DUBAI ATTRACTION RECEIVES COMPONENTS

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SHANGRI-LA TO MANAGE LUXURY HOTEL IN JEDDAH

IN THIS ISSUEMARKET UPDATE

TECHNOLOGY

ACCOMMODATION

AIR

INTERNATIONAL

RENDEZVOUS

WHO’S MOVED

TRAVEL TALK

AGENT CORNER

TRAVEL CHANNELS

PHOTO ALBUM

NEWS & EVENTS

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6 JUNE 2015 ISSUE 291

6

THE UAE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TOURISM & ANTIQUITIES ORGANISED A MISSION TO SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT TO

PROMOTE THE COUNTRY THROUGH UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND TAILOR-MADE PACKAGES.

FIRST UAE TOURISTIC CONVOY TO THE GULF

Jazeera Airways Grants DividendJazeera Airways Group shareholders approved a board proposal for the cash distribution of KWD20 million (USD66.3 million) as special dividend for 2014.

T he step is proof of the successful strategic decision the company’s management had taken in 2014 to further capi-talise on the growth opportunities in its home market by focussing more on its core business – the passenger airline segment – and to exit the capital-intensive aircraft leasing

segment. This was revealed by Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways Group, who also commented, “The transaction is reflected in our 2014 financial accounts and resulted in an additional cash sur-plus […]. As a result, the company today is cash-rich, asset-light and plans to be debt-free by the end of [this year] to pursue growth op-portunities.”

STR Global: 11 Months of Growth for LebanonLebanon continues to experience increased demand for accommodation with March figures showing notable rises for the 11th consecutive month.

6 JUNE 2015

MARKET UPDATE

2

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi

mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli

SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba

CONTRIBUTORS

Ana MladenovicDominique Christou

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian

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DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides

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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

98.18

7.63

28,953.86

1,180.46

0.30

1,525.01

1.38

9.66

188.82

1.93

214.89

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

As of 5/6/2015Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=

B ased on data compiled by STR Global, during the period under review, occupancy rates in the country rose 27 percent to 48.5 percent, underscoring the destination’s gradual development since the GCC lifted travel adviso-ries in May 2014.

Among the key countries in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, Egypt witnessed the highest increases in both average daily rates (ADR), up 32.9 percent to USD86.64, and RevPAR, up 61.5 per-cent to USD45.28.

All in all, occupancy in MEA soared 3.2 percent to 68.7 percent, RevPAR improved 0.7 percent to USD118.04 and ADR dropped 2.3 percent to USD171.82.

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6 JUNE 2015

TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS

3

S abre has entered into an agreement to buy Abacus International, a global distribution system (GDS) in the Asia Pacific region.

Abacus International is currently owned by a consortium of 11 Asian airlines along with Sabre which has a 35 percent share in the company and which will now purchase the remaining shares of the Singapore-based

GDS provider for USD411 million. Tom Klein, president, Sabre, noted, “This powerful combination will give

customers even more innovation and service options, while allowing Sabre to accelerate growth globally [...] and to gain regional synergies in all three of our businesses serving travel agents, airlines and hospitality companies.”

Sabre to Acquire Abacus

roomsXML Showcases New Feature

T echnology provider to the hospitality industry, roomsXML presented yet

another first of its kind tool that dis-plays the room types exactly as per the hotel’s very own unit names, to a Middle Eastern audience.

International industry profes-sionals and more than 400 travel agents who visited roomsXML’s booth at the Arabian Travel Market had the chance to explore the wide ranging benefits of the revolution-ary new feature.

The company’s latest product was praised for its unique advan-tages that help agents save time and provide better customer ser-vice by allowing them to book rooms under their exact names.

roomsXML team at Arabian Travel Market

Did you know...

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M ohannad Sharafuddin, chairman, Arabian Falcon Holi-days, explained that the venue’s operator expects over 6.7 million ticketed visits in 2017.

“[The theme parks] will increase the number of tourists from Africa and Asia by leaps and bounds, making it the top timeshare destination in MENA. They will also add more than AED14 billion (USD3.8 billion) by 2020 to the emirate’s economy,” Sharafuddin added.

6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS

4

O man Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) showcased its latest 3D structures and

aerial drone images in the lead up to its opening in 2016, at IMEX Frankfurt.

Trevor McCartney, general man-ager, OCEC, deemed the upcoming launch of the exhibition halls and hos-pitality suites as a memorable occasion that will play a major role in changing the face of events in the region and throw the spotlight on Oman.

“Striving to become a pioneer in business events in the Arabian Gulf, OCEC is enormously proud to be a major force in the momentum of the industry,” added McCartney.

Omani Venue Shines on World Stage

Theme Parks to Propel Growth in DubaiAn Arabian Falcon Holidays’ report suggests that the timeshare industry in Dubai will surge 50 percent in 2017, driven by millions of tourists to Dubai Parks and Resorts theme parks that will open in the emirate at the end of 2016, replicating the success story of Orlando in Florida, US.

A n experienced team of designers and consultants are hard at work on a range of rides and other com-

ponents of Dubai Parks and Resorts.Encompassing three theme parks, the

project is set to become the region’s larg-est multi-themed leisure and entertain-ment destination with over 100 attractions and experiences for visitors of all ages.

“Following a rigorous bidding process, we have appointed a stellar team of the world’s leading players in the entertain-ment rides industry,” explained Raed Al Nu-aimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, adding that the project will support the UAE’s tour-ism vision and serve as a key step towards reaching the country’s visitor targets.

Dubai Attraction Receives Components

https://www.sunrise-resorts.com/

6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS

6

WEEKLY NEWS

FIRST UAE TOURISTIC CONVOY TO THE GULF

The UAE National Council for Tourism & Antiquities organised a mission to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to promote the country through up-to-date information and tailor-made packages.

D ollar Rent a Car has launched its 25th branch in the UAE at Ayla Bawadi

Hotel, marking the company’s entry into Al Ain.

As Marwan Al Mulla, general manager, UAE and Oman, Dollar Rent a Car, explained, the open-ing comes in line with the firm’s strategy to reach out to all cus-tomers across the UAE.

“To take this initiative forward we have opened our Al Ain branch to give consistent customer expe-rience across all our counters in the UAE. Our good selection of vehicles and exceptional service always exceeds our customer’s ex-pectations,” added Al Mulla.

Dollar Rent a Car Arrives in Al Ain

G iven the geographic proximity, the devel-oped road network and air connectivity across the region, the Gulf remains one of the key source markets for the UAE, noted Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb Al Muhairi,

director general, National Council for Tourism & Antiq-uities.

The convoy, that visited, Riyadh, Jeddah and Ku-wait, met with a large number of specialists and de-cision-makers to highlight the essence of the UAE’s unique characteristics.

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WEEKLY NEWS

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S harjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) took part in a promotional tour to

Gulf capitals, organised by the National Council of Tourism & Antiquities.

The tour, held in May under the slo-gan #VisitUAE, covered Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait.

According to H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, director general, SCTDA, the GCC is a top market for the emirate with 477,639 guests staying in the Sharjah’s accommodation units in 2014, a 10 per-cent year-on-year increase.

He reiterated SCTDA’s keenness to promote the destination’s festivals that add diversity to its cultural and tourism product that ranges from cultural hubs, to recreational facilities.

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) led a delegation of repre-sentatives from Qatar Air-

ways and 11 hotels on a three-city road show across Saudi Arabia. The initiative formed part of the strategy to enhance promotional efforts in key target markets across the GCC.

The number of visitors from the Kingdom to Qatar increased by 28 percent in the first quarter of the year reaching over 240,000, accord-ing to Rashed AlQurese, chief mar-keting and promotions officer, QTA, who said, “Qatar is not standing still. Luxury hotel construction continues, transport infrastructure grows at a pace and bold new developments continue to be planned.”

SCTDA Promotes Sharjah to the GCC

dnata’s Imagine Cruising Investment Greenlighted

QTA on Tour in Saudi Arabia

d nata received regulatory approval from the Competition Commission of South Africa for the purchase of a majority stake in Im-

agine Cruising.A leader in cruise and stay holiday distribution

out of the UK, Imagine Cruising will become part of the dnata Travel family of businesses.

“Our growth strategy is clear: invest in oppor-tunities that enhance our product offering and strengthen our position as a global leader,” ex-plained Iain Andrew, divisional senior vice presi-dent, dnata Travel.

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6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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New Spa at Royal Rose Abu Dhabi

A range of 60- and 90-minute treatments are available, all of which have been designed to reenergise travellers and rejuvenate their skin.

Guests can also take advantage of the adjacent gym what features modern equipment, a sauna and Jacuzzi, all set in an elegant décor allowing guests to unwind after a busy day or a relaxing swim in the rooftop pool.

Royal Rose Abu Dhabi has unveiled Alba Spa, a brand-new haven of wellness and tranquillity offering a variety of body and face treatments.

Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel Adds Gym

Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel has launched a fully-equipped state-of-the-art gym.

Guests can take advantage of complimentary access to the new facility which is also open to local residents who wish to exercise on treadmills, pec-fly machines, cable-cross multi vascular units, and stay in shape with the help of free weights.

As Hartmut Grauel, general manager, Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel, noted, the gym is for those who wish to stay committed to their sports routine while away on busi-ness or vacation.

As part of its ambitious growth plan, Gloria Hotels & Resorts is to

launch its inaugural project in Mecca in the first quarter of 2016.

Located just 3km from the Holy Mosque, the hotel will feature 320 rooms, along with a range of facilities that cater to religious and family tourists.

The company, that al-ready has over 2,020 rooms in operation, aims to add an-other 2,000 units to its port-folio with the inauguration of new establishments in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, UAE and Oman.

Other upcoming open-ings in 2016 include a four-star hotel in Muscat and a 240-key property in Khar-toum, Sudan.

Gloria Hotels & Resorts to Enter Saudi Arabia

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6 JUNE 2015

ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

9

Mövenpick Expands in Middle East and Asia

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts revealed an aggressive growth pro-gramme across Asia. This year the company’s expansion plans include the opening of two hotels in Saudi Arabia, Mövenpick

Hotel Star City Jeddah and Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, as well as a property in Morocco.

The Swiss hotel group is also set to unveil seven hotels and resorts in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Vietnam over the next three years with 10 more projects being under negotiation.

“We have seen very strong demand. Our brand philosophy and values have caught the attention of investors and developers as we are excited about the potential for further growth in the region,” said Andreas Mattmül-ler, chief operating officer, Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

PER AQUUM Hotels & Resorts has entered a new phase in its evolu-tion, marked by a new logo, re-

vamped visual identity and fresh hotel names.

A collection of originals, the current portfolio reflects the elevated status of the brand featuring two properties in the Maldives, one in Dubai and Essque Zlu Zanzibar, which is being transformed into a PER AQUUM resort.

As part of the 2013 strategic joint venture partnership between Minor Hotel Group and PER AQUUM’s found-ing company, Universal Enterprises, the two firms are to develop at least five ad-ditional properties within the next five years and the new identity is laying the foundation for this expansion.

A New Era for PER AQUUM

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels Unveils Newest Gem

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH) launched Najd Boutique Hotel in the heart of the his-toric Souq Waqif in Doha.

The company’s ninth project blends originality and modernity and features 15 rooms along with two suites, with each of them offering a distinctive interpretation of the overall theme of Arabic mod-ernism steeped in luxury.

“Since inception, SWBH has sought to enrich the hotel sector with the most innovative concepts and ways of doing business and allow Qatar visitors to experience age-old Arabic hospitality and Qatar’s wealth of history and tradition,” explained Taleb Al Henzab, general manager, SWBH.

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6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS

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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Hilton to Open at Dubai World Central

Hilton Worldwide is the latest hospitality giant to join Dubai World Central (DWC)’s hotel scene with the 535-key Hilton Dubai World Central set to open early 2019.

The upscale property will feature seven floors with a large multifunc-tional ballroom, eight meeting rooms, six board rooms, a myriad of food and beverage options and leisure facilities, making it ideal to guests who wish to stay in close proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport and the 145km2 DWC development.

As Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East and Africa, Hilton World-wide, revealed, the company expects to open an average of one hotel per month over the course of the next few years across the Middle East and Africa, whereas it plans to more than double its portfolio in Dubai.

InterContinental Dubai Marina Unveiled

I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened InterCon-tinental Dubai Marina, the brand’s fourth property in the UAE.Located in the heart of one of the destination’s

most popular and vibrant neighbourhoods, the project includes 132 rooms along with 196 fully-serviced Inter-Continental Residential Suites. A part of the Bay Central development, it is also home to nine food and beverage outlets, separated spas, gym, swimming pool and gener-ous meeting spaces.

According to Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, InterContinental Dubai Marina is taking the brand to the next level.

“[It is] contemporary, glamour with great modern art touch and travel stories; the first of a new generation of In-terContinental Hotels to open in the coming years,” com-mented Gauvin.

P ark Inn by Radisson Istanbul Atat-urk Airport has opened its doors, marking the brand’s foray into the

Turkish city.Located just 4km from the destina-

tion’s main international airport, the 154-key property offers a convenient place for events and conferences with seven modern meeting spaces and a 422m2 ballroom.

As Mark Willis, area vice president, Middle East and Turkey, The Rezidor Ho-tel Group, noted, the midmarket brand incorporates the ethos of choice, con-nectivity and community.

“We see a huge potential for this brand to grow in Turkey,” indicated Willis.

Park Inn by Radisson Debuts in Istanbul

InterContinental Dubai Marina

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6 JUNE 2015

ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

11

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Shangri-La to Manage Luxury Hotel in Jeddah

Assila Investments and Shangri-La International Hotel Management signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the manage-ment and operation of a luxury project in Jeddah. Slated to open in

early 2018, it will be the first Shangri-La property in Saudi Arabia.Greg Dogan, president, Shangri-La International Hotel Management,

justified the location choice saying that Jeddah is both an important com-mercial hub and the country’s primary resort city.

Featuring a 242-room hotel and 122 residences, the development will be in a 65-storey tower on Jeddah Corniche Road facing the Red Sea, with its facilities including three restaurants, function rooms, luxury spa and fit-ness areas, a swimming pool, children’s club and several lounges.

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JA Resorts & Hotels Enters Sri Lanka

Ajman to Tap Into Chinese Market

JA Resorts & Hotels will be devel-oping JA Eclipse Beach Resort, a premium tropical beach prop-

erty in Kathiraveli, Sri Lanka, together with Gravity Resort Group that will fund the USD30 million project.

“We are extremely proud to be the first UAE-based hospitality company […] to manage the first-ever luxury resort development on the Sri Lankan East Coast,” said David Thomson, chief operating officer, JA Resorts & Hotels.

The resort will have an initial ca-pacity of 108 luxurious suites and villas in six room categories, and will feature waterways, such as a lazy riv-er; eight food and beverage outlets; a fully-equipped water sports centre and more.

T he sales team of The Ajman Palace Hotel joined the Aj-man Tourism Development

Department’s week-long road show in China.

The programme, that included stops in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, was in line with the emirate’s ambition to attract five million visi-tors by 2021.

As Fergal Purcell, general manager, The Ajman Palace Hotel, noted, Chi-nese tourists are now moving away from the previous preference for group travel and sightseeing and many of them prefer to travel independently to explore fresh destinations.

He also added that the manage-ment started working on the Chinese outbound tourism market in the third quarter of 2014 and has since seen astounding results.

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6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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Mahan Air Opens Six New International Routes

T he addition of the routes comes after the total refurbishment of the airline’s fleet.Mahan Air already launched once-weekly flights to Bahrain, as well as to Vnukovo Interna-

tional Airport in Moscow and Airport Pulkovo Saint Petersburg, both operated four times a week.Starting June 14, it will also fly out to Athens on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Moreover, June 17

will see the departure of a Milan-bound aircraft, which will be serving the Italian city twice a week. Lastly, as of June 23 Mahan Air will further expand in Russia with thrice-weekly operations to Sochi.

In order to better cater to its passengers’ needs, Iran-based carrier Mahan Air is expanding its global network with the introduction of six new scheduled services.

flydubai Adds Fourth Pakistani Route

Gulf Air Increases Istanbul Services

As of June 11, flydubai will commence thrice-weekly direct op-erations to Quetta, Pakistan, marking the airline’s fourth desti-nation in the country.

“We have been flying to Pakistan since 2010, and we have seen a consistent demand for our services. […] We see continued opportunity to grow our network across our geographic focus and connect previ-ously underserved markets to Dubai,” commented Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai.

The carrier first linked the UAE to Pakistan with a daily flight to Ka-rachi, which has grown to double-daily, while in 2013, routes to Sialkot and Multan were launched.

Gulf Air is to launch additional flights to and from Istanbul as of July 11 with a choice of seven frequencies a week, available up until September 12.

“Giving Gulf Air passengers increased flexibility and choice in booking their summer travel to and from Istanbul is critical in light of the consist-ently strong two-way traffic between this historic city and Bahrain and the greater region. We are confident our summer schedule will improve our passengers’ travel experience,” commented Ahmed Janahi, chief commer-cial officer, Gulf Air.

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Etihad Adds Fourth Bangkok Flights

E tihad Airways plans to introduce a fourth daily service be-tween Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, effective from July 1.

Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the extra frequency will increase the number of roundtrip flights offered by the UAE carrier between the two cities to 28 per week and add some 5,000 seats per week to the route.

According to Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad Airways, the Thai capital is one of the most popular desti-nations in the airline’s network with strong year-round demand.

“The new service, with its attractive timing and convenient two-way connections, will make ours a more competitive and attractive offering for business travellers and holiday-makers to Thailand, as well as travellers based in Thailand,” concluded Knight.

Qatar Airways revealed plans to de-ploy its Airbus A350 XWB aircraft on its double-daily Doha – Mu-

nich route.Commencing October 1, the Doha-

based airline will be launching the A350 XWB on the German route alongside its existing Boeing 787 Dreamliner service, while from November 1, the second daily frequency will also be operated with what is hailed as the world’s newest wide-body aircraft.

According to Akbar Al Barker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, the introduction of the A350 XWB to the Doha – Munich sector will redefine the in-flight experience for those travelling between the cities and help re-iterate the company’s steadfast commit-ment to the market.

Qatar Airways A350 XWB to Fly to Munich

Air Arabia Opens Dubai City Check-in Facility

Air Arabia has further expanded its City Terminal Check-in network with the launch of a new station at Dubai’s Al Ghurair Centre.

The concept was first introduced in 2012 with the aim to provide passengers flying with the low-cost carrier with in-creased convenience and flexibility by enabling them to drop off their bags and collect their boarding pass before departure from the airport.

As Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, highlighted, the innova-tive facilities go one step further by reducing the time custom-ers need to spend at the airport to an absolute minimum.

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR

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Qatar Airways has bought Novotel Edinburgh Park, in Scotland, mark-ing the airline’s second hotel acqui-

sition outside Qatar.The four-star property will continue to

be managed and operated by Accor under the Novotel brand and will provide Qatar Airways’ guests from around the world with end-to-end comfort throughout its 170 rooms and suites, five meeting areas, indoor pool, gym and sauna.

The hotel is located on Lochside Avenue adjacent to Edinburgh Business Park and conveniently near to Edinburgh Internation-al Airport.

Qatar Airways’ move is part of its overall service offering and growth strategy, which is expected to include further hotels in key destinations.

C entral and Eastern European low-cost carrier, Wizz Air has launched its rejuve-nated and more sophisticated identity,

complete with a vibrant livery and a range of enhancements set to further improve the pas-senger experience.

The airline celebrated its 11th birthday with a mega event in Hungary and Poland, organised by industry veteran Daniel De Carvalho, corpo-rate communications, Wizz Air, where it unveiled the new pink and blue livery and announced seat allocation, upgrades to the company’s web and mobile platforms, the extension of WizzTours package holidays and new aircraft deliveries.

As Johan Eidhagen, head of marketing and brand, Wizz Air, revealed, since the airline’s de-but in Dubai in October 2013, the carrier’s only Gulf route has performed very well. Wizz Air also operates to Hurghada.

ECAir Debuts in Beirut

Wizz Air Reveals New Identity

Qatar Airways: Strategic Move in Scotland

As part of its global expansion drive, Equatorial Congo Airlines (ECAir) has commenced regular flights be-

tween Brazzaville and Beirut.The new route, which is being operated

in collaboration with Trans Air Congo on-board a Boeing 757, is expected to appeal to the large Lebanese community living on the African continent. The twice-weekly ser-vice marks the carrier’s third intercontinen-tal route after Paris and Dubai.

As Fatima Beyina-Moussa, managing di-rector, ECAir, noted, opening up the Beirut itinerary will help foster relations between Congo and Lebanon.

Beirut

Novotel Edinburgh Park

6 JUNE 2015

AIR WEEKLY NEWS

15

Emirates Expands Italian Network

Qatar Airways Gears Up for Amsterdam Debut

A kbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, expects high demand for the airline’s soon-to-be-launched Amsterdam route.

Starting June 15, the carrier will operate six weekly services between Doha and the Dutch cap-ital, which, according to Al Baker, not only has one of the busiest airports in Europe, but is also a major tourist destination.

“We have been pursuing the opportunity to open this new route for some time and I am pleased to have achieved our ambition,” admitted Al Baker.

E ffective from November 3, Bologna will be-come Emirates’ fourth Italian gateway.

The Dubai-based airline will operate dai-ly services to the city onboard a Boeing 777-300ER, bringing its weekly frequencies to the European country to 56.

Over the past 23 years, the carrier has played an important role in enhancing opportunities for busi-ness and tourism across the country, noted Thierry Antinori, chief commercial officer, Emirates.

With the new daily route to Bologna, Emirates SkyCargo will offer up to 23 tonnes of cargo capac-ity per day, further supporting Italian exports.

Oman Air is to commence daily nonstop ser-vices between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur, ef-fective from June 21.

The route builds on the success of the airline’s stop-ping flight launched in 2010 and adds a convenient travel option for passengers who could previously only rely on codeshare operations by Malaysian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines or Oman Air’s non-direct offering.

Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, chief operating officer, Oman Air, described the Asian country as a very popu-lar destination in the carrier’s network.

“[The route] is both commercially successful and a vital symbol of the close relationship between Oman and Malaysia,” he added.

Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana marked its 13th anniversary with record op-erating profit in 2014, which stood at USD97.7 million, an increase of 35 percent over 2013.

Traffic also surged three percent to 3.8 million passengers, with the airline having added Paris, Bangkok and Dubai to its network. The carrier also launched Economy Sleeper Class, scooped several prestigious accolades and became the first airline in Cen-tral Asia to join the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines in June 2014.

“Another remarkably successful year has passed for Air Astana, with continued profitable growth and new service innovations adding to the established reputation for consistently safe, reliable, convenient and high-quality air service,” said Peter Foster, president, Air Astana.

Oman Air to Fly Directly to Kuala Lumpur

Air Astana Celebrates Success

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Akbar Al Baker (centre)

Did you know...

Qatar Airways’

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6 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL

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P lus Arrendamientos Inmobil-iarios appointed Rosewood Hotels and Resorts to manage

a forthcoming property that will be the brand’s fourth in Mexico.

Expected to open in 2016, the 79-room Rosewood Puebla will be located in the historic centre of the city, an UNESCO World Heritage site. Guests will be able to enjoy their time in the hotel’s rooftop bar and swim-ming pool area or the spa.

Puebla, known for its diverse ar-chitecture, is southeast of New Mex-ico City and is home to over 2,600 historic sites and more than 365 churches.

Holiday Inn Announced for Fiji

Rocco Forte Benefits from Middle Eastern Arrivals

Rosewood to Launch Hotel in Mexican UNESCO Site

F iji will welcome its first Holiday Inn re-sort in 2018, following a deal between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)

and Avoser. IHG’s third property in Fiji, Holiday Inn

Resort Denarau Island will offer 152 rooms and suites as well as three outdoor pools, kids’ club, day spa, nightclub and two meet-ing rooms.

Ananth Reddy, director, Avoser, said, “De-narau Island is one of Fiji’s most renowned international resort destinations, and we are seeing increasing visitor arrivals to the island every year. Fiji has also seen some of its high-est occupancy rates in recent years and there are huge opportunities for growth in rooms supply to cater to the tourism growth.”

Sir Rocco FortePueblaHoliday Inn Resort Denarau Island drawing

Rocco Forte Hotels, a family of 10 luxury properties in key destinations across Eu-rope, announced increased revenue from

the Middle East during 2014. The company’s most important markets in the region continued to be Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, while the coun-tries with the most significant growth in travellers were Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait.

Echoing 2013’s results, the top three proper-ties that received the largest business from the region were The Charles Hotel, Munich; Hotel de Russie, Rome; and Brown’s Hotel, London.

“Our next new property opening will be in Jed-dah later this year, and we are thrilled that this will mark our return to the Middle East, an area with which we have a long-standing history,” disclosed Sir Rocco Forte, chairman, Rocco Forte Hotels.

6 JUNE 2015

INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY NEWS

17

Australia to Welcome AVANI Brand Holiday Inn to Welcome Guests in Adelaide

Best Western Expands in Indonesia

M inor Hotel Group is to launch two new properties in Perth and expand its pres-ence in Australia through an investment

of AUD110 million (USD87.7 million). The company will develop an upscale AVANI

hotel offering more than 250 rooms, to be com-pleted in the last quarter of 2017, and a 200-unit AVANI Residences, both set within the Perth City Link project.

“Minor Hotel Group is already well established in the country with the Oaks brand and we have been actively exploring opportunities to bring some of our other brands into the Australasia region,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group.

I nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Pro Invest Group have signed a deal for Holiday Inn Express Adelaide, Australia.Expected to launch in 2018, the 245-room

hotel will be located in the city’s central business district and close to Adelaide Convention Centre.

“We know the domestic market will respond extremely well to this fresh and exciting brand and having a Holiday Inn Express in the city’s Central Business District will be key as the in-crease in air connectivity between Adelaide and other key Asian cities continues,” said Karin Sheppard, chief operating officer, franchising, Australasia, Japan, Korea and Asia, Middle East and Africa, IHG.

B est Western International (BWI) has continued its growth in Indo-nesia with the inauguration of yet another new property in Bogor, West Java.

Located in the heart of the city, the 16-storey BEST WESTERN Bogor Icon comprises 345 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, swimming pool, fitness centre and meeting rooms with a ballroom that can host up to 1,000 guests.

“With its ideal location close to Jakarta and excellent transport links, Bogor is becoming a key destination for both domestic and international travellers,” explained Ron Pohl, senior vice president, brand management, BWI, adding that the company’s Indonesian expansion is now in full swing.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A withTomas Kastberg Andersen

TOMAS KASTBERG ANDERSEN, GENERAL MANAGER, BUNGA RAYA ISLAND RESORT & SPA AND GAYANA ECO RESORT, LED HIS TEAM AT THIS YEAR’S ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET (ATM) FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARAB CLIENTELE CONTINUES TO RISE AT BOTH MALAYSIAN RESORTS.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: This year marked the team’s first participation in ATM. What makes the Middle East a strategically important market for the company?

TOMAS KASTBERG ANDERSEN: Our resorts appeal to Middle Eastern visitors due to the unique tropical island setting and the privacy of the five-star villas. We are selling cool rain showers, lush tropi-cal forests and some of the best dive spots in the world to nations living in sweltering hot sand dunes – surely this has to be a match made in heaven.

Visitors from the Middle East repre-sent approximately five percent of our guests and bookings from the UAE has increased more than 10 percent over the past six months, the contributing factor being more awareness of our region. [...]

About six months ago we decided it was time to create some awareness about our resorts in the Middle Eastern market and we contracted a public relations company, CTT Consulting, in Dubai.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa and Gayana Eco Resort’s main features that appeal to the Arab clientele?

TOMAS KASTBERG ANDERSEN: We have witnessed an increased interest from Middle Eastern travellers, and fam-ilies in particular, in the environmental luxury experience which we offer with our extensive range of nature activities, such as becoming a marine biologist for a day, snorkelling at the house reef, kayaking into the mangroves, doing a canopy walk above the rainforest or trekking into the dense jungle all the while staying in luxurious private villas.

Located in the Tunku Abdul Rah-man Marine National Park, skirted by coral reefs and calm turquoise seas, our resorts offer a diverse range of activities

under water and on land for adults and children alike. Visitors can work along-side our resident marine biologists and transfer replanted coral fragments to the underwater Coral Garden or collect coral fragments in the sea and attach them to a biorock structure, snorkel the house reef with an underwater camera or take a kay-ak trip into the mangroves, explore mud-skippers and hermit crabs or trek into the dense jungle bursting with butterflies, bird and cicadas. The resort also houses a Professional Association of Diving In-structors (PADI)-certified dive centre.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How im-portant is the weddings and honey-moons segment to your business?

TOMAS KASTBERG ANDERSEN: Al-though we do have a few large tradi-tional weddings a year, we are finding a trend in couples opting for a smaller, much more wholesome, wedding ex-perience with just a few family mem-bers and close friends. Besides these barefoot beach weddings, we also can also arrange canopy walk weddings on a suspension bridge above the rain for-est, ceremonies on a private yacht or in the tropical gardens or in the royal villa.

Today’s discerning guests take it for granted that the hardscape is in perfect condition, food is delicious and service impeccable. Long gone are the days when guests merely want to lie by the pool and do nothing. Nowadays they want to be in touch with the local com-munity, learn about and spot the unique wildlife, understand the importance of lo-cal flora and fauna in modern day life. Yes, we have to ensure our guests will become culturally enriched. Another trend seems to be experiences taking you outside your comfort zone. This could be climbing mountains, learning how to parasail, dive or zip through the jungle. Often these ex-periences are part of a honeymoon.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us about your plans for the coming months.

TOMAS KASTBERG ANDERSEN: Gay-ana Eco Resort and Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa will soon be under the hospitality banner of ECHO Resorts. [...] At the end of the year we are also open-ing a brand new resort, Pulau Tiga, lo-cated on the island which was featured in the popular television hit, Survivor; the Borneo season.

GENERAL MANAGER, BUNGA RAYA ISLAND RESORT & SPA AND GAYANA ECO RESORT

Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa

6 JUNE 2015

WHO’S MOVED

19

IWAN KIP

MAZEN FAHMY

Iwan Kip has been appointed general manager for Indone-sia at Etihad Airways. Kip, who brings more than 10 years of experience to the role, takes up the position af-ter two years as the airline’s direct sales and operations manager for the Netherlands.Based in Jakarta, he will be pivotal in accelerating the carrier’s growth in the south-east Asian country. Prior to joining Etihad Air-ways, Kip spent 10 years in sales and marketing at a num-ber of major airlines, hotel groups and travel companies.

Mazen Fahmy has joined InterContinental Cairo Semi-ramis Hotel as technology manager.He started his journey with In-terContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 2004 at the Citystars Complex project, where he served in different positions, his final role being assistant IT manager.Fahmy, who has a total of 15 years of experience in the field, also participated in the IT conversion at Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi Hotel as acting IT manager. Prior to joining IHG, he worked for United Systems Company where he also helped install food, beverage and materials systems in all IHG properties in Egypt.

VICTOR DEVRIES

Victor Devries has been se-lected as the new head of sales for Dubai and the North-ern Emirates at Rotana.Devries, who holds a master’s degree in marketing and ad-vertising, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked with inter-national chains. In his last po-sition, he served as director of regional marketing in Can-ada and the US with Hilton Worldwide.With over 14 years in key commercial leadership roles across the Middle East, Eu-rope, Asia and US, Devries will direct the company’s sales initiatives in Dubai and the Northern Emirates where Rotana currently operates 20 properties.

Devries will direct Rotana’s sales

initiatives

Kip spent 10 years in sales and marketing

6 JUNE 2015

TRAVEL TALK

20

JASMINE ARIKA

MICHAEL SCULLY

LENNART MAAS

Director of marketing and communications, Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai

Managing director, First & Foremost Hotels & Resorts

Hotel manager, Burj Al Sarab, Abu Dhabi

“Technology creates speed. We have seen that there are shorter lead periods to when we receive bookings, meaning guests are booking closer to their date of arrival than before. We have also seen that a lot of these book-ings come through mobile de-vices such as smartphones and tablets. This means that we are constantly adapting our web offerings […]. More and more guests are travelling with more than one device, which is why our Internet portals can be ac-cessed by up to three devices per room.”

“Our proposition appeals to all investors, but in particular socially responsible investors, those fo-cussing on [environmental, social and governance issues], which include social justice, in terms of the distribution of wealth, op-portunities, and privileges within a society. [...] Generally Leading Family Hotels & Resorts generates more than double the revenue per room of competitor hotels. [...] We have spoken to a number of investors and the feedback we received is very positive, thus we hope to make an announcement in the near future about our first property in the Middle East.”

“We expect strong business and high occupancy rates at the hotel following the signing of a number of contracts with our partners in Europe and other countries to attract tourists and guests. Abu Dhabi is attracting a large number of visitors coming to attend conferences, exhibi-tions, sports, cultural and art events.”

We are constantly adapting our web offerings

Our proposition appeals to all investors

We expect strong business

SULTAN AL DHAHERIActing executive director, tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

“Our ambition is to become a leader in the global Halal tourism market […]. It is incumbent on us to find new source markets, stim-ulate demand, and introduce new marketing concepts to in-spire first-time visitors and build loyalty to encourage guests to return, and we believe the Halal tourism niche is one which can achieve this. By galvanising the emirate’s hospitality industry to embrace the sector’s travel pat-terns, habits and aspirations, we can carve out a niche and be-come the regional leader in Halal tourism.”

TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

Our ambition is to become a leader in the global Halal tourism market

6 JUNE 2015

AGENT CORNER

21

Akber Panju

Director

Bushbuck Safaris

Tanzania

www.bushbuckltd.com

Agent’s Insight

Who are you?I am Akber Panju, director of Bushbuck Safaris, the pioneers of tourism in Tanzania with over 26 years of experience in the field. Bushbuck Safaris is a limited liabil-ity company that owns a large fleet of well-maintained vehicles and is staffed by specially-trained personnel. It was established in 1986, by Mustafa A.D. Panju who has invested many years of his life pursuing his passion for tourism in Tanzania.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?Serving our guests, meeting new people and making new friends.

When is the best time to visit Tanzania?Throughout the year.

Where would you like to travel for your next holiday?Turkey, Paris and Canada.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?Having lived all our life in Tanzania, we have intimate knowledge of the country and a passion to preserve nature.

COMPANY:

POSITION:

NAME:

LOCATION:

WEBSITE:

dnata Welcomes A350 XWB at Changi Airport

dnata, one of the largest air travel service providers in the Middle East and part of The Emirates Group, became the first ground

handler in Asia to welcome the Airbus A350 XWB.The arrival of Qatar Airways′ aircraft at Singa-

pore Changi Airport in late May marked one of dnata′s most important milestones.

The company provides ground handling ser-vices for the airline’s 14 weekly flights between Sin-gapore and Doha.

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6 JUNE 2015

TRAVEL CHANNELS

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France to Lure Emiratis

T he UAE is the first Gulf state to offer this visa waiver which is set to accelerate traffic between the regions.

In 2014, France recorded 83.7 million arrivals and while Europe continued to account for the lion’s share, figures from the Middle East have been showing encour-aging signs.

Gulf visitors are proving loyal repeat travellers, representing up to 30 percent of five-star and palace rating hotel business in France. Based on the government’s statisti-cal body, between 2013 and 2014, over-night stays in the European country’s hotels jumped 17 percent from the Gulf states.

France is to attract an increasing number of visitors from the UAE following the signature between the Middle Eastern country and the European Union that

allows Emiratis to travel to Schengen zone countries without applying for a visa.

R Hotels Gathers Funds for Nepali

Staff

Sharjah to Develop Smart City Map

Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Devel-opment has given 2GIS the green light to produce the emirate’s smart city map.

The project will feature an accurate 3D map with an item-ised directory along with information on infrastructure.

Belal Beseiso, vice president, business development, 2GIS, described the initiative as a strategic step, noting that 20 per-cent of the UAE population reside in the emirate.

“As one of the emirates that has made its name as an eco-nomic, educational and cultural centre, the smart city map of Sharjah will play a central role in providing visitors and resi-dents a readily available map of the emirate,” added Beseiso.

Virgin Atlantic Invites Travellers to Dubai

A new promotional video about Dubai is now live on all Virgin Atlantic Airways flights across the globe, informing passen-gers about the attractions of the emirate.

The 20-minute film is part of the company’s Virgin Atlantic guide to… series and was produced with the assistance of Dubai Depart-ment of Tourism & Commerce Marketing.

As Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, noted, the project is in line with the tourism authorities’ endeavour to work in partnership with international stakeholders to market and promote the emirate to an ever-wider audience.

“It is initiatives such as these that will allow us to ultimately realise our Tourism Vision for 2020,” concluded Kazim.

R Hotels’ four proper-ties – Ramada Hotel and Suites Ajman,

Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, Ramada Downtown Dubai and Hawthorn Suites by Wynd-ham Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence – raised AED77,000 (USD21,000) to help associates and their families affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

The initiative was led by If-tikhar Hamdani, general man-ager, Ramada Hotel and Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Ho-tel Ajman, who commented, “We look after the welfare of our staff […]. We hope that we are able to provide financial as-sistance and help in one way or another in getting back on their feet after the sad tragedy.”

Launch of the project

Louvre, Paris

6 JUNE 2015

TRAVEL CHANNELS

23

Hamad International Airport celebrated its one year anniversary with a huge cake

Mövenpick Hotel Deira launched its Power Bites menu, a healthy and fun dining option for children

Al Bustan Centre & Residence, Dubai hosted athletes of the 7th Fazza Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

Hollywood star Stephan Baldwin (left) received the Royal Plus Premium card from

Haitham Misto, CEO, Royal Jordanian AirlinesIt is never too early. New cabin crew and pilot uniforms for young Emirates fans

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa held a team-building activity with fun and interactive games and sessions

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6 JUNE 2015

NEWS & EVENTS

24

EVENTSINTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPO HONG KONG

Wanchai, Hong KongJune 11 – 14www.itehk.comAmongst others, the event also highlights trendy travel themes such as overseas weddings and honeymoons, as well as sports tourism.

KOREA WORLD TRAVEL FAIR

Seoul, South Korea June 11 – 15www.kotfa.co.krWith a 30-year history, the event sees the participation of 60 countries which promote their tourism resources and cultures.

INTERNATIONAL PARIS AIR SHOW

Paris, FranceJune 15 – 21www.siae.frA window into the dynamic aerospace industry which give manufacturers the chance to showcase their know-how.

INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART

Bangalore, IndiaJuly 10 – 12 www.iitmindia.comOne of the country’s premier travel and tourism exhibitions launches in Bangalore this year with other showings coming up in Chennai, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkatta.

Abu Dhabi Kicks Off Summer Road Shows

A bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Au-thority (TCA Abu Dhabi) led a road show which visited three

countries highlighting the three-month long Abu Dhabi Summer Season.

“During our [2014] summer season, we saw a highly impressive increase of 20 percent in our guest arrivals into our hotels and hotel apartments over [2013] to 786,376, with guest nights from GCC visitors increasing by 25 percent,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive di-rector, tourism sector, TCA Abu Dhabi.

S ome 80 corporate buyers, whose combined annual spending reaches over USD270 million,

came together at Exclusively Corporate @IMEX in Frankfurt.

Representing 27 countries and cov-ering 13 sectors, participants focussed on topics such as engagement, technol-ogy and negotiation while taking part in various networking and educational sessions.

Corporate Buyers Gather at IMEX