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flydubai CARRIED OVER 10 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2016
SHARJAH BEACH TO IMPLEMENT HIGHER SAFETY LEVELS
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18 FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE 380
TWO RADISSON BLU HOTELS TO OPEN IN DUBAI
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18 FEBRUARY 20172
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
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Dubai International Airport Maintains its Lead
Dubai International Airport (DIA) has retained its title as what is said to be the world’s number one airport for international passengers after near record num-bers in December 2016.
The hub’s annual traffic propelled to 83.6 million passengers for the respective year, according to the annual traffic report issued by operator, Dubai Airports.
With monthly passenger traffic breaching the seven million mark six times during 2016, including the historic figure of 7.72 million travellers in August, DIA’s annual traffic in 2016 to-
talled 83,65 million passengers, compared to 78,02 million in 2015, a robust growth of 7.2 percent. The surge of travellers during the holiday season boosted monthly traffic in December 2016 to 7,71 million, up 9.3 percent compared to 7,05 million recorded in December 2015.
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, said, “After emerging as the world’s number one airport for inter-national passengers in 2014, DIA has firmly established itself as the leader in that category […]”
Great Achievement for Air Charter Service
Air Charter Service has reported that the company recorded revenue of more than GBP40 million (USD50.24 million) in November 2016, making it a record month in its history.
Commenting on the success, Justin Bowman, group CEO, Air Charter Service, said, “This is an outstanding achievement by the whole team. We saw marked increases across all three of our main divisions: cargo, private jets and commercial aircraft. On top of this, our onboard courier team performed well too.”
He continued to note that the achievement is remarkable and is a big step towards the company’s goals.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Abu Dhabi Airports Creates Opportunities for Young Talents
N DP is being delivered over an 18 – 24 month period during which the trainees build occupational skills and obtain practical experiences within various departments of the company, while a structured assess-ment system takes place to monitor their progress.
Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, commented on the initiative, “The aviation sector is playing a significant role in the diversification of the UAE’s economy in line with the 2030 Vision. Abu Dhabi Airports is committed to developing the professional skills of the young Emiratis who will lead our company and this industry in the years to come.”
As part of its National Development Programme (NDP), Abu Dhabi Airports Company encourages UAE graduates to join the training and development for a future career in the industry.
In partnership with HMSHost International, Qatar Duty Free opened Doha’s first Harvest Market restau-rant. The premise provides travellers with an open-air food market dining experience located inside Hamad International Airport (HIA).
Open 24-hours and located in the main departures terminal within HIA, Harvest Market provides din-ers with a globally inspired menu using fresh ingredients.
Luis Gasset, senior vice president, Qatar Duty Free, said, “Qatar Duty Free is thrilled to partner with HMSHost International to open Doha and HIA’s very own Harvest Market, providing our 30 million pas-sengers annually the option to enjoy fresh, gourmet, quality dining in an open kitchen style establish-ment. Providing an array of restaurant choices for our global travellers, as well as the highest quality food and beverages is important to Qatar Duty Free and we are sure that Harvest Market and its excellent menu will be enjoyed by all.”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
18 FEBRUARY 2017
J ohn Keells Computer Services (JKCS) has implemented its departure control system Evinta at Fujairah Interna-tional Airport, enabling more efficient passenger pro-
cessing. The hub, with a capacity to handle over two million trav-
ellers, now benefits from the system’s easily accessible and cost-effective comprehensive facilities such as flight selec-tion, passenger search, check-in, baggage handling, boarding passes issuance, flight and seat management, to name a few, all of which contribute to enhanced customer service.
Serving the MENA aviation industry, over 30 million pas-sengers are annually processed through JKCS’s systems.
Departure System Upgrade at Fujairah Airport
More Passengers to Access Premium Lounges
T he members of Emirates’ loyalty programme and their guests can now enjoy the luxury lounges at Dubai Interna-tional Airport, following the airline’s decision to extend the
access privileges. Regardless the travel class, eligible guests can spend up to four
hours at the airport’ s seven Emirates lounges, in business and first class versions, through a pay-per-visit system.
Adel Al Redha, executive vice president, Emirates Airlines, said, “Our premium lounges here in Dubai are some of the best in the world and we are pleased that more of our customers can now experience them. […] We are glad to see many of our customers appreciate the opportunity to be able to pay for their additional guests and access the lounge which enables them to enjoy a relax-ing space before their flight.”
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Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport Recorded Passenger Growth
S harjah International Airport registered a 10 percent year-on-year increase in passengers, handling 11 mil-lion passengers from January to December 2016.
The airport passed the 10 million passenger mark for the first time in 2015, showing 5.5 percent growth. Since then, the airport has continued to show strong growth.
Airport passengers increased 12 percent during the first quarter (Q1) of 2016, 11 percent during Q2 and 13 percent during Q3, reaching one million passengers per month for the first time in August 2016. Aircraft movements at the air-port increased by six percent to 75,900 scheduled and non-scheduled movements in 2016 compared with 71,426 in 2015.
Sharjah International Airport’s expansion and develop-ment falls in-line with its goal to serve 25 million passengers by the year 2025.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
A l Ain Palace Museum held a programme of events to celebrate the UAE’s tangible and intangible heritage, titled My Heritage, My Responsibility.
Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the initiative saw a variety of demonstrations showcasing local heritage, such as traditional medicine, cuisine, music and fashion. There was also a market giving visitors a chance to taste Emirati dishes as well as purchase local products and clothing.
A number of interactive workshops were available for families to join in with, aiming to safeguard heritage and pass it on to younger generations.
The series will return in March with alternative cultural and artistic offerings.
Al Ain Palace Museum Hosted Heritage Series
Sharjah Beach to Implement Higher Safety Levels
D uring public hours, visitors of the Al Khan Beach, hailed as one of the biggest leisure centres in Sharjah, will be supervised by 17 lifeguards positioned on eight watchtowers and equipped with a rescue boat, two jet skis and two
buggy cars.Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, chief operating officer, Shurooq, explained, “[Quality
of safety and security] reflects the level of satisfaction and peace of mind Sharjah’s beach enthusiasts are already experiencing. Enhancing beach safety makes it an agreeable and attractive tourist and family destination, and paves the way for many leisure and tourist projects in the future.”
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) revealed a new safety plan for Al Khan Beach as a part of its strategy of maintaining high safety and security standards in holiday
destinations across the region.
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Q nA International, organiser of the fifth annual MICE Arabia & Luxury Travel Congress, has highlighted the top five luxury trends for Mid-dle Easten MICE travellers namely, story telling lifetime experiences;
authenticity; it is all in the details; inclusivity and emotional connectivity.Sidh N C, director, QnA International, explained that differentiating and
responding to emerging trends can be challenging as it ranges from afford-able luxury to life changing experiences for high-net worth travellers. He added, “Recognising these needs, these trends, and offering customised packages in a curated environment to do business are a key part of the fifth annual MICE Arabia and Luxury Travel Congress.’’
The exhibition will take place at Palazzo Versace Dubai on March 01 – 02.
New Trends in Luxury Tourism Identified
Seabourn Encore Christened in Singapore
S eabourn’s newest vessel, Seabourn Encore, was officially named in a ceremony in Singapore, before embarking on its inaugural voyage to Indonesia.
Soprano Sarah Brightman was named as the godmother of the 600-passenger ship during the festivities, where guests enjoyed a range of entertainment acts, such as musicians, lion dancers and stilt walkers, among others.
Commenting on the launch of the ultra-luxury liner, Richard Meadows, president, Seabourn, said, "Seabourn Encore marks a major step forward in terms of growth for our company. This ship is stunningly beautiful and I know guests are going to be absolutely captivated as they step aboard and see it firsthand."
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in DubaiIN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOHAMMAD OMAR BIN HAIDER GROUP, THE REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP HAS REVEALED THE SIGNING OF TWO RADISSON BLU BRANDED PROPERTIES IN DUBAI, BOTH SCHEDULED TO WELCOME GUESTS IN 2019.
C onstruction of the 356-key Radisson Blu Hotel, International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), Dubai has already begun, with facilities set to include two restaurants, a bar as well as meetings rooms.
Meanwhile, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Studio City will boast 290 rooms, meetings and events spaces along with food outlets and a nightclub. Both areas are established media zones that attract media production companies and professionals within the sector.
Additionally, this year will see the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront, a 432-room address over-looking Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa.
Two Radisson Blu Hotels to Open
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n 2016, Preferred Hotels & Resorts saw a 15 percent year-on-year increase in reservations revenue, gener-ating USD1.11 billion on behalf of its member proper-
ties worldwide.The provider of sales, marketing and distribution ser-
vices to independent luxury properties partly attributed the success to its iPrefer programme which was restructured in February 2016 to feature a simplified two-tier arrangement with enhanced benefits which fuelled stronger loyalty. In 2016, there was a 57 percent boost in enrolments, a 24 per-cent rise in stays and a 23 percent jump in room revenue generated through the scheme, compared to 2015.
During the year under review, 82 new addresses were also added to its portfolio, including properties in five new countries across the Middle East and Scandinavia.
Ras Al Khaimah Welcomes Jannah Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Reports Growth in 2016
C ontinuing its rapid expansion plan, Central Hotels has unveiled three properties due to open this year in Dubai.
Expected to welcome guests in the third quar-ter, Bay Central, a 284-key hotel, will be located in the Burj Khalifa district, while the other two projects, boasting 208 and 204 rooms will be situated on The Palm. The development of the three four-star ad-dresses will see the company more than double its inventory of rooms, from 524 to 1,220.
Ahmad Ali Al Abdulla Alansaari, chairman, Cen-tral Hotels, noted, “In addition to the existing devel-opment, our aim is to add another five hotels to our outstanding portfolio of properties by 2018 creating greater choice and opportunities for our guests, as-sociates and stakeholders.”
Central Hotels to Launch Three Dubai Addresses
Jannah Resort & Villas Ras Al Khaimah has opened its doors in Mina Al Arab, catering to the emirate’s luxury market.
The property boasts 100 suites and 24 three- to six-bedroom villas with private pools and butler services, while facilities include ac-cess to a 1.4km strip of beach and a variety of watersport activities.
Commenting on the company’s expansion, Nehme Imad Dar-wiche, CEO, Jannah Hotels & Resorts, said, “Jannah Resort & Villas Ras Al Khaimah is another milestone for us as we increase our commitment in being the leading luxury hotels, hotel apartments and resorts brand in the region and the GCC.”
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Al Bustan Centre & Residence Joined
DSF
A l Bustan Centre & Resi-dence has celebrated its successful participation in
the annual Dubai Shopping Fes-tival (DSF) which represents one of the most important events in the city. The hotels DSF activities included quiz games with the win-ners receiving dining vouchers and memberships for the property’s health club.
Moussa El Hayek, chief operat-ing officer, Al Bustan Centre & Resi-dence, commented, “DSF is the one of the most awaited happenings in the city for both tourists and resi-dents […] bringing Dubai’s posi-tion as an ideal year-round tourism destination.”
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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATIONwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
F irst Central Hotel Suites, managed by Dubai-based Cen-tral Hotels group, has been awarded Green Key Certifica-tion 2016-2017 for its green practices that include a host
of environment-friendly energy, water and waste management initiatives.
Commenting on the achievement, Wael El Behi, general manager, First Central Hotel Suites, said, “We believe in respon-sible and sustainable practices without compromising on guest comfort, personal service, or value. In line with the commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, we are delighted to receive the Green Key Certification that is recognised worldwide.”
First Central Hotel Suites Go Green
Since its inauguration on February 16, 2016, Wyndham Dubai Marina Hotel has welcomed more than 36,200 visi-tors through its doors.
In celebration of its first anniversary, the property held a se-ries of events and competitions.
Commenting on 2016, Rogier M. Hurkmans, cluster general manager, Wyndham Dubai Marina Hotel, said, "We are proud to have successfully opened the first Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in the UAE and for what we have achieved in such a short period of time. This would not have been possible without having such a dynamic team. We would also like to thank our valued guests, business partners, and owning company for all their support”.
36,200 Guests Stayed at Wyndham Dubai Marina
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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops Rates
I nternational Air Transport Association (IATA) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) announced that IATA’s Cargo-XML messaging standard has now been fully integrated into ASYCUDA World, the UNCTAD automated customs management system used by 90 countries world-
wide for their customs procedures. The amalgamation standardises the electronic communications between airlines and customs authori-
ties using the program. The new data standard reduces message duplication and simplifies communication across the supply chain facilitating trade growth, improving cargo security, modernising customs opera-tions and fostering participation in global commerce through advance electronic data submission for air cargo shipments.
Cargo-XML makes it easier for airlines, freight forwarders and shippers to ensure that the information being provided to the customs authorities is technically correct and in line with the standards of industry bodies such as the World Customs Organization and regulators. It also facilitates custom risk assessments for air cargo shipments and improves compliance with security regulations.
g ta, one of the global distributors of accommodation and destination services and Bokun, the business-to-business distribution platform, announced a series of online conferences to discuss the future of their product distribution with tours and activities suppliers.
Hjalti Baldursson, CEO, Bokun, commented on the conferences, “Technology is a driving force in the change of distribution for tours and activity suppliers, […] we believe the online conferences to be an excellent forum for having an important dialogue with industry partners. ”
Bokun and gta are also working towards creating a powerful system which will integrate all gta tours and activity products into Bokun.
By subscribing to Bokun’s technology, gta commits to provide suppliers with improved and easy to use technology and help them to drive their global business forward.
Bokun and gta to Host Online Conferences
IATA Upgrades Air Cargo Communication
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WEEKLY NEWS AGENTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
C arried out in partnership with Google Consumer Surveys, Expedia has re-leased 2017 Expedia Fitness Breaks
Study which found that Australians are the most active travellers, with 55 percent of those questioned believing it is important to exercise.
Americans came in at a close second at 53 percent, followed by Canadians and Spanish, at 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively.
Out of the 7,000 residents of seven coun-tries surveyed, British tourists were least likely to prioritise fitness, with just 42 percent identifying it as important. Meanwhile, it was found that 23 percent of French travellers outright refuse to participate in any exercise, while 28 percent of Germans would ride a bike, the highest in this measure.
Exercise When Travelling is a Priority for Australians
Eastbound Now Represents The Maldives
E astbound has been appointed as the Middle East representa-tive office for the Maldives
Marketing & Public Relations Corpo-ration, whereby it will execute mar-keting, public relations and media activities for the company across the region.
The Maldives has become an increasingly popular destination amongst Middle Eastern travellers, in the first nine months of 2016, there was a year-on-year increase of 23.9 percent in arrivals. Many tourists are choosing the archipelago for its combination of luxury, privacy and adventure activities. This, along with a number of direct flights from the Middle East, has contributed to the growing popularity.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
O man Air is boosting its capacity to India whereby it will increase its weekly frequencies from 126 to 161 flights per week between Oman and its 11 India destinations.
The airline will operate three daily flights to Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad while the daily service to Calicut will grow from single to a triple route, and the Lucknow itinerary will be served 14 times per week instead of 11.
Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO, Oman Air, commented, “Oman Air first launched flights to India in the 1990s and the demand for seats has grown exponentially amongst both business and lei-sure travellers, not only increasing tourism traffic and revenue but also promoting vital trade agreements between the two countries.”
Oman Air’s Extra Schedules to India
Air Cargo Growth in 2016
I nternational Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that global air cargo demands climbed in 2016, as shown in the 3.8 percent year-on-year rise in freight tonne kilome-
tres, while capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilo-metres, jumped 5.3 percent.
In December 2016, Middle Eastern carriers recorded an increase of 11.2 percent compared to December 2015, which contributed to an annual increase in demand to 6.9 percent. Despite this being the second fastest regional growth after Europe, it was the region’s slowest pace since 2009 and below the average 12 percent annual rate seen over the past 10 years. The slowdown was due to weak cargo volumes between the Middle East and Asia as well as Europe.
Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport Mumbai
Etihad Partners with Lufthansa
T he two airline groups have concluded a USD100 million global catering agreement and a memorandum of under-standing (Mou) to cooperate in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.
The four-year catering contract will see Lufthansa’s LSG Sky Chefs provide catering services to Etihad Airways in 16 cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. This makes LSG Sky Chefs the largest provider of catering services to the UAE’s national airline, outside its Abu Dhabi home base.
James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “[…]. This partnership is the platform for a much wider strategic collabora-tion between our two organisations. It demonstrates the commitment of the Etihad Aviation Group Board and Abu Dhabi to our European growth strategy.”
Etihad Aviation Group and Lufthansa German Airline have unveiled details of a new commercial partnership.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n 2016, flydubai saw a 14.4 year-on-year growth in the number of passengers served, which reached a record breaking 10.4 million travellers.
Moreover, the low-cost carrier recorded total profit of AED31.6 million (USD8.6 million) for 2016, while total revenue for the 12 month period stood at AED5 billion (USD1.37 billion), an increase of 2.4 percent compared to 2015.
During the year under review, available seat kilometres jumped nine per-cent due to increased frequencies and new routes, while the fleet grew from 50 to 57.
The airline carried 28 percent of all traffic between Dubai and the Middle East or GCC and its passenger number from Europe surged 19 percent com-pared to 2015.
flydubai Carried Over 10 Million Passengers in 2016
Qatar Airways and ACCORHOTELS
Team Up
Q atar Airways and ACCORHOTELS recent collaboration allows their loyalty mem-bers to enjoy a number of reciprocal
benefits. Qatar Airways Privilege Club members are now
able to convert Qmiles into Le Club ACCORHOTELS points and be accommodated in more than 3,400 hotels and resorts belonging to the property’s global network. In return, Le Club ACCORHOTELS holders can convert their points into Qatar Airways Privilage Club Qmiles and fly with Qatar’s national carrier to more than 150 destinations.
Emanuel Baudart, chief customer officer, AC-CORHOTELS, commented, “We are delighted to have this partnership with Qatar Airways which reflects the dynamic momentum of our burgeon-ing programme and allows us to supplement the already wide range of benefits and rewards we re-serve for the Group’s loyal guests”.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Q atar Airways hasit launched its new record-breaking Auckland service on one of the country’s most significant days of the year – Waitangi Day. As the first Qatar Airways flight touched down on the North Island of New
Zealand, just after sunrise, a new chapter in the airline’s history had began.H.E. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, who travelled on the launch flight
commented, “Arriving in Auckland on Waitangi Day, and achieving the title of world’s longest flight for the return record-breaking service, which covers a dis-tance of 14,535 km and lasts 17 hours and 30 minutes, makes this an even more momentous occasion for Qatar Airways and provides another accomplishment to celebrate in this our 20th year flying the flag internationally for Qatar.”
Qatar Celebrates New Auckland Route
Oman Air Expands Fleet
B ringing its total number of aircraft to 48, Oman Air has welcomed the newest addition to its fleet, a Boeing 737-800 that will be used on short and medium haul routes.
The aircraft features 162 seats, including 12 in business class, each fitted with a LCD screen.Abdulaziz Alraisi, executive vice president, products and brand development, Oman Air said,
“Known for its energy efficient systems, and combined with Oman Air’s superb maintenance staff and facilities, this is an ideal acquisition as we spread our wings to further afield.”
The national carrier currently has 23 B737s in operation, with a further two jets, a B737-800 and a B787-9 Dreamliner, due to be delivered in February as part of its fleet and network expansions.
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
W HOTELS WORLDWIDE has announced the planned opening of its second W Hotel in Australia. Scheduled to open in 2020, the property will be located in the heart of Melbourne’s shopping and
entertainment district. Featuring 294 rooms, a vibrant bar and restaurant, a spa, a workout facility, and an indoor heated swimming pool, the new arrival will shake up the city’s hospitality scene.
Anthony Ingham, global brand leader, W HOTELS WORLDWIDE, enthused, “Melbourne, with its vibrant music, emerging fashion and bold street art, is a destination made for the W brand.” W Melbourne will join the brand’s ro-bust portfolio of 50 hotels around the globe. Fa
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I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the opening of the 197-key Crowne Plaza Vientiane in Laos, marking the group’s entry into the country.
Nestled in the heart of Vientiane, the residence is said to be the first internationally branded upscale hotel in the capital offering quality accommodation and a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers.
Apart from the Infinity pool, 24-hour fitness centre and the brand's Senses Spa, the hotel offers events space with modernised conference facilities including a ballroom and six fully-equipped meeting spaces that can be tai-lored to suit various needs. As part of the Crowne Plaza signature meetings programme, there is also a dedicated Crowne meetings team and director on site.Cr
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Upon opening, are you planning to target primar-ily business or leisure guests?
DIDIER JARDIN: As one of the most significant commercial hubs within the Gulf region, Kuwait attracts a wide cross-section of regional and international busi-ness travellers from all corners of the world. Naturally, the business segment will be important for us; as such, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is de-signed to provide discerning business travellers with a modern haven in Kuwait City, an ideal base for high-level meetings and conferences, as well as offering total relaxation at the end of a hard day’s work.
DIDIER JARDIN
Q & A
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GENERAL MANAGER, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA
SET TO OPEN THIS YEAR, DIDIER JARDIN, GENERAL MANAGER, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ
ALSHAYA, EXPLAINS HOW THE HOTEL WILL STRIVE TO MEET THE
NEEDS TO LEISURE AND BUSINESS TRAVELLERS ALIKE.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What ser-vices and facilities will you offer to maximise leisure guests’ holiday ex-perience?
DIDIER JARDIN: Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya will offer both indoor and outdoor pools, creating an urban resort oasis complete with a poolside waterfall, lush greenery and outdoor cabanas. The hotel will also fea-ture a world-class spa, yoga studio and state-of-the-art fitness centre.
Five dynamic food and beverage of-ferings will attract local and internation-al gourmands alike, including a rooftop pan-Asian restaurant, open-kitchen Ital-ian restaurant and sleek lobby lounge, as well as a poolside restaurant.
Exceptional service is one of the key distinguishing factors of the Four Seasons brand and one that has led to the creation of an ever-growing pool of loyal guests for whom Four Seasons will always remain the hospitality brand of choice. We believe that our level of per-sonalisation, recognition and the atten-tion to detail that make Four Seasons properties so appealing among discern-ing travellers will find a welcome home in Kuwait, where we will make each guest’s experience truly unforgettable.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What is your main strategy going forward?
DIDIER JARDIN: [...] With two ballrooms at our property, as well as a range of conference and banqueting rooms able to welcome up to 2,000 people, one el-ement of our approach will be to pro-mote the MICE segment, which we be-lieve is a huge opportunity for Kuwait, including weddings and entertainment events that will attract leisure visitors into town. [...]
At the same time, leisure guests will delight in the sleek, avant-garde luxury design of our Hotel – a stylish centerpiece of Downtown Kuwait city and a new focal point of the city’s elite social scene. From visitors travelling to see family and friends, to local residents looking for dynamic restaurants and world-class leisure facilities, guests will enjoy our premium offerings all in the comfort of signature Four Seasons per-sonalised service.
Set to open early this year, we look forward to welcoming our first guests through the doors in the first half of the year.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Kuwait is known as a leading business desti-nation but what does it offer leisure guests?
DIDIER JARDIN: As a dynamic inter-national destination, Kuwait City has much to offer the leisure traveller. Local Kuwait residents are particularly proud of the country’s rich and varied din-ing scene, where experimental young chefs, entrepreneurs and investors are creating concepts that attract attention from across the region and beyond. From artisanal markets such as Qout Market to the Taste of Kuwait festival, foodies will discover a passion for Ku-wait’s food and beverage offerings. In-deed, Kuwait City is set to be the food capital of the Middle East by 2030.
In addition, a number of world-class malls and traditional souks offer treats for shoppers of all kinds, while families will find plenty of entertain-ment for the little ones. Kuwait is also home to a vibrant cultural scene, strengthened by the recent opening of the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre, featuring a state-of-the-art op-era house, exhibition halls and a danc-ing fountain, set amongst a spacious parkland.
The Kuwaiti government is com-mitted to promoting tourism as an im-portant component of the economy in the years ahead and we welcome the announced plans to develop tourism infrastructure to achieve the vision of transforming Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub. Key develop-ments have already begun in the avia-tion industry, with the new airport in Kuwait planned for 2022 that will have the capacity to handle 25 million pas-sengers per year with 51 gates and stands suitable for all plane types.
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Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya
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C oncorde Hotel Singapore announced the launch of the brands newly renovated guestrooms, set to enhance the overall guest experience and increase levels of comfort, with revamped bathrooms, wallpapers, lighting fitments and carpets
among other upgraded amenities.With the concept of an urban oasis, the rooms are designed with a neutral colour pal-
ette set to create a home away from home experience with wood and parquet finishes. Un-derstanding the needs of the modern day traveller, the hotel has installed multiple bedside USB power points, allowing simultaneous charging between devices.
The property’s walkways have also been enhaused decorated to express a modern and stylish outlook. Co
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Concorde Hotel Singapore Enhanced Guest Experience
C apitalising on the area’s popularity amongst international travellers, Best Western has inaugurated its third property in Myanmar, situated in Inle Lake’s northern city, Nyaung Shwe.
Best Western Thousand Island Hotel features 48 rooms, a hot tub, a billiard room as well as a riverfront café and a rooftop bar.
Commenting on the opening, Olivier Berrivin, managing director, international operations, Asia, Best Western, said, “Myanmar is one of Asia’s, and the world’s, most exciting new tourism destinations, and we are delighted to have secured another high-quality hotel in this fascinating country.”Be
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GREG PIRKLE has been ap-pointed as general manager at Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh.Pirkle has gained 25 years of experience with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts through-out the world including Ha-waii, the Bahamas, Jakarta and New York. His first general manager position was in Ma-laysia, which was followed by a three year stint in Riyadh. He joined the Red Sea resort from Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
SLIM ZAIANE has been pro-moted to general manager at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, an advancement of his previous position of hotel manager, held since first join-ing the property in 2014.Zaiane has 15 years of experi-ence in luxury hospitality and has worked with international chains such as Sofitel. After beginning his career as front office manager at Red Carna-tions Hotels in London, Zaiane moved to Hilton Hotels and Resorts, where in 2007, com-pleted SHINE 4D, the group’s top talent development pro-gramme. In 2013, Zaiane re-located to Al Bustan Rotana Dubai, where he worked as the property’s executive manager.
JENNIFER BOCCARA has begun her new role of vice president of development, Europe, Middle East and Af-rica for Worldhotels, a role in which she will be responsible the group’s development and expansion strategy.Boccara has extensive experi-ence in properties through-out Europe, with a particularly strong background in sales and marketing. Prior to joining the company, Boccara served as general manager at Hôtel De Sers in Paris. Furthermore, she also held the position of general manager at Hôtel Ed-ouard7 in Paris and led for the opening and renovation of Hôtel De La Paix in Geneva.
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YORK BRANDES has been named general manager at Bab Al Qasr Hotel.Brandes has gained 34 year of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, with a background in food and bev-erage. His first general man-ager position was at Cyprus-based Anassa, a role he held for six years before relocating to The Chedi Muscat, where he developed a new beach restaurant and spa, as well as lead major renovations. Most recently, Brandes was vice president operations for six GHM properties in Singapore.Brandes has a proven track re-cord of implementing strate-gic plans to improve guest ex-perience and revenues across all facets, which he will bring to his new role, aiming to cre-ate memorable experiences for all guests.
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Zaiane has 15 years of ex-perience in luxury hotels
Pirkle joined Four Seasons Hotels and
Resorts 25 years ago
Boccara will lead the group’s development
strategy
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TRAVEL TALKwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
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
EXECUTVE ASSISTANT MANAGER, STAYBRIDGE SUITES CAIRO CITYSTARS
“I am extremely proud of the success that Staybridge Suites has achieved in 2016 together with partners. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all colleagues for their dedi-cation and tireless pursuit of excellence. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our val-ued guests for their continued support. Our guests will see a continuation of our commit-ment to providing the best ac-commodation experience and services in the year to come. [2016] has truly been an excep-tional year, full of challenges and economical fluctuations [...].”
[2016] has truly been an exceptional year
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PRESIDENT, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AND OWNER RELATIONS, FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS
“Long-term partnerships with hotel owners are at the core of our business model, and just as each Four Seasons property is unique, so too is each indi-vidual hotel owner. Having a clear eye on the unique vision and objectives of each hotel owner and applying the same level of customisation to these relationships as we do with our guests continues to be a key competitive advantage for Four Seasons. Building strong relationships with hotel own-ers is fundamentally grounded in trust, [...].”
Building strong relationships with hotel owners is [...] grounded in trust
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GENERAL MANAGER, HOLIDAY INN MUSCAT AL SEEB
“It is an honour to receive [Gen-eral Manager of the Year Award for India, Middle East and Af-rica] and I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their contributions. We strive to de-liver consistently first class cus-tomer service at Action Hotel’s Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb and this award is a reflection of the entire team’s focus on putting the guest first.”
We strive to deliver consistently first class customer service
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HEAD, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA, OMAN AIR
“Oman Air is [...] proud to ac-cept the Best Arab Air Car-rier supporting Arab Tourism award [...]. Since last year, Oman Air saw the introduction of six new Boeing 737-800s and two B787-800s [to] the air-line's fleet [...]. This will not only offer more people a superla-tive passenger experience, but also enable even more people to visit Oman and discover for themselves the unique beauty and timeless culture of this wonderful country, which is increasingly renowned at an international level as a distin-guished tourist destination.”
Since last year, Oman Air saw the introduction of [eight aircraft]
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Cairo has been selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as one of the 10 cities to host global dinners, supporting the World Food Programmes (WFP) initiative to eliminate world hunger. The dinner was held on January
12 in Aida Ballroom, Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayy-am Casino, with high-profile celebrities and humanitarian personnel attending. The dinner was prepared by Chef Hassan and was based on Egypt’s four food staples in-cluding fresh fruits, meat, beans and bread. In addition, WFP’s application Share The Meal was introduced at the dinner. The application allows users to donate meals especially to Syrians. The series of dinners aim to create awareness about the UN’s goals against famine and to eliminate malnutrition.
H.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, minister, labour and social develop-ment, Saudi Arabia and H.E. Ali bin Nasser Ghafis, president, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) signed an agreement on January 25 aiming to increase Saudisation ratios in the tourism sector.
The two officials met at the headquarters of SCTH and also formed a council of sectors of tourism and national heritage professions, uniting a number of key authorities and tourism sector representatives as members who revised wages, working hours and incentives provided by the industry. Further agreements were signed with 11 hotels in support of the Sau-disation agenda with creating job opportunities for Saudis seeking work in the hospitality sector.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has now released the GSTC Indus-try Criteria which represents the world’s baseline standards for evaluating sus-tainable tourism while serving as educational, awareness-raising tools for busi-ness and government agencies.
The GSTC criteria came as a result of a global effort towards developing a common language regarding sustainability in the industry and are arranged in four fields including sustainable management, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental impacts. Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC, noted, “The GSTC Industry Criteria form a private sector um-brella, […] opens the path for us to create baseline standards for other sub-sectors beyond hotels and tour operators.” It is expected that within the coming months, GSTC criteria will be translated into many languages.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company gave the opportunity to train-ees of its National Development Programme (NDP) to par-ticipate in long-term strategic business planning during a three-day retreat in Al Ain.
Currently, 88 UAE nationals are enrolled in the NDP, pro-viding full-spectrum professional training for developing a career within the company. The retreat enabled the junior business minds to share their views and suggestions on the company’s operations with executive management.
Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said, “We have a strong pool of ambitious and talented young Emiratis en-rolled on our NDP. […] By inviting trainees to take part in the strategic decision making process right from the beginning of their careers, we hope to inspire them to continue to want to make a difference as they work towards becoming the airport professionals of tomorrow.”
Cairo Marriott Supports
Elimihating Hunger
Official Step Towards Saudisation in Tourism
GSTC Releases Industry Criteria
Future Airport Professionals Involved in
Strategic Planning
Aida Ballroom, Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
From left, H.E. Ali bin Nasser Ghafis and H.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz
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Two live shows of Cats the Musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber were organised on the ground of Dubai International Airport this January, as a part of the airport’s ongoing en-tertainment initiative #musicDBX.
Since November 2015, passengers have been wit-nessing regular series of concerts and musical events by the local with international artists, turning the airport into a world’s music stage.
The show was conducted by selected members of the cast performing the musical at Dubai Opera from January 16 – 28.
Zayed University officially inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the governmental author-ity responsible for the preservation, protection and promotion of the emirate’s cultural heritage, tourism and culture at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi campus.
The MoU was signed by Reyadh AlMehaideb, vice president, Zayed University, and H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, in the presence of a number of senior officials from both sides.
The partnership serves as a framework to facilitate joint collaboration and cooperation between the two parties with an aim to create mutual opportunities of partnership and ex-change of expertise and benefits.
As part of Deutsche Hospitality’s Sustainability Programme, the company is financ-ing the construction of three water treatment plants in the Egyptian desert.
Since March 01, 2016, the hotel company has been running a website cam-paign entitled 1x1, by which it makes a donation of EUR1 per online booking received to support the initiative with a five-figure sum already been made
available. The project is being implemented by the climate protection organisation named Atmosfair, in conjunction with the American University of Cairo.
The first plant, which was completed at the end of 2016 in the small town of El Kefah, is al-ready supplying an excess of 10,000 L of clean water daily. Enough to suply all local inhabitants of the area mentioned. Following positive feedback from users, two further plants are now planned.
Following the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations that took place in Kerala in 2008, local governments and communities have recently taken active steps to create supplementary incomes for the local people,
and avoid dependence upon tourism.The Government enabled villagers to sell fruits and vegeta-
bles from their gardens to hotels and resorts while also encour-aging the industry to employ local people for maintenance and repairs and to sell their crafts.
The Kerala Responsible Tourism initiative has created ad-ditional livelihood opportunities for rural families by provid-ing access to an additional market for their local produce and to spread the benefits of tourism beyond families immediate-ly employed in the industry.
Dubai International Committed to
Quality Entertainment
Zayed University Team with TCA Abu Dhabi
Additional Water Plant Projects to Launch in Egypt
Encouraging Self-Reliance of Local Communities in
Kerala
Cats the Musical
Local villagers in Kerala
Zayed University Abu Dhabi Campus
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NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Sharjah Holds Seventh Light Festival
Autumn Fair 2017 Completed
India Set to Become the Sixth Largest Global Business
Travel Market
The seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival kicked off at the Uni-versity City Hall in Sharjah City, and ran for 10 days from Febru-ary 02 – 11. The event was organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), under the pa-
tronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, ruler, Sharjah.The annual display covered 14 different locations spread across the
emirate, including architectural landmarks, mosques and historic build-ings, which were brought to life with an array of light displays and musi-cal performances, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of Sharjah’s archi-tectural landscape.
Locations include University City Hall, Cultural Palace, Al Noor Mosque, Al Taqwa Mosque, and Al Qasba. In addition to the interactive light shows in the Palm Garden and the parade on the Khalid Lagoon Corniche, other locations around the emirate include Kalba University, Khor Fakkan University, Dibba Mosque, Al Dhaid Mosque, and Masjid Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi in Dibba. This in addition to the in-teractive technology show at Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, which is joining the festivities for the first time this year.
In the presnce of H.E. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, minister, industry, commerce and tourism, Bahrain, H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Humoud Al Khalifa, CEO, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, inaugurated the 28th edition of Bahrain's Autumn Fair 2017, organised by Arabian
Exhibition Management and held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The event is considered one of the largest consumer exhibitions in the region, giving visitors an opportunity to browse and shop under one roof, amid a wide variety of diverse products from all around the world. It covered 15,400 m2, and welcomed 750 local and international businesses from 20 countries for a period of nine days.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation an-nounced the results of its latest GBTA BTI Outlook – India report, a semi-annual analysis related to the unfolding of economic events at home and abroad and their resulting impacts on India’s busi-
ness travel market. The report revealed continual double digit business travel spending growth for India, despite fears of fallout from the country’s resent demonetisation.
The report forecasted an 11.4 percent growth in business travel spending in 2016, followed by another 11.6 percent this year, reporting increases over previous forecasts that reached USD36.8 billion.
The foundation projected that India will become the sixth largest busi-ness travel market in the world by the end of 2019.
Messe Frankfurt Middle East has revealed the upcoming launch of Automechanika Riyadh 2018, to be held at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center over three days.
The 17th global installment of the event, organised in part-nership with Al-Harithy Company for Exhibition, will further extend Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s presence in Saudi Arabia’s automotive aftermarket.
The Riyadh edition of the exhibition will take place every two years, alternating with Automechanika Jeddah, which will run for the third year in 2019.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said, “Given the encouraging response to Automechanika Jeddah, we are confident that Automechanika Riyadh will enable us to successfully reach and engage with the significant markets of the central and eastern regions, which will strengthen the event’s footprint.”
Automechanika Riyadh 2018 Unveiled
Inauguration of Autumn Fair 2017
University City Hall, Sharjah City
Riyadh
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Dubai Airports and Chinese airlines celebrated Chinese New Year with passengers
Guests staying at The Address Dubai Marina enjoyed the sounds of a digeridoo in celebration of Australia day
Emirates Group joined hands to commemorate India’s 68th Republic Day
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort offers an all-inclusive birthday party packages
Sharjah Ladies Club has launched its twice-monthly fun night for local
youngsters
Comedians are preparing for the UAE’s second edition of Montreux Comedy Festival, to be held
on March 15 – 16
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NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Significant Ukraine
Representation at AIM
Focussing on Sustainable
Food and Beverages
The seventh edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), taking place on April 02 – 04 at the Dubai World
Trade Centre, expects to welcome a large Ukrainian delegation.
Ukrainian Business Associa-tion has become one of the official partners of the event after signing an agreement with AIM during the Ukraine-UAE Networking Forum.
Dawood Al Shezawi, head, organ-ising committee, AIM, commented on the outcome of the agreement, “Ukraine will take part in AIM as an exhibitor and many Ukrainian com-panies have confirmed their pres-ence at the event; there will also be a country presentation and we hope that AIM 2017 will enable more deals and opportunities for collaboration between Ukraine and UAE.”
Corporate social responsibility in tourism will be a dominant theme at ITB Berlin this year with ITB CSR Day featuring
the key topic Sustainable Food and Beverages in the Hotel Industry and at Tourism Destinations.
In line with this initiative, on March 10, leading figures in politics, business and science will discuss innovative concepts, best practices and the eco-nomic potential of sustainable tourism, acknowledging that food and drink are vital to life, a part of people’s lifestyle and important in tourism. A panel will discuss the future impact of sustain-able food and beverages and how hotel managers should address the issue and what obstacles need to be overcome.
ITB BERLIN
Berlin, GermanyMarch 08 – 12 www.itb-berlin.deIndustry professionals from 187 countries are expected to attend one of the world’s biggest travel trade fairs.
MITT
Moscow, RussiaMarch 14 – 16 www.mitt.ruThe 24th edition of one of the leading business-to-business travel events will offer a wealth of opportunities for partnerships within Russia, CIS, and beyond.
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET AFRICA
Cape TownApril 19 – 21 www.africa.wtm.comNearly 5,000 travel industry professionals are expected to attend one of the leading business-to-business exhibitions for the inbound and outbound Africa tourism market.
EVENTS
