presidential treatment - travel trade weekly treatment . at the ritz-carlton, ... air ....
TRANSCRIPT
SHUTTLE BOAT LAUNCHED AT JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY
10
11
PRESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, DUBAI
IN THIS ISSUEMARKET UPDATE
TECHNOLOGY
ACCOMMODATION
AIR
INTERNATIONAL
RENDEZVOUS
AGENT CORNER
TRAVEL TALK
TRAVEL CHANNELS
WHO’S MOVED
PHOTO ALBUM
NEWS & EVENTS
02
04
10
12
16
17
19
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22
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31 JANUARY 2015 ISSUE 273
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DUBAI 360 HAS UNVEILED A DEDICATED WEBSITE FEATURING A FIRST OF ITS KIND ONLINE
INTERACTIVE TOUR.
DUBAI 360 ONLINE INTERACTIVE TOUR IS LAUNCHED
31 JANUARY 2015
MARKET UPDATE
2
Bahrain (BHD)
Jordan (JOD)
Oman (OMR)
Qatar (QAR)
Saudi Arabia (SAR)
UAE (AED)
Algeria (DZD)
Egypt (EGP)
Iran (IRR)
Iraq (IQD)
Kuwait (KWD)
Lebanon (LBP)
Libya (LYD)
Morocco (MAD)
Syria (SYP)
Tunisia (TND)
Yemen (YER)
Dinar
Dinar
Rial
Rial
Riyal
Dirham
Dinar
Pound
Rial
Dinar
Dinar
Pound
Dinar
Dirham
Pound
Dinar
Rial
0.37
0.71
0.39
3.64
3.75
3.67
92.42
7.59
27,531.21
1,162.62
0.29
1,547.41
1.35
9.55
188.90
1.93
215.00
MENA EXCHANGE RATES
As of 30/1/2015Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar
COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi
ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli
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Emaar Malls Records 23 Percent Growth
The Wave, Muscat Secures Bank Muscat Fund
Increased Demand at Jazeera Airways
Emaar Malls’ net profit jumped 23 percent in 2014 to reach AED1.35 billion (USD368 million), with revenue rising 13 percent.
R evenue from The Dubai Mall accounted for about 82 percent of the total at AED2.2 bil-lion (USD606 million), marking a 12 percent year-on-year growth. All in all, tenant sales across Emaar Malls’ portfolio reached over
AED18 billion (USD4.9 billion) with The Dubai Mall adding AED16 billion (USD4.3 billion) to the total.
As Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar Malls, highlighted, retail sales at The Dubai Mall contribute about five percent to Dubai’s GDP.
The Wave, Muscat signed a memorandum of understanding with Bank Muscat for an investment in its new real estate project.
Jazeera Airways recorded a seven percent year-on-year rise in flown passenger numbers in November 2014.
B ank Muscat has agreed to purchase 230 resi-dential apartments in four blocks to be known as Marsa Parklands, located between the marina and the new Kempinski, The Wave.
Announcing the deal, Hawazen Esber, CEO, The Wave, Muscat, said, “Institutional investors are
becoming more discerning in the type of assets and lo-cations they are prepared to invest in […]. As one of the region’s leading communities, The Wave, Muscat is an at-tractive destination to consider investing in, especially with the combined financial strength and acumen of Bank Muscat as fund manager.”
D emand on routes serving Istan-bul, Beirut and Amman rose seven percent, while figures to the carrier’s five Egyptian des-tinations were up 10 percent
despite the momentary closure of the air-line’s sixth Egyptian gateway, Assiut Inter-national Airport due to renovations.
A positive change of nine percent was also registered on services between Kuwait and Dubai, Bahrain, Jeddah and Riyadh.
The low-cost carrier continued to re-cord strong on-time performance at 95 percent.
The Dubai Mall by Emaar Malls
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
3
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) released its fourth quarter (Q4) 2014 Dubai Real Estate Market Overview report, with
Craig Plumb, head of research, JLL MENA, commenting, “With the government’s budget announcement, which saw planned spending and revenues increase nine and 11 percent respectively, the next 12 months are expected to see a boost in business activity.”
In the hotel segment, Q4 saw the to-tal room supply climb to 64,200 keys. As per the report, hotel occupancy in Dubai dipped marginally as a result of this in-crease.
With an additional 4,700 units due for completion this year, the sector is expect-ed to witness subdued growth rates due to strong competition.
JLL: Dubai Adds 64,200 Keys
DUBAI 360 ONLINE INTERACTIVE TOUR IS LAUNCHED
Dubai 360 has unveiled a dedicated website featuring a first of its kind online interactive tour.
T he platform enables visitors to explore the city from the comfort of their own home through 1,298 pieces of panoramic video and photo content.
“[Dubai 360] started off as an idea and was brought to life through the passion of talented and committed individuals. The project showcases the very best of what Dubai has to offer and we will continue to use the platform to dem-onstrate the progress the city makes,” said Ismaeil Al Hashmi, project manager, Dubai 360.
Dubai
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY
4
T ravel intelligence platform, ADARA is expanding into the Middle East to offer travel companies comprehensive data to
drive their business performance. “With digital advertising set to grow at a
compound rate of 34 percent over the next three years, the Middle East is set to experience huge industry growth. And, given that eight in 10 people use smartphones here, there is sig-nificant opportunity in the region for ADARA to provide quality data that will help local travel companies pursue their global expansion plans,” explained Nick Mott, regional director, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, ADARA.
Amadeus Signs Agreement with Ctrip
RJ’s New Mobile Application Is Out
ADARA Arrives to the Middle East
Amadeus has penned a deal with Chi-na’s Ctrip.com International to power its global expansion.
The multiyear agreement will include the provision of all air content for points of sale outside of Mainland China. This initially includes Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and the US, with future plans to move into Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand, among other markets.
Ctrip.com International will implement Amadeus’ Master Pricer TravelBoard, includ-ing multi-merchant capability, as its low fare search engine, in addition to Amadeus Mini Rules and Amadeus Ticket Changer, with the aim to adopt more of the tech company’s on-line search solutions in the near future.
Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ)’s passen-gers will be able to manage all their travel plans in a simpler way and while
on the move with the new RJ mobile applica-tion.
Users can manage bookings, check flight status and schedule, complete their mobile check-in and access the Royal Plus services by interacting with pages that are compat-ible with mobile devices. Customers down-loading the new RJ app will be informed of any flight details, changes or offers available by pushing the notification option matching their preferences.
Hong Kong
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
5
Dubai Air Navigation Servic-es (DANS), which provides specialist aviation ser-
vices for Dubai’s two international airports and the airspace of the Northern Emirates, has signed an agreement with EUROCONTROL, which is expected to pave the way for collaboration on research and development, exchange of infor-mation and provision of support between the two organisations.
The deal is hailed as the first of its kind in the region, and its de-ployment will provide DANS with a significant advantage through ac-cess to unique market intelligence, as well as the opportunity to col-laborate on cutting-edge concepts.
DANS Pens a Deal with EUROCONTROLGlobal Village Entices Families
Since its establishment in 1997, Global Village has become one of the key attractions of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), with each of its pavilions representing a dif-
ferent country. “DSF drives a lot of tourists to our family and entertainment
destination during the month of January and we have seen the growth in visitor numbers over the years during the DSF period,” revealed Ahmad Hussain, chief operating officer, Global Village, adding that in the first two days of the festival, the destination recorded welcomed 200,000 visitors.
Glo
bal V
illag
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WEEKLY NEWS
6
WEEKLY NEWS
City Centre Malls Host Shows across the UAE
1.63 Million Umrah Visas Issued
M ajid Al Futtaim Properties showcased a series of world-class entertainment at its shopping destinations, as City Centre Aj-
man, Sharjah and Fujairah celebrated the new year with a Bubble Show, held three times daily. Moreo-ver, the three malls hosted an international illusion-ist performing unique iPad magic.
Fuad Sharaf, senior director, property manage-ment, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said, “City Centre Ajman, Fujairah and Sharjah are dedicated to of-fering world-class performances, welcoming both local and international guests to share great mo-ments every day. Unbeatable shopping deals with a chance to win the grand prize […] set the bar for what is to come.”
E gypt, Indonesia and Pakistan topped the list of the countries that received the largest number of Umrah visas during this year’s Rabi Ul Awal,
with a total of 1.63 million visas being issued. Other countries that showed great interest in at-
taining the visa included Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, among others.
The start of the Umrah season will also signal the start of the implementation of new regulations and guidelines for pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia and as Zi-yad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group, reaffirmed, his company pledges to do its part in providing high qual-ity services that meet the needs of Umrah visitors from transportation to hotel arrangements.
City Centre Fujairah
Pilgrims in Mecca
Did you know...
The Saudi Ministry of
Hajj's new guidelines
include standards for
travel and touri
sm
companies inside and
outside of t
he
Kingdom?
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
7
L eading thinkers and actors from the Arab World were brought together to exchange views on various themes, at the Arab World Institute’s Thinkers & Doers international
forum held in Paris.The two-day conference, which began on January 15, aimed
to offer a hopeful vision of the Arab region in a critical moment.It emphasised entrepreneurship, renewable energy, wom-
en’s empowerment and the emergence of creativity in the art market, areas which are thriving with change-makers leading a cultural and social reinvention of the region.
Jack Lang, president, Arab World Institute, declared that un-der the current conditions it is even more important to show that Arab societies are moving forward and embracing transfor-mation and change.
Renewal of the Arab World in Focus
Greek Travel Agents Get a Taste of Bahrain
Gulf Air recently gave a number of prominent Greek travel agents and tour op-erators the opportunity to explore Bahrain with a familiarisation trip, jointly hosted with The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa.
With the aim of promoting Bahrain as a business and leisure destination, the visit included tours to the Kingdom’s historical and cultural sites, supplemented by meet-ings with local travel agents and trade members, as well as Gulf Air’s executive man-agement team at the airline’s headquarters.
Launched in June 2014, Gulf Air offers four direct weekly flights between Bahrain and Athens.
Gre
ek tr
avel
age
nts
and
tour
ope
rato
rs
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WEEKLY NEWS
8
I raq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) and Di-waniya governorate signed a contract with Al Nasriyah Al Kuwaitiah for an international commercial airport in
Diwaniya.According to Sami Al Araji, chairman, NIC, the USD1.35
billion project will be the first nucleus for the development of Diwaniya province and will provide the first of its kind fa-cility in the country for air cargo.
Located less than two hours on land from all main cities in southern Iraq, the airport will focus on attracting logistic freight companies and international agents and will cater to all types of planes.
T he Embassy of Sweden in the UAE has out-sourced its visa application process to VFS Global, meaning that people who wish to
apply for Schengen visas to the European country can now do this at two new locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
As Jan Thesleff, ambassador to the UAE, Swe-den, noted, handling times are set to significantly shorten, further increasing tourist exchange be-tween the countries.
Ajit Alexander, chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, VFS Global, added, “This launch of Sweden visa application process in Dubai will offer a convenient visa application submission experi-ence to the residents in the country.”
Iraq to Develop Cargo Airport New Sweden Visa Application Centres in the UAE
Deloitte: Businesses Need to Reset Purpose
According to a Deloitte Global survey of tomorrow’s leaders from 29 countries, businesses should focus on people and purpose, not just products and profits. The study found that Millennials overwhelmingly
believe that businesses are fixated on their own agenda, rather than helping to improve society.
“The message is clear: when looking at their career goals, today’s Millennials are just as interested in how a business develops its people and how it contrib-utes to society as they are in its products and profits,” said Barry Salzberg, CEO, Deloitte Global.
He added that the findings should be a wake-up call to the business com-munity, particularly in developed markets.
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS
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Destinia Reveals Middle East Travel Trends
D estinia.com unveiled this year’s trends for the travel in-dustry in the Middle East during a media roundtable hosted by the online travel agency.
Some of the outcomes of the discussion put Dubai under the spotlight as a speedily developing travel hub and as the top hotel destination for Destinia.com’s travellers in the region. In addition, Turkey, Germany, Spain and the US were noted among the hottest locations for Middle Easterners this year.
However, travellers are now searching for experiences above destinations and the company’s representatives high-lighted the importance of personalisation for the modern holi-day-makers, who are after unique experiences that go beyond mainstream destination trends.
Marriott to Reach One Million Rooms
Continuing its trajectory of rapid global growth, Marriott International announced that it expects its portfolio of hotels, either
open or under development, to surpass one million rooms by the end of the year. When launched, the projects under development will have generated more than USD50 billion in real estate investment and created over 150,000 new hotel jobs.
Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott International, said, “In 2014 alone, Marriott International signed agreements for more than 650 hotels and 100,000 rooms to be added to its worldwide system over the next few years, a signing pace of nearly two new deals a day.”
Did you know...
Marriott International
was founded by
J. Willard and Alice
Marriott and is gu
ided
by Marriott fam
ily
leadership for more
than 80 years?
Am
uda
Gou
eli,
co-fo
unde
r, D
estin
ia.c
om
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
10
The 35-storey hotel is expected to be fully operational by February 1 with the remaining units, lounges and three restaurants. In addition, it will also encom-pass 11 meeting rooms, the Fit & Spa by Pullman and a rooftop pool and bar.
Commenting on the launch, Fadeel Wehbe, general manager, Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers Hotel & Residence, expressed his belief that the new establishment will bring a superior level of hospitality to the offering in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers UnveiledPullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers Hotel & Residence celebrated the soft-opening of 155 rooms of its 354-strong inventory, along with three food and beverage outlets.
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Shuttle Boat Launched at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray has unveiled a new private jetty offering an exclusive boat shuttle service for in-house guests. The air-conditioned, eight-seat shuttle boat is available from the hotel’s private beach and provides transfer to and from Dubai Marina.
In addition, the Ottoman-inspired luxury resort has launched several new motorised and non-motor-ised water sports activities available from its private beach.
Fernando Gibaja, resort general manager, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, said, “In line with our commitment to offering Stay Different experiences, we are excited to launch the new range of water sport and lifestyle facilities which will provide another activity for guests and families to enjoy.”
The
new
shu
ttle
boa
t
Pullm
an Ju
mei
rah
Lake
s Tow
ers
Hot
el &
Res
iden
ce
Did you know...
Pullman Jumeirah
Lakes
Towers Hotel &
Residence
towers is 137m
high?
31 JANUARY 2015
ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS
11
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai takes the luxury suite experience to a new level with spa and wellness treatments in its all-new presidential suites.
Located in the beachfront resort’s recently-restored wing, the two 220m2 units feature dedicated Hammam and steam rooms, enabling guests to relax and unwind in the privacy of their own place.
Presenting three choices of sumptuous spa treatments, the in-room wellness experience showcases the crème de la crème of the brand’s spa offering. The line-up includes the Reju-venating Diamond Body Ritual, Citrus Body Burst Ritual and Royal Hammam Body Ritual, all geared towards combating stress and enhancing wellbeing.
Al Bustan Centre & Resi-dence Hosts SportsmenPresidential Treatment at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Al Bustan Centre & Residence, Dubai was chosen as the headquarter hotel for the recently-held 4th In-
ternational Karate Al Ahli Dubai Open.Being in close proximity to the sport
event’s venue, Al Ahli Club, the hotel served as the main location for the reg-istration of delegates and participants, briefing of officials and referees and draw of matches.
As Moussa El Hayek, chief operating of-ficer, Al Bustan Centre & Residence, noted, more sporting events, such as the 6th FAZ-ZA International Athletics Competition, will be hosted by the hotel in the coming months.
Al Bustan Centre & Residence, Dubai
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
12
The first solar-powered plane, able to fly day and night, will land in 12 locations across the world, in the first attempt to fly around the globe without using a drop of fuel.
The aircraft will take off from Abu Dhabi in late February or early March and return by late July, with stops in Oman, India, Myanmar and China, amongst others.
Specifically, the first round-the-world solar adventure will span approximately 25 flight days, spread over five months and will cover approximately 35,000km at speeds of between 50 – 100km/h.
Did you know...
The vision was bor
n
in Bertrand Piccard
's
mind after the succ
ess
of the first nonstop
round-the-world
balloon flight?
Historic Solar Flight to Launch from Abu DhabiBertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the Swiss co-founders and pilots of Solar Impulse, revealed the detailed global flight route of Solar Impulse 2.
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Revamped Alitalia Boasts New Strategy, Routes and Branding
Mid-January saw the unveiling of a new strategy for Alitalia with fresh routes, upgraded product and service standards, a novel cost management strategy and new branding.
The revamped Alitalia commenced operations on January 1, following the completion of equity investments by its existing shareholders and Etihad Airways.
Luca di Montezemolo, chairman, Alitalia, commented, “The energies, passion and expertise I have experienced at Alitalia in recent weeks do not leave any doubt that the airline we are unveiling today will become once again a premium Italian airline recognised worldwide. This is why I believe the people in Alitalia are a pillar of the history we are about to write.”
Solar Impulse 2 in Abu Dhabi
31 JANUARY 2015
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
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Qatar Airways’ inaugural Airbus A350 XWB flight was ceremo-niously welcomed on Janu-
ary 15 at Frankfurt Airport, marking the start of the twice-daily A350 XWB service between the German city and Doha.
The first-ever commercial A350 XWB flight was greeted with excitement by gathered VIPs and media as Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, and Fabrice Brégier, president, Airbus, were formally welcomed in Germany.
Al Baker announced that the air-line’s second A350 XWB, which will join the fleet in February, will also com-mence operations on the Frankfurt route beginning March 1.
Qatar Airways Focusses on Europe
EGYPTAIR Returns to Jakarta
First Commercial A350 XWB Service Becomes a Reality
Qatar Airways is increasing capacity on its flights to Italy, and is launch-ing double-daily services to Ma-
drid, both to be rolled out over the next five months.
With the introduction of wide-body air-craft commencing March 29 to Rome and Milan, and June 16 to Venice, capacity to the airline’s three Italian destinations will in-crease by 30 percent. Furthermore, a change in the departure and arrival times to Rome and Milan is aimed at improving connec-tions to a number of other destinations for the Italian market.
In addition, as of July 16, the airline will begin operating a double-daily direct service to Madrid-Barajas Airport from Doha, thus adding four extra weekly flights.
After months of suspension, EGYPTAIR is relaunching operations to Jakarta on February 4.
The airline first commenced nonstop flights to the Indonesian capital in April 2014 with four weekly frequencies. The route was, however, later halted as part of the carrier’s turnaround plan.
EGYPTAIR now returns to Jakarta, con-necting the Asian city with Cairo two times a week.
Jakarta
Madrid
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS AIR
14
Emirates Upgrades Kolkata Route
E mirates is significantly enhancing its ser-vices to Kolkata with the introduction of an extra flight and a larger aircraft.
Starting March 29, the airline will launch a 13th weekly service to the Indian city on Wednesdays, and on the same day a Boeing 777-200ER will also begin flying on the route, offering capacity for 274 passengers and, nevertheless, Emirates’ first class services.
The extra frequency and upgauge will rep-resent a capacity increase of 250 seats in each direction per week.
As Ahmed Khoory, senior vice president, com-mercial operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean, Emirates, revealed, since commencing operations to Kolkata in March 2006, the airline has carried over 1.6 million passengers on the route.
Jazeera Airways Sells 15 Airbus A320s
J azeera Airways Group announced the sale of 15 Airbus A320 air-craft owned by the company’s fully-owned Sahaab Aircraft Leas-ing, for USD507 million, as part of a strategic shift to a leased
aircraft operation and a focus on the passenger airline business. The transaction will result in an additional cash surplus of KWD24
million (USD81.6 million), lifting the group’s cash balance and trans-forming it into an asset-light, debt-free company.
Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways Group, said, “The move […] was a strategic decision to enhance the airline’s business model and focus on future growth opportunities, boost shareholder value and enhance return on equity.”
Maximus Air to Introduce One-stop Shop
A ll-cargo operator, Maximus Air is to launch a brand new one-stop shop concept. The ambitious new service will combine the
Abu Dhabi-based air cargo specialist’s existing oversized cargo fleet with a global network of part-ners, offering door-to-door delivery options for the very first time.
According to Mohamed Ebrahim Al Qassimi, CEO, Maximus Air, the service will have a simple pricing structure and competitive rates, it will cater to any shipment size and is a conscious decision to diversify existing services, which currently revolves around large and heavy goods.
“This is a key part of our strategy to grow and expand upon the success of our traditional busi-ness offering,” he added.
Did you know...
Home to 4.5
million residents,
Kolkata has lon
g
been known for its
literary an
d artistic
heritage?
31 JANUARY 2015
AIR WEEKLY NEWS
15
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Air Arabia Enters China
A ir Arabia will become the first low-cost airline from the Middle East and Africa to enter the Chinese market.
Starting February 10, the carrier will operate thrice-weekly nonstop services to Urumqi, the largest city in Western China.
“The Chinese aviation sector has witnessed tre-mendous growth in recent years and we are delighted to be the first low-cost carrier from the MENA region to play an important role in this incredible story. This is a major move for Air Arabia and an important step in strengthening connectivity between the rapidly grow-ing economies of the Middle East and Asia,” said Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia.
Gulf Air has increased oper-ations on its Bahrain – Lar-naca route to six weekly
flights, consisting of three direct services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and three frequen-cies via Kuwait International Air-port on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Ahmed Janahi, chief commer-cial officer, Gulf Air, commented, “We are pleased to further facilitate passenger movement and make travel to and from Larnaca even more convenient with this sched-ule enhancement that allows our passengers from both Bahrain and Kuwait easier access to this popular Cypriot destination.”
Gulf Air Boosts Larnaca Service
Emirates Increases Chicago Capacity
E mirates will be able to connect even more people with Chicago on May 1, when it switches from its Boeing 777-200LR to a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the route.
The upgauge will result in 88 additional economy class seats, representing a 33 per-cent growth in capacity. The choice of premium cabin seats remains unchanged, offering cus-tomers eight first class suites and 42 business class seats.
“Emirates has seen steady growth and strong customer demand for our Chicago route since its launch only five months ago,” said Hubert Frach, divisional senior vice president, com-mercial operations, West, Americas, Africa, Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates.
Chic
ago
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
16
Located in the city’s central business district, it will be ideal for business travellers, while a nearby subway link to the KTX Train Station provides seamless connection to Seoul and Incheon International Airport.
Facilities include a fitness centre, rooftop swimming pool, business amenities, lobby lounge and a restaurant on the 20th floor.
Karin Sheppard, chief operating officer, franchising, Australasia, Japan, Korea, Asia, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “There is thriving tourism across South Korea’s major cities and as its second largest city Busan is also one of the fastest growing destinations in the country.”
IHG Announces New Holiday Inn in BusanInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has penned a deal for a 268-key Holiday Inn Busan Seomyun in South Korea, set to open in 2017.
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Nine Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Hotels Signed in the US
C arlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s Country Inn & Suites By Carlson upper-midscale brand is to grow its presence in North America with the addition of nine new properties.
As Scott Meyer, senior vice president, midscale brands, Carl-son Rezidor Hotel Group, explained, expanding the brand’s foot-print in the US is a key priority this year.
The hotels, seven of which will be new constructions, include projects in California, Ohio, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, New York and Kentucky.
F airmont Jakarta, part of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts collection, has opened its doors in the heart of Indonesia’s capi-
tal city.The hotel boasts 380 guestrooms includ-
ing Fairmont Gold accommodation, the brand’s exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel concept, and 108 Sky Suites, in addition to five restaurants and lounges, a swimming pool, spa and a gym.
For meetings and events, the property of-fers 3,500m2 of function space with the latest in modern technology, including a 1,200m2 ballroom.
Fairmont Jakarta is also set to open K22 Bar, View Restaurant and Mont Bar later this year.
“After many months of detailed prepara-tion, we are pleased to open our doors […],” said Carlos Monterde, general manager, Fair-mont Jakarta.
Indonesia Welcomes New Hotel
Busan
El P
aso,
Texa
s
31 JANUARY 2015
RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A withSteven Simao
WITH THREE OF THE COMPANY’S SHIPS CALLING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST, STEVEN SIMAO, DIRECTOR OF SALES, HOLLAND AMERICA LINE, EXPLAINS WHY THE REGION IS A PROMISING DESTINATION FOR THE COMPANY AS WELL AS THE SECTOR IN GENERAL, AND REVEALS THE CRUISE LINE’S FUTURE PLANS.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How strong is the company’s presence in the Mid-dle East?
STEVEN SIMAO: We have three of our premium mid-sized ships calling into the Middle East. Those are ms Ryndam with a capacity for 1,260 guests, ms Rotterdam for 1,404 guests, and ms Amsterdam for 1,380 guests. [This year] Holland America Line will be calling into the Middle East 24 times, including overnight stays.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How popular are these cruises with Arab travellers?
STEVEN SIMAO: Holland America Line’s guests are discerning multigeneration-al travellers with a wonderful passion for exploring cruise destinations that are adventurous and unique; rich in culture, history and ambience. The Mid-dle East is a fascinating destination, and when met with Holland America Line’s cultural enrichment programmes both onboard and off-board, it offers the rich destination content that Holland Amer-ica Line’s guests are looking for.
In 2014 Holland America Line made one port of call to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sala-lah and Muscat. This year we are increas-ing ports of calls to feature three in Dubai, one call in Abu Dubai, as well as four ports of call to both Salalah and Muscat; with multiple ports of call in Egypt also.
Holland America Line offers argu-ably the broadest itinerary selection which spans across all seven conti-nents, all major cruise destinations, and cruises ranging from seven, 10, 11, 12, 14 days up to 70-day itineraries; even as long as the 114-day Grand World Voy-age. This appeals in particular to guests who are comfortable travelling long distances and being away from home for longer periods of time.
Residents from the GCC, both expa-triate and local, are increasingly becom-ing more aware of cruise holidays as an option, and how they offer better value for money than a typical land holiday. The number of travellers on cruise holi-days is growing year after year. For 2013 estimated passenger numbers were 21.3 million globally, with a guesstimate of between 6,000 – 12,000 passengers coming from the GCC, so there is mas-sive growth potential from the region.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In the last decade, demand for cruising across
tination. With the significant evolution of consumer expectations for entertain-ment, culinary experiences and activi-ties/enrichment on their vacations, the industry has evolved accordingly.
The number of new ships built over the past 20 years has created the choic-es, opportunities and upped the ante in terms of what can be successfully deliv-ered in a cruise experience at sea. In the 1990s, nearly 80 new ships were built. From 2000 – 2012 over 115 new ships were introduced. With this significant growth in capacity new opportunities for entertainment and activities have arisen, as well as a competitive challenge for innovation and differentiation.
Over the past 20 years, the trend in branded partnerships has grown sig-nificantly in consumer goods. As our on-board trends follow consumer trends, we have seen great success with this as well.
We continue to focus on enhanc-ing and evolving our product, includ-ing dining, itinerary development and enrichment programs and activities. The most recent example is the new On Location programme [which] im-merses the guest in the destination like never before. From steel drum lessons in the Caribbean to tai chi on deck with a master in Asia, Holland America Line is bringing local culture and cuisine on board through its new On Location pro-gramme. The itinerary sets the scene for guests to indulge in localised ex-periences that make time on board as culturally enriching as visiting the ports of call. On each cruise, a location team from the region either visits the ship or sails onboard and shares unique, personal insights with guests through lectures, demonstrations and perfor-mances. They provide information about local customs, the way of life, off-the-beaten-path port highlights and secrets that only a local would know.
In regards to fleet development, Holland America Line has ordered a new Pinnacle-class ship from Fincan-tieri shipyard for delivery in February 2016. It will be slightly bigger than our Signature-class ships with a capacity of 2,660 guests.
We will continue to offer popular itineraries and we will include new itin-eraries in Asia, South America, Europe and Africa. Also in the summer season, we will once again offer the 14-day Alaska Explorer – roundtrip from Seat-tle on the ms Amsterdam.
DIRECTOR OF SALES, HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
“CRUISE PASSENGERS HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS
the globe has increased 77 percent. What are your expectations for the fu-ture of the cruise industry and how is the company set to respond to them?
STEVEN SIMAO: Cruise passengers have become more sophisticated in their expectations of the onboard cruise experience than they were 20 years ago. It used to be about the ro-mance of being at sea, dressing for din-ner, relaxing, a nice show and the des-
31 JANUARY 2015
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL
18
A Cape Dutch manor house on a green estate that borders the Liesbeek River will open its doors as Protea Hotel
Mowbray on February 1, becoming the first Protea property ever to be situated in Cape Town’s bustling southern suburbs.
A total of 70 rooms and suites are spread through the manor house and the adjacent thatched building that used to serve as the manor’s barn, but now features six luxury loft suites. It will also boast a lounge and a swim-ming pool.
“The signing of this new hotel under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the footprint of the brand in South Africa and other strategic growth are-as within Africa,” said Mark Satterfield, business leader, South Africa, Marriott International.
China to Welcome Fairmont Wuhan
Shangri-La Hotel, Nanchang Ready to Open
Protea Hotels Enters Cape Town
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a luxury brand in the FRHI Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Oceanwide Hotel Invest-
ment Management and Wuhan Central Business Area Construction Investment, an-nounced the development of a new hotel in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, Central China.
Fairmont Wuhan is slated to open in 2017 and will feature 350 guestrooms, four dining outlets, event and banquet space, a Willow Stream Spa, the company's signa-ture spa brand, and fitness options includ-ing a swimming pool.
“We are pleased to be introducing the Fairmont brand to another important do-mestic market in China,” said Jennifer Fox, president, FRHI Hotels & Resorts. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts΄ newest
Chinese property, Shangri-La Hotel, Nanchang, is preparing to welcome its
first guests on February 8.The five-star hotel is located alongside
Ganjiang River and features 473 guestrooms providing views of the waterway and the city. Guests will have at their disposal an indoor pool, a fully equipped gym and a fitness club, a gift shop, florist and three food and bever-age outlets.
Its central location makes it ideal for both business and leisure travellers to the city.
Wuhan
Shangri-La Hotel, Nanchang
Protea Hotel Mowbray
31 JANUARY 2015
AGENT CORNER
19
Tushara Prasad Yatheendran
Holiday consultant
Atlantis Holidays
Dubai, UAE
www.atlantisholidays.com
Agent’s Insight
Who are you?I am Tushara and I work at Atlantis Holidays, the representative of the Ministry of Tour-ism and Culture of Azerbaijan in Dubai. [We offer] more than just hotel reservation, ticket booking, transfers or travel coordination, itinerary planning or after-sales support.
What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?I have made some amazing friends, thanks to this industry. I love making people hap-py and of course each successful trip of my clients has given me more exposure to the industry. Designing an itinerary gives me the same pleasure as visiting that place.
When is the best time to visit Azerbaijan?[Azerbaijan] has nine out of the 11 climatic zones in the world. Winter is mild and summer is not so hot. All four seasons are touristic there, depending on one΄s inter-est. After all it is just two hours and 30 minutes from any GCC country.
Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?Without a minute of thought, it is Shahdag, Azerbaijan. After the recent launch of Shahdag ski resort with summer and winter complexes, this destination is the prior-ity on my bucket list.
Why should people come to you for travel advice?Working along a management team who have taken up this profession because of their passion for travel, helped each one of us explore unique destinations for spe-cific interest. Being with a team of dedicated tourism professionals who are experts in what they do and are committed to deliver a beyond the border experience, makes us different.
COMPANY:
POSITION:
NAME:
LOCATION:
WEBSITE:
Alpha Tours to Boost UAE Tourism
Alpha Tours brought together Natalie Tours and TUI Group representatives in Dubai to discuss the current trends and the steps to be taken to
make this year the most successful year yet for tourism in the UAE.
“With targets to attract 3.5 million hotel guests to Abu Dhabi this year, and a vision to bring in 20 million tourists per year to Dubai by 2020, the UAE’s tourism in-dustry is ready for an exciting new year and a brighter future,” said Adnan Aridi, managing director, Alpha Tours.
Natalie Tours has helped around two million Russian and CIS travellers to visit the UAE over the past decade and the company has been working closely with Alpha Tours to support the industry’s growth in the region.
Dub
ai
31 JANUARY 2015
TRAVEL TALK
20
PASCAL EGGERSTEDT
PAUL GREGOROWITSCH
EMMA CULLEN
RABIH AL ATRASH
General manager, InterContinental Doha The City
CEO, Oman Air
General manager, Capital Club, Dubai
Executive assistant manager, Al Manshar Rotana, Kuwait
“We are thrilled to be bringing the quality cuisine of Hwang to daytime diners in the res-taurant’s authentic Pan-Asian atmosphere, that is perfect for gathering with business col-leagues, friends and family. I think that many people per-ceive having lunch at a five-star hotel as an expensive and lengthy affair. With the bento box concept, we are changing that by offering quick service and value for money, along with a wide variety of Far Eastern dishes from which to choose.”
“We are very pleased to re-ceive [Agoda.com’s Gold Circle Award]. In an extremely com-petitive market like Kuwait Agoda.com’s Gold Circle Award only proves that all our hard work, commitment to give out the world-class service at our outmost best at Al Manshar Ro-tana has paid off. We will make sure to continue giving out the best service up to the standard of Rotana and our guests to the level best that we can. Thank you Agoda.com for recognising us and of course thank you to all our patrons who believed in us.”
“With the start of [the year], we have set new financial targets for Oman Air. Whilst these are more challenging than in previ-ous years, our vision, objectives and values remain the same. Our vision [...] is to become the best. [...] That future means becoming a more modern, business-driven enterprise - one that does not rely on financial injections from the government of Oman. Whilst Oman Air currently contributes more than OMR400 million (USD1.04 billion) to the Omani economy, it is vital that we all work hard to become an even better[...] airline.”
“The People Who Shaped Dubai series has proven to be ex-tremely popular and we are sure that this latest event will not disappoint either. Sir Maurice [Flanagan, founding CEO, Emir-ates Group] has been a part of Dubai’s story almost from the very beginning and has had an immense impact on the growth of Dubai’s aviation sector. This will be another wonderful op-portunity for our members and their guests to get some truly unique insights into the Emir-ates success story – straight from the man himself.”
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 [email protected]
People perceive having lunch at a five-star hotel as an expensive affair
We will make sure to continue giving out the best service
Our vision [...] is to become the best
Sir Maurice [Flanagan] has been a part of Dubai’s story
31 JANUARY 2015
TRAVEL CHANNELS
21
BIC Hosts 10th GulfRun
A total of 70 cars from some of the biggest and most exclu-sive car manufacturers lined up at BIC and were put to the test against one another
across the entire BIC facility, racing along the BIC car park for an autocross event, down the quarter-mile drag strip, and ul-timately on the BIC race track in various configurations.
The drivers registered their best laps in the Inner Circuit, Grand Prix Circuit and Outer Circuit, after which they compared their times to determine the winner of the competition.
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosted another landmark event, between January 22 – 23, with the 10th edition of the annual Gulf
Run which took centre stage at the home of motorsport in the Middle East, in Sakhir.
Online Sites: Possible Threat to Hospitality
Giants
Desert Caravan Challenge in Qatar
In line with its efforts to diversify the country’s profile, Qatar Tourism Au-thority (QTA) invites adventure enthusiasts to participate in camel rid-ing activities on February 6 – 7, with two caravans covering 12km in the
Zekreet region.Organised in partnership with Qatar Museum Authority for the sec-
ond consecutive year, the Desert Caravan Challenge will offer visitors an authentic experience. QTA is working to develop this tourism product by adding new elements every year.
“Our tourism strategy seeks to build a modern and sustainable tourism sector capable of attracting tourists from all over the world,” commented Hassan Al Ibrahim, chief tourism development officer, QTA, saying that such events contribute to the realisation of this vision.
Dubai Features New Jogging Track
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collabora-tion with Dubai Municipality, opened a new jogging track around Safa Park as part of the Dubai Water Canal project.
Maitha Bin Udai, CEO, traffic and roads agency, RTA, said, “The new track around Safa Park will be part of the key facilities pro-viding sports services to the public in a vital area where the ca-nal crosses the heart of Dubai; adding a strong attraction to this strategic project which is bound to have positive repercussions on tourism, entertainment and investment in the near future.”
She added that the unique urban and tourist project will of-fer a new living style as the canal will link the Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf.
A ccording to a survey by Bar-clays Bank, major hotel com-panies do not see sites like
Airbnb as a concern to their busi-ness model given geographical and demographic differences in the cus-tomer base. However, the UK΄s in-vestment bank found out that Airbnb could double in size within the next 12 months and add significant sup-ply to several major markets, result-ing in pressure on RevPAR growth in key cities over the long term.
Barclays Bank suggests that the Airbnb offering is already bigger than the largest global hotel group with nearly one million listings, up from 300,000 a year ago, while the vol-ume of bookings on Airbnb could be as large as InterContinental Hotels Group’s within two and a half years’ time.
Bahrain International Circuit
Jogging track rendering
31 JANUARY 2015
WHO’S MOVED
22
Richard Gosling has returned to Egypt to continue as the new general manager of Hilton Sharks Bay Resort. Over the past 25 years, Gosling has gained a wealth of experi-ence from various international positions within the hospitality industry. During his long ca-reer, he has served a number of properties in Europe, the Car-ibbean, Asia Pacific, as well as the Middle East. Prior to his re-cent appointment, he worked as the general manager of Hilton Sharjah, the company’s first conversion property in the UAE. In addition, his journey with Hilton Worldwide also in-cluded positions at Hilton To-kyo Bay, Ramses Hilton Cairo, and Hilton Dubai Jumeirah.
ANTJE SAHLING
ASMA AL RAHMA
RICHARD GOSLING
SHAFI DADY SIBOMANA
Antje Sahling has been ap-pointed hotel manager at In-terContinental Dubai Marina, InterContinental Hotel Group’s landmark property, due to open later this year. As hotel manager, Sahling will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the hotel and its staff.Having extensively worked across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Sahling brings more than 15 years of experience to the table. Her career highlights thus far include the establishment of the first InterContinental resort in Europe and the debut of a Crowne Plaza resort in Asia.
Asma Al Rahma has been ap-pointed country manager for Cyprus by Emirates.Al Rahma moves to the island after three successful years in the same position in Oman. A graduate from UAE’s Commer-cial Management Outstation Programme, Al Rahma’s first assignment was in Kuwait as Emirates’ sales manager. In her new role, she will man-age a team of 20 and will be responsible for growing the airline’s business within Cy-prus, ensuring that travellers opt for Emirates when visit-ing Dubai and other eastern-bound destinations, such as China, India, Maldives, Mauri-tius, Seychelles and Australia.
Shafi Dady Sibomana has as-sumed the position of front of-fice manager at Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Dubai.Sibomana joins the team after serving in a similar position at Ramada Downtown Dubai.He gained valuable experience in reservations and front office duties in several Rwandan ho-tels before moving to Dubai to become the night manager at Al Manzil Hotel, Dubai where he was later promoted to assis-tant front office manager. Building on his communica-tions skills and work ethic, Sibomana will be responsible for motivating his colleagues and building a team spirit for the benefit of the hotel.
Sahling brings more than 15 years
of experience to the table
Gosling moves to Egypt from Sharjah, UAE
Al Rahma relocates to the island of
Cyprus from Oman
Sibomana will be responsible for
building team spirit
Manchester City and Melbourne City football stars, including Frank Lampard, visited Etihad Airways΄ headquarters
Sharjah World Music Festival rounds up Al Majaz performances on a high note
Zabeel Park welcomed more than 90,000 visitors during the first 10 days of Dubai Shop-
ping FestivalStudents visiting the World Future Energy Summit at Abu Dhabi
National Exhibition Centre
Living statues at Dubai's City Walk
Queen Alia International Airport readies for snow
31 JANUARY 2015
PHOTO ALBUM
23
Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Take a Shot!
31 JANUARY 2015
NEWS & EVENTS
24
Dubai Duty Free: Flyers to Buyers
Future of Borders Spotlighted in Dubai
D ubai Duty Free has long been offering visitors a glimpse of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF)’s offerings.
“The influx of tourists during DSF has played an important role in turning flyers into buyers in the emirate,” commented Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman, Dubai Duty Free, noting that sales turnover at the hub has grown from USD20 million in 1983 to USD1.917 billion in 2014.
McLoughlin described DSF as the world’s most loved shopping and entertainment bo-nanza which helps Dubai Duty Free increase the spend per head.
“Our job is to ensure that we sell to around 50 percent of all travellers, so with the increase in passengers, our sales should increase and this is the case,” he added.
D ubai will welcome 24 experts from 12 countries to chalk out a future road map for the borders industry at the
Future of Borders conference, which will take place between March 11 – 12 at The Ritz-Carl-ton, Dubai International Financial Centre.
The event is expected to provide valuable insights into future travel trends, the enlarged responsibilities of border control authorities and the challenges they face in handling the anticipated rise in passenger numbers over the coming years.
Participants will aim to agree on the best formula to achieve a balance between the need to strengthen the security in the face of growing risks and accelerate travel facilitations while maintaining high-quality services.
EVENTS
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAEFebruary 10 – 12 www.ibtmarabia.comFormerly GIBTM, it brings a fresh new format with one-to-one meetings and an exclusive closed community experience.
TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION
Tehran, IranFebruary 12 – 15 www.titexgroup.comThe eighth edition of the event covers an area of 21,000m2, a 55 percent growth compared to 2014.
INDIA TRAVEL MART
Ahmedabad, IndiaFebruary 21 – 23 www.itmtravelmart.comOrganised across many Indian cities throughout the year, it showcases travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries.
ITB BERLIN
Berlin, GermanyMarch 04 – 08www.itb-berlin.deA leading trade fair for the global travel industry as in 2014 some 10,140 companies from 189 countries exhibited their products.
GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FAIR
Guangzhou, ChinaMarch 06 – 08www.gitf.com.cnThe Chinese fair has received wide attention from the tourism industry since its first session 22 years ago.