September 2018 by TTG MENA

T H E B U S I N E S S O F S E L L I N G T R AV E L

Destination OMAN A beacon of positivity

Awareness NORTHERN EMIRATES Amazing alternatives to traditional options

SEPTEMBER 2018

On Location AMERICAS Wide-ranging adventures for all

Interview Pegasus Airlines

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD Exuding a youthful energy, Qatar's tourism industry forges ahead into exciting new tourism realms

ISSUE 322

An exceptional experience

â&#x20AC;Śamidst the powder-soft sand, by the cerulean waves and under the tropical shade of the Maldives; our premier villa resort presents curated experiences in an all-inclusive offering. A sneak peek in to our offerings here, www.heritancehotels.com/aarah T: +960 6640375 | E : res.aarah@heritancehotels.com MALDIVES

CONTENTS > YOUR GUIDE 04

NEWS & CALENDAR

INTERVIEW

DESTINATION OMAN

THERE’S A STARMAN WAITING IN THE SKY ho would have thought that in our lifetime we would get the opportunity

to experience spaceflight? This

UPDATE QATAR

concept is something that really excites me, and if presented with the opportunity to

travel to low-Earth orbit, I’d jump at the chance in a

ON LOCATION AMERICAS

flash! Picturing the scenario; I would be comfortably seated, snacks and drinks in hand, listening to David

Bowie’s iconic ‘Starman’ on full volume… on repeat!

AWARENESS NORTHERN EMIRATES

One of my favourite stories this month is the one

A LETTER FROM...

Wishing you a fantastic September

below this letter, regarding NASA’s upcoming study on the future of commercial human spaceflight.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Space tourism, if somewhat scary and probably rather expensive, sounds absolutely life-changing! Would you be willing to experience something like

SOCIAL HUB

that? Food for thought…

Tatiana Tsierkezou

TTG MENA Editor

FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT NASA has selected Space

and sustainable business

Adventures, an organisation that

case in LEO.

coordinates private human spaceflight

“We are excited to work

missions to the International Space

with NASA and to have

Station, for a study on the future of

the opportunity to provide

commercial human spaceflight in low-

input into the future of

Earth orbit (LEO).

commercial activities

The study will contribute to

in LEO and thoughtful

NASA's strategy for enabling

suggestions on what the

the commercialisation of human

agency can do to assist

spaceflight in LEO.

in the development

In December 2018, Space

of the marketplace,”

Adventures will submit

said president, Space

recommendations to NASA on how to

Adventures, Tom Shelley.

quantify the LEO market opportunity,

Space Adventures is one

evaluate technical concepts for low-

of 13 companies involved in

cost habitation and describe a viable

NASA’s study.

September 2018

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NEWS

REVAMPED PROGRAMME

NEW ONLINE CHECK-IN SERVICE

Exhibition

Calendar

Last month, Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines introduced a revamped version of its frequent flyer programme, entitled ‘Pegasus Bolbol’. Members will now be able to enjoy new functions and features, while also earning many more points. Customers will earn $16.40 worth of BolPoints for every $16.40 spent on

Cyprus Airways has

com 30 hours and no later

flights; 250 BolPoints for check-in on internal

introduced a new web

than 50 minutes prior to their

flights in Turkey; and 500 BolPoints for

check-in service.

scheduled departure time.

check-in on all international flights.

The new online

Guests can use their points to book their

Chief commercial officer,

function presents Cyprus

Cyprus Airways, Natalia

flights; pay for extra travel services such

Airways’ customers with

Popova said: “The web

as seat selection, extra baggage, meals and

the opportunity to self-

check-in feature is one

Flex; and pay for their flight taxes or service

assign seats and print

of a series of innovations that

charges.

their boarding passes.

we are introducing this year,

The check-in service

to honour our commitment

purchases – such as 500 BolPoints for car

Members can also earn points on partner

is available for all flights

to enhance our customers’

rentals with Budget or Avis and up to 15,000

departing from Larnaca

travel experience. We are

BolPoints for hotel bookings via Rocketmiles.

and St. Petersburg. Other

extremely proud to see the first

destinations will be added

phase of our new web check-in

automatically be transferred to Pegasus

over the coming few

feature fully functional and

BolBol members. They will be able to log in to

months.

in the second phase, we will

All existing Pegasus Plus members will

their Pegasus BolBol accounts using the same

Travellers can check-in

mobile phone numbers and passwords.

online via cyprusairways.

SEPTEMBER 5-6 IBTM Americas, Mexico www.ibtmamericas.com/ SEPTEMBER 11-13 OTDYKH Medical Tourism, Spa & Health 2018, Moscow, Russia www.tourismexpo.ru/spa/en/ SEPTEMBER 12-13 IBTM China, Beijing www.cibtm.com SEPTEMBER 16-18 The Hotel show Dubai, UAE www.thehotelshow.com SEPTEMBER 17–19 Essence of Oman - Oman Tourism Exhibition 2018, Oman www.essenceofoman-expo.com/ OCTOBER 15-16 13th World Congress on Industrial Healthcare and Medical Tourism, Dubai www.healthcare.global-summit.com/middleeast/

expand the offering across our network.”

LUXURY INDIAN OCEAN ADVENTURE Promising unforgettable adventures, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has launched the Anantara Private Jet Experience, following a partnership with MJets. The new initiative allows global travellers to experience the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand, while enjoying luxurious stays at Anantara hotels and the convenience of private jet transportation. Larger groups are easily accommodated in the Gulfstream V, with a three-zone cabin environment for working, dining, entertaining and resting, while the Cessna Citation X is the perfect aircraft for more intimate groups and couples, and is equipped to accommodate up to eight passengers.

TBC ASIA FAST APPROACHING

Following this launch, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort are now working together to offer global travellers a fantastic way to explore this extraordinary part of the world.

ri Lanka’s Cinnamon Grand

and digital marketing experts

Colombo will be hosting Asia’s

will be participating in the

only blogger conference

event.

and awards on October 31, 2018,

TBC Asia 2018 will cover

once again uniting top global travel

topics centred on the theme

professionals and online influencers

of ‘Creating Transformational

from around the world.

Digital Content for Travel’. The

Travel Bloggers’ Conference

conference will also uncover

(TBC) Asia will shed light on ground-

the many shifts and trends that

breaking trends and knowledge

are shaping the travel industry,

from expert speakers and industry

and will investigate the role

practitioners the world over, who are

that content plays in delivering

transforming the sphere of travel

effective travel marketing

content creation and marketing in

solutions, creating hype and

the digital era.

awareness, and building

More than 70 travel influencers

travel brands.

4 September 2018

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NEWS

HOTEL CHECK

OPENING THIS MONTH

INTERCONTINENTAL JORDAN

By Maria Demetriadou

Barceló Hotel Group is

Centre is made up of two

and high-speed WiFi. The

gearing up for the opening

buildings, Target and Seeb,

vast ballroom and foyer

of its third project in the

housing 111 and 128 rooms

are ideal for themed

UAE this month: Occidental

respectively, as well as

events, while other fa-

IMPZ Dubai, Conference

conference areas with pro-

cilities at the property

and Events Centre.

jectors and screens.

include an all-day dining

The new property stands

styled at the hotel’s hairdressing

InterContinental Jordan

salon. The whole experience took

for a total of seven nights

20 minutes and I came out feeling

during my recent business trip

wonderfully refreshed and looking

to Jordan. The last time I stayed

fabulous.

at this hotel was back in 2011

As for my accommodation, my

restaurant, a coffee shop,

lers, the property’s gues-

a tapas sports bar, a pool

EXPO 2020 landmark and

trooms and five meeting

bar, a rooftop lounge and a

is 30 minutes from Dubai’s

rooms are equipped with

multifunctional dining area,

airports.

cutting-edge technology,

as well as a fully-equipped

including Smart Automa-

gym, spa services and two

tion System, Smart TVs

swimming pools.

Occidental IMPZ Dubai,

stayed at the

Ideal for business travel-

in close proximity to the

Conference and Events

MULTI-YEAR CONTENT AGREEMENT

and it has evolved so much

room was spacious, very clean and

since then, yet maintained the

comprised of a comfortable double

same welcoming and homely

bed and a great view of the hotel’s

Travelport and Cobalt Air have formed

Travelport will extend the availabil-

atmosphere that it has always

swimming pool. I made the most of

a multi-year content agreement.

ity of our flight options and better

radiated.

the small sofa, where I relaxed and

Following this new alliance, the Cy-

read my magazines, and used the

prus-based airline’s full content and in-

cies and travel buyers globally.

work desk to reply to my work e-mails.

ventory will be available to over 68,000

This agreement is an important

The hotel’s in-room dining service

The hotel’s lobby is extremely spacious and bright, and guests can really feel the heritage of

present our value to travel agen-

Travelport-connected agencies, who will

part of our distribution activity

Jordan reflected in its design,

was quick and seamless; I ordered

benefit from a graphically rich experi-

across Europe and the Middle East,

which is really refreshing.

a delicious hot mezze one evening,

ence when searching for and booking

and Rich Content and Branding will

Behind the reception desk

which was reasonably priced and

the airline’s branded fares, as well as

provide us with a powerful advan-

are various local artefacts

came beautifully presented.

greater access to its ancillary offers.

tage as we widen out the Cobalt

on display, granting guests a glimpse into Jordanian culture. The lobby is home to various

The breakfast spread presented me with numerous options ranging

Air offering in an aim to bring the world to Cyprus.”

from various fruits, hot dishes, baked

F&B outlets, as well as a

goods, cereals, yoghurts and lots of

small and extremely useful

Lebanese and European options. My

convenience store that sells

favourite thing about the breakfast

a number of necessities and

was the freshly baked Manakish

books. I spent a lot of time at

Zaatar and pancakes with maple

Café Boulevard, the lobby café,

syrup. I always started my day with

where they serve delicious

fresh, steaming hot coffee, delivered

coffee, cakes and sandwiches.

straight to my table.

Eager to tantalise my taste

Chief commercial officer, Cobalt Air, Paul Simmons noted: “Working with

ECO-CONSCIOUS HOSPITALITY Swiss-Belhotel International is eliminating plastic straws from all existing and

As always, I felt at home at

upcoming properties across the Middle East and Africa region.

buds during my trip, I opted

InterContinental Jordan and would

to dine at Bourj Al Hamam,

recommend it to everyone; younger

and development – Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International,

InterContinental Jordan’s

travellers, older travellers, family

Laurent Voivenel: “We are constantly striving to reduce our environmental

Lebanese restaurant, where

travellers and business travellers, as

impact where we operate and are committed to putting a complete ban on

I indulged in a delicious meal

it is a versatile and comfortable hotel

single-use (throw-away) plastics gradually.

after a busy day of meetings.

with a fabulous atmosphere and polite

I also had my hair beautifully

and friendly staff!

Shedding light on this impotant initiative was senior vice president, operation

“As part of the policy we are actively seeking to source non-plastic alternatives where possible and reducing our reliance on plastic. Removing disposable plastic straws from our hotels is going to be the first step in that direction. We know there’s a lot more ground to cover but every single action counts,” he added.

TTG staff and correspondents assess services used by them. We report the results, which are based on a one-time experience only and view services from a customer perspective.

September 2018

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NEWS

BRITAIN CHARMS THE GCC MARKET

FESTIVAL TOURISM ON THE RISE Wego, Mamoun Hmedan elaborated: “Today’s global travellers are willing to spend that extra penny to experience the magic of seasonal, music, cultural and even shopping festivals. It’s the GenY’s penchant for unique and authentic cultural encounters and human-interactions that drives their interest to attend festivals – even those halfway across the world.” Wego reported that music festivals have been a great incentive for travel in recent years, as well as classic car festivals and food festivals. The online travel marketplace witnessed a 20 per cent jump in flight searches during this year’s Dubai

According to VisitBritain, the

experiences that you cannot get

UK is proving highly popular

anywhere else.” Warwick explained that the UK

among GCC travellers.

Shopping Festival. According to Hmedan, mega and family festivals, such as Dubai Summer Surprises ego, an online travel

and Abu Dhabi Summer Festival, are a great way to stimulate tourism numbers during off-peak seasons.

Figures revealed that a

offers the GCC market great value

marketplace in the Middle East

record 812,00 visitors from

for money and ranks number one

and Africa, has picked up on

the GCC region visited the

for GCC outbound destinations by

an increase in regional and international

also keen to capitalise on festival tourism, with the

UK in 2017, representing a

overnights visit volume in Western

festival tourism.

country working to popularise its own selection of

five per cent jump on 2016.

Europe.

Adding to this, an impressive

cultural festivals.

VisitBritain is busy working with

$2.8 billion was spent by

regional travel partners, including

these travellers, up 55 per

Wego and Etihad Airways, to broaden

cent on 2016.

its market reach and encourage

Director – Asia Pacific,

Managing director – MENA and India,

Regional destinations, such as Saudi Arabia, are

bookings. Adding to this, the

MAJOR TRANSITIONS

RAIL ALLIANCE

Middle East and Africa,

company unveiled the ‘Find Your

VisitBritain, Tricia Warwick

GREAT Britain, I Travel For…’ digital

Emirates Airline has entered a new codeshare

said: “The GCC is a significant

campaign, to further entice the GCC.

agreement with Italy’s national railway company,

market and a huge tourism

The campaign entails short films

Trenitalia.

opportunity for VisitBritain. It

and story-telling, and sheds light on

Travellers are now able to fly to Italy with

is fantastic that more people

Britain’s attractions and landmarks,

Emirates and discover some of the country’s

than ever are travelling

unexpected experiences and less-

most coveted destinations with one ticket, using

to Britain and enjoying

explored destinations.

high-speed, modern and comfortable trains stationed at the airline’s four Italian gateways – Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice.

The GCC is a significant market and a huge tourism opportunity for VisitBritain.

Divisional senior vice president, commercial operations – West, Emirates, Hubert Frach stated: “This codeshare agreement with Trenitalia opens up new possibilities for our customers and Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group has settled

complements our current services to Bologna,

a franchise agreement with Hilton for three

Milan, Rome and Venice.”

properties at Al Habtoor City, to be rebranded into

REAFFIRMED AVIATION PARTNERSHIP Oman Air has extended its codeshare partnership with Lufthansa, in a bid to expand its outreach across Europe. As per the updated agreement, Oman Air passengers on flights from

Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts; V Hotel,

division, Gianpiero Strisciuglio also said: “The

Curio Collection by Hilton; and Hilton Dubai Al

agreement signed by Trenitalia and Emirates is

Habtoor City.

a pivotal step towards the increase of effective

The 234-key Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels &

“Our customers will now be able to buy one

having joined Hilton’s upcoming luxury collection

single solution for their train and flight journey,

brand – LXR Hotels & Resorts.

departing and arriving from 27 Italian stations,

V Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, which represents the first property in the UAE to join Curio Collection by Hilton, features 356 guestrooms, while Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City

and Prague from Lufthansa’s Frankfurt and Munich hubs. Travellers can

houses a total of 1,004 rooms, including 142 suites.

services between Muscat and Europe. “Strategic codeshares are a crucial way for us to broaden customer

integration between train and airplane.

Resorts will operate as an independent property,

Muscat International Airport can now connect to Madrid, Brussels, Vienna now make the most of even better connectivity and an enhanced range of

Trenitalia’s director, long-haul passenger

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Hilton to include three additional hotel properties at Al Habtoor City,” commented vice chairman and

choice,” CEO, Oman Air, Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi elucidated. “Our continued

CEO, Al Habtoor Group, Mohammed Al Habtoor.

relationship with Lufthansa is very important for Oman Air, and we are

“This is a record transition into a new portfolio of

delighted to offer our valued guests even better connectivity in Europe.”

brands, a testament to the strong relationship and trust between Al Habtoor Group and Hilton.”

6 September 2018

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and enjoy the best commercial facilities offered by Trenitalia and Emirates,” he concluded.

NEWS

BRIDGE BETWEEN SHARJAH & PRAGUE

LUXURY OPENING IN THE HOLY CITY

haza Makkah officially opened its doors for business last month Guests can make the most of a host of facilities, including a

within the precincts of Al Masjid

number of F&B options and meeting spaces.

Al Haram and the new Jabal Ka'aba Air Arabia will be incorporating fivetimes-weekly flights to Prague, the Czech Republic, into its schedule on December 11, 2018. The direct services are scheduled to operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Thrilled with the development, group CEO, Air Arabia, Adel Al Ali declared: “With the continued

President and CEO, Shaza Hotels, Simon Coombs enthused:

district.

Air Arabia is focused on the continued expansion of its international routes.

development of residents in the region and international tourists looking for value-for-money services, Air Arabia is focused on the

“The opening of Shaza Makkah marks a key milestone for Shaza

Guaranteeing each and every visitor respectful luxury and serenity,

Hotels. We are honoured to partner with Al Rajhi Investments in

complemented by a modern

opening their flagship hotel in the Holy City of Makkah. It is our

interpretation of Arabian hospitality,

endeavour to create a new approach, one of handcrafted guest

the hotel houses 251 rooms and suites,

experiences in an oasis of calm. In tune with the potential of

many of which offer incredible views of

vision 2030, Shaza Hotels will strive to create distinctive hotels

the Holy Mosque.

in the KSA.”

SPOTLIGHT ON MUSLIM TRAVELLERS

continued expansion of its international routes. With the launch of the

Taking place from October 17-19 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore’s Marina Bay

Sharjah to Prague route, we aim to offer our passengers the chance to

Sands, ITB Asia will put the spotlight on the $180 billion Muslim travel market this year, partnering with

discover the colourful and historic capital city, our newest destination in

CrescentRating and Halal Trip for the third edition of the Halal in Travel summit.

Europe to be available direct from the UAE.”

The third Halal in Travel Asia Summit will focus on ‘Innovation & Technology in the Muslim Travel Space’. The conference will kick off with the official release of the Mastercard-Halal Trip Digital Muslim Travel Report (DMTR) 2018, revealing the latest insights and in-depth analysis into the Muslim travel market when it comes to trip planning research and engagement in the digital space. The dedicated Muslim Travel Hub will offer panels, showcases and important discussions on Halal travel. Key topics will include: how to attract Muslim travellers to destinations throughout the year; how to further develop the growing Muslim travel market; and how to develop Muslim-friendly travel packages. Supplementing this and located in the same area will be the Muslim Travel Pavilion, specifically for exhibitors that offer Muslim travel products and services.

FIRST UAE-BASED PROJECT Last month, the Bahrain-based

rooms; a swimming pool;

Gulf Hotels Group soft opened

a fitness centre; a spa; a

its very first UAE property, Gulf

nightclub; and a karaoke room.

Court Hotel Business Bay, in Dubai. In an ideal location for business

FOUR NEW TRAVEL POINTS

CEO, Gulf Hotels Group, Garfield Jones said: “Since the opening of the Gulf Hotel

and leisure travellers alike, the

Bahrain Convention & Spa

Oman’s SalamAir is enhancing

another milestone in SalamAir’s

sub-continent. Adding to this,

four-star hotel is 15-minutes from

back in 1969, the Group has

its destination portfolio with

young history. It allows us to

SalamAir will be flying four

Dubai International Airport and

been committed to delivering

new direct flights to Khartoum

continue providing our guests

times a week to Iraq for the first

is in close proximity to Dubai’s

the highest standards of

in Sudan, Kathmandu in Nepal,

with exciting travel possibilities

time, with the launch of services

central commercial and business

Bahraini hospitality. The

Najaf in Iraq and Dhaka in

and budget-friendly rates.”

to Najaf.

district.

opening of Gulf Court Hotel

Bangladesh.

The new Khartoum route

Catering to these new flights

Business Bay is the first step

“Our strategy is to provide

represents the carrier’s

will be six brand new Airbus

houses 270 rooms, including

Gulf Court Hotel Business Bay

of our regional expansion

affordable travel across our

inaugural African destination

A320neos, one of which is

superior rooms and suites; fine-

programme, which will include

expanding network,” noted

and first direct flight from

expected to be delivered by

dining restaurants and lounges; a

Saudi Arabia and other GCC

CEO, SalamAir, Captain

Oman to the Sudanese capital,

Q4 of 2018. Five leased Airbus

grand banquet hall and meeting

countries in the future.”

Mohamed Ahmed. “The launch

while Kathmandu is the airline’s

A320neos will be acquired by Q1

of our new destinations is yet

fifth destination in the Indian

of 2019.

8 September 2018

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INTERVIEW

PROGRESSION IS KEY Pegasus Airlines is leading the aviation industry to new grounds one development at a time. The Turkish low-cost carrier’s CEO, Mehmet T. Nane, shares its impressive performance results during 2018 with Aleksandra Wood, its strategy for conquering its primary objectives, as well as the latest from the industry

10 September 2018

: What’s new with Pegasus Airlines? How has 2018 panned out so far? In 2017 we witnessed a remarkable recovery in the aviation sector and we predict that the growth will gain momentum in 2018. The positive trends in the sector and our own company have confirmed our expectations, with figures indicating that we are heading in the right direction. The civil aviation sector is in a much better position generally and has managed to shake off the negative impact of 2016. We started 2018 with a target to increase guest numbers and capacity by between 11-13 per cent. We expect to be ahead of this target for the first half of 2018, based on the continuation of positive results in Q1, such as the recovery of the Western European markets and international traffic, causing our guest numbers to rise by 18 per cent year-on-year and record revenues with a relentless focus on ancillaries, with revenues up by 35 per cent and ancillary revenues up by 50 per cent year-on-year. Pegasus currently has a total of 79 aircraft, with an average fleet age of 5.7 years. Pegasus will have a fleet size of 81 aircraft by the end of the year. Another 14 new aircraft will be joining the fleet in 2019. In 2018, we have continued to grow our network with the recent addition of Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman. We have added six destinations to our network in total, including Bingöl and Usak from Istanbul, Agri from Izmir and Sirnak from Adana domestically, and Muscat and Dammam internationally. In March, Pegasus signed a codeshare agreement with Alitalia, enabling Pegasus guests to buy tickets from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport to the Italian destinations of Bari, Genoa, Catania, Naples, Turin and Venice, with a stop-over in Rome. Similarly, Alitalia guests can now purchase tickets from Rome, Bergamo and Bologna to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, and from there onwards to the Turkish destinations of Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bodrum and Ankara, and internationally to Tbilisi. Also last month, Pegasus signed a codeshare agreement with Nile Air, Egypt’s largest private airline. Through the codeshare partnership (launched in June 2018), Pegasus guests can purchase flights from Pegasus channels for Nile Air flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Cairo.

ttgmena.com

INTERVIEW

: What are some of the most notable changes and challenges this year has brought?

: What have your main objectives for this year been and how have you implemented them?

faster service for our guests, while optimising every touch point for an improved experience.

When you look at the current conditions, the main challenges are

Expanding our network for greater choice is one of our

the high oil prices and exchange rates. Indeed, both the global

main priorities. Thus, we are currently focusing our

in technology across the business

and domestic geo-political conditions have affected tourism

efforts on growing our new hubs outside Istanbul – a

include artificial intelligence (AI) and

and the economy around the world and at home in the past

strategic decision we took last year.

Blockchain technology – one of the

few years. 2016 was one of the most challenging years in our

Additionally, we are launching new routes from Izmir

key trends currently. For example,

country’s history. We have relentlessly focused on restructuring

(Amman, Kiev, Erzincan), Antalya and Adana (Sirnak,

two months ago, we began to invest

and improving performance across the company, so that not

Dalaman), to extend our network of destinations and

in a system that uses Blockchain as its

only have we remained resilient to challenges, but we have kept

give our guests more choice across that network in

foundation in the digitalisation with

on growing despite them.

addition to our main hub in Istanbul.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s operator.

The third international airport of Istanbul is due to

Some of our other investments

Due to this integration, the flight

open in Q4 of 2018, and two runways at SAW are on

descriptions and updates that take

track to be operational by the end of 2019, so there

place via the Pegasus Flight Control

should also be positive changes next year, enabling

System also appear simultaneously

We believe that some of the greatest growth trends lie in the

Pegasus to extend its current network of destinations

on the screens of the teams at the

CIS and MENA countries, where we are extending our network.

and flight frequencies.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport Operation

: Are there any new passenger trends in the industry that you have picked up on?

Pegasus flies to Almaty, Grozny, Kiev, Kharkiv, Krasnodar, Lviv,

Another main objective has been increasing guest

Control Centre (OCC). Likewise, such

Mineralniye Vody, Odessa, Tbilisi and Zhukovsky, as well as 16

satisfaction and personalisation of the travel experience.

operational information from the

destinations in the MENA region, including Abu Dhabi, Amman,

We are relaunching our Pegasus frequent flyer

airport is transferred instantaneously

Baghdad, Bahrain, Beirut, Dammam, Doha, Dubai,

programme to bring even more benefits to our guests,

to Pegasus. We have witnessed the

Erbil, Hurghada, Kuwait, Muscat, Sharm el-Sheikh and Tehran,

whilst also investing in technology at every level of the

benefits of this technology very

among others.

company.

quickly, and we have been able to

And fortunately, compared to 2017, interest in Turkey as a holiday destination in 2018 has increased, and we believe it will

save three minutes on average from : What is Pegasus Airlines’ strategy for

keep on increasing. Pegasus currently flies to 39 destinations in

2019? How do you intend to stand out from

Turkey. The popular seaside resorts near Izmir, Bodrum, Antalya

direct competitors?

and Dalaman should see an increase in international arrivals

each boarding time. We developed our own electronic flight maps and can provide them aboard all our aircraft,

throughout summer 2018. Turkey’s tourism revival is set to grow

In terms of competition, we focus on competing with

instantaneously removing the need to

further in 2018 and 2019.

ourselves, to continuously improve the performance of

rely on third party suppliers. We now

the company for the benefit of our guests. Our strategy

use electronic flight maps across all

flight entertainment and on-board WiFi, and that is why we are

moving forward is to continue to offer our guests good

our flights, and our Pegasus cockpits

investing in and developing an in-flight entertainment system, to

prices, on-time travel and a wide selection of affordable

also serve as data centres to analyse

be launched in the near future.

and personalised products and services.

performance – all within one system.

There is also a big trend overall towards greater choice of in-

Moreover, we have a long-established network and

We have relentlessly focused on restructuring and improving performance across the company, so that not only have we remained resilient to challenges, but we have kept on growing despite them.

Our focus now lies on the next step

position in Turkey and its surrounding regions to the

of our digitalisation strategy – that

West, East, North and South across Europe, Russia,

of the cabin and apron - to achieve

Ukraine, Balkans, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia;

maximum efficiency and friction-free

together with a wide network of established codeshare

travel for our guests. Our Digital

partners such as Flynas and the newly launched Nile Air

Apron project will use technology to

and Alitalia – which puts us in a strong position vis a vis

allow people, vehicles, aircraft and

any new players in these regions. Indeed, we have been

equipment to communicate with one

growing this low-cost hub and spoke model with success

another, to achieve a more efficient

for over a decade.

operation. We’re also taking key steps to apply technology, AI and

: Technology is in a state of constant evolution.

the Internet of Things across our

How has this positively affected the aviation industry

business, and so will be restructuring

and what is Pegasus Airlines doing to stay ahead of

our operations and service points

this pivotal occurrence?

accordingly. By implementing new technologies, which use a simple

Technology is a vital part of every business today. As

signalling system, we will be able

Pegasus Airlines, we closely follow all the developments

to complete such procedures much

in technology globally and specifically to the aviation

more quickly and easily, while

industry.

eliminating the possibility of

It is our goal to digitalise every aspect of what we do to become one of the 10 top airlines in the world with regards to positive use of technology.

human error. We are applying new technology to our website and mobile sales

We are reimagining and updating all our systems

channels, agent sales points and DCS

across all channels and platforms, including our new

screens at check-in, with the overall

frequent flyer programme – which uses technology to

aim of providing a smarter and faster

simplify the process of earning and spending points. We

service for our guests, optimising

are applying new technology to our website and mobile

every touch point for an improved

sales channels, agent sales points, DCS screens at

experience. In 2018 we’ll also be

check-in, with the overall aim of providing a smarter and

launching our selfbag drop project.

September 2018

ttgmena.com

DESTINATION OMAN

INSPIRATIONAL FORCE Equipped with breath-taking natural surroundings and captivating culture, the Sultanate of Oman is making newsworthy advancements across its admirable tourism offering, intending to represent a beacon of positivity for the region. Aleksandra Wood reports

DESTINATION OMAN egarded as one of the safest destinations in the GCC, Oman has

TIME FOR EVOLUTION

secured its position as a regional favourite among travellers seeking distinctive experiences, exceptional lodging facilities and value for money. The country is a year-round destination, providing adventurers with the options of desert, beach and mountain experiences, accompanied by traditional sightseeing escapades as well as awe-inspiring historic and archeological sites. “Oman is a fantastic destination with responsible eco, cultural and heritage attractions,” general manager, Millennium Resort Mussanah, Dermot Birchall elucidated. “The Sultanate is a safe destination, which

Oman enjoys safety and security, and this has resulted in a positive general tourism outlook for our region.

In a bid to maintain its acquired success, Oman has been busy investing in and working on its infrastructure, with the opening of the new Muscat International Airport as the main headliner, on which Birchall of Millennium Resort Mussanah elaborated: “The travel and tourism sector has welcomed this gateway project as one of the keystones to the future of Omani tourism development. The new airport has the capacity to operate 40 flights per hour with 86 check-in counters, 40 gates and 29 aircraft stands with jet-bridges, as well as a new control tower.” In light of this ground-breaking development, Oman’s

is an important consideration for visitors

national carrier, Oman Air, is making moves to expand

from all countries, mainly from Europe, and

its network, as well as its fleet, in order to operate 62

has the potential to provide travellers with

aircrafts to around 60 destinations worldwide. New

opportunities to create lasting memories.”

routes are currently being opened to Turkey and Russia,

Embracing an ever-growing number of travellers each year, in May alone the country

strengthening bilateral relations between the countries A wave of unfaltering efforts by the Ministry

and reinforcing tourism prospects.

welcomed a total of 1.4 million arrivals,

has swept the nation, as general manager of the

With this and the recent e-visa introduction in mind,

according to the National Centre for Statistics,

recently opened Millennium Resort Salalah, Elias

tourism influx is expected to be no less than bountiful in

with GCC nationals emerging as top visitors at

El-Khoury revealed to TTG: “The tourism industry

the approaching years.

514,024 arrivals, India coming in second place

in Oman is growing significantly, with the emphasis

with 149,251, followed by the German market

concentrated on boosting non-oil exports. The

major hotel chains recently announced properties in

with 131,165, the UK with 92,970 and Italy with

government is focusing on the development of

Muscat, driving the 12 per cent CAGR over the next three

56,141 arrivals.

dedicated tourism clusters in Muscat and Musandam

years from 10,924 rooms in 2017 to 16,866 keys by 2021,”

as destinations, the Al Hajjar Mountains, the

director of sales and marketing, Ramada Qurum Beach

detected new emerging source markets as

Frankincense Trail in Salalah and multiple desert

Hotel, Tawfiq Jan Al Balushi disclosed.

the diversification of Oman’s tourism industry

areas.”

Tourism entities are excited to have

continues. Millennium Resort Mussanah

“To accommodate the predicted influx, a number of

Operating hotels, such as the Salalah Rotana Resort,

El-Khoury further shared that the Ministry

are staying one step ahead of this, with the property

recently witnessed a surge in Russian, Turkish

has announced major plans for the increase of

having expanded its room inventory to include an

and Chinese travellers, which the resort hopes

employment figures, with 500,000 employees

additional 22 keys, bringing the total count to 422 keys

to further capitalise on in the approaching

expected to be added to the tourism sector. This

and making it the largest resort in the Sultanate.

months.

will have a positive impact on the private sector’s

Meanwhile, Salalah Rotana Resort continues

Regional connectivity has not been overlooked,

objective of reinforcing the recruitment of more

with the opening of the Al Batinah Expressway in May

to welcome guests from the neighbouring

Omani talent within its departments, known as

significantly improving access to and from the UAE and

GCC countries – mainly from the UAE, Saudi

the ‘Omanisation’ initiative. Several marketing

other Gulf countries. The new expressway in Muscat

Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain – during the

campaigns have also been rolled out by the Ministry,

represents the largest road project in the history of the

country’s monsoon season (Khareef season),

aimed at target markets such as France, the UK,

Sultanate at approximately 256 kilometres in length, and

which occurs between the months of June and

Russia, China and India.

features eight lanes and 17 overhead bridges. It connects

September. General manager, Salalah Rotana Resort,

Adding to this, recent updates on visa policies are bound to drive the progression of tourism in

the Muscat Expressway at Halban to the UAE border at Khamat Malaha.

Hossam Kamal shared: “2018 has been a

Oman. Kamal of Salalah Rotana Resort shed light on

relatively stable year for our operations.

this: “The government recently launched an e-visa

does not fall short when it comes to newsworthy

Oman enjoys safety and security, and this has

service, allowing tourists to conveniently apply for

developments, as pointed out by Salalah Rotana Resort’s

resulted in a positive general tourism outlook

visas online. Visa processing is the first encounter

Kamal: “Our city has embraced the new Sultan Qaboos

for our region.”

of a traveller to a country and makes the first

Sports Complex, which is a modern sports facility offering

A rise in the number of tourists, enhanced

And speaking of thriving cities in Oman, Salalah

impression. Implementing the e-visa process is an

football, basketball and handball courts, swimming pools

connectivity to new European destinations

indication of the government’s effort to embrace

and much more. With such a facility, Salalah has the

such as Poland, Slovakia and the Czech

seamless travel and is a welcomed development.”

potential to be the country’s sports destination of choice.

Republic, as well as the arrival of new hotel

A reduced cost in visa fees was also implemented,

This is an exciting development for the city.”

chains to its tourism industry are all indicative

and in line with this, a visa-on-arrival policy was

of an evolving industry.

announced for Russian, Chinese and Iranian

can enjoy the recently inaugurated Hawana Aqua

nationals.

Park – the first of its kind for the country – which is

LUCRATIVE SECTOR

Kamal further noted: “Having the right strategy is one thing, but actively promoting the destination

Adding to this, visitors to this spectacular city

set to collaborate with hospitality entities to present unparalleled entertainment packages for guests.

is another. With active participation in major Much of the success of Oman’s tourism

regional and international travel trade shows, the

Oman has perfectly perpetuated tranquility and

industry can be accredited to its productive

government utilises these opportunities to further

stability throughout the years, however, this forging

government, which has established the Oman

raise awareness on the destination. All these efforts

destination is far from dormant. Its prevailing

Ministry of Tourism’s Vision 2040 initiative,

combined play a crucial role in amplifying the

government strategies, substantial developments and

aiming to stimulate over 11 million international

destination’s attractiveness and fostering

its graceful offering combine to make for a salient

and domestic tourists by the year 2040.

visitor influx.”

tourism destination. September 2018

ttgmena.com

DESTINATION OMAN

GRAND INAUGURATION IN MUSCAT

MAJOR RETAIL PROSPECT

AN ALLURING MARKET Oman Air has expressed interest in

Millennium Resort Salalah has

facilities include two separate

officially opened its doors to

luxury spas for women and men, a

guests in Oman.

further expanding its network in Africa. The Omani national airline is

rooftop grill, a seafood restaurant,

currently reviewing its destination

Located a 15-minute journey

an all-day dining venue and a café.

portfolio, exploring ways to advance its

from Muscat International Airport

Thrilled with the inauguration

outreach across the fruitful continent.

and a three-minute walk from

was general manager, Millennium

It currently provides services to Cairo,

Salalah Grand Mall, the resort is

Resort Salalah, Elias El-Khoury:

Egypt; Nairobi, Kenya; Zanzibar; Dar

home to 285 rooms and suites

“We extend to our guests a

made up of high-end serviced

very warm welcome. My daily

he Muscat Municipality and Muscat

apartments, chalets and villas,

commitment is to ensure an

Municipality-Seeb demonstrated their support

as well as the largest ballroom in

environment which allows our

Oman, with a capacity of 1,000

guests to feel at home and

Raimi Boulevard (ABLVD) – a ground-breaking retail

evaluating the viability of other new

guests.

experience tranquil and exciting

development launching in Muscat this month.

routes, with Khartoum in Sudan being

Extensive indoor and outdoor

adventures during their stay.”

Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Casablanca,

of the ongoing development site of the Al

ABLVD’s developer, Al Raid Group, recently welcomed chairman, Muscat Municipality, Eng. Mohsin Al Sheikh and director general, Muscat Municipality-Seeb, Eng. Badar Ali

Morocco. Keen on extending its offering, Oman Air’s Network and Planning team is

investigated as a primary potential addition. Oman Air’s African routes have

Al Bahri to the site for a tour, led by CEO, Al Raid Group,

proven popular among travellers, and

Sheikh Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Araimi. Al Araimi gave each

in light of this, the airline recently

of the officials a tour of the development and elaborated

enhanced its summer schedule with two

on the progress of the mall. "The Al Araimi Boulevard is

extra flights a week to Cairo, granting

another major development in Oman’s bid to become a

travellers 12 flights a week in total. This

leading destination in the region. It will provide significant

demonstrates the carrier’s commitment

job prospects for Omanis and will further boost Oman’s

to expanding its network and its focus

economy,” declared Eng. Al Sheikh.

on the African market.

14 September 2018

ttgmena.com

UPDATE QATAR port of arrival and departure for them.” According to Dalal, the upcoming FIFA 2022 is also still wielding significant influence over the growth and development of Qatar’s tourism industry: “With FIFA 2022 taking place in Qatar, we expect an increase in sports-related events across the country which will benefit the hospitality industry greatly. “At Oryx Rotana we have a vast experience with managing sports groups, especially football related, which will enable us to deliver the expected service levels that match Qatar’s vision as a luxury hospitality destination,” he added. Responding to the rise in demand for unique F&B offerings and the influence this sector is having on the overall travel industry in Qatar, Oryx Rotana has created a series of new room

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

and dining packages for both Qataris and Qatar residents, including the Brunch Escape which offers a stay at the hotel, a massage at the spa as well as F&B experiences. “We also have a line-up of exciting F&B activities for Michelin Week, Vin’s Day, Carnival Brunch Series, festive season activities and so much more. Q4 at Oryx Rotana is something that everyone will really look forward to,” added Dalal. And while the upcoming sporting event does look set to catalyse an influx in sports tourism to Qatar, the event is also having a positive

A destination once so reliant on its business travel allure, Qatar is opening its arms to new markets, and embracing its untapped potential. Emily Millett writes

effect on the region’s hotel development chain, with the continued arrivals of new brands launching in the country and new properties adding to the growing portfolio. “Qatar is set to host two of the world’s largest sporting events: the FIFA World Cup 2022 – in which the country is expecting to host more

than one million international visitors for

mall yet mighty, Qatar has been going

Additional positive factors include the recently introduced

from strength to strength as a tourism

visa-free entry for Russian, Indian and Chinese citizens, which

Championship in 2019. This is the right time for

destination in recent years, bolstered by

has already resulted in promising growth in visitors from these

us to open hotels to welcome the organisers,

its strong reputation as a leading regional

countries.

sponsors and consultants who will be making

business travel hub, while simultaneously expanding its horizons into new markets. Speaking to TTG about the traditional markets for

In a bid to further attract new markets, QTA and DER Touristik

the World Cup itself – and the World Athletic

Doha their home for the next few years,”

Deutschland joined hands last month, to further boost awareness

commented chairman, Al Majed Group, Ahmed

of Qatar as a tourism destination and attract more German

Mahdi Al Majed.

Qatar’s tourism sector, general manager, Oryx Rotana,

visitors, following a 22 per cent rise in German arrivals in 2017

Ghassan Dalal said: “Construction, FMCG, finance and

compared to the previous year.

International chains, as well as home-grown hotel groups, are either developing or setting

business travellers generally are the main market

Commenting on the current key feeders for tourism in Qatar

feeders for Qatar. Qatar has been moving forward

and their main reason for visiting the destination, sales manager,

Hotels, Four Seasons and Retaj all adding their

at a fast pace to become a key regional hub for big

Qatar International Adventures, Anthony Zaki explained that

names to the destination’s hotel portfolio.

corporate companies.”

the company has seen growth from the Russian, Chinese, Indian,

According to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the destination welcomed 944,689 visitors in the first half

have been increasing month-by-month since the June 2017 blockade. The QTA Tourism Performance Summary for H1 of

Cementing the events role for Qatar, Zaki

European and American markets, who primarily travel for

explained that while traditional markets

exhibitions in Doha, stopovers or business trips.

will always be a defining factor, with the

of 2018, and although this figure represents a decline in comparison to 2017, there is evidence that arrivals

their sights on Qatar, with Dusit Thani, Minor

international awareness surrounding FIFA 2022, more and more travellers from all over the

NEW INFLUENCES

world will want to come and see this unique

A specific area of considerable growth for the Gulf nation has

Gulf country.

come from the cruise industry, with Doha Port having hosted 15

2018 also indicated that the destination is currently

ships in the first four months of the year, carrying approximately

As Qatar continues to appeal to the business

seeing considerable growth in both new incoming

47,162 passengers and crew (up 42.8 per cent from H1 of 2017).

and corporate travel sector, which has

arrivals markets from outside the region as well as

Further cementing Qatar’s rapidly increasing popularity as a

always been its mainstay, the destination is

from new tourism sectors including the cruise industry

port of call for cruise travel, Dalal said: “One of the things that

also tapping into the cruising sector and the

and shopping travel. Festivals such as the month-long

has influenced the travel and tourism sector in Qatar is the new

upcoming FIFA 2022 event as new market

Shop Qatar was noted to have contributed to positive

agreements with cruise liners. Visitors in Doha will definitely

segments with considerable influence on

arrivals performances in Q1.

increase and eventually, this will result in establishing Doha as a

positive growth.

16 September 2018

ttgmena.com

UPDATE QATAR

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

atar Airways is improving its services and

business class experience,

offerings with the announcement of new aircraft

Qsuite, which offers the

joining some of the airline’s US routes, as well as

industry’s first-ever double bed

new network enhancements in Europe. The national carrier’s ultra-modern Airbus A350-1000

CONTINUED MIDDLE EAST EXPANSION

in business class, as well as privacy panels that stow away,

Thailand-based global hospitality company, Dusit International, has

is due to join the New York JFK route starting October 28,

allowing passengers in adjoining

signed a management agreement with Al Majed Group to operate

2018, marking the airline’s first commercial route to the

seats to create their own private

Dusit Doha Hotel.

US to be operated with this state-of-the-art aircraft.

room.

Group CEO, Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker said: “The

Due to open in Q4 of 2018, this will be the group’s first Dusit-

Qatar Airways also recently

branded property in Qatar. Designed for both extended and transient

introduction of this next-generation aircraft to the route

announced plans to launch

stays, the 357-key hotel is set to comprise 261 guest rooms and suites,

demonstrates our commitment to providing passengers

direct five-times weekly flights

along with 96 hotel apartments. The hotel apartments provide a range

travelling to and from the US with the most modern and

to Gothenburg, Sweden, due to

of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations.

technologically-advanced aircraft available, ensuring that

start on December 12, making

Situated in the West Bay area of the capital, the five-star property

their experience is second-to-none.”

it the airline’s second Swedish

is within walking distance of Doha City Centre, Gate Mall and the Doha

gateway after Stockholm.

Exhibition and Convention Centre, in close proximity to tourist spots

The A350-1000 features the airline’s award-winning

18 September 2018

such as the Souq Waqif, Katara Cultural Village and The Pearl, and only a 25-minute drive from Hamad International Airport.

ttgmena.com

ON LOCATION AMERICAS right city lights opening up to vast open spaces, deserts, lush forests and jungles; the Americas never tire of stirring the senses of any traveller setting foot on its shores. A cultural behemoth popular for its gastronomy, architecture, celebrity hype, historical sights and geological wonders, stakeholders promoting these activity-rich cities are eager to showcase their most interesting features and facets to both domestic and foreign visitors.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS As air links increase to key cities and regions in the Americas, stakeholders are working to bolster their tourism product with an array of new hotel openings and infrastructure projects. Vice president of tourism and visitor services, Destination DC, Theresa Belpulsi exclusively revealed

WINSOME ADVENTURES Diverse and enchanting, the expansive Americas are reinforcing their tourism product with a plethora of immersive experiences and fresh infrastructure projects. Natalie Hami reports

to TTG that Washington, DC is dedicated to developing initiatives and investing in new opportunities by adding to its strong industries, with $11.5 billion in development, 20 hotels with 4,544 rooms planned and many new and renovated special events venues in the pipeline. “In 2019, Phase 2 of CityCenterDC, a high-end residential and retail destination, [will welcome] the $250 million 360-room Herzog & de Meuron-designed Conrad Hotel,” she explained. Additional hotel openings include Eaton Workshop, a 209-room lifestyle property that is the flagship for future Eaton Workshops planned for San Francisco and Seattle, along with DC’s first Moxy Hotel, a budgetminded, millennial-forward 200-room property, set to open later this year. San Diego’s hospitality landscape has recently been

communications manager, Tauck, Tom Armstrong.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

In 2019, Tauck will be launching small ship cruises in Alaska and on the US’ great lakes.

graced with Pendry San Diego and InterContinental San

At the core of many a travel experience lies

Diego, according to director of communications, San

exploration and discovery, and as a result, travel

Diego Tourism Authority, Candice Eley.

companies and DMCs must ensure that they can

Moving southward, president and CEO, Visit Dallas, Phillip Jones told TTG that 18 hotels have recently opened in the city, with 37 hotel projects and more than

GLOBAL REACH

provide a bevy of fascinating and immersive

As the continent continues to grow its tourism markets on

experiences for their clientele.

a global scale, the MENA region is one particular source

USA president, Insight Vacations and Luxury

market which stakeholders continue to foster through a

5,800 additional hotel rooms in the pipeline. These

Gold, Jon Grutzner explained that guests want to

number of means, including an increase in air links between

include Virgin Hotel, which is opening in Dallas.

feel authentically connected to a destination as

the US and key cities in the Middle East.

“In late 2019, Virgin Hotels will open a 200-room

well as enjoy experiences that cannot be had by the

Belpulsi of Destination DC noted that the MENA market is

hotel in Dallas’ hip and growing Design District. The

average traveller. “By offering behind-the-scenes

of particular interest, stating that it is supported by non-stop

$80 million lifestyle hotel will cater to the new, savvy

access to museums, hands-on culinary experiences

air services into Washington Dulles International Airport via

traveller, offering fee-free WiFi, cancellation and late

and private meetings with notable local characters,

Qatar Airways, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways.

checkout and a complimentary social hour for guests.

we are able to make our clients’ travel dreams come

It’s the fourth planned Virgin Hotels property in the US.”

true in the best way possible,” he told TTG.

On the US’ east coast, New York City has been

Some of the activities that the company provides

Meanwhile, director of marketing communications, Mandarin Oriental Miami, Oriane Lluch also highlighted the significance of the MENA market to the luxury property. She

actively bolstering its hospitality sector with 117,300

include an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tour of Utah’s

noted: “We target the MENA market because we are able

hotel rooms and an expected inventory of nearly

Monument Valley with a local Navajo guide. In

to provide a five-star level of service, breath-taking views,

137,000 hotel rooms by the end of 2019, according to

Pennsylvania, visitors can step back in time and gain

an award-winning spa and a private beach - all attributes

NYC & Company. Next year will also see the addition of

fascinating insight into the Amish lifestyle during

sough-after by guests travelling to Miami from the region.

an Equinox branded luxury hotel and TWA Hotel at JFK

a tour with a local expert. In Banff, Canada, they

In the last few years, it has also become easier to travel to

Airport in Queens. Other projects expected to boost the

meet with a Royal Canadian Mountie and hear his

Miami from [the region].”

city’s MICE appeal include the Glasshouse, set to be one

personal stories.

of NYC’s largest private event spaces with two outdoor

Apart from the Middle East market, Eley of San Diego

Meanwhile, providing escorted group tours and

Tourism Authority explained that the tourism stakeholder

observation terraces overlooking the Hudson River,

small ship cruising globally, Tauck tours prides

will be focusing on domestic tourism, along with Mexico.

and the Verizon Executive Education Center at the

itself on the unique insights and perspectives of the

“The overseas markets that have the highest visitation rates

Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Campus, which will offer

award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.

to San Diego are the UK and China, followed by Australia

a venue for academic conferences and workshopes, as

“Our journeys exploring the natural world

and Japan.”

well as executive programmes. Furthermore, the Javits

(including the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica) are

Center also continues its expansion and is set to be

offered in cooperation with the nature documentary

Increasing its accessibility to global markets, the

completed in 2021.

filmmakers at BBC Earth,” revealed corporate

Americas continue to captivate visitors far and wide.

20 September 2018

ttgmena.com

ON LOCATION AMERICAS

Igniting innovation CEO, IMEX Group, Carina Bauer talks to TTG about this year’s exciting IMEX America, which is expected to tap into the latest industry trends

FRESH UPGRADES

exico’s Chablé Resort and Spa is

more recreational purpose in mind,”

expected to add seven new casitas

added Bova.

to its portfolio by the end of 2018, in-

the property will soon be equipped

the property’s general manager, Rocco Bova.

with a multi-purpose room, able to host

“These new villas can accommodate small

up to 150 people for various functions,

families, providing additional comfort and

from recreation to meetings, group

space,” he told TTG.

yoga and fitness classes, as well as

In addition to this, Chablé will be adding to its wellness and fitness programme with a : Share with our readers the

exhibitors from the MENA region