latin America development pipeline so far this year, totaling nearly 2,500 hotels rooms. By 2022, the company is planning to open 38 additional properties, reinforcing Mexico’s status as the group’s top market within the region.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL IHG Unveils Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
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Bangkok to Home Trendy V b Hotel
Lasseters Hotel Alice Springs
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Ford Dynasty have signed a franchise agreement entailing the complete refurbishment and rebranding of the current Lasseters Hotel Alice Springs, scheduled to reopen as Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters in December this year. Karin Sheppard, chief operating officer, Australasia and Japan, IHG, said, "In this franchise partnership we will create an exciting new accommodation […] providing all the key features of Crowne Plaza Hotels and resorts worldwide, that our guests know and love. The owners will commence a significant refurbishment program in 2017, which will see the hotel guest rooms renovated to ensure the hotel remains Alice Springs’ premier accommodation offering.”
Bangkok
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est Western Hotels & Resorts has celebrated the start of construction of the first, trendy Vîb Hotel in Bangkok. The company held a ground-breaking ceremony for the new property on November 10, in the up-and-coming area of Sanampao, North Bangkok. Set to open in late 2017, the 89-room hotel will represent new era of Best Western hotels in Thailand, and in Asia. “With its ultra-modern design, stateof-the-art amenities and bright, vibrant social spaces, Vîb Bangkok Sanampao will resonate with Asia’s new generation of travellers. We look forward to introducing this exciting new concept to Thailand […],” commented Olivier Berrivin, managing director, international operations, Asia, Best Western International.
Hangzhou’s Park Hyatt Opens its Doors
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Hangzhou
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ark Hyatt Hangzhou opened in Hangzhou, East China. The 242-room residence is inspired with the rich nature, culture, history and artistry that are elements shaped by its location. The hotel forms part of the 800,000 m2 complex, which also houses offices, residential apartments and a six-storey high-end retail podium. Christopher Koehler, vice president, operations, Park Hyatt Hotel, China, said, “This opening is a testament to our commitment to meaningful and strategic growth […]. We look forward to welcoming our guests to this signature hotel that creates sophisticated and enriching experiences for which the Park Hyatt brand is known.”
17 DECEMBER 2016
WEEKLY NEWS AGENTS
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Bookings Increase with TravelClick’s Initiative TravelClick had launched its new, interactive Booking Engine 4.0, designed to boost conversion and reduce guest abandonment with a transformative reservation experience.
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ooking Engine 4.0 is a user-friendly, responsive solution that drives direct bookings and incremental spend. The offering has been designed to optimise the users experience across devices and engage a growing mobile-first audience with increased spending power and travel bookings. Hotels that have migrated to the new platform, witness a growth in direct bookings of nearly 23 percent on average and saw a 155 percent increase in bookings on mobile devices. TravelClick also found that 44 percent of traffic to its clients’ booking engines came from mobile devices, demonstrating how important it is now more than ever for hoteliers to be set up for success on mobile.
Travel Specialists Achieve Admiral Title
17 DECEMBER 2016
Travel Counsellors employees celebrate after achieving Admiral status
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ravel Counsellors has achieved the highest accolade awarded by Royal Caribbean Cruises. Over 20 Dubai-based travel specialists from the company became Admirals in November, positioning them as experts in the Royal Caribbean Cruises suite of products including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara. Travel Counsellors team members were presented with the prestigious certificate following completion of all modules in this comprehensive training programme. Mohamed Saeed, general manager, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, Middle East, said, “Travel Counsellors has always been a key business partner for us in the region and we are all extremely proud of this achievement. This certainly shows the team’s commitment towards the brands and passion to increase knowledge base in order to serve their clients better. We wish them best of luck and assure our full support at all times.”
Carnival Cruise Line Awards Agents
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ash prizes have been awarded by Carnival Cruise Line to three travel agencies as part of the line’s Ultimate Cruise Night event. In the summer, agencies submitted ideas for creative and effective cruise nights to the company, where then a representative attended each event and after review with Carnival’s Cruise Line’s sales leadership team, selected the winners. “The creativity and originality that these travel agents demonstrated in putting together their cruise nights was so incredible that we simply could not choose one winner,” said, Adolfo Perez, vice president, sales and trade marketing, Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Imagination
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Sponsoring Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival
Green Venue Report Published
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he State of Convention and Exhibition Center Sustainability published 2016 Green Venue Report on November 16, via a dedicated website. Observing data from 44 convention and exhibition centres around the world, the third annual report evaluates a collective environmental footprint of industry meeting and events. This report compares green performance over a wide-range of areas, including, efficiency, waste management, water usage, food and beverage services, cleaning practices, staff involvement, communications and certifications. The survey consisted of 142 questions and is based on 2015 operational data and information. The data set includes 44 convention and exhibition centres across 11 countries and four continents. Moreover, approximately 20,000 events were held at the reporting centres, hosting over 48 million attendees.
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l Ain Farms for Livestock Production announced its gold sponsorship of the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2016 edition, which is taking place between December 01 and January 01, 2017. Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production is one of the largest dairy producer in the UAE and the first company in the world to introduce camel milk ice cream and pure camel milk powder to the mass market under the brand Camelait. Camel products will be the main highlight at the festival, considering the camel milk importance in the UAE culture to date. Rashid Al Kaabi, managing director, Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production, said, “[…] It is our responsibility to support the efforts of leadership in educating the youth of the UAE and residents alike, on the national and international heritage and cultures alike, […].”
The Big Eight Travel Predictions
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ooking.com shed light on eight major travel predictions for 2017. These forecasted travel expectations are said to be what holiday makers and business travellers are to experience. Predictions cover areas such as, the instantaneous perks evolving from technology, the entwining of business with leisure, the desire to a more adventurous holiday, the need to seek harmony and peace and wellbeing when choosing a destination, the prioritising on environmental awareness and responsibility, the inclination to invest more on memories rather than material possessions, the interaction and forging of relationships abroad, and the travel as a luxury has made way for travel as a lifestyle and into the unfamiliar.
K Khalaf Ahmad Supports Zayed Charity Committee Cairo
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halaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, founding chairman, Al Habtoor Group, welcomed a committee from the Zayed Charity Marathon at Majlis on Al Wasl Road. The delegates discussed the success of the 12th Zayed Charity Marathon in New York which took place in May, where the group was the official sponsor. The committee also invited Al Habtoor to attend the next Zayed Charity Marathon which will take place in Cairo this December. Al Habtoor said, “The Zayed Charity Marathon has been running for more than a decade, and I will continue to support the good work carried out by the committee.”
17 DECEMBER 2016
PHOTO ALBUM
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Al Qasba lit up in commemoration of UAE National Day
Emirates celebrated the 45th UAE National Day
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Local kids got involved in creative workshops as part of Sharjah Children Biennial2
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Gulf Air employees marked Bahraini Womens Day
17 DECEMBER 2016
More than 30,000 people visited the 45th UAE National Day at Dubai Parks & Resorts
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Jumeirah Beach Residence celebrated World Children's Day with cupcake decorating, towel art and much more.
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NEWS & EVENTS TCA Abu Dhabi celebrated UAE's Year of Reading
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o celebrate the UAE's Year of Reading and its achievement of translating and publishing 900 titles within nine years, The Kalima Project for translation, set to stage. The six-day cultural programme, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), took place at Yas Mall between November 24 - 29. In partnership with Jarir Bookstore, the event featured a special book fair and various cultural activities and seminars. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, added, “The importance of maintaining quality works in Arabic is highlighted through this initiative which appeals to a large number of reading enthusiasts eager to keep up-to-date with prominent international literature.”
National Day by Shurooq
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harjah Investment and Development Authority’s (Shurooq) celebrations for the UAE’s 45th National Day preceded its honouring of Martyrs Day, which saw H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Shurooq and other representatives travel to Flag Island to take part in the nation’s one-minute silent prayer for martyrs. Al Sarkal, said, "Commemoration Day takes its place alongside National Day as the most important date in the UAE calendar as it pays tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this nation and for humanity.”
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EVENTS FITUR Madrid, Spain January 18 – 22, 2017 www.ifema.es The 37th edition of the travel trade fair for both inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
EMITT Istanbul, Turkey January 26 – 29, 2017 www.emittinstanbul.com Industry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussed on the East Mediterranean.
IBTM ARABIA Abu Dhabi, UAE February 07 – 09, 2017 www.ibtmarabia.com One of the leading international events for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry.
Shurooq 45th National Day Celebrations
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17 DECEMBER 2016