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15 JULY 2017 ISSUE 401
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EMIRATES FLEW FIRST A380 TO NICE
CARNIVAL SETS SAIL TO CUBA
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15 JULY 2017 ISSUE 401
ALMOST TWO MILLION TOURISTS VISITED ABU DHABI
MARKET UPDATE03
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RendezvousAccommodation
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MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
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SENIOR JOURNALIST Ellen Petty
JOURNALISTS Maria Sabova Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou
CONTRIBUTORDominique Christou
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
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DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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A study of 14 US cities served by Gulf airlines revealed that in 2016, the aforementioned carriers brought nearly 1.7 million additional travellers to the US, who spent nearly USD7.8 billion. This expenditure is thought to have supported nearly 80,000 additional US jobs.
Roger Dow, CEO, U.S. Travel Association, noted, “International travellers are a proven boon to US jobs, exports, tax revenues and economic growth, so the federal government should be doing everything it can to bolster connectivity and the number of carriers in the passenger aviation market-place.
Middle Eastern Hotels Suffered in May
Gulf Carriers Strengthened US Economy
According to STR, hoteliers in the Middle East reported a 5.9 percent year-on-year fall in occupancy in May to 64.4 percent, along with a 2.5 percent drop in average daily rate (ADR) to USD159.47 and an 8.2 percent plummet in RevPAR to USD96.88.
STR primarily attributed the performance decline to the Ramadan calendar shift.
In Qatar, RevPAR plunged 14.8 percent to QAR255.08 (USD68.37), accompanied by falling ADR and occupancy, down 10.1 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.
Concurrently, hoteliers in the UAE also recorded declines in all three parameters, exacer-bated by a 5.3 percent increase in supply compared to May 2016. Occupancy tumbled 7.1 percent to 72 percent, while ADR decreased 6.1 percent and RevPAR fell 12.8 percent.
According to U.S. Travel Association, Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways significantly contributed to the US economy, adding nearly USD1.8 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2016.
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MARKET UPDATEwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
HIA and Qatar Airways Report Eid Success
Despite restrictions implemented by neighbouring countries, Qatar Airways served more than 500,000 passengers during the period June 19 – 25, the peak Eid-Al Fitr week.
Meanwhile, for this fiscal year, Qatar Airways achieved a net profit of USD541 million, a 21.7 year-on-year increase, as well as an annual revenue increase of 10.4 percent.
Furthermore, 580,000 travellers went through Hamad International Airport (HIA). Badr Al Meer, chief operating officer, HIA, elabo-rated that during the period under review there were 3,300 aircraft movements at the hub. The airport also recently revealed that in the
first six months of the year, 19 million tourists passed through its doors, an eight percent rise over the first half of 2016.
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Abu DhabiIN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, ABU DHABI WELCOMED 1.97 MILLION HOTEL GUESTS, A YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH OF FOUR PERCENT, AS REVEALED BY ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY (TCA ABU DHABI).
O f this figure, domestic visitors accounted for more than 600,000 guests, while in terms of international arrivals, Chi-na represented the largest source market with nearly 161,000 tourists, followed by India and the UK, with around 136,000 and 104,000 hotels guests, respectively.
H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “Our efforts in May capitalised on the growing popularity of the emirate in China as a tourist destination, with our promotional team conducting a four-city road-
show, and participating in the ITB China Exhibition 2017 in Shanghai.”
Almost Two Million Tourists Visited
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15 JULY 2017
TravelClick Presents New Pricing Engine
A vailable through the company’s central reservation system, hoteliers can set up a variety of promo-tions, such as mobile-only discounts targeting guests on-the-go, last-minute discounts to drive immediate occupancy and flash sales to quickly increase pick-up for needed periods.
Commenting on the launch, Curtis Brewer, senior vice president, reservations and web solutions, TravelClick, highlighted that the new solution will create breakthrough flexibility for hoteliers to achieve their desired pricing strategies.
Aiming to create highly targeted promotions, discounts and pricing strategies for its clients, TravelClick, the global provider of innovative, cloud-based and data-driven solutions for hotels to
maximise revenue, has announced the upcoming release of its new Pricing Engine.
A s part of their Together initiative, Emirates, Dubai Customs, Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai Police and Dubai Airports have agreed on the use of biomet-
ric technology and automated border control gates to improve passenger experience at Dubai International’s Terminal 3.
Travellers will now be able to register and store their biometric data through multiple registration kiosks placed at check-in areas and Emirates Lounges, while new generation smart immigration gates, One Gate, will also be installed.
Mohammed Ahmed Almarri, major general, GDFRA commented, “In line with the government’s vision to be a world leader in providing public ser-vices, we have been evaluating the use of biometrics to enhance traveller flow through immigration […].”
Dubai International to Use Biometric Technology
Africa’s Hospitality Sector Proved Resilient
A s indicated by PwC’s sev-enth edition of Hotels Outlook 2017-2021, rev-
enue for South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Kenya and Tanzania combined is forecast to rise at an 8.7 percent compound annual rate to ZAR59.2 billion (USD4.55 billion) in 2021.
Pietro Calicchio, leader, hospi-tality and gaming industry, South-ern Africa, PwC, pinpointed that Africa’s hotel sector has remained resilient in the face of strong eco-nomic headwinds.
From a revenue perspective, Nigeria is expected to be the continent’s fastest-growing mar-ket over the next five years with a projected 14.7 percent com-pound annual increase, followed by South Africa with a 9.3 percent compound annual increase in room revenue to ZAR24.8 billion (USD19.2 billion) in 2021.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Majid Al Futtaim Acquires Retail
Arabia
M ajid Al Futtaim has acquired Re-tail Arabia, the franchise owner of 26 Geant stores across the
UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, along with four Gulfmart supermarkets in Bahrain.
All of the stores will be rebranded un-der Carrefour, which will consolidate the brand’s position in the region, increasing to 80 outlets in the UAE, 11 in Bahrain and eight in Kuwait.
Commenting on the milestone, Alain Bejjani, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim, said, “We are open to further prospects, through both organic growth and opportunistic acquisi-tions, and will pursue these in line with our disciplined strategic and financial approach. Our ambition is to expand our physical as well as our digital presence, and reinforce our omni-channel offering.”
A ccording to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), this year’s Yas Island’s Eid festivities achieved huge success welcoming more than 500,000 local and international visitors.
During the week-long celebrations, the island hotel occupancy rates saw an impressive increase of 11 percent year-on-year, as demand for accommodation across the emirate soared.
Noting that the wide range of offers, activities and entertainment attracted visitors to the emirate, H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, revealed, “We are delighted with the success of the 2017 Eid-Al-Fitr celebrations across the emirate which has seen many of our leading hotels achieve near full occupancy as tourists from across the region chose Abu Dhabi as the place to spend their holiday.”
Yas Island Welcomed 500,000 During Eid
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Expedia Unveils Beach Trends
Furthermore, it was revealed that the US was the most planned destination among American beach-goers, while non-US hotspots in the top 10 were Mexico, Aruba, Brazil, Jamaica, and Australia.
Overall, the behaviour that is most likely to anger Americans is littering, while 70 percent of global respondents had concerns about theft on the beach.
A iming to expand marine tourism services in the UAE, Nirvana Travel & Tourism has recently announced the launch of Dana Al
Bahar, a premium luxury yacht company. In order to celebrate the new launch, the sister
companies hosted an exclusive media showcase of Dana Al Bahar yacht, in the presence of a num-ber of media professionals.
Commenting on the occasion, Omar Al Ali, executive director, communications and projects, Nirvana Travel & Tourism, concluded, “This initia-tive is part of the company’s efforts to expand its marine tourism services in the UAE. Dana Al Bahar is a prime destination to host executive meetings, social events, and family occasions.”
Dana Al Bahar to Boost Abu Dhabi Marine Tourism
Expedia’s 2017 Expedia Flip Flop Report, a study exploring beach behaviour in 17 countries, has found that Americans spend around 15 percent more than the global average in preparing for a
beach holiday, and 53 percent more whilst on holiday.
TUI Commits to Elephant Welfare
TUI Care Foundation and World Animal Pro-tection have joined forces to protect around 1,500 Asian elephants in captivity by 2020
in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka.
Along with raising awareness, the partner-ship aims to establish a benchmark for best prac-tices through the development of welfare-friendly venues which enable tourists to experience the animals responsibly, rather than participating in el-ephant rides and shows. Resources will be offered to existing venues to support the transition to high animal welfare standards, which are currently being defined by the two organisations with the travel industry and policymakers. Moreover, a new accreditation system is being trialled to enhance demand-based rewards of welfare improvements. D
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WEEKLY NEWS CRUISINGwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Carnival Sets Sail to Cuba
As part of the celebrations, the ship’s team created what was said to be the world’s largest Cuban sandwich at sea, and a USD25,000 donation was presented to Ybor City Museum Society.
Gus Antorcha, executive vice president, guest shipboard operations, Carnival Cruise Line, said, “Cruising is a fantastic and convenient way to visit Cuba and we are seeing tremendous demand for these cruises from consumers as well as our travel agent partners who are sharing this exciting new vacation option with their clients.”
Carnival Cruise Line hosted a reception at Port Tampa Bay to mark its inaugural cruise to Cuba aboard Carnival Paradise, which set sail on June 29.
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C entara Hotels & Resorts has appointed AVIAREPS to conduct its sales promotion activities in Bahrain, Ku-wait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The partnership is the result of the hotel group’s plan to ex-pand its sales outreach to travellers and travel industry leaders in key strategic markets within the region.
Paul Wilson, vice president, sales, Centara Hotels & Resorts, noted, “Expanding our property portfolio within the Middle East is one expression of our commitment to this market, by expanding our sales promotion representation in the region to assist our travel trade partners is another expression of that commitment.”
AVIAREPS to Help Centara to Expand
40 Turtles Released by DTRP
I n celebration of World Turtle Day, Dubai Turtle Reha-bilitation Project (DTRP) released 40 endangered sea turtles next to Jumeirah Al Naseem.In support of the project and to raise awareness,
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo hosted four juve-nile hawksbills and amputee juvenile green turtle, prior to their return to Burj Al Arab Jumeirah where they were tagged and released.
Students from Dubai British School also supported the cause by purchasing a satellite tag for a rare olive ridley sea turtle, which they watched being released into the Arabian Sea.
Since DTRP’s inception 10 years ago, more than 1,300 sea turtles has successfully returned to the sea.
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Millennium Airport Hotel Promotes Dubai in China
O rganised by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the trip aimed to tap into the poten-tial of the Chinese market, which already is in the top five source markets for the emirate.
Binu Varghese, director, sale and marketing, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, highlighted, “This year’s road show was hugely successful and gave us the opportunity to meet over 300 buyers from four key cities. […] In addition to highlighting our various offerings to buyers through one-on-one table talk, we also enjoyed fantastic networking opportunities with local travel industry opinion leaders.”
Azel Casianan, assistant director, sales, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, recently participated in 2017 Dubai China Roadshow, to explore business opportunities in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and
Guangzhou.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Austrian Airlines Expands in Iran
The Vienna–Isfahan–Shiraz route is operated four times weekly with an Airbus A320, leaving Vienna on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with an in-terim stopover in Isfahan before reaching its final destination.
In addition to the existing services of up to 14 weekly flights to Tehran and four week-ly schedules to Isfahan, the carrier is further expanding its portfolio of destinations in Iran. Well known for its literary history, mosques, and architecture, the Iranian metropolis is a gateway to Persepolis.
On July 02, Austrian Airlines launched its inaugural flight from Vienna International Airport to Shiraz International Airport, marking
the carrier’s third service to Iran alongside Tehran and Isfahan.
Etihad Upgrades Services to Beijing
Aiming to serve more passengers on its Abu Dhabi International Air-port and Beijing Capital Interna-
tional Airport route, Etihad Airways has re-cently launched its inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight offering 14 percent more seats between the destinations.
Commenting on the significance of the upgrade, H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Au-thority, highlighted, “China has grown to become the largest overseas source mar-ket for Abu Dhabi hotel guest arrivals, and through our pro-active in-territory promo-tional efforts supported by further expan-sion in capacity, we are looking forward to welcoming 600,000 Chinese visitors to the emirate by 2021. Recent developments such as visas on arrival will help promote the UAE and Abu Dhabi as a unique busi-ness and leisure destination […].”
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Phnom Penh Added to Emirates’ Route Map
Etihad Operates A380 Flight to Paris
Aiming to offer better connections between the two capitals, Etihad Airways has recently intro-duced a seasonal Airbus A380 service between
Abu Dhabi International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Effective during the periods July 01 – October 28 and December 15 – February 15, 2018, the new service has been launched in order to meet high seasonal demand, with a regular year-round A380 service to follow from March 25, 2018.
“Adding the flagship aircraft on this important route reaffirms Etihad Airways’ and the UAE’s commitment to the French market and celebrates the deep cultural and business ties which exist between our two countries,” re-vealed, Mohammad Al Bulooki, executive vice president, commercial, Etihad Airways.
Emirates has launched its daily linked service from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon in Myanmar, marking the carrier’s first Cambodian destination.
The new schedule, which directly connects Yangon and Phnom Penh for the first time since 2014, broadens the carrier’s network in Southeast Asia to 13 cities in eight countries. The itinerary is being operated with a Boeing 777 and will serve the increasing demand for travel to Cambodia, one of the fastest growing economies in the region. As well as being the country’s largest city and important commercial centre, Phnom Penh has seen a significant increase in tourist arrivals in recent years.
Emirates Flew First A380 to Nice
On July 01, Emirates launched its inaugural Airbus A380 flight from Dubai International to Nice Côte
d'Azur International Airport, bringing the to-tal number of global destinations served by the iconic double-decker to 47.
Aiming to meet the strong customer demand, the aircraft replaced the previous Boeing 777-300ER used on the route, offer-ing travellers the opportunity to experience a wide range of onboard amenities, includ-ing over 2,500 free channels of films, TV shows, music, games and podcasts, inflight Wi-Fi throughout all aircraft, and regionally inspired gourmet cuisine. Meanwhile, first class passengers can relax in their very own private suite as well as enjoy a shower spa.
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INTERNATIONAL: ASIA PACIFICwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Fairfield Inn & Suites Expands
Into Nepal
Jewel Changi Airport Offers New
Experiences
Bali Welcomes Fourth Best
Western
F airfield Inn & Suites announced the opening of Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu, marking Marriott Inter-
national’s entry into Nepal.The property located in Thamel, a dis-
trict within the capital’s central commer-cial hub previously known as a bohemian haven and a popular shopping destina-tion, offers 115 smart, straightforward and thoughtfully appointed rooms, Kava all-day dining restaurant among other ameni-ties.
Neeraj Govil, area vice president, South Asia, Marriott International, commented, “We believe this is exactly the right prod-uct for this market as it fills a much-needed gap in the moderate tier segment with its fresh, contemporary design, service excel-lence and great value.”
B est Western Hotels & Resorts has recently opened a new property in Ubud, complementing the group’s
three existing properties in the Kuta area of Bali.
Located in close proximity to the desti-nation’s main attractions, Best Western Pre-mier Agung Resort Ubud features 75 rooms equipped with a working space, state-of-the-art technology and a private balcony. Guests can enjoy an outdoor swimming pool with a large tropical terrace, work out in the fitness centre or enjoy soothing treatments at the onsite spa, which incor-porates organic herbs and ingredients.
Combining traditional touches, includ-ing Balinese furnishings, the address aims to deliver an authentic Indonesian experi-ence.
T ravellers and local residents can soon take advantage of a line-up of unique lifestyle of-
ferings at Canopy Park, located at the top level of Jewel Changi Airport.
The new interactive experience will comprise of three iconic play at-tractions, Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes, and Discovery Slides. Open areas will boast greenery, including Foggy Bowls, a specially created area pre-senting four concave bowls with various depths incorporating the ele-ment of mist to create the experience of playing amongst clouds, while the Canopy Bridge will serve as a van-tage point offering a 40m high Rain Vortex experience suspended 23m above ground.
M illennium Hotels & Resorts has recently launched a new smartphone service offering
guests the opportunity to make free in-ternational direct calls to 15 countries, along with complimentary mobile Inter-net and local calls across its six properties in Singapore.
The complimentary smartphone ser-vice offers convenience and connectivity on the move, allowing visitors staying in Singapore to navigate the city easily.
Cetin Sekercioglu, president, Asia, Mil-lennium Hotels & Resorts, commented, “[…] Since our pilot testing in 2016, we have been constantly receiving positive feedback regarding this value-added ser-vice. It is now available in more than 2,600 guest rooms across all six hotels in Singa-pore, allowing our guests to connect on the go and stay in touch with their friends and families no matter where they are.”
O NYX Hospitality Group has announced a USD100 million investment project to redevelop its North Pattaya site, includ-
ing the construction of a 406-unit mid-scale OZO Pattaya hotel and the launch of the premium Amari Pattaya Ocean Suites wing.
The rejuvenation will also include an extensive refurbishment of the 20-storey Amari Pattaya Ocean Tower and its surrounding facilities. Upon comple-tion in 2019, the location will comprise three hotels with 752 keys, a new state-of-the-art ballroom, re-vamped recreational facilities and dining outlets, enhanced pool areas and re-landscaped gardens.
Douglas Martell, CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group, enthused, “As we approach the 45th anniversary of Amari Pattaya, it is with great excitement that we embark on plans to enhance the guest experience at this flagship property […].” O
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ONYX Hospitality to Revamp Iconic Amari Pattaya
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www.traveltradeweekly.travelINTERNATIONAL: ASIA PACIFIC
Singapore Airlines Expands
in Scandinavia
Airport Authority Hong Kong Signed
MoU with ENAC
Changi Airport’s T4 Prepares for
Commercial Flights
I n a bid to boost connectivity between Southeast Asia and Northern Europe, Sin-gapore Airlines has recently launched a
new route between Singapore Changi Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport, via Moscow.
Operating five times weekly with an Air-bus A350-900 aircraft, offering customers an improved travelling experience with features such as higher ceilings, larger windows and lighting designed to reduce jetlag, the new service complements the existing schedule to Copenhagen which has been successfully welcomed by customers.
Passengers departing on the inaugural flight on May 30 from Singapore Changi Air-port, enjoyed musical performances and an assortment of Swedish themed refreshments at a special boarding gate event prior to take-off.
F ollowing the launch of Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme in October
2016, Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 (T4) will enter the next phase of testing in the coming months, with airlines sched-uled to operate commercial flight trials.
Representing a period of intensive sys-tem testing to ensure that the terminal’s work flows and processes are thoroughly assessed, ORAT involved a high number of volunteers playing the role of passengers, piloting airport systems and processes, including the suite of fast and seamless travel options, security screening, and baggage reclaim.
The date of commencement of opera-tions will be announced at a later date, upon conclusion of the testing period.
O n June 22, Airport Authority Hong Kong signed a memo-randum of understand-
ing (MoU) with École Nationale de L’Aviation Civile (ENAC), a French aero-nautics and aviation university, to de-liver joint programmes at Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.
The MoU supplements an agree-ment signed between the two parties in 2016 to create a curriculum to sup-port the training and development of aviation professionals from Hong Kong and around the region.
The cooperation also aims to assist the joint efforts of the Hong Kong and French governments to build capac-ity and enhance civil aviation safety in Southeast Asian countries.
I n a bid to strengthen its fleet, Malaysian airline Malindo Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air Group, has recently acquired what is
said to be the world's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, replacing the previous Boeing 737 NG air-craft.
The airline flew its first B737 MAX 8 com-mercial flight on May 22, from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
While noting that the carrier will soon be renamed to Batik Malaysia, Chandran Rama Muthy, CEO, Malindo Air, added “[...] We be-lieve that the Boeing 737 MAX will be the core aircraft for our fleets. This new type of aircraft will take Malindo Air to its next des-tination and have a major role in serving low cost flight to our customers.”
A iming to develop a new approach to in-flight well-ness ahead of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights, Qantas has recently partnered with The University of
Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.Researchers across the fields of nutrition, physical activ-
ity, sleep and complex systems modelling will work with the carrier to develop strategies to counteract jetlag, onboard ex-ercise, menus, service timing, and other concepts to enhance well-being.
Commenting on the collaboration, Steve Simpson, aca-demic director, Charles Perkins Centre, pinpointed, “There is the potential for extraordinary health, science and engineer-ing discoveries and innovations to come out of this research partnership, which will also provide the evidence-base need-ed for Qantas to implement strategies to further improve how people feel after a long-haul flight.”
Malindo Air Flew First Boeing 737 MAX 8
Qantas and Charles Perkins Centre Commit to Wellness
15 JULY 2017 13
INTERNATIONAL: AMERICASwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
United Airlines to Expand Boeing
Service
A iming to help gate agents drive more personal engagements with customers at Hartsfield–
Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Air Lines has recently rolled out 100 cell phone sized handheld devices.
Called Nomad, the new mobile de-vice gives agents the ability to make seat changes, rebook customers, check bag status, and print bag tags and boarding passes all in the palm of their hand.
Commenting on the new tool, Ga-reth Joyce, senior vice president, air-port customer service, Delta Air Lines, revealed, “Exceptional customer service sets Delta apart from our competitors [...]. As we evolve this technology, the opportunities are endless for agents to leverage innovative thinking to create engaging moments while helping cus-tomers along their journey.”
U nited Airlines announced that addi-tional Boeing 777-300ER services will be operated between San Francisco
International Airport (SFIA) and Beijing Capital International Airport from September, as well as on its SFIA – Frankfurt Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport – Narita Interna-tional Airport routes from October.
The aircraft which is already in use on the carrier’s San Francisco – Hong Kong and New York – Tel Aviv routes, will also begin service from San Francisco to Taipei on August 01.
Offering a modern, spacious interior in-cluding the new United Polaris business class seat, the airline's most significant product transformation in more than a decade, the new aircraft will offer a reimagined, sleep-enhancing experience for intercontinental travellers.
I n a bid to expand its long-haul network, Condor, a Ger-man airline based in Frankfurt, has recently launched two additional nonstop weekly flights to Seattle. Operated with a Boeing 767-300 wide body jet, flights
will depart every Wednesday and Saturday from Munich Airport.
Marking the official launch of the service to the US city, the crew and passengers were presented with commemo-rative gingerbread hearts.
Surrounded by rivers, lakes and forests, Seattle is popu-lar amongst outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors also have the op-portunity to enjoy iconic landmarks including the futuristic Space Needle observation tower.
S an Francisco International Airport (SFIA) hosted a groundbreaking event to commemorate the start of the construction of Grand Hyatt at San Francisco In-
ternational Airport, a new luxury hotel expected to open in July 2019.
Attendees included Ed Lee, mayor, San Franscisco, Ivar Satero, airport director, SFIA, alongside Pete Sears, group president, Americas, Hyatt, who celebrated the occasion with local community and industry leaders at the site of the upcoming address.
The property will feature 351 rooms, 1,394m2 of flex-ible meeting space, a selection of restaurants, a grand club lounge and an extensive fitness centre. The hotel has been designed to achieve both a four-star designation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certifica-tion for environmentally sustainable design and operation.
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INTERNATIONAL: AMERICAS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Delta Hotels Presents Global
Expansion
D elta Hotels by Marriott has announced an ag-gressive growth plan
aimed at doubling the group’s presence within the next two years, following the full-service hospitality brand’s acquisition by Marriott International in 2015.
With just 30 Canadian proper-ties in 2015, the company’s rapid ascension now totals more than 40 open hotels. Furthermore, an additional 20 signed properties are in the pipeline, including new entries into Asia and the US.
Gregory Durrer, global brand leader, Delta Hotels, commented, “Our model is simple. We know what our guests want and be-cause of that Delta’s intuitive de-sign and service enables guests to focus on what’s important.”
I n the fiscal year 2016, Enterprise Holdings’ con-tribution to the Canadian economy reached CAD2.8 billion (USD2.11 billion).Furthermore, Enterprise Holdings Foundation
and local Canadian employees collectively contrib-uted more than CAD2.4 million (USD1.81 million) to local charities.
Steven Tudela, corporate vice president, Canadi-an operations, Enterprise Holdings, disclosed, “[…] As we grow, we hire, spend and give locally. Our goal is to strengthen the fabric of the neighbour-hoods where our employees live and work. This is part of the reason why consumers named Enter-prise Rent-A-Car the most trusted automobile rental brand in Canada, according to the 2017 Gustavson Brand Trust Index.”
I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced the opening of Holiday Inn & Suites Montreal Centre-Ville West, marking the group’s 16th property in Quebec. Located in close proximity to the city’s main attractions,
including Place du Canada and Old Montreal, the 221-key ad-dress is an ideal destination for business travellers, families and vacationers. Encompassing 15 floors with panoramic views, the hotel will offer a wide range of modern facilities including an indoor salted swimming pool with steam bath and whirlpool, a fully-equipped fitness centre and a meeting space with capac-ity for more than 1,140 people. In addition, guests can enjoy a wide variety of Southern Italian and American dishes at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Le Restaurant Crossbar.
Enterprise Holdings Boosted Canadian Economy
IHG Expands in Quebec
Hard Rock Adds Fourth Florida
Address
H ard Rock International an-nounced plans to open its fourth property in Florida,
confirming the brand’s presence in Daytona Beach later this year.
The 200-key property will bring unparalleled music offerings and amenities, alongside the companies signature Body Rock workout facility, a Rock Spa complete with a music-infused Rhythm & Motion spa menu, six treatment rooms, and poolside ca-banas with spa services.
Catering to business travellers, the property will boast 1,858m2 of indoor and outdoor meeting space, includ-ing bright meeting rooms with views of the Atlantic Ocean and an open-air terrace suitable for any meeting or event, paralleled with the Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club, catering to all styles of vacationers.
H yatt House Mexico City/Santa Fe has opened its doors, marking the brand’s launch in Mexico and Latin America.
Hyatt House is said to be rooted in extensive consumer insights indicating that guests seek stylish, comfortable, seamless experiences that accommodate their lifestyles and familiar rou-tines. To embody this, the 119-key extended stay concept offers casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly designed, high-tech and con-temporary environment.
Luciano Julio, regional director, operations, Latin America, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, elab-orated that every space in this hotel has been conceived to remind guests of home.
Hyatt House Enters Mexico
Hyatt House Mexico City/Santa Fe
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INTERNATIONAL: AMERICASwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
O regon Tourism Commission (Travel Or-egon) has recently adopted its 2017-2019 Strategic Plan, in order to share its impera-
tives, initiatives and measures with partners.Designed to give associates a quick and sub-
stantive look at the priorities that will guide Travel Oregon over the next two years, the plan was de-veloped with extensive involvement from Oregon's travel and tourism industry, community leaders and members of the commission.
Todd Davidson, CEO, Travel Oregon, revealed, “It was our goal to make the plan relevant to everyone engaged in the travel and tourism industry and we are confident that was achieved. The vitality and vi-ability of the travel and tourism industry is a critical asset for all Oregonians, now more than ever.”
B oth world-class retail shopping options and the local flavours of Houston’s re-nowned dining scene are now available
for customers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport with the completion of an ambitious new restaurant and retail programme executed by the Houston Airport System, United Airlines, as well as dining and retail partners.
The multi-million dollar project, which com-menced in September 2015, provides an elevat-ed experience for airport customers, enhancing efforts to make the hub a five-star global air ser-vice gateway.
Mario Diaz, director, Houston Aviation, commented, “We were looking for products and services that satisfied the needs, wants and desires of our passengers, and still create a sense of place that is uniquely Houston. This programme succeeds in reaching that vital goal.”
Oregon Launched 2017-2019 Strategic Plan
George Bush Airport Expands Dining and Retail
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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: As one of the most significant niche tourism sectors in the region, wellness tourism has rapidly grown during the recent years. What do you think are the prospects of this industry in Morocco?
MAJID EL GHZAL: Due to the global evolution of lifestyles, wellness tourism is significantly growing. Morocco has much potential to capture a significant tour-
MAJID EL GHZAL
Q & A
with
GENERAL MANAGER, PALAIS NAMASKAR
WITH WELLNESS BEING AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MOROCCAN LIFESTYLE, CULTURE AND TRADITION, MAJID EL GHZAL, GENERAL MANAGER, PALAIS
NAMASKAR, TALKS ABOUT THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN
MADE DURING RECENT YEARS IN THE WELLNESS SECTOR AND SHARES VIEWS ON THE PROSPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY IN
MOROCCO.
direct sale initiatives for countries like Qatar and the UAE.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In a global tourism environment where offers are abundant, the quality of services has become a strategic factor in the choice of destinations. How does the property cater for its customers in or-der to meet their unique needs?
MAJID EL GHZAL: Palais Namaskar has always been renowned for its person-alised and yet unobtrusive service. Our staff members are trained to deliver to the highest standards and we can en-sure that we will cater for every need. Every single room in our property, rang-ing from palaces to junior suites has ac-cess to private pools and is providing total privacy for guests. A team of but-lers are available on a 24-hour basis of-fering personal service.
At Palais Namaskar we are fortunate to offer a complete wellness experience as we have one of the best spa's in Mo-rocco, offering tailor-made treatments as well as one of the best equipped gyms with dedicated personal trainers to suit any fitness regimes. At last, we offer a se-cluded and peaceful environment which can aid both body and mind.
ism market thanks to the range of offer-ings available and the variety of high quality and affordable establishments across the country. During the recent years there has been a positive devel-opment and a refine of the wellness of-fer and Morocco can now be competed with most countries in the MENA region and Asia.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which are your main feeder markets? How many of your guests derive from the Middle East and North Africa?
MAJID EL GHZAL: Since its establish-ment, Palais Namaskar’s primary source markets have been the UK and France whilst other Northern European coun-tries and the US have been secondary targets. These will continue to be our main target markets for the future. Ac-cording to our data, our guests’ demo-graphic segmentation is predominately affluent professionals or high income earners between 35 – 60 years old. Until recently the Middle East market was not very significant for the hotel, however, our strategy has recently changed as our efforts are concentrating on making the hotel visible in the MENA region. This has been mainly achieved through
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Palais Namaskar
Palais Namaskar
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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel
HASSAN AL YOUSUF has been announced as the new general manager of Etihad Airways for Oman. Stepping up from his previous position of assistant general manager based in Perth, where he led the team in achieving its reve-nue targets in 2016 and drove collaboration with Virgin Aus-tralia Airlines, Al Yousuf will be responsible for leading the carrier’s commercial opera-tions. During his career with the airline, which kicked-off in 2010, Al Yousuf has dem-onstrated strong commer-cial, strategic, analytical and leadership skills which will be instrumental in driving the carrier’s growth and business success in the region.
HAKAN PETEK has been named as the new general manager of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah.Petek first joined Jumeirah International in 2010 as ex-ecutive assistant manager of rooms at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait, where he was a key player in the pre-opening of the prop-erty as well as a member of the executive committee. With more than 27 years of experi-ence in the hospitality indus-try, Petek has opened eight hotels across luxury brands in Turkey and London. In his new role, Petek will build upon the success and reputation of the resort.
LARS PURSCHE has taken on the role of the general man-ager of Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay, a move from his previous position of general manager at Kempinski Hotel Huizhou.Before he joined the company six years ago as director of sales and marketing, Pursche filled various managerial po-sitions in the field of sales in renowned international hotel chains such as Marriott Inter-national. In his long career, he has gained a broad spectrum of experience on three conti-nents and in four different countries. In his new role, Pursche aims to introduce more leisure ac-tivities and maintain the high standards of service offered to guests, in line with the group's traditional European bespoke service.
KRYSTEL IRANI has been ap-pointed as the new director of operations at Raffles Dubai, where she will be responsible for the daily running of the ho-tel.Irani brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience, in-cluding four years at the prop-erty, which she first joined as front office manager before being promoted to her most recent role of director of rooms.Prior to joining the Dubai ad-dress, Irani had worked in a vari-ety of leadership roles at luxury hotels such as Four Seasons Ho-tel George V, Paris, Four Seasons Hotel Beirut and The St. Regis Doha.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2016, the travel and tourism sec-tor in Mexico ranked first in terms of GDP contribution, with a total impact of USD166 billion or 16 percent of GDP.
Explaining further, David Scowsill, CEO, WTTC, pin-pointed that the economic contribution of travel and tourism is expected to grow 2.9 percent year-on-year over the next decade, 0.5 percent ahead of the total economy and significantly higher than any other sector. Moreover, the industry was ranked second in terms of job creation.
Noting that the growth was stimulated by the gov-ernment’s commitment to the industry, Scowsill added, “There is even further scope for growth as Mexico contin-ues to expand the country’s tourism infrastructure, con-nectivity and sustainable practices [...].”
Cineco announced the reopening of Al Hamra Cinema in Manama on June 22, fol-lowing extensive refurbishments.
The comprehensive renovation work was undertaken over the course of two months, with the cinema now embracing a modernised facelift along with audio and visual enhancements, which is expected to substantially add to its popular-
ity among expatriates. Moviegoers can also enjoy advanced seating with stadium layout, of-fering increased legroom. Works were carried out to improve the lobby to ease traffic and facilitate crowd control, as well as to update waiting areas in order enhance customer accom-modation and comfort.
According to a joint study conducted by STR and Google, a statistically sig-nificant relationship between Google search data and the number of room nights sold in London and New York City markets was found.
In year-on-year comparisons, accommodation searches in New York City grew three percent in 2015 and jumped 7.3 percent in 2016, while the num-
ber of room nights sold rose 2.8 percent in 2015 and 5.8 percent in 2016.Meanwhile, searches in London rose 2.1 percent in 2015 but only 0.8 percent in 2016,
with hotel demand climbing 1.7 percent in both 2015 and 2016. Robert Bauer, senior analyst, STR, highlighted that global markets vary greatly as it
relates to seasonality, consumer travel behaviour and economic factors.
Aiming to support youth leaders around the world to tackle social issues in their communities, Manchester City Football Club and Etihad Airways recently organ-ised Cityzens Giving Young Leader Summit.
Taking place for the third year, the week-long programme saw more than 50 leaders from 11 cities around the world visit City Football Academy in Manchester. As the official summit partner, Etihad Airways connected young people from the Emirates Foundation with their peers by flying them over to Manchester.
The delegates, aged 16 – 30, received leadership classes as well as practical sessions on event and project management, safeguarding and monitoring which enabled them to deliver community football projects addressing issues affecting young people and creating spaces for children to play football.
Cineco Reveals New Al Hamra
Correlation Between Hotel Searches and Bookings
Etihad Empowers Young Football Leaders
Travel and Tourism to Lead Mexican
EconomyMexico City
15 JULY 2017 19
PHOTO ALBUMwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
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Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know
what you have been up to.
Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand
words...Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature is
calling for submissions until July 31
Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Author-ity in Sharjah (EPAA) launched the second edition of its children and young adult summer programme,
themed Together for a More Beautiful Summer
Hala Azzam, manager, emergency response planning, Gulf Air, centre left, recently chaired the annual Arab Air Carriers’ Organization emergency
response planning steering committee in Muscat
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Dubai, JBR was awarded TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence
Adam Boukadida, acting group treasurer, Etihad Aviation Group, centre, collected four accolades awarded to the
group at 2017 Adam Smith Awards
22ND UNWTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Chengdu, ChinaSeptember 04 – 09 World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) annual meeting will bring together tourism officials and private sector leaders.
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NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
South Australia to Host ATE 2018
Dubai Hosted First Ramadan
Real Estate Majlis
South Australian Tourism Commission has announced that South Australia will host Australian Tourism Exchange
(ATE), hailed as one of the country’s largest annual travel and tourism show, on April 15 – 19, 2018 at new Adelaide Convention Centre.
Expected to inject AUD10 million (USD7.6 million) into the region’s econ-omy, the event focussed on food, wine and nature is set to convene some 2,500 local and international tourism delegates.
Leon Bignell, minister for tourism, South Australia, enthused, “Securing the hosting rights for the 2018 ATE is a massive coup and will deliver a huge return for South Australia by putting the very best of what we have to offer in the tourism sector, in the interna-tional spotlight.”
International Property Show, claimed to be one of the Mid-dle East’s biggest property sales platforms, recently hosted the
first Ramadan Real Estate Majlis, welcoming major developers from across the UAE for an exclusive Suhoor networking night.
Taking place at Armani Hotel Dubai, the event was organised by Dubai Land Department (DLD) un-der the theme Upgrading Real Estate Sector and Investment Promotion.
H.E Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, direc-tor general, DLD, emphasised Dubai’s position as a safe haven for investors and noted that during the first quar-ter of the year there was a 25 percent increase in overall transactional activ-ity in the real estate sector.
Participants concluded that dif-ferent stakeholders must come to-gether to motivate and upgrade the real estate sector.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND BUSINESS
Lucerne, SwitzerlandAugust 31 – September 01 The second edition of the event will see the presentation of research related to the tourism and hospitality sectors.
OTDYKH LEISURE
Moscow, RussiaSeptember 20 – 23 www.tourismexpo.ruThe 23rd edition of the exhibition will be held alongside its events focussing on MICE, luxury as well as medical tourism, spa and health.
IFTM TOP RESA
Paris, FranceSeptember 26 – 29 www.iftm.frMore than 31,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the multi-target event with dedicated programmes for the leisure, business and MICE sectors.
EVENTS
