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Middle East and North Africa Edition

NOVEMBER 6, 2010 ISSUE 52 www.traveltradeweekly.travel

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MONACO’S RICH LISTMonaco is targeting wealthy travellersfrom the Middle East with an exclusive,invitation-only programme intended topique the interest of the very rich. Only300 individuals from around the worldhave been selected to participate in thescheme, dubbed Monaco Private Label.

In This Issue

KANOO TRAVELMiddle Eastern travel managementcompany Kanoo Travel has announced amajor expansion, with 10 new officesplanned for Saudi Arabia. The increase isdesigned to capitalise on the country’sboom in petrochemicals and infrastructuredevelopment projects.

Emirates Hotels and Resorts has handed overmanagement of its maiden property, Al Maha DesertResort, to Starwood Hotels, in an attempt to raise the

resort’s profile. The property will be integrated intoStarwood’s network under the company’s Luxury

Collection brand and renamed as Al Maha, a LuxuryCollection Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai.

88Al MahaHandoverAl MahaHandover

A l Tameer Real Estate Investmentflagged an overall decrease of 9.4percent across the region inAugust, with occupancy hitting53 percent.

Specifically, the UAE, Beirut and Cairo all sawsevere declines in hotel occupancy; Beirut was hithardest with a 37.3 percent drop, reaching 47.1percent.Regionally, Al Tameer described the UAE’sperformance this year as continually dismal, withdouble digit declines in both occupancy rates andRevPAR during August, compared to 2009.

Increasing hotel supply is blamedfor driving down occupancy levels.In Abu Dhabi alone, occupancy hasdropped 17 percent year on yearand average room rates are down by12 percent, despite reportedincreases in visitor arrivals.Lawrence Franklin, strategy andpolicy director at Abu DhabiTourism Authority (ADTA), saidthe emirate would continue topush for greater visitor numbersto fill new rooms. He said ADTA was targeting a 15

percent increase in hotel guests for 2011. “Market dynamics are making Abu Dhabi morecompetitive than at any time in its recenthistory, however we also recognise the need forbalance between operational performance andconsumer value,” said Franklin. Bucking the downward trend, Saudi Arabia’shotel occupancy rate improved by 10.1 percentand RevPAR in Riyadh grew by 11.4 percent.Despite the flagging occupancy rates acrossmost of the region, a host of new hotels are stillon the books. As of August, Al Tameer listed 449 hotels in theMENA construction pipeline; the regionranked third in the world in terms of hotelconstruction, following Asia Pacific and Europe. The UAE has the largest number of hotels in theregional pipeline, with Dubai still the clearleader among the emirates in terms ofupcoming developments.Specifically, Al Tameer said interest in budgethotels was expanding, as countries in theMiddle East continued to position the region asa mass market tourism destination. As of July, budget hotels in the region constitutedapproximately six percent of total hotel supply,but this percentage is expected to increase.

NOVEMBER 6, 20102

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=UAE (AED) Dirham 3.69Egypt (EGP) Pound 5.78Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1501Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37Jordan ( JOD) Dinar 0.70Syria (SYP) Pound 46.18Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.28Qatar (QAR) Riyal 3.64Oman (OMR) Rial 0.38Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.38Morocco (MAD) Dirham 8.04Iran (IRR) Riyal 10,430Yemen (YER) Rial 215.01Algeria (DZD) Dinar 73.50Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.17

MENA Exchange RatesAccurate as of 03/11/2010Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY

EditorLaura Warne

Deputy EditorLouis Dillon Savage

Design & LayoutElina Pericleous

Sales & MarketingMarianna TsiamasDimitris Thomaidis

DirectorsAndreas ConstantinidesMary Kammitsi

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Websitewww.traveltradeweekly.travel

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Oversupply Blamed for OccupancyDecline throughout Middle EastWith the exception of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East region has recently seensignificant decreases in hotel occupancy, compared to 2009 figures.

Emirates has posted a net profit ofAED3.4 billion (USD925 million) forthe first six months of its financial year(ending September 30, 2010). The results represent a 351.2 percentincrease on the airline’s figures for thesame period of 2009.Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum,CEO of Emirates Airline, said profitswould be invested in growing the companyfurther, with 62 new aircraft ordered in thefirst half of the financial year.

“The results for the first half of the2010-11 financial year are incrediblyrobust and reflect Emirates’ success ingrowing customer demand, supportedby investment in new aircraft, productsand customer service,” he said.“Our strong position today is reflectiveof our ability to adapt, returning us to avigorous period of growth.”Passenger traffic was up during the firsthalf, with 15.5 million passengers and arecord seat factor of 81.2 percent.

Emirates Hits Record High with USD925m

3NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Invitation-Only Travel Scheme Targets UAEMonaco is targeting wealthy travellers from the Middle East with an exclusive, invitation-only programmeintended to pique the interest of the very wealthy.

Only 300 individualsfrom around theworld have beenselected to participatein the scheme,

dubbed Monaco Private Label.This week, Monaco’s GovernmentTourist and Convention Authority(MGCTA), announced that 20 newmembers from the UAE would beadded, becoming the first participantsfrom the Middle East.Michel Bouquier, president of MGCTA,said the decision to include MiddleEastern members came on the back ofgrowing interest in the tiny country.

“The fact that Monaco is definitely a firm-stay on the radar of every well travelledhigh net worth individual in the UAE ledus to bring the Monaco Private Labelconcept to the region this year,” he said.“Bringing the Monaco Private Labelconcept to the UAE will help us developthe sort of personal relationships thathelp build long-term ties to adestination.”Private Label membership is for life andincludes perks such as personal attentionfrom government officials, guaranteed teetimes at golf courses, meals cooked byfamous chefs and private shoppingservices.

Monaco

Bringing the Monaco Private Label concept to theUAE will help us develop thesort of personal relationshipsthat help build long-term ties

to a destination

NOVEMBER 6, 20104

Kanoo Travel Targets Saudi Arabian Boom Middle Eastern travel management company Kanoo Travel has announced a major expansion, with 10 newoffices planned for Saudi Arabia.

The collective strengths of Kanoo Travel and

American Express areunmatched in this region

and wider afield

The increase is designed tocapitalise on the country’sboom in petrochemicalsand infrastructuredevelopment projects.

Abdullah M Abo Khamseen, executivegeneral manager of Kanoo Travel, said thecompany was also investing heavily intechnology upgrades and training centres. “Over the last few years our business hasgrown tremendously in [Saudi Arabia]and we want to ensure that we offer ourcustomers best in class professional travelmanagement services using the latesttechnology with the best customerservice,” he said.

Kanoo Travel already operates threeregional training centres in Saudi Arabiaand offers a range of services such asonline travel solutions for corporatecustomers, as well as exclusive female-onlycentres. The company also holds an exclusivepartnership deal with American ExpressTravel Services; Nabeel Kanoo, boarddirector of Kanoo Travel, said thispartnership set the company apart fromits regional competitors.“The collective strengths of Kanoo Traveland American Express are unmatched inthis region and wider afield,” said Kanoo.“We are pleased to announce that we will

continue to invest in our service deliveryand steady international growth, offeringnot only the best travel managementsolutions to the travel industry, but also toour customers as a whole.”The group is also targeting the youth andstudent market, through an existingpartnership with STA Travel.

Eastern Mangroves on Track for 2011 Opening

The Eastern Mangroves mixed-use development from AbuDhabi’s Tourism Investment and Development Company(TDIC) is on track for completion in late 2011.Upon completion, Eastern Mangroves will offer resort, retailand residential options, in addition to an integrated marina.The project, situated along 1.2km of coast on the east side ofAbu Dhabi’s mangrove stands, is now 60 percent complete.Angsana Resort and Spa Eastern Mangroves will become thetourism cornerstone of the project, offering 223 hotel rooms,three restaurants and a luxury spa.Angsana, now in its tenth year as a brand, is operated byBanyan Tree Hotels and Resorts as a sister brand to its BanyanTree properties.

Eastern Mangroves

Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort (AWPR) is a place for people who want toexperience and learn about wildlife and conservation in a unique,natural desert setting. Come and enjoy life in touch with nature.

For opening times and special attractions call 800 AWPR (2977) or visit www.awpr.ae

GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE. AL AIN WILDLIFE PARK & RESORT (AWPR).

NOVEMBER 6, 20106

- Accommodation

Cristal Hotels Signs Deal for Second UAE PropertyCristal Hotels and Resorts has partnered with Emerald Middle East Real Estate to manage its second propertyin the UAE.

New Chalets Target Lebanese Ski TourismLebanon is gearing up for winter and the skiing season,with an increase in chalet and hotel accommodation in thepopular ski resort spot of Mzaar-Kfardebian.Budget hotel Auberge Suisse recently undertook an overallrenovation on its rooms and lobby, in order to target lowcost travellers. According to Ronald Sayegh, owner of Skileb.com, skitourists visiting Lebanon are varied, with requests runningthe gamut from five star resorts to self-catered apartments.“Though the majority of our guests are GCC expatriates, theirneeds are diverse and thus we are always on the hunt for newhotels and chalets to meet their requirements,” said Sayegh.MzaarVille is another new low cost option in the region,offering 10 fully equipped chalets aimed at families andgroups.Ski tourism is relatively new to the Lebanese market, butthe country’s ministry of tourism has been heavilypromoting the sector in recent years. According to the ministry, Mzaar Kfardebian is the best skiresort in the country, in terms of infrastructure andfacilities. Other options include private ski resorts Faqra-Kfardebianand Zaarour; family friendly spots at Laqlouq and QanatBakiche; and The Cedars Ski Resort, located on the highestrange in the country.

The 112 room CristalSalam Hotel is expectedto open by early 2011 inAbu Dhabi. According to Peter

Blackburn, CEO of Cristal Hotels andResorts, Abu Dhabi’s emergence as amajor business destination has increasedthe demand for hospitality services in theemirate.“The opening of Cristal Salam Hotel earlynext year should help ease the supply gapfor value hotel accommodations andprovide an exciting new destination forthe emirate’s increasing number of visitorsand business travellers,” said Blackburn. “Cristal Hotels and Resorts’ brand of

hospitality has been on par with the best inthe world, as manifested by the remarkablesuccess of Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, whichis our first venture in the UAE.”Blackburn added that Cristal planned tooperate a total of 25 hotels in the UAEwithin five to 10 years.

Cristal Salam Hotel

Peter Blackburn

7NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Fairmont Makkah Opens for Hajj PilgrimageFairmont’s long awaited Makkah property in Saudi Arabia, Fairmont Clock Royal Tower, has opened in timeto service incoming Hajj pilgrims.

The hotel occupies thecentral tower ofMakkah’s landmarkAbraj Al Bait complex,home to several other

hotels, which was built to upgrade thefacilities available for pilgrims to the city.Comprising seven towers and includingthe largest clock face in the world, AbrajAl Bait directly overlooks the Masjid alHaram, the holiest site in Islam.

Makkah Clock Royal Tower stands 577mtall, housing 858 rooms and suites.Mohammad Arkobi, managing director ofFairmont Raffles Hotels International inMakkah, focused on the role the hotelwould play in supporting the Islamiccommunity.“This event is a momentous opportunityto provide a new amenity to Muslimpilgrims and visitors from all over theworld,” he said.“We are honoured to offer exceptionalservices to Holy Land pilgrims and lookforward to ensuring our visitors have trulymemorable experiences with us.” In addition to the hotel, the clock tower

incorporates a lunar observatory, amuseum of Islamic icons and art, morethan 10,000km of fiber optic cable and 76elevators.

We are honoured to offerexceptional services to

Holy Land pilgrims

Abraj Al Bait

NOVEMBER 6, 20108

- Accommodation

Layia Plaza Hotel has opened in AlQusais, Dubai. The hotel is the latest iteration of therelatively young Layia Hospitality brand,marking the company’s sixth hotel.It will operate as a four star businesshotel; Layia has emphasised theattractiveness of the property andlocation to transitory aircraft crew.

However, Freddy Farid, area vicepresident for Layia, said the hotel wouldbe suitable for a range of travellers.“Layia Plaza Hotel will appeal to business

and leisure travelers alike from the localand international markets,” he said.“With its key location coupled withoutstanding facilities and services we areconfident that the hotel will be wellreceived in Dubai and the region ingeneral.”The property is located on DamascusRoad in Al Quasais and offers 232 rooms.

Emirates Hands Over Al Maha ManagementEmirates Hotels and Resorts has handed over management of its seminal property to Starwood.

Layia Hospitality Opens Sixth Dubai Hotel, in Al Qusais Area

We are confident that the hotel

will be well received

The property will beintegrated intoStarwood’s networkunder the company’sLuxury Collection brand

and renamed as Al Maha, a LuxuryCollection Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai.Emirates will retain ownership of Al Mahaand continue to sponsor and manage thedesert nature reserve attached to the hotel.Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, CEO ofEmirates Airline and Group, said thedecision to outsource managementrepresented an attempt to raise the profileof the property.“As a leading hotel management group,Starwood's Luxury Collection brandrepresents some of the finest propertiesacross the world, and with their extensivenetwork, global infrastructure and historyof successful brand management, we areconfident that they will take Al Maha toeven greater heights,” he said.An Emirates spokesperson said thecompany currently has no plans tooutsource management of its recentlylaunched Wolgan Valley property inAustralia, or any future projects.“We treat every decision on a case-by-casebasis, and it is not reflective of how we willproceed with our other properties,” she said.“We evaluate all our businesses on anongoing basis: if we feel that there are any

areas that can benefit from third partyexpertise, we will bring them on board.”Emirates’ spokesperson said themanagement transfer reflected anintensified focus on the company’s newAustralian hotel.

Al Maha was the first hotel opened byEmirates Hotels and Resorts, showcasingthe approach of natural and heritageconservation taken by the brand; anapproach which the property pioneeredin the UAE.

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve,developed alongside the hotel, was thefirst of its kind in that country.Roeland Vos, president of Starwood inEurope, Africa and the Middle East, saidhis company would continue to addMiddle Eastern hotels to the LuxuryCollection, which currently includesGrosvenor House and now Al Maha.

[This decision] is notreflective of how we willproceed with our other

properties

Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa

Dubai DesertConservation Reserve

NOVEMBER 6, 201010

- Air Travel

Flydubai Grows Fleet and Expands NetworkFlydubai has further increased its reach, with new aircraft and aircraft financing arrangements propelling thelaunch of a spate of new routes.

The carrier has takendelivery of its tenth B737aircraft from Boeing,boasting the first receiptof that company’s new

sky-roof concept (which uses colour-shifting lights to acclimate passengers tochanges in sky colour brought about bysunrise and sunset.)Flydubai has also secured a series of sale-and-leaseback agreements with Avolon,GECAS and BBAM, with a total value ofUSD1 billion.The agreements cover the sale of Flydubaiaircraft to the companies, who will holdownership while leasing the vehicles backto the carrier on long-term contracts.

According to Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO ofFlydubai, these deals have secured thefinancial future of the carrier.“Our next 13 aircraft are now completelyfinanced, which takes us through toDecember of next year,” he said."This is a further indication that theinternational financing community viewsFlydubai and Dubai itself as a goodinvestment for the future.”John Higgins, president of Avolon, themost recent financier, affirmed hisconfidence in Flydubai as a viable longterm prospect.“A key element of Avolon’s strategy is toidentify airlines that are long-term winnersand to back them in scale,” he said.

“Our team is uniquely experienced instructuring large and innovative sale-and-leaseback financings and we look forwardto further developing our relationshipwith Flydubai and our presence in theGulf over the coming years.”Flydubai has also undertaken a series ofnew routes.The carrier has commenced flights toRussia, with connections to bothYekaterinburg and Samara.Links to Abha, capital of the Asir provincein Saudi Arabia, and Ashgabat, the capitalof Turkmenistan have also been scheduled.Flights to Abha will start on November23, followed by flights to Ashbagat onNovember 30.

Inside Availability with Royal JordanianJordan’s national carrier, Royal Jordanian, is targeting travelagents with an upgraded global distribution system (GDS)participation agreement with Travelport.The new deal will give Galileo and Worldspan connected agentsreal-time connectivity to the airline’s inventory, including accessto last seat availability, current pricing, seat maps, instantbookings and confirmations and e-ticketing capabilities.Dina Azar, head of distribution with Royal Jordanian, said thenew feature would boost productivity and operational costsavings for the travel trade, as well as providing managementand inventory control benefits to the airline.“Royal Jordanian continually seeks new and innovative waysto expand our services to the travel agent community, whichis why we are delighted to offer real-time connectivity to ourflight inventory through our new level of GDS participationwith Travelport,” said Azar.Royal Jordanian currently has a network of 58 destinations;the airline’s membership in the Oneworld global airline alliancegives passengers access to more than 700 cities worldwide.

Royal Jordanian continually seeks new and innovative ways to expand ourservices to the travel agent community

11NOVEMBER 6, 2010

- Air Travel

Airport Show Dubai Set to Double in Size in 2011According to Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the number of exhibitors at Airport Show Dubai is set to doubleat next year’s event.

Qatar Airways Increases Vietnam Capacity

Qatar Airways has launched new flights to Vietnam, openinga connection to Hanoi and increasing frequency to Ho ChiMinh City.The carrier now operates a total of 11 flights into Vietnam perweek.Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said his airline wasseeking to develop its position in the market early to capitaliseon Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.“Vietnam has long been an attractive leisure destination andwith the country’s economic strength continuing to build, weare also seeing more business travel in and out of the country,”he said.“Qatar Airways has introduced its new Hanoi route andplaced additional frequencies to Ho Chi Minh City to pushour advantage over our competitors and to grow our marketshare as the country grows.”Four direct flights will run per week to both Hanoi and HoChi Minh City, supplemented by three flights per week to thelatter via Bangkok, Thailand.

We are seeing more business travel in and out of the country

The 2011 exhibition will bethe eleventh iteration ofthe event, which focuseson the construction,management, technical,

administration and commercial aspects ofairports.Mohamed Bader-Edin, organiser of theevent, said strong interest had alreadybeen received far in advance of the show,which will be held between May 31 andJune 2, 2011.“This year, we have already seen asignificant increase in the number ofexhibitors who are keen to participate inthis leading industry event,” he said.“With only 32 weeks left for the show,

we anticipate more investors to registerparticipation and confirm their presenceat the much-awaited calendar event.”Bader-Edin noted the strength of airportdevelopment in the Middle East as apotential driver of growing interest.“Industry estimates point out that morethan USD43 billion worth of airport-

related projects are currently estimated tobe underway across the region,” he said.“With these projects requiring some of thelatest technologies and services, we predictthe 2011 Airport Show will be highlyrewarding for investors and trade visitors.”

Industry estimates point out that more than

USD43 billion worth of airport-related projects

are currently estimated to be underway across

the region

NOVEMBER 6, 201012

- International

China’s Aircraft Demand Set to Take Off The size of China’s combined aircraft fleet will triple over thenext 20 years, making it the largest aviation market outside theUS, according to estimates from Boeing.Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for BoeingCommercial Airplanes, said demographic shifts within Chinawere applying upward pressure to the market for commercialairliners.“China is one of the world's fastest growing and dynamicaviation markets, driven by the urbanisation of China, thegrowth of its economy and ever-increasing personal wealth,"he said.“We expect domestic passenger traffic for China to grow at arate of 7.9 percent on average.”Boeing estimated a total of USD480 billion worth of aircraft,or 4,330 vehicles, would be required over the course of the 20-year projection.A large majority (71 percent) would be accounted for bysmaller, single-aisle aircraft.

Marriott Kicks off European Renaissance After flagging plans to double its presence in Europe by 2015 earlier this year, Marriott International hasannounced three new additions to its European development pipeline.

Three boutique hotelshave been signed andwill carry Marriott’sRenaissance brand.These latest deals

bring the company’s currentEuropean pipeline tally to 27 hotelscurrently in development.The new hotels will includeRenaissance Lucerne Hotel,Switzerland (opening 2011);Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel,France (opening 2012); andRenaissance Paris Saint-Cloud Hotel,France (opening 2013).Amy McPherson, president of

Marriott International in Europe, saidthe Renaissance brand focused ondiscovery and unique experiences.“As we continue to expand throughoutEurope, I am excited for us to adddistinctive hotels like these, whichembody everything Renaissance isabout, to new destinations for us suchas Aix-en-Provence and Lucerne,” saidMcPherson. While the two Renaissanceproperties planned for France arenew-builds, Renaissance LucerneHotel will be housed in the formerHotel Schiller building, which datesback to 1909.

China is one of the world's fastest growing and

dynamic aviation markets

As we continue to expandthroughout Europe, I am

excited for us to add distinctivehotels like these

13NOVEMBER 6, 2010

- International

Canadian Travel Interests Demand Policy ReformThe Canadian National Travel and Tourism Coalition (NTTC) has released a white paper calling for reformin taxation of the travel industry in that country.

Hilton Worldwide Focuses on Conrad Brand with 14-Hotel PipelineHilton Worldwide will nearly double its global portfolio ofConrad Hotels and Resorts properties over the next three years. There are currently 15 Conrad properties operating around theworld, but Hilton’s latest pipeline shows 14 new hotels in theplanning or development stage.Key global properties will include Conrad New York, US;Conrad Dubai, UAE; Conrad Sanya Haitang Bay, China; andConrad Koh Samui, Thailand. Other strategic locations will include India, Portugal,Indonesia, South Korea and Fiji.John T A Vanderslice, global head of luxury and lifestyle brandsat Hilton Worldwide, said the brand would target high-endconsumers. “Offering a world of style, service and connection, Conradhotels and resorts are designed for today’s affluent traveller,which means providing the services and amenities needed forour guests to enjoy the luxury of being themselves,” saidVanderslice.“The expansion of Conrad Hotels and Resorts further into theAsian market as well as to our growing markets, such as the US,are strategic milestones for us.”The pipeline of Conrad properties includes new-build hotelsand conversions of existing properties.

NTTC is comprised ofthe Canadian AirportsCouncil (CAC), HotelAssociation of Canada(HAC), National

Airlines Council of Canada (NACC),Tourism Industry Association of Canada(TIAC) and International Air TransportAssociation (IATA).

According to David Goldstein, presidentof TIAC, Canada’s tourism industry hasdeclined in recent years – a fact that heblamed on regulatory failings.“Since 2002, Canada has slipped from theeighth most-visited destination in theworld to the fifteenth,” he said.“If we are to compete globally and regainour position as a top 10 destination in theworld, the policy-based impediments thathave been built in to our sector need to beaddressed.”The coalition has called for fairer taxation,directed to assist the growth of the travelindustry; a policy regime that would levelthe playing field with nearby UScompetitors; immigration reform to ensure

access to a skilled labour force; and policiesto increase the global competitiveness ofCanadian companies.

The last factor resonates with recentcomparisons between Canadian andMiddle Eastern approaches to aviation.UAE airline, Emirates, has clashed withCanadian carriers over plans to increaseflights into the country, with Emiratesaccused of benefiting from unfair subsidies,based on tax free operations in the UAE.

The policy-basedimpediments that have

been built in to our sectorneed to be addressed

Canada

NOVEMBER 6, 201014

Who are your highest spending clients? Corporate incentive groups, definitely. These groups arelooking at complete programmes, airport to airport, withexcursions, hotels and team-building exercises. What are the most popular holiday activities for yourclients?Lebanon is a very small country and I like to refer to it as aboutique market. For most of our guests we provide acombination of activities so that they can experience thehighlights of Lebanon. Also, Saad is the first traditional tour operator in Lebanon tolaunch responsible tourism programmes. I am a foundingmember of Beyond Beirut, which promotes rural tourism inLebanon and contributes to the economies of the country’sregional areas. When did you get involved in the travel industry andhow has it changed since then?I started out 10 years ago in 2000. The industry has changeda lot in that time, although unfortunately the political issuesfaced in Lebanon have had more impact on tourism to thecountry than the changes to the industry. In the past fewyears there has been much improvement and more demand. Where are you most interested in visiting next and why?Considering I travel a lot, for me it is not fun anymore – it’sa part of business. Normally, I go on holiday to disconnect from work. Where Igo depends on whether I am travelling with my family or not. With the kids, we usually go places that offer good servicesfor children. For short trips, Dubai and Turkey are great locations to takethe kids to; further afield, the Maldives, Far East and Europeare all good. Why is internet booking increasing in popularity?In Lebanon this is progressing slowly – internet booking isdefinitely coming, but it is a much smaller percentage ofbusiness compared to other destinations. Basically, this is related to the fact that policies and rateschange constantly in Lebanon and people want to haveconfirmation from a person that everything is ok. We arecurrently working on our own online booking platform, butwe are not sure what percentage of business it will represent,considering we focus on tailor-made packages.

Agent’s InsightName: Amine NasserPosition: General ManagerCompany: Saad Tours Location: Lebanon

Kuoni Group Acquires UAE AgenciesDestination management and travel group Kuoni has acquiredGulf Dunes LLC and Reem Tours and Travel LLC. The two UAE based travel companies have been acquired in full, butwill continue to be managed by their previous owner Gamal Fathy.Gulf Dunes and Reem Tours will both operate under KuoniGroup’s Destination Management Arabia/Africa organisation.The acquisitions are in line with the group’s current expansionplans for the Gulf, which are particularly focused on the MICEsector; Gulf Dunes specialises in MICE tourism and also operatesa branch in Muscat, Oman.Kuoni already owns the UAE based destination managementcompany Desert Adventures Tourism.Yasser Noman, CEO of Kuoni Group for the Middle East and Africa,confirmed that all employees at Gulf Dunes and Reem Travel wouldbe retained, along with the original branding of both companies.“It is a great pleasure to announce these two acquisitions... that giveKuoni Group Destination Management a great opportunity tofurther develop the MICE business segment in the Middle East andat the same time strengthen Kuoni’s position as a leadingdestination management company in the Gulf region,” said Noman.All parties have agreed not to divulge the purchase prices involvedin the acquisitions.

15NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Co-operation is the Future of Traditional Travel DistributionGood news for traditional travel agents: the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has made aseries of revelations about the still important, but changing role of face-to-face travel distribution.

A ccording to IATA,traditional travel agentsstill account for 70percent of revenue forIATA member airlines

(which in turn account for 93 percent ofscheduled air traffic).In emerging markets, such as the MiddleEast and Asia, the ratio is even higher.However, the industry is changing andbusiness practices have to changealongside.Trends picked out by IATA as importantto the future of travel agent-drivendistribution include the rise of ancillaryrevenues and the increasing importance

of supply chain co-operation in all areas.Aleks Popovich, senior vice president ofIATA, said the organisation’srelationship with a network of travelagents allowed greater insight into theway travel commodities are sold,providing opportunities for bothindividual businesses and jointdestination marketing.“Airlines, hotel chains, car rentalcompanies, cruise lines, tour operatorsand even local tourism authorities can seewho’s selling their product around theworld,” he said.“The industry supply chain can use thisinformation for a number of activities,

from fraud prevention to e-marketingcampaigns to facilitating critical functionslike revenue accounting,” he said.

Airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies,

cruise lines, tour operatorsand even local tourism

authorities can see who’sselling their product

around the world

NOVEMBER 6, 201016

Travel Talk is your space – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

Gina CostaCommercial Director for the Middle East and Africa, Hertz“The region is still recovering from the recession, andwe want to help people enjoy their holidays. Eid AlAdha is about spending time with family and friends,not worrying about breakdowns and repairs.”

The region is still recovering from the recession

Helal Saeed AlmarriCEO, Dubai World Trade Centre“Around one third of the world’s fleet of superyachts are owned byMiddle East residents, many of which originated from Saudi Arabia,which makes the Saudi International Boat Show the ideal platform foryacht builders to promote their luxury products and services. Theinclusion of Trinity Yachts and Westport in our exhibitor lineup reflectsthe growing prominence of the kingdom in particular as the mostuntapped and lucrative leisure marine market.”

One third of the world’s fleet of superyachts are owned by

Middle East residents

Andy KeelingPark Manager, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (speaking at the theme park’s opening onNovember 4, 2010)“We are so excited to finally share thethrill and excitement of Ferrari WorldAbu Dhabi with our guests. From morethan 20 years in the theme parkindustry, I personally feel that there isnothing more rewarding than watchingpeople’s reactions as they experiencethe rides for the first time and today wasa truly momentous day for all of ourguests. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi offersa truly amazing experience for everymember of the family and I lookforward to welcoming our visitors inthe weeks and months to come.”

Today was a truly momentous day for all of our guests

Hertz Middle East

Westport Yachts

Guests arriving at Ferrari World

NOVEMBER 6, 201018

Mahmoud MokhtarAbdul Latif Jameel Real EstateInvestment Company has appointedMahmoud Mokhtar as chief operatingofficer for its new hotel division.Mokhtar will drive the company’sgrowth in Saudi Arabia; a number ofhotel openings are planned for the nexttwo years. He has 23 years ofexperience working with multinationalhotel chains, including previous roles inthe US, UAE and Egypt. Most recently,Mokhtar was vice president for Egypt,Lebanon and North Africa for HiltonWorldwide.

Amal El KadyKempinski Hotel Soma Bay has appointed Amal El Kady as director of sales andmarketing. El Kady has more than 10 years of experience in the tourism industry; inher new role, she will lead the hotel’s team of sales, marketing and reservation staff. ElKady previously worked at a range of five star properties in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh,Luxor and Alexandria.

Christian GrageHilton Worldwide has appointed ChristianGrage as vice president of operations for Egyptand the Levant, based in Cairo. Grage willoversee Hilton’s 16 properties in the area, aswell as focusing on the company’s developmentand growth strategy. Grage joins Hilton fromMövenpick Hotels and Resorts, where he wasmost recently acting senior vice president forAfrica. He has 25 years of experience in thehospitality industry. He has worked in key rolesacross Egypt, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabiaand China.

Ahmed El HadyDusit Thani International hasappointed Ahmed El Hady ashotel manager of Dusit ThaniLakeview in Cairo, Egypt. El Hadyhas 19 years of experience in thehospitality industry. His mostrecent position was regionaldirector of sales and marketing forHyatt Hotels and Resorts in Egyptand Jordan. In his new role, ElHady will oversee the day-to-dayoperations of the hotel.

Burkhard WolterKempinski Ajman has appointed Burkhard Wolter as hotel manager. Wolter has morethan 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality sector and has spent more thanfive years working in the GCC. His most recent position was general manager ofNamaskar, a boutique property in Marrakesh. He has previously worked with FourSeasons, Raffles, Shangri-La, Rotana, Hilton and several other major internationalbrands. Wolter has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a range offurther industry-specific qualifications.

Alex Kassatly

Mahmoud Mokhtar

Alex KassatlyGrand Millennium Dubai hasappointed Alex Kassatly as generalmanager. Kassatly has more than 30years of experience in hotelmanagement and has workedthroughout North America, Asia andthe Middle East. After studyinghospitality and management, Kassatlyjoined Fairmont Hotels and Resortsin 1976. He worked at variousFairmont and Raffles propertiesacross North America and Egypt,before taking up a post as area generalmanager for Raffles in Cambodia.Christian Grage

Travel Trade Weekly: Firstly, pleasetell us a little about your property.Mohamed Shoier: Ramada DowntownDubai is located in Dubai’s prime district,Downtown Dubai, adjacent from theworld’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, theworld’s largest shopping destination, TheDubai Mall and with great views on DubaiFountain. Offering a large, comfortable and wellappointed suites-only product, it boasts oneof the best views of Burj Khalifa up closeand is fast becoming the most recognisedname in Dubai’s hospitality sector. As an alcohol-free hotel with a number ofinnovative products, services and tailoredpackages, Ramada Downtown Dubai is anideal destination for either a short breakor an extended family holiday for all GCCfamilies and discerning corporate andleisure travellers.  The property is hoping to reproduce thesuccess enjoyed by Ramada’s otherproperties, which have established areputation as some of the most comfortablefamily destinations across the world.

Travel Trade Weekly: Are there anynew developments within yourcompany or region that are impactingthe tourism industry?Mohamed Shoier: At the very outsetwe embarked on an unparalleledinvestment programme to develop thebest infrastructure to sustain and evenaccelerate tourist arrivals to the property. The number of repeat guests is the resultof our very strong growth-orientatedpolicy that we have put in place. We have also been very fortunate that themanagement made prudent decisions inthese times of economic turmoil that has

kept us focused on our core customersand related strategies. As a halal and alcohol-free property, italready is getting an enthusiastic responsefrom not only GCC guests, but alsoindividuals and families, due to our bigsized suites and close proximity to Dubaishopping mall.

Travel Trade Weekly: Have younoticed any new trends in travellerbehaviour or profile?Mohamed Shoier: For one, they booklate and wish to spend less. Secondly, regional tourists have startedmaking journeys by car more and less byair carriers. They are travelling more with familymembers and visiting historical andcultural sites in Middle East. They also prefer to travel to places whichare closer to home as high securityconcerns in Europe have discouraged themto visit Western countries.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are yourbiggest challenges and are there anystrategies you can see to overcome them?Mohamed Shoier: The main challengewe are facing is the dropping rates inDubai and we are overcoming it by

offering more added values to our guestswith a variety of packages and promotionsto meet our guests’ needs.

Travel Trade Weekly: How do youdeal with increasing competition?Mohamed Shoier: Our edge is biggerrooms compared to others in the samevicinity, plus a stunning view, uniquelocation and reasonable rates - we do notthink we have any competition.

Travel Trade Weekly: Any furthercomments?Mohamed Shoier: Our forecast is thatdemand from potential regional visitorswill remain strong, keeping the tourismindustry alive in Dubai. The city has already started witnessing anincrease in arrivals, especially from theChinese market, thus nullifying thenegative impact of the recent economicmeltdown on tourism.

19NOVEMBER 6, 2010

Q&A with Mohamed ShoierMohamed Shoier is the executive assistant manager of sales and marketing at Ramada Downtown Dubai.As a halal, alcohol-free property with large suites on offer, Ramada Downtown Dubai is looking to corner theGCC family market and emulate the success of its popular neighbours. Shoier spoke to Travel Trade Weeklyabout operating challenges, investment strategies and traveller trends in the region.

The city has alreadystarted witnessing anincrease in arrivals,especially from the

Chinese market

Ramada DowntownDubai, Imperial Suite

NOVEMBER 6, 201020

EventsWorld Travel MarketLondon, UK, November 8-11 (www.wtmlondon.com)Global event for the travel industry – four day business tobusiness event promoting a range of destinations and industrysectors to international travel professionals.

World Green Tourism Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi, UAE, November 22-24 (www.worldgreentourism.ae)Inaugural eco-tourism exhibition, featuring tourismauthorities, urban city planners, hotels and resorts, propertydevelopers, airlines, tour operators, green product suppliers,universities, museums and heritage site organisations.

EIBTMBarcelona, Spain, November 30 – December 2 (www.eibtm.com)Global event for the meetings and events industry, includingnetworking opportunities, professional education seminarsand a trade show platform for exhibitors, hosted buyers andtrade visitors.

International Luxury Travel MarketCannes, France, December 6-9 (www.iltm.net)Annual business to business event for the global luxury travelindustry. Showcases destinations and travel experiences, witha programme of networking events and pre-scheduledmeetings.

Moroccan Travel MarketMarrakech, Morocco, January 12-15 (en.mtm.ma)Exhibition for international travel professionals.

Blossom JapanTokyo, Japan, January 18-21,2011 (www.blossomjapan.com)A new invitation-only luxury travel exhibition focusing on theJapanese market.

Fitur International Tourism Trade FairMadrid, Spain, January 19-23, 2011 (www.fitur.es)Fitur is a meeting point for tourism professionals to establishlines of action, strategies and business alliances.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre(ADNEC) is expecting bumper trafficduring November, with 14 trade andconsumer events scheduled for thismonth.Christina Anthony, sales director ofADNEC, said November was the busiestmonth of the year for the exhibitioncentre, with thousands of visitorsexpected. In addition to long-running shows –including Abu Dhabi InternationalPetroleum Exhibition and Conference,which was first held 26 years ago –November will see the debut of severalnew events for the tourism and hospitalityindustries.

World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi will beheld from November 22 to 24, alongsideSIAL and IPA Middle East – two showsfocused on the food and food processingindustries. “Combined with the many thousandsvisiting Abu Dhabi for the Etihad AirwaysF1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, we areconvinced ADNEC’s bustling eventscalendar in November will ensure theUAE capital remains at the centre ofglobal attention throughout the comingweeks,” Anthony said.Other November events include Eid AlAdha Show, a shopping fair open to thegeneral public; Abu Dhabi InternationalJewellery and Watch Show; International

Banking and Financial ServicesTechnology Exhibition; and BuildingFuture Education MENA. A range of private corporate events arealso scheduled.

Tourism and Hospitality Events Contribute to ADNEC’s Busiest Month

ADNEC