UPDATETrade

1March 2018

March 2018 Volume III Issue X Pages 32

GREECE

ITB Berlin

New strategies to tackle

Middle East new offerings

OvertourismAt home, around the world

Trade

PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra varun@versatilemedia.in

DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar pranav@versatilemedia.in

VICE PRESIDENT Shelly Chadha shelly@versatilemedia.in

DIRECTOR- PR (MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH EAST ASIA)

Sanjiv Chopra

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur

ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder

SENIOR REPORTER Ankita Jain

BUSINESS HEAD - MICE Seema Joshi

AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa

SR. MARKETING MANAGER Nidhi Hinduja

CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann

ART DIRECTOR Rakesh Kumar

ACCOUNTS Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari

ADMIN HEAD R Prem Lata

EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Sameer Singh

Head Office:TravelScapes Middle EastF.Z.E.,SM-Office- A1-303F

Versatile Media- 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008Contact: 011-45530380/83 varun@versatilemedia.in, web: www.travelscapesonline.com

All information in TravelScapes is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s)without prior permis-sion. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.

Owner and published by: Varun Malhotra, Publisher, Editor, 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008 and printed on his behalf at Acme Tradex India Pvt Ltd, B70, Sector 80, Phase II, Noida.

ContentsCover story ......................................5Middle East presence In the world’s biggest travel show, ITB Berlin

Hotel Feature ................................12Roda Amwaj SuitesStylish and chic, Roda Amwaj Suites ticks plenty of boxes with the amazing facilities it bestows

Special Focus Hospitality ............16Seema PandeCommercial Director, Kempinski Hotel Mall of Emirates

Around the world ..........................20At home, around the worldA list of the world’s best family holiday destinations is just for you

REGULARS

Trade News ............................... 10Hospitality ................................. 14Aviation ..................................... 26What’s on .................................. 28Appointments ........................... 30

What’s Trending ...........................24New strategies to manage ‘overtourism’ ‘Overtourism’ has made headlines worldwide this year due to record visitor numbers at many destinations

Dear readers,

This issue features the spellbinding power of the Middle East-ern region’s new offerings. From Ras Al Khaimah as the new and emerging adventure emirate to Yas Island’s newly built, Warner Bros Theme Park and more, Middle East is bubbling with new products during the world’s travel biggest travel show, ITB Berlin. The United Arab Emirates saw a rise in all key visitor markets last year and digging more about this year, TravelScapes ME spoke to all the major leading players in the region.

For the past half a century, the capital of Germany has annually hosted ITB Berlin. It’s now the world’s biggest travel trade show. More specifically, it takes the toil of many of the thousands of tour-ism industry workers who gather in Berlin each year.

Overtourism which is linked to destination overcrowding and tourism fatigue among residents - has dominated headlines in city destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Palma de Mallorca and Venice for some time now. In an overview story, TravelScapes ME

lists the problems faced due to overtourism and also offers suitable solutions respectively. Besides, the term is also among the topics to be discussed in the world’s biggest travel show.

In the interview section, we roped in Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, who discloses the secret behind his achievements. He further talks about the marketing initiatives to be carried this year and the importance of global travel shows.

Bringing together the sighted and unsighted family destination experiences, from relaxing Maldives to wild-life bonanza Galápagos, TravelScapes ME covers it all. This summer ditch the regular itinerary and rather sign up for unexplored holiday experiences. It’s time to relax, climb, scream and let off steam.

Further, based on a recent statistics, the GCC’s USD 1.3 billion Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibi-tions (MICE) industry is set for continuous growth and expansion. The latest report stated that the number of international association meetings in the region has more than tripled over the last 10 years.

This issue brings news and reports about trade, hospitality, aviation and the latest in tourism worldwide.

We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write us on varun@versatilemedia.in.

Happy reading

Special issue

4 March 2018

By Ankita Jain

Over the past decade, the Middle East has developed into a global hub for tourism and leisure. Visitors are attracted to the region’s retail offerings, hotels, beaches and unique experiences. Digging in the platter for 2018, leading players from the region

share their new offerings for the latest edition of ITB Berlin

Middle East presence in the world’s biggest travel show

ITB BerlinCover story

5March 2018

Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture. For the fourth year running, it brought the city to life with activations of art in public spaces, outdoor art projects, interactive initiatives, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and performances were held across Dubai to highlight the emirate’s fast-growing creative landscape.

Dubai Culture’s mandate to preserve Emirati heritage was highlighted at ITB Berlin, where the authority promoted the recently opened Etihad Museum. Guiding visitors on a journey through the monumental events that surrounded the agreement signing and Union Declaration of 1971, the museum offers an insight into the emirate’s rich history and is also one of the city’s most breath-taking tourist attractions.

Bringing a taste of Dubai’s thriving artistic scene to the fair, the authority’s stand presented Emirati artist Fatima Al Hammadi, who is a member of many local art associations and has participated in 13 exhibitions both inside and outside of the UAE. Fatima’s participation at the fair saw her showcasing her graffiti art skills and sharing her distinctive technique of blending the beauty of calligraphy with vivid and carefully selected colours.

Ras Al KhaimahRenowned as the ‘headland of the small huts’ and located amidst a vast landscape and lush greenery, Ras Al Khaimah (alternatively Ra’sal-Khaymah) is an ideal weekend escape in the UAE. With captivating sceneries, a rich cultural heritage and a laid-back vibe, RAK offers value adventure, leisure and business travel to its travellers.

Talking about the perks of ITB Berlin, Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, states, “We are gearing up for yet another productive ITB Berlin this year where we will be meeting with international tour operators and trade partners from our key source markets as well as emerging visitor markets. Last year, we noted 19 per cent increase in visitors to Ras Al Khaimah – largely due to the increase in international visitors,

particularly from Europe.” Further, he adds, “Representatives from our team will be available at ITB stand to speak to partners and public to help them know more about our destination – its 64 km of beaches, terracotta desert and UAE’s highest mountains. We’ll also have our DMCs and hotel operators there to showcase the world-class offerings, as well as some exciting consumer competitions.”

This year, Ras Al Khaimah will be promoting adventure on a large scale. And the emirate has the latest entry to the list. For those of you who have not heard of Jebel Jais, it is UAE’s highest peak at 1934 metres. And at the tallest point of Jebel Jais mountain, one can feel like a bird piercing the wind on the world’s longest zip line. It is not every day that we experience thrilling adventures. So, just zip line and live to see another day! Well, it is longer than 28 soccer fields, which is at least 2,800 meters (about 9,200 feet or 1.7 miles) — more than three times the height of Dubai’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. The zip line is the latest white-knuckle ride to turn heads away from the more familiar desert nations. With speed range from 55 to 80 miles, it’s no more for the faint of heart, but for a thrill-seeking zipliner. “This year we will emphasise on the launch of the longest zipline in the world in Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE. The Guinness World record of 2.8 km in length, has made international headlines since its launch a month ago and is helping to cement Ras Al Khaimah as the adventure tourism hub of the Middle East,” he zeroes in.

Yas Island, Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi is Dubai’s rich cousin and apparently the most prosperous emirate in the UAE. Talking particularly about Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the theme park on Yas Island is the ultimate destination for adrenaline junkies! It’s home to Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster on earth, that travels at 240 km per hour, covering the 2.07 km track in just 90 seconds. The air is charged with energy, and it’s worth. As Middle East’s top family entertainment and leisure destination celebrate its 10th anniversary year, Yas Island will present its unique portfolio

Mohamed Al ZaabiHaitham Mattar Slim Zaiane Matthew Powell Samir Mehta

Cover story

The United Arab Emirates saw a rise in all key visitor markets in 2016, with India still topping the list and Saudis in the second

position in terms of visitor numbers to Dubai. The biggest rise in percentage terms was from Chinese visitors, up 20 per cent year-on-year to 540,000, now in seventh place.

For the past half a century, the capital of Germany has annually hosted ITB Berlin. It’s now the world’s biggest travel trade show. More specifically, it takes the toil of many of the thousands of tourism industry workers who gather in Berlin each year to create the dreams that will keep the rest of us willingly chained to our desks for most of the year to pay for them. It’s a chance for countries to flaunt their wares as vacation destinations and for airlines to brag about the size of their seats. Importantly, it’s also a chance to strike the deals and make the contacts needed to make sure the world keeps packing its bags and spending the billions that make travel one of the biggest contributors to the global economy.

ITB Berlin is a vast five-day gathering of bright and exotic displays that champion far-flung and familiar destinations. There are dance shows, giveaways, drinks, games, rides and, for the seasoned conference-goer, hundreds of meet-ups with old friends and colleagues. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for the tourism industry to reflect on a changing world and discuss how to embrace it. We spoke to the leading ME players to get an insight into their latest offerings at this five day event.

DubaiDubai, a leading destination for visitors from around the world, will be at ITB Berlin and present new hotels, attractions and many more.

Be it a luxury holiday, family adventure or business trip, Dubai, a United Arab Emirate, is an attractive and unforgettable place, regardless of the type of holiday or one’s finances.

Last year during ITB Berlin, Dubai Culture showcased Dubai Art Season – a two-month citywide initiative of artistic and cultural events held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al

6 March 2018

of immersive experiences and world-class attractions in ITB Berlin, while providing a ‘sneak peek’ of what’s in store for visitors in 2018.

The home of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Yas Marina, Yas Mall and Yas Marina Circuit, among other existing and upcoming exciting attractions, is all set to attract more than 48 million visits by 2022 as it becomes a global destination for entertainment and leisure.

Elaborating about their offerings in ITB Berlin, Miral CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, highlights the successful journey of Yas Island over the last decade and how it is constantly evolving and innovating its attractions, parks and inbound tourism opportunities to become the family destination.

“As the number one destination for families, we are confident that Yas Island will continue to attract visitors from the region and Indian sub-continent, especially with the new additions coming soon to Yas Island. And this year at ITB Berlin, we are solely promoting Warner Bros, Yas Island’s new build up which will open its door this summer. Abu Dhabi’s latest theme park will have 29 rides across six areas, including those modelled on Gotham City and Metropolis, home to DC Comics icons Batman and Superman.”

He further emphasises on how Yas Island will continue to evolve as a leading destination for family entertainment and leisure, with evolving smart connectivity and state-of-the-art mobility solutions that will create a seamlessly connected ‘wall-less’ destination

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Located between Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina and adjacent to the Mall of the Emirates with ready access to its metro station, the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates is ideal for both sightseeing and shopping. Kempinski

Hotel Mall of the Emirates is a truly unique five-star destination, providing an unrivalled alpine experience in the Middle East. About the participation in ITB Berlin, Slim Zaiane, General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, says the German-speaking market is their main market. “We are intensely proud to have our individual stand in ITB. We will also be part of Dubai destination stand there. It is the market where we capitalise and leverage international leisure market.”

Zaiane enumerates the new offerings the hotel will be promoted at this international platform. “Two years back, we finished our innovation during our 10th anniversary and we invested USD120 million in it. We have introduced new outlets including world-class restaurants. There are lots of tie-ups with the brands happening now and then. Similarly, we are adding benefit to the guests in reference to leisure and entertainment. One major benefit would be our film screening in the hotel itself. The guest doesn’t need to head to the mall for the screening after the initiative. And it will be the only license cinema in the UAE. Further, our F&B team will be crafting a special offering for the cinema goers.”

Arabian AdventuresAs part of the Emirates Group, Arabian Adventures is the most experienced tours and safaris operator in the region. Further in context to ITB Berlin, Samir Mehta- General Manager, Arabian Adventures and Gulf Ventures, shares, “ITB provides us with a global platform to showcase our destination and our wide range of products and services along with the opportunity to meet our current and future trade partners.”

Arabian Adventures has been participating at ITB since the start of business over 25 years ago and will continue to do so in the future as well. Elaborating about the new products to be

promoted at the international platform, Mehta avers, “Arabian Adventures will be presenting the UAE region as a unique destination which is constantly evolving with new products and experiences. We will also educate visitors on our technology offering.”

Emphasising on the relevance of the German-speaking market, he adds, “The German-speaking markets, including Austria and Switzerland, are a key focus for Dubai, UAE and Arabian Adventures.” This year, their management team will be available for meetings and to showcase their products and services at this key networking event.

TravelportTravelport is a travel commerce platform providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the travel and tourism industry. As always, the company expects the event to provide a powerful platform to showcase their products, share their latest views and deepen relationships with important stakeholders.

Bubbling with ideas, Matthew Powell, Managing Director, Middle East and South Asia, Travelport, shares about the new offerings the company will promote at the platform. “This year we will include an array of interactive features including demo pods that allow visitors to gain first-hand experience of how our platform helps agents drive revenue by providing real-time access to content from over 400 airlines, 650,000 hotel properties and 35,000 car rental locations. In addition, we will have experts discussing how our unique merchandising solution allows travel agents to display, gain information around and sell branded fare families and ancillary products.”

He adds, “Furthermore, our team will share its views on how trends such as personalisation, multi-source content and the continued pivot to mobile and voice commerce continue to shape the industry. When it comes to multi-source content, we will focus on how we are still the only travel commerce platform to achieve IATA’s highest certification as an NDC Level three aggregator. We’ll also talk through how we’re now consolidating and extending our leadership in this area by industrialising our NDC capability and incorporating NDC content into our suite of products for airlines and travel agencies.”

ITB: In a nutshellStaged annually in Berlin, ITB Berlin features 10,000 exhibitors from 180+ countries, attracting over 120,000 trade visitors from the travel and tourism sectors. Showcasing the entire world under one roof, the event is the centre and pivotal point of the entire industry.

Cover story

AJMAN CORNICHE HAS A NEW LANDMARKWalk in,drop your bags and relax. It’s time to unwind, surrounded by the calm blue waters of the Arabian Gulf. With 179 luxurious rooms, we look forward to your stay with us.

Experience some of the best cuisines in Ajman with our all-day dinning restaurant and our speciality seafood restaurant. Indulge yourself with our pool bar, jacuzzi and spa.

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Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche is operated by R hotels under a franchiseagreement with Wyndham Hotel Group

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8 March 2018

Spotlight

Royal Arabian Destination ManagementP.O. Box 117689, Dubai, UAE

00971 4 2999 339sales@royalarabian.com | info@royalarabian.com

www.royalarabian.com

Premium Destination Management Company in UAE

We Deliver Experiences.

While the cultural heart of the UAE, Sharjah holds on to its roots and enshrines its age-old traditions in everything from architecture and design to events and festivals, the emirate is eyeing the India market and is indeed receiving an overwhelming response. In a tête-à-tête with TravelScapes ME, H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA shares about how lucrative India market is and throws a light on Sharjah’s enriching appeal as an ideal family destination

Sharjah has consistently been selected as one of the UAE’s most prominent cultural hubs and a bastion of civilisation by regional and international institutions. The emirate has also been named

The Culture Capital of the Arab World (UNESCO); Islamic Culture Capital 2014, the Capital of Arab Tourism, the Capital of the Arab Press and the ‘World Book Capital’ for 2019 by UNESCO. These achievements have strengthened its presence on not just the regional levels but internationally as well and India stands as one of the potential source markets for Sharjah.

“India is undisputedly one of the largest key markets for the tourism and travel industry around the world. I would like to highlight that the relationship between UAE and India is quite unique and is strongly going on not for decades but centuries. They had trade relations for more than 500 years. This is one of the most important aspects that we always highlight and consider to be very significant. We are very proud of what country has achieved in 46 years,” H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA starts off on a positive note.

“Sharjah is a cultural hub and the third largest emirate in the UAE. Talking particularly about the traction from India, we are mainly targeting families as the location and the entertainment aspect here are well suited for this segment. Everything in the emirate is very well-equipped for the families thus our main focus has always been towards being a leading family destination. Apart from the very popular Sharjah International Book Fair, Sharjah Light Festival and Formula 1 Powerboat Racing coming up this year, we have plenty of events in the pipeline that

are mainly targeting families. We are also turning our focus towards experiential Indian travellers as they nowadays look for experiences and destinations that offer value for money. Be it in terms of entertainment, history, archaeology, beaches, attractions for nature lovers or anything related to the authentic Arabian culture, Sharjah promises to offer all.. Also, if you compare Sharjah with the other emirates, we have hotels and accommodation options that are much cheaper,” he continues.

Taking cognizance of the fact that India is a high potential market, Sharjah is actively promoting itself through participating in exhibitions where the emirate’s best tourist spots, popular leisure activities and unique culture are being showcased. The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) recently participated in SATTE and seemed very confident about broadening its reach and embrace new partnerships.

Midfa further shares, “We utilised SATTE’s popularity to enhance the emirate’s brand and profile in major markets and cities worldwide as well as achieve growth in terms of the number of international tourist arrivals in 2018 and in the coming years. 2017 was a good year for Sharjah Tourism as we recorded 138,000 Indian guests who stayed in Sharjah hotels.”

“We are working very closely with our representation office in India and with the big tour operators to market Sharjah aggressively in the India market. The Authority (SCTDA) is keen to strengthen relations with the Indian market by organising roadshows in Indian cities in combination with workshops and meetings with major tourism agencies, resulting in agreements on the exchange of tourism between the two destinations”, he adds.

Further talking about the strong connectivity between the regions Midfa adds, “Sharjah’s flag carrier, Air Arabia, which is our main partner operates 112 flights per week between India and Sharjah. The load factor is also as high as up to 95 per cent and all of this indicates the high tourism potential between India and Sharjah. We are looking to further increase the various other frequencies to and from Sharjah.”

While SCTDA plans to put the emirate on the international tourism and business maps in line with the government’s economic development plans, it also looks forward to getting benefitted from much bigger hotel brands entering Sharjah. As informed by Midfa, major brands like AccorHotels, Sheraton, and Hilton are expected to come up with their hotel properties in the coming years and according to him, it’s a big plus to attract more footfalls and increase an average length of stay in the emirate.

“The results are so far excellent and we are further targeting 10 to 15 per cent growth in the Indian arrivals this year,” he concludes on a high note.

SharjahAs a leading family destination

to mount up

H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa

DID YOU KNOW? • It’s the third largest

emirate in the UAE• The emirate was

listed as UNESCO’s Arab Capital of Culture in 1998

• Sharjah actual meaning translates to “rising sun”.

• Sharjah has been named as ‘World Book Capital’ for 2019 by UNESCO

By Gagneet Kaur

Royal Arabian Destination ManagementP.O. Box 117689, Dubai, UAE

00971 4 2999 339sales@royalarabian.com | info@royalarabian.com

www.royalarabian.com

Premium Destination Management Company in UAE

We Deliver Experiences.

10 March 2018

UPDATETrade

A recent tourism workshop hosted by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority

(BTEA) reviewed the results of 2017 including the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector, highlighting the latest tourism developments in the kingdom.

The workshop, titled “Tourism in Bahrain: Challenges and Opportunities”, was held at the Wyndham Grand Manama on February 21. The workshop was held in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, and coordinated by Professor Dr. Said El Batouty, Professor of Economics and Tourism Marketing at the Goethe University, Frankfurt and ATO Advisor, alongside the

Assistant Secretary General at ATO, Dr. Hossam Darwish. The event was attended by individuals interested in the tourism industry from both the public and private sector. The workshop highlighted the Bahrain tourism sector and discussed its strength, weakness, opportunities and threats.

“The workshop discussed the main threats that hinder achieving sustainable development in the tourism sector in Bahrain and discussed the best solutions to solve these issues. This workshop comes in-line with BTEA’s eagerness in discussing issues related to the tourism sector and meet the needs in order to further develop this vibrant sector,” said Shaikh Khaled.

Incentives & Conferences by Royal Arabian – is an extension of Royal Arabian

Destination Management which specialises in corporate meeting, incentive, conference and event requirements. Whether it is a small group, high-end group or a large international conference, the “Royal” expertise, commitment and attention to detail ensures successful, well-organised programs. A thorough knowledge of the destination, creativity, foresight and detailed logistical planning makes every event handled by Incentives & Conferences a success. At Incentives & Conferences, the process is simple – understand, conceptualise, plan, negotiate, and execute a customised MICE solution.

Royal Arabian Destination Management is a premium destination management company, specialising in an array of exemplary leisure (FITs & Groups) and MICE solutions in the UAE.

Established in 2004 with a four-member team, Royal Arabian Destination Management has been growing in leaps and bounds and currently with over 200 experienced, well trained and multilingual employees and a strong fleet of in-house vehicles, Royal Arabian is well equipped to cater to all your individual and corporate travel needs.

With a vision to be the most admired premium brand in providing destination management services across UAE and a Mission to offer memorable holidays, to organise magnificent events, develop innovative and competitive products and constantly elevate internal processes, Royal Arabian Destination Management is capable of handling every detail of travel and MICE industry’s requirement with utmost care and special attention.

Royal Arabian Destination Management has a global presence in India, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and a sound client base comprising of tour operators from Europe, Asia, Far East, South America and Africa.

Bahrain reviews tourism challenges and opportunities

Royal Arabian takes a step ahead in MICE

Dubai luxury spa market set for major growthThe number of five-star hotel spas in Dubai is

on track to increase by a compound annual growth rate of 11 per cent to 2021, according to a report. According to the report, Spa and Wellness Travel - produced exclusively for Arabian Travel Market - the number of five-star hotel spas in Dubai will increase from 107 in 2017 to 157 in 2021, in close correlation with the emirate’s hotel pipeline.

High profile openings over recent months include The Spa at Palazzo Versace Dubai and The Bulgari Spa, which will contribute to projected annual spa revenues in the emirate of USD495 million, by 2019, according to Visit Dubai. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director of Arabian Travel Market, said, “Regionally, the spa sector is multi-faceted and sensitive to

events and developments in many other sectors, including global health, beauty and wellness trends. In 2017, we saw focus increase across these areas and Dubai was quick to capitalise and innovate, with the debut of a number of luxury-branded hotel spas.

The report analysed data from spas representing 369 treatment rooms across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, highlighting nuances in demand and revenue trends. In Abu Dhabi, the average treatment rate is AED348 (USD94.7), compared to AED394 (USD107.2) in Dubai, with approximately 17 and 22 treatments sold per day, respectively. The UAE will welcome 83 new hotels in 2018, many featuring spa and wellness amenities and, across the Middle East, a further 500 new properties are due to open by 2020.

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12 March 2018

UPDATETrade

Stylish and chic, Roda Amwaj Suites ticks plenty of boxes with the amazing facilities it bestows. Wherever guests end up, service is sincere, the crowd sophisticated and the atmosphere carefree. All in all, it provides the setting for the well-heeled and the tasteful

Array of facilitiesWhile in Roda Amwaj Suites, one cannot stop gazing out of picturesque balconies. Gob-smacking sea and marine views are the heart and soul of this property. The other amenities include central temperature controlled air conditioner, fully-fitted kitchen, private parking with direct elevator access to apartments, exclusive fitness centre, temperature controlled outdoor swimming pool and complimentary WiFi.

Brushed with luxury

Roda Amwaj SuitesLocationHoused in the heart of the Jumeirah Beach Residence, a short walk from the hotel transports you to the renowned promenade that hosts a plenty of places to curl up. Located right in front, Jumeirah Beach Residence 2 Tram Station is ideal for stopovers. About the Dubai International airport, it’s a mere 40 minutes drive. For travellers more interested in shopping opportunities, Marina Mall, Ibn Batuta Mall and Mall of the Emirates are just a stone’s throw away.

Lodging with luxuryOozing style, the suites are so spacious and chic that you could live in them. While the 340 newly fully furnished serviced apartments are comfy enough for a long stay. The finest apartments range from one, two and three bedroom apartments, duplex lofts and prestigious penthouses, all available for rent on short and long-term. Stupendous vistas of Ain Dubai and shopping malls are within easy accesibility.

By Ankita Jain

Hotel Feature

14 March 2018

UPDATEHospitality

Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region, has announced the soft opening of two hotels in Dubai, the five-star Al

Bandar Rotana and fully-furnished serviced apartments, Al Bandar Arjaan by Rotana, at Dubai Creek.

Elegantly designed with a range of modern luxuries, and situated on a prime waterside location on Baniyas Road, the new properties offer expansive views of the creek, which passes through the heart of Dubai, and Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Away from traffic and in close proximity to major attractions and landmarks in the city, including Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Trade Centre, Al Bandar Rotana and Al Bandar Arjaan by Rotana, make an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers.

“Dubai has been one of the best-performing markets for Rotana, where we have a strong presence with an existing inventory of 11 hotels, and several under development which will give us an additional 3,168 rooms in the city. With its forward-looking economy and continued infrastructure investments, the emirate continues to be a magnet for both business and leisure travellers,” said David Prince, Area Vice President.

Dubai’s hospitality sector is forecast to experience strong growth over the coming years, with the emirate’s room supply set to reach 132,000

by the end of 2019, growing at a two-year (2017-2019) CAGR of 11.1 per cent.According to a comprehensive study of the market by Dubai’s

Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), Dubai’s occupied room nights is set to reach 35.5 million annually in 2019, representing a robust 10.2 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next 24 months.

Meanwhile, occupancy levels are forecast to remain at an extremely healthy 76-78 per cent despite growth in capacity, maintaining the attractiveness of the sector to hotel investors and developers.

The strong competitiveness of the sector is set to continue to be fuelled by increases in Dubai’s growing international overnight visitation and targeted increases in length of stays, supported further by recent and upcoming tourism attractions and experiences.

With concerted efforts to raise awareness in both established and emerging source markets, the duration of travel from new and existing segments are expected to see further growth in the medium term, positively impacting demand for room nights, which is in turn expected to outpace visitor growth over the coming 24 to 48 months.

Rotana unveils two new properties in Dubai

Dubai hotel room inventory to hit 132,000

Saudi Arabia has more than 64,000 rooms across the three phases of the hotel development pipeline, representing 76 per

cent of the more than 84,500 existing hotel rooms in the country, according to data from STR.

As shown in STR’s January Pipeline Report, there are 187 hotel projects total in Saudi Arabia between the planning, final planning and in-construction stages. The construction phase represents the largest portion of the pipeline with almost 40,000 rooms in 94 projects.

At the market level, Makkah is set to receive the largest amount of new supply with more than 23,000 rooms in construction and more than 32,000 rooms total in the pipeline. Jeddah and Riyadh are each approaching 10,000 rooms total in the three phases of the pipeline.

Ahead of his presentation at the Saudi Arabia Hotel Investment Conference (SHIC) on February 26, STR’s Area Director for the Middle East and Africa, Philip Wooller, said, “Saudi Arabia’s hotel market is going through a period of massive supply expansion.” “In the short term, we’ve already seen this growth affect performance levels, and this trend should continue as more and more properties start to come online.”

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR was again recognised at the recent UAE Business Awards. The hotel was named as the Best

Short Stay Accommodation in Dubai. A back to back win, the property was also named as the Most

Accommodating Resort in Dubai at UAE Business Awards 2017. SamerRafie, Hotel Manager, commented, “On behalf of my team, I would like to thank UAE Business Awards for recognising our efforts in providing top-quality accommodation to our valuable guests. We are truly honoured to receive this prestigious award as this further inspires us to enhance our service, especially in today’s highly competitive market. The property will continue to strengthen its position as the preferred hotel in our location not only for short stays, but also for business trips and extended holidays.” UAE Business Awards is designed to celebrate the talent that has provided some of the best products and services in one of the largest influential business regions from across the globe.

Over 64,000 hotel rooms to open in Saudi Arabia

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR bags another award

16 March 2018

HospitalitySPECIAL FOCUS

There is a general consensus today that for a hotel business, a corporation’s responsibility goes beyond just making profits. Understanding that a hotel’s involvement in CSR practices can improve the brand awareness and loyalty for customers, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates implements its own CSR ideologies. In an exclusive interview with Seema Pande, Commercial Director, Kempinski Hotel Mall of Emirates, we get an insight into the hotel’s CSR initiatives and sustainable efforts in the pipeline

Please elaborate on the CSR initiatives by Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates? Throughout 2017, as a property, we implemented an array of CSR initiatives to ensure that we take responsibility for the property’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing. A few examples of initiatives that we employed include The Carefree day, in January, which was an initiative, brought to us by Dubai Municipality. We also took part in Breast Cancer awareness month, allowing our wider community of ladies to come in and have free checkups. In June, we held a charity dinner for Dubai Autism Centre where we invited children and it was indeed a great evening.

How has CSR label provided an opportunity for Kempinski to identify responsible practices and determine its strengths and weaknesses? By implementing a few CSR ideologies at Kempinski, it has allowed us to identify our strengths which are certain. In terms of weaknesses, we’ve been able to see that we do need to work on few additional projects to reach the goal we have set for the year. By implementing initiatives as such we would be able to reduce a certain amount which would match our targets.

Kempinski believes it can be part of spreading health awareness in the communities where it operates hotels. Kindly share a few cases where Kempinski played a huge role. How is the hotel approaching environment through its initiatives? Back in January, we took part in the Measles Campaign, which was a movement that encouraged our staff to have the MMR immunisation jab. In April, we also had a

medical campaign which encouraged the participation of our employees. In May, we took part in World Hygiene Day. On this day, we placed ‘clean your hands’ signs around the hotel encouraging our wider community to be mindful of dangerous germs and bacteria that can enter the body; we did this by giving a demonstration on how to clean hands properly. As highlighted earlier, the other major campaign that we took part in was Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.

What is your opinion about CSR, sustainability and profitability going hand-in-hand in creating a successful organisation? We believe that CSR is a key ingredient to being part of a successful organisation.

Any sustainable efforts in the pipeline? We are working towards an initiative called ‘Earth Check’, whereby we monitor all our activities throughout the hotel to make sure we are sustainable and environmentally conscious in terms of usage of water and electricity. We also use LED bulbs to diminish the energy used. We have regular audits to ensure that we are being as resourceful and environmentally friendly as possible.

Kempinski elevates CSR to new heightsDoing good is good for business

Seema Pande

By Gagneet Kaur

18 March 2018

In Conversation

Ramada Hotel and Suites Ajman overflows with style, great design, and sophistication, awash with classic details. Luxury knows no bounds, at this centrally located property. As Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, is honoured with CSR Professional of the Year, TravelScapes ME digs in the success secret behind it

What sets Ramada Ajman apart? What is the secret to your continued success in the Middle East region?Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, along with Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, has witnessed continued success over the years, closing each year with occupancy of not less than 90 per cent. The team has created effective strategies and formed fruitful partnerships, thus, the rooms remained filled even during the off-peak season.

Another aspect that the hotel and the team are truly proud of is establishing a name for itself within the industry by being a pioneer in various sustainable practices. Ramada Ajman had received various recognitions and endorsements, including the prestigious Green Globe certification and most recently, in the Gulf Sustainability and CSR Awards 2018 where I was honoured with ‘The CSR Professional of the Year’.

Sustainability has been placed at the core of the hotel’s operations, and this has been one of the factors for its success. On top of the accolades, the property has been generating significant savings from its initiatives – the zero-landfill project alone provides an annual savings of AED120,000 for the property.

What marketing initiatives are channelising in the pipeline for 2018?Our team is focused on the opening of our latest property, the 179-key Wyndham Garden Ajman

Corniche. With the increased demand for both leisure and business travellers in Ajman, we are actively promoting the property to various trade exhibitions and roadshows within and outside the Middle East region. So far, we have been successful with our campaigns, as demonstrated by the positive feedback and enquiries for new partnerships.

What about meeting facilities and MICE functions at Ramada Ajman?On top of the price point in Ajman compared to the other emirates, Ramada Ajman boasts excellent facilities for MICE functions. The hotel has 388 rooms and suites, one of the highest inventories in the northern emirates. It also features Majestic Ballroom, also one of the biggest in the northern emirates which can seat up to 900 guests.

What role does social media and international conventions like ITB, ATM plays in the promotion of your hotel chain?Social media now plays an important role, especially in the field of tourism and hospitality, and we aim to tap this avenue in attracting younger markets. The hotels’ social media channels also serve as a medium to promote the green and CSR activities of the properties, and showcase the role of the team in making the initiatives efficient and successful and

encourage others to join the cause. With regards to international conventions

like ITB and ATM, these are the significant platforms to meet and network with fellow travel professionals. In this business, it is vital to have face-to-face interaction with our partners who are based in different parts of the world to establish and solidify the business relationships.

Kindly elaborate the award-winning Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by the property.The hotel has been a pioneer in different CSR initiatives ranging from sustainable practices, and charitable programmes over the years. It recently hosted the Blind Cricket World Cup and has been actively supporting and providing opportunities for people with disability. Renowned for Ramada Ajman’s green projects, we continuously campaign for sustainability by participating in various forums and sharing case studies and best practices of the hotel within and outside the UAE.

Less corporate More social

By Ankita Jain

Iftikhar Hamdani

A token of appreciation to all our

TRAVEL PARTNERS

for making Akquasun Roadshow 2018 a great success

20 March 2018

The WorldAROUND

At home, around the world

By Ankita Jain

Planning your next family vacation and don’t know where to start? Or just looking for some family travel inspiration? Then this massive list of the world’s best family holiday destinations is

just for you!

21March 2018

The WorldAROUND

Maldives stands for total relaxation. There has never been a better time for families to visit the Maldives. With islands vying to entertain children with investigations of the incredible wildlife around them, parents can truly relax while their kids are engaged in exploration of an entirely new environment. And imagine their surprise, when they see you reading a book or glowing after an over-the-water yoga session.

Maldives

This country is for sun, sea and sand. If you’re stuck in a rut of going to holiday destinations in the UK, Italy, France or Spain for the summer, try Greece instead. Its beautiful beaches, sleepy villages, glorious relics and hearty food offer a simplicity and richness that are universally appealing.

Greece

Vietnam’s former imperial capital, Hui, has the sights – temples, tombs and the Purple Forbidden City. The ancient town of Hui An, 100 km south, down the coast, is a much more beguiling place to spend a few days, with its lazy river lined with mustard-yellow merchants’ houses, and beaches a few kilometres away.

Vietnam

22 March 2018

While in Sri Lanka, you can either quiz about the Sri Lankan life or delve into the local scene. Sri Lanka’s blend of nature and culture, with elephant orphanages next door to World Heritage temples, should satisfy any adventurous family, however diverse its members’ interests. Or simply come for the calming escape that any sunny spell by the sea brings

The Galápagos is a wildlife bonanza and probably the most famous wildlife-watching destination in the world. This remote archipelago is a land of stark lava formations, cactus forests, lush green highlands, turquoise bays and tropical beaches. But, best of all, it is overflowing with wildlife at every turn. Within minutes of landing, you can be face-to-face with more strangely fearless and curious animals than anywhere else on Earth.

Sri Lanka

Galápagos

The Northern Lights are one of nature’s greatest displays, a free, multicoloured light show that is most commonly sighted in the Arctic regions. To see the celestial disco in its full glory, you may head to Tromso. It is the biggest city north of the Arctic Circle in Norway. It is a popular destination for viewing the Northern Lights. Tromso is a delightful city sitting on a small island, with a spectacular bridge connecting it to the mainland.

Norway

The WorldAROUND

W Generic Ad_new.pdf 1 4/17/2017 7:16:53 PM

24 March 2018

‘overtourism’New strategies to manage

‘Overtourism’ has made headlines worldwide this year on year due to record visitor numbers at many destinations, prompting well-publicised protests by residents and

diverse measures by local authorities in some places. Overcrowding is equally affecting the travellers too and the international travel and tourism industry needs to find

solutions to manage visitor numbers without restricting growth

TrendingWHAT’S

By Team TS ME

25March 2018

One international trip in ten affected by overcrowding Overtourism not only impacts directly on destinations, tourist attractions, local infrastructure and residents, but also on travellers themselves, Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK International, made clear. Around 25 per cent of all international tourists had the feeling that their destination had been “overcrowded” this year, according to a special World Travel Monitor representative survey of 29,000 international travellers in 24 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas conducted in September 2017. Moreover, nine per cent – equivalent to around 100 million tourists – said this overcrowding had actually affected the quality of their outbound trip. At 13 per cent, this feeling was the highest amongst families with children and young people under 34. In terms of origin regions, 15 per cent of Asians, nine per cent of North Americans and eight per cent of Europeans said their holiday experience had been affected by excessive visitor numbers. Hence, Asian outbound travellers seem to be more sensitive with regard to “overcrowding”.

All kinds of holidays and destinations affected Contrary to public perceptions, the worst overcrowding is not always in big cities, according to World Travel Monitor figures. Ski resorts are the most crowded tourism locations. Nearly one international traveller in five (19 per cent) said their winter sports holiday had been affected by overtourism, resulting, for example, in long waits for ski

lifts. Other types of holidays were fairly equally impacted by high numbers of visitors, suggesting that overtourism is a general problem rather than restricted, for example, to cities. About one traveller in ten described the quality of their touring holiday, cruise, city trip, sun & beach holiday or countryside holiday as affected by too many tourists. Both world-famous attractions and regionally important destinations are impacted by overcrowding. The regions most impacted by overcrowding, according to more than 25 per cent of World Travel Monitor respondents, are for example the Great Wall of China, ski resorts in the Dolomites, and Italy’s Cinque Terre. The most affected cities include Guangzhou (24 per cent), Shanghai (23 per cent), Beijing (21 per cent), Amsterdam and Istanbul (both 19 per cent), and Barcelona, Florence and Venice (all 18 per cent), according to World Travel Monitor respondents.

WTTC suggests joint strategies to tackle overcrowdingAccording to the latest research by the World Travel & Tourism Council, overcrowding can have a variety of impacts, including alienating locals, overloading the infrastructure, threatening cultural heritage, impacting on nature and affecting the tourism experience. In particular, overcrowding is exacerbated by the uneven spread of international tourists, which could intensify in future, Evelyne Freiermuth, WTTC Policy & Research Manager, said at the Pisa forum.

In response, all travel and tourism stakeholders, not only

destinations, need to work together to assess the problems, develop strategies and take joint actions, the WTTC research emphasises. “For example, some regions might focus on attracting certain tourist categories rather than total numbers,” Freiermuth suggested. In general, strategies to combat overcrowding could include infrastructure expansion, greater involvement of local communities, more protection of tourism assets, and use of technology and data collection to manage visitor flows better. In addition, such strategies might be seen as an opportunity to relocate tourists from congested areas to lesser-known attractions.

Local strategies with all stakeholders neededVarious speakers at the Pisa forum highlighted the need for the international travel industry to act together with destinations on coordinated strategies to tackle overtourism. Such strategies could focus on issues such as managing seasonality and visitor flows, spreading tourism benefits such as jobs and revenues more widely among local communities, and investing in infrastructure and protection of tourism assets, they suggested. Cruise expert Prof. Dr. Alexis Papathanassis, Director of the Institute of Maritime Tourism in Bremerhaven, Germany, explained, “Overtourism is a very localised problem at certain times in certain places, and is not always a problem in the surrounding area.” For example, recent anti-tourist protests had not necessarily been in places with the highest density of tourists compared to residents or the fullest accommodation, he pointed out. “The problem is not over-tourism in general, but under-management of tourism ,” he declared. Above all, solutions needed to be found in destinations, for example by tackling seasonality, and not by limiting demand, Papathanassis urged. He underlined, “Each destination case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.”

Venice tackles overtourismOne city that is suffering

increasingly from overcrowding is Venice, which has just 55,000 residents in its historic city centre. Valeria Minghetti, chief senior researcher at CISET - the International Centre of Studies on Tourism Economics of Ca’ Foscari University Venice, told the forum that mass tourism is resulting in far more costs than benefits for the city, including overcrowding, pollution and rising prices. She explained that the historical centre of the city has far more visitors than those indicated by official accommodation statistics, due to the volume of day trippers coming from the large surrounding catchment area, the growth of cruise passengers and, during the last years, the explosion of tourists staying in ‘sharing’ accommodation. In response, the Italian city reacted to heavy overcrowding of St Mark’s Square and its narrow canals this year with measures to ban cruise ships from docking directly on the waterfront and with the ‘Enjoy Respect Venice’ initiative for ‘responsible tourists’, including fines for tourists who break local laws. Minghetti said that other ideas under discussion include limiting access to St Mark’s Square, a new tourist tax and an app with real-time information on visitor levels.

Resilient destinations can focus on sustainable solutionsDespite the challenges of overtourism, individual cities and tourist destinations can successfully develop ‘resilience’ strategies to cope both with large numbers of visitors and other challenges such as urbanisation, infrastructure limitations, traffic congestion, pollution and natural disasters, said Brian Tress, EY’s executive director - real estate & hospitality for the Northeast USA, citing a recent study “Getting Real about Resilience” by EY and 100 resilient cities. He gave the example of Del Carmen resort on Siargao Island in the Philippines which had seen a tenfold surge in visitors in just five years that overwhelmed its capacity. In response, the destination focused on ecological tourism to seek a sustainable solution.

TrendingWHAT’S

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26 March 2018

UPDATEAviation

Dubai-based Emirates airline has announced plans to operate a special one-off A380 service to Beirut in March. On March 29, the

airline’s flagship double-decker will become the first-ever scheduled A380 service to Beirut, and Emirates is working with the airport to test the operations and necessary infrastructure to accommodate an A380 service.

The Emirates A380 service will operate as EK 957 and EK 958, departing Dubai at 0725 hrs and arriving in Beirut at 1030 hrs. The flight will depart Beirut at 1415 hrs arriving in Dubai at 1905 hrs on the same day.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, said, “We are proud to fly our A380 for a one-off test service to Beirut, which continues to be an important destination for us in the region. Bringing this popular aircraft to Lebanon represents a significant milestone in our operations to Beirut after 27 years of serving the country.

This year also marks the Emirates A380’s 10th anniversary since joining our fleet, and the iconic aircraft has brought flying to the next level for over 90 million customers. The upcoming service next month will give travellers the chance to experience this revolutionary aircraft and the best service in the sky.”

Since 2015, Emirates has also transported over 54,000 tons of cargo to and from the country, supporting businesses and exporters.

Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, is launching three new routes this year covering Turkey, Morocco and Russia. The carrier will fly

to Istanbul (Turkey) in June, Casablanca (Morocco) in July, and Moscow (Russia) in October. While Istanbul and Moscow will be served by Oman Air’s Boeing 737-800, Casablanca will be served by 787-8.

The new flight to Istanbul will launch on June 1. Flight WY163 will depart Muscat daily at 20.00, arriving in Istanbul at 00.25. The return flight WY164 will depart Istanbul each day at 01.25, arriving in Muscat at 07.25.

The new Casablanca flight will start on July 1 and will be the only non-stop service to Casablanca from Oman. Flight WY171 will depart Muscat four times per week at 01.20, arriving in Casablanca at 07.10. The return flight WY172 will depart Casablanca at 08.20, arriving in Muscat at 19.15.

Moscow will be launched during the Winter Schedule 2018. The direct flight will be operated daily and it will be the only non-stop operation between Oman and Russia. From trading to sharing information, Oman has strong bilateral relations with Turkey, Morocco and Russia, and the introduction of these new flights will help strengthen relations even further. The new routes will also enable Oman Air’s guests to explore three of the world’s most exciting cities.

Oman Air is currently undergoing an exciting fleet and network expansion programme, which will see the airline operate up to 62 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022.

flydubai’s total revenue for the year 2017 hit AED5.5 billion (USD1.49 billion), jumping 9.2

per cent compared to the same period in 2015, with profits reaching AED37.3 million (USD10.1 million).

The airline also recorded a 5.5 per cent increase in passenger numbers last year, carrying 10.9 million passengers over a 12-month period compared to 10.04 million passengers in 2016.

Commenting on the airline’s results for 2017, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said, “The results demonstrate the key role that flydubai continues to play in the development of

trade and tourism in the UAE. 2017 also saw flydubai place its third and largest aircraft order illustrating its contribution to Dubai as a centre of aviation and represents the scale of the ambition planned for the airline.”

With up to 295 aircraft on order, flydubai becomes one of the world’s top ten airlines in terms of order backlog.

Commenting on the expanded code share announced last year, Sheikh Ahmed said, “In its early stages, the partnership with Emirates has enjoyed a significant response from passengers who recognise the benefits of travelling around the world on a single ticket. As the opportunities presented by the code

share progress it will create new passenger flows going forward.” Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said, “The oil price continues to shape the business landscape and it remains a fine balance between fares, yields and passenger growth. Despite the socio-economic environment we have seen across our network, we have record numbers of passengers travelling with us as well as sustained growth in our revenue.”

Looking ahead, flydubai has announced the launch of 10 routes which will start operations during the first six months of 2018 and will further enhance connectivity across its network.

Emirates to operate first A380 to Beirut

Oman Air to introduce three new routes

flydubai revenues hit USD1.49 bn in 2017

27March 2018

Survey

USD 1.3 billion GCC MICE industry poised for robust growth

According to recent statistics, the GCC’s USD 1.3 billion Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is set for continuous growth and

expansion. The latest report stated that the number of international association meetings in the region has more than tripled over the last 10 years

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman have emerged as the

top three MICE destinations in the region because of their state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities such as world-class venues for conferences and seminars and a well-developed hospitality industry, supported by their strategic location and easy connectivity with the rest of the world.

The UAE boasts nearly 50 per cent of the USD 1 trillion construction projects currently underway in the GCC, enabling it to emerge as the top MICE destination in the region. With its successful bid to host World Expo 2020, the UAE will continue its lead through its well-established business events industry. Dubai, host to almost 27 per cent of all events staged in the region, is set to welcome more than 25 million visitors over a period of six months during the Expo. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, generates USD 700 million from its MICE sector and is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of seven per cent to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2020.

Simon Mellor, President, dmg events- Middle East & Asia, said, “The GCC’s MICE industry has witnessed an exponential growth, contributing towards the region’s economic stability. Like in any country, the sector, which is instrumental in furthering organisational objectives and success, plays a fundamental role in the UAE’s overall economic development. For one, meetings, conventions and exhibitions

create economic value with increased travel and hospitality spending by MICE visitors who combine participations in events with leisure. More importantly, business events consistently provide powerful platforms for creating new information and fresh insights, helping boost the grand vision of the UAE leaders towards transforming the country into one of the world’s knowledge economies. The public and private sectors have also made substantial investments to upgrade transport and hospitality infrastructure along with venues for conferences, exhibitions, concerts and sports in a bid to attract more business visitors. dmg events helps drive this growth through its international experience and professional expertise in organising large-scales events across various industry segments. We extend our support and cooperation to the GCC as it becomes the focal point for some of the world’s leading international MICE events”.

Also, Dubai remains preferred destination of the GCC MICE market. The Middle East is known for high net worth travellers with expenditure on outbound travel expected to reach USD165.3 billion by 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Headquartered in Dubai, event management company QnA International today released results of a survey conducted on the global MICE, business and luxury travel Industry. Key insights of the survey included industry trends and challenges

and the rising popularity of Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, with Dubai remaining the top-choice for business, incentives and meetings and luxury travel from the GCC.

Dubai has been at the forefront of the GCC’s AED 4.7 billion MICE industry. Back in 2015, strategy and report stated that Dubai accounts for more than a quarter of the GCC MICE market. While the survey results indicate that Dubai’s popularity has not waned, other countries in the Middle East including Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco and other GCC nations are gaining momentum as they develop their respective MICE and luxury travel sectors.

Over 300 experts responsible for organising MICE, business and luxury travel took the survey to gauge popular, emerging global destinations and emerging trends and challenges within the industry. The results indicate some new destinations of choice for business and luxury travel. For

instance, France was indicated as the most preferred business travel destination in Europe with Greece too making an appearance while Morocco and Australia were listed as destinations of choice for luxury travel.

Top destinations for business travel include European countries such as France, Germany, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Greece, Asian Countries such as China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan along with Australia, UAE and USA whereas top destinations for MICE include Australia, Europe specifically Eastern Europe, Central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia as well as the South Asian subcontinent and Far East. Mediterranean countries such as Montenegro, Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and countries from Middle East and Africa like UAE, Kuwait, Kenya, Tanzania also featured as top destinations for MICE.

28 March 2018

UPDATEWhat’s On

Emaar Entertainment, the leisure and entertainment subsidiary of Emaar

Properties has announced a first-of-its-kind attraction – VR Park offering a range of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.

Designed to #ChallengeReality, the all-new, mind-blowing attraction is set to transform the virtual reality entertainment landscape, providing an unprecedented breadth of games, rides and experiences to suit all ages.

Due to open in the first half of 2018 in The Dubai Mall, the new VR Park will mark the future of entertainment for the region, bringing together some of the world’s best Virtual Reality developers to deliver an unprecedented and awe-inspiring leisure and entertainment experience.

Combining Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and experiential attractions, VR

Park is designed to blur the lines between perception and reality through unforgettable, game-changing experiences, spanning wholly immersive rides, educational journeys and interactive games – including an unbelievable rollercoaster.

Set across two levels of the mall and focusing on the concept of ‘Shared Escapism’, many of the attractions offer a multi-player experience – allowing visitors to interact with one another and live the experience with family and friends. VR Park has been specifically designed to offer something for everyone, with attractions appealing to all interests, across adrenalin, horror, leisure and more, as well as PVRK Café where guests can relax and indulge in out-of-this-world treats. The addition of VR Park to Emaar Entertainment’s portfolio follows new Dine-In Cinema concept launching in 2018.

Aston Martin and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills announced that guests who book the

new “Live Aston Martin” suite package before March 31 will receive exclusive access to drive an Aston Martin through the streets of Beverly Hills.

Offered to guests for a limited time, the activation also features an Aston Martin DB11 display vehicle at the Beverly Hills property and a pop-up retail store.

Aston Martin and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills announced that guests who book the new “Live Aston Martin” suite package before March 31 will receive exclusive access to drive an Aston Martin through the streets of Beverly Hills. Offered to guests for a limited time, the

activation also features an Aston Martin AED11 display vehicle at the Beverly Hills property and a pop-up retail store.

Aston Martin models available to guests include the luxurious new DB11 grand-tourer – the standard-bearer for a future generation of Aston Martins, the DB11 is the most powerful and efficient ‘DB’ production model in Aston Martin’s history. The company’s ultimate Super GT; the Vanquish S – with sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism, the Vanquish S evolves an illustrious model line that originates from Aston Martin’s legendary Works in Newport Pagnell and has proudly served at standard bearer for the marque’s sporting and stylistic values since 2001.

Emaar Entertainment to launch VR Park

New Aston Martin experience at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the emirate’s dedicated

entity for culture, arts and heritage, has announced the eighth edition of the ‘Live Our Heritage Festival’ under ‘An Eye on Emirati Cultural Heritage’ theme.

The six-week festival will run from March 1 to April 7 at Global Village, Dubai. This year’s festival programme includes several workshops and events that will focus specifically on UAE handicrafts, reflecting Dubai Culture’s ongoing efforts to preserve Emirati culture and develop the country’s traditional handicrafts sector.

The festival invites visitors to participate in various activities in both Arabic and English, including traditional craft workshops led by craftsmen and students from Dubai Heritage Development Centres. The event will also feature an area showcasing handmade products, a reception area, and an arena for live shows.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, commented, “This year’s festival is of particular importance as it coincides with the UAE’s ‘Year of Zayed 2018’ and will celebrate the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who instilled us all with a love and respect for our nation’s heritage and traditions. The UAE leadership’s interest in this sector has ensured that traditional handicrafts are preserved and passed down the generations, creating a strong continuity between past and present. Dubai Culture is committed to continuing this endeavour by strengthening the creative and crafts industries, and involving the younger generation in their ongoing development.”

Dubai Culture unveils new edition of heritage festival

30 March 2018

Appointments

ALI OZBAYShaza Hotels has appointed Ali Ozbay as the Director of Marketing & Communications within its corporate office structure. In his new role, Ozbay is in charge of developing strategies which will drive revenue for Shaza Hotels. He will lead the launch campaigns across the group’s pipeline while creating and coordinating Shaza’s brand assets, communication channels and digital strategies.

SANDRA SIMONESandra Simone Leibrock has joined Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts as Director of Sales & Marketing overseeing both the Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa and Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. With more than 20 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, Leibrock, has worked across markets such as the US, Caribbean, UAE, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and many more.

TARAS ETTLTaras Ettl has been appointed new Managing Director and Vice President of Middle East and Asia Operations at Steigenberger DMCC (SDMCC) in Dubai. SDMCC is a subsidiary of Steigenberger Hotels AG and is responsible for all activities outside Europe. Its portfolio includes properties such as the Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai, the IntercityHotel Salalah in Oman.

KARIM NAHASRotana Hotel Management Corporation has appointed Karim Nahas to the role of General Manager at the soon-to-open Pearl Rotana Abu Dhabi. The new hotel is set to open in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of March 2018. Nahas brings nearly three decades of regional experience in the hospitality industry to the role.

PATRICK MOUKARZELGeneral Hotel Management Ltd. (GHM) has named Patrick Moukarzel General Manager of the Al Bait Sharjah, a 53-key hotel scheduled to open later this year in a historic district of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) third largest city. Between 2006 and 2012, he rose through the ranks from a Food and Beverage Manager at The Chedi Muscat to General Manager positions.

PINAR KARTAL TIMERMadinat Jumeirah has appointed two new General Managers to its senior leadership team: Pinar Kartal Timer joins Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf following Azar Saliba, who joined Jumeirah Al Naseem in August. Taking Saliba’s place as General Manager of Jumeirah Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf Timer relocated to Dubai from the group’s former Istanbul property, Pera Palace Hotel.

GEORGE GANCHEVGeorge Ganchev has been appointed as General Manager at Ajman Hotel, first hotel integrated in Blazon Hotels. The Bulgarian national Ganchev is taking a new challenge by integrating the first property of Blazon Hotels brand in Ajman. Ganchev joined Kempinski in 1997 as Front Office Manager in Bulgaria.

OLIVIER THOMASFour Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, the sophisticated waterfront property located on Abu Dhabi’s upscale business and lifestyle destination, welcomes Olivier Thomas as General Manager. With over 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Thomas joins the team with the same position from 2014 to 2017.

Westin Generic Ad-New.pdf 1 4/17/2017 7:53:09 PM

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A Luxurious European Experience

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