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01 NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE 260

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01 NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE 260

TDIC MOUNTS THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI DOME GABRIEL ESCARRER, VICE CHAIRMAN, MELIÁ HOTEL INTERNATIONAL, ANNOUNCED A LUXURY HOTEL IN QATAR, IN COOPERATION WITH TAMNIYAT QATAR REAL ESTATE, THE PROPERTY OWNER AND DEVELOPER.

09 ASCOTT ADDS SECOND DUBAI SERVICED RESIDENCE

12 IN THIS ISSUE

MARKET UPDATE 02 TECHNOLOGY 04 GENERAL 05 ACCOMMODATION 10 AIR 13 RENDEZVOUS 17 INTERNATIONAL 18 AGENT CORNER 19 TRAVEL TALK 20 TRAVEL CHANNELS 21 WHO’S MOVED 22 MELIÁ FORAYS INTO THE PHOTO ALBUM 23 NEWS & EVENTS 24 QATARI CAPITAL 10 AGENTS REGISTER NOW FOR FREE! MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS Emaar Approves Dividend Emaar Properties has approved a special cash dividend of AED9 billion MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi (USD2.5 billion) to be allocated to the company’s shareholders taking the total [email protected] value of dividends distributed this year to over AED17.1 billion (USD4.7 billion). ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli

SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic he newly announced cash dividend follows investor response from regional and interna- PRESS Maria Demetriadou tional investors to the initial public offering of Pauline Shahabian Emaar Malls Group. Mohamed Alabbar, chairman, Emaar DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou TProperties, said, “We will continue to focus on creating long-term value by further strengthening our core busi- WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou nesses in prime real estate assets, shopping malls, retail and hospitality.” DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS Did you know... T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus The company also Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 owns 12 hotels and resorts? WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

EMAILS [email protected] Downtown Dubai by Emaar Properties [email protected] [email protected]

MENA EXCHANGE RATES Passenger Traffic As of 31/10/2014 Numbers on a High Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar Passenger movements maintained a COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD= moderate growth rate for August, with Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37 Asia Pacific airports having recorded Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 a year-on-year increase of 3.3 per- Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 cent, while airports in the Middle East n August, Beijing was the Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 busiest airport despite an Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75 posted a surge of nine percent. almost flat growth of 0.7 per- UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 cent, whereas Dubai Interna- Algeria (DZD) Dinar 83.73 tional, the busiest airport in Egypt (EGP) Pound 7.14 Ithe region for international passen- Iran (IRR) Rial 26,727.06 gers, rebounded by 10.8 percent as Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,162.99 its runways resumed operation in late July after an 80-day closure. Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.29 For the first eight months of the Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,527.43 year, passenger traffic in the Middle Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.30 East continued to lead in Asia Pacific Morocco (MAD) Dirham 8.79 with a strong increase of 8.5 per- Syria (SYP) Pound 164.95 cent, while the wider region posted Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.81 an increase of 4.6 percent. Yemen (YER) Rial 214.85

2 1 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY

Travelport Universal API Launches in India launched its Travelport Universal API to developers and customers in India.

Did you know...

ow available in 100 countries, the interface aggregates content from its Travelport recently Travel Commerce Platform, including airfares, airline merchandising and completed its initial public offering and N ancillary content, hotels, car and rail content, making it available to devel- now trades on the opers creating their own travel applications through a single connection. New York Stock Exchange? The tool also enables developers to access and integrate multiple content sourc- es by writing code to only one solution, thereby allowing travel agencies to quickly and efficiently develop and differentiate their offering and enabling independent software developers to efficiently build their own travel applications.

Indian Carrier to Adopt Amadeus Solutions

istara has partnered with Amadeus to apply the Amadeus Altéa Suite of technology solutions, in a bid to provide a personalised V service. Amadeus technology will power Vistara’s travel reservations, inven- tory management, airport departure control systems, as well as reve- nue accounting and management. It is the first airline in India to adopt the Amadeus Altéa Suite, which is already used by more than 120 airlines worldwide.

ResNet World Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

n October, the e-distribution and online marketing company for the hospitality industry, ResNet World celebrated five years in the industry. I The company was conceived with a vision to maximise revenue and profitability for its hotel partners and over its five years in business, it has gained on average 100 hotels per year of service. Saahil Mehta, founder, ResNet World, said, “We have graduated from a small start up company to a global service provider, with offices in the UAE, India and Germany. Our next steps are to put an even stronger focus on data analysis, being able to then guide our hotel partners into a more specific, more profitable direction.”

4 1 NOVEMBER 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

Plans for First GDRFA Centre Opens in at Dubai International ohammed Abdulla Ahli, di- Middle East rector general, Dubai Civil M Aviation Authority (DCAA), and Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general, general directorate of residency and foreigners affairs, Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai), have officially opened a GDRFA customer service centre at Terminal 3 at Dubai Interna- tional, providing a 24/7 service. has announced new plans for LEGOLAND Al Marri said the centre offers all Dubai, the seventh park of the brand to open worldwide. the services provided by the emir- ate’s directorate, which include re- et to launch in 2016, is being developed in conjunction with Dubai Parks and Resorts, newal of passports of UAE citizens, a Meraas holding company, and will be operated by Merlin Entertainments. entry permits, residency visas of all S The park will feature over 15,000 LEGO model structures, made from more than 60 million LEGO kinds, cancellation, renewal and ex- bricks, and will include over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions. tension of the residence permits and “We are delighted to be opening in Dubai and to be working with a partner as innovative and supportive as issuance and renewal of Smart Gate Dubai Parks and Resorts on this exciting new project. Indeed, we have no doubt that LEGOLAND Dubai will add cards. a whole new dimension to Dubai’s leisure scene,” said Nick Varney, CEO, Merlin Entertainments.

1 NOVEMBER 2014 5 WEEKLY NEWS

Bahrain to Welcome USD22 Billion Infrastructure Events Are Integral for Dubai’s Tourism

ubai welcomed more than 2.3 million international business D tourists in 2012 and that fig- E. Kamal bin Ahmed, acting CEO, Bahrain ure is expected to rise to four million Economic Development Board (EDB), by the end of the decade. H.announced that USD22 billion worth of Hamad Bin Mejren, executive di- infrastructure projects are currently planned in the rector, Dubai Convention and Events Kingdom, and will cover the industrial, infrastructure Bureau, said, “We will increase visitor and tourism sectors. The projects will help boost the numbers significantly by improving national economy, providing opportunities for Bah- the emirate’s already world-class of- rain’s citizens and strengthen the country’s regional fering across events, attractions, infra- competitiveness. structure, services and packages, en- Bin Ahmed affirmed that such projects, which hancing the overall visitor experience include Bahrain International Airport’s modernisa- as a result. [...] We want to pioneer tion and the development of Al Jazair Beach, will remarkable experiences that make the have an overall positive impact and will increase world want to visit and revisit Dubai, Bahrain’s competitive advantage. with the ambition of becoming the The development complements the recently re- world’s leading family and leisure, vised visa policy which provides easier access to the events, and business destination.” Bahrain Kingdom for more than 60 additional countries.

Dakkak Group Launches a New Office in Dubai

akkak Group, a Jordanian comprehensive travel service group of companies oper- Laith Emam D ating since 1955, announced the official opening of its first office in the Gulf region, located in Dubai. Ziad Dakkak, president, Dakkak Tours, com- mented that the emirate was a sensible choice for the company and for its clients. “Because Dubai is the hub of the Gulf, clients can get in touch with us easily […]. The Dakkak Tours International office in Dubai will be serving not only the UAE, but ex- tending its services to Oman, Qatar and other Gulf countries for inbound tourism.” The office’s team will be led by Laith Emam, who took over as the branch’s general manager.

6 1 NOVEMBER 2014

WEEKLY NEWS

GCC Tourists Flock to Mazagan Beach Italian Tourists Are Important to Egypt & Golf Resort

azagan Beach & Golf Resort reported an increase in inflow of GCC tourists to the property which M registered record traffic figures in the first nine months of the year. Stephan Killinger, president, Mazagan Beach & Golf Re- sort, attributed this growing appreciation from GCC tourists to the package holidays combing accommodation, flights and entertainment attractions, especially since the resort has put together a strategy to focus on three key compo- isham Zaazou, tourism minister, Egypt, nents; family attractions, MICE and sport initiatives. recently travelled to Italy for a travel “Tweaking the packages always attracts more guests. H fair which took place in Rimini. We understand that a successful strategy can be built on While in the European country, Zaazou end users preferences, so we decided to create dedicated held several meetings with tourism companies packages for different segments of visitors, such as individu-

Rimini in a bid to increase the number of Italian visi- als on a business trip, or families or those celebrating special tors to Egypt. occasions or attending sport events,” he added. As he stressed, the Italian tourist market is vital for the country where it held a leading po- sition for several years in the past. Did you know...

The resort is home to the longest golf course in Morocco; a par 72, 18-hole links course?

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort

Oman Prepares for Race

usandam-Oman Sail, Oman's flagship boat will line up against 10 other multihulls on the start line of the Route du M Rhum on November 2. For Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, the event is a platform to share the country’s beauty with over one mil- lion visitors to the regatta, through its pavilion in Saint Malo, France. “Through the relationship with Oman Sail and our participa- tion in international events [...], we seek to connect with the high- end tourist that attends and follows these elite sailing events and to impart what Oman has to offer in terms of natural beauty and culture,” confirmed H.E. Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqi, undersecre- tary, Ministry of Tourism, Oman.

8 1 NOVEMBER 2014 WEEKLY NEWS

TDIC Mounts the Louvre Abu Dhabi Al Marjan Island Attracts Over Dome 100,000 Tourists

ourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has installed the Louvre Abu Dhabi dome structure, which T consists of 85 super-sized steel elements and weighs 7,000 tonnes. The dome is supported by 120 temporary towers, which will be removed to leaving it atop four main piers. Work also commenced on the cladding of the dome, whereby 8,000 star-shaped aluminium and stainless steel cladding pieces will be placed across eight layers above and below the steel frame. etween January and August, over100,000 visitors of Jassim Al Hammadi, director of infrastructure, TDIC, said, “The different nationalities visited Al Marjan Island, accord- dome […] has been by far the most challenging element to con- B ing to Abdullah Rashed Al Abdooli, managing direc- struct on site. tor, Al Marjan Island Company. Al Marjan Island Company is hailed as a major tourism generator in Ras Al Khaimah, as it houses 45 percent of the Al MarjanAl Island total five-star hotel rooms in the emirate. Rashed Al Abdooli commented, “We have devised a motiongate Dubai Reveals 12 strategy to transform the island into one of the world’s lead- ing artificial islands, offering leisure and entertainment, as New Attractions well as investment and business opportunities for develop- ers of hotels, resorts, shopping centres and retail activity.”

ubai Parks and Resorts has penned a deal with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and International Mer- D chandising, Promotion and Services (IMPS) to add new attractions to motiongate Dubai, a Hollywood-inspired theme park set for a phased opening starting 2016. The newly unveiled features include a Sony Pictures Stu- dio and Smurfs Zone, which are to bring a total of 12 attrac- tions inspired by Ghostbusters, Zombieland, Hotel Transyl- vania, The Smurfs and more. Raed Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, stated, “We welcome Sony Pictures’ and IMPS’ presence at motion- gate Dubai. With their legacy of excellence in entertaining audiences, we are confident Sony Pictures and the Smurfs Zone will add an exhilarating new dimension to the Middle East’s entertainment landscape.”

1 NOVEMBER 2014 9 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

MELIÁ FORAYS INTO THE QATARI CAPITAL

Gabriel Escarrer, vice chairman, Meliá Hotel International, announced a luxury hotel in Qatar, in cooperation with Tamniyat Qatar Real Estate, the property owner and developer.

eliá Doha, which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015, will occupy 39 floors of the Bin Sam- ickh tower, located in West Bay, and will provide 282 rooms and suites, plus a wide range of restaurants Mand wellbeing and beauty facilities. Escarrer explained the importance of Qatar as a destination, supported by its economic prosperity and its growing influence in various areas, noting, “The Arabian Gulf is a natural focus for the expansion of our luxury brands, and the signing of Meliá Doha brings a guarantee of solvency and quality management to Meliá Doha this important property.”

Babylon Warwick Hotel Opens in Baghdad

arwick International Hotels Group (WIH) counts a new landmark hotel in its portfolio Babylon Warwick Hotel, Baghdad Hotel, Warwick Babylon W with Babylon Warwick Hotel, Baghdad. The 300-room property, located on the edge of the Tigris River, has been fully renovated to meet the inter- national five-star hotel standards to respond to global travellers’ expectations. Its extensive facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a Warwick Spa with a Turkish bath, a fit- ness centre, tennis courts, three conference rooms with a meeting capacity for up to 750 guests, six restaurants and a cigar bar. Jamal Serhan, vice president, MENA, WIH, said, “We are proud to have a new landmark hotel in the MENA re- gion. […] Our presence in the GCC will be soon improved by the opening of Warwick Doha Hotel”.

10 1 NOVEMBER 2014 ACCOMMODATION WEEKLY NEWS

Carlson Rezidor Dar es Salaam to Meydan Joins Ultratravel Collection Signs with Al Welcome Rotana Hokair Group Property

arlson Rezidor Hotel otana stakes its claim Group and Al Hokair on the African hospital- C Group have announced R ity market, with the an- the signing of a long-term coun- nouncement of its debut project in try development agreement the commercial capital of Tanzania, under which the US-based com- Dar es Salaam. pany will operate around 30 new The 254-key property will in- and existing hotels, resorts and clude 191 luxurious hotel rooms eydan Hotels and Hospitality, comprising The Meydan

serviced apartments under Carl- and suites, plus 63 serviced apart- ApartmentsMarriott Dubai Creek Executive Hotel and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa, has joined son Rezidor's core brands Radis- ments spread across 24 floors. the ranks of 40 luxury properties in the Ultratravel Collec- Bab Al Shams DesertBab Al Resort and Spa M son Blu and Park Inn by Radisson “The property in Tanzania falls tion, an exclusive association of luxury hotel brands and properties. across the Kingdom of Saudi in line with our strategic goal to “We are extremely proud to have found a partner who allows Arabia. operate 100 hotels by 2020. [...] us to expand the reach of our products and give us the opportu- “The Kingdom offers mas- We are anticipating an excellent nity to tap into the multiple offerings of the Ultratravel Collection, sive opportunity for the devel- response for our debut project in while forging strong relationships with the partners,” commented opment of hotels, domestic re- the country”, said Omer Kaddouri, Thomas Grundner, head of sales and marketing, Meydan Hotels and sorts and serviced apartments; president, Rotana. Hospitality. and we are delighted to partner In addition to a selection of with Al Hokair Group that has an accommodation units, the new unparalleled presence, market hotel will also feature six food and reach and hospitality expertise beverage outlets, an indoor pool, in the region”, confirmed Wolf- gym, six meeting rooms, a ball- gang Neumann, president, The room and a dedicated business Rezidor Hotel Group. centre.

The Torch Doha Hosts Australian National Team Aspire Zone Aspire

he Torch Doha welcomed the Socceroos, the Aus- tralian National football team, for the second time T in the Qatari capital. The team visited Qatar, during its preparations ahead of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Due to The Torch Doha’s lo- cation at the centre of Aspire Zone, the hotel was ideal to host the group during the four-day stay in Doha, as the team had the chance to train on Doha’s sports city pitches.

1 NOVEMBER 2014 11 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Ascott Adds Second DAMAC Expands Deal TIME Residence Opens with Paramount Hotels Dubai Serviced Residence in Abu Dhabi

AMAC Properties has signed a deal he Ascott Limited signed an agree- IME Hotels has opened the doors with Paramount Hotels & Resorts to ment to manage its second serviced to a second TIME Residence- develop its branded hotels and ser- residence in Dubai, set within the Dubai branded property. Dviced living concepts to new cities around TCulture Village. The 117-unit Ascott Culture Vil- TZakher TIME Residence - Abu Dhabi the region, following a recent agreement for lage Dubai is slated to open in 2017, and is to offers 68 fully-furnished one-bedroom four different projects announced in Dubai offer studios and one-, two- and three-bed- and studio apartments. and Riyadh. Over the next five years, ac- room apartments, plus a swimming pool, gym This follows the 2013 unveiling of the commodation units will be launched across and restaurant. brand and the launch of the TIME Pearl Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Istanbul. Sym Lee, head, GCC, The Ascott Limited, Residence, a 72 two-bedroom unit proper- Ghassan Aridi, chairman, Paramount commented, “We have been witnessing a ty situated five minutes away from the UAE Hotel & Resorts, said, “Positioned in key loca- growing demand for luxury serviced residenc- capital’s popular Corniche promenade. tions, the new developments will be a series es in Dubai as our first property in Dubai, Ascott “The success of our first TIME Residence of dynamic and sensory experiences that live Park Place, has been achieving occupancies property reaffirms our confidence in this up to our mantra of producing hospitality of over 80 percent. Having another premier operational model as a key driver to capture that is unmistakable, unforgettable and con- Ascott-branded serviced residence will allow long-term business while ensuring that we sequently, unmissable.” He added that the us to cater to the need for quality and luxurious deliver our signature service and hospital- reception of the Paramount Hotels & Resorts' serviced apartments and increase our presence ity across all TIME branded properties,” said hospitality concept has been overwhelming. in this cosmopolitan city.” Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels.

DAMAC Towers by Paramount Hotels & Resorts Ascott Culture Village Dubai Zakher TIME Residence - Abu Dhabi

12 1 NOVEMBER 2014 AIR WEEKLY NEWS

RJ Simplifies Baggage Policy Air Arabia’s Growth Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) started using the piece concept, Recognised instead of weight, on all its routes, thus simplifying its free baggage allowance policy. ir Arabia is among the World Economic Forum’s prestigious Global Growth Com- panies (GGC) for this year. he new rule is ap- AThe announcement took place at the re- plied to all tickets pur- cently concluded World Economic Forum spe- chased from October cial meeting on Unlocking Resources for Regional T15, for travel on and after No- Development held in Istanbul. The company was vember 2. selected for exceeding industry standards in rev- Under the piece concept, enue growth, promoting innovative business economy class passengers practices and leadership in corporate citizenship. travelling on all routes are Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, said, “We entitled to check in one piece have always been considered an innovator and as baggage allowance with path-breaker in the field of aviation, and it is a maximum weight of 30kg, gratifying to be recognised for our efforts and instead of 20kg under the contribution to the MENA economy. Being a part weight-based free baggage of the World Economic Forum GGC community system. Crown Class passen- provides us an opportunity to leverage our ex- gers are allowed two pieces, pertise and create meaningful partnerships with one weighing 30kg and the industry peers.” other 23kg.

1 NOVEMBER 2014 13 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Etihad Airways to Serve Etihad: UAE Nationals Deployed Abroad Increase Vienna

tihad Airways will provide a new air bridge between Abu Dhabi and European capi- E tal, Vienna, when it places its EY code on Did you know... the forthcoming daily service by Austrian car- rier and airberlin subsidiary, NIKI; this subject to More than 2,000 governmental approval. UAE nationals The new NIKI flights will commence on No- recently applied for vember 24 and will be operated by a two cabin roles withinAirways? Etihad Airbus A320 aircraft, configured to carry 12 pas- sengers in business class and 132 in economy class. The schedule of the Vienna flights enables two-way connectivity beyond Abu Dhabi to Eti- had Airways’ growing network, which suits des- tinations in Australia, North and South Asia, the Indian sub-continent, Middle East and Africa. tihad Airways has boosted the number of UAE national staff on international work placements by over 130 per- E cent compared to the end of 2013, with 142 Emiratis currently in overseas positions across the airline’s global net- work. Over the next months, an additional 33 UAE national em- ployees will be deployed by Etihad Airways in markets across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and the American con- tinent, bringing the total number of Emiratis on international placements to 175 by the end of the year. Ray Gammell, chief people and performance officer, Eti- had Airways, said, “We are extremely proud to offer a dynamic environment for UAE nationals to develop their careers, with exciting roles available in a wide range of different areas.” Vienna

Qatar Airways Inks MoU for flynas Adds Al-Qassim to Its Network New Aircraft

atar Airways signed a Memorandum of Un- derstanding (MoU) with Gulfstream Aero- Q space for the purchase of up to 20 aircraft. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, con- firmed that in order to keep pace with the future stra- lynas commenced daily flights to its newest destination with the in- tegic growth plans of the carrier’s private jet division, augural service to Al-Qassim, leaving King Abdulaziz International the fleet is being expanded with aircraft that meet the f Airport in Jeddah to land in Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Airport. needs of guests, providing a wide range of options. Wael Al-Sarhan, director of marketing and communications, NAS The deal was announced in conjunction with Gulf- Holding, commented, “flynas continues to add more domestic destina- stream Aerospace’s introduction of an all-new family tions in order to enhance its competitive position in the domestic air of business jets, the Gulfstream G500 and G600. “This transport market, which is experiencing significant growth in passenger agreement is evidence of the industry-leading perfor- traffic.” mance of Gulfstream’s flagship aircraft, the G650ER, and He added that the new route is an extension of ongoing efforts of our commitment to deliver on the promises we have to make flynas’ services available to a wider section of the Kingdom’s made for our new family of aircraft, which includes the population. G500,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream.

14 1 NOVEMBER 2014 AIR WEEKLY NEWS

Etihad Airways Frankfurt Air Arabia to Serve Welcomes 1,000th First to Welcome Tbilisi Flying Nanny Qatar Airways’ A350

tihad Airways celebrated the 1,000th ir Arabia began regular direct Flying Nanny to complete her train- services to Tbilisi, Georgia, from E ing at the Etihad Airways Innovation A October 28, with twice weekly Training Academy in Abu Dhabi. flights from Sharjah International Air- Aubrey Tiedt, vice president, guest ser- port, on Tuesdays and Fridays. vices, Etihad Airways, said, “The Flying Nan- “The beautiful city of Tbilisi is a tre- ny has become one of the most recognis- mendous addition to the Air Arabia net- able members of Etihad Airways cabin crew work and we are confident the route will aboard our long-haul flights and we are prove to be highly popular with leisure delighted to celebrate the graduation of our and business travellers alike. We are de- 1,000th member to wear the orange apron.” lighted to be able to bring a value for She added that when the carrier intro- atar Airways has announced Frankfurt as money offering to customers in Geor- duced the concept in 2013, the aim was to the first route for its highly anticipated gia, while further extending Air Arabia’s provide a helping hand to families flying Q Airbus A350 Xtra Wide Body (XWB) air- exceptional coverage of destinations and since then the positive feedback from craft, set to be delivered before year-end. in the central region of the world,” said customers has been overwhelming. The German city will be served daily non- Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia. stop with an A350 starting from January 2015. Qatar Airways currently flies twice-daily to Frankfurt, and the double pairings will both be operated by an A350 on the route. Qatar Airways has 80 aircraft of the type on order, and expects to induct the first eight into its fleet before 2015 ends. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, remarked, “Qatar Airways looks forward to inau- gurating our first A350 on the Doha – Frankfurt route, and to very soon introducing this next generation aircraft on many other cities offered on the airline’s extensive network.”

1 NOVEMBER 2014 15 WEEKLY NEWS AIR

Gulf Air Reinstates Flights to Air Arabia Begins Flights to Al Jouf Hyderabad

n October 26, Air Arabia launched its nonstop service to Al Jouf, its 11th destination in Saudi O Arabia. The Kingdom is one of the carrier’s fastest growing markets led by both tourism and business travellers, ac- cording to Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia. He added, “Al Jouf is a spectacular getaway that con- nects visitors with the bounty of nature as well as the unique charm of traditional architecture and a rich cul- tural heritage. With the nonstop connectivity offered by Air Arabia, cultural tourists and nature lovers will now have another fascinating destination to explore conveni- ently and cost-effectively.”

ulf Air announced that it will be recommencing ser- vices to Hyderabad, the fourth most populous city in G India, with five weekly flights. Starting from December 15, the new route will be oper- Did you know... ated by an Airbus A320 aircraft. Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting CEO, Gulf Air, com- Air Arabia added eight destinations to mented, “We are further strengthening our Indian operations its network in 2013 after the successful launch of flights to Trivandrum in Decem- and served more than 6.1 million ber 2013. Now with the addition of Hyderabad, our sixth In- passengers? dian destination, we are connecting south-central India to the Middle East and we hope this route will appeal to travellers and be just as successful as our existing India operations.”

Air Astana Receives Third Boeing 767

azakhstan’s Air Astana has welcomed its third Boeing 767-300ER, bringing the average age of the fleet down to 5.4 years; considered to be the youngest in central Asia and one of the youngest in the world. K The new Boeing 767s are configured with 30 fully-flat reclining seats with wide video screens in business class and 193 seats in economy class. The aircraft are operated on long-haul routes from Almaty and Astana to Bangkok, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. The Air Astana fleet comprises of 30 Boeing 767, Boeing 757, Airbus A320 and Embraer 190 aircraft.

16 1 NOVEMBER 2014 RENDEZVOUS

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: You have how has it changed over the last few been with the hotel for the last 20 years? years and have made your way up to the general manager’s position re- Q & A with GEORGES FARHAT: Roundly 80 percent cently. What are the major changes of our guests are business travellers. This you have witnessed within the emir- has always been like that with Crowne ate’s hospitality industry? Plaza being a corporate-oriented brand. Georges Farhat However, the pace of travelling, book- GEORGES FARHAT: When I started my ing processes and requirements have career with Crowne Plaza Dubai in 1994, drastically changed. With all innovations almost none of the developments we see GENERAL MANAGER, CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI over the past years and the growth of today existed and this hotel was the first tourism worldwide, the globe became property on Sheikh Zayed Road. Since smaller and we are constantly develop- then Dubai developed into a glamorous ing new emerging markets. This means metropolis. The number of markets and you have to adjust to different cultures visitors multiplied, flight capacities in- and habits every day again to meet your creased and new luxury hotels opened. guest’s expectations. With the development of modern tech- At the same time, you need to keep nology, visitors became more sophisti- in pace with technology. Today’s travel- cated and demanding and hotels need lers need to be connected at all times to cope with Dubai’s reputation being with their businesses, their partners the world’s capital of superlatives. The around the world and their families speed of communication we face today back home. Time needs to be allocated is not comparable to the standard 20 efficiently and money spent wisely. years ago. Time is money and reacting In Crowne Plaza Dubai we strive to to requests within a few hours is a must exceed our guests’ expectations. At the to get the business. Also, information same time, we do not forget about the technology and transparency reached human touch. Making our guests feel a completely different level. People are welcome, giving comfort and warm online today [at all times], having access hearted, personalised is our daily effort. to information on destinations and their offerings at any time and place. Moni- TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How do you toring your performance along with make sure to stay abreast of growing constantly upgrading your services and competition? What are your plans for facilities is crucial to meet today’s cus- the remainder of the year? tomer’s requirements. Last but not least, the most important GEORGES FARHAT: With the increasing asset of every hotel is its team. Dubai is an number of properties in Dubai, compe- excellent workplace. For us as an employ- CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI WAS THE FIRST HO- tition became tougher and the level of er, it is more important than ever to create TEL IN SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD, AND GEORGES service we see today is unique in the the right work environment and support world. We are an iconic hotel in the cen- our team members to grow in their ca- FARHAT, GENERAL MANAGER, CROWNE PLAZA tre of the financial district but new and reer. InterContinental Hotels Group has DUBAI, BEING WITH THE PROPERTY FOR 20 ultra-luxury hotels opened left and right some excellent training programmes in YEARS, HE SHARES HIS INSIGHT INTO HOW from us. In such an environment, cus- place and we are proud to say that some tomer satisfaction is crucial and we are of our team members at Crowne Plaza TOURISM TRENDS AND THE INDUSTRY HAS proud to say that the team of Crowne Dubai are with us for many years, which EVOLVED IN THE EMIRATE. Plaza Dubai is our greatest asset. Given is the best proof of their satisfaction and our great recommendation and guest identification with the brand. satisfaction scores as well as the high number of loyalty guests, we can proud- TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are Department of Tourism & Commerce ly claim for us that we succeed in making your predictions for Dubai’s future, Marketing, the city developed a can do our guests feel home away from home. especially in regards to the vision to approach that enabled such rapid and Apart from that, we are constantly host 20 million tourists by 2020? impressive development over the past DUBAI IS trying to improve our services and facili- years. I am convinced Dubai will succeed “COMMITTED ties. We are about to launch our new fun GEORGES FARHAT: Dubai is commit- in its goal hosting 20 million tourists by TO SUCCESS AND dining concept, comprising 13 award- ted to success and development like 2020. I go even further than that, being winning restaurants and bars as well as no other city in the world. Under the convinced that Expo 2020 is just another DEVELOPMENT our signature night club Zinc. Food and wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Moham- step towards a much higher goal. beverage is one of our main revenue med bin Rashid Al Maktoum, supreme contributors and our selection and qual- council member and vice president of TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How would ity of outlets is outstanding and well per- Dubai, and the great support of Dubai you describe the hotel’s clientele and ceived by guests and residents alike.

1 NOVEMBER 2014 17 WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL

New Hilton Garden Inn in Middle Tennessee

ilton Garden Inn has announced the open- property is in proximity to historic sites, while its ”Through our friendly service and nature- ing of the 100-room Hilton Garden Inn facilities include free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour business cen- inspired design, our hotel offers both leisure and Murfreesboro, located less than an hour tre, fitness hub, outdoor pool, wood burning fire pit business guests a personalised hotel experience,“ Hfrom Nashville, Tennessee. and two food and beverage outlets, amongst other said David Allison, general manager, Hilton Garden Owned and managed by Kana Hotel Group, the offerings. Inn Murfreesboro.

Wyndham Expands in India

yndham Hotel Group reported the sign- ing of 10 properties Win India, thereby expanding the company’s presence in the rap- idly growing mid-market hos- pitality segment in the country. The announcement was made by Geoff Ballotti, presi- dent, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Deepika Arora, regional vice president, Indian Ocean, Wyndham Hotel Group. The addition of the new projects with 1,088 rooms is to take the tally of properties op- erating under the company’s brands to 43 with approximate- ly 4,841 rooms. The 10 properties, which will operate under the Rama- da Encore and Howard John- son brands, will be located in Gurgaon, Darjeeling, Greater Noida, Jaisalmer, Pali, Lonere, Dharmapuri, Bangalore, Chen- nai and Trivandrum.

18 1 NOVEMBER 2014 AGENT CORNER Agent’s Insight

NAME: Alfred Lord Casio

POSITION: Business development executive

COMPANY: Royal Adventure Travel & Tourism

LOCATION: UAE

WEBSITE: www.ratourism.com

ABTA Registers New Associates

BTA welcomed 18 new members from July to September. Mark Tanzer, CEO, ABTA, commented, “Our new members are encour- Who are you? aged to make the most of their membership and to take advan- I am Alfred Lord Casio; a person who is very passionate about travelling and loves Atage of all of the support and assistance that ABTA offers them.” to meet people of any race. Jacqueline Butt, finance director, Discover Adventure, one of the new- comers, said, “Discover Adventure is a market leader in providing high What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? quality trekking and cycling challenges for charities, groups, schools and It has always been my dream to work in the travel and tourism industry because I corporate companies. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest have always believed that it will help me to realise some of my life-long dreams. I standards in expertise, safety and quality, and are delighted to announce am very fortunate to have had the chance to work in this industry because I had the our membership at ABTA.” opportunity to grow and mature both professionally and personally.

When is the best time to visit UAE? I am still very new to the MENA and GCC tourism industry but from what I have observed for more than a year, the best time to visit the UAE, especially Dubai, is during the winter season – October to May.

Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday? Every place is special and unique but if there is one place that I would want to visit it would be the Czech Republic and Austria.

Why should people come to you for travel advice? What makes Royal Adventure different from [competitors] is that we stick to the reason of the formation which is to give each day and every customer a service that is beyond satisfactory.

Which is the percentage of MENA travellers your agency welcomes annually? Amongst other markets, MENA has a big contribution to the travel and tourism industry in UAE especially Dubai. For the past year I can say that 100 percent of the MENA travellers are travelling to Dubai.

1 NOVEMBER 2014 19 TRAVEL TALK

[ITB Asia] presents a The awards reinforce our tremendous opportunity commitment to delivering to showcase our hotels innovative properties

“ITB Asia is the region’s biggest “The recognition from two pres- travel trade show and we are tigious award panels [at Dossier delighted to confirm our par- Construction Awards & Summit ticipation once again this year. 2014 and Oman Green Awards] We have been present at the emphasises our vision to deliver event every year since it began a sustainable master planned GLENN DE in 2008 and I have found it pre- HAWAZEN integrated tourism complex sents a tremendous opportunity where people can live, work and SOUZA to showcase our hotels, and our ESBER play in a world-class communi- ambitious expansion plans. The ty, while maintaining our focus attendance of so many high- on conserving and enhancing Vice president, inter- quality international buyers also CEO, The Wave, the surrounding environment. national operations, provides an excellent opportu- Muscat The awards also reinforce our nity for us to drive business to commitment to delivering in- Asia and the Middle our fast-expanding collection of novative properties to meet the East, Best Western properties across Asia.” demands of a growing market.” International

The support from the cargo trade community has been remarkable

“Etihad Cargo [which has cel- ebrated the enrolment of its web-based loyalty programme’s 3,000th member] aims to pro- vide its loyal customers with KEVIN exceptional services and ben- efits. The tremendous support KNIGHT we have received from the cargo trade community since we launched CargoConnect [in Chief strategy 2013] has been remarkable, and and planning officer, a significant factor in making this programme one of the lead- Etihad Airways ing loyalty programmes within the global cargo industry.”

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 1 NOVEMBER 2014 TRAVEL CHANNELS

IATA Reveals Fast-Growing DWHC Educates

on Food and Markets of the Future Health Safety

Traveller numbers are expected to reach 7.3 billion by 2034, representing a he Dubai World Hospitality Championship (DWHC) re- 4.1 percent average annual growth in demand for air connectivity. ported successful comple- Ttion of a series of food and health safety workshops for Emirati par- his was projected by the International Air Transport ticipants, held in cooperation with Association (IATA)’s first 20-year passenger growth the Department of Inspection and forecast. Food Control of Dubai Municipality. According to the report, Kuwait will be amongst Amna Al Dhaheri, Emirati com- the five fastest growing markets, while in terms of petition manager, DWHC, explained, Tcountry pairs, Kuwait – Thailand and UAE – Ethiopia travel “These workshops represent an will develop by at least 9.5 percent on average for the next important phase of the champion- 20 years. ship, supplying participants with the The Middle East will grow strongly and will see an extra proper tools, guidance and instruc- 237 million passengers a year on routes to, from and within the tions that are essential in the prepa- region by 2034. The UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will all enjoy ration of traditional Emirati dishes strong growth of 5.6 percent, 4.8 percent and 4.6 percent re- [...] with the highest quality stand- spectively. The total market size will be 383 million passengers. ards of food safety.”

Burj Khalifa Boasts Another Guinness Record

maar has scooped the fourth Guinness World Records title for Burj Khalifa by unveiling the 555m-high At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY observation deck. EAdjudicators of the Guinness World Records officiated the new attraction as the Highest Observation Deck in the world, adding to the building’s existing titles; Tallest Building, Tallest Man-made Structure on Land Ever and Highest Restaurant from Ground Level for At.mosphere. Talal Omar, country manager, Middle East and North Africa, Guinness World Records, commented that the title is another feather in the cap for Dubai, a city that has now one of the fastest growing repertories of the world’s most fascinating achievements.

Burj Khalifa Observation Deck

1 NOVEMBER 2014 21 WHO’S MOVED

Hamad Mohamed Al-Harthy Harald Buerkle has taken on has been promoted by Oman the position of the new general Air as its new country manag- manager at Radisson Blu Hotel er for Oman. Cairo Heliopolis. A science graduate of Sultan With a strong background in Qaboos University, Al-Harthy HARALD food and beverage, Buerkle has developed his career as began his career as commis de an aviation professional since BUERKLE cuisine, working his way up to joining Oman Air as a manage- executive chef and director of ment trainee in 2002. He was operations before taking on his then appointed sales execu- first general manager position tive in Muscat, before being at Radisson Blu Resort Rügen, promoted to district sales man- Germany. ager in Saudi Arabia, followed He was previously based in by Oman, and finally rising to Russia where he was the gen- country manager in India. eral manager during the pre- His appointment to country opening phases of Radisson manager in Oman sees him tak- Hotel, Rosa Khutor and Park ing up a most prestigious role, Inn by Radisson Rosa Khutor. HAMAD as he will have the responsibility Buerkle will now lead the team of increasing sales in the Sultan- at Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo He- MOHAMED ate at a time when the carrier liopolis to ensure revenue and AL-HARTHY is poised to expand its interna- guest satisfaction targets are tional network of destinations, met, while his focus will be on facilitated by the arrival later the consistent operation of the this year of 24 new aircraft. hotel’s rooms.

Hossam Mansour is now the Doris Greif has been appoint- new executive assistant man- ed Jumeirah Group’s regional ager at Towers Rotana. vice president Europe as well He holds a master’s degree in as general manager of Jumei- hospitality management and rah Frankfurt. HOSSAM before joining Rotana with Greif first joined the com- his first position as executive pany in 1999 and since then MANSOUR assistant manager in Fujairah has successfully undertaken a one year and a half ago, he large number of senior roles kicked off his career with Forte with the company’s proper- Grand Abu Dhabi in 1997. ties, including executive as- He then gradually moved on sistant manager in charge to serve several properties in of rooms at Jumeirah Beach MENA as restaurant manager Hotel, general manager at and food and beverage direc- Jumeirah Beach Club Resort & tor, before joining Hilton Ho- Spa, general manager opera- tels & Resorts in 2006 where tions and general manager at he spent seven years with his Jumeirah Emirates Towers. last position being director of She left the hotelier in 2008 to operations in Sharm el-Sheikh DORIS take on the role of chief oper- and Ankara. In his new posi- ating officer, city operations at tion, Hossam is responsible to GREIF Dubai International Financial manage the hotel day-to-day Centre before rejoining Jumei- operations and deputise the rah Group in 2010 to become general manager in his ab- general manager of Jumeirah sence. at Etihad Towers.

22 1 NOVEMBER 2014 PHOTO ALBUM

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Abu Dhabi Ports Company further enhances the health and safety Air Arabia among Global Growth Companies 2014 across all of the emirate’s ports by the World Economic Forum

InterContinental Cairo Semiramis participates in The Australian National Football team at Yas Viceroy Race Around the World 2014 Abu Dhabi

Bangkok Airways launches Bike on Board Rosewood Hotels & Resorts staged its GCC collection review campaign to promote ecotourism

1 NOVEMBER 2014 23 NEWS & EVENTS

ADNEC Showcased EVENTS at IMEX America WORLD TRAVEL MARKET (WTM)

London, UK November 3 – 6 www.wtmlondon.com A vibrant event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company

SAUDI CONVENTIONS AND op representatives of Abu EXHIBITIONS FORUM Dhabi National Exhibitions T Company (ADNEC) used IMEX Riyadh, Saudi Arabia America, which took place in Las Ve- November 9 – 11 gas this year, to highlight Abu Dhabi www.saudicef.com An initiative of the Saudi as a gateway to the growing MENA Exhibition & Convention Bureau, region, as well as Asia. The team also which highlights the importance promoted Abu Dhabi National Exhibi- of the MICE industry to the tion Centre as one of the top venues in development of the economy. the region for large-scale exhibitions and conferences. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, act- CHINA INTERNATIONAL ing group CEO, ADNEC, commented, CRUISE SUMMIT “IMEX is a world class platform. [...] As we continue to drive Abu Dhabi’s rep- Qingdao, China utation as a rising star of the global ex- November 11 – 12 hibition and conference industry and www.cruisechina.org The conference converges top communicate its value proposition to management from global cruise industry peers, we support the vision companies, port cities, port of the emirate to further diversify our operators and cruise-related economy and shape a safe and sus- businesses. tainable economic future.”

MICE ASIA PACIFIC EXPO

Singapore Did you know... November 13 – 14 www.miceasiaexhibition.com Abu Dhabi National Brings together leading meetings, Exhibition Centre conference, exhibition and events opened for the first time in February organisers to meet and network 2007? with Asia Pacific’s leading hotels, venues and event suppliers.

24 1 NOVEMBER 2014