Ryanair Launch 14 New Flights from Europe to Jordan

17 FEBRUARY 2018 ISSUE 432

08 AIR Ryanair Launch 14 New Flights from Europe to Jordan

JUMEIRAH GROUP TO RARE DINOSAUR FOSSIL 06 LAUNCH THE GREENS 12 DISCOVERED IN EGYPT MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR MUSCAT AIRPORT REPORTS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS Mary Kammitsi [email protected]

Muscat International Airport welcomed 14 million passengers in 2017, EDITOR Mario Hajiloizis a 16.7 percent increase over 2016. PRESS Efi Rousi Maria Angelica Constantinou Athena Karsera Yiazou

CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou

DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou

WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670

WEBSITE www.traveltradeweekly.travel Muscat International Airport is increasingly welcoming more passengers EMAILS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] he airport also reported 1.2 million domestic visitors, an increase of 18.3 percent, while international visitors reached 12.8 million, a 16.5 percent increase. Aircraft movements during 2017 reported 114,258, showing an WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES increase of 10.6 percent, with domestic at 12,110, increased by 27.4 percent and international at 102,148, in- Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: creased by 8.9 percent. Neil Strickland T Passenger numbers also increased at Muscat International Airport by 15 percent in December 2017 compared to GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515, [email protected] December 2016. During that month the airport saw 1.3 million passengers, an increase of 14.8 percent year-on-year, with domestic passengers at 95,379 and international at 1.2 million. Aircraft movements during December reached 9,562, Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka representing a 4.1 percent increase. RMA Media Tel: +912229253735, [email protected]

Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA HOTELS SEE ROOM Tel: +447900885456, [email protected] OCCUPANCY GROWTH

MENA EXCHANGE RATES The latest poll from HotStats revealed that hotels in the Middle East as of 15.2.2018 and Africa (MEA) recorded an uplift in room occupancy levels. COUNTRY CURRENCY USD1=

Bahrain (BHD) Dinar 0.38 lthough MEA hotels suffered a 2.9 per- Jordan (JOD) Dinar 0.71 cent drop in achieved average room Oman (OMR) Rial 0.39 rate in December 2017, a 3.1 percent Qatar (QAR) Rial 3.64 increase in room occupancy, to 66.6 Saudi Arabia (SAR) Riyal 3.75 A percent, helped drive a 1.8 percent increase in UAE (AED) Dirham 3.67 RevPAR. Algeria (DZD) Dinar 113.82 The uplift in volume contributed to an in- Egypt (EGP) Pound 17.70 crease in non-room revenues, including food Iran (IRR) Rial 37,061.27 and beverage at five percent and conference and Iraq (IQD) Dinar 1,183.73 Kuwait (KWD) Dinar 0.30 banqueting at 4.1 percent, which supported a 2.3 Lebanon (LBP) Pound 1,513.80 percent increase in TrevPAR in December 2017. Libya (LYD) Dinar 1.33 In addition to the TrevPAR growth profit levels Morocco (MAD) Dirham 9.12 at MEA hotels were further boosted by a 0.7 per- Syria (SYP) Pound 515.21 cent saving in payroll, which fell to 23.3 percent. Tunisia (TND) Dinar 2.40 Yemen (YER) Rial 249.95 Abu Dhabi ia among the region's most visited destinations

2 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel GENERAL

Al Zorah Marina 1 partnered with renowned marina operators, ART Marine Sharjah’s First Marina 1 Opens at Pedestrian Community Al Zorah Launched

lef Group has announced the launch of the first phase A of its Al Mamsha development, at a total cost of AED3 billion Al Zorah has officially (USD816.8 million). opened Marina 1, Al Mamsha is Sharjah’s first fully allowing boat and walkable community. It has been designed to include ample sidewalks yacht owners to moor and walkways complemented by and enjoy the new plenty of greenery and open spaces, ombining lifestyle with leisure, Al Zorah offering a dynamic lifestyle that in- facilities. They can also Marina 1 provides a host of entertainment tegrates modern living, retail and lei- access the promenade venues for guests of all ages such as; The sure into a vibrant environment. and enjoy 15 new Groovy Park, a family friendly food park with Commenting on the launch, an outdoor cinema surrounded with themed Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, dining and recreational Cflower-decorated food trucks; Funtastico, an outdoor chairman, Alef Group, said, “At Alef facilities at the creek- amusement attraction for families and kids, and Al Zorah group we are committed to bring- Bootcamp, which is designed to promote wellness and ing to Sharjah designed lifestyle side development. fitness. experiences, inspired by global Additionally, the 37 m luxury yacht, Nordic Star, is trends and local needs [...].” available for charter for a variety of purposes, from business meetings to excursions, while BIEL, a 1,800 m2 on- site events facility, can also cater to an array of events. Wild Atlantic A’L BAHAR on Track for Official Opening Way Initiative Designed to AE-based developer Miral has announced that its month that the 80,000 m2 mixed-use development will offer new beachfront community space, A’L BAHAR, is a total of 48 retail spaces, comprising food and beverage, Boost UK Market U opening as scheduled by the end of the first quarter entertainment, leisure, retail, as well as fitness and wellbe- this year. ing opportunities for both residents and visitors. 80 percent of entertainment and food and beverage To encourage a fresh wave of creativity, A’L BAHAR is rendan Griffin, minister, outlets have now been leased at the beachfront project at also dedicating retail space opportunities for owners of State, Tourism and Sport, Ire- the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. small businesses and entrepreneurs, which are available for B land, joined Tourism Ireland Delivering on the capital’s vision of offering unique short-term leasing to support and inspire pop-up entrepre- and Fáilte Ireland to launch a new experiences for residents and visitors, Miral revealed last neurial projects. EUR1.8 million (USD2.2 million) initiative titled, Wild Atlantic Way, specially designed to boost tourist numbers from the UK. A EUR1.35 million (USD1.7 million) marketing campaign in the UK will be complemented by Fáilte Ireland’s EUR500,000 (USD 617,970) programme to support businesses. The Wonders of the Wild Atlan- tic Way promotion campaign will be rolled out by Tourism Ireland in two phases: the first phase is set to happen between February – March and phase two between September – October. A’L BAHAR is due to open by the end of March

17 FEBRUARY 2018 3 TECHNOLOGY www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Mezi App

American Express Acquires Travel Messaging App

American Express has acquired Mezi, a personal

travel assistant app that allows s part of the deal, Mezi is to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary travellers to message their of American Express and continue to develop its core technolo- requests for flights, hotels gies and capabilities in digital travel concierge services. “Mezi’s AI-powered experience opens up exciting new ways or restaurants, and receive for us to connect with and serve our card members, and creates appropriate recommendations. Aopportunities for us to build more meaningful relationships with them,” outlined Phil Norman, vice president, American Express Digital Labs. “With messaging emerging as channel of choice for many, and the demand for unique experiences increasing, we believe the combination of Mezi’s capabilities with our global network of expert travel counselors creates a dif- ferentiated, high-touch service experience [...],” outlined Norman.

Gulf Air Forms Digital Partnership Dubai Tourism Introduces Real Time Tours with Wego

ubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce for free from Apple Store and Google Play. Marketing (Dubai Tourism), has collaborated Supported by GPS technology, both tours use new partnership with Gulf Air D with two digital tour apps to launch two new audio narrations to guide visitors through Dubai, au- has given Wego users online ac- free tours that have been created to help visitors tomatically progressing from one point of interest to Acess to the airline’s flight-related discover and learn more about the emirate’s historic the next in real time, depending on the user’s location. information and booking capabilities. sites and landmarks. The pre-recorded audio is available in English, Dean Wicks, chief flights officer, Aiming to focus on the different aspects Dubai Chinese and German and also comes in text form, Wego, commented, “Wego will dis- has to offer, the tours titled, Metro Moments and Al while also being accompanied by a map to help with tribute Gulf Air flights, pricing and Fahidi Architecture Tour, are available to download GPS navigation. schedule information across our extensive marketing channels, allowing travellers easy access to flights with an airline that is famous for its traditional Arabian hospitality and renowned for being family and business friendly.” In 2017 the digital travel marketplace introduced Progressive Web App technology, combined with Acceler- ated Mobile Pages, to become what is believed to be the world’s fastest load- ing mobile marketplace. Wego remains a top ranked travel app for both iOS and Android devices throughout the Middle East and North Africa, due to its localisation into more than 30 languages and currencies. Dubai is the UAE’s largest and most populous city

4 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AGENTS

Oman Air Appoints South Africa General Anti-OTA Hotels Less Travelstart Egypt Sales Agent Competitive Celebrates Fifth Year

man Air has appointed Holiday Aviation as its general sales agent for South Africa. ohn Jones, managing director, Welcome nline travel agency Travelstart Egypt O The appointment of Holiday Avia- Systems, suggested that hotels preferring is celebrating its fifth year of bringing tion is expected to ensure easy access for Af- J booking engines over online travel agents O booking options to Egyptian customers. rican customers to Oman Air’s award winning (OTA) are making themselves less competitive. Rated by Amadeus as one of the country’s products and services as well as the airline’s Jones stated that Expedia data showed mil- top 10 travel agencies, Travelstart has launched highly competitive fares. lennials, currently the world's largest genera- a number of new services, in addition to allow- Signalling the airline’s commitment to ex- tion, are less brand loyal than their parents and ing customers to search for, compare and book panding its presence on the African continent, are far more likely to book a room via an OTA. travel deals online. Oman Air has positioned South Africa as an Jones added that the Welcome Anywhere New services include allowing customers important point of sales for its international property management system in 2017 pro- to input frequent flyer membership numbers, network. cessed GBP74 million (USD103.8 million) of while Travelstart Egypt’s FLAPP app has also Additionally, Oman Air announced this ap- hotel reservations, with over 50 percent of been improved. pointment as Holiday Aviation is regognised as these bookings coming from Booking.com, Ahmed Saad, country manager, Travelstart being a leader in the travel and tourism field as while direct bookings decreased by almost Egypt, commented, “Travelstart Egypt has en- it has been awarded many industry accolades GBP2 million (USD2.8 million) in value. joyed incredible success over the past five years to demostrate this. “By turning their noses up at OTAs, some and has continually raised service standards With African destinations on the increase hoteliers seem to be effectively at war with throughout that time, introducing new fea- and the offer of connections through Muscat modern guests and their booking preferenc- tures, services and partnerships for the benefit International Airport, Oman Air is growing in es,” outlined Jones. of our customers […].” importance across the African continent.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 5 ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Dubai Zabeel House by JumeirahTM – The Greens, rendering Jumeirah Group to Launch The Greens

Dubai Zabeel House by Jumeirah – The Greens will open in the fourth quarter of the year following a management agreement

between Jumeirah he new property will offer 210 guest rooms, two restaurants, terrace dining Group and The Onyx for around the pool area, conference and business facilities, a gym and spa treat- Development. ment rooms. Positioned at the heart of The Greens master development, it is also part of a completed wider mixed-use development called The Onyx, which con- Tsists of residential, commercial and retail units. Jumeirah Group has five signed hotel management agreements in place for Zabeel House by Jumeirah and is expected to make a series of announcements early this year.

25hours to Enter Middle East with New ATM Data Projects Changes Dubai Hotel to Hospitality Landscape

SGC has been appointed as the main As the ground has already been broken, contractor for AccorHotels’ 25hours ASGC is planning to deploy its technology- A One Central hotel. driven strategy on the project, using drones Identified by Accor as being the largest with high-definition closed-circuit television 25hours Hotel worldwide, the property also and 360 degree video-capturing systems, to represents the group’s Middle East debut. monitor progress at the site. Expected to open by 2020, 25hours One Bishoy Azmy, CEO, ASGC, noted, “It is a Central is being designed to include 434 privilege to work on such an iconic hospital- rooms over nine storeys, plus one ground ity project, one that will become the largest in level and four basement levels. the 25hours Hotel global portfolio.”

Press believes hotel guests want more unique experiences

he latest Arabian Travel Market (ATM) data has unveiled a new approach to loyalty programmes and smart tech- T nology, which are projected to define the hospitality industry landscape over the next five years. The predictions, published by Colliers International, indi- cate a rise in ultra-personalised guest services, and technology-led changes to the physical configuration of hospitality spaces with new job roles to accommodate these changes. The trends will be explored at ATM which is set to take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 22 – 25. Simon Press, senior exhibition director, ATM, said, “[...] Today’s Groundbreaking at 25hours One Central hotel guests don’t want to be part of the crowd – they want a unique experience, personalised to their tastes and expectations and, preferably in an unexplored, or emerging, destination.”

6 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AIRPORTS

Queen Alia International Airport Mövenpick to Open Basra Property Queen Alia International Airport Celebrate Baghdad Flights

Airport International Group celebrated the arrival of Fly Baghdad’s first flight to Queen Alia International Airport, he welcoming ceremony was attended by officials from both Airport International Group marking the start of four and Fly Baghdad, in addition to the airline's general sales agent in Jordan, Petra Travel and Tourism Company. weekly flights between Ali Al Hamdany, CEO, Fly Baghdad, commented, "The launch of the Baghdad-Amman Amman and Bagdad. route was a priority in our airline’s new strategic plan, especially given the invaluable eco- Tnomic relations between the two countries, as well as the presence of a large Iraqi community in Jordan. "I anticipate an upsurge in the frequency of flights between Iraq and Jordan in the coming period thanks to Iraq’s increasingly open economy and commercial scene."

Dubai Airport Al Dhabi Airport Expansion for Opens Revamped Thrifty Lounge

hrifty Car Rental has bu Dhabi International opened its second car rent- Airport has unveiled its re- T al facility in Terminal 3 at A vamped Al Dhabi Lounge Dubai International. in Terminal 1, with a 47 percent Open 24 hours a day and sev- increase in seating capacity and en days a week, the new counter amenities that can accommodate is specifically designed to im- approximately 300 people. prove customer convenience and Al Dhabi Lounge is designed engagement and provide the to bring the best combination of best possible rental experience leisure, dining, and hospitality to for travellers to the UAE. the airport. Rahul Singh, managing direc- Additionally, a selection of tor, Thrifty Car Rental, comment- the latest movie blockbusters, TV ed, “Market speculations sug- shows, magazines, newspapers gest that the car rental business and more are at the fingertips of will hit a boom as travellers guests. A hot buffet featuring glob- look for convenient and cheap al cuisines is available for breakfast, travel options to explore the lunch and dinner, in addition to a emirate.” spread of sandwiches and snacks Said to be the largest fleet displayed throughout the day. operator in the UAE, Thrifty Car Guests can also enjoy a re- Rental is accessible at 52 loca- freshing beverage or a cup of tions, offering an extensive vehi- coffee at a cozy café, and refresh cle portfolio providing short-and their senses with an invigorating long-term car rental solutions. douche at the four spa-inspired shower areas.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 7 AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Ryanair staff celebrated the airline’s first flights to Jordan Ryanair Launch 14 New Flights from Europe to Jordan

EXPANDING ITS MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS, RYANAIR HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST FLIGHTS TO JORDAN yanair’s Amman year-round schedule includes 10 new routes, starting WITH 14 NEW ROUTES with Paphos from March, before growing to Bologna, Brussels Zaventem, Bucharest, Budapest, Krakow, Milan Bergamo, Prague, Vilnius and Warsaw TO AMMAN AND AQABA, Modlin from October. WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO The airline’s Aqaba Winter 2018 schedule includes new routes to Ath- DELIVER ALMOST 500,000 Rens, Cologne, Rome Ciampino and Sofia. Commenting on the addition of the new routes, H.E. Lina Mazhar Annab, chair- PASSENGERS ANNUALLY. woman, Jordan Tourism Board, said, “This is a significant development in Jordan’s travel industry. [...] Enhancing air connectivity is one of the key areas Jordan is focusing on, given its impact on unlocking economic growth through attracting business investment as well as spurring tourism [...].”

Air Cairo Linking Sharm Qatar Airways Announce Services to El Sheikh with Naples Turkey’s Hatay

atar Airways is scheduled to launch new direct flights to Hatay, Turkey on April 04. The new three times per week service is the airline’s fifth gateway into Turkey, and Q will be undertaken by an Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in business class and 132 seats in economy class. The airline currently operates direct flights to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport three times daily, to Istanbul Atatürk Airport 10 times weekly, to Adana Şakirpaşa Airport three times weekly and daily to Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport. Naples becomes the airline’s third Italian route H.E. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, outlined, “Turkey is continuing to grow in popularity with our passengers for both business and leisure purposes, attracting travellers who ir Cairo has commenced flights between wish to enjoy its rich culture.” Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and Naples, Italy. A The new service began on January 26, with the link becoming the airline’s second year- round route to Italy from the Egyptian airport. It follows the year-round route to Milan, with Rome being served during the summer season. Initially being flown weekly on Airbus A320 aircraft, the frequency of the 2,325 km route will increase to three times weekly for the summer period. In 2017, Egyptian Tourism Authority’s (ETA) Italy office announced a strategic partnership project between ETA and Italian Federation of Travel & Tour- ism Associations (FIAVET). Jacopo De Ria, president, FIAVET, commented that Sharm El Sheikh will be advertised throughout Italy through the 1,000 tourism companies which are FIAVET members.

8 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AIR

Royal Jordanian Allows for Staff Emirates Adds Voluntary Release Chile to its Network, Increases Sao oyal Jordanian (RJ) and the General Union for Air Transport signed, on Paulo Flights R January 29, a collective agreement giving RJ staff the choice to obtain a voluntary release from the job between the mirates announced it will period February 01 and March 31, subject launch a new service from to the airline’s approval. E Dubai to Chile’s Santiago In- As per the agreement, employees have ternational Airport, via Sao Paulo, the option to submit a request to be re- Brazil from July 05. leased from service, with them being given The new service is set to see a half-month salary for each year of service. SalamAir is labelled as being Oman’s first budget airline Emirates fly an additional five The agreement was signed by Stefan times a week, complementing the Pichler, CEO, RJ, and Yousef Qannab, head, airline’s existing daily A380 flight General Union, Air Transport and Tourism, SalamAir Reveals Multan between Dubai and Sao Paulo, tak- and comes in line with the carrier’s turna- ing it to 12 weekly services. round plan to achieve sustainable profit- Flight Destination Emirates' Santiago flight will ability by reducing manpower. be a linked service with Sao Paulo, At the signing ceremony, Qannab ex- meaning that customers in South pressed the Union’s appreciation for the America can now travel between employees’ great efforts. fter securing final clearances from Pakistan’s aviation au- the two cities. thorities, SalamAir has announced plans to operate three The new route will be operated A direct flights to Multan from Muscat, starting February 08. with a two-class configured Boeing As its third destination in Pakistan, Multan will complement 777-200LR which offers 38 busi- flydubai the airline’s current flights to Sialkot and Karachi. ness class seats and 264 economy SalamAir is exploring other underserved destinations across class seats. Launched the country, including Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad, accord- Tim Clark, president, Emirates Flights from ing to Mohamed Ahmed, CEO, SalamAir. Airline, stated, “The start of our “The Pakistani community makes up about 13 percent of local operations to Chile underlines our Sheremetyevo expatriates working in Oman, it is therefore no surprise that this commitment to South America with route has been one of the highest in demand,” outlined Ahmed. our fourth destination on the continent. […] We are pleased to add a lydubai which launched daily destination that has been in strong flights from Sheremetyevo In- demand from our customers […].” f ternational Airport in Moscow in November 2017, has announced Etihad Expands Nigeria Services that it is offering passengers from Russia the opportunity to be the first to enjoy a new travel experi- tihad Airways is to add two The route will continue to be oper- ence on board the airline’s latest additional weekly flights to ated by a two-class Airbus A330, aircraft Boeing 737 MAX 8. E its popular Abu Dhabi-Lagos with 22 business class seats and With the introduction of the route, making it a daily service. 240 economy class seats. new aircraft, flydubai has launched The new Tuesday and Thursday Since launching the Lagos a new cabin offering which features services are due to start on May 01. route in July 2012, Etihad has car- a flat-bed in business class, in addi- ried almost 600,000 passengers tion to extra space and privacy. between Abu Dhabi and the com- flydubai's economy class offers mercial heart of Nigeria. new RECARO seats, which are de- Guests travelling to Lagos can signed to optimise space and com- expect to enjoy services provided fort for passengers. flydubai also of- by a multinational cabin crew, in- fers inflight entertainment with a full cluding onboard nannies, extensive HD, screen, featuring a wide selec- in-flight entertainment selections, tion of movies, TV shows, music and and a choice of complimentary in- games in English, Arabic and Russian. ternational meals and beverages. In addition, the Boeing Sky in- Depending on the class of trav- terior provides passengers with a el, passengers can have a baggage Santiago de Chile is one of the largest more relaxing travel environment. allowance of two bags up to 32 kg cities in the Americas each in business class.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 9 AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Saudia adds Another Airbus Qatar Airways Nouvelair Expands A320-200 to its Fleet Arrives at Pattaya Tunisia – Europe

audia has acquired its 44th Airbus A320-200 as recorded by the Services atar Airways’ first direct Centre for Aviation (CAPA) Fleet Database. non-stop flight to the holi- S The plane was delivered to International Airfinance Corpora- Q day destination of Pattaya tion (IAFC) and leased to the airline. CAPA added that Saudia is also ex- ouvelair announced plans to op- has touched down at U-Tapao pected to lease a further 15 such aircraft from IAFC. erate new routes to France and Rayong Pattaya International The Airbus A320-200 reportedly has a 17.8 cm cross-section advan- N Italy for the upcoming summer Airport, inaugurating the airline’s tage over its direct competitor aircraft, providing wider passenger seats, 2018 season. newest Thai destination. a larger aisle for boarding and disembarking, and easier movement dur- The Tunisian airline is scheduled to This is the airline’s fifth route ing flight. start weekly services from Monastir to to the Southeast Asian country, Airbus also outlined that the aircraft performs exceptionally well in both Lille and Nantes, France starting and the first new route launch hot and sandy conditions, which are common across the Middle East April 07. for Qatar Airways this year, as it and Gulf region. The airline is also due to operate continues the rapid expansion of weekly flights from Monastir to Verona, its global route network. Italy from June 11 to September 17. Flight QR828 touched down In 2012, Nouvelair initiated a new on January 29 and was wel- strategic approach with the launch of comed with a traditional water increased regular flights to France. cannon salute. Operating from Monastir, Djerba, Qatar Airways’ new four- Enfidha and Tunis, the airline now offers times-a-week service to Pattaya services to more than 30 destinations, will be serviced by Boeing B787 with its Airbus A320 fleet, which cur- Dreamliner aircraft. rently includes 11 aircraft.

10 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AIR

EgyptAir Selects Jazeera Begins Kochi Service Safran Maintenance

ochi has become Jazeera Airways’ third route in India, following its recent Hyderabad and gyptAir has contracted Safran Na- Ahmedabad launches. celles to deliver maintenance servic- K Kochi flights from the Kuwaiti carrier have, since January 18, been operating each Monday, E es on thrust reversers for the airline’s Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Airbus A330 fleet. Rohit Ramachandran, CEO, Jazeera Airways, commented, “We have been persistent about The A330s are powered by Rolls-Royce strengthening our Indian network. Looking at how Jazeera has successfully launched flights into Trent 700 engines, with Safran serving as three new cities, brings us enormous pride. the original equipment manufacturer for "Kochi is a popular destination for tourism and medical visits and we see these as growing seg- Trent 700 thrust reversers. ments out of the Kuwait market. In addition, we will offer a welcome choice to friends and relatives Service will include both scheduled wanting to connect with their families in both Kerala and Kuwait.” soft time maintenance as well as preven- tive primary maintenance. They will be per- formed at specific operator-chosen inter- vals, adjusted to coincide with the airline’s operational schedule, while also facilitating coverage for unscheduled repair work and asset management.

Jazeera flies to over 20 destinations across the Middle East, Europe and India

Royal Jordanian to be Handling Agent for JPJETs

oyal Jordanian (RJ) and Jordanian Private Jets Services (JPJets) signed an agreement on February 01, where Jordan’s national airline will be the handling agent for all JPJets’ charter flights operating at Amman’s Queen R Alia International Airport and King Hussein International Airport, Aqaba. Centre Left; Mohamed Selougha, sales director, The agreement includes baggage, cabin appearance, cargo handlings, warehouse and meet and assist services. Safran Nacelles, Centre Right; Yousef Wahby Yousef, Stefan Pichler, CEO, RJ, said, “This collaboration marks a significant step forward for both companies, delivering marketing and business development manager, maintenance and engineering, Egyptair the finest VIP services to the private aviation sector for ultimate customer satisfaction.” Pichler further noted that the airline holds IATA's Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification.

Emirates to Launch Dubai-Newark Flights Airbus Begins Demonstration Tour for A350-1000

irbus A350-1000, its newest member, has embarked on a three-week dem- Aonstration tour to the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. The demonstration tour follows the com- pletion of a successful flight test campaign, which lasted less than one year and culmi- nated in joint EASA and FAA type certifica- Newark is among the US' major air, shipping and rail hubs tions, demonstrating its design, performance and maturity. The A350-1000 tour comes mirates will introduce a new non-stop service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Dubai ahead of the first customer delivery to Qatar from June 01, adding to the existing daily flight which operates with a stop via Athens. Airways. E The new non-stop service will be operated with an Emirates Boeing B777-300ER, offering eight suites in During the tour, the flight test aircraft first class, 42 seats in business, 306 in economy class, and 19 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity. will visit 12 destinations, with stops in Doha, This new timing complements the existing Emirates service, as it provides travellers with a new option of a Muscat, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Hanoi, morning arrival in Newark, and a morning departure. Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Auckland, The new route is expected to benefit nearly 700,000 Indian Americans residing in the greater New York area, Tokyo and Manila. who will have one-stop access to nine Indian cities on Emirates’ global network.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 11 INTERNATIONAL AFRICA www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Rare Dinosaur Fossil Discovered in Egypt

n extremely rare dinosaur fossil find in Africa was recently discovered in Egypt’s Sa- hara desert, dating back to the late Cretaceous period, 96 to 66 million years ago. The dinosaur was named Mansourasaurus after Mansoura University Verte- brate Palaeontology research led to its discovery. The giant dinosaur belongs to the Titanosauria group since it had a long neck, Awas the length of a school bus, ate plants, had bony plates in its skin and weighed around 5,000 kg. The discovery revealed that the fossil is closely related to other fossils found in Europe, Researchers took 150 years longer to trace dinosaur evolution in Africa which showed that dinosaurs moved between Africa and Europe.

Hilton makes Cape Tanzania’s Growing Protect Pendjari Verde Debut Tourist Arrivals National Park

ilton marked the official open- anzania’s economy received a ational Geographic, African ing of its new 241-room resort major economic boost from Parks, Wyss Foundation and on the Island of Sal, Cape Verde, tourism, with foreign exchange Republic of Benin, announced announcing the company’s de- earnings of USD2.16 billion a joint partnership with the but in the country. (TZS4.8 trillion), in the year end- aim to protect and revitalise HHilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort boasts a Ting November 2017. NBenin’s Pendjari National Park. natural stone pool set within a tropical gar- The financial injection into the economy The four partners announced that they den. Guests can also enjoy a 24-hour fitness from the tourism sector was down to many are initially committing more than USD23 centre and a kids club with children’s pool factors, including extra budgetary allocations million to safeguard the park. and nautical centre for diving and sailing for tourist sector promotion initiatives and This globally important reserve, the adventures. The hotel also features a beauty the consolidation of diplomatic relations. last stronghold for many key species in salon and Hilton's signature Spa concept. According to Bank of Tanzania’s latest West Africa, is facing major threats, such as Guests and local residents can enjoy Monthly Economic Review, in November, poaching, demographic pressure on sur- a variety of dining options, including The 2016 foreign exchange earnings recorded rounding land, and exponential resource Bounty Beach Club, a pool bar, the Cize bar were USD2.1 billion. The Central Bank’s erosion. and all-day dining restaurant Magellan. Monthly Economic Review: December 2017 For almost two decades, African Parks Over 1,000 m2 of meeting and events noted that the foreign exchange earnings has implemented a successful private- space, includes a 300 m2 ballroom with high from travel, also rose to USD2.15 billion in public partnership model to conserve ceilings. the year ending November 2017. Africa’s wildlife.

Malawi’s Tourism Industry Enjoying a Transformation

alawi’s tourism industry witnessed a ground-breaking year in 2017, with that growth set to continue this year, according to Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium. Wildlife transformations are underway with Malawi’s safari experiences now starting to match its other tourism attractions as it emerges as one of Africa’s most com- plete destinations. MHelping its 2017 growth considerably was the ground-breaking #500Elephants project completed during the year, with it being the largest elephant translocation in human history. Also, Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve welcomed a new, affordable camp in 2017, while Liwonde, Malawi is nicknamed Malawi’s premier park is to see the opening of a new Robin Pope Safaris camp in April 2018. Nkho- "The Warm Heart of Africa" takota’s Kachenga and Tongole camps are also planned.

12 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel AMERICAS INTERNATIONAL

First Gordon Ramsay Hell’s WestJet Expands Vancouver Kitchen Opens Flights, Launches Mexico Route

ordon Ramsay, multi-Michelin star chef and television personality, has celebrated the official grand opening of the first-ever Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Since its soft opening in early January, the high- Gly-anticipated restaurant had already received reservations for nearly 25,000 guests by its January 27 official debut. Designed to be an experiential and immersive destination restaurant, transporting guests to the FOX television show studio set, the venue seats nearly 300 diners and features indoor and Las Vegas Strip-adjacent dining. Currently offering lunch and dinner daily, the eatery also boasts a spirited bar menu. Signature creations include the gin- based Notes from Gordon, garnished with a scroll printed with a surprise note from Ramsay.

Vancouver, Canada

estJet has enhanced its schedule and connectivity from its Vancouver hub to key business and leisure destinations in Canada and Mexico. The Canadian low-cost airline added 60 additional weekly flights in order to provide its pas- Wsengers with more flexibility when travelling. WestJet’s biggest service increase is between Vancouver and Calgary, which has jumped from 88 flights per week to 112 times weekly. Other destinations from Vancouver to see weekly flight increases are Edmonton, Kelowna, Ottawa, Regina, Fort St. John, Victoria, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. On March 15, WestJet is scheduled to launch a three-time weekly service between Vancouver and Mexico City with the route then expected to move to daily service on April 29. Overall, West- Ramsay is among the world's top celebrity chefs Jet will operate an average of 765 daily flights to 92 destinations this summer.

American Constitution Inaugural Cruise

merican Cruise Lines’ new ship Maryland crab throughout their journey American Constitution is sched- back in time to the dawn of America. uled to, on April 18, make its Roundtrip from Baltimore, this 10-day, inaugural cruise on Chesapeake 11-night cruise makes stops in Norfolk, Bay with an all new American Williamsburg, Yorktown, Washington DC, ARevolution itinerary. Mount Vernon, Cambridge, St. Michaels, The new itinerary celebrates a region Annapolis, and Chestertown. steeped in American history. The cruise will American Cruise Lines has organised further highlight Chesapeake Bay, known as Revolutionary War experts, historians, au- the Blue Crab Capitol of the World, as guests thors and re-enactors to bring history to life American Constitution savour local recipes and enjoy the freshest for passengers on the cruise.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 13 INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Seahawks and Delta Sustainability Hilton’s Collection Partnership Launch Expansion

s part of the Seattle Seahawks' ongoing sustainability efforts, Delta Air Lines, the ilton’s Collection brands kick off team’s official airline, has offset carbon emissions from the kilometers the Seahawks this year with more than 75 ho- travelled during the 2017 season by purchasing 1,080 carbon credits from Cedar tels in the combined Curio Col- Grove Composting. lection by Hilton and Tapestry The Seahawks travelled approximately 41,341 km for road games during the 2017 Collection by Hilton pipeline. Aregular season on the airlines’ charter flights. HCurio Collection comprises nearly 50 Delta Air Line's carbon offset programme, which launched in 2007, was the first offered by upper upscale hotels around the world and a US carrier to allow travellers to offset travel emissions by investing in environmentally-friendly will be opening more in destinations such as projects around the world. Portland, Costa Rica and Iceland. Tapestry Collection, which launched in 2017, will boast more than double its existing portfolio of independent, upscale hotels and open in landmark cities such as Wash- ington. "Our robust pipeline will soon bring Curio Collection by Hilton to over 100 hotels and resorts by 2020," said Mark Nogal, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton. "Through our expansion, travellers will be able to experience authentic travel [...]."

Holiday Inn Lima Airport Hotel Debuts Icelandair Returns to San Francisco nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the new-build, 179-room Holiday Inn Lima Airport hotel, just five minutes from Jorge Chavez Interna- tional Airport. celandair has brought back the international ser- The two-tower, eight-storey property is the second brand to be intro- vice from San Francisco International Airport to Ice- duced by IHG in the capital city of Peru. land and beyond. I Amenities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, free airport shut- Seasonal flights are scheduled to begin on June tle transfers, nine meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 500 guests, as well 01 with four non-stop flights a week to Iceland on as Wi-Fi with IHG Connect. The address also boasts several dining options. IMondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and easy connections to and from more than 25 European destinations. Service from San Francisco will be carried out by one of Icelandair’s Boeing B767s, featuring three cabins New 351-Room Grand Hyatt Hotel for of service, more legroom, in-flight entertainment and Cayman Islands gate-to-gate Wi-Fi.

yatt Hotels Corporation has entered into an agreement with Pag- eant Beach Hotel for the 351-room Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Ho- tel & Residences. The property will be located on Seven Mile Beach and will offer studio suites, and one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. HAdditional amenities include six food and beverage venues, a 2,743 m2 destination spa and fitness centre, three swimming pools, retail shops, kids club, and a state of the art screening room. San Francisco The resort is planned to have 7,620 m2 of indoor meeting and event space.

14 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL

Cathay Pacific Partners with Pure World-class Optus Yoga for In-Flight Experience Stadium Officially Opens

he world-class 60,000 seat Optus Sta- dium has officially opened, with a free Community Open Day marking the milestone on January 21. The Stadium will allow Perth to host Tnational and international sporting, arts, and music events, which will attract more visitors, help to fill the hotel rooms coming online in the next few years, and provide exposure for Western Australia and its transformation. Optus Stadium will also encourage more interstate AFL fans to travel to Perth to watch their teams Travel Well with Yoga play, allowing Tourism WA to promote Optus Sta- dium matches to interstate travellers. athay Pacific has partnered with Pure Yoga to launch a new inflight well- being programme, Travel Well with Yoga. In harmony with the airline’s Life Well Travelled campaign, the series of videos have been developed by esteemed Pure Yoga instructors to help passengers ease into their journey with yoga and meditation ex- Cercises and tips. Passengers can now view the yoga programme in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese across all Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon routes by accessing the Lifestyle section on their in-flight screens. Simon Cuthbert, manager, entertainment, platforms and connectivity, Cathay Pa- cific, said, “We all know that sitting still for a long period of time can be uncomfortable. Optus Stadium The need to get up, move and get your blood pumping is important during a flight.”

Tourism New Zealand Holiday Inn Serangoon Hyatt Centric Ginza Release Touring Map Nearing Opening Tokyo Opens Doors

ourism New Zealand’s official visi- nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has yatt has officially established tor information network, i-SITE, announced the signing of a new prop- Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, the released a Chinese version of its erty in Singapore: Holiday Inn Express first Hyatt Centric hotel in the popular touring map, designed to Singapore Serangoon, with it due to Asia Pacific region. support the 400,000 annual tour- open this year. Located in cosmopolitan Tists arriving from China each year, with key I Created in partnership with Toledo Inter- HGinza, the 164-room hotel provides a per- targeted driver safety information. national, this latest addition to the Holiday fect launchpad for guests to explore the The map has been designed to equip Inn Express portfolio is located in Jalan Besar, city’s diverse shopping, dining and enter- Chinese visitors with detailed information an emerging hip and creative area. tainment offerings. about driving on the left side of the road, Anticipated to open this year, the new 120- The featured art in the lobby, eleva- driving to the weather conditions, wearing room address will be situated at the crossroads tor, hallways and other public spaces, as seatbelts, giving right of way, overtaking and of Little India and Serangoon, and close to Sin- well as the guestrooms, echo the spirit of any potential hazards on their route. gapore’s main commercial and industrial areas. the streets outside, inviting exploration. Both Chinese and English language tour- Holiday Inn Express Singapore Seran- The use of screens enables art displays to ing maps also highlight i-SITE visitor centre goon is also being designed to feature a be switched at different times of day, and locations, police contact information, free- fitness centre, meeting and laundry facilities, guest room floors have alternating themes dom camping, and themed highways across and Great Room with a complimentary guest and colour schemes, aiming to encourage a New Zealand, to name just a few. breakfast buffet. fresh feeling each time guests return.

17 FEBRUARY 2018 15 RENDEZVOUS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

WHILE EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO MAKE KUWAIT STAND OUT AS A LEISURE DESTINATION, NOT JUST A BUSINESS HUB, DIDIER JARDIN, GENERAL MANAGER, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL THE COUNTRY AT BURJ ALSHAYA, EXPLAINS WHY THE COUNTRY BOASTS AN AUTHENTIC CULTURE.

Q&A with Didier Jardin GENERAL MANAGER, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How successful was TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Why do you believe English wife, which displays 30,000 items collected 2017 for your organisation? What are your ex- travellers should choose Kuwait for sea activities? over a period of 50 years. Here, you will find several pectations for 2018? interesting collections of artefacts from all over the DIDIER JARDIN: Travellers to Kuwait will enjoy ex- Islamic world, Asia and the Far East. DIDIER JARDIN: 2017 was an exceptional year for ploring the diverse range of sea activities like div- Four Seasons. As part of our plans to further ex- ing, snorkelling and kayaking owing to the warm TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What else can visitors ex- pand our presence in the Middle East, we officially and shallow waters of Kuwait Bay. Beginners and perience in Kuwait if they visit for leisure purposes? unveiled Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya expert divers and snorkelers alike can look forward on November 06, 2017 and it was our honour to be to enjoying diving in the islands of Kubar and Umm DIDIER JARDIN: Travellers from the Middle East graced by the presence of H. H. Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- al-Maradim, which are home to several interesting and beyond have increasingly started making deci- Hamad Al-Sabah, prime minister, Kuwait, during the ocean wildlife species, or in Donkey Reef. sions on destinations based on the culinary experi- inauguration ceremony. Guests can also try Dive Caroline at Messilah ences these places have to offer, particularly those Our hotel also represents a new era of Kuwaiti hos- Water Village or the five-star PADI at KIM Centre focusing on unusual dishes and fresh combinations pitality, as the country swiftly moves towards becom- for diving and snorkelling trips to outer islands of by up-and-coming chefs. ing a regional and financial hub by 2035, as outlined in Kubar and Umm al-Maradim. Kuwait’s buzzing scene of local markets and the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP). Those new to diving can even obtain certifica- must-visit restaurants is driving a movement by en- This year, we aim to embrace the tourism boom tion from one of the several diving schools in Ku- trepreneurs to make Kuwait City the World’s Food and keep delivering on our Four Seasons promise. wait City. Capital by 2030, which in turn, is enticing foodies We are excited to showcase the destination in a new Those interested in kayaking can visit KIM Cen- from far-and-wide to discover the country’s vibrant light through our hotel and invite guests to discover tre, which organises kayaking tours for beginners gastronomic culture. Kuwaiti culture, gastronomic delights, architecture, and experienced kayakers. and a wide array of entertainment and attractions. TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your future TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What do you think plans to attract more leisure tourists? TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your main makes Kuwaiti culture stand out and why should feeder markets and what are the reasons they travellers explore this aspect? DIDIER JARDIN: In the future, we will continue to choose Kuwait as a destination? deliver to our guests an exquisite hotel experience DIDIER JARDIN: There are many attractions in Ku- that will keep bringing them back to Four Seasons DIDIER JARDIN: Our main feeder market includes a wait City that offer visitors the chance to familiarise Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya. mix of business and leisure travellers from the GCC themselves with Kuwaiti culture. To realise the true We pride ourselves on our unerring devotion to region, the UK and a few European nations. essence of Kuwait’s culture, I ask travellers to visit services that are attuned with guest needs and our Kuwait is an emerging travel destination and The Grand Mosque, a destination for a truly memo- passionate team is constantly pushing itself to sur- expects more than 570,0000 international visitors rable experience. pass their expectations. by 2027. As a part of KNDP, the main airport is un- Visitors interested in Kuwait’s history must also In addition to this, we plan on promoting the dergoing a USD4.3 billion expansion, which will al- visit Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Arts, a private MICE segment, which we believe presents a huge low it to accommodate up to 25 million passengers. museum belonging to Tareq Sayed Rajab and his opportunity for Kuwait's tourism industry.

16 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel WHO’S MOVED

LOUIS ARNAUD has been ap- MARK POWERS has assumed pointed as the new manager the position of group chief fi- for Amadeus Gulf, Oman. nancial officer at Etihad Avia- Arnaud comes with more tion Group (EAG). than 15 years of global sales Powers joins EAG from Tulane and leadership experienc- University’s A.B. Freeman School es in the Middle East and of Business, where he was a pro- Europe. fessor of finance. Having held Having supervised the de- senior leadership roles at major livery of landmark sales and airlines including JetBlue, Pow- commercial projects within ers most recently held the posi- the travel industry, Arnaud tion of chief financial officer. will now support travel and In his new role, Powers will be tourism companies across responsible for finance function the country, including air- across the group’s five divisions; lines, hotels, travel agencies, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways to name a few, in their efforts Engineering, Etihad Airport Ser- to better connect, serve, and vices, Hala Group and Airline manage their offerings to lo- Equity Partners will fall under cal travellers. his role. He will report directly Arnaud’s track record and to Tony Douglas, group CEO, expertise is expected to help Etihad Aviation Group. Amadeus to both deepen Louis Mark Powers and broaden its relation Arnaud Powers will be ships with the Omani travel responsible for the industry. group’s five divisions

MARC DESCROZAILLE has MARWAN FADEL has been been promoted to president, named general manager of The Middle East and Africa (MEA) St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, of Mövenpick Hotels & Re- Abu Dhabi. sorts, effective February 01. Fadel began his career work- Having joined the hospitality ing for Sheraton Hotels & Re- firm in 2017 as vice president sorts, and was promoted to operations, MEA, Descrozaille several senior management will now take the helm from roles within the company. Andreas Mattmüller, chief op- Seven years later, he became erating officer, MEA, who has area director of sales and mar- retired from his role. keting for Starwood Hotels Descrozaille came to Möv- & Resorts’ Dubai properties enpick from Carlson Rezidor before becoming hotel man- where he was area vice presi- ager of The St. Regis Saadiyat dent for the firm’s Africa and Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. Indian Ocean operations. In his new role, Fadel will over- Descrozaille has significant see all management func- experience working in the tions, hotel operations, and Middle East region, having new innovations, aiming to also been employed as re- achieve planned goals for the gional director, UAE, Egypt, Marc Marwan resort. Jordan and Oman for the hotel group. He has also held key Descrozaille Fadel executive positions at several Fadel will oversee all major hospitality companies. management functions

17 FEBRUARY 2018 17 TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Abu Dhabi will become the first city in the Middle East to host the Special Olympics Sharjah Light Festival Cape Verde Illuminates Cultural Records Heritage Loggerhead Sea Turtle Increase Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced details of the eighth edition of Sharjah Light Festival. From February 07 – 17, internationally renowned artists participated in the festival showcasing their work in popular locations under the theme Culture in Sharjah. The details were unveiled during a press conference at Al Hisn Fort Museum, with the festival Loggerhead Sea Turtles set to include 23 shows covering 18 popular loca- Etihad Supporting tions across the emirate, curated by more than 24 artists from 10 countries. Cape Verdean environmental conserva- Special Olympics H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman, SCTDA, tion organisations, Projeto Biodiversidade said that the Authority has worked over the past and BIOS.CV, have jointly contributed, seven years to diversify the festival’s activities as with the support of RIU Hotels & Resorts, Etihad Aviation Group reinforced its commitment well as promote the emirate’s scientific, cultural to increase the number of loggerhead sea to Special Olympics IX MENA Games and Special and artistic successes. turtle nests around the archipelago. Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 with the Projeto Biodiversidade recorded launch of an employee volunteer programme. 7,634 new nests in 2017, twice as many as The initiative aims to recruit 500 employee 2016’s 4,120 nests, while BIOS.CV in Boa volunteers for the upcoming Special Olympics IX Vista recorded 4,688 nests, consolidating MENA Games in March, and a further 1,000 volun- a very significant and steady increase. teers for the World Games 2019, both of which will Considering that the loggerhead take place in Abu Dhabi. is among the 11 most endangered sea The Special Olympics IX MENA Games 2018 turtle species on the planet, RIU Hotels & are set to take place between March 14 – 22. Resorts, BIOS and Projeto Biodiversidade Meanwhile, the Special Olympics World decided to strengthen their partnership Games Abu Dhabi 2019 is forecast to bring more in order to protect the country’s wildlife. than 7,000 athletes from 170 nations to Abu Dha- RIU finances the structural expenses bi and will require 1,000 volunteers. of the non-governmental organisations Tony Douglas, group CEO, Etihad, commented, and collaborates in sustaining volun- “We are honoured to [...] provide our employees teers, while BIOS and Projeto Biodiversi- with the opportunity to support this major event.” dade focus on species survival.

Details of this year’s Festival were unveiled to the media

Bangladesh Aiming to Improve Wildlife Tourism

Bangladesh government ministry officials recently participated in a sustainable tourism and wildlife workshop to enhance their knowledge and share good practices. Within the framework of the UNWTO/Chimelong Initiative on wildlife and sustainable tourism, implemented between 2017 and this year, 30 officials attended the workshop that was held in Dhaka. Particular focus was given to the critically endangered royal bengal tiger, found around one of Bangladesh’s World Heritage sites, The Sundarbans. Additionally, the workshop also included a revision of good practices related to wildlife-based tourism across the Asia Pacific region, which gave participants the opportunity to make recommendations towards fostering the country’s wildlife tourism sector.

The Sundarbans is considered one of the natural wonders of the world

18 17 FEBRUARY 2018 www.traveltradeweekly.travel PHOTO ALBUM

Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.

Send your photos to Pop icon and singer Diana Haddad recently visited Emirates Hospital Jumeriah [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Renowned Indian fashion designers Shantanu and Nikhil are pictured with Etihad Airways’ Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free sponsored Qatar Total Open Womens Tennis cabin crew during the airline’s Runway to Runway loyalty programme promotion at Lakmé Tournament Fashion Week in Mumbai, India

Dubai's Waterfront Market awarded local fisherman Jassim Moham- mad Ali Abdullah Al Marzouqi the prize for catching the biggest King Heart of Sharjah showcased the emirate's cultural progress during Sharjah Light Festival Fish of the season weighing 28 kg

17 FEBRUARY 2018 19 NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

EVENTS ADIBS Attends Boot Düsseldorf

ITB BERLIN delegation from Abu Dhabi International Boat of ADIBS at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Berlin, Germany Show (ADIBS) visited Boot Düsseldorf, described (ADNEC) from October 17 – 20 March 07 – 11 Aas one of the largest premier marine shows for Organised by ADNEC, in association with British www.itb-berlin.de/en yachting, watersports and fishing. Marine, ADIBS is expected to draw the participation of Hailed as a leading travel trade The ADIBS team’s participation, alongside partners 150 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors. show, ITB Berlin is the foremost business platform for global British Marine and Superyacht UK, aimed at increasing Catering to marine industry professionals, boating touristic offers. awareness of industry prospects within the burgeon- enthusiasts and families that enjoy a day out on the ing leisure marine industry. water, the event will feature 75 boats berthed at the The UAE capital is set to host the inaugural edition on-site show marina that was recently extended.

ADNEC’s marina

ATM ITB China Introduces New Networking Platform

Dubai, UAE April 22 – 25 aking place in Shanghai from May 16 – 18, Carlson Wagonlit Travel China and BCD Travel are arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com ITB China is offering business travel market the event’s exclusive partners with Jonathan Kao, B2B exhibition showcasing over professionals its first ever Business Travel managing director, Greater China, BCD Travel, 2,800 products and destinations T from around the world to over Day training and networking platform. Kevin Tan, vice president, CITS American Express 28,000 travel trade visitors. On May 17, practical workshops with up-to- Global Business Travel, and KJ Wu, deputy general date information on methods and strategies are manager, Carlson Wagonlit Travel China, all wel- designed to provide both career newcomers and coming the initiative. corporate travel managers with first-hand knowl- Admission to the Business Travel Day is free for edge and updates. visitors. ITB China generally welcomes some 15,000 IMEX CITS American Express Global Business Travel, participants. Frankfurt, Germany May 15 –17 www.imex-frankfurt.com IMEX opens its doors to 5,200 global decision makers with qualified buying power, including the First Abu Dhabi Publishing Forum valuable German outbound market.

he Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi on January 30 and 31 organised the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Publishing ILTM - ASIA PACIFIC T Forum under the theme Transformations and Achievements in the Singapore Publishing Industry: The Emirati Experience. May 21 – 24 The forum, taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat, hosted expert Arab www.iltm.com/asiapacific and foreign publishers and writers representing institutions and cen- Targeting the Asia outbound tre’s from around the world. market, ILTM Asia Pacific will bring international suppliers face-to-face Through its eight sessions, the forum’s speakers and delegates with the very best regional buyers discussed the most significant developments and challenges facing and key international agents. publishing in the UAE in particular, as well as in the region in general, based on several main themes, including authorship and publishing. The forum also shed light on the latest developments in the publishing industry, providing an opportunity for information and expertise Publishing developments were exchange. discussed

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