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AIR ARABIA JORDAN LANDS IN RIYADH
WESTIN CELEBRATES PRESENCE IN DOHA
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16 APRIL 2016 ISSUE 336
DUBAI: WORLD’S BUSIEST HUB FOR GLOBAL PASSENGERS
AIR12
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CruisingTravel TalkAgent Corner
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
16 APRIL 20162
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Bahrain (BHD)
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Dinar
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Dirham
Dinar
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Rial
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Dirham
Pound
Dinar
Rial
0.37
0.71
0.39
3.64
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108.78
8.87
30,284.75
1,106.90
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1,512.25
1.36
9.69
219.85
2.01
249.84
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
15.4.2016as ofMENA EXCHANGE RATES
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli
SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba
JOURNALIST
Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR
Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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FEBRUARY SHOWS A MIXED PICTURE
SIX FLAGS PROJECT GETS FINANCIAL SUPPORT
According to STR Global’s data, hotels in the Middle East reported negative performance, while properties in Africa registered mostly positive results for the three key metrics in February.
Dubai Parks and Resorts secured AED993 million (USD270 million) from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Sharjah Islamic Bank to fund part of the proposed Six Flags-branded theme attraction.
The subcontinental region witnessed a 5.3 percent year-on-year decrease in occupancy to 70.2 percent, average daily rate (ADR) slipped 10.5 percent to USD182.45, and RevPAR dropped 15.2 percent to USD128.12.
More specifically, Qatar appeared affected by the overall trend and the slump in oil prices, as all three indicators presented downturns.
On the contrary, the African market experienced a 2.5 percent decline in occupancy to 56.1 percent; however, ADR climbed 8.1 percent to USD105.16, and RevPAR increased 5.5 percent to USD58.95.
The company is seeking to primarily raise AED2.67 billion (USD727 million) to finance the development of the park, through a combination of debt and equity funding.
Expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2019, Six Flags Dubai will boast 27 rides and as Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said, will strengthen the
destination’s appeal for thrill seekers of all ages.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Kuwait to Spend USD1 Billion on Tourism
Moreover, World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that tourist arrivals will surge to 440,000 by 2024, up from 270,000 in 2014.
With names such as Four Seasons, Mercure, Hilton and Grand Hyatt launch-ing soon in the destination, Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, ATM, noted, “Ku-wait is focussed on adding new high-profile brands to its hotel mix as well as opening up the country with its expansion programme for Kuwait International Airport.”
According to Arabian Travel Market (ATM)’s estimations, investment in Kuwait’s travel and tourism sector is forecasted to grow 4.3 percent per annum over the next decade, with the total figure
reaching KWD276 million (USD1 billion) by 2025.
Middle East Dominates GMTI
Eight countries from the Mid-dle East and Africa region ranked among the top 10
global Muslim destinations, ac-cording to the latest MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).
Research showed the UAE move up to second place on the list of Or-ganisation of Islamic Cooperation, with five out of the other six GCC states also placed among the top 10 locations.
The study also revealed that there were an estimated 117 mil-lion Muslim arrivals in 2015 globally, representing almost 10 percent of the total figure. This is forecasted to grow to 168 million visitors by 2020 with the market value spend pro-jected to exceed USD200 billion. Ku
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
16 APRIL 2016
Kuwait Receives New Dutch Visa Facility
Yas Island Gains Popularity
Abu Dhabi Targets Africa
With strong demand antici-pated for the homes in the new Yas Island neighbour-
hoods, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO, Aldar Properties, said that the destination is steadily evolving from an entertainment and leisure option, into a living as well as tourism attraction.
“Drawn by the choice of modern hotels and leisure activities, visitors marvel at how much there is to do on the island,” continued Al Mubarak, adding that as more and more of Yas Island’s amenities come online, it is be-coming popular with people seeking quality education, family-friendly en-tertainment as well as vibrant dining, lifestyle and fitness options as part of their everyday lives.
Aiming to capitalise on the growth in visitor num-bers to the emirate from South Africa, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)
was joined by some of the destination‘s key industry players at World Travel Market Africa.
Nothing that the authority opened a dedicated branch in Johannesburg in 2015, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of promotions and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi, commented, “We witnessed highly impressive growth of 42 percent year-on-year in the number of South African guest arrivals into Abu Dhabi to reach 26,147 in 2015.”
He added that the number of guest nights also in-creased 27 percent to more than 91,000.
Kuwaiti residents can now get visas to the Netherlands at a new ap-plication centre launched by the European country’s embassy in Kuwait City.
Frans Potuyt, ambassador to Kuwait, Netherlands, explained, “As the number of visa applications has risen sharply over the last couple of years, our embassy is not able to extend the necessary services anymore [...].”
Travellers can visit the VFS Global facility to submit documents and en-rol for biometrics in a centrally-located and comfortable environment, as the Netherlands joins eight other Schengen member governments offering visa services at the same centre, making it more convenient for tourists planning multiple business or leisure trips abroad to apply at a single location.
DID YOU KNOW...
Yas Island is being developed in line with
Vision 2030, which aims to raise the standard
of living for all people living and visiting the
emirate?
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TDIC Offers Louvre Tour
The developer of the Saadiyat Cul-tural District, Tourism Develop-ment & Investment Company
(TDIC) hosted a delegation of 15 French ambassadors and consuls based in the Middle East, on a tour to the Louvre Abu Dhabi construction site.
The visit encompassed access to the museum’s distinctive dome and a briefing on the progress, including preparations for the removal of barriers that will re-sult in the strategic flooding of key areas, which will cause the museum to appear as a floating island, once completed.
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WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Royal Suites aboard Royal Caribbean Ships
M ore customised adventures, broader exclusive access and a plethora of inclu-sive amenities await guests aboard the cruise line’s Oasis and Quantum class vessels. Star class is deemed the new definition of VIP with what is said to be
the most spacious and beyond-the-imagination units at sea. Sky category passengers also enjoy personalised services with a myriad of perks, while for those looking to rest and recharge between adventures, sea class tickets are also available.
N orwegian Cruise Line’s US-flagged Pride of America returned to its homeport of Honolulu in Hawaii, following a three-and-a-half week dry dock where
it received ship-wide enhancements, including newly-de-signed public spaces, with a restaurant, bars, lounges and pool deck, brand-new venues as well as refreshed decor in all staterooms.
The vessel’s extensive renovation forms part of the com-pany’s USD400 million investment programme that sets a new standard of excellence for the brand encompassing the entire guest experience.
Andy Stuart, president, Norwegian Cruise Line, en-thused, “Pride of America is now essentially a new ship, and the only one to offer this incredibly unique way to experi-ence the Hawaiian Islands with 100 hours of time in port.”
Norwegian Unveils Pride of America’s New Look
Staying true to its promise to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for discerning holiday-makers, Royal Caribbean International introduced the royal suites class.
Crystal Cruises Embarks on Luxurious Path
C rystal Cruises recently exhibited at the AMEX World Luxury Expo in Riyadh.
During the event, which attracted over 3,000 visitors over a three-day period, a member of the Saudi royal family was presented with a gift to experience four days aboard Crystal Esprit, the latest addition to the Crys-tal Luxury Lifestyle Portfolio and the first of the Crystal Yacht cruise fleet.
The newest ship marks the beginning of the com-pany’s brand expansion into luxury travel as it also an-ticipates the launch of Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Luxury Air.
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Minor Further Expands in the UAE
A nantara Jebel Dhanna and AVANI Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhabi will soon begin development and are both scheduled to open in 2018.
The Anantara property will boast 60 keys across three villa types, two res-taurants, a pool bar, gym, swimming pool and spa.
The neighbouring AVANI hotel will have 230 units – 170 deluxe and 60 superior rooms including a kitchenette – multiple dining options, a gym and pool.
In addition, guests will enjoy shared facilities such as a flexible meeting and ban-queting space, a kids’ club and outdoor recreation areas.
Minor Hotel Group added two new projects to its UAE pipeline.
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Saudi Arabia Turns to
Midmarket Hotels
Royal Tulip Achrafieh to Open in
June
T he hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia is witnessing a significant shift towards
midrange properties, according to TOPHOTELPROJECTS’ new report commissioned by The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia.
In a market dominated by five-star hotels, most developments currently underway across the Kingdom are in the midmarket segment.
According to Carlos Khneiss-er, vice president, development, MENA, Hilton Worldwide, the trend is obvious regionally.
“In the fourth quarter of 2015, three Hilton Garden Inn hotels opened in Dubai – which joined two Hilton Garden Inn properties in Saudi Arabia, to attract a whole new segment of guests eager to experi-ence world-class destinations at an affordable price,” he added.
T he first guests are ex-pected to check-in at Royal Tulip Achrafieh,
Beirut on June 01.As Nicolas Anghelopoulos,
general manager, Royal Tulip Achrafieh, revealed, the grand opening of the five-star prop-erty is slated for July 01.
“Contemporary elegance and luxury are at front and centre at Royal Tulip Achrafieh, where our 76 spacious rooms and suites offer business and leisure guests a memorable and convenient stay,” said Anghelo-poulos, adding that two meet-ing rooms, a restaurant and a rooftop lounge will also be available.
As he further noted, the property will be Louvre Hotels Group’s second establishment in the Lebanese city’s buzzing area.
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T he Westin Doha Hotel & Spa held its official grand opening with an event that show-cased the property’s bespoke wellbeing offering through a range of entertainment options, with animators, acrobats, synchronised swimmers and musicians.
Gianrico Esposito, general manager, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, said that the 365-unit establishment introduces the residents of Qatar to a new health-enhancing and rejuvena-tion-focussed approach, in one of today’s fastest-growing cities in the world.
“We are bringing a new landmark to the historical district of Feerej Bin Mahmoud,” he added. Located in the heart of Salwa Road, the launch of the property marks Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide’s fourth hotel in Qatar.
Following the recent an-nouncement of Gran Meliá Ghoo, Meliá Hotels Interna-
tional’s first property in Iran, the company is exploring further expan-sion in the country at destinations with high potential, such as Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz and Esfahan.
The hotelier currently operates two establishments in the Middle East, Meliá Dubai and Meliá Doha, and is already preparing for five more openings, namely Innside Doha, Innside Dubai, Meliá Dubai Residences, ME Dubai, and the newly-announced Tehran project.
The company is also negoti-ating new hotels in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.
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I n light of Dubai’s growing room inventory, Ramada Downtown Dubai is determined to highlight the property’s strategic location and competitive rates in order to attract a wider pool of visitors.
“We have to be extra bullish given the tougher competition in our area, and we are confident that our products are well-suited to the needs of the market,” commented Samir Arora, general manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai.
The management is particularly eager to promote the hotel in India, China and eastern Europe, while also paying attention to the ever-important corporate segment. Ra
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Westin Celebrates Presence in Doha
Meliá Sees Potential in Iran
Ramada Downtown Dubai to Diversify Guest Mix
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A iming to make business travellers feel at home, Warwick Hotel Dubai intro-duced its new premium business rooms which combine large surroundings and special amenities, such as complimentary Wi-Fi, a printing butler and in-
room dining.Offering 52m2 of space and spanning from the fifth to the 26th floor, the higher
units boast views of Dubai.“As a regular business traveller, it is normal to wish your hotel room reflected more
of your home comforts. With our premium business rooms we have created a person-alised package that will help make the lives of the modern business travellers easier,” commented Bruno Hivon, general manager, Warwick Hotel Dubai.
Warwick Dubai Launches Business Rooms
Hotel Managers’ Association Evolves
Launched in February as the world’s first global body dedicated to the hospital-
ity management community, The Honourable Order of International Hotel General Managers will now be known as The International Associa-tion of Hotel General Managers.
The alliance’s website and email addresses have also changed in line with the new decision, and a number of additional enhancements have been made to improve functionality.
Aiming to provide members with access to a broad range of portable benefit plans, including medical as well as retirement and pension op-tions, the entity is preparing to wel-come a career management centre and an academy for professional de-velopment.W
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ibis Styles Jumeira to Lure Budget Travellers
ONYX Witnesses Rise in Middle East Visitors
ONYX Hospitality Group’s Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok and Amari Residences Bangkok are witnessing a surge in popularity with guests
from the Middle East.During a recent sales trip to the UAE and Qatar, Ma-
riefe Barce Ugalde, general manager, Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok, revealed that during school holidays and the summer months, travellers from the region represent over 90 percent of bookings at the property.
Featuring 129 modern residences, the other Thai es-tablishment witnessed similar increases in occupancy with Arab visitors, with Apichet Ongsri, general manager, Amari Residences Bangkok, commenting, “[We are] fully equipped to cater to the needs of medical tourists from the Middle East with Arabic-speaking staff [and] Thai staff trained in customs and traditions of the region.”
With this year’s Arabian Travel Market’s focus on the midmarket segment, ibis Styles Jumeira aims to showcase the property’s chic and hip characteristics
at the event. Exhibiting with owning company R Hotels, the establishment
will strive to attract budget-conscious guests and form new partnerships.
“With less than a year in operation, ibis Styles Jumeira has seen a good start with an average occupancy of 70 percent since its opening,” revealed Muhammad Haider, hotel manager, ibis Styles Jumeira, adding that the brand seeks to reinvent the im-age of economy hotels.
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai
Targets Families
Highlighting its newly-launched room categories, Hawthown Suites by Wyndham Dubai is focussing on fam-
ily travellers, especially from the GCC region. The recently-unveiled family one-bed-
room suites were designed for two adults and two children or four adults, while the three-bedroom units connect a two-bedroom and a deluxe suite, ideal for larger groups.
“We seek to find new leads in the GCC, especially from Saudi Arabia, as well as other regions during [this year’s] Arabian Travel Market. On top of our new offers, we show-case our upgraded products and services, and secure continuous business with our current partners,” said Samir Arora, general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai. ib
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Ramada Ajman Hotels Eye New Markets
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Aj-man aim to further strengthen
their presence in the region and tap into new sources.
Having achieved an average oc-cupancy of 92 percent in 2015, driven by strong demand from India, Paki-stan, Russia and the GCC, the proper-ties now seek to explore new partner-ships in Scandinavian, Baltic, Balkans and Eastern European regions at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market. In order to generate interest, the man-agement team has begun to sign contracts with destination manage-ment companies and tour operators from these areas and is expecting increased arrivals during the summer period.
DID YOU KNOW...
Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman boasts a
3,470m2 ballroom?
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Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok
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SCTH Joins Hands
with AccorHotels
Preferred Hotels Benefit from Regional
Demand
Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH), rep-
resented by the National Center for Tourism Human Resources Development (Takamul), supported Ac-corHotels’ training initiative for qualifying Saudis to join the hospitality sector.
“Such programmes are the essential foundation for the preparation of future leaders of Saudi youth for management and opera-tion of this sector, especially since the curriculum for the programme, which lasts 15 months, features specialised academic education followed by a number of practical train-ing courses,” elaborated Nasir bin Abdul Aziz Al Nashmi, di-rector general, Takamul.
A ccording to Preferred Hotels & Resorts book-ing data, room nights
from outbound business origi-nating form the Middle East increased 21 percent year-on-year in 2015.
The UK, France, Turkey, US and Spain were the top five destinations for regional travel-lers, pushing annual revenue generated for the company’s member hotels through the brand’s channels up 18.1 per-cent, with an average room rate of USD237 and length of stay up to 3.14 nights per booking.
“The financial results from the Middle East are exceptional and played a significant role in our company’s overall growth,” commented Lindsey Ueber-roth, president, Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
C ontinuing to expand its team of professionals, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara has employed over 70 locals to as part of its pre-opening workforce. This represents 50 percent of the
team and the percentage is expected to remain at the same level as the property reaches its full manning of 314 members over the next few months.
To support Omanis in their new roles, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will be offering training programmes in resorts across Bangkok, Phuket, Samui and Chiang Rai to enable employees to hone their skills.
“We are also working with several local businesses that will provide tours and excursions to the many wonderful sites and attractions that Salalah has to offer,” said James Hewitson, general manager, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara.
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Al Baleed Resort Boosts Omanisation Efforts
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
PassengersDUBAI INTERNATIONAL ONCE AGAIN CAME ON TOP AS THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE HUB IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC, AHEAD OF LONDON’S HEATHROW AIRPORT.
B ased on data from 1,144 global locations, Airport Council International (ACI)’s results revealed that in 2015, Dubai moved up three places, compared to 2014, to rank as the third busiest airfield with total pas-senger movements growing 10.7 percent year-on-year.
In addition, Doha’s Hamad International Airport was among the 20 best-performing hubs in terms of cargo, with a 46 percent rise in freight volumes.
“We continue to observe double-digit growth rates at major Middle Eastern and Asian hubs serving long-haul routes in emerging markets. With the continued rise in per-capita income and liberalisation of air transport across these markets, the propensity to travel by air will rise accordingly,” said Angela Gittens, director general, ACI World.
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DUBAI: WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL
Q atar Airways added a second daily nonstop service on its popu-lar route between its Doha hub and John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.
Operated by an Airbus A350, the itinerary is the 10th link connecting the Middle Eastern city to the US.
Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, commented, “Business travel between New York City and Singapore on Qatar Airways is now one of our most popular routes, offering business travellers a best-in-class ex-perience featuring the Airbus 350 – the most technologically advanced aircraft in commercial aviation flying today – on every leg of the journey.”
Qatar Airways Doubles New York Flights
Emirates: 10 Daily Flights to London
F urther cementing the UK capital’s po-sition as Emirates’ most popular desti-nation outside Dubai, the airline is to
operate 10 daily frequencies to London.Effective from October 01, the carrier
will offer a fourth daily service to Gatwick Airport, complementing the six options to Heathrow Airport and bringing the total weekly figure to 70 flights.
“With British expatriates forming the largest western community in Dubai, it is not surprising to witness continued strong demand for travel between Dubai and the five cities we currently serve in the UK,” noted Hubert Frach, divisional senior vice president, commercial operations, west, Emirates.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
I n a bid to cater to the increased demand over the summer, Etihad Airways will introduce three additional passenger flights per week
between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi from July until September.
Complementing the airline’s existing daily ser-vice between the two cities, the new offering will be operated by a combination of Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with a total of 2,200 ex-tra seats in business and 21,500 in economy class over the three-month period.
John Friel, general manager, South Africa, Eti-had Airways, commented, “[The flights] provide our guests travelling from South Africa with great-er access to a large number of popular holiday destinations across our global network, in Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Australia and the US.”
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Q atar Airways applied an aircraft upgrade on the Doha – Ge-neva route.
As of July 01, it will become the airline’s second Boeing 787 Dreamliner itinerary to Switzerland after Zürich.
Currently operated by an Airbus A320 with 132 seats, the direct daily service will have double passenger capacity to 254 seats, while freight capability will also grow to 80 tonnes of cargo per week.
Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, commented that the step is a result of the high level of demand for travel to Geneva from across the carrier’s worldwide network.
Etihad Boosts Johannesburg Route
Qatar Airways Dreamliner to Serve Geneva
A ir Arabia Jordan launched a new route from Amman to Riyadh. The thrice-weekly service marks the carrier’s first addition this year. The capital became
the third Saudi city in Air Arabia Jordan’s network, after Dammam and Jeddah.Riyadh is the main financial hub of the country and maintains strong business relations with Jor-
dan. With a growing population and an economy that is diversifying away from oil and gas, the desti-nation’s domestic market is hailed as a strong opportunity for investment.
The Jordanian airline, which commenced operations in early 2015, also flies to Erbil, Sharm El Sheikh and Kuwait.
Air Arabia Jordan Lands in Riyadh
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Qatar Executive Adds to Private Jet Fleet
Emirates SkyCargo Expands to Phnom Penh
Emirates’ freight division, Emirates SkyCargo further strengthened its extensive route network with the launch of a weekly route to Phnom Penh.
The cargo service to the Cambodian capital is the com-pany’s 53rd destination on its global freighter list and the 13th in the Far East.
“Establishing a presence in this market will position Emirates SkyCargo to benefit from the healthy growth po-tential,” said Hiran Perera, senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo.
Etihad Expands Partnership with Amadeus
Emirates and Malaysia Airlines Codeshare
Etihad Airways and Amadeus renewed their full content agreement which ensures that travel agencies connected to the technology provider have continued access to the airline’s full inventory of flights, seats and other services.
Under the deal, Amadeus’ expanded rich content capabilities allow the Abu Dhabi carrier to display images of its prod-uct and ancillary services so that travellers can actually see the offerings when booking through agents.
Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, said, “Rich content showcases our innovative spirit and care-ful attention to detail. We know that agents will notice the difference and will be able to sell our award winning product well informed and with confidence if they are able to look before they book.”
Emirates and Malaysia Airlines unveiled new routes and frequent flyer benefits as part of their codeshare agreement.The itineraries cover 15 key cities in the Asian country, and under the deal, Emirates’ flight number will be placed on Malaysia
Airlines services on those destinations. In turn, the national carrier sited its code on the Kuala Lumpur – Dubai itinerary operated by the UAE airline.
Travellers from the region will benefit from an expanded network including 90 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, earn and redeem miles on any Emirates and Malaysia Airlines, said Thierry Antinori, executive vice president, Emirates.
Qatar Airways’ private jet charter division has taken delivery of a second brand-new Gulfstream G650ER.
The airliner, that can easily fly nonstop from the Middle East to North Africa and from Asia to Africa, has already gained popularity among Qatar Executive’s clientele.
“The G650ER allows our customers to reach the main business centres around the world in the shortest possible time, to travel in superior com-fort, and to take more luggage along than on other jets in this category,” commented Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways.
Gulfstream G650ER
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O man Air and SATS signed a joint venture agreement for cargo handling at Muscat International Airport.
Under the deal, the carrier will transfer its freight business and related assets to its wholly-owned subsidiary Oman Air Cargo, in which SATS will subsequently acquire a 33 percent equity stake. The new company will then be renamed Oman SATS Cargo.
Expected to commence operations during the second quarter of the year, the newly-formed entity will have a share capital of OMR500,000 (USD1.76 million).
Oman Air and SATS Form Cargo Handling Entity
Gulf Air Welcomes Key Russian Agents
G ulf Air hosted representatives from major Russian-based MICE travel agencies on a four-day visit to Bahrain.
The trip gave the experts the opportunity to ex-perience the comforts of flying with the national car-rier and enjoy some of the Kingdom’s most notable tourist attractions.
The group also met with Maher Salman AlMus-allam, acting CEO, Gulf Air, and Ahmed Janahi, act-ing chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, to discuss the importance of the trade industry‘s role in promoting the Middle Eastern country.
Hosted Russian team
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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel
R adisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport in Ivory Coast opened to welcome guests at its 261 rooms.
According to Marc Descrozaille, area vice president, Africa and Indian Ocean, The Rezidor Hotel Group, the launch is a testament to the company’s firm belief in the continent’s growth potential.
“This opening allows us to continue to strengthen our position across the continent, particularly in West-ern Africa, offering our guests iconic experiences in our world-class hospitality establishments,” he continued, adding that The Rezidor Hotel Group has 30 hotels and more than 6,000 rooms in the pipeline for the region.
M E by Meliá launched in Downtown Miami, marking the brand’s debut in the US.
Located in the epicentre of the city’s cultural hot-spots, ME Miami boasts 129 rooms across 14 floors, including three ME+ suites, as well as two swimming pools, a restaurant, bar, lounge area, spa, a 24-hour fitness centre and 95m2 of meet-ing space for events and conferences.
Gabriel Escarrer, CEO, Meliá Hotels International, commented, “[...] ME Miami really places the guest in the middle of urban vital-ity and momentum. We are excited about what we have achieved here, and know that our guests will find ME Miami a distinctive and compelling addition to an already robust portfolio of unique properties.”
S tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is expanding the foot-print of Element Hotels in Texas, with Element Dallas East, an adaptive re-use project which is slated for a July 2018 opening.
The 151-key establishment is one of six planned properties scheduled to lauNch within the next three years under the brand in the state. It will be located just across Baylor University Medical Center, and will be transformed from a seven-storey medical office building.
“Element Dallas East will give the brand a second terrific loca-tion within this bustling metropolitan market and accelerate the growth of our select service portfolio in Texas,” said Brian McGuin-ness, senior vice president, specialty select brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
S wiss-Belhotel International continued its growth in the Indonesian hospitality industry with the open-ing of the four-star Swiss-Belhotel Jambi, in Sumatra.
According to Gavin Faull, chairman, Swiss-Belhotel In-ternational, the property is ideally located in a business district to cater to the local trade community as well as to leisure travellers who can enjoy international standards of hospitality and service in the city.
The 136-room hotel with a grand ballroom capable of hosting over 1,200 guests also boasts rooms, starting at a minimum size of 31m2 and various dining outlets including The View Café and signature rooftop outlet, Resto. Ra
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Rezidor Takes On West Africa
ME by Meliá Enters US market
Starwood’s Element Expands in Dallas
Swiss-Belhotel Extends Indonesian Footprint
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the hotel’s unique selling points that have helped to successfully compete in the market for over a decade?
KAMAL ZAYATI: Al Raha Beach Hotel has grown from a 110-room boutique hotel to a 278-key property by 2012 and we recently celebrated our 10th an-niversary. During these years, lots of changes took place and the hotel has con-tinued to serve many people, including holiday-makers and business travellers. The success of our property lies in the leadership […] and our operations team
KAMAL ZAYATI
Q & A
with
GENERAL MANAGER, AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL, ABU DHABI
HAVING RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL IN
ABU DHABI HAS ESTABLISHED A LOYAL CLIENT BASE, THE MANAGEMENT TEAM, HOWEVER, AS KAMAL ZAYATI, GENERAL
MANAGER, AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL, EXPLAINS, STRIVES TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE PROPERTY’S PRODUCT
AND SERVICES.
which continuously strives to achieve excellence in everything we do here. Our private beach has been an impor-tant aspect along with other facilities, which include seven food and bever-age outlets, a large ballroom – which is famous within the UAE local commu-nity for weddings – and our recreation options also play a considerable role in making us stand out.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Over the past decade, Abu Dhabi has trans-formed into a global hub of com-merce and culture. How has the pro-file of your clientele changed?
KAMAL ZAYATI: The hotel has long been serving UAE residents and GCC guests visiting Abu Dhabi for a weekend break, however, many European guests have also been coming regu-larly for longer breaks to enjoy the sun and beach along with shopping and culture. Chinese travellers have started coming to Abu Dhabi in big numbers along with businessmen work-ing on projects around Al Raha Beach and the airport. The ho-tel has also been utilised for various offsite meetings and conferences by companies in Dubai and abroad, and the MICE segment’s potential is continuously growing in line with the growth in city-wide events in and around Abu Dha-bi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How important is the events and MICE segments to your hotel’s total revenue?
KAMAL ZAYATI: The hotel has made its mark in the mind of the UAE’s local community for weddings. Many mul-tinational companies use our facilities for their offsite conferences, meet-ings and we also welcome incentive groups. This is the segment where we see the highest potential for growth as Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Etihad Airways have been continu-ously promoting the destination glob-ally. ADNEC’s event pipeline has been continuously growing which has had a direct impact on demand for hotels and our close proximity to the airport and ADNEC are advantageous. With a capability to host up to 1,000 people
in our ballroom and at our beachfront arena for social events, along with our meeting rooms, the MICE segment has a huge potential for growth and we are focussing our efforts on grabbing our fair share of this growing segment
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your expectations for the coming years? Will demand be able to absorb supply?
KAMAL ZAYATI: Competition in every part of life is an opportunity to change and move out of the comfort zone. At the same time, this helps us to be more creative and companies which will easily adapt to the changing environment will evolve as the leaders followed by others.
Abu Dhabi’s hotel industry has ex-perienced a huge growth in new estab-
Al Raha Beach Hotel
lishments recently as more and more hotels are coming up every year. Histor-ical dependency on local corporate and government business is the thing of the past. Many international travellers from China, Europe, CIS, US and the GCC, in-cluding business delegations, are now looking at Abu Dhabi as a possible op-tion to visit.
With the planned infrastructure development for tourism and conven-tions, Abu Dhabi’s hotels will continu-ously be able to drive an average 75 – 80 percent occupancy at a healthy average rate comparable to many other devel-oped nations. While this infrastructure is being developed, hotels will need to be more creative in their offerings to the markets and economies they serve.
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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
BINU VARGHESE has been selected as executive assis-tant manager of operations at Wyndham Dubai Marina. He joins the team after more than 17 years in the industry, seven of which he spent with Wyndham Hotel Group. Varghese has vast experience in Europe, Middle East and Af-rica, having previously worked on pre-openings in Bahrain, Tanzania as well as Ethiopia. In addition to overlooking daily operations, his new role will be to lead and develop the food and beverage department, cre-ate development and training plans, implement standard op-eration procedures as well as monitor the guest satisfaction scores and efficiency.
ASIF RAZA has been named executive assistant manager at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, where he will man-age the hotel’s sales opera-tions and cluster teams.With over 15 years of experi-ence with Hyatt, Raza com-menced his career at Hyatt Regency Jeddah as a sales manager in 2001. He later moved to Grand Hyatt Mus-cat, holding the same po-sition, and was eventually promoted to associate direc-tor of sales in 2007. Subse-quently, Raza progressed to the pre-launch team of Park Hyatt Jeddah where he worked as director of sales and marketing. Most recently, he led the pre-opening of Hyatt Re-gency Riyadh-Olaya where he served as executive assistance manager.
ALLANA THOMAS has been appointed hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island.Joining from Stamford Plaza Auckland, New Zealand, where she also served in the same po-sition, Thomas brings with her 19 years of experience. After graduating from college in 1997, she joined InterCon-tinental Hotels Group (IHG) and stayed with the company for 17 years before moving to the Stamford Plaza Auckland in 2014. Thomas’ extensive knowledge and experience are expected to have an immense positive impact on the hotel as well as on her new colleagues.
ZIAD EL HAWI is the new ex-ecutive assistance manager in charge of sales and marketing at Grand Millennium Dubai. El Hawi boasts more than 20 years’ experience within the hospitality industry and a proven track record in the sales and marketing fields with five-star establishments across the Middle East. He started his career in Saudi Arabia, working within Inter-Continental Hotels Group for seven years prior to moving to Dubai in 2004 where he served in a director’s level at Rotana Hotel Management and Mövenpick Hotels & Re-sorts for seven and five years, respectively.
Thomas has already served IHG for
17 years
Varghese has vast experience in Europe,
Middle East and Africa
El Hawi has over two decades of industry
experience
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16 APRIL 2016
BASTIEN BLANC has been named vice president of sales and marketing for the Middle East, Africa and India at FRHI Hotels & Resorts. Blanc joins the hotelier at a time of growth within the lux-ury market, with its regional footprint expected to double over the next five years. He will be positioned to help to drive the company’s strategic vision forward and reinforce its brand presence. Blanc, who has over 25 years’ industry experience, will be responsible for the overall sales and marketing opera-tions for 19 hotels and will oversee the development and implementation of strategies, plans and budgets for new and transitional properties in the region.
SAIF SAEED GHOBASH has taken over as the new director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.In addition to his vast experi-ence in strategic, investment and media affairs, Ghobash has held several senior execu-tive positions and has been a member of leading bodies of key government entities, such as The Crown Prince Court.In his new post, Ghobash is ex-pected to further drive perfor-mance in line with the vision and strategy of the authority, while working closely with part-ners in both the governmental and private sectors, towards the development of the infrastruc-ture that supports the industry as well as the delivery of key tourism projects.
MICHEL BOULAD has been appointed director of sales and marketing at O Monot Ho-tel, a luxury five-star boutique property in Beirut.After having graduated from the Glion Institute of Higher Education, Boulad worked in Switzerland, France and the UAE, where he held various sales positions before return-ing to Lebanon. In his new capacity, he will work closely with the hotel owners to further strengthen the property’s corporate rela-tions whilst providing excel-lent Lebanese hospitality with a luxurious European twist.
Boulad has worked in Switzerland, France
and the UAE
Ghobash has held several senior executive
positions
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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel
CHAIRMAN, EMAAR PROPERTIES
ACTING CEO, GULF AIR
“Dubai Opera is our tribute to our city [...], to establish Dubai as a seat of arts, culture, per-forming arts and world-class events. An architectural mas-terpiece, it draws design inspi-ration from our own heritage, while the focus on bringing exclusive and accomplished performing arts places it on the league of the world’s finest theatres. Dubai Opera adds a new dimension to cultural en-tertainment in the city, while adding value to the surround-ing hospitality, retail, touristic and residential developments.”
“The success of this year’s race is a testament to the com-mitment and efforts of our leadership and the Bahraini people as a whole – whose ongoing efforts have been fruitful over the years in se-curing the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix as a firm favourite amongst fans [...] and garnering Bahrain global recognition as a business and tourism destination in the Gulf as well as the home of motorsport in the region. We look forward to welcoming more visitors to Bahrain for many years to come.”
Dubai Opera adds a new dimension to cultural entertainment
We look forward to welcoming more visitors to Bahrain
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SPA MANAGER, THE PALACE DOWNTOWN DUBAI
“The UAE has more than 500 spas divided between hotel spas, medical spas and stand-alone establishments, so there is huge potential for the spa business. We have seen a significant shift among consumers for wellness and preventative health. They are expecting a more proac-tive approach from the spa in addressing primary health concerns. Guests are willing to pay for quality, however, wellness guests will continue to seek out discounts over the next 12 months, there-fore, we should deliver new and innovative promotions.”
Guests are willing to pay for quality
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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
GENERAL MANAGER, DANAT AL AIN RESORT
“Abu Dhabi is not the only city where the oil price drop-ping reflected on the hospi-tality field but [this has also affected] Dubai and other major cities in the GCC, like Riyadh, Kuwait and Doha. Currently, we are focussing more on other segments like MICE and leisure, and we are trying to open new markets in the leisure segment, such as the German, Ukrainian and GCC, along with the current active markets of China and Oman.”
Currently we are focussing more on [...] MICE
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When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry? I travelled to different countries from an early age. Tourism always appealed to me and my career in the sector started following my return to India after com-pleting my formal education in London.
What are the most important attrib-utes of a good tour operator? It is important to have smart business skills, relevant experience and specific personal attributes such as an open mind and sensitivity to people with different needs or from different social and cultural backgrounds; people skills and excellent communication skills; ability to work un-der extreme pressure and at odd hours; analytical skills; passion and energy. Most people forget that the job of a travel agent entails far more than just booking flights or hotels. It requires a lot of indus-try knowledge and logistical skills. As a luxury travel operator, networking and updating our knowledge is equally vital.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers?The most popular ones are, “Have you visited my travel destination person-ally? What destinations work well with my specific interests? Can you match the online rate/deal we have?”
What are the must-visits and must-dos in India that no one should miss?India truly offers different aspects of personality – exotic, extravagant, el-egant and eclectic to each traveller to the country. Our history dates past five millennia No trip to India is complete without a visit to The Taj Mahal in Agra. Some must-dos are celebrating Christ-mas in Goa, spending a night in a house boat in Kerala’s backwaters, taking a walk in the white desert on a full moon night in the Great Rann of Kutch.
Which destination is on your bucket list? Machu Picchu in Peru.
T urkish carrier Atlasglobal appointed SNTTA Travel, a member company of Liberty Group, as the general sales agent (GSA) in Sharjah and the Northern Emir-
ates, for the daily flights between Sharjah and Istanbul Atat-urk Airport which launched on March 27.
The airline’s guests can now fly from the emirate to the Turkish city and connect to other destinations in the country like Izmir, Bodrum, Antalya, Adana and Gaziantep, as well as more than 15 locations across Europe.
As GSA partner, SNTTA Travel offers Atlasglobal passen-gers in the UAE exclusive services as travellers can avail of reservations, ticketing, holiday packages, visa assistance and meet-and-assist facilities, among more.
Atlasglobal Selects SNTTA as Emirati GSA
AGENT’S INSIGHT
Munind Shah
Director
The Travel Planners
India
www.thetravelplanners.in
COMPANY:
POSITION:
NAME:
LOCATION:
WEBSITE:
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities an-nounced that a 3,400-year-old necropolis has been discovered at a quarry site at Ge-bel el Silsila, north of Aswan.
So far, the archaeologist’s team has documented over 40 tombs, including a small shrine on the banks of the Nile, many of which are in bad con-dition as they have suffered from heavy erosion and extreme decay due to the rising water and its high salt contents, revealed Maria Nilsson, director, Gebel el Sil-sila Survey Project.
Gebel el Silsila
Qantas Airways and Tesla Motors, the California-based maker of electric cars, an-nounced their collaboration to drive innovation for their customers and foster sustainability in the transportation industry.
Some of the services and benefits for clients include exclusive events for the airline’s frequent flyers, enabling them to experience new Tesla vehicles and
technology; Qantas Club membership for Tesla Model S owners; Tesla High Power Wall Con-nectors at Qantas Valet facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide allowing car owners to charge.
Alan Milne, head of environment and fuel, Qantas Airways, said, “Both our companies are passionate about continuing to push the boundaries of customer service, innovation and sustainability in the transport industry.”
Oman Air unveiled Service by Design, a brand-new in-flight dining option for first class passengers who can compose their own meal combinations by visiting the airline’s website.
Service by Design menus can be selected at any time between making a res-ervation and 24 hours before departure.
“This bespoke dining option offers the ultimate in onboard fine-dining and ensures that Oman Air’s luxurious aircraft cabins and award-winning onboard service are complemented by the perfect, personalised in-flight meal,” said Abdulaziz Al Raisi, executive vice president, products and brand development, Oman Air.
Etihad Airways and Sydney Opera House signed the extension of their existing agreement for a further five years.
Under the terms of the deal, the airline will continue as the Austral-
ian establishment’s major partner and opening nights presenting partner. Among others, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier will support the opera house’s programming by flying guest artists and arts companies to Sydney from across its network of 116 international destinations. It will also lev-erage its investment on the continent through its partnership with Tourism Australia in order to bring more visitors to Sydney Opera House and the destination.
NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL
TREASURE FOUND IN EGYPT
QANTAS PARTNERS WITH TESLA
REFINED DINING OPTION WITH OMAN AIR
ETIHAD EXTENDS SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
COLLABORATION
Sydney Opera House
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what you have been up to.
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H.M. King Abdullah II King of Jordan (left) handed the King Abdullah II Award for
Excellence 2014-15 in the category of large service companies to Crowne Plaza Amman
InterContinental Jordan Hotel received the national Social Security Excellence
Incentive Award in Safety and Occupational Health
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah Observes Earth Hour
Qatar Airways celebrated one million followers on Instagram
Gjorge Ivanov, president, Macedonia (second from left), visited Semiramis InterContinental Cairo
16 APRIL 2016 23
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
16 APRIL 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
IMEX
Frankfurt, GermanyApril 19 – 21www.imex-frankfurt.comA landmark exhibition for professionals working in the MICE industry where global decision-makers meet with 3,500 suppliers for three days of business.
ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET
Dubai, UAEApril 25 – 28www.arabiantravelmarket.comA major event where global tourism destinations showcase a diverse range of accommodation options, tourism attractions, travel technology and airline routes.
WTM CONNECT ASIA
Penang, MalaysiaMay 18 – 20www.wtmconnectasia.comA new event bringing together suppliers of southeast Asia to meet with outbound Chinese, southeast Asian and international hosted buyers.
TURKEY & NEIGHBOURS HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
Istanbul, TurkeyMay 31 – June 01www.cathic.comNow in its sixth year, this event for the hotel investment community gathers over 1,000 delegates from across the globe.
EVENTSBahrain Industry
Leaders Share Top Trends
Jordan to Welcome SME
Meeting
Gulf Air and Sabre Travel Net-work Middle East held a media event to discuss how investment in technology
can support the growth of Bahrain’s travel sector.
The gathering was attended by government officials and industry leaders from across the Middle East and Europe, to examine economic opportunities and challenges, trends shaping the future of travel and the sector’s role in Bahrain’s economy.
Harald Eisenächer, senior vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Sabre Travel Network Middle East, said that changing consumer habits and mobile and online tech-nologies impact travel.
“Provide travellers a more per-sonalised experience that will drive loyalty, while generating new rev-enue streams for your business,” he advised agencies.
Oxford Business Group an-nounced its research part-nership for the second SME Regional Conference,
which will be held in Jordan be-tween May 23 – 24.
Organised by Jordan Cham-ber of Industry and Confederation of Danish Industry, the gathering aims to achieve a business envi-ronment conducive to growing small- and medium-sized enter-prises (SMEs). The main purpose of the event is to equip chambers and business associations with tools and practical methodologies to initiate and sustain an effective dialogue with the public sector.
