Setting Eyes on New Travel Trends
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Vol. XIV No. 5; May 2018 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages: 32 Special ddppl.com TravTalkMiddleEast.com Special Shurooq for bespoke visitors at ATM .................................................................... 04 May 16-18, 2018 Marriott expands portfolio in EMEA ....................................................................... 10 Shanghai Setting pioneering ideas in travel .......................................................................... 20 Setting eyes on new travel trends With a focus on the growing travel, tourism and hospitality trends in the region, attendees at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) share their insights on emerging market movements, and how well it will benefit the trade in the region as it heads for Expo 2020. SHEHARA RIZLY Housing the largest ice rink in the emirate of Sharjah, Al Shaab We are continuously working towards fortifying our presence as Village is the perfect family destination which preserves the culture a market leader in the hospitality industry by attracting new and wider of Sharjah yet caters to the many requirements of today’s local markets from the GCC, India, China, Russia, UK and other European and international travellers. ATM is a very important event in our countries. One way to do this is by making a strong presence at calendar as it is one of the most close-to-home platforms where we can participate and network to provide destinations with more leading trade exhibitions where we meet new suppliers and discover opportunities. Our partnership with Sharjah Tourism Development the latest industry trends, innovations, research and insights Authority enables us to build and strengthen agreements with particularly about the region. We are planning to open our doors to many feeder markets that prefer to visit the destination of Sharjah. serious buyers and give them the opportunity to promote and sell Residents from Sharjah, GCC and other emirates are regular visitors Golden Sands Hotel Apartments to their customers. With the correct Abdulla Al Dah who help in the rising number game. Over the past few years, we Mohammed Khoori strategy in place, we will remain to be the preferred accommodation CEO have witnessed over 250,000 visitors and this year we are working General Manager, Golden Sands Al Shaab Village Hotel Apartments of long and short term stay guests, business and leisure travellers on a new refurbishment plan which will position us at an even higher level as there is nothing similar in the emirate. and family, groups or individuals. With the transformation of the organisation of Ministry of The airline industry is evolving at an unprecedented rate with Tourism into a customer centric strategy, the structure is now rising customer demands. These demands have evolved from based on the needs of travellers in terms of creating tourist-friendly SDVVLYH WR SURDFWLYH DQG WKLV UHGHÀQHV WKH HQJDJHPHQWV DQG products. It is hoped with this new strategy we can reach our target competitive landscape for both airlines and travel industry players. this year. Despite a decline in tourist arrivals from Middle East in Being a leading global event, this is a grand opportunity for RwandAir 2017, the Middle East market continues to contribute in spending to showcase itself to an international audience both as an airline and helping generate revenues more than any other market. Out and the strategic link for Rwanda with the outside world. Our key of 9.2 million people in UAE, 8.8 million are active internet users, highlights include our service, latest destinations and entry into new and 6.3 million are social media users. Therefore, our promotion geographical markets. These exhibitions are key drivers for creating strategy is now focused towards digitalisation as most people tend industry networks, opportunities and commercial success. My most valuable networks originate from these exhibitions I have attended WRPDNHERRNLQJVRIÁLJKWDQGKRWHOVWKURXJKWKHLUVPDUWSKRQHV Nia Niscaya Timothy Njihia Besides, adventure and responsible tourism have a double function Deputy Minister of Tourism across the world. Our delegation will have the General Consulate Country Manager—UAE WRSOD\IRUHFRQRPLFEHQHÀWWRWKHFRPPXQLW\DQGYLVLWRUV Indonesia of the Republic of Rwanda in Dubai and Northern Emirates, and RwandAir Rwanda Development Board amongst others. Contd. on page 3 COVERSTORY MAY 2018 TRAVTALK 3 Building brands on trust value Contd. from page 1 We’re approaching the end of the Our stand will include demo pods that Experiential travel together with ÀUVW IXOO \HDU RI RSHUDWLRQ DW &HQWDUD allow visitors to experience how we help sustainability of the environment are Muscat Oman and we’re very pleased agents drive revenue by providing real- being increasingly sought-after by with the performance in exceeding time access to a vast array of products tourists. The growth of millennial targets regularly. The volumes are not and serives. These include high quality tourists is contributing to an increase yet huge but they are growing in leaps content, delivering powerful business and in the late booking trends, thereby DQG ERXQGV ZLWK PDQ\ QHZ ÁLJKW competitor insights using our analytics making strong digital presence vital. routes and increase in the volume of tools, and engaging travellers throughout 7KHGLYHUVLÀFDWLRQRISURGXFWRIIHULQJV Markland Blaiklock Matthew Powell their travel journey. As the only travel Samir Mehta and tourist segment mix is indeed Deputy Chief Executive ÁLJKWVIURPERWKÁDJVKLSDQGORZFRVW Managing Director—Middle General Manager 2IÀFHU&HQWDUD+RWHOV carriers. Our Dubai-based regional East, Africa and South Asia, commerce platform to achieve IATA’s Arabian Adventures supporting growth in adventure Resorts team will be present at ATM this year, Travelport KLJKHVW FHUWLÀFDWLRQ DV DQ 1'& /HYHO tourism to UAE. From dune buggies, joined by senior executives from our corporate headquarters 3 Aggregator, we will also have experts on the stand discussing zip lines, jet-ski, snow-ski and helicopter rides, safety and key General Managers. Centara Residences & Suites will how we are extending our leadership in this area by industrialising standards are essential to ensure the sustained growth in this open a luxury branded hotel and a themed family resort in Dubai our NDC capability and incorporating NDC content into our suite of segment. ATM is a key tourism trade event, with increasing in 2020. The Middle East is a key region of focus for us. In products for airlines and travel agencies. Our experts will discuss number of buyers and exhibitors from this region and addition to projects mentioned, we expect to open at least how we are using our merchandising solution to help travel agents beyond. Arabian Adventures will be at the Dubai and Abu two more properties in Dubai besides exploring opportunities boost sales by displaying, gaining information and selling branded Dhabi stands to meet trade partners and showcase our in Abu Dhabi. fare families and ancillary products. products and services. Central Hotels will be unveiling two new properties this ATM We are extremely proud of the success and development of The which is set to double its inventory of keys with the opening of Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah since its opening in 2016. From two spectacular hotels namely Royal Central The Palm (207 keys) and WKH WLPH ZKHQ ZH RIÀFLDOO\ ODXQFKHG WKH SURSHUW\ ZH KDYH ZHOFRPHG Canal Central in Business Bay (280 keys). Central Hotels’ impressive an array of guests, both local and international alike who, have growth in Dubai is fuelled by the city’s extensive expansion of seemingly all held the property in the same favoured regard. The overarching tourism infrastructure in preparation of Expo 2020. Our expansion feedback from our guests supports our conceptual aim to offer a unique strategy demonstrates our commitment to support the growth of the 360-degree resort experience with a perfect balance of sun, sea, nature and destination and its envisioned potential. We look forward to being a part design, as well as upholding the worldwide standard of The Oberoi brand’s of this incredible success by contributing positively to the hospitality Ahmad Al Abdulla exemplary services. We continue to receive exposure and recognition in Christophe Mousset Chairman General Manager sector in the UAE. Central Hotels regional and international markets and look forward to a prosperous ATM The Oberoi, Al Zorah and year ahead. 4 TRAVTALK MAY 2018 EXHIBITIONS Shurooq for bespoke visitors at ATM Arabian Travel Market is the most exclusive networking platform in the Middle East. Sharjah’s investment arm, Shurooq participates every year to display its myriad offerings targeting the niche clientele. HE Marwan Al Serkal, CEO, Shurooq, talks about their plans with . TT Bureau HU/RGJHDWWKH.DOEDHFR- exhibitions and festivals to play an ever-increasing Sharjah has long sustained tourism project and Fossil across all our destinations, role in the emirate’s econ- over the years. How important is 5RFN /RGJH DW WKH 0OHLKD delivering unique experi- RP\DQGÀUPO\HVWDEOLVKHV QATM for Shurooq? Archaeological and eco- HQFHV WR D GLYHUVLÀHG VHW itself on the global tourism What are the Shurooq has been tourism project, in addition of crowds, tourists and map, we will be looking Qexpectations from participating at ATM for to the luxury and hospital- residences in Sharjah and to maintain and grow our this year’s ATM? the past 11 years, and has ity projects we previously the UAE. These destinations status on this worldwide A recent article pub- shown growing support to launched Al Bait Hotel at include Al Qasba, Heart of industry platform and high- lished by Arabian Business the exhibition as it provides Heart of Sharjah. Sharjah, Al Majaz Water- light our developments in unveiled that Sharjah has the ideal target audience for front, Al Montazah Parks, the years to come. been named as one of the Shurooq in terms of inter- ATM’s bespoke visitor Mleiha Archeological and world’s best holiday des- HE Marwan Al Serkal national experts and inves- SURÀOH LV WKH ULJKW WDUJHW Ecotourism Project, Al Noor What is Shurooq’s WLQDWLRQV WR HQMR\ ÀYHVWDU CEO Shurooq WRUV/DVW\HDUZHODXQFKHG for all our destinations and Island and The Flag Island.