7 FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE 274 NEW WATER TAXI IN ABU DHABI WARWICK INTERNATIONAL HOTELS HAS CELEBRATED A NEW ADDITION TO ITS LEBANESE PORTFOLIO WITH THE OPENING OF WARWICK STONE 55, A FOUR-STAR BOUTIQUE PROPERTY. 06 TIME OPENS MEERA TIME RESIDENCE 09 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE 02 TECHNOLOGY 03 AIRPORTS 04 ACCOMMODATION 09 AIR 13 RENDEZVOUS 17 INTERNATIONAL 18 AGENT CORNER 19 TRAVEL TALK 20 TRAVEL CHANNELS 21 WHO’S MOVED 22 LEBANON WELCOMES WARWICK PHOTO ALBUM 23 NEWS & EVENTS STONE 55 24 12 MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS Nakheel: Biggest Year Yet Driven mostly by the continued delivery of residential units and plot sales, Nakheel MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi recorded a net profit of AED3.68 billion (USD1 billion) for 2014, marking a [email protected] 43 percent surge over 2013. ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST li Rashid Lootah, chairman, Nakheel, Rita Kasziba deemed 2014 the Dubai-based develop- CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou er’s biggest year yet in terms of financial Ana Mladenovic performance and achievements. Interest in the company’s retail pro- PRESS Maria Demetriadou jectsA swelled in 2014 with high demand for space Pauline Shahabian at Nakheel Mall and The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah DESIGN & LAYOUT among others. Elena Stylianou Developments for this year include Deira Islands WEB DEVELOPER / IT Mall, The Circle Mall, Al Khail Avenue, The Palm Tow- Soteris Constantinou er, Ibn Battuta expansion and several other projects Nakheel Mall DIRECTORS across Dubai. Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD Record Air Traffic in Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 Some 20 million passengers passed through Abu Dhabi International Airport’s WEBSITE three terminals in 2014, representing an annual growth of 20 percent – the www.traveltradeweekly.travel highest ever in the hub’s history. EMAILS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] raffic movements rose 14.5 percent to 154,821, During the year, two new carriers, AEGEAN Airlines while cargo throughput soared 12.8 percent to and NIKI joined the UAE capital and in order to facilitate 797,069 million tonnes. the increased traffic, the airport implemented a number The top five destinations from the UAE capi- of upgrades and reopened its newly renovated southern MENA EXCHANGE RATES tal included India, Germany, the UK, Pakistan runway as part of its expansion plans in preparation for Tand Saudi Arabia. the launch of the Midfield Terminal Complex in 2017. As of 6/2/2015 Currencies shown in blue are fixed against the US Dollar Kingdom Holding’s Net Income COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD= Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37 Increases Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 Kingdom Holding Company (KHC)’s gross operating profit for the fourth quarter Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 (Q4) of 2014 amounted to SAR431.5 million (USD115 million), representing a Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75 surge of 1.7 percent compared to the same quarter in 2013. UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 Algeria (DZD) Dinar 93.30 Egypt (EGP) Pound 7.63 Iran (IRR) Rial 27,533.55 ost importantly the Saudi organisation Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,160.34 recorded a net income of SAR266 million (USD71 million) for Q4, a year-on-year Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.29 boost of more than 15 percent. Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,504.40 “Kingdom Holding’s Q4 results com- Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.35 plete its successful performance in 2014,” commented Morocco (MAD) Dirham 9.45 M H.R.H. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Abdulaziz Alsaud, chair- Syria (SYP) Pound 188.90 man, KHC. Tunisia (TND) Dinar 1.91 Kingdom Holding Company held a board meeting to The company’s consolidated net income for 2014 announce the results Yemen (YER) Rial 215.09 period reached SAR869.1 million (USD231 million). 2 7 FEBRUARY 2015 TECHNOLOGY WEEKLY NEWS travall App Rolls Out in Abu Dhabi UAE Airports Lead in Smart Technology obust passenger traffic growth at UAE airports, projected at 5.6 per- cent annually until 2034 by the In- Rternational Air Transport Association, higher expectations of travellers and ceaseless technological advancement are prompting regional airports to adopt smart technolo- The UAE’s video guide mobile gies with the UAE leading the transforma- tion. application, travall, launched its “The demand for smart technologies in- Abu Dhabi version. tegrated into centre infrastructures will sky- rocket in the next few years. All airports will be s the second market to get this city-specific, free-to-download app, travall’s format offers users an transformed into intelligent, adaptive and re- interactive visual experience in choosing how and when to visit in the UAE capital. sponsive environments. Changes in the ways “Not only can ΄travallers΄ check accommodation, dining, venues, clubs, malls, exhibitions and clin- we travel are coming at us faster,” suggested Aics by watching a 30- or 60-second video, but they can also film their own 15-second VideoReview, a first of Mohammed Fouz, CEO, Smartworld, adding its kind in the UAE. Each video is reviewed by us before being uploaded to the app for others to view,” com- that airports can benefit through 25 percent mented Adam Ridgway, CEO, travall. cut operation costs and enhanced capacity A UAE-developed brand, travall aims to change the way tourists and residents of the UAE review and book handling by turning to smart technologies. various activities. 7 FEBRUARY 2015 3 WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTS 99 Percent of Steel Early Check-in at HIA’s The Airport Hotel Works Complete at MTB MTB construction bu Dhabi Airports’ board of direc- tors carried out a site visit to the A Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) to review the progress made on the future Hamad International Airport gateway to the capital city. The tour was led by H.E. Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports, joined by members of the board, along with representatives of the company’s ex- ecutive and project team. Al Mansoori said, “With 99 percent of he Airport Hotel at Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) now offers guests the steel works completed on all four piers, the possibility of checking in their luggage up to 12 hours before their flight departure. building structure has become a visible T In addition, guests can also make use of a dedicated Qatar Airways counter lo- landmark from the air and the ground [...]. cated in the check-in hall where they can drop off their luggage in a relaxed environment. This achievement has allowed us to start Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, commented, “The newly announced offering the building enclosure around the piers, from The Airport Hotel at HIA will be a popular new service, adding an enhanced level of which will enable the building structure flexibility to Qatar Airways’ passengers who want to either relax at the hotel and spa before to take its final shape during the course of their flight or explore the fantastic five-star facilities at HIA.” [the year].” 4 7 FEBRUARY 2015 WEEKLY NEWS The Region’s Biggest Indoor Gulf Craft Shipyard Entertainment Centre in Qatar Showcased Megapolis, hailed as the region’s biggest indoor entertainment centre at ulf Craft recently welcomed a del- 2 5,000m , is set to open in Medina Centrale at The Pearl Qatar in March. egation of Emirati businessmen to its shipyard in Umm Al Quwain, UAE. GThe high-profile delegation toured dif- ferent areas, including three large sheds and various departments that play a pivotal role in manufacturing the UAE yacht and boat-builder’s vessels. he facility, the result of a partnership between Gulf Craft, hailed as one of the world’s United Development Company and Palma Hos- top 10 superyacht shipyards, aims to pre- pitality Group, will combine a multitude of en- serve its prestigious global position, and Ttertainment venues, ranging from arcades and indoor through its continuous efforts to achieve attractions like golf, bowling, snooker, billiard and darts, customer satisfaction both locally and in- to 3D and 5D games and sports zones, and a five eater- ternationally. With an annual production ies will also be available. capacity of around 400 craft and expertise The Pearl Qatar's retail and hospitality expansion built over three decades in the business, plans also continue to unfold in Porto Arabia and Qanat the company has a presence in all boating Quartier, with another big indoor sporting facility, the markets globally through its Majesty Yachts, Bowling room room Bowling 2,000m2 Gymito being in the pipeline among many Oryx and Silvercraft brands. other original concepts. 7 FEBRUARY 2015 5 WEEKLY NEWS New Water Taxi in Abu Dhabi n order to connect two of Abu Dhabi’s prime waterfront tourist destinations, a new water taxi service using a traditional wooden abra has been launched. I Departing from the Eastern Mangroves Promenade the service stops at five-star hotels at the Maqta Creek, before arriving to the souk at Qaryat Al Beri. Antonio Neto, owner, Capt. Tony’s, operator of the Abra Water Hopping Service, said, “These are two very popular areas for residents and tourists with a host of restaurants and attractions, so what Abra Water Hopping Service Water Abra better way to experience the two areas than on a leisurely and safe journey between the two.” Currently the 25-minute boat-ride runs from 10:00 until 18:00 on Fridays and Saturdays with the service expected to become daily in the near future. Showcasing ADP Strengthens Works of Art in Operations with Dubai New Software he ninth edition of Art bu Dhabi Ports (ADP) Dubai is set to take place revealed that it is imple- T on March 18 – 21, at Ma- A menting a brand new dinat Jumeirah.