Saudigulf Airlines Takes Off

5 NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE 365

13 AIR 05 SAUDIGULF AIRLINES TAKES OFF

DUBAI CRUISE SEASON KICKS OFF

05 Cruising RAS AL KHAIMAH TO WELCOME THE RITZ-CARLTON 10 Technology 19 Rendezvous MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi [email protected] BOEING FORECASTS ASSISTANT EDITOR Rita Kasziba CARGO GROWTH

JOURNALISTS Ellen Petty Natalie James

CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou

SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu

DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou

WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis Air cargo traffic is expected to increase at an annual rate of 4.2 percent DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides over the next 20 years, driven by markets linked to Asia. Mary Kammitsi

HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD ccording to Boeing, in order to meet demand, some 930 new and 1,440 converted freighters P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus will be needed by 2035, meaning a 70 percent surge. Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 Boeing projects the e-commerce market to be one of the primary factors driving this WEBSITE growth, reaching a value of USD3.6 trillion by 2020. www.traveltradeweekly.travel A According to the report, dedicated freighters still carry more than half of air cargo traffic and remain EMAILS [email protected] the leading capacity providers. [email protected] [email protected]

WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM BRIGHT PROSPECTS Tel: +19542969515 [email protected] FOR RIYADH Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 [email protected]

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MENA EXCHANGE RATES Riyadh as of 5.11.2016 COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=

Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.37 Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 Reinforcing its reputation as a rising business and tourism hub, Riyadh has Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75 been named the sixth fastest developing travel destination in the world in the UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 Algeria (DZD) Dinar 109.81 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index. Egypt (EGP) Pound 15.26 Iran (IRR) Rial 31,808.32 ith a compound annual growth rate of 16.45 percent, the Saudi capital is one of four cities Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,163.75 Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.30 from Middle East and Africa to find a place in top 20 with at least one million overnight Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,509.39 visitors during this year, along with Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.40 W Riyadh was also listed as the second most popular location in the region, with the Morocco (MAD) Dirham 9.79 destination projected to register 4.59 million visitors by year-end. Syria (SYP) Pound 213.30 “Riyadh has consistently clocked high growth rates in international visitor arrivals over the past Tunisia (TND) Dinar 2.23 many years,” pinpointed Raghav Prasad, general manager, Gulf countries, Mastercard. Yemen (YER) Rial 249.85

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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

HotStats has published its MENA Chain Hotel Market Review for Profit Declines in Beirut roperties in the Lebanese destination suffered a August highlighting a 15.2 percent decline in profit per room, as RevPAR challenging environment P fell 13.6 percent, continuing the recent downward trajectory of both revenue and profit. for properties in Abu RevPAR at the city’s hotels plummeted 42 percent year-on-year, contributing to a 96.4 percent drop in profit Dhabi, Beirut and Doha, per room Whilst accommodation establishments in the capital with hoteliers cutting have managed to maintain volume this year, it has been at the expense of rate, which in August reduced 12.7 percent costs in an effort to year-on-year. Despite costs savings, as a result of the drop in reve- maintain revenue. nue, year-to-date profit per room was down 17.9 percent to USD31.64.

ARR Continues to Fall in Doha

Doha Abu Dhabi Compensates for Revenue Drop

otels in the UAE capital recorded a two percent year- eclining for the 24th consecutive month, hoteliers on-year increase in profit per room in August as man- in Doha recorded an 11.9 percent year-on-year de- H agements slashed payroll by 11.3 percent and saved D crease in achieved ARR. 8.5 percent in overheads on a per available room basis, in a The 17.1 percent drop in rates in the 12 months to bid to offset the 9.2 percent decline in total revenue. August was a result of declines in the majority of market The fall in total RevPAR in the month under review was segments, including a 35 percent fall in group tours, a 17.6 primarily due to a 7.8 percent drop in RevPAR, as hoteliers percent weakening in corporate and a 10.9 percent reduc- registered negative changes in both room occupancy, down tion in leisure business. 1.6 percentage points, and achieved average room rate (ARR) Cost saving measures proved to be insufficient to which descended 5.6 percent. offset a 17.8 percent dive in operating profit per room in Despite the two percent year-on-year growth this month, August, with profit per room falling 20.4 percent in the 12 profit per room was recorded at just USD16.72 in August. months to August.

4 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel WEEKLY NEWS CRUISING

Ultra-Modern Ship Crosses Dubai Cruise Season Suez Canal Kicks Off enting Dream, a state-of-the- art passenger ship, transited G the Suez Canal en route to the southeastern Asia region. The southbound vessel, whose pas- sage came as part of its maiden voy- age which started in mid-August, was greeted by a high-level delegation of the Suez Canal Authority. Representa- tives boarded the highly advanced ship The 2016/2017 Dubai cruise season has officially begun, as tourists and bestowed the captain with the honorary shield of the New Suez Canal from around the globe seek some winter sun. who, in turn, expressed appreciation for the project which serves global trade movements. ollowing on from great success in the 2015/2016 run, whereby the number of passengers grew 19 percent and the volume of ship calls soared 24 percent year-on-year, two F new operators are debuting in the region. Both Norwegian Cruise Line and Thomson Cruises will make their maiden calls to Dubai during the term. As the first-ever UK-based line to home port in the emirate, Thomson Cruises Dubai Genting Dream is expected to bring 25,000 tourists to the city through 12 calls at the port.

5 NOVEMBER 2016 5 WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Greek Deputy South America to Minister Meets Foster UAE Relations Dubai Delegates

lena Kountoura, deputy economy and tourism minister, Paraguay E Greece, met with key political and institutional figures of economy and tourism in Dubai. The dialogues focussed on the Paraguay and the Dominican Republic see tremendous opportunity positive results of efforts aimed at to strengthen bilateral ties with Dubai and the UAE, especially in further developing tourism relations and direct air links, thus, con- key sectors, including tourism. tributing to an anticipated increase in traffic between the destinations. In a meeting with H.E. Sultan Bin s Angel Barchini, ambassador to Qatar, Para- business opportunities between Latin America and the Saeed Al Mansouri, minister of econ- guay, pinpointed, the South American country Middle East. omy, UAE, Kountoura reaffirmed the A exports USD40 million worth of products to the “In these volatile economic times, investors look Mediterranean country’s commit- UAE on an annual basis. for countries and regions that provide stability, proven ment to foster bilateral relations in The comments came in the lead-up to the Global growth and investment-friendly policies. Latin America the area of tourism and confirmed Business Forum on Latin America, which will be held be- checks all the above boxes […],” said H.E. Hamad Bua- Greece’s participation in Expo 2020 tween November 09 – 10, in Dubai. mim, president, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and in Dubai. The forum seeks to explore new investment and Industry.

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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Gate Avenue at DIFC SCTH Holds Tourism Underway Seminars Avenue at DIFC at Avenue he new urban premium lifestyle, cul- Digital rendition of Gate of Gate rendition Digital tural and entertainment development T at the heart of Dubai International Fi- nancial Centre (DIFC), Gate Avenue at DIFC, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2017. n line with its efforts to promote the sector’s staff capabilities and quality The AED1 billion (USD272.3 million) pro- services, the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH), ject, DIFC’s largest to date, will include over I represented by the National Center for Tourism Human Resources Devel- 200 dining, boutique, retail and entertainment opment (Takamul), held a training and educational programme under the options, as well as an iconic new mosque. title Quality in tourism services for citizens. “Gate Avenue at DIFC will connect our vi- The event falls under Takamul’s development, rehabilitation and educa- brant and dynamic community of over 21,000 tional initiatives dedicated to operators and employees in the industry. A professionals, as well as residents and visitors, series of similar endeavours will be implemented during the current year in one central location,” explained Nabil Alkin- in a number of cities and municipalities and in various segments of tourism Saudi Arabia di, executive vice president, property develop- and national heritage. ment, DIFC.

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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Amadeus Partners with DerbySoft

In a bid to connect hotels of all sizes to metasearch engines and online travel agents (OTA) in order to help them compete in a busy hotel marketplace, Amadeus is partnering with DerbySoft.

eith Cotton, senior vice president of Global Business, DerbySoft, commented, “Amadeus’ hotel customers will have access to a much wider audience through the DerbySoft connection and interface, and with no additional K implementation costs.” The partnership will enable hotels to fine-tune their content in each channel, and travellers will benefit from more personalised offers tailored to their preferences.

Visa Partners Marriott Teams Up with GLC with Sabre

From left: Yasser Al Yousuf, managing director, Etihad Guest, Darren Peisley, CEO, Hala Group, Kamran Siddiqi, group executive, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Visa, and Ihab Ayoub, general manager, Middle East and North Africa, Visa

isa had signed a multi-year partnership with Global Loyalty Company (GLC), to develop a V range of co-branded credit, debit and charge arriott International and technology expert, Sabre, have un- cards in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, Italy veiled a new distribution and booking solution, providing and Serbia. M thousands of authorised wholesalers, destination marketing GLC manages the four frequent flyer pro- companies and tour operators with access to real-time rates and inven- grammes of Etihad Airways Partners. tory of more than 4,200 properties around the world. The agreement will provide a unique and col- The move is in line with the company’s strategy to transform the laborative platform to deliver leading travel payment wholesale and leisure segment by offering dynamic rates and auto- products to Etihad Airways Partners’ frequent flyers. mated reservations, replacing antiquated processes for contracting, Card propositions will incorporate travel related ben- accessing inventory and booking hotels. efits from Visa’s global platform backed by all the se- Approved wholesalers can now search real-time net rates and curity the brand stands for. rooms globally to create tailor‐made packages for their customers.

10 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Ras Al Khaimah to Welcome The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has signed a management agreement with RAK National Hotels (RAKNH), owner of various hotels and resorts in Ras Al Khaimah, marking the brand’s entry into the emirate.

he company will manage The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach and The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, growing its footprint in the UAE to five addresses by 2017. T The management agreement, which goes into effect on December 15, will see the existing beach property close for comprehensive renovations, whilst the desert establishment will remain open

Ras Khaimah Al and operate as a partner hotel. The makeover includes the total refurbishment of the Al Hamra beach address, a 32 all-villa luxury resort, as well as the upgrading of the 101 all-villa desert escape.

New Novotel to Residence in Expand Dubai Jebel Sifah Presence

uriya announced ccorHotels has entered the launch of Golf into a management M Lake Residences, a A agreement with Acropo- premium residential neigh- le Holdings for Novotel Down- bourhood in Oman’s Jebel town Dubai. Sifah comprised of 14 build- Scheduled to open prior to ings and 118 freehold studios, Expo 2020, the 266-room hotel, one- and two-bedroom apart- which includes five food and ments. beverage outlets and a number Homeowners will enjoy ex- of meeting rooms, will serve as clusive leisure amenities, such an upper-midscale option and as an oasis style water feature will cater to both business and including an integrated infin- leisure travellers. ity pool, with views of the golf Olivier Granet, managing di- course, sea and mountains. rector, AccorHotels Middle East, Coming in a variety of siz- explained, “AccorHotels remains es, features of the apartments committed towards strengthen- include grand terraces, opening the presence of our world- plan kitchen and en-suite class brands within all market bathrooms. segments across the emirate Issam Al Barwani, vice [and] the development of No- president, government affairs, votel Downtown Dubai is a step Muriya, said, “The introduction forward in providing greater di- of this new development is yet versity for guests in an area that another milestone in our de- predominantly caters to the up- velopment.” scale and luxury market.”

5 NOVEMBER 2016 11 WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Dubai Welcomes Preferred Hotels & Resorts Fortune Park Hotel Expands in the Middle East

ortune Group of Hotels has announced the opening of Fortune Park Hotel, Dubai. F The boutique property boasts 114 rooms and suites and is designed to invoke a perfect bal- ance of rejuvenation and serenity. Guests can enjoy a gym, roof-top swimming pool and spa, and also have the option to dine at referred Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its Mid- one of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. dle East portfolio with the addition of two new five-star Additionally, the sports lounge is complete P hotels in Saudi Arabia and another one in Bahrain. with a pool table and various videos games, provid- The three additions consist of a duo of ultra-boutique ing fun for all ages. properties in Riyadh, namely Vivienda Residences and Vivien- da Granada, along with The Domain Hotel & Spa, in Manama. Vivienda Residence comprises 12 villas, a pool, gym and an all-day Italian restaurant. Sister property, the 48-room Vivienda Granada, is also an all-villa address with a collection of three-bedroom residences. Furthermore, in Bahrain, The Domain Hotel & Spa offers 131 rooms and suites. The establishment is also a popular choice for corporate and social events with a suite of confer- Vivienda Residences Vivienda ence facilities.

Fortune Park Hotel

IHG Grows Regional Presence

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has outlined plans to strengthen its position in Asia, Middle East and Africa. I The company aims to introduce its EVEN Hotels brand to Aus- tralia and New Zealand, while expanding its existing Hotel Indigo portfolio, and debuting the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants concept in the market as well. Jan Smits, CEO, Asia, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said, “We identi- fied a key opportunity to accelerate our growth in the lifestyle segment with the introduction of these brands to the region. I believe there is fantastic potential for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in the region, EVEN Hotels in Australia and New Zealand as well as building on the already successful introduction of the Hotel Indigo brand in early 2015 in the region.” New Zealand

12 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel WEEKLY NEWS AIR

SAUDIGULF AIRLINES Takes Off

he inauguration of the first route will soon be followed by the launch of two daily services SAUDIGULF AIRLINES HAS between Dammam and Jeddah on November 27. The airline also plans to fly between Riyadh and Jeddah with up to seven connections COMMENCED OPERATIONS AT per day in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017. The carrier’s first international flight from -Dam THE END OF OCTOBER WITH THE mam to Dubai is also expected in Q1 2017. INTRODUCTION OF TWO FLIGHTS TTariq Bin Abdelhadi Al Qahtani, chairman, SaudiGulf Airlines, said, “The main driver behind the birth of the SaudiGulf Airlines project was to contribute towards boosting air transport capacity both A DAY BETWEEN DAMMAM AND domestically and internationally, at exceptional service levels for the entire travel cycle. The airline RIYADH. will offer a new level of service in the Kingdom, […]. SaudiGulf Airlines will be the new national carrier, raising the Saudi Arabian flag high up on the global aviation stage.”

Oman Air Enters Air Arabia to Add Baku Iraq to Network

man Air is now flying between Muscat and the Iraqi city of Najaf four times a week. O The new route is expected to further strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between the countries. Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO, Oman Air, said, “Following a tem- porary delay of our service to Najaf as the operational teams were assessing and scheduling all fleet types for safe deploy- ment on the route, Oman Air is delighted to start this service as our first destination in Iraq. The holy city of Najaf offers excellent potential for business travellers, those visiting friends and fam- ily, and for pilgrims. We anticipate a high demand.”

tarting March 23, 2017, Air Arabia will operate four weekly flights from its primary Sharjah In- S ternational Airport hub to Baku. The launch of the new itinerary follows a joint cooperation between the low-cost carrier, Azerbajian Airlines and local authorities, aimed at promoting the new route connecting Baku and Sharjah. Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, said, “By adding Baku this emerging destination to our growing network, Air Arabia will facilitate greater trade and tourism between the two countries.”

5 NOVEMBER 2016 13 WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel

IATA Calls for Security Salalah Airport: Solutions One Million Passengers

alalah Airport, Oman’s second-busiest hub, has ex- ceeded the one million milestone in annual pas- S senger traffic in less than 10 months. The figure marks a 19 percent improvement over 2015 when year-end results stood at just under 1.03 million travellers. Hailed as the gateway to the Sultanate’s Dhofar region, the airfield has the capacity to cater to three million passengers per annum. Salim bin Awad Al Yafei, general manager, Salalah Airport, asserted, “We are focussing all of our energy towards promoting Salalah Airport as a gateway for tour- he International Air Transport Association (IATA) called ism and are working with several airlines and companies on the industry and governments to work together in in the field.” T an even stronger partnership to provide durable solutions to aviation’s security challenges. Issues highlighted by IATA include overflying conflict zones, landside security at airports, insider threats, cyber security, harmonisation of passenger name record and traveller information requirements and airport checkpoints. In his opening speech at the 25th AVSEC World Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Alexandre de Juniac, CEO, IATA, stressed, “Partnerships are essential to address our major security challenges [and] governments and industry are working together to strengthen our defenses with integrated solutions in the Alexandre de Juniac Alexandre face of evolving security threats.”

Salalah Airport

Emirates A380 to Etihad Expands Fly to Doha India – UAE Services

mirates will upgrade one of its nine daily flights between Dubai and Doha to an Airbus A380, as of December 01.

Doha E The announcement follows the recent o further strengthen their cooperation in one of the world’s frequency increase between the destina- fastest growing aviation markets, Etihad Airways and strategic tions. With the addition of two extra services, T partner, Jet Airways, will introduce new flights and additional the airline now offers nine daily alternatives frequencies between Abu Dhabi and India in early 2017, when 28 from its base to the Qatari capital, making weekly frequencies and three more destinations will be launched. Doha the most served location in its network. The Middle Eastern carrier will add a fourth daily service between The double-decker has already proved the UAE capital and Kozhikode and will also double frequency to popular with customers, and the upcoming Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the Indian carrier revealed plans to fly be- service in December will give travellers from tween Abu Dhabi and the cities of Tiruchirappalli, Kannur and Chan- Qatar the chance to experience Emirates’ on- digarh and it will also boost operations between the UAE hub and board Airbus A380 product and service. New Delhi.

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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Seychelles to Lure Gulf IHG Expands Presence in Travellers Malaysia

eychelles Tourism Board’s Dubai office held its GCC roadshow, which kicked off in Abu Dhabi and concluded in Bahrain. SThe initiative targeted different trade partners nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a to network and be familiarised with hoteliers, des- management agreement with Exopuri Property tination management companies and airlines in Development for a Holiday Inn & Suites branded the Seychelles. Iproject, to be inaugurated in four years. Ahmed Fathallah, regional manager, Dubai of- The 288-room property will be located within fice, Seychelles Tourism Board, enthused, “We be- Juru Sentral, a mixed-used complex, and is antici- lieve that this roadshow is a good way for us to for- pated to be the tallest building in the area with 35 tify our relationship with the trade sector which is storeys. Targeting mostly business travellers, Holi- a big factor for us to attain our year-on-year goal, day Inn & Suites Penang Prai will boast four restau- [and] roadshows will be included in our activity rants, 12 meeting rooms as well as an outdoor pool, pipeline in the coming years.” fitness centre and spa. So far this year, arrivals from the GCC to the In- Leanne Harwood, vice president, operations, dian Ocean destination are up 33.17 percent. southeast Asia and Korea, IHG, noted that the Ma- laysian state, known as Silicon Valley of the East, continues to experience growth in visitor arrivals and gain traction as a regional business hub for in- Seychelles Seychelles ternational companies. Rendering of Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai Rendering Inn Penang of Holiday & Suites

Nepal to Attract Chinese Minneapolis Welcomes Tourists Ascend Hotel

he Ascend Hotel Collection from Choice Hotels International, wel- comed enVision Hotel St. Paul TSouth, in Minneapolis, US. The newest addition to the portfolio combines vintage aesthetics with local neighbourhood charm. Guests to the 85- room hotel can enjoy a restaurant, meet- n a bid to attract Chinese travellers to the coun- ing spaces catering to up to 380 people, try, Nepal will participate in the upcoming an indoor heated pool, a gym and busi- Chengdu International Tourism Expo (CITE). ness centre. I Making its debut in the three-day exhibition, “Our successful partnership with which will be held between December 02 – 04, at Ascend has given us the opportunity to Century New City International Convention & Exhi- continue to expand the enVision experi- bition Center, the destination aims to engage with ence and we feel so fortunate to broaden visitors from Chengdu and Sichuan. our offering to travelers seeking a vin- Nepal offers Chinese travellers a full fee-waiver tage taste of the local surroundings,” said on their visa application for stays of 15, 30 or 90 Gautam Sharma, president, Global Vision days. Hotels. Nepal Tourism Board will be joined by other Nepalese tour operators and travel agencies to

Nepal meet potential visitors at the show.

16 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AGENT CORNER

AGENT’S INSIGHT

NAME: Svetlana Gaevich When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry? [I have been in the industry] since I POSITION: Director, sales and business graduated from the Linguistic Universi- development ty. I used to be a French speaking guide from the beginning. For me, tourism is COMPANY: UTS Group not a job but a passion.

What are the most important attrib- LOCATION: Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia utes of a good travel agent/tour op- erator? It is a combination of different factors, WEBSITE: www.utsrussia.com like the team and its professionalism, individual approach to every client, nonstop quality control, creative strategy combined with practical attitude, good knowledge of the product and, of course, passion for the job.

What is the most frequently asked Cox & Kings Unveils question that your company re- ceives from customers? Educational School Trips Every day we get a lot of questions about Russia, its traditions and rules, but the most frequent questions are related to visa support formalities, trans- portation, money exchange, accommodation, sightseeing programmes, entertainment options, venues, restaurants and security.

What are the must-visits and must- dos in Russia that nobody should miss? […] We try to offer a unique travel experience, including Moscow and St Petersburg, Golden Ring and Karelia. Exotic and beautiful landscapes; an un- ox & Kings Dubai has presented Curious Cat Chroni- forgettable mix of sea and mountains cles, an educational travel tour programme for local in Sochi, the mysterious Altai with wa- & Kings Cox UAE, outbound tours, head, schools. terfalls and mountain lakes, the unique CSome of the fun and learning encounters available dur- From left: Sukumar Venkatachalam, business head, business head, Venkatachalam, left: Sukumar From

Kamchatka for wild life and nature lov- and Himanshu Anand & Kings, Sampat, Cox education, ing the tailor-made trips include dining with astronauts and ers, a Trans-Siberian tour with a stop experiencing zero-gravity in the US as well as visiting sci- at the picturesque Baikal lake and the ence centres in Singapore and art schools in London. dramatic rituals of stunning Siberian A range of itineraries presenting the world as a global shamans. classroom are on offer, which can be customised to meet the needs of the curriculum. Which destination is on your bucket- Karan Anand, head, relationships, Cox & Kings, noted, “As list? a leading education travel group, we have always empha- In Russia, I dream to go to Altai and sised travel as a means to learn. Learning through travel ex- Kamchatka, [while] abroad [it would poses curious minds to new experiences that involve them.“ be] Iceland.

5 NOVEMBER 2016 17 WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel

SAMI SAVANUR has been pro- FADI MUSHARAFIEH has moted to cluster assistance been appointed hotel manag- director of marketing and com- er of Four Seasons Hotel Beirut. munications at Centro Capi- Musharafieh brings with him tal Centre and Capital Centre over 19 years of experience Arjaan by Rotana in Abu Dhabi. in the hospitality industry, Savanur, who completed his with prior positions as general master’s degree specialising in manager of Lancaster Hotels marketing at James Cook Uni- and Suites and senior man- versity in Singapore, has been agement roles in Mövenpick working with Rotana since 2014. Hotel and Resort Beirut, Inter- Moving to the UAE capital Continental Phoenicia Hotel in SAMI SAVANUR

from Centro Sharjah where he MUSHARAFIEH FADI Beirut along with an academic worked as a marketing execu- role teaching for seven years tive, he will now lead the prop- hospitality at Sagesse Univer- erties’ marketing strategy en- sity Lebanon, affiliated with compassing digital marketing, Lausanne Hotel School. guest engagement, corporate In his capacity as hotel manag- social responsibility activities er of Four Seasons Hotel Bei- and brand alliances. Together rut, Musharafieh will continue with the management, he will to build on the property’s rep- work towards strengthening utation and service standards. the positioning and increas- ing awareness of both hotels in compliance with company Musharafieh will oversee standards. day-to-day operations

CARLO JAVAKHIA continues JASON MONTAGUE has be- as general manager at Dubai- gun his duties as CEO of Re- based M Management Com- gent Seven Seas Cruises, an pany, a role in which he will expansion of his previous role lead the entire operation of of president. the organisation, from creating His new responsibilities will policies and procedures, moni- include sales, marketing, pas- toring health and safety regu- senger services and revenue lations to guiding the team. management. Montague will He began his career in the hos- continue to focus on the de- pitality industry over 10 years velopment of the cruise line’s ago in Greece before joining route map as well as the on- Majestic Hotel Tower Dubai as board product to ensure it CARLO JAVAKHIA CARLO

food and beverage director. MONTAGUE JASON delivers its brand promise Since the launch of M Manage- and offers outstanding holi- ment Company, Javakhia held days for passengers. He will the position of director of op- also strengthen relationships erations where he oversaw and with travel partners and op- launched a number of dining timise results to further grow outlets. the company.

Javakhia will Montague aims to furher spearhead the team grow the business

18 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel RENDEZVOUS

Al Khoory Atrium Hotel, Al Barsha

As for Dubai, with the vision of H.H. high standards set for Dubai, quantity Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Mak- will not [affect] quality. To be able to toum, ruler of Dubai, and the support exist and survive in Dubai, quality has of Dubai Department of Tourism Com- always been the priority whether if it is merce & Marketing (DTCM), the plans a one-star or a five-star hotel. However, outlined for Dubai to become the num- I believe more hotel management insti- ber one city in terms of visitations by tutions should open to have more quali- 2020 [are] possible with the new theme fied staff, offering better services in this Q & A with parks, opera house, adventure tour- industry in various fields. ism [opportunities], as well as an array of conventions and shopping festivals TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Dubai’s Tour- throughout the year. ism Vision has set ambitions goals for PIERRE SOKHON the next few years. Could Dubai reach TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are its full potential by 2020? GENERAL MANAGER, HOSPITALITY DIVISION, AL KHOORY HOTELS the latest developments at the company? PIERRE SOKHON: I have been in the UAE since 1985 and have witnessed the PIERRE SOKHON: Al Khoory Group growth step by step. [Given] the posi- presently operates three hotels and is tive energy and attitude of its promot- WITH THREE OPERATIONAL HOTELS AND already developing another four prop- ers encompassed with the vision of its FOUR OTHER PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE, erties which will be ready by 2020. The rulers, I believe Dubai will always have AL KHOORY HOTELS CONTINUES TO operational hotels are Al Khoory Hotel room for growth and will surprise us Apartments Al Barsha, Al Khoory Ex- with what it will offer in the near future. CLAIM A LARGER MARKET SHARE AS ecutive Hotel Al Wasl and the newly- PIERRE SOKHON, GENERAL MANAGER, opened Al Khoory Atrium Hotel Al Bar- TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are HOSPITALITY DIVISION, AL KHOORY sha. your immediate plans? New hotels in the pipeline include HOTELS, REVEALS. the 69-room Al Khoory Inn Bur Dubai, PIERRE SOKHON: We have recently due to be launched by 2017, the 370- opened our new four-star Al Khoory room Al Khoory Plaza Hotel Deira as well Atrium Hotel in Al Barsha. The hotel has as the 99-key Al Khoory Central Hotel been delighting guests from day one TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How would you summarise the past months? and 159-room Al Khoory Courtyard Ho- and has been getting a lot of positive tel – both set to open in Al Quoz in 2019. reviews. We at the Al Khoory Hospitality PIERRE SOKHON: For Al Khoory Group of Hotels, this year has maintained occu- corporate office are here to make sure pancy levels with a slight drop in average room rate compared to 2015, however, TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: With supply the hotel operates smoothly. the last quarter looks more promising and positive for us. Our hotels’ location in Dubai growing apace, what are At the same time, we are in the pro- and accessibility give us a unique advantage against others where we cater for the main issues that need to be ad- cess of developing four more hotels […] various segments, mainly for families, vacationers and exhibitors. Having a good dressed in order to avoid sacrificing and the group is also soon launching a portion of repeat guest to our hotels – due to guest recognition and the quality quality for quantity? loyalty programme for its guests to en- of service – makes us proud, and we do our best to always call our guests by their sure that our loyal guests can avail the names and make them feel at home. PIERRE SOKHON I believe that with the best value proposition every time.

5 NOVEMBER 2016 19 TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel

The teams are highly The team [...] comprises motivated hospitality experts with years of experience

“The team we have assembled for the opening of Jumeirah Al Naseem comprises hospitality experts with years of experience operating and managing hotels both in the Jumeirah portfolio and for other luxury “It is such an honour for us to operators. The mix of existing be recognised by the team and new Jumeirah Al Naseem of World Travel Awards and management colleagues will by our peers [with four acco- RESORT GENERAL PAUL MARGARET deliver the reassuringly famil- CEO, JANNAH lades]. The teams are highly MANAGER, iar but refreshingly different motivated by this acknowl- guest experience for those HOTELS AND NEHME IMAD DARWICHE edgement of their efforts, MADINAT J who already know and love RESORTS and will continue to push for Madinat Jumeirah and for better service and products UMEIRAH those looking for a new expe- to maintain the high expecta- rience in luxury hospitality at tions our guests have of us.” the Arabian Resort of Dubai.”

Hard work prompted We are excited to cater fruitful results to the culture vultures

“In line with raising the stand- ard of living of Abu Dhabi’s residents, another primary focus of Vision 2030, Saadiyat “We are beaming with pride Island is soon to become the in receiving [Wyndham Hotel cultural hub of the capital. As Group’s Wyndham Rewards home to top-tier institutions 2016 Top Enroller in the Eu- like New York University Abu rope, Middle East and Africa Dhabi and Cranleigh British ADAM HARVEY ADAM

GENERAL SHAHZAD BUTT region] award and I would like DIRECTOR OF School and with the opening MANAGER, to commend everyone, espe- of the Louvre and Guggen- cially the front office, and qual- BUSINESS heim, Saadiyat Island will reel RAMADA ity assurance departments for in new kinds of tourists to DEVELOPMENT, the capital. We are excited to DOWNTOWN this outstanding achievement. Targets, incentives, and strate- HILTON cater to the culture vultures, DUBAI gies were all put in place, thus who will bring a new sector all their hard work prompted ABU DHABI of tourism business to the fruitful results.” region.”

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 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel TRAVEL CHANNELS

ABU DHABI ETIHAD AIRWAYS SUPPORTS WOMEN JOIN YAS INDIAN STUDENTS MALL WALKATHON

Etihad Airways and Jet Airways crew during the visit to Noshera Mewat Public Middle School

tihad Airways donated school supplies to underprivileged children at the official reopening of Noshera Mewat Public Middle School, which was recently reno- vated with the support of the airline. The youngsters received over 1,000 school bags, stationery, meals, uniforms, shoes and other garments, which were financed through the airline staff’s fund- Eraising initiatives such as a football tournament, garage sales and Walk for a Cause. Moreover, in collaboration with UAE Board on Books for Young People, the Abu Dhabi- based airline announced a new school library project, due to be completed in December.

Participants after the event PROMOTING NATIONAL n association with Medeor Medical Centre, Yas Mall organised a walkathon for locals in the framework of the breast cancer awareness month. HANDICRAFTS The programme started with a personal trainer handing out pink ribbons and t-shirts to all partici- urathna for Social Responsibility supported a number of cultural and heritage Ipants. After completing the walkathon, the ladies received projects in a number of parts of Saudi Arabia. an educational and inspirational talk discussing key infor- The non-profit organisation also carried out a number of training courses mation relating to breast cancer from obstetrics and gyne- for artisans, and conducted several events and programms aimed at developing cology specialist, Dr Iram Mobusher. handicrafts and using them in different areas. At the end of the event, the walkers gathered for a TThe company also launched an information campaign through the media in an effort to group photograph in front of a decorated Pink Wall to promote its objectives and enhance community awareness of the value of national heritage. commemorate the day. All in all, Turathna has supported 20 projects across the Kingdom’s provinces.

n support of breast cancer awareness month, BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana turned pink by decorating certain areas of the property with balloons, ribbons, sweets and flowers. I Moreover, the hotel’s restaurant, The Gal- lery, served a selection of pink offerings. To further boost the campaign, the prop- BURJUMAN ARJAAN HOLDS erty launched a competition for guests and colleagues to guess the number of marsh- mallows in a jar which was also promoted PINK WEEK on social media pages. To show their com- mitment to Pink Week, staff members each wore pink ribbons and some even dressed all in pink. BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana employees

5 NOVEMBER 2016 21 TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

RAISING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SITA BAGGAGE ROBOT TOURS employees for Lecture

azeera Airways and the Cancer Awareness National Campaign (CAN) hosted a ASIA breast cancer awareness lecture for the airline’s employees as part of its month- long activities aimed at highlighting the risks of breast cancer. Dr Amani Hussein, oncologist, Ministry of Health, Kuwait, shared her insights on the disease, emphasising the importance of prevention as well as early detection. JThe aim of the campaign was to organise regular lectures and public events to improve the understanding of cancer and provide preventive techniques and measures to the public. Leo, the SITA baggage robot

eo, the fully-autonomous, self-propelling baggage robot designed by SITA Lab in an innovating bid to SUPPORTING WORLD transform the passenger experience using robot- ics and artificial intelligence, has toured Asia with visits to Singapore and Hong Kong. DIABETES DAY LAs Ilya Gutlin, president, Asia Pacific, SITA, explained, “Our focus is on collaboratively developing technology so- n the run-up to World Diabetes Day on November 14, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts lutions and services for the air transport industry, working is raising awareness about the importance of healthier eating habits, better lifestyle with our airline and airport partners to stimulate techno- choices and early screening. logical innovation.” Today, an estimated 415 million people live with diabetes and according to the In- The initiative marks the first step in automating the bag- ternational Diabetes Federation, one in 10 adults could be affected by 2040. gage process, showing how bags can be collected, checked I Across the Middle East and Asia, 21 properties of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will host a in, transported and loaded onto the correct flight without cooking class between November 06 – 15, where participants will learn to make two Power any handling besides from the passengers themselves. Bites school lunchbox recipes. Leo was also caught in action at the Future Travel Expe- Power Bites is a selection of the hotelier’s exclusive dishes for children, and focusses rience Asia EXPO 2016 in Singapore. on nutritional ingredients and healthy cooking methods presented in a surprising, fun way.

n celebration of the UAE’s cultural heritage, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Au- thority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has announced the third annual Traditional Handicrafts Festival. I H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “The 10-day festival will include activities and programmes that reflect different aspects of the UAE’s intangible herit- AL AIN HOSTS HANDICRAFTS age that we have to preserve and promote to the community, our youth, and tourists.” FESTIVAL The programme, which runs until Novem- ber 12 at Al Ain’s historic Souq Al Qattara, aims to promote national identity and reinforce the endeavours of artisan families. Traditional Handicrafts Festival

22 5 NOVEMBER 2016 www.traveltradeweekly.travel PHOTO ALBUM

Guests travelling from New York to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways were treated to a surprise celebration of the Hindu festival of Diwali

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Send your photos to Air Arabia won the corporate social [email protected] responsibility initiative of the year title for Because a picture is worth a thousand Nakheel served up a truckload of its Charity Cloud programme at Aviation words... treats at The Boardwalk at Dubai's Business Awards Palm Jumeirah

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Al Bustan Centre and Residence, Dubai recognised ruler, Dubai, visited the brand-new Dubai Parks and top-performing employees Resorts

5 NOVEMBER 2016 23 NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

AHIC to Address EVENTS Challenges

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET he planning for the much-anticipated 2017 Arabian Hotel November 07 – 09 Investment Conference (AHIC) London, UK is officially underway. www.wtmlondon.com T A global meeting place for the The event’s advisory board held its travel trade, providing attendees annual meeting at the newly-inaugurat- with quality contacts, content ed Modul University Dubai to discuss the and communities. top obstacles the industry faces and to shape the theme for the next installment. In a poll, members described business this year as challenging and dif- ficult with the outlook for 2017 being questionable. Nevertheless, the Middle East remains the fastest-growing region for new hotel rooms.

CULTURAL TOURISM MIDDLE EAST

November 14 – 15 Dubai, UAE www.culturaltourismme.com High-level officials from the tourism, cultural development and antiquities, heritage AHIC and arts, cultural activities and architectural heritage community will convene in the UAE. FITUR in UNWTO Plenary Session Spotlight HOTELIER SUMMIT December 07 – 09 Dubai, UAE www.ide-global.com na Larrañaga, director, Inter- Hoteliers from across the UAE national Tourism Trade Fair and Saudi Arabia will share (FITUR), took part in the 38th knowledge and ideas. A meeting of the plenary session of affiliated members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Held in Yerevan, the event was or- ITB BERLIN ganised alongside the 43rd meeting of the Governing Board of UNWTO Affili- March 08 – 12 ated Members where the key principles Berlin, Germany of the 2017 action plan were consid- www.itb-berlin.de ered, including the future of tourism, One of the most important annual events where leading the cultural and city segments as well industry stakeholders meet, as the International Year of Sustainable network and conduct business. Tourism for Development 2017, which will be launched at FITUR in January 2017, in Madrid.

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