27 JUNE 2015 ISSUE 294

FIRST OPENS IN TABUK DUBAI DEPARTMENT OF & COMMERCE MARKETING PARTNERED WITH HOMEAWAY TO PROMOTE THE EMIRATE’S HOMES TO THE WORLD AND POSITION DUBAI AS AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION TO HOMEAWAY TRAVELLERS.

11

AJMAN WELCOMES OPENING OF FURNISHED APARTMENTS

12 IN THIS ISSUE

MARKET UPDATE 02 TECHNOLOGY 03 ACCOMMODATION 11 AIR 13 INTERNATIONAL 17 RENDEZVOUS 18 TALK 20 AGENT CORNER 21 TRAVEL CHANNELS 22 PHOTO ALBUM 23 DUBAI VACATION HOMES TAKE NEWS & EVENTS 24 CENTRE STAGE 7 MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MEA Region Underperforms in April MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi Middle East and Africa (MEA) reported negative year-over-year results in the three [email protected] major performance metrics during April, according to data compiled by STR Global. ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli

SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS

Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu

DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou he region registered a 0.4 percent decrease in occupancy WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis to 66.2 percent, a 4.6 percent drop in average daily rate (ADR) to USD168.47 and a five percent fall in RevPAR to DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Morocco USD111.45. Mary Kammitsi Increases were posted only by North Africa which Tsaw a 11.4 percent growth in occupancy to 57.6 percent and a 10.2 HEADQUARTERS percent surge in RevPAR to USD51.34. T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD Notably, Egypt experienced the largest strides with occupancy P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus rising 16 percent, whereas Morocco recorded the steepest declines Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 in both ADR and RevPAR at 27.4 and 27.6 percent respectively. WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

EMAILS [email protected] USD32.7 Billion Investments in UAE [email protected] [email protected] Airports

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Some AED120 billion (USD32.7 billion) is being poured into airport developments in the UAE where over 101 million passengers were handled in 2014. As of 26/6/2015 Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar round 71 million of these passed through Dubai International. COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD= As H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, explained, the vision is to turn aviation into a major Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37 contributor to Dubai’s economy. Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 “Dubai is working its way to be the global travel hub for the 21st Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 century,”A remarked Al Maktoum. Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 By 2022, Dubai World Central will become reality and once completed, the (SAR) Riyal 3.75 world’s biggest airport will handle 220 million passengers per annum, giving a ma- UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 jor boost to the aviation sector which is expected to generate USD88 billion to the Algeria (DZD) Dinar 98.94 emirate’s economy by 2030. Egypt (EGP) Pound 7.62 Iran (IRR) Rial 29,232.95 Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,191.45 Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.30 Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,509.39 Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.36 Morocco (MAD) Dirham 9.69 Syria (SYP) Pound 188.82 Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.93 Yemen (YER) Rial 214.89 Dubai International

2 27 JUNE 2015 TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS

Onity Launches Convenient Mobile-key

nity has released its DirectKey mobile ac- The DirectKey system uses cloud-based key other access-controlled areas such as parking ga- cess solution for the . credentialing and Bluetooth technology, allow- rages, elevators and fitness centres. O The company developed this prod- ing guests to securely download their key to The credentials remain on the phone during uct as a cost-effective, secure and easy-to-use mo- their smartphone through the ’s loyalty app their stay, so a network connection is not required bile key solution for of any size. for easy access to their assigned room, as well as to use the mobile key.

TravelClick Launches New CRM System

nnovative cloud-based solu- tion provider, TravelClick in- troduced GuestView360, an Iend-to-end customer relationship management (CRM) and e-mail marketing solution. By providing insight into guests’ stay patters, revenue and market segment, the system allows hoteliers to maximise the effective- ness of marketing campaigns and drive repeat business. The solution tracks e-mail capture and channel performance and enables users to execute highly targeted online promotion and better engage their customers, something that accord- ing to Greg Sheppard, vice presi- dent, business intelligence product management, TravelClick, is essen- tial for hoteliers. “Because GuestView360 is now available on the same platform as our business intelligence offerings, hoteliers only need to use one platform to get a wealth of infor- mation to make more informed decisions that ultimately increase revenue,” added Sheppard.

27 JUNE 2015 3 WEEKLY NEWS

Abu Dhabi Celebrates Two Airlines to Spend USD5.6 Recognitions Trillion on Aircraft Abu Dhabi’s most popular and the destination’s growing ow-cost carriers and airlines in devel- status as a leading tourism hub have been recognised in two global oping and emerging markets are set independent travel surveys. L to drive commercial aircraft sales to USD5.6 trillion over the next 20 years. According to Boeing, over the next two decades, 38,050 new aircraft will be needed, meaning that by the end of the forecast period, the commercial airplane fleet will double from 21,600 airplanes in 2014 to 43,560 in 2034. he Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has been ranked in Trip- The single-aisle market will remain the Advisor’s 2015 Travellers’ Choice Awards as the world’s fastest-growing and largest segment, re- T fourth most popular landmark attraction. It welcomed quiring 26,730 airplanes, and about 35 per- 4.3 million travellers and worshippers in 2014, making it the cent of these will serve low-cost carriers. single most visited tourism spot in the emirate. During the period under review, pas- Meanwhile, the growing popularity of the destination’s at- senger traffic will continue to grow at tractions, experiences and hospitality sector have also been about 4.9 percent per year and by 2034, recognised in the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, more than seven billion passengers will be

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Grand Sheikh Zayed ranking as the third fastest-growing city overall between 2009 flying annually. and this year.

4 27 JUNE 2015

WEEKLY NEWS XX

British Films Inspire Travellers from Bahrain Abu Dhabi Summer to the UK Season Promoted in Dubai

bu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) Ahosted a meeting between representatives of the capital’s top hotels and some of the biggest des- tination management companies in

London Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The main aim of the programme was to showcase the best deals and of- fers available throughout the summer he Harry Potter movie franchise is still encouraging travellers from Bahrain months and discuss ways to cooperate to visit the UK, according to a recent survey conducted by British Airways over the Abu Dhabi Summer Season. T which showed that one in four Bahraini residents is inspired by the movies As Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of to travel to the European country. promotions and overseas offices, TCA Harry Potter was closely followed by the quintessentially British James Bond Abu Dhabi, noted, the organisation series, with 23 percent, and in third place came Sherlock Holmes, based in London. is poised to extensively promote the Paolo De Renzis, area commercial manager, Middle East and Central Asia, Brit- emirate as a destination of distinction ish Airways, said, “Our flights from Bahrain to London are one of the most popular and venue for exceptional entertain- routes within the Middle East and as always, we will be offering the best of British ment. hospitality that our customers have come to expect on all our flights.”

Dubai Welcomes Quantum of the Seas Quantum of the Seas

he first ship in Royal Caribbean Interna- tional’s advanced ship class, Quantum of T the Seas, has docked in Dubai in late May, as part of a 53-day global voyage from New York to Shanghai. Royal Caribbean International, in collabora- tion with Dubai Department of Tourism & Com- merce Marketing, commemorated the inaugural call of the ship at the Dubai Cruise Terminal in Port Rashid with a welcome reception followed by the traditional plaques and keys ceremony. The ship spans 18 decks, encompasses 168,666 gross registered tonnes, carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy and features 2,090 staterooms.

6 27 JUNE 2015 WEEKLY NEWS

Omani Dutch Embassy DUBAI VACATION HOMES Outsources Visa TAKE CENTRE STAGE Services

he Embassy of the Neth- Dubai Department erlands in Oman has out- of Tourism & T sourced its visa application Commerce service in Muscat to VFS Global. The office now issues visas for Marketing partnered the Netherlands and the Carib- with HomeAway bean parts of the Kingdom, as well to promote the as Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, he tourism body will work closely with the vacation rental Hungary, Poland, Sweden and emirate’s vacation specialist to strengthen the sector in the emirate and pro- Switzerland. homes to the world vide support to the many licensed establishments that H.E. Barbara Joziasse, ambas- and position Dubai operate there. sador to Oman, Netherlands, said, as an attractive As Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism & “Provision of high quality and ef- TCommerce Marketing, noted, the introduction of legislation regarding ficient service in outsourcing is ut- destination the operation of vacation homes in Dubai in December 2013 has re- most essential, especially at a time to HomeAway sulted in the broadening of the destination’s accommodation offering. when the interest of the Sultan- travellers. “The implementation of the legislation ensures that visitors ate in the Netherlands is growing can book a private accommodation with full confidence of quality,” exponentially.” added Kazim.

27 JUNE 2015 7 WEEKLY NEWS

Majid Al Futtaim Champions Sustainability in Dubai

ajid Al Futtaim was recognised by the Arab Organisation for Social Responsibility for its contribution towards helping Dubai along its path to become one of the top 10 sustain- M able cities in the world by 2020. The company was awarded the highest honours and was presented with a Golden Excellence Shield Award for the implementation of its five-year sustainability and green building policies. “At Majid Al Futtaim, we want to lead by example by applying international best practices Pierre Moukarzel, founder, Arab Organization for Social across our entire business operations and portfolio of brands,” commented Ibrahim Al Zubi, head Responsibility (right) hands the award of sustainability, Majid Al Futtaim.

Egypt: Arab Tourist Figures Up 20.9 Percent Hala Abu Dhabi Joins Global MICE Body

ala Abu Dhabi became a member of the International Congress and Did you know... H Association (ICCA) that Egypt's organises, and accommodates

global meetings and events. soon-to-be launched global campaign The close to 1,000 ICCA members rep-

will focustourism on cultural resent top destinations and specialist sup- in the country? pliers, thus Etihad Airways’ professional conference organiser and destination man- agement company had to meet distinct cri- teria to join the elite group. “The international association meet- ings market is recognised as one of the most resilient and dynamic sectors of the industry and Abu Dhabi is now regarded as one of the world’s most exciting new he Egyptian Ministry of Tourism’s Masr Qariba, meaning ‘Egypt destinations for corporate conferences and is close’, campaign is paying rich dividends with visitor num- events,” commented Peter Baumgartner, T bers from Arab countries rising 20.9 percent during the first chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways. four months of the year. Figures from Saudi Arabia skyrocketed 69.9 percent, while arriv- als from the UAE and Kuwait jumped 49.8 percent and 37.1 percent, respectively. As Sami Mahmoud, chairman, Egyptian Tourism Authority, noted, the dedicated campaign underlines the geographical, cultural and social proximity that the country enjoys with its Arab neighbours. “These statistics also confirm Egypt’s position as a leading tour- ism destination in the region as it remains one the most secure desti- nations for Arab and foreign tourists who are dearly valued by Egypt’s people and government,” stated Mahmoud.

8 27JUNE 2015 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

Nakheel Brings More Space to Ibn Retail Space Available at Dubai Battuta Mall Parks and

akheel launched another 71,163m2 of shop and res- taurant space for lease at Ibn Battuta Mall, a move which will see the centre welcome an extra 600 retail, N 2 dining and entertainment outlets in its new 436,644m exten- sion, including a multi-screen cinema complex, multi-storey car park and a 370-room hotel, plus a courtyard of the size of four football fields with a retractable glass roof for open-air shopping during the cooler months. “Our dramatic expansion will transform the area into a ubai Parks and Resorts, set to open in October 2016, huge retail, dining and leisure destination […] featuring more announced that 20,438m2 of leasable opportunities than 1,000 shops and attractions in total. This will be a fantas- Riverland Boardwalk Dfor dining and retail are now available within River- tic new facility for nearby residents and the wider Dubai com- land Dubai, one of several components of the development. munity,” said Omar Khoory, director, Nakheel Retail. Riverland Dubai will be at the heart of the landmark destination as the main entrance to the site, and a con- necting point between all the parks and their many rides, shows and attractions. It has been inspired by much-loved pedestrian-friendly public spaces across the globe such as London’s Covent Garden, Barcelona’s Las Ramblas and New York’s Times Square. Ibn Mall Battuta

Oscotel to Promote Middle Eastern Tourism in Italy

SCOTEL DWC, a hospitality marketing solutions company Oin Dubai, has formed a new partnership with Mappa- mondo Incoming Services Italy in the Middle East. The company will function as a rep- resentative sales and marketing office, offering an extension to the global ef- forts, and spearheading initiatives to promote inbound business from the Middle East to Italy. To fulfil the increasing demand and the need for a dedicated sales and mar- keting strategy, OSCOTEL DWC will be supporting Mappamondo Incoming Services Italy in promoting its traveller- friendly holiday packages in the region.

27 JUNE 2015 9 WEEKLY NEWS

Boeing Sets New Benchmark by Germany and Italy Lure Luxury Heading to Space Travellers

oeing became the first commercial company to be contracted for a human spaceflight mission after NASA issued a Did you know... Btask order to include its first-ever service flight The most to the International Space Station as part of popular types of luxury the aircraft manufacturer’s USD4.2 billion holidays are tours, Commercial Crew Transportation Capability followed by city trips, beach holidays and contract. cruises? “This occasion will go in the books of Boe- ing’s nearly 100 years of aerospace and more than 50 years of space flight history,” said John Elbon, , space exploration di- vision, Boeing. Boeing was selected in September 2014 to build and fly the US’ next passenger spacecraft, the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100. John Elbon

ermany and Italy are the most popular European

Berlin destinations among luxury travellers, a special eval- Guation of the World Travel Monitor, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin, revealed. Globally, the US stole the spotlight, ahead of China and Mexico. With a 48 percent rise in the last five years, luxury trav- el has grown twice as fast as all other types of foreign trips. In 2014 for example, the world population undertook 46 million international luxury trips, spending some EUR172 billion (USD192.5 billion) in total. More than EUR1,000 USD1,120) per night was splashed out by guests from the UAE, India, Kuwait, , Australia, Canada and China. The largest source markets for luxury travel remained the US and China.

SCTA Highlights Mountain Tourism Route

nder its efforts to promote Saudi Arabia’s strategic tourism routes, Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) host- Ued a three-day trip for travel agents, tour operators and event or- ganisers, introducing them to the mountain route in Asir, Baha and Taif. The route is a mountain chain that extends from Yemen to the Gulf of Aqaba. It is particularly attractive during summer due to its mild tem- perature and beauty, as well as the diversity of its heritage towns along the way. Participants visited Al Jabal Al Akhdar Park, Moftaha Village, Al Elyan Heritage Village, Sahda Al Asfal, Abdullah bin Abas Mosque in Taif and much more.

10 27JUNE 2015 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

First Holiday Inn Opens in Tabuk InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened Holiday Inn Tabuk, the brand’s first project in the Saudi city and the company’s 11th property in the Kingdom.

he 90-room hotel has well-connected links with a number of international highways to Jordan, Egypt and Turkey just a short drive from it. T “The new Holiday Inn Tabuk boasts a fantastic wealth of facilities for business and leisure travellers and we are confident that the hotel will offer a welcoming and comfortable stay,” said Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, referring to Holiday Holiday Inn Tabuk the property’s outdoor swimming pool, recently renovated gym and fitness centre, sauna and tennis court, among others.

Salalah Rotana Showcases Dhofar Participants at the conferences at Participants alalah Rotana Resort welcomed over 400 repre- sentatives from Germany’s largest tour opera- Stors and travel agencies to the FTI Destination Pro and ReiseLand Conferences. Held for the first time in the Sultanate, the events promoted Oman and specifically the governorate of Dhofar as a year-round destination for German and European holiday-makers. “Our aim since opening in 2014 has been to com- plement Dhofar’s tourism development plans, and hosting these conferences enabled us to further re- inforce Oman’s position as the Middle East’s destina- tion of choice,” commented Hossam Kamal, general manager, Salalah Rotana Resort.

27 JUNE 2015 11 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Ajman Welcomes Opening of Furnished Apartments

epresentatives of Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) joined in to cel- ebrate the launch of Alkhaleej Plaza, the emirate’s first furnished apartments establish- R ment. Housing a total of 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments and studios, the property is well equipped to meet the needs of visitors to Ajman, stated Ali Qassem Al Belooshi, manager, Alkhaleej Plaza. As Mounir Attia, head, classification section, ATDD, noted, classification criteria for such

Alkhaleej Plaza lodging were approved by the organisation in accordance with international standards and marked the third and final stage of ATDD’s project that started in 2014, covering all hotel and hotel apartments establishments.

Cristal Consolidates Presence in Turkey

n a bid to capitalise on the explosive growth of the I country’s accommodation sector and accelerate the com- pany’s growth in the market, Cristal Hospitality is poised to set up a new office in Turkey. As Peter Blackburn, presi- dent, Cristal Group, revealed, eight new hotels are to be launched under the com- pany’s four brands in Turkey within the next three years. “With the backing of a prominent local partner, we can think this is a realistic am- bition given the bullish growth the hospitality sector in Tur- key is currently experiencing,” commented Blackburn.

Peter Blackburn

12 27 JUNE 2015 AIR WEEKLY NEWS

Eighth Gate to Saudi Arabia for Qatar Airways

Beginning September 2, Qatar Airways will launch flights to Abha, with the nonstop service being operated four times a week onboard an Airbus A320. Did you know...

Qatar Airways has been continuously expanding its services to Saudi Arabia since it began in 1997 with nonstopJeddah? flights to

he addition of its eighth gateway to Saudi Arabia will increase the carrier’s weekly offer- ing to the Kingdom to 88. T “From Abha, passengers will be able to travel seamlessly through our Doha hub to popular cities such as London, Paris, Bangkok, Singapore, New York and Washington, and at the same time this will provide passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia the convenience of another gateway within the same country,” commented Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways.

Hargeisa Joins flydubai Network

lydubai has commenced direct four-weekly services to Hargeisa, bringing the number of the carrier’s weekly op- f erations to the African continent to 64. As Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, noted, the introduction of the Somali city to the route map is in line with the com- pany’s endeavours to link Dubai with underserved markets. “The addition of Hargeisa to our network will provide the Somali diaspora with the opportunity to visit their families and friends in their home country. With the interline agree- ments we have in place, more than 250 destinations can now offer flights to Hargeisa through Dubai’s aviation hub,” added Al Ghaith.

27 JUNE 2015 13 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Air Arabia to Emirates Collaborates Successful Fuel- Start Faisalabad Flights with Flybe on UK Routes optimised Etihad Flight

ir Arabia is to add Faisalabad to its mirates has signed a codeshare s part of its ongoing commitment to rapidly growing Pakistan route net- agreement with Exeter-based Fly- minimise its environmental impact, Eti- A work, with thrice-weekly flights be- E be, to cooperate on a number of UK A had Airways conducted a fuel-optimised ing scheduled to start in October. routes. flight between Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C. Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, enthused, The deal will see the Dubai-based The initiative, the first of a series of similar “With more than a million Pakistanis living in airline’s code placed on 25 Flybe routes, projects within the framework of the Abu Dha- the UAE, demand for value-for-money air trav- adding a total of 13 new destinations to bi Perfect Flight Program, was operated by the el between the two countries is exceptionally the Emirates global network, connecting airline’s eco-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner strong and is growing every year. The addition customers to cities such as Edinburgh, and used a host of fuel and emission-saving of Faisalabad further strengthens the cultural Aberdeen, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey measures both in the air and on the ground. As and commercial ties between both nations and Newquay. a result, during the 13 and a half hour route, the and offers an even greater level of conveni- All services operated by the regional carrier saved an estimated 4,100 litres of fuel ence and flexibility to our customers.” carrier will seamlessly connect with Emir- and 10,700kg of carbon emissions. A major industry and manufacturing hub, ates flights to Dubai and beyond, flying Etihad Airways worked closely with more Faisalabad is located in the province of Punjab from its Manchester, Glasgow and Bir- than 30 stakeholders to successfully conduct and is home to more than two million people. mingham gateways. the first ‘perfect’ flight.

Faisalabad Clock Tower Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner

14 27 JUNE 2015 AIR WEEKLY NEWS

The Residence by Etihad Arrives to Etihad Debuts in Scotland Sydney

tihad Airways has inau- tihad Airways deployed an Airbus A380 aircraft gurated daily services on its Sydney – Abu Dhabi and Sydney – London E between Abu Dhabi and E routes, offering VIP passengers the opportunity Edinburgh, marking the airline’s to experience The Residence by Etihad, its luxurious entry into the Scottish market. private thee-room suite. Operated with a two-class The A380 will now operate one of the airline’s two Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a daily services between Sydney and the UAE capital. total of 264 seats, the carrier’s “The A380 out of Sydney connects seamlessly at third route in the UK is expected the Abu Dhabi hub to the A380 to London, offering to attract significant demand our London-bound guests the comfort and conveni- from the capital and further ence of an all-A380 service all the way,” said James Ho- afield, explained Peter Baum- gan, president, Etihad Airways. gartner, chief commercial of- ficer, Etihad Airways. “Scotland is the natural next step on our growth trajectory in the UK, with strong tourism and business traffic in both direc- tions,” added Baumgartner. Edinburgh

The Residence by Etihad

Emirates Opens Lounge at Narita Airport

mirates has launched its 38th lounge Did you know... at Terminal 2 of Narita International E Airport in Japan. Emirates has invested The first airline-owned lounge in the more than USD330 Asian country provides an experience of

million in its lounges seamless luxury for the carrier’s first and worldwide, serving over 22 million business class customers, as well as plati- customers since the num and gold members of frequent flyer opening of the first one in Dubai? programme, Emirates Skywards. “Japan is a very important market for Emirates and the dedicated lounge at Nar- ita demonstrates our ongoing efforts to provide the best airport experience to pre- mium Japanese travellers and our Skywards […] members,” explained Mohammed Mat- tar, divisional senior vice president, airport services, Emirates.

27 JUNE 2015 15 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

flydubai Adds Fifth Destination in Pakistan

s of July 10, flydubai will offer a daily service to Faisalabad, which will increase to nine flights per week as of August 3. A Also on July 10, the airline will boost the frequencies to Karachi to 28 flights per week, to Multan to nine operations per week and starting July 13, to Sialkot up to eight weekly services. Commenting on the announcement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said, “Since the launch of our first flight to Pakistan in 2010, we continue to see growing demand in the region for direct flights to Dubai and onwards.”

Etihad Airways and Emirates Upgrades Uganda Services Hong Kong Airlines mirates is set to upgauge its services Enhance Codeshare to Uganda with the deployment of E larger Boeing 777-200LR aircraft on the daily Dubai – Entebbe route from Oc- tihad Airways has expand- tober 1. ed its codeshare agree- The Boeing 777-200LR will replace the E ment with Hong Kong Air- currently used Airbus A330-200 and in- lines to provide travellers with crease the total number of seats across all enhanced connections between cabin classes by 12 percent. Asia, the Middle East and Europe. “Besides the enhancement to the prod- Under the expanded deal, uct offering, the increase in capacity to En- Hong Kong Airlines places its HX tebbe is also to meet growing demand for code on Etihad Airways’ flights our services in Uganda and the East Africa between Hong Kong and Abu region,” said Orhan Abbas, senior vice presi- Dhabi. dent, commercial operations, Latin Amer- Additionally, the UAE carrier ica, Central and Southern Africa, Emirates. Uganda has commenced a daily frequen- cy on the route, offering 3,620 seats per week onboard an Air- bus A330-200 aircraft. Moreover, Hong Kong Air- RJ Increases Flights to Iraq lines will codeshare on Etihad Airways’ new service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid, the capi- oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has begun a di- strengthens the Levant strategy, which focusses tal and largest city in Spain. The rect regular twice-weekly service between mainly on boosting operations in the Middle East route is operated four times per R Amman and Najaf, increasing the number and opening new destinations in order to help week and offers 2,096 weekly of Iraqi destinations on its network to six. the growing air transport within the region. Add- seats on a two-class Airbus Haitham Misto, president, RJ, said that operat- ing new routes to the network will increase travel A330-200 aircraft. ing flights to Najaf expands the RJ route map and and enhance commercial, social and cultural ties.

16 27 JUNE 2015 INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY NEWS

Macau Welcomes Two Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay New Hotels Sports New Look Marriott International marked a new milestone on May 28 with the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau.

he 518-key Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay emerged following a USD15 million renovation funded by own- T ership. The Jamaican property now boasts fully-updated rooms, an ocean-view lobby and four dining outlets, 10 spacious Kid- Suites, as well as five meeting rooms able to hold up to 1,550 people, and its own private off-shore island called Tek-It-Easy Island. Holiday InnHoliday Resort Bay Montego Clark Lobban, general manager, Holiday Inn Resort Monte- go Bay, commented, “With ample opportunity for fun both on the beach and inside the resort, we look forward to helping our guests have a memorable and exciting vacation at the newly renovated Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay.” Macau

he properties are located within the entertainment and leisure destination, Galaxy Macau. T JW Marriott Hotel Macau boasts 1,015 rooms and suites, four , pools, a kids’ club, a ballroom and 2700m2 of meeting space, just to name a few of its facilities. The Ritz-Carlton, Macau offers 250 suites on the top floors of the integrated resort, a variety of food and bever- age outlets, a pool bar, a spa, over 900m2 of event space and more.

Starwood-branded Hotel Opens in Phoenix

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide unveiled Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West in Mesa, Arizona. S The 180-room property features ample meeting facilities, two pools, two hot tubs and a cool dip pool, plus a pool bar and grill, fitness centre and spa. Additionally, it boasts an upscale steakhouse, casual sports bar-themed dining and a full-service coffee shop. Lo- cated just 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix, the hotel offers guests complimentary airport shuttle transportation. Kevin Thorpe, general manager, Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigley- ville West, said, “This will be the first hotel built to be a four-star re- sort-style property in Mesa, and a great addition to Starwood’s family in the Phoenix area.”

27 JUNE 2015 17 RENDEZVOUS

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: ONYX Hos- erties outside of Thailand, we anticipate pitality Group’s global portfolio cur- that the new Amari Havodda Maldives, rently includes one property in the opening in 2016, will also appeal to up- MENA region, namely Amari Doha. Q & A with scale travellers from the Middle East. Sri What makes MENA a strategically im- Lanka is also showing positive demand portant market for the group? from the UAE and GCC, and the in- creased ONYX footprint (OZO Colombo PETER HENLEY: The MENA region is Peter Henley and OZO Kandy open; Amari Galle un- strategically important both as a source der construction) in the country is ben- market and destination to develop new efitting from this. hotels. The region represented 14 per- CEO, ONYX HOSPITALITY GROUP cent of the group’s total room-night TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: ONYX Hos- production in 2014 and 12.5 percent for pitality Group is already a well-es- the first quarter of this year. To develop tablished name in Asia’s hospitality outbound travel interest, we have both scene. What are the company’s priori- a sales representation office and public ties for the current year? relations company based in the UAE, working to support our sales and mar- PETER HENLEY: We are delighted to have keting teams. Peter Foster, who recently just opened OZO Kandy, our second hotel joined us as vice president of sales, has in Sri Lanka and […] Ocean Wing at Amari extensive experience in the region, hav- Phuket. OZO Kandy is set in a beautiful ing worked as area director of sales and hill station destination and offers uninter- marketing at InterContinental Dubai rupted vistas of Kandy Lake and the sur- Festival City, so we have a knowledge- rounding hill. The new Ocean Wing will able team when it comes to this region. add 148 one- and two-bedroom suites to Amari Phuket, along with an exclusive TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us Clubhouse overlooking Patong Bay. about ONYX Hospitality Group’s de- We are completely refurbishing the velopment plans for the MENA region. popular Amari Samui, which is scheduled to reopen in March 2016, and there are PETER HENLEY: Within the MENA re- developments in new markets, including gion, the Middle East is a key source India where we currently have two con- market for visitor arrivals to ONYX prop- firmed properties, Amari Residences GIFT erties. It is the third largest market after City and Amari Noida, scheduled to open Asia and Europe for arrivals across the in 2018 and 2019, respectively. entire group. By country, the UAE is the fourth largest international inbound TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: The company earlier announced two new projects in WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS COMBINED WITH Malaysia. Please tell us about these. THE WARMTH OF THE ASIAN HOSPITALITY ARE PETER HENLEY: The two new develop- THE ETHOS OF ONYX HOSPITALITY GROUP, ments, OZO Medini and Shama Medini WHICH, ACCORDING TO PETER HENLEY, CEO, will be part of the multipurpose UM- ONYX HOSPITALITY GROUP, CONTINUE TO City Medini Lakeside complex, located in the township of Medini in Iskandar. ATTRACT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MIDDLE For these projects, we are once again EASTERN TRAVELLERS. partnering with United Malayan Land, with whom we already have one prop- erty under development – Amari Johor market to Thailand after China, India and an important source market to our Bahru, scheduled to open in 2016. the UK, and is the highest producing properties in Thailand. The most popu- OZO Medini will feature 198 rooms, market for Amari Doha Qatar, in terms of lar properties with the UAE market are along with OZO’s signature facilities room night production. As our first prop- Amari Boulevard Bangkok, followed by for which the select-service brand is erty in the region, Amari Doha serves as Amari Residences Bangkok and Shama known, including, EAT all-day dining a launch pad as we look to future devel- Sukhumvit Bangkok. We calculate guest , EAT2Go, grab-and-go outlet, opment opportunities across the region. arrivals by country of origin, rather than Splash swimming pool and Tone fitness by nationality, so the Middle East arrival centre. The Shama Medini property will TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What as- figures include both nationals and resi- comprise 232 serviced apartments, pects make Arab travellers a valuable dents. Many are repeat guests, travel- complete with spacious living areas. segment for the company? ling in small groups and staying for sev- The offering will be ideal for both busi- eral nights. ness travellers and families looking for Amari Galle Sri Lanka PETER HENLEY: The region represents As we expand our network of prop- space and comfort.

18 27 JUNE 2015

TRAVEL TALK

Maintaining our position We […] are keen on [...] is by no means an providing our guests easy challenge with the best quality possible “Maintaining our position at the forefront of Oman’s [...] hospital- ity industry is by no means an easy challenge, especially with the evolving requirements of our guests, the rising level of global visitation, the increase in busi- “[Acquiring the ISO 22000 cer- MAURICE DE ness tourism and the fundamen- OUSSAMA tificate] is another achievement tal requirement of consistently for Crowne Plaza Amman that ROOIJ raising the bar. [...] Receiving [Tri- MASSOUD we are extremely proud of. We at pAdvisor’s] Certificate of Excel- the hotel are keen on providing lence for three consecutive years our guests with the best quality General manager, reflects the dedication and quali- Regional general possible, and this certificate is a Millennium Resort ty of our employees and the lead- manager, Jordan, testament of the management ing service that we deliver as our and the colleagues’ ongoing ef- Mussanah world-class venue that continues InterContinental forts to offer our guests an ex- to shine through and grow.” Hotels Group cellent experience.”

Demand for hotel Guests are now looking apartments in the for accommodation region is very promising options that can cater to all their needs

“We have observed a substan- tial increase in our long-stay [visitors]. Guests are now look- ing for accommodation options that can cater to all their needs, “We have experienced tremen- such as doing laundry, satisfying MOUSSA dous growth in long-term [stays] JIHAD their craving for home-cooked in our property. We have already meals, a separate living room EL HAYEK contracted 40 percent of our in- FATTOUH and factors that make them feel ventory on long-term basis. […] that they are truly ‘at home’. First Demand for hotel apartments in Central Hotel Suites recognised Chief operating officer, the region is very promising; it in- Acting general the demand for a more person- Al Bustan Centre and creases consistently and with the manager, First Central alised service, in-room equip- expected projects in the pipeline ment and special amenities that Residence, Dubai it will continue to increase the Hotel Suites, Dubai we have continually delivered future.” to our guests.”

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 27 JUNE 2015 AGENT CORNER Agent’s Insight

NAME: Mayuri Dodhia

POSITION: Director

COMPANY: Earth Tours & Travel

LOCATION: Kenya

WEBSITE: www.earthtoursandtravel.com

Travelport Reaffirms Ties with Al Tayyar Travel Group

Who are you? Earth Tours & Travel specialises in tailor-made holidays from the African bush [and] the exotic beaches, to the Himalayan ranges. Our reputation, based on our experi- ence, the quality of our service and excellent value for money is unmatched. We are the adventure, wildlife and specialists.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? We are passionate about our and adventure activities and pride ourselves in our friendly and professional approach, where every detail is taken care of from the minute you arrive till you return from your holiday. Travelport and Al Tayyar Travel Group representatives Group Travel Tayyar and Al Travelport When is the best time to visit Kenya? ravelport has renewed agreements in the UK All year round for safaris. We offer various destinations for every season. with Al Tayyar Travel Group’s Clarity Travel Man- T agement and Elegant Resorts. Where would you like to travel for your next holiday? Travelport’s UK division has worked with Clarity Myanmar and Bhutan. Travel Management since before 2006, and with El- egant Resorts since July 2010. Why should people come to you for travel advice? Following the new deals, both companies will con- We believe that paying attention to the clients’ travel needs to the last detail goes a tinue to have access to Travelport’s travel content in- long way. We go the extra mile to suggest alternatives, as opposed to just offering ventory, which includes fares and ancillaries from the the usual. We strive to make our clients’ holiday a memorable one by making sure world’s leading airlines and low-cost carriers, as well as all their needs are catered for. We specialise in wildlife holidays around the world, over 650,000 hotel properties. private charter safaris and Himalayan trekking.

27 JUNE 2015 21 TRAVEL CHANNELS

SCTA’s Al Majm’a

Choosing a Meeting Rehabilitation Project Destination Enters Third Stage

European Travel Commission and the World Tourism Organization he third phase of the de- presented the key criteria that influence the choice of a velopment project of Al destination. Majm’a downtown is be- Ting executed by Saudi Commis- sion for Tourism & Antiquities his resulted from meetings (SCTA), in collaboration with Al with planners at the Inter- Majm’a municipality. national Seminar on The This phase includes paving Decision-Making Process of the lanes on the site and restor- Meetings, Congresses, Con- ing buildings frontispieces after Tventions and Incentives Organisers, laying tarmac over the major site which recently took place in Antwerp, roads. Also, a coordination mech- Belgium. anism was set up to manage The meetings industry is gaining joint work between SCTA, the significant recognition among countries municipality and a local tourism and cities alike, as it poses a significant committee to restore residents’ opportunity to spur revenue growth. personal dwellings. Competition is becoming fierce as new The historic centre of Al destinations enter the market, and the Majm’a has become a cultural European tourism sector was called to tourism destination in the Riyadh understand meeting planners’ needs province, having hosted a num- and expectations. ber of heritage events.

Summer Camp Returns at Coral EGYPTAIR Supports Children’s Beach Resort Cancer Hospital

ids are taking over Coral Beach Resort Sharjah as the annual summer camp returns between July 1 – 30. During the whole month, from Sunday to Thurs- Kday, special trainers will be welcoming the children with a plethora of exciting and educational activities, from arts and crafts workshops to swimming lessons. Jean Pierre Simon, regional general manager, Northern Emirates, Coral Hotels & Resorts, said that the programme keeps participants creatively occupied in a fun and cool en- vironment. “We do not want children to feel that they have finished one school only to join another,” concluded Simon. GYPTAIR recently penned a cooperation protocol with Chil- dren’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE 57357), according to E which it will be transporting medical delegations travelling to Egypt from the Nile basin countries to join training courses in the field of oncology. Hisham El-Nahas, chairman, EGYPTAIR, elaborated, “The pro- tocol includes providing free travel tickets to the medical delega- tions for a term of four years. Moreover, we have invented a new tool for donations to [CCHE] 57357 hospital as our customers can now donate their miles in EGYPTAIR's frequent flyer programme EGYPTAIR Plus […], forming an additional fund of free tickets to the hospital.” Summer camp at Coral Beach Resort Sharjah

22 27 JUNE 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...

One to One – Concorde Fujairah Hotel hosted the awarding Celebrating service week at Crowne Plaza Beirut ceremony of the 5th Fujairah Photography Awards

Meliá Dubai visited its travel partners, Qantas Airways presented including Emirates Holidays and Arabian British comedian Michael Adventures with a vintage ice cream truck, McIntryre with a limited serving a refreshing treat to over Portugal National Day Celebration at Jannah edition cricket bat at Dubai’s 350 people Hotels and Resorts Happy & Glorious event

Crowne Plaza Beirut celebrated InterContinental Hotels Group’s commercial award dnata's team at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

27 JUNE 2015 23 NEWS & EVENTS

ibtm america Moves EVENTS to Nashville INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART he next edition of ibtm america will take place between June 15 Bangalore, India – 17, 2016 at Nashville’s Gaylord July 10 – 12 T www.iitmindia.com Opryland Resort & . One of the country’s premier Located just minutes away from travel and tourism exhibitions the city’s international airport and launches in Bangalore this year the downtown area, the venue boasts with other showings coming up some of the best meetings facilities of in Chennai, Mumbai, Gurgaon, the destination, along with fine dining, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkatta. gardens and a full-service spa. “As part of our strategy to experi- ence the most dynamic business des- tinations, we are delighted to be not only taking ibtm to Nashville, but to be using the spectacular facilities of this world-class resort,” comments Jaime McAuley, event director, ibtm america. This year’s event was organised mid-June in Chicago.

ADNEC Services

Launched IBTM CHINA

Beijing, China bu Dhabi National Exhibitions August 05 – 06 Company (ADNEC) has furthered www.cibtm.com its exhibitions and conference A place for the meetings, A events and incentives industry events services offering to include rig- decision-makers to meet for ging and mains utilities and connection global business adventures. services for organisers and exhibitors through ADNEC Services. A business unit of the company, AD- ICOMEX NEC Services will operate as a one-stop shop, assisting in setting up, connecting Mexico City, Mexico and activating stands, exhibitions and August 25 – 26 other conference spaces with the venues. www.icomex-mexico.com “It is vital to stay competitive,” stressed Part of ibtm events, the show focusses on incentives, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, acting group congresses and conventions in CEO, ADNEC. “[The] launch of ADNEC Latin America. Services is another example of how by ex- panding our services and developing our facilities we are cementing our position.” MICE ASIA PACIFIC EXHIBITION

Singapore, Singapore September 10 – 11 www.miceasiaexhibition.com Over two days, the event aims to connect Asia’s leading meetings, conference, exhibition and events organisers to meet and network with Asia Pacific’s leading venues.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

24 27 JUNE 2015