PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT DWC SURGES 79.8 PERCENT

20 AUGUST 2016 ISSUE 354

QATAR WELCOMES 1.4 MILLION VISITORS

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Ajman: Over USD54 Million Tourism Earnings

KEMPINSKI UNVEILS BEIRUT RESORT

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

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MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel

MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

ASSISTANT EDITORRita Kasziba

JOURNALISTS

Memnon Arestis Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS

Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou

SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu

DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou

WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

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Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com

INCREASED DEMAND FOR AIR CARGO

MAJID AL FUTTAIM GROWS REVENUE

A year-on-year boast of 4.3 percent in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) was observed in data for global demand in June, as indicated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Majid Al Futtaim reported solid financial growth for the first half of the year (H1).

This was the fastest pace of growth recorded in 14 months. Capacity measured in avail-able FTK jumped 4.9 percent from the same period in 2015. Freight requirements boomed with the Middle East and Europe posting the strongest demand surge in June with year-on-year increases of eight and 5.1 percent, respectively.

“We will continue watching developments closely, keeping in mind that the air freight busi-ness environment is fragile,” commented Tony Tyler, director general, IATA.

The firm has accumulated an overall group revenue of AED15.2 billion (USD4.14 billion), an 11 percent jump over H1 2015, while posting AED1.9 billion (USD517.3 million) in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation, indicating a seven percent year-on-year increase.

The company has commenced the construction of the 103,000 m2 City Centre Almaza in Cairo, and Aloft City Centre Deira. Further achievements include the opening of 11 new Carrefour stores and the launch of the first outdoor VOX Cinemas concept in Deira. The enterprise has outlined furter long-term investment plans in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman.

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Qatar (QAR)

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

UAE (AED)

Algeria (DZD)

Egypt (EGP)

Iran (IRR)

Iraq (IQD)

Kuwait (KWD)

Lebanon (LBP)

Libya (LYD)

Morocco (MAD)

Syria (SYP)

Tunisia (TND)

Yemen (YER)

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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

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VisitorsIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR (H1), 1.4 MILLION TRAVELLERS ENTERED QATAR, SIX PERCENT LESS THAN IN THE EQUIVALENT PERIOD IN 2015, DUE TO THE TIMING OF RAMADAN.T he six-month period saw a year-on-year decrease of 15 percent in oc-

cupancy rates, with a country-wide average of 64 percent, a result of a 10 percent net increase of available rooms. Average room rates across the industry stood at QAR500 (USD137.3) and RevPAR was recorded at QAR319 (USD87.6)

Saudi Arabia remained the largest source market, and was responsible for a tenth of the GCC market’s seven percent growth, while the volume of UAE tourists climbed 13 percent.

With this year’s cruise season set to deliver a ten-fold rise in the number of lin-ers, arrivals are expected to rise over the next months.

QATAR WELCOMES 1.4 MILLION

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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

T he booking and dispatch centre of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)’s public transport agency has executed 2.9 million

booking requests placed by taxi riders in Dubai, during the first half of the year.

Abdullah Al Mahri, director, transport activi-ties monitoring, RTA, revealed that the time of dispatching a cab to a customer has dropped to 14.2 minutes, and the response time to incoming calls averaged at 34 seconds.

“During the first six months of this year, the centre received more than four million calls, […]. About 29,000 taxi booking requests were made through the smart taxi app,” he said.

Efficient Taxi Services in Dubai

T ourism in Ajman has escalated with a total of 272,021 visitors in the first half of the year (H1), resulting in revenue of AED200 million (USD54.45 million).

According to Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD), the total amount for the second quarter (Q2) was up 11 percent to AED92 million (USD25.04 million), with arrivals soaring to 129,617 compared to 119,376 in 2015. Occupancy rates for hotels and apartments during Q2 stood at 63 percent and 68 percent, respectively, with the number of guest nights reaching 293,512.

Locals represented the vast majority of travellers, followed by tourists from Asia, Africa, other Arab countries and the GCC, while European, Russian and American visitors made up more than 30,000 of the total number.

Ajman: Over USD54 Million Tourism Earnings

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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGY www.traveltradeweekly.travel

The operator agreement between Travelport and TP Services marks an important step in Tanzania’s travel industry, with tourism predicted to support 12 percent of employment in

the country by 2025. The partnership was revealed at a business gala, where delegates

had the opportunity to learn about the technology expert’s operator strategy in supporting the growth of agency associates in the African destination through the distribution of its travel commerce platform.

TP Services plans to enhance Travelport’s technology by offering additional service support and tailored product recommendations. Local travel agents will have access to a wealth of content, including the point of sale solution, Travelport Smartpoint, which helps to im-prove efficiency and provides opportunities for upselling.

Travelport Inks Deal with TP Services

Mount Kilimanjaro

Phocuswright Reveals Expanding Role of OTAs

The results showed a shift from offline to online booking as more travellers are drawn to the conveni-ence of online travel agencies (OTA), where users can compare a broad range of products on one site.

In developed markets, 61 – 75 percent of online accommodation shoppers visited an OTA, com-pared to 15 – 44 percent who accessed hotels’ website. A similar, but less pronounced trend was also observed with flight bookings.

It is predicted that by 2017, around 52 percent of all travel reservations in Europe will be made online, while in China, 60 percent of digital travel sites will be viewed on mobile devices.

In partnership with Expedia, Phocuswright has produced a white paper analysing online travel shopping trends.

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WEEKLY NEWS TECHNOLOGYwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

In an attempt to amplify its image, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) aligned its corporate existence with the Qatar destina-tion brand and unified the organisation’s online presence

under a single domain name. The initial phase of a new business website has been also

introduced by QTA further improving accessibility to updated information about ongoing plans, promotions and regulations by the authority to help establish a sustainable tourism sector. Additional initiatives involve publishing the website in more languages, including French, Italian and German, in order to enhance Qatar’s image as an attractive destination.

Qatar Boosts Online Presence

Since 2005, 1,252 digital travel start-ups were given USD32.6 billion in financing, with mobile ride-hailing apps obtaining more than half of

the total amount.Cathy Walsh, senior research analyst, Phocuswright,

noted, “The success of top funding recipients, includ-ing Uber and Airbnb, has also fuelled competitors across regions and inspired new start-up ecosystems supporting these and other marketplaces.”

Despite the huge rise in investment in the sector, 68 percent of financial backing was limited to the 10 most-funded companies between 2005 and this year’s first quarter. Walsh added that nine of these provided ground transportation and private accommodation.

Amongst horizontal-focussed organisations, near-ly 70 percent of monetary support was given to com-panies with booking at their core.

Ride-Hailing Apps Benefitfrom Start-up Funding

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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Kempinski Unveils Beirut Resort

Catering to the needs of global travellers and locals alike, the property’s 153 elegantly furnished rooms and suites over-look the Mediterranean Sea while the private bungalows, that are equipped with Jacuzzis, allow access to the beach. Other amenities include a marina, seven dining venues, a fitness zone, spa and wellness facilities with eight treatment

rooms, kids’ area and pools, as well as a variety of water sports activities. According to Dagmar Symes, general manager, Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort, the new address will not only be

unique to Beirut, but will provide authentic experiences with the highest quality of unparallelled personalised services. Following the resort’s launch, the hotel is scheduled to welcome its first guests in September.

A floatation therapy pool room has been unveiled at Jumeirah Emirates Towers’ Talise Spa, providing stress-relieving treatments to guests.

Utilising a combination of Epsom salt and water heated to precisely 36 degrees, the pool will allow visitors to float completely unaided, offering stress and anxiety relief, and solutions for pain and jet lag. Usage of the pool is said to deliver the benefits of eight hours of sleep.

The pool contains strategically added magnesium which leads to calmer nerves, reduced anxiety and better digestion.

Flotation therapy is considered particularly beneficial to those in stressful professions.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers Launches Healing Pool

Combining the magic of the Lebanese capital’s past with the European luxury of the present, Kempinski has launched the first phase of Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort in Beirut.

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WEEKLY NEWS ACCOMMODATIONwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

Guests at The Torch Doha can now book rooms, reserve tables, view menus and look for special offers through the hotel’s newly- launched mobile application.

As part of the property’s technological initiatives, visitors receive an iPad which provides a range of in-room solutions allowing them to con-trol lights, curtains and temperature or access Internet and music.

Sherif Sabry, hotel manager, The Torch Doha, noted that due to the increasing use of smartphones in the region and the changing needs of travellers, the digital platform is set to contribute to the improvement of services.

The new offering will also promote the growing tourism industry through social networking sites.

The Torch Doha Introduces Mobile App

Act One | Act Two, Dubai

Emaar Introduces Act One | Act Two

in Dubai

Emaar Properties is set to officially launch the brand new Act One | Act

Two residences, located in the heart of Dubai, adjacent to Dubai Opera.

The establishment com-prises two towers, one consist-ing of 52 and the second of 46 floors, boasting 718 units, which include one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments, with a limited collection of penthouses crowning the highest two levels.

Located within walking distance to The Dubai Mall, the building will include a health club, spa, infinity swimming pools, as well as retail shops and cafés.

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Dubai Maintains Occupancy but Drops RatesEmirates A380 Takes Over

Manchester Service

As of January 01, 2017, the replacement of the Boeing 777-300ER will mean that all Emirates flights to the UK destination will be operated by the iconic double-decker aircraft. The airline also unveiled plans to re-

schedule its current Airbus A380 service to Birmingham from the morning to the afternoon departure slot, in order to offer customers even more connections be-yond Dubai to other Airbus A380 destinations.

Emirates is to increase capacity by 11 percent between Dubai and Manchester with the deployment of a third daily Airbus A380 on the route.

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I raqi Airways has launched direct flights between the coun-try’s second largest airport, Basra International Airport and Tehran.Iraq’s national airline operates its newest service to the

Iranian capital three times a week, further extending its route map. The regular flights to the northern city were launched on August 07 as part of the carrier’s endeavours to improve con-nections between the two destinations and increase travel op-tions for passengers.

Iraqi Airways now serves five airports in Iran, including Isfa-han International Airport, Rasht Airport, Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran Mehrabad International Airport, and the recently added Mashhad International Airport.

Iraqi Airways Continues Regional Expansion

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T urkish Airlines has added twice-weekly direct flights from Ga-ziantep Airport to Erbil International Airport.

Following the start of the route on August 05, the airline now operates the return schedule on Mondays and Fridays. The new link to the Kurdistan region in Iraq is expected to provide more op-portunities for tourists to explore the destinations, offering greater accessibility and connectivity.

Turkish Airlines Launches Erbil Service

Erbil

https://www.cebupacificair.com/

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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Oman Air Maintains Growth Strategy

F ollowing its fleet and network expansion plan, Oman Air has signed a letter of intent with

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) for the sale and leaseback of two new Boe-ing 737-800 aircraft.

According to the airline’s 2014 de-velopment strategy, Oman’s national carrier is expected to increase its fleet to 70 airplanes by 2020, comprising of 45 narrow-body and 25 wide-body air-craft, reaching 75 international destina-tions.

The first of the two Boeings was delivered on July 25, while the second one is expected to join the airline’s base in Muscat this month.

Highlighting the importance of the deal, Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, deputy CEO, Oman Air, pointed out that the airline’s Boeing 737s are the backbone of the fleet.

J et Airways has introduced a daily service be-tween Sharjah and Mangaluru, complimenting the airline’s existing flights from the Indian city

to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.The new schedule increases connectivity from the

Gulf region to a number of cities across India, in a bid to further strengthen the carrier’s network and cater to the large number of Indian passengers travelling between the destinations.

Shakir Kantawala, vice president, Gulf, Middle East and North Africa, Jet Airways, commented, “With eco-nomic ties between the Gulf region and India flourish-ing, Jet Airways recognises the need to provide con-nectivity options to its guests.”

Jet Airways Launches Sharjah – Mangaluru Route

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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

C ebu Pacific Air has placed a firm order with Air-bus for two Airbus A330-300s. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of six A330s operated by

the airline on flights to destinations in the Middle East and Australia, as well on selected domestic and regional routes.

“The newly ordered aircraft will enable us to add more long haul routes, including the launch of our first flights to the US. We are excited to be expanding our wide-body fleet, offering more low fare options for our customers to fly further than ever before,” commented Lance Gokongwei, president, Cebu Pacific Air.

Best Western Adds

Beachfront Hotel in Japan

Best Western Hotels & Re-sorts has opened a beach-front property in Japan that

combines all the key elements of a tropical seaside vacation.

Located on the main island of Okinawa, Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach is set in a modern 10-storey building offering rooms ranging from the 30m² standard units to the 60m² deluxe rooms, all of which come equipped with free Wi-Fi.

The hotel boasts a beachfront restaurant, Kouki, serving Japa-nese and international cuisine.

Other facilities include a laun-dry, massage services and a busi-ness centre.

“Okinawa has always been a tourism hotspot for Japanese trav-ellers, and an increasing number of international visitors are now starting to discover this idyllic tropical island,” said Olivier Ber-rivin, managing director, interna-tional operations, Asia, Best West-ern Hotels & Resorts.

Cebu Pacific Works on Expanding Routes

Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach

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WHO’S MOVED www.traveltradeweekly.travel

SALEH FARAJAT has been re-cruited as country director of sales and marketing at Marri-ott International in Jordan. With over 17 years of experi-ence and remarkable leader-ship skills, Farajat has worked in many locations, including Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Ku-wait, UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US. His career commenced in 1998, at Mövenpick Resort Petra, where he worked as a front of-fice intern, and since then he has been employed in various capacities, such as director of sales at Sofitel City Centre Ho-tel & Residence, Dubai. Farajat joined Marriott Inter-national in 2009 and has since been progressing forward, exhibiting his charismatic leadership attributes whilst handling markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa and the US.

DANIEL GAVINS has become the first official golf ambas-sador for Fairmont The Palm, Dubai.Currently ranked in the top 200 on the European Tour, he turned professional in 2012. One of his greatest achieve-ments is his world record score of 93 in the TrackMan Com-bine Test.In his exclusive role as the face of the resort, Gavins will inter-act with the guests during golf clinics, where he will share insider tips and tricks. The sportsman will also support the promotion of Dubai as a must-visit golf destination.

ELIAS EL BAHRI has begun his new role as director of sales and marketing at Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Hotel.El Bahri started his 12-year ca-reer in the hospitality sector at Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel, Lebanon, from where he progressed to Four Points by Sheraton Beirut, prior to reaching Shangri La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. El Bahri was later responsible for the sales and events de-partment at Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suits Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. In his new position, he will monitor the sales and market-ing activities.

NUNO NEVES has been ap-pointed cluster general man-ager at Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radis-son Hotel & Residence Duqm, where he will oversee day-to-day operations.Neves began his career as a flight attendant, before gain-ing over 22 years of experience in the hotel industry, notably in food and beverage. He joined Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in 2004 and held management positions at Radisson Blu Rome and Radisson SAS Grand Hotel Sofia. From 2008, he was em-ployed by various international hoteliers such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Hilton Worldwide. Neves joined Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2013 as pre-opening, opening and post-opening general manager.

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TRAVEL TALKwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, QATAR AIRWAYS

“It is a great honour for Qatar Air-ways to be awarded first place in [AirHelp’s] survey of 50 global airlines. Our number one rating is a reflection of the end-to-end experience of Qatar Airways’ passengers; from the product on our aircraft, the service on board from our cabin crew, through to the quality of our lounges and our excellent ground staff who make sure our flights operate efficiently. We are extremely proud to have received this ac-colade, and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of all Qatar Airways staff.”

Our number one rating is a reflection of the [airline’s] end-to-end experience

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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 com-

ments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

GENERAL MANAGER, NOBU HOTEL RIYADH

“I am extremely delighted to welcome our experienced and talented executive man-agers to the hotel and I look forward to working with them in opening this very exciting hotel. With their ap-pointments I know we will be able to deliver to our guests the distinctive and memo-rable luxury Nobu service with our valued colleagues; matching the quality and unique luxury facilities that the hotel will behold.“

[We will] deliver our guests the distinctive and memorable luxury Nobu service

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CEO, DUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS

“We are very excited about the launch of Dubai Parks and Resorts’ official theme song, as it marks yet another milestone towards our open-ing in October. Our goal is to give our guests the chance to Experience Amazing, and I be-lieve that this collaboration with [composer] Alan Men-ken has brought us one step closer to achieving that.”

Our goal is to give [...] guests the chance to experience amazing

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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How important is the luxury travel segment to your business? Approximately what percentage does this segment repre-sent in your overall figures?

HAKAN PETEK: With an unwavering commitment to offer only the finest prod-ucts and services to an increasingly discerning market in Kuwait, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa has firmly positioned itself as the hotel of choice for both business and leisure travellers, with the luxury segment forming a key source market for the property, accounting for 15 percent of our guests.

In spite of our comparatively young history in this market – having opened in 2013 – Jumeirah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait has already become an acknowl-edged leader in Kuwait’s hospitality sector. […]

HAKAN PETEK

Q & A

with

GENERAL MANAGER, JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL & SPA

FREQUENTED BY BUSINESSMEN AND CORPORATE TRAVELLERS, KUWAIT IS

ALSO A DESTINATION WITH AN EXPANDING HIGH-END OFFERING AS HAKAN PETEK,

GENERAL MANAGER, JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL & SPA, REVEALS.

the luxury of choice. For instance, apart from offering

merely luxury amenities in our Talise Spa, we provide an overall luxurious wellness and lifestyle journey, which includes a whole package of healthy eating programmes and access to the private high-quality fitness centre.

Additionally, luxury travellers now seek more of an authentic experience. Supporting the local community and sustainable tourism are now a key deci-sion-maker for luxury travellers. With a growing awareness of the environment, we are always adopting sustainable practices throughout our property. In 2015, we partnered with Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company to help raise awareness of environmental-ly-friendly transport options. As part of this we hosted the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid car at the main entrance to provide an alternative luxury mode of transport for our VIP guests. […]

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Could Kuwait capture an even larger share of the Middle East’s luxury travel market?

HAKAN PETEK: Kuwait’s travel and tourism sector is expected to witness considerable investment over the next five years following the govern-ment’s development plan for 2015 – 2025, which includes plans to create a world-class leisure and business des-tination especially with its expansion programme for Kuwait International Airport. According to figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council, in-vestment is anticipated to grow by 10.8 percent this year alone.

With this growth, the luxury seg-ment will form a considerable portion of anticipated projects in the country and the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Ho-tel & Spa is well positioned to capture this market and contribute to the future growth of the sector.

It is not just business travellers that enjoy our hotel’s luxurious offering, as we are frequented by a considerable number of the region’s royal families and celebrities. On a daily basis we have upwards of 25 – 30 VIPs staying with us.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How are your guests’ needs and preferences changing?

HAKAN PETEK: Luxury travellers vis-iting us from around the world are increasingly seeking unique experien-tial holidays with a rising demand for authentic and engaging experiences, and this is something that as a hotel we strive to accommodate by constantly developing our products and services. Being located in a culturally-preserved country like Kuwait, what we have as our advantage is a traditional destina-tion, giving today’s luxury travellers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the authenticity of the country’s local culture, traditions and customs which creates a more meaningful and memo-rable experience for them. The quality of our services is also what sets each experience apart, as we have built the Jumeirah brand in the region around exceptional service and culturally-con-nected Arabian hospitality.

With the ever-changing luxury mar-ket comes a more demanding luxury traveller that seeks a more curated ex-perience and personalised stay, and we engage guests through unique ex-periences that meet their needs. For example, we are increasingly aware of the special choices of our high-end customers with a sophisticated record of their preferences so that we remem-ber their likes and dislikes upon arrival. From the professional welcome by our highly-trained staff to gourmet meals in our varied restaurants, we strive to focus on providing experiences that are exclusive to this region and offer guests

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Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa

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AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel

When and how did you get in-volved in the tourism industry?[…] I was only four-five years old when I first met American travellers in my home city, Bukhara, Uzbeki-stan, with whom I communicated and loved to share my homeland’s beauty. After graduating from uni-versity [in 1996], I became an inter-preter, guide and tour operator at the Uzbek tourism ministry. I opened my tourism company in the US in 2008 after I moved from Uzbekistan.

What are the most important attributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?A good tour operator/agent listens to the travellers very carefully and should be very creative to give them iconic itineraries and extraordinary tours based on their specific inter-ests, needs and budget. They should be available before, during and after the trip and should be very caring and make travellers [feel] special.

What is the most frequently asked question that your company re-ceives from customers? Are Central Asia and Caucasus coun-tries ready for luxury and five-star adventure? What is the best time to travel to Central Asia? […]

What are the must-visits and must-dos in your country that no-body should miss? […] In Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, we recommend […] [a] wander in the legendary cities, to shop at the thousand-year-old bazaars, participate in local family events and festivals or stay in a no-madic yurt. Other activities include camel riding, horse-back riding, hik-ing, enjoying traditional folk shows and visiting archaeological jewels.

Which destination is on your bucket-list?Iran and Cuba.

AGENT’S INSIGHT

Zulya Rajabova

President

Silk Road Treasure Tours

New York City

www.silkroadtreasuretours.com

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20 AUGUST 2016

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler, Dubai, visited the headquarters of Abu Dhabi’s re-newable energy company, Masdar, where he toured Masdar City and

reviewed major clean energy projects and initiatives.During the meetings, Al Maktoum highlighted the

importance of innovation and positive energy in pro-moting the sustainable development of the UAE, and said that through initiatives such as Masdar, the coun-try was demonstrating its capacity to lead the world in helping to secure a clean energy future.

He also reviewed the projects being executed by the company both locally and globally, which are part of the UAE’s strategy to increase the contribution of clean sustainable energy to the total energy mix to 24 percent by 2021.

Etihad Airways Medical Centre (EAMC) and Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) of The Institute of Applied Technology have announced a new partner-ship to support the training and continued development of Emirati nurses in Abu Dhabi.

The partnership, which is a first of its kind in the UAE, forms an important part of EAMC’s strategy to employ more local female healthcare professionals.

The EAMC sponsorship programme will provide up to three students a year with the chance to pursue a rewarding and challenging career in the field with Etihad Airways.

Nadia Bastaki, vice president, medical services, Etihad Airways, said, “This agreement provides a unique opportunity for EAMC to encourage female UAE nationals to pursue a career in nursing and explore the fields of aviation and occupational medicine […].”

Proceeds of AED19,650 (USD5,350) from the auction of non-winning date fruits at the recently-concluded Liwa Ajman Date Festival were donated to Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Foundation to support the organisation’s humanitarian initia-tives.

More than 1.2 tonnes of dates entered into the competition by local farmers were auctioned to the public daily during the three-day event.

Saud Al Jasmi, president, Liwa Ajman Date Festival Committee, said, “We hope that the donation will help the underprivileged families in Ajman as well as the guardians and or-phans sponsored by the foundation.”

MTE Studios, a consultancy firm specialised in turn key solutions in the region for science related projects and events, in collabo-ration with Bahrain Culture Au-

thority & Antiquities, hosted a selection of educational and interactive science theatre stage performances at Nakhool City, between August 01 – 07.

Ludo Verheyen, CEO, MTE Studios, said, ”Science theatre is a great way to teach chil-dren about innovations in a fun environment.”

The performances at Nakhool City saw MTE Studios veteran science theatre actor Da-vid Muller presenting three different shows.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

IN THE UAE

SUPPORTING EMIRATI NURSES

AJMAN SUPPORTS CHARITABLE PROJECTS

TEACHING SCIENCE THROUGH THEATRE

Nadia Bastaki and Daryl Cornish, director, Fatima College of Health Sciences

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H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ruler, Dubai, visited Masdar City to review

investment projects and future plansA mini fish market awaits guests at Coral

Beach Resort Sharjah

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, chairman, Al Habtoor Group (left) welcomed H.E. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, climate change and environment minister,

UAE (right) at the company’s headquarters

Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche’s guest service officers are delighted to help

Youngsters learned everything about the process of changing tyres at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

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NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

IBTM LATIN AMERICA

Mexico City, MexicoSeptember 07 – 08www.ibtmlatinamerica.comLeaders, organisers and specialised suppliers for events will convene for business adventures.

SEATRADE CRUISE MED

Tenerife, SpainSeptember 21 – 23www.seatradecruiseevents.comA major biennial event focussed on the world’s second-largest cruise destination, the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.

IMEX AMERICA

Las Vegas, USOctober 18 - 20 www.imexamerica.comThe hosted buyer programme qualifies and brings key buyers to the show, with IMEX America covering travel and accommodations.

EVENTSWFS to Address Financial

Sustainability

Auckland to Host Music

Event

This year’s World Financial Sympo-sium (WFS), organised by the In-ternational Air Transport Associa-tion (IATA), will focus on building

high-performance finance organisations within airlines, as an anchor to financial sustainability.

According to expectations, the in-dustry will accumulate a net profit of USD38.4 billion by the end of the year, considered as the best earnings in its history, while it is anticipated that for the second consecutive year, carriers will make an aggregate return in excess of their cost of capital.

Reflecting on the years of hard work and restructuring, Aleks Popovich, senior vice president, financial and distribution services, IATA, is confident that the indus-try’s sustainability can be maintained.

The event is set to take place at Ma-rina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore between September 21 – 23.

Auckland has won the right to stage the 12th triennial World Symposium on Choral Music in 2020, an event that attracts

choirs and musically minded people from around the world.

With support from Tourism New Zea-land, Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) worked with the New Zealand Choral Fed-eration to secure the rights to hold this leading international festival in the city.

The symposium, which will take place over eight days in July and August 2020, is estimated to attract more than 1,700 performers and many more concertgoers, contributing an estimated NZD4.6 million (USD 3.3 million) to the local economy.

According to Anna Hayward, manager, ACB, this is an exciting win for Auckland and highlights how the region’s rich and diverse arts and culture have made for a compelling bid on the world stage.