23 SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE 411
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23 SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE 411
05
06 GENERAL
NAKHEEL UNVEILED NEW PROJECTS
DUBAI HARBOUR’S LATEST FEATURES REVEALED
12 MEA EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH AMADEUS
14 Technology 15 Travel Talk
17 Who's Moved
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
STR: Growth in Middle East Hotel Pipeline
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel SENIOR JOURNALIST Ellen Petty JOURNALISTS Maria Sabova Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou
Dubai
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
STR’s July 2017 Pipeline Report showed that 166,166 units in 590 hotel projects were under contract in the Middle East during the month, a 6.6 percent rise in rooms over July 2016.
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f this figure, there were 95,089 keys in 301 properties in the construction phase, a year-on-year jump of 14.3 percent in terms of the number of rooms. Four key markets in the region reported more than 5,000 rooms in construction. Dubai led the way with 24,842 keys in 85 developments, followed by Mecca with 23,816 units in 18 addresses. Moreover, Doha recorded 8,714 rooms in 36 projects and Riyadh revealed 6,712 keys in 30 hotels.
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735, kuka@rmamedia.com
Amman’s Hotels Outperformed the Industry in July
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456, david@simpson-media.com
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
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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
111.53
Egypt (EGP)
Pound
17.65
Iran (IRR)
Rial
33,539.73
Iraq (IQD)
Dinar
1,172.50
Kuwait (KWD)
Dinar
0.30
Lebanon (LBP)
Pound
1,511.44
Libya (LYD)
Dinar
1.35
Morocco (MAD)
Dirham
9.40
Syria (SYP)
Pound
515.51
Tunisia (TND)
Dinar
2.45
Yemen (YER)
Rial
250.30
Amman
as of 21.9.2017 According to the latest poll of full-serviced hotels from HotStats, July represented a welcome respite for Amman’s properties, which registered growth despite the region’s overall low performances as demand levels remained soft.
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mongst disruption across the city, hotels in Amman performed strongly in July, with a 7.8 percentage point increase in room occupancy, to 60.8 percent, successfully offsetting the 6.9 percent fall in achieved average room rate. Considering the decline of the contribution from high-ranking conferences to 33.3 percent of rooms revenue against a year-to-date average of 40.7 percent, the Jordanian capital’s growth during the reviewed month remained impressive. This was boosted by the properties’ 10.8 percent increase in GOPPAR, to USD53.22, offsetting the 24.9 percent year-to-date profit per room decline to USD30.39.
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
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Dubai Tourism Unveiled Agent Training Tool
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ubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has launched Dubai Expert, an online training initiative for travel agents. Available in 12 languages and 40 countries, the innovative games will support the emirate’s goal of appealing to a wider travel trade audience and highlight the variety of experiences available to visitors. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Tourism, elaborated, “Dubai Expert was developed to assist the international travel trade in keeping up to date with all the destination updates in Dubai and ensure that all travel agents and tour operators have a sound knowledge of the emirate that they are trying to promote.”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS AGENTS Hotelbeds Remains Strong Partner for Airlines
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otelbeds Group has announced 87 percent growth in total transaction value of accommodation and other ancillaries sold by airlines via its platform over the course of three years. The strong performance is attributed to the provider’s ambitious long-term strategy to become one of the leading specialists within the airline sector. This includes plans such as developing a superior global product range of not just accommodation, but also transfers, in-destination activities and car hire, as well as offering unrivalled technology solutions and consistent customer service delivered by experienced professionals. Jon French, head, new business development, Hotelbeds Group, elaborated, “Most airlines are simply looking for a single partner to provide both technology and product expertise in one solution, and we looking forward to meeting more future airline partners […].”
TUI Group Promotes Abu Dhabi to Ukrainian Journalists
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s part of their recently launched partnership, TUI Group and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) have welcomed a group of travel and tourism journalists from Ukraine. The journalists were given a tour of the capital during which they had the opportunity to see a variety of attractions, including historical and cultural spots as well as leading leisure and adventure attractions. Hosted at Bab Al Qasr Hotel, the journalists also experienced what is said to be the fastest rollercoaster in the world at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. With the Ukrainian market having grown approximately 25 percent in the last 12 months, the initiative is part of TCA Abu Dhabi’s goal of promoting the destination into new markets.
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Egypt Ranks Among Fastest Growing for Tourism Egypt has been named as the second fastest growing tourism destination of the year according to the World Tourism Organization, having welcomed some 5.26 million international visitors to date, a 51 percent increase.
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Egypt
eeping pace with the overall global growth of tourism, which has so far seen 21 million more travellers compared to 2016. Egypt attributes the influx to its security and governmental forces’ efforts to enhance the country’s profile as one of the world’s top vacation destinations. As per the forecast shown in World Travel & Tourism Council’s report Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2017 Egypt, the country is expected to attract 5.45 million international tourists this year and 12.49 million by 2027.
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Duqm Port to Feature Liquid Bulk Berth
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AMAC Properties has announced that since January, 370 contracts worth AED3.5 billion (USD952.8 million) have been awarded to partners including construction, supplier and consultancy services across the developer’s portfolio. The majority of this year’s contracts were related to the group’s largest master golf community AKOYA Oxygen, where the main constructions are ongoing across its 55 million m² premises, with deals worth AED 1.8 billion (USD490 million) allocated to the developer’s highly-reputed collaborators. To name a few successful signature projects, the flagship community DAMAC Hills saw some 1,100 units delivered this year, Trump International Golf Club Dubai continues to receive golffacing apartments and a premiere luxury residential project AYKON London One in the UK was awarded AED 1.14 billion (USD310.3 million) construction contract.
Duqm Port
DAMAC Properties
DAMAC Awarded Deals Worth USD952.8 million
n August 30, Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm signed an agreement with Oman’s Boskalis Westminster for the development of a liquid bulk berth project at Duqm Port. Boskalis Westminster will carry out detailed engineering designs, construction of marine infrastructure, dredging and reclamation works, while Worley Parsons Engineering will oversee the engineering and construction works of the project, scheduled to be completed within 32 months from the date of awarding. Under the agreement, 2.4km of the 4.6km of secondary wave breakwater will be developed and reclaimed for the construction of the liquid quay, and a dual berth marina will be constructed with accessories and navigation equipment. The new agreement prepares Duqm Port to export liquid refined products while also enhancing its value in national economy.
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS
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uring Cityscape Global, Meeras unveiled updates on its upcoming destination Dubai Harbour, set to feature two terminals built simultaneously to accommodate 1.2 million passengers annually. The master plan for the world-class waterfront destination capitalises on strong growth of the global cruise industry, while boosting Dubai’s tourism profile. In addition to serving the cruise industry and featuring unparalleled facilities, the development is expected to feature what is said to be the largest marina in the Middle East and North Africa region with 1,100 berths capable of handling some of the world’s biggest yachts. H.E. Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman, Meraas, said, “The project reaffirms our commitment to expanding on Dubai’s rich maritime heritage and tourism profile, […].”
IATA: Growth at Global Hubs in July
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ccording to passenger traffic results for July announced by International Air Transport Association (IATA), global gateways registered moderate growth with total revenue passenger kilometres, a 6.8 percent increase over July 2016, although less than the 7.7 percent year-on-year growth achieved in June. Meanwhile, all regions recorded solid growth in passenger volumes compared to the same month in 2016, with a 6.1 percent increase in capacity and 84.7 percent load factor, up 0.6 percentage points. Alexandre de Juniac, CEO, IATA, elaborated, ”As is evidenced by the record high load factor in July, the appetite for air travel remains very strong. However, the stimulus effect of lower fares is softening in the face of rising cost inputs.”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
Rendering of Dubai Harbour
Dubai Harbour’s Latest Features Revealed
Ministers Approve Regional Aviation Security Measures
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t Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security in Sharm El Sheikh, a new Africa and Middle East Aviation Security Roadmap was endorsed by representatives for 45 states. The roadmap aims to align future programmes and targets with International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) recently unveiled Global Aviation Security Plan and is seen as being essential for improving regional cooperation and coordination to enhance aviation security. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, council president, ICAO, said, “ICAO recognised long ago that it is imperative that all states have optimised access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe, secure and reliable global connectivity, and more effective compliance with our global standards, policies and plans is the very first and most fundamental step on that journey.”
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WEEKLY NEWS
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Nakheel Unveiled New DURING CITYSCAPE GLOBAL, NAKHEEL PROPERTIES UNVEILED PLANS TO LAUNCH A DIVERSE RANGE OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING SIX RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENTS AT FOUR OF ITS COMMUNITIES IN DUBAI WORTH AED3.2 BILLION (USD871 MILLION).
Projects
The Palm Tower
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li Rashid Lootah, chairman, Nakheel Properties, highlighted, “As the creator of the globally-famous, award-winning Palm Jumeirah and other iconic projects that have put Dubai on the global map, the Nakheel name is synonymous with current and future developments that will further enhance the city’s position as a world-leading location for living, leisure, business and tourism.” Lootah further added that while developments remain the core of the company’s business, it is also focussed on creating a range of hotels, resorts, food and beverage outlets, shopping malls, and tourist attractions.
ARADA to Develop Residential Community in Sharjah
Aldar Launched Water’s Edge
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RADA, a property developer formed by KBW Investments and Basma Group, has unveiled plans to invest AED24 billion (USD6.5 billion) for the launch of a master-planned community in Sharjah. Covering an estimated 2.2 km2 and set to accommodate up to 70,000 residents, Aljada is scheduled to be completed by 2019 and will feature a number of residential districts, connected landscaped parks and tree-lined boulevards. Residential districts will surround a piazza offering entertainment, leisure and retail facilities while the central district will boast a large children’s adventure complex, skateparks, an extreme sports centre and a musical fountain. The development will offer investors a variety of housing units, including villas, semi-detached villas, townhouses, apartments and loft apartments.
Rendering of Water’s Edge rendering
Rendering of Aljada
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ontinuing its expansion strategy in Abu Dhabi, Aldar Properties has recently announced the launch of a new waterfront development on Yas Island. Featuring 13 apartment buildings with waterfront views complemented by private courtyards with spacious landscaped areas, pools, multipurpose courts and a mosque, Water's Edge is located adjacent to the upcoming Sea World theme park, and only a five minute walk from Yas Mall, Ferrari World and the Yas Marina Circuit. Commenting on the launch, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO, Aldar Properties, stated, "[…] Water's Edge is the latest chapter in the Yas Island story – bringing high quality waterfront living to the emirate. We are confident that Water's Edge will complement our existing residential portfolio, and draw a positive response from customers."
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Emaar Launched First Private Island Project Emaar Hospitality Group has announced its expansion to South Asia with the latest hotel management contract to operate Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa, slated to open in 2020.
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The Maldives
he strategic step underlines the group’s international growth plans with 29 upcoming hospitality projects. Representing the first private island property under the company’s Address Hotels + Resorts brand, the resort will be a part of the 2.42 km² Ethere Madivaru Private Island, set to become a spectacular vacation destination. The address will comprise 80 beach and over-water villas, including selected units for sale, alongside bespoke facilities such as a dedicated spa and water sports islands, floating restaurants and lounges, over-water fitness facilities, swimming pools, and children’s play areas, among others.
Four Seasons Marrakech Invites to Italian Dinning
Dubai
Majid Al Futtaim Announced New Flagship Community
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ajid Al Futtaim has unveiled plans to develop a new flagship mixeduse community in Dubai, set to offer an unparalleled integrated lifestyle experience to both residents and visitors. The group is currently in talks with contractors and plans to unveil the master plan during the first quarter of 2018. Commenting on the development announced at Cityscape Global, Hawazen Esber, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim, revealed, “[…] The latest community will feature best in class offerings from across the Majid Al Futtaim integrated portfolio and will deliver on the highest standards of planning, design and quality to create a unique destination that remains close to the heart of its people and allows them to celebrate life, every day.”
our Seasons Resort Marrakech has launched Quattro, a new Italian restaurant set to please gourmands with a blend of authentic south Italian flavours with Arabic elements. Showcasing a cultural mix of Southern Italy and Morocco in its interior design, the new venue offers visitors sensuous intimate dining reflecting Italian romantic feel within Moroccan vibrant ambiance. Under the supervision of Sicilian chef Marco Terranova, the menu represents rich culinary heritage of Sicily, Puglia, Calabria and Campania, promising guests an unprecedented dining experience. Blaise Montandon, general manager, Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, commented, “With this new restaurant, we pay tribute to the fantastic culinary heritage of Southern Italy from four specific regions […] offering food that has not been served in Marrakech before […].”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Seven Tides Participated in Cityscape Global
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MENA Hotels Marked UAE Debut
MENA Plaza Albarsha Dubai opening ceremony
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TIME Hotels Received Green Key Status
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IME Hotels, A UAE-headquartered hospitality company, has recently received a Green Key award for its continued sustainability initiatives. The accolade is a voluntary eco-label that represents a commitment by hospitality and tourism establishments to adhere to the strict criteria as stipulated by the Emirates Green Building Council. In order to achieve Green Key status, TIME hotels passed an exhaustive audit, which recognised the company’s contribution towards eco-friendly programmes including energy and water-saving initiatives, as well as waste management projects. Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, highlighted “[…] We are no strangers to Green Key certification, but it is testament to the team that we refuse to rest on our laurels and continue to strive to become a more responsible corporate citizen.”
TIME Grand Plaza Hotel
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audi-based Al Hokair Group celebrated the opening of MENA Plaza Albarsha Dubai, a flagship property of its MENA Hotels’ brand in the UAE. Representing a strategic addition to the hotelier’s expanding portfolio, the 90-key address is located in close proximity to the Mall of the Emirates. Set to appeal to discerning business and leisure guests with its distinctive and elegant design, the property also features two dining outlets, spa and a state-of-the-art gym. Making the announcement, Sami Al Hokair, CEO, MENA Hotels, enthused, “We are delighted to debut MENA Hotels that is a familyoriented, affordable lifestyle brand, into the UAE. MENA Plaza Albarsha Dubai is an exciting addition to our portfolio of hotels as we continue to expand our presence in the region […].”
Anantara The Palm Dubai Residences
even Tides, a luxury residential and hospitality property developer launched an exclusive five-year payment plan promotion during Cityscape Global in order to promote its much sought-after Anantara The Palm Dubai Residences and DUKES Dubai properties to prospect buyers. Cityscape Global which took place on September 11 –13, is hailed as as the annual barometer for the real estate industry in emerging markets and is said to be one of the largest and most influential real estate events held globally. Commenting ahead of the event, Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, highlighted, “Visitors to our stand can capitalise on the attractive price options we are offering and make informed purchasing decisions directly with us at the show.”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
Gulf Air to Add Frequencies on Moscow Route
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n a bid to make Moscow more accessible, Gulf Air is increasing the frequency to the Russian capital city’s Domodedovo International Airport from four-times weekly to a daily schedule, due to commence in the end of October. Coinciding with the third anniversary of the service, the carrier’s direct route is improved through the agreement with Russian S7 Airlines, enabling passengers to easily connect to other Russian cities with one combined ticket. Ahmed Janahi, chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, commented, “By adding frequencies and enhancing our product offering we are making Moscow more accessible than ever for our customers travelling from across the region, providing them with greater flight selections for both direct and transit travel to and from the Russian capital […].”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Royal Air Maroc Boosts Domestic Offering Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc has announced the launch a new service between Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport and Essaouira Mogador Airport.
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ince September 12, the airline has been operating the route three times weekly, offering 70 seats on board an ATR 72 aircraft. The addition of Essaouira to the carrier’s route map is in line with the increasing demand from both local residents and tourists and will enhance connectivity between the two cities. Royal Air Maroc operates 26 domestic air links that cater to nearly 900,000 passengers per year.
Essaouira
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
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MEA Extends Partnership with Amadeus
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iddle East Airlines (MEA) has extended its partnership with Amadeus, in order to deliver a more seamless passenger experience in a more cost-effective manner. Among other services, MEA will use Amadeus’ Revenue Integrity solution to automate processes and introduce self-management capabilities that better manage no-show situations. Adib Charif, head, information technology, MEA, explained, “Amadeus solutions enable us to operate efficiently, by delivering products and services that are beneficial to our customers while also keeping our operations running smoothly. The customer focus and team dedication give us great peace of mind; with Amadeus, we know our operations are in good hands.”
Qatar Airways Enters Codeshare with LATAM Brasil
Kenya Airways Boosts Omani Presence
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Rio de Janeiro
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atar Airways and LATAM Brasil, part of LATAM Airlines Group, have announced a new codeshare agreement which is expected to create new opportunities and expand both airlines’ extensive list of desti-
nations. The agreement provides Qatar Airways passengers with connections to 25 cities throughout Brazil while also providing new codeshares on LATAM Brasil’s routes between São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport and 25 domestic cities. H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, revealed, “[…] We have witnessed significant growing demand between South America to Qatar and beyond. Our new codeshare destinations not only meet that demand, but provide a service for our valued passengers in Doha, and from dozens of destinations globally to new, exciting places to explore in Brazil.”
man Air and Kenya Airways have signed a codeshare agreement in a bid to expand the services between Muscat and Nairobi. The new partnership allows Kenyan carrier’s flyers to seamlessly connect to the Omani capital with a direct service from the Nairobi’s hub, operating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The agreement also enables the airline to extend its services to wider audiences, capitalising on the cultural links Oman shares with the coastal parts of East Africa. Sebastian Mikosz, group managing director, Kenya Airways, commented, “This new codeshare agreement represents an important element of our strategy to increase the choice, convenience and connectivity that Kenya Airways offers its customers.”
Nairobi
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR
Gulf Air Increased Range of Loyalty Benefits
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ulf Air has announced a new partnership with Swiss-Belhotel International to enhance the portfolio of rewards available for the carrier’s FalconFlyer Loyalty Programme’s members. Thanks to the agreement, the frequent flyers are able to earn 200 loyalty miles for every night’s stay at the hotel chain’s participating properties in 23 countries. Ahmed Janahi, chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, commented on the partnership, “Gulf Air’s FalconFlyer programme offers a host of exciting privileges and benefits to members and we are continually working to expand our network of partner hotels in order to make our programme as rewarding as possible.”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
Oman Air Focusses on Human Resources
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n a bid to enhance talent management’s processes, Oman Air has partnered with human resources solutions provider Takatuf to facilitate assessment services. Under the agreement, the carrier will boost decision-making procedures during future recruitment occasions through improved abilities to identify workforce’s strengths and areas of development. The services will also be used internally for evaluating leadership capabilities and succession. Asma Humaid Al Ghabshi, executive vice president, human resources, Oman Air, explained, “[…] This agreement has been vital to centralising some of our resource allocations. As we continue this drive, it is vital that we inspire our employees to reach their full potential and the new assessment service will play an important role in facilitating this.”
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY Phocuswright: Desktop is the Top Choice for Travel Bookings
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hile emphasising continuous rising usage of smart phones in Europe, the latest Phocuswright’s report The European Smartphone Traveler in 2017, revealed weaknesses when it comes to mobile travel purchases. The study indicates that the travellers prefer to use their device for research such as exploring destinations, pricing flights and accommodation, as well as reviewing dining options and activities. Most travellers then switch to desktop to finalise the arrangements. According to the report, flight and hotel bookings are over five times as likely to be made on desktop, and laptop computers.
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ForwardKeys Teams Up with Skyscanner Aiming to help airports to better understand their travellers’ profile, ForwardKeys has recently partnered with the award-winning global travel search site Skyscanner.
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he agreement to share data will enable airports to see the catchment areas of their travellers while also helping airport executives to decide which new routes to develop. Commenting on the positive outcomes of the partnership, Ilivier Jager, CEO, ForwardKeys, highlighted, “With the combining of our two data sets, we are getting one step closer to a 100 percent model. The more information we can cross-reference, the better image we can create of tomorrow’s travellers and that will make us more useful to airports, retailers, hoteliers, national tourist offices and anyone else selling goods and services to travellers.”
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN, AL HABTOOR GROUP
KHALAF AHMAD AL HABTOOR
SECRETARY GENERAL, WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
“Recognising how tourism can help us address many of our common challenges, the United Nations declared this year as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, reminding us that with growth comes responsibility. A sustainable tourism sector is one that promotes environmental preservation and protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, but more importantly, it promotes engagement, commitment, and respect for local communities.”
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND INDIA, SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL
I am always on the lookout for further opportunities
“Over the past few years I have increased my international assets in Europe. We now have two hotels in Budapest, The Ritz-Carlton Budapest and the InterContinental Budapest; one in Austria, The Hotel Imperial Vienna and one in London, the Hilton London Wembley. I am always on the lookout for further opportunities if the climate is right.”
GROUP CEO, QATAR AIRWAYS
H.E. AKBAR AL BAKER
TALEB RIFAI
With growth comes responsibility
LAURENT VOIVENEL
TRAVEL TALK
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We are committed to rewarding our valued guests “We are pleased to partner with Gulf Air [...]. We are committed to rewarding our valued guests for their loyalty and this new alliance will entitle FalconFlyer members to outstanding earnings at our hotels located in some of the most desirable destinations. With its vast reach and popularity as a frequent flyer programme, partnering with Gulf Air’s FalconFlyer programme is a strategic tie-up for us and will increase our brand exposure globally as well as in our top source markets in the Middle East.”
We are happy to support the Czech Republic’s tourism industry
“Prague has long been a highly sought after destination by our passengers. We have listened to their requests and we have responded by proudly bringing them this daily service from our hub in Doha to the city of Prague. We are happy to support the Czech Republic’s tourism industry to grow to even greater heights by giving more global travellers the opportunity to visit this iconic city.”
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
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How would you summarise the status of business tourism in Oman?
TREVOR MCCARTNEY GENERAL MANAGER, OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
OMAN’S RISING STATUS AS A BUSINESS DESTINATION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED WITH OPENING OF THE FIRST PHASE OF OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE (OCEC) IN OCTOBER 2016. AHEAD OF THE SECOND STAGE SCHEDULED IN DECEMBER, TREVOR MCCARTNEY, GENERAL MANAGER, OCEC, OFFERS A FIRST-HAND OVERVIEW OF THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED VENUE’S ALREADY EARNED SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE COUNTRY’S THRIVING MICE TOURISM. 16
TREVOR MCCARTNEY: Business tourism is already important to Oman with incentive groups and conferences coming to the many hotels with excellent meeting facilities in the city, on the water and in the mountains. Oman has gained a reputation for being an authentic cultural experience with a variety of environmental experiences and natural beauty and a rich history of welcoming visitors for over 5,000 years. A new development that greatly increased business events in Oman was the opening of OCEC in 2016. OCEC is one of the key drivers of Oman’s economic diversification vision, which is mandated to become, by 2040, a topof-mind destination for leisure and business, attracting more than 11 million visitors. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the highlights of OCEC'S operations so far? Could you also unveil its upcoming agenda? TREVOR McCARTNEY: OCEC as the pillar project of Oman officially opened for business in October 2016 when the exhibition centre and hospitality suites opened. This will be followed by the convention centre and associated facilities in December this year. The first phase has already hosted thousands of visitors and 65 events, predominantly exhibitions and corporate events and also a Layali Ramadan event, a unique destination experience that welcomed in excess of 87,000 visitors over 24 days. With the next phase of the centre opening, OCEC is targeting more regional and international conferences including Airport Council International’s (ACI) Airport Exchange that will bring together the world’s airport community for the largest event in the ACI calendar on December 05 – 07; and the UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture coming to Oman on December 11 – 12. Other conferences confirmed in the future include the SICOT World Orthopaedic Congress in 2019 and the world’s biggest cancer event, the World Cancer Congress in 2020. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: It seems the facility has already attracted the attention of global MICE audiences. What makes the centre stand-out
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among similar venues? TREVOR McCARTNEY: OCEC is undoubtedly one of the most important tourism investment projects in the country and promises to engender pride in every Omani because of its truly iconic stature. Located in its own fully integrated precinct only four km from Muscat International Airport, OCEC forms part of phase one of Madinat Al Irfan, an exciting new urban centre in the heart of Muscat. Aimed at establishing Oman as a major venue for regional and international events, OCEC precinct includes four hotels, with a five-star JW Marriot opening in 2018 and a four-star Crowne Plaza opening in September. The precinct will also include a business park, retail shopping areas and residential districts, and is surrounded by a picturesque nature reserve, which is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife. Features of the centre include a tiered theatre seating 3,200 people, an additional 450-person auditorium plus 20 dedicated meeting rooms, two luxury ballrooms, hospitality suites and 22,000m² of exhibition space – altogether, more than 55 different meeting space options. [...]. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Considering the country’s multiple developments positively affecting the tourism industry, how do you foresee the near future of the MICE sector? TREVOR McCARTNEY: We are very positive and optimistic - OCEC is one of the key drivers of Oman’s economic diversification vision. [...] In addition, the centre will also act as a catalyst for creating job opportunities for Omanis and stimulating the development of small-medium enterprises. The business events industry is undergoing strong overall growth in the region with many global events being hosted in the Arabian Gulf and the Sultanate is experiencing strong growth in this sector. While the economic and political disruption around the world will have some impact on business levels, Oman, as a peaceful, forward thinking country offers a meeting place where everyone is welcome. With the many ambitious plans set in the pipeline such as the forthcoming opening of the new Muscat International Airport and the development of the hospitality and MICE sector, and the new Oman Convention Bureau, it looks extremely promising for the Oman.
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
WHO’S MOVED
TOBIAS AMMON has been announced as the cluster general manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Muscat and Radisson Blu Hotel, Sohar in Oman. Ammon brings more than 17 years of experience spanning general management along with food and beverage to his first appointment in the Middle East. Following an 18 month period as general manager of Dorint Pallas Wiesbaden in Germany, Ammon rejoins Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, where he held various leadership positions for some 11 years. This includes general manager at Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Cesme in Turkey and Radisson Blu Hotel Klaipeda, Lithuania, among others.
DARIYA BUSHMAKINA
TOBIAS AMMON
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Bushmakina will oversee an aggressive sales and revenue generation strategy
Leone will focus on exceeding guest expectations
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
PIERRE ZAYOUN
SAVINO LEONE
Ammon has more than 17 years of experience
SAVINO LEONE has taken on the role of general manager at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Leone has gained expertise in the luxury hospitality industry across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including various senior management positions at InterContinental Hotels Group. Leone joins the property from InterContinental Osaka, where he also served as general manager. Prior to that, he led the pre-opening team at Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park for four years as general manager. In his new role, he will place a focus on exceeding guest expectations and instilling a culture of service excellence.
DARIYA BUSHMAKINA has been appointed as the new director of sales at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort, where she will oversee an aggressive sales and revenue generation strategy. Prior to joining the property, she was head of sales department at Hala Arjaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi, and previously worked as sales manager at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort. With her experience extending beyond hotels, Bushmakina also served in the sales department at Randevu Tour Company in Russia. As part of her new role, Bushmakina will target high-end corporate and leisure segments as well as groups.
PIERRE ZAYOUN assumed the role of general manager of Al Manshar Rotana, bringing with him more than two decades of experience. Having previously worked at the property between 2007 – 2014, Zayoun rejoins the address from Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana, where as general manager, he handled both the pre-opening and opening of the hotel. Zayoun’s previous experience also covers position roles in food and beverage departments, including the position of food and beverage manager at Al Ain Rotana, a job he held for three years before being promoted to his first general manager role.
Zayoun has returned to Al Manshar Rotana
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Hotel Loyalty Schemes Need Improvement
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SensAsia Spa Arrives to Golden Mile Galleria Golden Mile Galleria, Palm Jumeirah
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ndependent spa brand SensAsia has announced a new location at Golden Mile Galleria, Palm Jumeirah, set to pamper visitors at its SensAsia Urban Spa. Known for taking clients on a complete sensory journey, the venue offers the chain’s award-winning treatments and hand-picked products inspired by Balinese, Japanese and Thai holistic therapies. It offers visitors invigorating Thai yoga stretch massage, skin-renewing scrubs and cutting-edge facials, alongside body sculpting treatments including pre- and post-natal body cures. Salina Handa, managing director, SensAsia, enthused, “SensAsia is intentionally elevated away from the hustle and bustle, where we have created a sanctuary for the senses.”
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head of the show taking place on November 06 – 08, World Travel Market London partially unveiled findings of Wanup’s 2017 Travel Loyalty Report, confirming that two out of three UK business travellers belong to at least one hotel loyalty club, with nearly half of respondents unsatisfied with the corresponding rewards. Studying 6,000 business travellers in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France, the report showed that 45 percent of corporate travellers report low levels of satisfaction with the loyalty schemes, and 86 percent of respondents would prefer perks reflecting their hobbies and interests rather than earning points or air miles. The participants of this year’s show will have the opportunity to learn more about the report and its findings.
P&O Cruises Showcases Onboard Facilities in Style
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&O Cruises has launched a new campaign Something for Everyone featuring Australian comedian and radio presenter Dave Hughes highlighting the activities and facilities on board Pacific Explorer. The commercial gives viewers a glimpse of the vessel’s traditional Neopolitan pizzeria, signature adventure park, burlesque show Love Riot and what is hailed as the longest and wildest waterslides at sea. Ryan Taibel, vice president, sales and marketing, P&O Cruises, said, “Pacific Explorer is the latest ship in the P&O Cruises’ fleet and the only ship to be homeported in Sydney all year round. We know Australians are interested in booking a cruise holiday on the latest product so we decided to build on that interest with a fun and engaging campaign.”
K Al Habtoor Welcomed Delegation from AUST From left, Sakr and Al Habtoor
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halaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, founding chairman, Al Habtoor Group, recently welcomed a delegation from Lebanon’s American University of Science & Technology (AUST), led by Hiam Sakr, president, AUST. After informing Al Habtoor about the institute’s expansion plans in the GCC region, Sakr discussed potential exchange programmes between universities, and expansion of AUST’s research departments. She also stressed the need for investors to assist in further growth plans. Al Habtoor welcomed AUST’s expansion plans and commented, “I wish you the best of luck with plans to set up a university campus here. Dubai has a flourishing education sector. There are many tertiary facilities setting up here as a regional base.”
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Team members from Amwaj Rotana – JBR, Centro Barsha, and BurJuman Arjaan organised an event, to give back to the local community
Stenden University Qatar welcomed newly admitted students with orientation days on September 10 – 11
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Yas Island visitors enjoyed special performances for Eid Al Adha
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Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai Participated in the 5th MICE Middle East Forum
Team members from Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm organised painting and tree planting for children at Special Centre for Autism in Muscat
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NEWS & EVENTS Experts Underscore Importance of Saudi Antiquities Forum
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head of the first National Antiquities Forum, set to take place in Riyadh on November 07 – 09, a number of experts and officials have stressed the importance of exchanging the visions and developments of Arab and Saudi antiquities and heritage entities, while raising public awareness. Organised by Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage in collaboration with partners, the event will also form a platform for key debates and dialogues. The programme will feature, among other highlights, a scientific conference revealing thematic research, while a number of projects and publications will also be shared.
ADNEC to Showcase UAE’s Defence in the UK
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bu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is taking part in the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2017 exhibition in London, in a bid to promote its own thematic exhibitions and the UAE’s defence industry. As a part of the UAE pavilion at the event, the organisation will highlight its upcoming regional defence exhibitions and conferences, as well as showcase national companies active in the sector. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, group CEO, ADNEC, said, “We are proud of the superior calibre of the UAE's defence industry […]. Our participation in the world’s leading event that convenes key players from the global defence and security sector is part of our proactive marketing strategy.”
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EVENTS SEATRADE OFFSHORE MARINE & WORKBOATS MIDDLE EAST Abu Dhabi, UAE September 25 – 27 Widely recognised as the largest regional gathering of offshore marine and workboats companies, this year's event will once again play a pivotal role in serving these industry sectors.
IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France September 26 – 29 www.iftm.fr More than 31,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the multi-target event with dedicated programmes for the leisure, business and MICE sectors.
THE GLOBAL FRANCHISE MARKET (TGFM) Dubai, UAE October 29 – 30 globalfranchisemarket.com TGFM is the connection platform for franchising in the MENA region, offering the opportunity for franchisors, franchisees, suppliers and information-seeking individuals to learn more about the current industry and trends.
2ND ANNUAL CULTURAL TOURISM MIDDLE EAST Dubai, UAE October 31 – November 02 www.culturaltourismme.com The second edition of the event will gather high-level officials from the tourism, cultural development and antiquities, heritage and arts, to showcase the latest developments and share ideas and strategies to protect, preserve and promote their unique culture and heritage.
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