UPDATE Trade January 2019 Volume IV Issue VII Pages 32 TRANSFORMING TRAVEL CHOICES Social Media propelling tourism growth in the ME BRACE YOURSELVES FOR True Arabian Getaway January 2019 1 Trade Dear readers, PUBLISHER & CEO For our January issue, things get innovative and interactive with Varun Malhotra [email protected] the spin of social media in the wheels of travelling. Shaping the future of the travel fraternity in Middle East, social media, today, DIRECTOR is changing the conventional travel practices along with driving Pranav Khullar [email protected] rapid transformation in the region. Not only the countries in the UAE have a high proportion of youthful and tech savvy crowd, its VICE PRESIDENT home to a vast majority of population having access to smartphones Shelly C [email protected] but they are active users of social networks as well. Social media plays a major part in the dreaming phase of planning a trip as the ASSOCIATE EDITOR users often share their ideas and travelling experiences inspiring Gagneet Kaur others to consider it as their next holiday destination. We gauge ASST. EDITOR the growth of social media in the travel and tourism industry and Sayanti Halder the way it is influencing the travel choices in the ‘Special Feature’ and how various companies are capitalising on this opportunity REPORTER while keeping their audience on the toes with the latest outstanding Kritika Dua offerings which they can’t resist exploring. The leading names AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) share the insights on how social media is acting as a travel inspiration and a decider in planning the next trip. Aarti Rajkhewa Moving ahead, we introduce a trendy off-beat destination catching eyeballs, Chile. With its diverse land and SR. MARKETING MANAGER impressive views Chile is creating a place for itself in the tourist map. In the ‘Hotel Feature’, we look at a Nidhi Hinduja hidden haven named Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, the esteemed brand that initiated its journey from New CONSULTANT York. This stylish and sleek property with a sense of royal luxury has been luring the international travellers Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann since some time now. Taking a reroute from the treaded path of the Middle East, we put the spotlight on the extraordinary ART DIRECTOR destinations in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), something that the tourists should consider on their next Rakesh Kumar excursion. Furthermore, we get to know Emaar’s first female Emirati GM who is shattering the glass ceiling by breaking stereotypes, modifying conventional business practices and changing mindsets and attitudes. The ACCOUNTS career-oriented woman Sharihan Al Mashary with a passion for hospitality believes in bringing results. Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari This issue brings news and reports about trade, special insights on hospitality, regional as well as aviation, ADMIN HEAD outbound market and technology and the latest in tourism in the Middle East. R Prem Lata We value your feedback and suggestions, so please do write to us on [email protected] EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Happy Reading! Hari Puri, Raja Rari Head Office: TravelScapes Middle East F.Z.E.,SM-Office- A1-303F Contents Versatile Media- 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008 Special Feature ...............................8 Hotel Feature ................................24 Contact: 011-45530380/83 TRANSFORMING TRAVEL CHOICES Waldorf Astoria Ras al Khaimah [email protected], Social Media propelling tourism growth in the TRULY TIMELESS web: www.travelscapesonline.com Middle East Waldorf Astoria Ras al Khaimah All information in TravelScapes is derived Going with the flow of digitalisation, the UAE is is upping the ante of impeccable service, from sources we consider reliable. It is passed also increasingly adapting to the social media remarkable ambiance and timeless repose on to our readers without any responsibility wave. TSME gauges the evident diversity of on our part. Opinions/views expressed by interactive digital experiences in various UAE third parties in abstract or interviews are not nations Around the World .........................26 necessarily shared by us. Material appearing Chile in the magazine cannot be reproduced in Spotlight ........................................15 AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANYTHING whole or in part(s)without prior permis- Chile is increasingly gaining a top spot in sion. The publisher reserves the right to TAKING THE 'MAN' OUT OF GENERAL the off-beat itineraries, particularly among refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all MANAGER those seeking the solace of nature or thrilling advertisements without explanation. All Emaar's first female Emirati GM breaking new adventures advertisements must comply with the Indian grounds Advertisement Code. The publisher will not In conversation with Sharihan Al Mashary, REGULARS be liable for any loss caused by any delay in General Manager of Manzil Downtown publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear. Trade ...........................................4 Footprinting Middle East .............18 Hospitality ................................. 12 Owner and published by: Varun Malhotra, BRACE YOURSELVES FOR Aviation ..................................... 20 Publisher, Editor, 207, Satya Mansion, TRUE ARABIAN GETAWAY Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New TSME lists the best destinations in Gulf What’s On .................................. 22 Delhi-110008 and printed on his behalf at Acme Tradex India Pvt Ltd, B70, Sector 80, Cooperation Council (GCC) to look forward to Appointments ........................... 30 Phase II, Noida. in 2019 UPDATE Trade Dubai port welcomes 25,000 cruise tourists on a single day ort Rashid received five international Pcruise liners at the Dubai Cruise Terminal on a single day, marking a historic milestone during the 2018/2019 season. The cruise lines originating from UK, US, Germany, Italy and Spain brought in over 25,000 tourists. The milestone event forms part of the ongoing efforts of the recently formed Dubai Cruise Committee to raise the profile of Dubai as a leading destination for winter sun cruising RezLive.com bags WTA and reaffirming its position as the “Cruise Hub of the Region”. award for B2B travel The cruise ships included Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery, Aida Cruises’ Aida Prima, ezLive.com, a leading a B2B global MSC Cruises’ MSC Splendida, Pullmantur Six cruise lines with a total of seven ships Rreservation system, has won the Cruises’ Horizon and Celebrity Cruises’ will homeport in Dubai this season opening prestigious World Travels Awards for the Celebrity Constellation. Three of them marked up multiple options for tourists to choose in category “World’s Leading B2B Travel their maiden call to Dubai, while one marked its addition to over 20 other world-class cruise Provider” in the B2B travel industry. debut ship call of the cruise line to the region. lines operating longer international itineraries Winning the world travel award is an Meanwhile, three of these cruise lines will on which the tourist can choose to embark from achievement for RezLive.com, an award- be home porting in Dubai for the full season Dubai. The Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid winning brand that over the years, has operating the regular Arabian Gulf routes, with witnessed a noticeably growing traffic in cruise received thirty awards for the excellence of the remaining ships docking in the city for tourists in the last years. The number of cruise its product, service, technology and brand excursions and passenger turnaround as a part tourists to Dubai has doubled since 2014 from value. The company was felicitated in Grand of their long international programmes, said a 320,000 in 2013-2014 season to 625,000 in 2016- Gala Final Ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. top official of Port Rashid. 2017, it stated. Jaal Shah, GMD for RezLive.com said, “This recognition is the result of our incomparable product, in-house technology, which is backed by strong support service Nakheel’s USD 182 million Dubai to the travel partners across the globe. The World Travel Award winner status shows dominance and reach of our Product across beachfront resort on track the globe..” aster developer MNakheel said work was progressing as per schedule on ATS Travel, Amadeus the AED 670 million (USD182 million) beachfront resort sign six-year and water park being jointly developed with Spain’s RIU partnership Hotels & Resorts in Dubai, UAE. TS Travel, a leading travel management The 800-room resort is taking Acompany in the UAE and Amadeus shape at Deira Islands, with all have signed a six-year agreement that will accommodation floors almost Resorts are delivering a new fitness complex, children’s club enable ATS to provide comprehensive complete and roofing work hospitality concept for Dubai: and Water Park. Two major new travel solutions to corporate and individual under way, it stated. four-star, family-orientated, Nakheel projects – The Night travellers around the world. Façade and installation work all-inclusive beachfront Market and Deira Mall – are Through its alignment with Amadeus, ATS at the nine-storey property – the accommodation. The resort, nearby, it stated. will focus on automation of the company’s first international hospitality RIU’s first in the region, is one Deira Islands, where Nakheel digital processes, using platforms such as joint venture for Nakheel and of the emirate’s largest in terms has invested more than Dh 8.8 Amadeus Touchless Suite to streamline