Travel Trade Weekly, 04 February 2017, Issue 378

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4 FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE 378

03 NEW TERMINAL AT CIA NOW OPEN

06 GENERAL

SHARJAH’S AMUSEMENT AND WATERPARK RENOVATIONS

04 YAS MALL DEVELOPS ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES

07 Technology 10 Air

17 Agents


MARKET UPDATE

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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

Record Year for Marriott International

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Maria Sabova Anna Spyrou 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

2016 represented the strongest year of rooms growth in Marriott International’s history.

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he hotel company opened a record 55,000 rooms in 2016, excluding the 381,000 inventory gained with the Starwood acquisition. The newly-merged company signed 880 new hotel deals, representing nearly 136,000 rooms, under long-term management and franchise agreements, and opened over 400 hotels with more than 68,000 rooms around the world. Marriott International now operates or franchises over 6,000 hotels and nearly 1.2 million rooms. “2016 will go down as a remarkable year in Marriott’s history. Our accomplishments [for the respective year] position Marriott for continued success and create greater opportunities for our guests, associates, development partners, shareholders and the communities where we do business,” commented Arne Sorenson, CEO, Marriott International.

Meliá Hotels to Maintain Intense Growth

Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735, kuka@rmamedia.com

INNSIDE Düsseldorf Hafen

Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456, david@simpson-media.com

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

as of

2

3.2.2017

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

109.04

Egypt (EGP)

Pound

18.37

Iran (IRR)

Rial

32,365.11

Iraq (IQD)

Dinar

1,186.48

Kuwait (KWD)

Dinar

0.31

Lebanon (LBP)

Pound

1,508.10

Libya (LYD)

Dinar

1.40

Morocco (MAD)

Dirham

10.00

Syria (SYP)

Pound

214.34

Tunisia (TND)

Dinar

2.29

Yemen (YER)

Rial

250.15

Meliá Hotels International has unveiled its development strategy for the year, where details of more than 20 hotel openings were presented during the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Spain.

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ollowing its expansion trend of opening an average of one hotel every two- to three weeks, the company revealed its plans to inaugurate five properties in Europe, six in Latin American and English-speaking Caribbean destinations, three hotels in the Middle East region and three in Africa, along with six openings in Asia-Pacific. Gabriel Escarrer, CEO, Meliá Hotels International, in his presentation at FITUR also announced the launch of two new Innside by Meliá hotels scheduled to debut in 2019, a four-star Innside Paris-Charles de Gaulle with 267 rooms in Terminal 3 of the Paris airport and Innside Amsterdam, the brand's 328-key debut in the Netherlands.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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New Terminal at CIA Now Open

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ymbolising the ever increasing bilateral ties between the two Arab nations, Kuwait Airways' long legacy as an aviation pioneer was continued with the arrival of flight the flight, representing both the ongoing and growing relationship between Kuwait and

Egypt. Commenting on Kuwait Airways' arrival at the airport, Rasha Abdulaziz Al-Roumi, CEO, Kuwait Airways, said, "Kuwait Airways is delighted to be the first airline to arrive at CIA's impressive new Terminal 2 facility, which highlights the strong historic and commercial bond our two nations share and one we are committed to deepening, and going forward.”

Cairo International Airport

Kuwait Airways has become the first airline to arrive, and inaugurate Cairo International Airport's (CIA) new Terminal 2.

Shop Bahrain Commences

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he third edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival, namely, Shop Bahrain, is set to be the biggest nationwide festival with a unique line-up of events and entertainment, a rich shopping experience and numerous prizes. The 30-day event, aimed at celebrating the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism offering, kicked off in January and will run until February, 18. The festivities, co-organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Tamkeen, is held in cooperation with the partners from the public and private sector such as Gulf Air, Batelco and YK Al Moayyed. “The third edition of the festival aims to further drive the growth of the tourism and retail sector through a close cooperation with the hospitality sector and shopping malls,” said, Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa, chief executive, BTEA.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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Yas Mall Develops Entertainment Experiences

Yas Mall

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ince its opening in 2014, the mall has redefined the UAE’s shopping landscape, providing visitors with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues all under one roof. Yas Mall has also set a new status in the UAE’s retail sector, by creating interactive leisure offerings set to promote the emporium as an entertainment destination, filling a gap in the market that both shoppers and retailers needed to receive as complete experience. The establishment hosted a series of stellar events in 2016, targeting all nationalities and age groups, focussing on popular activities, such as sports, fashion, entertainment, and art. “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. We are continually looking for new ways to engage with our visitors of all ages, including both tourists and residents, […],” said, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO, Aldar Properties.

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nnovative projects in tourism were celebrated during the 13th edition of the annual awards ceremony organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and held at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain this January. UNWTO Awards aimed to recognise the initiatives towards sustainable tourism. Nearly 150 organisations from 55 countries were considered for the awards, with the winners being: The Ministry of Tourism for Guanajuato, Mexico; Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Govardhan Ecovillage, India and Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR). Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO, explained, “The 13th UNWTO Awards is particularly relevant as it coincides with the official launch of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, a milestone and an immense opportunity for the global tourism community to advance towards a more inclusive and sustainable sector.”

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Taleb Rifai speaking at the ceremony

Sustainability as the Main Criterion for UNWTO Awards

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WEEKLY NEWS

International Property Show

Holiday Rentals Boosting Dubai Real Estate Market

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ubai Land Department recorded promising results of the real estate sector, positively affected by the influx of tourists and the trend of holiday home rentals. A total of 60,595 real estate transactions took place in 2016, exceeding the value of AED259 billion (USD70.52 billion). As Dubai prepares for the International Property Show scheduled for April 2 – 4, the main market players realise the importance of holiday home rentals for the real estate business. The growing number of visitors to Dubai contributed in the approval of 1,805 residential units to date serving as holiday homes by Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DCTCM). Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, International Property Show, confirmed, “Holiday home rental is a new trend catching up Dubai and its global counterparts. This move will definitely expand types of accommodation available especially we are nearing 2020.” According to the recent data issued by DCTCM, top countries who visit the emirate are Saudi Arabia, India, UK, Oman, US, Pakistan, Russia and China.

New Homeports for Carnival Cruise Line’s Ships

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Carnival Breeze

hree of the newest and largest ships of Carnival Cruise Line will sail to new homeports in 2018, offering a variety of cruise options from the Port of Galveston, Texas; Port Canaveral, Florida; and the Port of Miami, the new bases of Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Magic, respectively. The newest addition to the fleet, namely Carnival Vista, will provide two seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries from its new homeport, beginning in September 23, 2018. The largest Carnival Cruise Line Vessel of Port Canaveral, Carnival Breeze, will offer a variety of trips, starting on September 30, 2018 with a one-time six-day cruise, followed by two 14-day long cruises, complemented by year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages. Recently renovated, Carnival Magic will serve various cruises from the line’s busiest homeport. Its schedule includes seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean journeys also starting on September 30, 2018.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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SHARJAH’S AMUSEMENT AND WATERPARK

Renovations

Al Montazah

THE AL MONTAZAH WATERPARK, HAILED AS SHARJAH’S FIRST-EVER FAMILY LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION, IS PREPARING TO UNDERGO A LARGE-SCALE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT.

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he Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has recently announced the commencement of the second phase of development, which is expected to introduce world-class facilities upon completion. The expansion plan aims to cater to the growing number of visitors to the park each year, particularly during summer months, public holidays and festivities, as well as to fulfil their demand for new rides, entertainment and better services. Once the waterpark reopens, it is expected to handle 3,000 visitors daily while its amusement park will be able to host 5,000 guests. Khalid Ibrahim Al Qaseer, manager, Al Montazah, said, “We promise visitors and vacationers an exceptional leisure and entertainment experience, by this summer. The new facility will see a paradigm shift in the quality of services we will deliver. […].”

Deira Islands Boulevard Underway

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Deira Islands rendering

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akheel is inviting construction proposals for Deira Islands Boulevard, its new, AED5 billion (USD1.4 billion) community for 10,000 people, to be built at Deira Islands in Dubai. Nakheel released a tender for the construction of 2,924 apartments and townhouses in 16 residential towers spread across four clusters, each containing a swimming pool and extensive retail, restaurant and recreation space. Due for delivery in 2020, the project lies at the heart of Nakheel’s 15.3km2 Deira Islands coastal city. Reaching up to 21 floors, the towers will each contain nearly 670 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, 65 townhouses and ground-level retail and recreation facilities.

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Strengthening Customer Relationships

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study released by Sabre, in collaboration with TrendWatching, has revealed new consumer shopping and buying trends emerging among European and Middle Eastern consumers that could present new opportunities for hotels during this year. The four trends are; Status Seekers, those with the desire for status and recognition; Local Love, those who take pride in locality and embrace local products and services; Infolust, those with the appetite for timely, relevant and actionable information exchange to solicit more personalised services; and Post-Demographic Consumerism, beyond what the society says consumers are or should be.

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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY

TravelClick and Weebly Partner In respond to high demand, TravelClick a global provider of innovative, cloud-based and data-driven solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Weebly, a powerful website and e-commerce platform that is utilised by 40 million entrepreneurs and small businesses around the world.

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his partnership will deliver an intuitive, responsive and easy-to-manage web solution for hoteliers to boost booking conversions. Curtis Brewer, senior vice president, reservations and web solutions, TravelClick, said, “By partnering with Weebly, we are marrying our digital hospitality experience, awardwinning designs and innovative booking engine with Weebly’s premier website platform, powerful e-commerce and integrated marketing tools. This makes for a revolutionary offering that will cater a best-in-class solution for our customers.”

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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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AVANI Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel to Open in 2019 Rendering of AVANI Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel

Minor Hotels and Nakheel have signed a management agreement for the upcoming AVANI Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel.

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he 372-key new build property, developed by Nakheel, will be strategically located adjacent to Ibn Battuta Metro Link. Expected to open in 2019, as part of the mall’s expansion, the address is set to feature a pool, a spa, a gym, as well as an all-day dining outlet and a coffee shop. William Heinecke, CEO, Minor International, commented, “Having launched our upscale AVANI brand in the region last year, we are delighted to continue the brand’s expansion in the UAE with this new hotel and we are confident that the brand will prove successful in this key market.”

Steady Progress for Aldar Properties’ Projects

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Ansam

ldar Properties has disclosed that its developments are progressing well, including Ansam on Yas Island and Al Hadeel at Al Raha Beach, which are both on track for handover this year. Furthermore, two mock-up villas at West Yas are now complete, while the contract package for Mayan, a luxury golf and waterfront apartment complex, is expected to be awarded in the second quarter. Additionally, enabling works are now underway at Yas Acres, with the main contract expected to be declared in June. Meanwhile, in Al Ain, the expansion of Al Jimi Mall is due to be completed during the first quarter of 2018.

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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Dubai Welcomes the M Hotel Brand

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Dubai

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illennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa strengthened the brand`s presence across the region with the opening of the M Hotel Downtown by Millennium, in Dubai. The newly opened property brings the company closer to meeting its expansion target of 100 hotels by 2020. With business and recreation facilities, The M Hotel brand focusses on the mid-market business segment.

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates

Sabre to Enhance Emirates Travel Experience

Sabre supports Emirates with industry-leading technology that personalises the travel experience for consumers by enabling them to easily purchase a range of customised fares.

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abre and Emirates have also signed a new long-term global distribution agreement to make the airline’s fares available to travel agents who use the platform on a global level. Emirates operates more than 3,600 flights per week to over 150 destinations across six continents. Sabre’s technology will enable the airline to effectively market and sell its expansive roster of fares worldwide through the Sabre Travel Marketplace, reaching more than 425,000 travel agents across the world. Dean Bibb, interim senior vice president, EMEA, Sabre, said, “The airline’s new range of branded fares offers passengers more choices and greater control over their travel experience, which often means happier travellers and higher satisfaction. Helping our airline customers put travellers at the heart of their operation is a major focus for Sabre and our investment efforts.”

Malé

Etihad Enhances Malé Connections

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rom July 01 to September 17, Etihad Airways will increase its frequency from Abu Dhabi to Malé to 11 services a week. The capacity increase will cater to high demand during the peak summer season. The summer expansion will be supported by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft operating the route, with 16 business and 120 economy seats. The four extra flights each week will provide more options for local passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi and Malé with an early morning arrival into the Maldives islands.

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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s of January 31, Oman Air’s double-daily Muscat to London flights will arrive at and depart from Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport. The terminal offers visitors a world class shopping experience with retail shops, book stores, electrical outlets, souvenir shops and much more. Oman Air passengers using Terminal 4 will continue to have usage of the designated lounge providing premium passengers with state-of-the-art facilities prior to their flight.

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Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport

Terminal 4 Welcomes Oman Air

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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Colombo: New Addition to Gulf Air` s Network

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Ribbon-cutting ceremony, BIA

his January, Gulf Air’s international network expanded by introducing direct operations to Colombo with five weekly flights to Bandaranaike International Airport. Bahrain’s flagship carrier is ready to connect passengers travelling to and from Colombo to various destinations in the Middle East and Europe, through Bahrain International Airport (BIA). During the ribbon-cutting ceremony at BIA, Maher Salman Al Musallam, CEO, Gulf Air, commented, “We are delighted to strengthen our Asia network with the launch of direct flights to the Colombo. We expect our newest destination to further enhance Gulf Air’s network, in line with our business strategy to provide strong business and tourism links to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region while simultaneously appealing to our passengers’ travel requirement.”

Enhancing Connections with Germany

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Düsseldorf

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s of March 26, Etihad Airways will serve Düsseldorf from Abu Dhabi 14 times a week, following the addition of a new daily service. The double-daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between the two destinations, and further increase connectivity to and from Germany from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub. Etihad Airways will also increase international connections through codesharing with partner carrier airberlin via Düsseldorf. Peter Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways, said, “Increased frequency to our key destinations globally is a focus for Etihad Airways as expansion ensures more travel options for guests looking for greater flexibility. We are therefore delighted to soon offer double daily options to all four German destinations on Etihad Airways and our strategic partner airberlin.”

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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Emirates Strengthens Dubai-Nairobi Route

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Boeing 777-300ER

cheduled to commence beginning of June, Emirates will add a third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi, operating a total of 21 weekly flights between the cities. First launched in 1995, the route has become one of the airline’s busiest in Africa and the additional flights will offer travellers greater flexibility and choice. The new schedule will be the earliest of the three daily departures and will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER in a three class configuration. Travellers arriving in Dubai on the airlines flights from India, the UK and many European countries will be able to connect to the Nairobi flight within three hours.

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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL

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IHG Present Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu

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Renaissance Hotel Debuts in Nigeria

Cape Town Achieves Impressive Figures

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Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel

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arriott International’s brand of Renaissance Hotels has expanded, opening its first property in Sub-Saharan Africa, Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel. Orientated to leisure-business travellers, the new property features 155 guest rooms along with 17 contemporary loft suites, an outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness centre. The business facilities include eight meeting rooms designed for small meetings or large-scale events. Mark Satterfield, chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, commented that the opening of the hotel marks the fourth debut of Marriott International in Africa, following the openings of its brands in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Morocco. The new hotel is an ideal addition within the financial and commercial hub of Lagos.

he preliminary figures for visitor traffic at Cape Town International Airport and at the city’s major attractions in December 2016 revealed great success. For the first time the airport achieved the milestone of 10 million passengers in one year. A few of the attractions that witnessed higher interest were; Robben Island Museum with a four percent increase in visitors over 2015 figures, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, with a six percent year-on-year jump. Commenting on the success, Enver Duminy, CEO, Cape Town Tourism, said, “The figures represent an enormous boost to the city’s economy during December [2016], as well as an indication that the growth potential in the tourism sector remains positive.”

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kota Kinabalu waterfront

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of a management agreement with Golden Wave for a new 367-key Crowne Plaza hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The opening of Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront in 2021 will mark the entry of the brand into East Malaysia. The hotel will be part of a mixed-use development at a prime downtown location, sitting amidst highend residences and a number of dining establishments which offer stunning views of the city’s waterfront. The address will offer eight versatile meeting spaces, including a large ballroom which can hold up to 600 people and can be easily transformed to suit a variety of MICE needs.

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RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with

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AMR BANOUNA DIRECTOR, SALES, CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK

AS ONE OF THE REGION’S FASTEST GROWING HOTEL MARKETS, AMR BANOUNA, DIRECTOR, SALES, CROWNE PLAZA DOHA – THE BUSINESS PARK, OFFERS THE LATEST UPDATE ON QATAR’S RAPIDLY DEVELOPING INDUSTRY.

start to this year. The strong hotel room pipeline has already seen an influx of 1,500 room keys over the last year with the current year set to see several more significant openings. Despite the challenging environment, the hotel’s revenue generation index standing remains strong compared to our competition, showing that we continue to get higher than our fair share of the business. In an increasingly competitive market, and incoming significant new supply, our focus remains on strengthening our existing business relationships and exploring new opportunities arising from both government and corporate initiatives and projects. Although we have experienced a decline in overall occupancy in 2016, along with the Qatar market, we remain positive that with significant government investment ongoing in infrastructure and large scale projects, we expect a period of stabilisation at the beginning of this year, followed by positive growth as the year progresses. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Taking into consideration the huge variety in accommodation for travellers visiting Doha, how do you continue to attract guests? AMR BANOUNA: Our focus remains on being the number one business hotel in Doha in the five-star upscale segment. We understand that new hotels will always be entering the market, therefore we place great emphasis on delivering a great guest experience by understanding their needs and ensuring they are delivered by passionate knowledgeable colleagues. The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) knows that there is a strong correlation between guest experience and brand loyalty and, supported by the award winning IHG Rewards loyalty

Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

programme, we have a significant base of loyal guests supporting our business. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How is Qatar developing ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup? AMR BANOUNA: The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be a milestone for Qatar but more importantly it will help to put Qatar on the world stage and highlight its great potential as a destination. Being in Qatar is amazing, to see the pace and scale of infrastucture development that is set to remain to support the growth of the country well beyond 2022. It is clear that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is part of the journey for Qatar, and not the destination, as highlighted by the government’s shared National 2030 vision. Doha is a corporate and government event driven destination and as a business hotel, Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park aims to reinforce its hold on the meetings, incentives, catering and events and business corporate segments into the future.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Many hoteliers reported a challenging 2016, how was business at Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park? AMR BANOUNA: The market conditions faced in 2016 have proven to be more challenging than those in 2015 due to the drop in oil price and associated economic activity slowdown in the region. The Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park has remained busy, however, with Doha’s hotel room occupancy forecast to close the year at 66 percent, demand is clearly down which has seen competition rate driven, reducing overall RevPAR. On a positive note Doha is performing better than other GCC cities that are also heavily reliant on the corporate segment and, with several large scale projects announced, we hope to see a solid 4 FEBRUARY 2017

Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

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Our chefs have demonstrated their commitment

JAMES HOGAN

“I am incredibly proud of our culinary team at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa with continuous participation in the country’s highly awaited hospitality exhibition, [winning 20 medals at Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Awards]. Our chefs have demonstrated their commitment to culinary excellence and dedication to deliver the most memorable dining experiences to our guests. I wish to congratulate them for the outstanding level of creativity and passion in their performances”.

An innovative approach to business

CEO, ETIHAD AVIATION GROUP

Charity starts at home

“I support many causes around the world, but charity starts at home. I encourage people to give more to help people in need. A few years ago, I launched a foundation in my name to support my philanthropic effort. We can not rely on governments to do everything. We have a responsibility as citizens of the world to help wherever possible.”

HEAD, MEETINGS, INCENTIVE AND EVENTS, ARABIAN ADVENTURES MEETINGS, INCENTIVES AND EVENTS

JUSTINE THOMAS-BUTLER

FOUNDING CHAIRMAN, AL HABTOOR GROUP

KHALAF AHMAD AL HABTOOR

GENERAL MANAGER, JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL & SPA

HAKAN PETEK

TRAVEL TALK

“An innovative approach to business is at the heart of our strategy at Etihad Airways. I am delighted to see the high level of confidence in our business reflected by the groundbreaking Sukuk, and credit to James Rigney [chief financial officer, Etihad Aviation Group] and his treasury team for creating a framework that developed a strong appetite from the markets, particularly during challenging times in the financial sector and for our industry.”

Dubai is perfectly poised “[Forever Living Product’s Annual Global Rally] will be such a prestigious event for Dubai, and we look forward to working with the Forever Living team to build and deliver their best event yet. Dubai is perfectly poised geographically to bring in people from around the world, with tremendous infrastructure to enable us to host large groups and mega events, this is what makes our proposition so appealing. We had the opportunity to see the Rally first hand in Johannesburg in 2016 and understand the scale of what is expected, [...].”

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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WEEKLY NEWS AGENTS

Causes In-flight Iritation Revealed Expedia, published results of the Airplane Etiquette Study which solicited feedback from 1,005 Americans aged over 18, in mid-air.

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he survey identified passenger behaviours that most infuriate fellow travellers. Out of all behaviours, including boozing, excessive chatting, undressing and inattentive parenting, the one that causes the most fury is rear-seat kicking. The survey was commissioned by Expedia and conducted by GfK, an independent global market research company. John Morrey, vice president, Expedia, said, “As we embark this new year, millions and millions of people will be taken to the air, and should know that there is no better gift you can give to a fellow traveller than respect and generosity. The Airplane Etiquette study shows that small acts of decorum can go a long way. After all, as it relates to flights, we are quite literally all in this together.”

Representatives from Sabre and Rehlat

Sabre Partners with Rehlat

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t has been revealed that online travel agency Rehlat has chosen Sabre to power its online platform, in a bid to increase its online conversion performance, revenue, personalisation and customer satisfaction. Commenting on the announcement, Bader Al Bader, president, Rehlat Travel, noted, “It has only been a couple of months since we launched our operations on Sabre, but we have already seen the positive impact on our sales and performance.” Al Bader also added that the company will roll out new capabilities in mobile and social media to meet the expectations of its customers.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

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Al Noor Island Hosts Story Festival Story telling at Al Noor Island

WasteStation machine at Ramada Ajman Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman

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amada Hotel & Suites Ajman seeks to boost its current food waste management scheme through the installation of a new WasteStation machine. Developed and distributed by the UKbased Imperial Machine Company (IMC), the WasteStation is an innovative food waste macerator and dewatering unit. In addition to the hotel’s existing compost machine which converts its food waste into fertilisers, the newly-installed machine will further simplify the process and cut down on labour. The hotel generates an average of 360kg of kitchen waste daily, including fruit and vegetable peels and food scraps, among others. Its previous compost machine could hold up to 80kg of waste, but the new WasteStation has a capacity of processing 700kg of food waste per hour. It also reduces the process of converting the waste into fertilisers from 24 hours to just 12 hours.

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torytelling, theatre and colour were the theme of the recent performance at the International Storytelling #Festival, which took place at Al Noor Island in Sharjah, on the last three weekends of January. Blending traditional storytelling with art, music and theatrical performances, narrators delivered an exceptional artistic experience in front of a large audience of families and visitors to Al Noor Island. Each of the storytellers recited tales that conveyed moral messages about nobility, beauty and love. “Hosting the International Storytelling #Festival at Al Noor Island in Sharjah confirms the vision and mission of the island to be a family destination and one that combines culture with entertainment, thereby providing children of all ages with important values. A Palette of Stories brought tales from around the world to life, with the festival part of our programme to play an integrated role that blends tourism with a cultural vision,” said Marwa Obaid Al Shamsi, manager, Al Noor Island.

SCTH Prepares for UNESCO Application

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s part of Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage’s (SCTH) plan of registering Al Ahsa Oasis as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, H.R.H. Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, SCTH met with Simone Ricca, general manager, RC Heritage and François Cristofoli, architect, RC Heritage, to prepare the nomination documents. Al Ahsa Oasis is said to be the largest Palm Oasis in the world, and boasts more than 2.5 million date palm trees and is unique for its cultural and economic influence. Additionally, a higher committee has been announced to oversee the area and monitor the implementation of policies as part of the application and site’s protection plan.

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estin Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its first global brand campaign in more than five years, taking on the disruptions, distractions and unpredictability of travel and empowering travellers to embrace well-being as a way to regain control of their routines and be their best while on the road. The USD30 million integrated advertising campaign called Let’s Rise, communicates the brand’s commitment to its guests’ well-being before, during and after their stay. “Let’s Rise is perfectly positioned to connect with travellers as more of a rally-cry than a brand campaign, given today’s over-scheduled and always-on culture. Around the world, we are seeing travellers realigning their priorities to put their well-being first, and Westin is proud to empower our guests to rise to the occasion and be their best selves on the road,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts.

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Shoppers can now drive around The Dubai Mall in electric cars

PHOTO ALBUM

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor hosts the first face-to-face open talk session with his social media followers

Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.

The Ajman Palace Hotel Wedding Fair showcased the best of all things wedding

Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Dima Al Saber became Royal Jordanian's third female pilot

Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars hosted a special party in the hotel’s Den to celebrate the success achieved in 2016 with InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars commercial team

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NEWS & EVENTS ITB Berlin Convention Highlights MICE Day

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onsidered to be the world’s leading tourism convention, and held on March 08 – March 11, ITB Berlin Convention will host a MICE Day. The industry’s newest trends and challenges will be presented at numerous lectures organised at the event. Visitors will have an opportunity to broaden their knowledge about the industry’s best practices and innovations as the professionals will discuss digitalisation, sustainability, demographic change, disruption and corporate social responsibility, to name a few topics dominating the day. The industry think tank will take place in parallel with ITB Berlin travel trade show, which will start on the same day and run until March 12.

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EVENTS IBTM ARABIA Abu Dhabi, UAE February 07 – 09 www.ibtmarabia.com One of the leading international events for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry.

ITB BERLIN Berlin, Germany March 08 – 12 www.itb-berlin.de Industry professionals from 187 countries are expected to attend one of the world’s biggest travel trade fairs.

IDE Records a Successful 2016

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DE summits registered growth of 44.21 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, with more than 2600 participants from the related businesses all across the globe. The company organised 11 global summits in various vital sectors including hospitality, healthcare and real estate around the world, during 2016. The events that have taken place in South Africa, India, Kenya, India, Italy, Qatar and UAE, facilitated a boost in the procurement and selling process within the related fields and brought together key decision makers, solution providers and product suppliers from the constructional, architectural, interior design, engineering and technology segments, among others.

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MITT Moscow, Russia March 14 – 16 www.mitt.ru The 24th edition of one of the leading business-to-business travel events will offer a wealth of opportunities for partnerships within Russia, CIS, and beyond.

4 FEBRUARY 2017


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