25 APRIL 2015 ISSUE 285

NAKHEEL REVEALS NEW MEGA PROJECTS AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF OPERATING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, DUSIT INTERNATIONAL ENTERED INTO A COOPERATIVE VENTURE WITH DYAR HOTELS AND RESORTS TO DEVELOP PROJECTS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND .

08

ROTANA MAKES ITS FORAY INTO NIGERIA

09 IN THIS ISSUE

MARKET UPDATE 02 PERFORMANCE 04 ACCOMMODATION 09 AIR 14 RENDEZVOUS 17 INTERNATIONAL 18 AGENT CORNER 19 TRAVEL TALK 20

TRAVEL CHANNELS 21 WHO’S MOVED 22 DUSIT TO DEBUT IN PHOTO ALBUM 23 NEWS & EVENTS 24 SAUDI ARABIA AND QATAR 10 MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS Jazeera Airways Group: Record

MANAGING EDITOR Q4 Performance Mary Kammitsi [email protected] Jazeera Airways Group registered record fourth quarter (Q4) results in 2014, ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli earning pre-transaction net profit of KWD3.8 million (USD12.6 million).

SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou his marks an increase of 47 percent Ana Mladenovic on the same period in 2013. The company’s full-year revenue PRESS Maria Demetriadou totalled KWD68.8 million (USD228.7 Pauline Shahabian million), up 4.9 percent year-on-year,

DESIGN & LAYOUT Twith pre-transaction net profit rising 4.4 per- Elena Stylianou cent to KWD17.4 million (USD57.8 million).

WEB DEVELOPER / IT The group’s cash position will soon be fur- Soteris Constantinou ther enhanced through the sale of 15 Airbus

DIRECTORS A320s for USD507 million, as part of a strategic Andreas Constantinides move to exit the aircraft leasing business and Mary Kammitsi focus on Jazeera Airways, which has histori- cally generated 80 percent of the company’s HEADQUARTERS net profit. T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670

WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel Oman Air Development Plan Pays Off

EMAILS Oman Air reported a revenue of OMR398 million (USD1.03 billion) for 2014, up [email protected] [email protected] four percent year-on-year, reducing its losses by four percent to around OMR96 [email protected] million (USD249 million).

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

As of 24/4/2015 Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD= (BHD) Dinar 0.37 Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75 UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 Algeria (DZD) Dinar 98.25 (EGP) Pound 7.62 uring the year, the airline carried 5.1 million passengers. Iran (IRR) Rial 28,336.43 Capacity rose to 15.2 billion available seat kilometres, Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,156.39 with an average load factor of 74.4 percent. As H.E. Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi, chairman, Oman Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.30 Air, pinpointed, the carrier is guided by a development Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,496.55 plan endorsed in 2013. Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.36 D “This has seen our company invest significantly in new narrow- Morocco (MAD) Dirham 9.92 body and widebody aircraft, new destinations, technology and staff. Syria (SYP) Pound 188.93 The size of our fleet is expected to increase [...] to 50 aircraft by 2018, Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.94 with a further increase to 70 aircraft being achieved by 2020,” said Al Yemen (YER) Rial 214.89 Balushi.

2 25 APRIL 2015 TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS

Destinia Sets Up New Website and App

nline travel agency, Destinia.com has launched a revamped website fea- customers’ language preferences and currency, and choosing trending topics. turing fully integrated search tools and a completely responsive design, “Adapting to the preferences of each market, and offering interesting rec- adaptable to all devices. The company has also introduced a new mobile ommendations for them is a key element in our service,” reinforced Amuda Oapp, allowing travellers to easily rent vehicles and manage their bookings. Goueli, CEO, Destinia.com, adding that the company sees a responsive web- The new platforms provide a personalised user experience by detecting site as an obligation rather than an option.

Virry Application Launched at Al Ain Zoo

The signing of the memorandum

ountain Digital Labs has in- troduced Virry, an applica- tion designed for children Feager to explore the animal king- dom which offers hours of enter- tainment and learning via smart technology. Children with special needs in the UAE are granted free access to the newly-launched applica- tion as the company has recently inked a memorandum of under- standing with Zayed Higher Or- ganization at a ceremony at Al Ain Zoo, during the debut of the app. Virry has been created in col- laboration with child develop- ment researchers, and the result- ing innovative ways of interacting within the game aim to make learning more effective.

25 APRIL 2015 3 WEEKLY NEWS PERFORMANCE

Riyadh Hotel Performance Grows, Jeddah Witnesses Slowdown

our- and five-star properties in Riyadh re- corded an increase in performance levels F for the month of February compared to the same period in 2014. A simultaneous rise in oc- cupancy of 6.3 percentage points to 76.9 percent and in average room rate (ARR) of 2.1 percent to USD252.54 resulted in a double-digit 11.2 percent growth in RevPAR. However, the increase in total RevPAR was partially weighed down by weak food and bever- age revenues. Conversely, hotels in Jeddah witnessed de- mand slowing down as occupancy declined by 1.7 percentage points to 77.6 percent and ARR dropped by a marginal 0.3 percent to USD251.44. As a consequence, RevPAR depreciated by 2.5 per- cent for the period, a trend which was also reflective of year-to-date results. A similar decline witnessed in other revenue streams such as conferencing and food and beverage further dampened total Rev- PAR by three percent to USD309.07, forcing gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) to contract by 12.3 percent to USD127.77.

According to the latest data from HotStats, Saudi Arabia presented a mixed picture in February with dissimilar results in Mixed Results for and Riyadh and Jeddah, whereas Manama Sharm El Sheikh and Sharm El Sheikh did not perform as

expected either. On the other hand, Abu ahrain capital city’s hotel market experi- Dhabi registered a pleasant surprise with enced downward pressures on RevPAR in average room rates rising 27 percent. B February as occupancy fell 7.3 percent- age points to 54.2 percent and ARR remained stagnant at USD185.56. The 11.6 percent de- cline in RevPAR impacted total RevPAR which contracted by 3.6 percent, although to a lesser degree due to increased food and beverage de- Average Room Rates Surge in mand. As a result of lower top-line revenues, the profitability of Manama hotels fell with GOPPAR contracting by 4.9 percent to USD57.50. After a strong period of growth achieved in the previous months, hotels in Sharm El Sheikh oteliers in Abu Dhabi were able to capitalise on also reported a drop in RevPAR of four percent higher demand levels in February, as ARR in- to USD19.02 in February. Although ARR in- H creased by 27.1 percent to USD206.32, while oc- creased by 13.1 percent to USD37.49, it was not cupancy levels grew 3.4 percentage points to 84 percent. sufficient enough to offset a nine percentage The significant rise in ARR helped RevPAR climb 32.5 point decline in occupancies to 50.7 percent percent, translating it to a double-digit improvement in and subsequent reductions of food and bever- total RevPAR to USD26.36. The room rates boost, in addi- age revenue. The softer overall revenue levels tion to stronger food and beverage revenues, drove a ma- impacted total RevPAR which contracted by 8.7 jor growth in bottom-line performance as GOPPAR surged percent, resulting in GOPPAR levels falling to by 43.9 percent to USD132.91. USD3.65.

4 25 APRIL 2015 WEEKLY NEWS

UAE Tourism Credentials Promoted USD27.2 Million in India Image Deal for Parks and Resorts National Council for Tourism and Antiquities conducted a road show in India to promote the UAE’s products and services, specially tailored to meet Indian ubai Parks and Resorts travellers’ needs. inked an agreement D with image solutions provider, Picsolve International to create one of the world’s larg- E. Mohammed Khamis bin est photography integrations at Hareb Al Muhairi, director gen- Dubai’s upcoming tourist desti- H.eral, National Council for Tour- nation. ism and Antiquities, deemed India to be The deal, which is expected one of the major markets contributing to to bring some AED100 million the tourism industry’s growth worldwide, (USD27.7 million) in revenues and in the UAE in particular due to the geo- over a five-year period, will see graphical proximity and the ancient cultur- the technology expert managing al ties between the two regions. a full-range of digital, video and The initiative was organised under the image capture solutions that will hashtag #VisitUAE, and the Emirati delega- allow guests to enjoy a seamless tion visited three locations, namely New photo record of their visit. UAE delegation Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

25 APRIL 2015 5 WEEKLY NEWS

KFIA Officially Sharjah Showcased in Saudi Arabia Launches Cargo Village

ing Fahd International Air- port (KFIA) unveiled its K 500,000m2 Cargo Village, a facility designed to position KFIA as a multimodal shipment and clearance destination. The village offers direct access to Saudi Arabia n line with its strategy to highlight Sharjah’s tourism potential both within and bypasses the need for cargo and outside the region, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Au- to transship through neighbouring I thority (SCTDA) participated in the recently concluded Riyadh Travel Fair. countries. The SCTDA delegation used the event to further consolidate the emir- Yousef Al-Dhahri, director gen- ate’s position as a preferred destination for visitors from the Kingdom, which eral, KFIA said, “With our continued represents a large share in annual visitor figures. partnership with Changi Airports In- A host of prominent events organised in celebration of Sharjah’s Capi- ternational and their efforts, we are tal of Arab Tourism title were highlighted, along with the most anticipated on track to becoming one of the re- projects. gion’s leading aviation hubs serving The authority also aimed to widen the horizons for joint cooperation and both passenger and cargo traffic.” attract more tourism opportunities from the Gulf market. Fair Riyadh Travel

Tourism Transport Operations to Improve in Ajman Ajman

epresentatives of the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) and Ajman Public Transport R Corporation (APTC) came together to discuss ways of developing tourism transport services in the emirate. During the meeting, Farooq Mukhtar, head of tracking systems division, APTC, highlighted the organisation’s role in registering tourism transport companies and provid- ing them with permission to work in Ajman, in addition to monitoring their activities in cooperation with ATDD. Tourism transportation forms part of the second stage of ATDD’s project on classification of tourism related sec- tors, which also focusses on travel agencies and tourist restaurants.

6 25 APRIL 2015

WEEKLY NEWS

Nakheel Reveals New Mega Dubai Metro’s Red Line Approved Projects

akheel announced a range of new retail, residential and leisure developments in Dubai’s Deira Islands, Dragon Mart and Ibn Battuta Mall, with a combined Nbuilt-up area of over two million square metres. The projects, which are set to further boost the destina- tion’s shopping, living, business and tourism credentials, in- H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, clude a 604,000m2 residential, retail and hotel extension for ruler of Dubai, has approved the Masar 2020 Dragon Mart with a 250-unit accommodation establishment; project which extends Dubai Metro’s Red Line a new 437,000m2 complex at Ibn Battuta Mall with a four-star, H.from Nakheel Harbour & Tower metro station to the site of 370-key hotel, among others; and a 1.1 million square metres, Expo 2020. Once completed, the new line will stretch over 16-tower community at Deira Islands. 15km with seven stations. As Mattar Al Tayer, chairman, Roads and Transport Au-

Dubai Metro’s Red Line Dubai Metro’s thority, noted, Masar 2020 will ensure smooth mobility. “It stands out as a vital transit corridor linking various Dubai districts with Al Maktoum International Airport, an icon of a new important development phase in the history of Dubai, and a symbol of sustainability, advancement and creativity for current and future generations,” added Al Tayer.

Nakheel developments

Saudi Online Travel Sales Increase in 2014

new report published by Euromonitor International for The Yas Marina Yas Hotel Show Saudi Arabia revealed that online travel sales in Saudi Arabia grew by a record 40 percent in 2014 and are to Areach SAR6.5 billion (USD1.73 billion) this year, with the figure set to double by 2019. The UAE ranked as the most popular destination in 2014. Saudi Arabia is third globally in terms of smartphone ownership with a penetration rate of nearly 73 percent, and as a result mobile sales for hotels experienced a 28 percent increase in 2014. The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia will be held in Jeddah between May 03 – 05.

8 25 APRIL 2015 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

Rotana Makes its Foray into Nigeria Did you know... Rotana has signed its first property in Nigeria under the Centro brand. According to Citibank and Knight Frank, Nigeria is expected to have the highest average GDP growth in the world between 2010 and 2050?

ocated in an exclusive part of the country’s largest city, Lagos, in close proximity to major landmarks and business districts, the 200 plus-key hotel and serviced Lapartments property will be launched in partnership with Topwide Ventures. Commenting on the introduction of Centro Lagos, Omer Kaddouri, president, Rotana, said, “Despite being home to a flourishing hospitality industry, Lagos has the highest aver- age rates on hotel accommodation in Africa. Centro Lagos fills this major gap in the industry and heralds a potential Omer Kaddouri (left) and Annie Okonkwo, chairman, Topwide Ventures paradigm shift in the city’s hospitality scene.”

Four Seasons Riyadh Delights Business Commuters

eekly business commuters heading to the Saudi capital can indulge in an even more rewarding stay at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre with the property’s new executive Wbusiness package which includes luxurious accommodation in one of the hotel’s 274 rooms and suites, and a slew of perks to maximise productivity and efficiency. “Convenience is key when travelling for business,” stressed Anthony Tyler, general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, reaffirming the management’s commitment to meeting these travellers’ individual needs.

St. Regis Debuts in Turkey

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has unveiled Turkey’s first St. Re- gis-branded property. Nestled in the sophisticated Nişantaşı neighbourhood, The St. Re- Sgis Istanbul is surrounded by designer boutiques and art galleries. It sits atop Maçka Park and boasts 118 guestrooms and suites. Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, described Turkey as a burgeoning destination for luxury travellers and one of the key growth markets for the company. To celebrate the hotel’s debut, St. Regis partnered with Hollywood star John Malkovich, who wrote and directed A Postcard from Istanbul, an original short film.

25 APRIL 2015 9 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Swiss-Belhotel Takes Over Tilal Liwa Hotel Eyes Growing Markets First Abu Dhabi Hotel

wiss-Belhotel Corniche Abu Dhabi has officially become Swiss-Belhotel ilal Liwa Hotel’s management is de- S International’s first property in the termined to capture a fair share of the UAE capital. T region’s most lucrative markets at this Noel Massoud, vice president, opera- year’s Arabian Travel Market. tions and development, Middle East, Swiss- The property’s delegation will focus on Belhotel International, commented that the attracting clients from , Russia, France, hotel enjoys an advantageous location giv- Australia and Saudi Arabia, along with the en its proximity to the city centre and other traditionally strong UK and German-speaking key sites in the capital. markets. “This hotel’s uniqueness lies in the spa- The team of the UAE’s secluded hideaway cious rooms and suites, and its location in resort will target the weekend, leisure and the heart of the city in close proximity to group segments, as Khaled Sharabassy, gen- Abu Dhabi attractions and the beach,” he eral manager, Tilal Liwa Hotel, revealed. said. “This season, we have organised more ad- The new property brings the group’s venture activities like stargazing, desert foot- portfolio in the Middle East to 11 hotels, fol- ball, volleyball and other outdoor entertain- lowing the most recent addition of Swiss- ment and sports activities in the desert,” added Belresort Ghantoot, Dubai in 2014. Tilal Liwa Hotel Liwa Tilal Sharabassy.

10 25 APRIL 2015 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

DUSIT TO DEBUT IN SAUDI ARABIA AND QATAR

After more than a decade of operating hotels in the Middle East, Dusit International entered into a cooperative venture with a local partner in Saudi Arabia, Dyar Hotels and Resorts.

signing ceremony was held to formally establish a joint hospitality management company. The new entity is already off to a solid start, with three hotel projects in the pipeline confirmed. One will be lo- cated in Jeddah under the Dusit Thani label, while the two others,A to be situated in Jeddah and , will come under the chic and contemporary dusitD2 brand. A further five properties are currently under negotiation in the The launch of the collaboration Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina.

Wyndham Opts for Central Hotels to Sabre’s Reservations Showcase Centre Solution of Hospitality

yndham Hotel entral Hotels is preparing Group is to move to promote its flagship First W its central reserva- C Central Hotel Apartments at tions systems to Sabre’s SynXis the upcoming Arabian Travel Market solution. (ATM) in Dubai, and will also unveil The deal expands on a stra- new projects including two new tegic property management properties in the Burj Khalifa district, services agreement forged two on Palm , one in Palm in 2014, to migrate 4,500 Deira and one in the TECOM area. Wyndham-branded proper- “With real estate development ties to Sabre’s software-as-a- at the core of our business, our service management system, participation in this year’s ATM will SynXis Property Manager. The highlight First Central Hotel Apart- first hotel to participate under ments […] and will reveal upcom- a successful pilot is Days Inn ing projects that will cater to a mix Raleigh Downtown in North of travellers,” said Ahmad Abdulla Al Carolina, US. Ansaari, chairman, Central Hotels. “Wyndham Hotel Group’s commitment to leveraging the most advanced technol- ogy solutions from Sabre for its franchisees will help drive profitability and maximise yield,” said Tom Klein, presi- dent, Sabre. First Central Hotel Apartments

25 APRIL 2015 11 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah to Tap into Mövenpick to Debut in the Chinese Market Dubai Media City in 2017

övenpick Hotels & Resorts has revealed plans to open its first M property in Dubai Media City in 2017. Standing adjacent to the AED4.5 bil- lion (USD1.23 billion) innovation hub an- nounced by the government, Mövenpick Hotel Dubai Media City will boast 251 ooking to capture a fair share of the burgeoning Chinese mar- units, four restaurants and lounges, a spa, ket, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah participated in the recently- gym, swimming pool and a ballroom with

Coral Beach ResortCoral Sharjah L held China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market in Beijing. four meeting rooms. Jean Pierre Simon, regional general manager, Northern Emir- As Andreas Mattmüller, chief operating ates, Coral Hotels & Resorts, noted that as the Capital of Arab officer, Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Tourism for the current year, Sharjah generated increased interest Hotels & Resorts, noted, the cutting-edge these months. innovation project is set to significantly “During the past few years, the interest of Chinese and Asian expand the district’s appeal and the new tourists in Sharjah and other parts of the UAE has been consist- hotel, which will take the company’s Dubai ently growing [...]. It is important for us to tap this massive market,” portfolio to eight properties, will be well- concluded Simon. placed to cater to the increased demand.

12 25 APRIL 2015 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

Park Inn by Radisson in Al Rigga to Open in May

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group is gearing up for the launch of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Apart- ments Al Rigga in Dubai, scheduled to welcome its first guests this May. The mid-market prop- erty will offer 149 studios and apartments, two restaurants, a banquet hall, a health club and Can outdoor pool. “Relaunched as a contemporary and compelling brand for young and youthful travellers, Park Inn by Radisson is a great addition to the city’s hospitality market,” said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group, adding that the new property will allow the company to capture additional guest segments like families.

DUKES Collection to Debut in Dubai DUKES Oceana uxury property developer and holding company, Seven Tides has unveiled its latest upscale pro- ject, the five-star DUKES Oceana, Dubai hotel and Lresidences. Set on Palm Jumeirah, the first international prop- erty for the DUKES Collection brand is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2016. According to Abdulla bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, the project will bring quintessential British charm and style to the UAE. The 273-room hotel will offer a private beach, indoor pool and outdoor infinity pool plus state-of- the-art gym, along with a number of restaurants. The adjacent property will comprise 227 studio and one- bedroom apartments.

25 APRIL 2015 13 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Emirates Boosts Links to India and Bangladesh

Emirates has increased its operations to Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kolkata, India to 21 and 23 weekly flights respectively.

he Dubai-based airline also added capacity on its Kolkata route by deploying a Boeing 777-200 aircraft and offering first class cabins to passengers flying to the Indian city. TAs Ahmed Khoory, senior vice president, commercial operations, West Africa and Indian Ocean, Emirates, noted, with the additional frequencies, travellers can enjoy greater travel options and seamless connections to other routes on Emirates’ extensive global network.

Qatar Airways Enhances S7 Partnership

atar Airways has further strengthened its relation- ship with fellow oneworld member S7 Airline Q with the implementation of additional codeshare routes across its network. The Qatari carrier first teamed up with the Russian air- line in late 2014, providing passengers travelling from Doha with seamless connections to various domestic destinations served by S7 Airlines. The expansion of the agreement will now enable the Middle Eastern carrier’s customers to continue their journey to more locations including Kaliningrad, Tomsk, Ufa and Vol- gograd, to name just a few.

14 25 APRIL 2015 AIR WEEKLY NEWS

Multan to Join Air Arabia Emirates: Second Daily flydubai Steps Up Network A380 Service to Zürich African Operations

ultan is the next destination to be mirates announced a second daily Air- lydubai is increasing frequency on a added to Air Arabia’s fast-expanding bus A380 flight to Zürich, adding 945 number of its African routes. Mroute map. Eseats a week on the route, 280 of which f As part of its new summer sched- Starting May 1, the carrier will operate will represent first and business class seats. ule, the low-cost carrier now operates daily four weekly flights to the Pakistani city from As of October 1, Emirates will upgrade services to the capital of South Sudan, Juba, Sharjah on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and the current Boeing 777-300ER serving the and three weekly flights to Bujumbura in Sundays, bringing the number of locations route, after the introduction of the first A380 Burundi. served by the airline in the country to six. in January 2014. In response to high demand, Zanzibar As Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, noted, “We anticipate that adding a second will be served four times a week, while Alex- with a population of more than 180 million daily A380 to Zurich will not only enhance andria in Egypt will be linked to Dubai thrice and within just a few hours flight time from the travel experience of our passengers, but a day from June. the UAE, Pakistan has always been a promising also stimulate trade and tourism between Launched in September 2009, Djibouti market for the company. Switzerland, the Middle East, Africa and was flydubai′s first destination in Africa and “We look forward to further investing in the Far East,” commented Hubert Frach, di- today, the airline serves 12 points on the increasing our reach in Pakistan by offering visional senior vice president, commercial continent. With the increased frequencies, more destinations and flights in the near fu- operations, west, Emirates. passengers will be able to take advantage of ture,” added Ali. 78 Dubai – Africa flights per week.

Did you know... Since January 2014, Emirates transported more than 345,000 passengers to and from Zürich?

Multan Zanzibar

25 APRIL 2015 15 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Emirates SkyCargo EmiratesAir Malta Upgrades to Serve Lebanon Oran Services Launches Service

mirates SkyCargo will soon add Bali to its Asia Pacific operations, open- Eing up a new trade lane between the destination and its network of more than 140 destinations. Following the development, Emirates SkyCargo will operate four daily flights to , offering 294 tonnes of capac- ity per week both ways. Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice president, cargo, Emirates, commented, “[This] opens up new opportunities for businesses on the island as well as for those across our network […]. Our hub, Dubai, which is strategically located be- tween east and west, enables us to offer our customers in the Asia Pacific region access to markets in the Middle East, Af- rica and Europe.”

Did you know... mirates is reinforcing its commitment to Lebanon by upgrading both of its aircraft serving Beirut to an all Boeing 777 operation. The Asia Pacific countries and The airbus 330-200, which is currently deployed on one of the two dai- Australia are Ely services to the Lebanese capital, will be replaced by a larger Boeing 777-200LR among top UAE non-oil trade from June 1, translating into a 12 percent boost in capacity. This will be followed partners? by the second flight upgauge in January 2016 to a Boeing 777-300, resulting in a 53 percent increase in available seats.

Qatar Airways Expands Deal Jetairfly Expands in Algeria with Asian Partners

atar Airways further enriched its col- laboration with Cathay Pacific Airways Q and Japan Airlines, both being oneworld etairfly has commenced operations from Brus- members. sels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) to Tlemcen The extended deals offer new routes from Doha and Constantine in Algeria. to Muscat and São Paulo, as well as 24 domestic JWith this move, travellers can now fly to five Al- codeshare itineraries with the Japanese carrier. gerian cities from Charleroi, while the total number “Becoming a member of oneworld in Oc- of destinations available with the Belgian carrier from tober 2013 was a significant landmark in Qatar the airport rose to 23. Airways’ relatively young history [...]. The join- “The excellent partnership that binds Jetairfly ing of this alliance, and the addition of these and Charleroi means that we can offer our passen- new codeshares, enables our passengers to gers a wide range of major destinations at very rea- avail of additional travel options, with ease, sonable prices,” noted Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, across routes that encompass the entire globe,”

BSCA, further adding that the hub offers now the sec- Constantine commented Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar ond largest number of routes available with Jetairfly. Airways.

16 25 APRIL 2015 RENDEZVOUS

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: In your about hands on, high-touch experi- opinion, what are travellers booking ences, about growing, learning and a luxury holiday looking for? What understanding the history of their des- makes Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh tination. They want ultimate person- the ideal choice for these discerning Q & A with alisation but simple, seamless service guests? delivery. ANTHONY TYLER: Luxury travellers Anthony Tyler TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: As hotel these days are looking for experiences amenities in the region continue that raise the emotional bar. Guests to improve and become more and today seek experiences over tangible GENERAL MANAGER, more personalised, what is next for goods; a blissful spa visit or a one-of-a- FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RIYADH AT KINGDOM CENTRE the regional luxury travel market? kind gastronomical experience is more important than the square footage of ANTHONY TYLER: As consumers con- a bathroom. Today’s luxury travellers tinue to become more digitally savvy are also looking for a more intimate ex- and selective, hotel brands must find ploration of a destination’s culture and ways to naturally insert themselves people, and it has become increasingly into the digital habitat of the luxury apparent that high-end travellers seek traveller by providing a virtual brand out the hotels that can provide them experience that reflects their products with memories that will last a lifetime. and services. To meet our guests’ expectations In the near future, many of the cur- of luxury at Four Seasons Hotel Ri- rent room features considered luxury yadh, we strive to understand how our in hotels will become standard, and guests spend their time, which allows brands will seek in-room technologi- us to tailor our service approach to a cal innovations to enhance the guest guest’s individual needs. experience and further differentiate For business travellers this often their offerings from their competition. means helping them maximise their Alarm clocks that wake up guests by time and effectiveness to achieve the increasing the light in a room, floors purpose of their trip through conveni- with built-in sensors to light the way ent, time-saving services such as our for guests, televisions that work via one hour pressing service, 24-hour voice recognition and room doors that room service, in-room technology that can be unlocked via mobile phone is easy to use and house cars equipped interface are all innovations that are with wireless Internet access. today being introduced around the For our leisure guests, value is region. about experiencing opportunities for relaxation that are unique, customised, WHEN IT COMES TO HOTELS, DISCERNING TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The Mid- authentic and unforgettable, deliv- TRAVELLERS EXPECT THE VERY BEST; THIS, dle East is already home to some of ered through thoughtful gestures and the world’s most luxurious hotels. seamless service. With four exquisite HOWEVER, MEANS FAR MORE THAN EXQUISITE Is there room for more establish- dining options, a newly refurbished DECOR AND GOURMET DINING OPTIONS, ments? men’s spa, a women-only floor The AS ANTHONY TYLER, GENERAL MANAGER, Pearl and a spectacular new duplex ANTHONY TYLER: Even in times of Kingdom Suite, the hotel is the ideal FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RIYADH AT KINGDOM political uncertainty, the economic environment for discerning consum- CENTRE, EXPLAINS. growth in the Middle East has re- ers that seek discreet experiences of mained steady. The region is con- luxury without compromise. sidered an important gateway for business and leisure tourism and is TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How would emerging as a magnet for MICE and you describe a typical luxury traveller? large scale events. In response to this growth, many ANTHONY TYLER: Luxury travellers new projects are at various stages of nowadays have an insatiable curios- development. ity for new experiences and value In some markets there might be technology, identity, design and ad- short term imbalance between the of- venture. They are looking for intrinsic fer and demand, but with ever growing value and a deeper relationship with numbers of guests travelling to and the brands they choose to support and around the region, our industry is at with which they interact. the heart of reinvigorating and reshap- Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre Travel for the luxury traveller is ing the Middle East.

25 APRIL 2015 17 WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL

- Carlson Rezidor Plans to BWI Introduces Swiss-Belhotel Exceed 170 Hotels Two Brand New Announces Georgian in India Products Debut

est Western International (BWI) launched wiss-Belhotel International two new global hotel products – Vîb, an penned a deal for the 182- B urban boutique hotel concept, and the S room Grand Swiss-Belhotel BW Premier Collection, a soft brand targeting Batumi, Georgia in partnership with upscale and luxury independent hotels. Azerbaijan-based ADO-G Group of “We believe that the stylish design of Vîb Companies. The hotel, which will open combined with the concepts business model in 2016, is to include a 1,300m2 casino. and low cost to build will be very appealing Gavin Faull, president, Swiss- to developers and investors throughout Asia,” Belhotel International, said, “Grand said David Kong, president, BWI. Swiss-Belhotel Batumi will be the The first Vîb to be developed is a 148-room city's new address for luxury and en- new construction project in Seoul, South Korea. tertainment. With a sky bar, specialty Commenting on the BW Premier Collec- restaurants and tastefully developed tion, Kong said, “We think the unique pay-for- rooms, it will provide this rapidly performance fee structure of the BW Premier changing coastal city on the Black Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Collection will be very attractive to independ- Sea with a unique and iconic 111m ent hoteliers.” high cubical structure.” arlson Rezidor Hotel Group aims to strengthen its position in India by Cboosting its presence in state capitals and accelerating its growth in emerging cit- ies, with particular focus on the southern and western parts. The company is to enlarge its India portfolio to over 170 hotels within the next five years. “We intend to have a hotel in every ma- jor city in India with landmark hotels in every state capital,” said Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. BWI's new Vib concept

18 25 APRIL 2015 AGENT CORNER Agent’s Insight

NAME: Milena Efremova

POSITION: Managing director

COMPANY: Atlantic Tour

LOCATION: Bulgaria

WEBSITE: www.atlantictour.bg

Saudi OTA Partners with Wego

Who are you? Atlantic Tour is an inbound tour operator and destination management company serving Bulgaria and Romania. We provide a full range of travel services in both countries, from the most simple hotel bookings to tailor-made trips, escorted tours, incentive programmes, event organising, guiding services and ground transportation. Our clients come from Japan, , Taiwan, US, UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany and other countries.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? audi Arabia-based online travel agency (OTA), Al- Our work is our hobby. We love what we do and therefore we do it with passion. mosafer has teamed up with meta-search website S and travel application provider, Wego to benefit from When is the best time to visit Bulgaria? a host of hotel deals and popular local payment options. We have four seasons and each season offers a specific charm. However, the pe- As Ross Veitch, CEO, Wego, noted, with the shift adop- riod between April and October is generally the most pleasant. tion of online travel planning and booking, the Kingdom has established itself as one of the company’s fastest growing Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? markets. Latin America. Wego estimated the MENA online travel market’s total value at around USD29 billion in 2014, with Saudi Arabia be- Why should people come to you for travel advice? ing the largest individual contributor to the amount. At Atlantic Tour you will get a professional and comprehensive travel advice.

25 APRIL 2015 19 TRAVEL TALK

It is important for public Sharjah reflects the true and private sectors to image of Arab tourism focus on specific areas

“Celebrated as the Cultural Capi- “One of the key competitive tal of the UAE, Sharjah reflects advantages of Abu Dhabi as a the true image of Arab tour- meeting and event destination ism. A remarkable opportunity is its strategic geographical po- for the industry is reinstated in sitioning at the crossroads of the emirate’s title as the Capi- many fast-growing economies tal of Arab Tourism for the year. in Asia, Europe and the Ameri- Sharjah boasts authentic Arab HUMAID AL cas. Given this advantage, we MICHAEL heritage, historical sites, golden are able to continue attracting beaches and sunny weather all DHAHERI international events [...]. We be- KASCH year round. […] Such an acco- lieve it is important for public lade [recognises] the admirable and private sectors to focus on efforts taken by Sharjah Com- Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi specific areas identified by the General manager, merce and Tourism Develop- National Exhibitions Abu Dhabi Economic Vision of Centro Sharjah ment Authority to bring the 2030 and align strategies to- emirate global eminence. Shar- Company (ADNEC) wards achieving the defined jah will always be the epitome goals.” of Arab Tourism [...].”

We cannot wait […] to Technology and Internet continue the fan are key fundamentals engagement activities needs of business travellers

“These days, technology and Internet are key fundamental “The Pepsi Indian Premier needs of business travellers. As League is recognised as one of a hotel, of course we are pre- the most exciting competitions sent on social media platforms in world sport, with the Mum- which help us to engage with PETER bai Indians [being] its biggest RABIH our guests. We are now living team, so it is great news for Eti- in the age of mobile web. We BAUMGARTNER had Airways to be named as the ZEIN are offering a free high-speed team’s joint airline partner and Wi-Fi Internet throughout the principle sponsor alongside our hotel, which is the basic and Chief commercial friends at Jet Airways. We cannot General manager, Park fundamental need of a business officer, Etihad wait […] to continue the fan en- Inn by Radisson Muscat traveller. Our goal is to provide gagement activities, particularly and Park Inn by the best service to our valuable Airways in social media, which were so guests and meet their expecta- popular in 2014.” Radisson Hotel & tions.” Residence Duqm

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]

20 25 APRIL 2015 TRAVEL CHANNELS

Etihad Marks World Health Day

In celebration of the World Health Day, Etihad Airways hosted a health and wellness fair for more than 1,000 employees and their families.

rganised at the airline’s Abu Dhabi headquarters, the event aimed to raise health aware- ness while also providing edu- cation sessions and screening. OParticipants enjoyed an array of activities including live cooking demonstrations, nutrition advice, full medical and dental check-ups, safety demonstrations, screen- ing services and weight, skin and hair analysis. As Nadia Bastaki, vice president, medi- cal services, Etihad Airways, explained, the company’s medical centre provides con- venient and free-of-charge services to im- prove employees’ wellbeing. Family Fun Health and Wellness Fair in Abu Dhabi

Sharjah’s Heritage Village Enthralls Kids Lunar New Year Travel Adds to Strong Air Traffic Growth

nternational Air Transport Association (IATA)’s data for February show a strengthening in demand growth compared to the same month of 2014. I Total revenue passenger kilometres rose 6.2 percent year-on-year, with the Lunar New Year holiday having a positive effect of the results. In addition, February’s availa- ble seat kilometres (ASK) increased 5.6 percent while load factor rose 0.5 percentage points to 78.5 percent. As per IATA’s report, Middle Eastern carriers’ demand climbed 8.7 percent and African airlines’ traffic fell two Children’s Heritage Village percent, while ASK slipped 1.7 percent, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point dip in load factor to 63.5 percent, which ore than 4,000 young visitors joined the celebrations was the lowest for any region. during the first five days of the 13th edition of Sharjah MHeritage Days. To appeal to the younger generations, a dedicated Children’s Heritage Village was set up offering a plethora of activities, in- cluding various workshops. Bands from Ukraine, Russia and Ka- zakhstan performed interactive music and dance routines on stage, while folk stories about Emirati traditions and culture were presented in the Tales Camp to, as Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, chair- man, Sharjah Heritage Institute, said, help kids connect with their heritage.

25 APRIL 2015 21 WHO’S MOVED

Bassem Al Hajj has been ap- Christian Palacin continues as pointed director of sales and the new general manager of marketing at Mövenpick Ho- City Seasons Hotel Dubai. tel & Resort Al Bida’a Kuwait. Palacin holds a management Al Hajj is no stranger to Möv- diploma from a French hotel enpick Hotels & Resorts, hav- CHRISTIAN school and a master’s degree in ing previously held various hospitality management from positions within the compa- PALACIN Cornell University. Having held ny, including director of sales various operational and mana- and marketing at Mövenpick gerial positions with renowned Hotel & Resort Yanbu, and the international companies such same role at the Mövenpick as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hotels & Resorts’ internation- Worldwide and Golden Tulip, al sales office in charge of the Palacin has over 20 years of ex- Northern Gulf countries. perience. He played a vital role All in all, he was more than 12 in a number of large renovation years of sales experience from projects and hotel openings. across the luxury hospitality This is Palacin’s second stint industry in the Middle East. in the UAE, having previously BASSEM In Kuwait, Al Hajj will be re- worked in Abu Dhabi. sponsible for the execution At City Seasons Hotel Dubai, he AL HAJJ of all of the hotel’s sales and will oversee the refurbishment marketing strategies and ac- work at the hotel and he will tivities, including events and also be in charge of the suc- conferences. cessful launch of new food and beverage outlets.

Nevine Nour has taken on the Vincent Hoogewijs has been position of director of sales for chosen to lead the team at Amadeus Egypt. Four Seasons Hotel Amman as Nour will be in charge of the new general manager. managing and directing the From and Tokyo to NEVINE company’s sales in Egypt and Mumbai, Mexico, Canberra ensuring that Amadeus main- and Rabat, Hoogewijs has NOUR tains its reputation in the mar- held executive-level positions ket. in a myriad of destinations and Having been in the travel in- more than a dozen countries. dustry for more than 15 years, Now, as regional vice presi- Nour has extensive expertise. dent and general manager, he After gaining experience as an will put his experience to work account manager at Egypt's on a top-to-bottom renova- British Airways offices be- tion at the Jordanian property. tween 1995 and 2006, she He first joined Four Seasons joined Amadeus in 2010 as an Hotels and Resorts in 2004 as account manager and was lat- hotel manager at Four Seasons er promoted to sales manager Hotel Bangkok, where he later in 2013. VINCENT served as regional vice presi- Over the past years, Nour has dent and general manager. played a key role in building HOOGEWIJS Before heading to Jordan, he customer relations in this im- worked as general manager at portant market and achiev- Four Seasons-branded hotels ing high customer satis- in Mexico City, Mumbai and faction. Sydney, among others.

22 25 APRIL 2015 PHOTO ALBUM

Take a Shot! 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...

Golf buggy converted into a wedding car by flydubai captain performs an inspection of the fan blades before JA Resorts & Hotels team the Boeing 737-800 gets ready to take off ′

Novotel, ibis and Adagio Fujairah′s team helped to clean Wadi Wurayah National Park, home to more than Mövenpick Kuwait Hotel offered cooking classes for 800 species of plants and animals kids and children from Alfossha Nursery

These young Air Arabia fans prove that it is Songkran celebrations at Dusit Thani Dubai with Thai dishes, dances and never too early to start a career in the industry cultural programmes

25 APRIL 2015 23 NEWS & EVENTS

Turkey to Host Largest EVENTS Halal Tourism Event

THE HOTEL SHOW SAUDIA ARABIA urkey has been selected as the host country of this year’s Halal Tourism Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Conference (HTC), which will bring May 03 – 05 T www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com together professionals from across the Now in its third year, the globe. Some 1,000 delegates from over 50 event addresses hospitality countries, including industry experts, inter- professionals in terms of national speakers, specialists and tourism technology, supplies, interiors suppliers, are expected to attend the event, as well as food and beverage which will take place between December 01 offerings. – 03 in Istanbul. Under the theme of Devel- oping The Global Future of Halal Tourism, this year’s edition will focus on Europe’s role in ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET the future of the industry, which is estimat- ed to worth some USD150 billion. Dubai, UAE May 04 – 07 www.arabiantravelmarket.com Arabian Travel Market has provided a place to do face-to- face business with companies Seychelles Sponsor from around the globe for the past 21 years, and this year′s Dubai Bride Show edition promises to be even larger.

eychelles Tourism Office Middle East, in partnership with Enchant- CHINA GUILIN INTERNATIONAL ed Island Resort and Air Sey- S TOURISM EXPO (CGITE) chelles, participated in the Dubai Bride Show, held in March, as silver sponsors. Guilin, China Now in its 18th year, Dubai Bride May 29 – 31 Show concluded a successful event in www.cgite.com.cn Part of Conference & Exhibition which thousands of visitors were given Management Services’ travel the opportunity to shop and interact and tourism portfolio, CGITE with a number of suppliers that cater to brings together Chinese and wedding needs, such as planning, dress- international buyers and es, accessories, jewelleries and wedding exhibitors in one dynamic marketplace. and honeymoon destinations.

24 25 APRIL 2015