07 GENERAL BOLLYWOOD PARKS OPENS IN DUBAI...Dec 03, 2016 · Shiekh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al...
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NEW MUSCAT HILLS RESORT OPENS OMRAN LAUNCHES PHASE ONE WATERFRONT PROJECT 08 05 3 DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE 369 BOLLYWOOD PARKS OPENS IN DUBAI GENERAL 07 16 06 18 Rendezvous Technology International
Transcript of 07 GENERAL BOLLYWOOD PARKS OPENS IN DUBAI...Dec 03, 2016 · Shiekh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al...
NEW MUSCAT HILLS RESORT OPENS
OMRAN LAUNCHES PHASE ONE WATERFRONT PROJECT
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BOLLYWOOD PARKS OPENS IN DUBAI
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OMAN HOSPITALITY MARKET IN BLOOM
The Cluttons Winter 2016-2017 Property Market Outlook report for Muscat has revealed that the four- and five-star hospitality sector is going through a period of rapid expansion, driven by a significant rise in inbound tourism numbers and spending over recent years.
While the capital’s residential market has been subject to some very challenging economic conditions over the past two and a half years, over the next couple of years, hotels cur-rently under construction will deliver a 50 percent increase in room supply to the pre-mium segment of the market.
The significant increase in supply will result in a more competitive market from an operator per-spective but will also provide an increase in choice for customers, which will help drive the continued growth in the tourism and hospitality sector.
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CARREFOUR AMONG TENANTS AT FIRST AVENUE MALL
First Avenue, the new shopping mall and hotel planned for Dubai’s Motor City, has signed up leading retailer Carrefour as a key anchor tenant ahead of the project’s launch early 2017.
As a recent report shows, Dubai’s retail market will surpass USD52 billion in sales by 2020 and the government aims to attract 20 million tourists to the city, First Avenue is stepping up its efforts to secure major retailers for the landmark development.
Carrefour will occupy space on the ground floor of the new mall’s east side, and offer a di-verse product range at competitive prices, across food, beverage and essential household goods.
Other major retailers for First Avenue are being announced in anticipation of the project’s launch during the first quarter of 2017.
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Tilal Properties at Yas Mall
“The first leg of the AED 2 billion (USD544.5 million) Tilal City project is close to a successful completion, and this activation is one of our many efforts to reach out to our prospective investors, buyers and customers at a pan-UAE level,” stat-
ed, Khalifa Shaibani, director, Tilal Properties.The unique city will boast extravagant development projects fusing both global qual-
ity standards with the sensibilities of the regional community. In the heart of this 230ha city lies the 118.6ha Tilal Mall, hailed as the biggest of its kind, marking new standards in development.
Sharjah-based real estate developers Tilal Properties announced its two week activation campaign in promotion of its flagship
project Tilal City.
Al Ain Welcomes Traditional
Handicrafts Festival
The third National Traditional Handicrafts Festival was held at Souq Al Qattara, showcasing Al
Ain’s culture, heritage and locally pro-duced creations.
Visitors were able to enjoy live dem-onstrations of long-established craft-manship as well as participate in various workshops such as pottery and textile crafts. Suppliers were also in attendance to share their raw materials and produce such as honey and dates, while artisan vendors had the opportunity to sell their products in the marketplace area.
The event, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, was also home to Al Qattara Arts Centre which of-fered educational and recreational activi-ties for all.
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T he Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has launched the USD390 million phase one of the Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront project.
Set to be completed by 2020, it will transform the current commer-cial Port Sultan Qaboos area into a major tourism-based development.
The project will include business and residential zones, destination mall, six hotels, recreation amenities, tourist attractions, as well as dock-ing facilities for cruise liners and yachts.
H.E. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, chairman, Omran, said, “Our vision for the Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront is to create a world-class waterfront development of outstanding beauty and interest that cel-ebrates the maritime history of Muscat and showcases the very best of Omani culture, heritage and innovation to a global audience.”
Boeing to Improve Efficiency of Defense, Space & Security
Omran Launches Phase One Waterfront Project
R eed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of the an-nual Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Cen-
tre from April 24-27, 2017, will host the first ATM Global Halal Tourism Summit as part of its line-up of special focus events.
The one-day summit will feature three inter-active seminar sessions covering the big picture, Halal destination strategies and how to sell Halal travel.
In 2014, Thomson Reuters valued the global Halal food and lifestyle sector at USD1.8 trillion and this is expected to reach USD2.6 trillion by 2020.
“[…] 90 percent of our panelists believed that there is a huge gap in the tourism market for Halal cuisine, which is especially relevant as 80 percent also predicted a significant increase in the per-centage of inbound Halal business over the next five years,” said Simon Press, senior exhibition di-rector, ATM.
Tapping Into Halal Tourism
T he Bahraini delegation, led by H.E. Shiekh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, governor, Capital Governorate,
Bahrain, was invited to participate in the China High Tech Fair 2016, by Xu Qin, mayor, Shen-zhen. The event promoted high-end technol-ogy, shedding light on latest trends whilst play-ing an important role in the implementation of the national development strategies for China.
Commenting on the country’s participa-tion, Khalid Al Rumaihi, CEO, Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain, noted, "The Bah-rain delegation’s participation in the China High Tech Fair 2016, and especially the fact that we are the first GCC to do so, reflects the size of our aspirations and our efforts to develop eco-nomic and investment relations with China”.
Bahraini Delegation at China High Tech Fair
I n a move that will increase employment and improve productiv-ity, Boeing is taking steps to operate its Defense, Space & Security business more efficiently through facilities consolidations and work
movements in Los Angeles County, St. Louis, and Huntsville, Alabama.Leanne Caret, CEO, Defense, Space & Security, Boeing said, “In or-
der to push ourselves further and win more business, we need to make the most of our resources and talent. [...] These steps will help us be a stronger partner for our customers worldwide.”
By the end of 2020, Boeing will reduce facilities space by approxi-mately 418ha, while also closing its El Paso, Texas, and Newington, Vir-ginia sites.
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Travelport and Nomadis Launch Integrated Software
The platform has been designed to meet the requirements of governments and various industries, including healthcare, mining, along with oil and gas. The offering consolidates commercial bookings with the other com-ponents of the travellers itinerary, allowing them to receive confirmation by email or SMS, and providing data for
travel managers.Philippe Lavallée, CEO, Nomadis, said, “Thanks to this strategic partnership with Travelport, our clients benefit from a
fully integrated booking, and gain flexibility, save time, and reduce errors in travel management.”
Travelport and Nomadis have entered a strategic partnership on a new cloud-based software solution that integrates commercial, chartered and private aviation as well as ground
transportation, camp or offshore rig accommodation and workforce management.
Sabre Unveils Travel Expert
Index
Goomeo at ibtm world
Cognit and Etihad Hosted a Hackathon
Goomeo, the dedicated trade show and exhibition platform for mobile event apps will provide this year’s
ibtm world app and will be available on all attendee’s smart devices. The application will give in-depth level information from di-ary appointments to lead capture, a full view of a 3D floor plan with routing, the exhibitor directory, and all of the knowledge sessions and networking events. Newly defined is the selfie function aiding in social media up-loads along with potential to rate appoint-ments and report no–shows, all in real-time. Graeme Barnett, senior event director, ibtm world, said, “Goomeo has created an app which really does enhance all our attendees experience of the show, with all the details in one place […]”.
Etihad Airways and Cognit, a joint venture between Mubadala and IBM Watson, held a hackathon at the air-
line’s state-of-the-art Innovation Centre.More than 30 skilled computer sci-
ence and engineering students from lead-ing Abu Dhabi universities were chosen to utilise IBM Watson’s transformative cognitive technology to develop pioneer-ing applications for the travel and aviation industry.
The three-day event was part of UAE Innovation Week, in line with the emirate’s national strategy to promote its position as a global innovation hub. To promote this mindset, partnerships between the government as well as both private and public sectors were encouraged.
S abre has introduced Travel Expert Index, a carefully chosen collec-tive of industry experts that will
offer a current perspective on the most important issues affecting the trade each month.
The inaugural edition features the theme of personalisation, following on from Sabre’s recent research which re-vealed that around 94 percent of travel-lers prefer to pick customised options. Contributors, who have been selected from across various segments, answered questions asking which other industries should travel professionals look to for in-spiration and which companies excels in this field.
Technology was cited as the most insightful, followed by telecommunica-tions and banking. Furthermore, Apple and Amazon received the most mentions in response to the second question put to panellists.
ibtm world 2015Etihad Airways Innovation Centre
In DubaiDUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS, SAID TO BE ONE OF THE MIDDLE EAST’S LARGEST INTEGRATED THEME PARK DESTINATIONS, HAS INAUGURATED BOLLYWOOD PARK DUBAI, FOLLOWING THE RECENT OPENING OF LEGOLAND DUBAI AND RIVERLAND.
H ailed as the first-of-its-kind, the theme park showcases rides and attractions based on some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters, and recreates the Bolly-wood experience through themed at-
tractions and rides spread across five zones.The amusement park’s flagship offering is the
850-seater Rajmahal Theatre, in addition to six themed restaurants and eight retail outlets.
Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO, DXB Entertain-ments, said, “Dubai Parks and Resorts is paving the way for future entertainment destinations, and shall forever change the face of family tourism and entertainment in the region.”
BOLLYWOOD PARKS OPENS
Bollywood Park Dubai
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New Muscat Hills Resort Opens
T he address, which underwent significant renovations, now boasts 35 Barasti beachfront huts, a bar and restaurant, swimming pool, dive centre facilities as well as a nine-hole golf course.
H.H. Al-Rawy Kais Al-Said, CEO, Muscat Hills Group, said, “This is what Oman has been waiting for. A totally new concept for hospitality within the Sultanate and I am thrilled and privileged to be the driving force behind a newer, more modern and truly ground breaking destination, such as Muscat Hills Resort.”
Nestled in between mountains in the secluded Al Jissah Bay, this new development is bound to attract locals and international visitors alike.
A firm believer in the vision of TED, Cairo Marriott Ho-tel & Omar Khayyam Casino partnered with TEDx Cairo Women to host the event in the prestigious
Aida Ballroom, as part of their ongoing Spirit to Serve activi-ties to support female empowerment.
The successful event was planned with the idea of inspir-ing the world and in particular young girls in need of some-one telling them to pursue their dreams and fight for what they want, no matter the variables or difficulties.
Speakers had strong and inspiring messages in light of this year’s topic, Crossing Over.
Cairo Marriott Partners with TEDx Cairo Women
Formerly known as Oman Dive Centre, Muscat Hills Resort is the newest development under the Muscat Hills Group.
New Meeting Room at ibis Dubai Mall of the Emirates
T he new meeting room concept of Hotel Ibis Dubai Mall of the Emirates has been revealed.
With the name “Rendez-Vous” Lively Meeting Room, the initiative aims to encourage interactions between the guests and the teams, and arouses the emotions of the guests through the emblematic design elements. The room is fully equipped and includes, among others, wireless audio visual facilities, air-conditioned with natural daylight, 84-inch UHD LED TV display presenta-tion and unlimited Wi-Fi connection.
All the necessary amenities are lo-cated near the room, including Amici restaurant, and all-inclusive meeting packages can be provided by the meet-ing and event services.
TEDx Cairo Women speakers and organisers
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Dubai to Welcome Hotel
Apartments Tower
C ayan Group recently an-nounced the develop-ment and launch of Hotel
Apartments Tower at Cayan Can-tara.
Since its announcement, the iconic project has received tremendous response from the public and already achieved sales of 60 percent. Furthermore, for investors in the tower, approxi-mate appreciation in value has been rated above 20 percent. The tower will boast more than 700 units in the form of studios and apartments, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom, as well as penthouses for a conveni-ent and luxurious living, complete with retail spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms, gym, spa, and lounge.
In line with the government’s efforts to im-plement sustainable, green measures across Saudi Arabia, Conrad Makkah Jabal Omar is
planning to adopt a number of efficient opera-tions that can help reduce environmental im-pact and conserve natural resources for the city.
Ismail Sirry, general manager, Conrad Mak-kah Jabal Omar, said, “[…] Small actions and ini-tiatives by the private sector can have a big im-pact in achieving that sustainable goal. […] We are also in discussion with Jabal Omar Devel-opment Authority to launch Garbage Recycle project in 2017, that will provide nontraditional recycling alternatives for the different items the community can recycle.”
Conrad Makkah Launches Green Initiative
F urther consolidating its position as one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and
Eastern Europe, Rotana has launched its second hotel in Amman with a total investment of ap-proximately USD280 million.
The new addition brings the group’s com-bined inventory in Amman to 803 rooms, suites and hotel apartments, making Rotana the largest hotel operator in the Kingdom employing 900 Jordanians.
The resort also offers wellness programmes that are customised to each individual’s life-style.
As the tallest building in the Kingdom, Am-man Rotana towers 188m and features 50 floors that include 412 lavish rooms and suites. In addi-tion, the hotel offers a number of dining venues, a wellness club, as well as an outdoor swimming pool and a ballroom.
Rotana Launches Second Address in Amman
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E tihad Airways has announced an expanded codeshare agreement with Hong Kong Air-lines.
The two carriers have obtained regulatory approval to codeshare on nine additional routes, bringing the total number of services in their agreement to 14.
Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “The ex-panded codeshare will drive commercial opportunities for both airlines, and more impor-tantly unleash the true benefits of the partnership by offering business and leisure travellers enhanced connections and a more frequent service between Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.”
The connectivity will provide a wider range of choices while enabling passengers to enjoy the services and products offered by both airlines.
Etihad and Hong Kong Airlines Expand Codeshare Agreement
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Fly Egypt Inaugurates Alexandria – Abu Dhabi Itinerary
T he budget carrier now operates the service with a Boeing 737-800 three times a week, with frequency expected to increase to a daily schedule in May, 2017.
“The collaboration will enhance tourism, economic and trade cooperation between the UAE and [...] Egypt,” noted Alaa Al Ali, CEO, Nirvana for Travel and Tour-ism, the carrier’s exclusive distributor in the UAE.
Ali added that the itinerary has been implemented in time to meet the growing demand for travel between the two countries.
Fly Egypt has launched a direct route between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Alexandria’s Borg El Arab Airport with three flights a week.
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In tribute to the Sultanate’s 46th National Day, a fully boarded SalamAir Airbus A320 aircraft made a special appearance at Muscat International Airport.
François Bouteiller, CEO, SalamAir, accompanied the pilots during the flight and stated, “It was a very proud moment for me to witness SalamAir’s first touchdown at our soon-to-be home base and be part of our progress to realising our vision to be-come a catalyst in the industry of budget carriers. Completion of all necessary aircraft modifications are well underway and with an initial fleet of three A320s, we believe we will be able to establish a strong presence and serve those flying with us in the true Omani spirit.”
SalamAir’s First A320 Lands at Muscat International Airport
Recently Inaugurated by H.E. Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi, chairman, Oman Air, was Oman Air Flight Training Center (OAFTC).
The centre enables pilots and cabin crew to undergo realistic training procedures for operat-ing onboard both Boeing and Airbus aircrafts.
Furthermore, the technology embracing OAFTC, together with the location, enhances the level of efficiency of the company. The airline is now able to make substantial cost savings which can subse-quently be invested to the benefit of its customers.
Al Balushi said, “Oman Air places the highest importance on safeguarding and maintaining the safe-ty of all its passengers and crew. The new training centre will underline this commitment.”
Oman Air Flight Training Center Launched
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This November, Royal Jordanian (RJ) has welcomed its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft landed at Queen Alia International Airport straight from the manufacturers, and is the sixth B787 Dreamliner to join the RJ fleet.
The aircraft is built of carbon-fiber composite materials and has a powerful electrical sys-tem ultimately reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency. Consuming 20 percent less fuel than similarly sized airplanes, eco-friendly performance have been boosted.
Suleiman Obeidat, CEO, RJ, said, “The 787s paved the way for RJ to step into a significant new era, a step that pushes the national carrier of Jordan forward in terms of in-flight services and route network […]”.
Royal Jordanian Fleet Receives Sixth Boeing 787
O n November 18, Oman Air received a new Boeing 737- 800 on the occasion of the sultanate’s 46th national day.
This marks the sixth brand new Boeing 737-800 to join the young fleet this year as part of the airline’s expansion plan.
The new aircraft was deployed to Bahrain on November 19 for its first commercial flight, which exemplifies the carrier’s expe-rience in swiftly introducing new aircraft into operations as soon as they join the fleet.
The airline is on its way to achieving its goal of bringing its fleet size to 70 aircraft and 75 destinations by 2020.
Oman Air Embraces Growth
Emirates and DCAA Team Up
E mirates has reinforced its commitment to innovation and development in the aviation sector by signing a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Civil Aviation
Authority (DCAA) in advance of UAE Innovation Week, which cel-ebrates the spirit of innovation across the nation.
Under the MoU, Emirates and DCAA will explore opportuni-ties for collaboration in innovation and development across a number of areas that will contribute to the aviation sector both in the UAE as well as regionally.
Both companies will work together and share information on a number of programmes relating to aviation strategies and in-novation.
“Emirates is committed to developing and implementing in-novative ideas that will positively impact and transform the avia-tion sector globally,” said Adel Al Redha, executive vice president, Emirates.
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Qatar Airways has gone live with a state-of-the-art documentation management system to enable the airline and its subsidi-aries to host and share corporate manuals and policies with staff in real-time.
The airline has implemented AeroDocs software from Arconics, a ViaSat company, to provide a single centralised re-pository to revise and track all operational and non-operational company manuals and documentation for operational readiness. The ability to create, author, edit and mark all changes in a visible manner over the web enables team members to easily keep abreast of, and be alerted to, relevant procedural modifications as and when they happen.
Commenting on the integration, Ashish Jain, senior vice president, group safety and security, Qatar Airways, said, “This live cor-porate documentation management system, […] allow us to maintain consistency, regulatory compliance and quality control in a manner that is in line with our business growth plans.”
I nformation Systems Associates (ISA), a UAE-based provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel and aviation industry, has signed a
contract with Wataniya Airways, the new hybrid airline in Kuwait.
The agreement will see ISA power the airline’s Pas-senger Service System (PSS) with ACCELaero.
Headquartered in Sharjah, ACCELaero provides customer asset and revenue management tools with rapid deployment capability and low set-up costs, al-lowing companies in the airline and travel industry to yield faster return on investment while freeing up re-sources for further or alternate investment.
As part of the contract, ACCELaero’s aeroLINE prod-ucts will help Wataniya Airways manage their crew, fleet and budget, with a focus on revenue, to maxim-ise the airline’s productivity, efficiency and profitability while the aeroPORT services will help the on-ground team of the airline manage the its passengers at the airport as well as its aircraft.
The freight division of Emirates airline, Emirates SkyCargo, has launched Emirates SkyWheels, a specialised transportation product for high value automobiles.
The offering will provide customers a complete transportation solution for vehicles such as classic, luxury and sports cars, across its network. Customers who would like to have their cars transported can choose between Emirates SkyWheels Premium and Emirates Sky-Wheels Advanced.
The customisable Premium product package covers door-to-door transportation, collection of the vehicle from its home and delivery overseas, export and import customs clearance, as well as transport insurance. Emirates SkyWheels Advanced will offer seamless airport-to-airport transportation for automobiles.
Emirates SkyCargo offers complete round trip handling of vehi-cles under both Premium and Advanced services.
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ISA Partners with Wataniya Airways
Emirates Launches SkyWheels
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Which markets have contributed most significant-ly to your business in the past months?
FRANCOIS GALOISY: The past few years have been the most challenging years for the tourism industry in Lebanon. Despite these difficult times, by relying mostly on the corporate segment, Radisson Blu Martinez was able to maintain a good level of business in terms of occupancy and average rate. The main feeder markets were Dubai, Egypt and Iraq, whereas the most significant nationalities for the business included citizens of European and Arab states.
FRANCOIS GALOISY
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GENERAL MANAGER, RADISSON BLU MARTINEZ HOTEL, BEIRUT
AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF HARDSHIP, LEBANESE HOTELIERS ARE DETERMINED
TO REVIVE THE COUNTRY’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AS FRANCOIS GALOISY,
GENERAL MANAGER, RADISSON BLU MARTINEZ HOTEL, BEIRUT, REVEALS.
months for mountain [tours] and night-life entertainment.
We have seen over the last years a new dimension in leisure tourism; that being ecotourism. Many small hotels or houses have been refurbished to host tourists looking for a new experience in Lebanon and discover new areas and the authentic Lebanese culture that sometimes is lost in big cities.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are Lebanon’s competitive advantages that need to be highlighted?
FRANCOIS GALOISY: Lebanon is both a leisure and a business destination. We work very closely with the Ministry of Tourism who is always trying to open new markets for tourism to Lebanon.
In terms of branding, we follow very strictly our company’s standards in terms of brand identity and recommen-dations for our hotel positioning based on our market research and the supply and demand to Beirut.
Lebanon’s competitive advantages are the nice weather, the warm welcome of the Lebanese people, the nature, the succulent food and high-end service, the diversity within the traditions. This is what makes Lebanon unique.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How have your tactics changed to adapt to the shifting patterns of demand?
FRANCOIS GALOISY: The strategy that the management of Radisson Blu Martinez has followed was to keep our guests at the centre at all times.
Offering good value for money is the key to retaining loyal guests and at-tracting new ones.
Travellers nowadays know what they want more than ever. In addition to the above, an extensive online pres-ence and the right online positioning [also helped].
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: As a hotel-ier, which niche segments do you think hold the largest potential for the future in Lebanon? What are your guests interested in?
FRANCOIS GALOISY: Lebanon [boasts] a lot of attractions for the tourists. The refined service and warm welcome of the Lebanese people is the key to at-tracting tourists to the country. Leba-non can serve all kinds of tourism. We are the number one business and tour-ist destination, especially during winter for ski lovers and during the summer
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Etihad Expands Freighter Services in Europe
T he freight division of Etihad Airways, Etihad Cargo, has announced three new freighter services from Europe.
Recently the company started operating Boeing 777 freighters from East Midlands and Stan-sted airports in the UK, and from Copenhagen in Denmark.
David Kerr, senior vice president, Etihad Cargo, said, “We have responded to our customers’ demand for freighter capacity out of Europe, and our freighter fleet gives us the flexibility of deploying capacity when and where it is required. These three new services will connect producers with consumers half-way around the world. Manufacturers in the UK and Denmark can now get their merchandise to their customers in the Middle East even faster, in as little as 24 hours in some cases.”
Oman Air Moves to Terminal 4
A s of January 31, 2017, Oman Air’s twice daily flights from Muscat to London will move to Terminal 4
at London Heathrow Airport. Currently, the flights operate from
Terminals 3 and 4; the presence at a sin-gle terminal at one of the world’s busiest airports will further streamline the cus-tomer journey on one of Oman Air’s flag-ship routes.
Having both daily Oman Air flights departing from Terminal 4 helps the air-line deliver the seamless passenger ex-perience that Oman Air is known for. The double-daily flights to London allows Oman Air to offer greater connections via Muscat and also to offer connectivity to the North Atlantic, with major cities in the US and Canada in reach with short con-nection times at the London hub.
I n partnership with LinkedIn, Emirates will provide se-lect LinkedIn Learning courses on ice, its award-winning inflight entertainment (IFE) system. Emirates is the first
international airline to make these courses available on board.
The new offering on ice is now available and is part of Emirates’ continued commitment to providing new and diverse IFE content. The free expert-led LinkedIn Learning courses range from 20 minutes to more than two hours in length and cover topics such as leadership, general man-agement, marketing, and creative lifestyle.
The courses feature high-quality, personally curated and easily digestible information to cater to varying inter-ests and profiles of customers on board.
Emirates Offers LinkedIn Courses on ice
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S candic Hotels has signed a long-term agreement with Norwegian Utstillingsplassen Eiendom to take over Ambassadeur Hotel and Globus Hotel in
Drammen, from January, 2017.Following the takeover, the two Norwegian addresses,
which are currently independent, will undergo a complete renovation to be integrated into one offering that will boast close to 300 keys as well as 13 conference rooms along with restaurant and bar facilities.
“Drammen is one of Norway’s fastest growing hotel markets. And the Ambassadeur Hotel is a classic hotel and a well-known element in the city. This takeover will further strengthen our position in the market,” said Frank Fiskers, CEO, Scandic Hotels Group.
C apitaLand’s wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Lim-ited has opened Metropole Bangkok, Asia’s first unique luxury serviced resi-dence under The Crest Collection.
Located in Thonglor, the Thai capital’s most sought-after residential district, Metro-pole Bangkok brings a touch of European charm to the heart of the cirty. The exclusive serviced residence features a colonial architecture and an infusion of neoclassicism design with Thai elegance.
The serviced residence offers 116 spacious apartments with a choice of studio or one-bedroom offerings.
Guests of the property can enjoy facilities such as a swimming pool, a fitness cen-tre, a restaurant with an outdoor dining area and residents’ lounge.
C arlson Rezidor Hotel Group announced at this year’s Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI), the strengthening of its leadership
position in India through its successful growth strategy of increasing the company’s presence in state capitals and key cities.
Through the year, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s portfolio of hotels in India saw healthy underlying business performance with a robust development trajectory. The group’s success is for-tified with significant system-wide revenue deliv-ery ahead of the market with 7.2 percent RevPAR growth on a like-for-like basis, and 11.1 percent for managed hotels, resulting on incremental gross operating profit.
“{…} We remain fully committed and believe in accelerating our growth through new strategic partnerships and opportunities,” stated, Thorsten Kirschke, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
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Scandic Hotels to Take Over Two Properties
Thailand Welcomes Metropole Bangkok
Carlson Rezidor Experience India Business Boom
3 DECEMBER 2016 19
WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONALwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
S et to deliver on its brand promise and set new hospitality standards, Park Inn by Radisson Libo marks the successful
global brand’s first hotel in China. It is also the first international chain hotel in
the counrty.The address boasts 182 guest rooms with
picturesque Views of the Zhangjiang River, a fit-ness centre, all day-dining restaurant, ballroom, as well as four additional function rooms.
Thomas Hagemann, vice president, future openings and special projects, Asia Pacific, Carl-son Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “The opening of Park Inn by Radisson Libo befits the market for travellers seeking a trusted international hotel brand that delivers on both product and service.”
R adisson Blu has introduced to its newest Asia Pa-cific resort in Hua Hin, Thailand, the Miniature Egg Chair Exhibition.
The exhibition, which was showcased to the public at Radisson Blu Resort Hua Hin’s lobby, from November 25 to November 30, is Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Asia Pacific’s venue of choice for the exhibition as Hua Hin grows its vi-brant arts and culture scene.
The iconic Egg Chair was created by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen 55 years ago. A global com-petition was held in October 2015, where Radisson Blu guests and design enthusiasts were invited to design their very own Egg Chair using an online chair configurator.
An authoritative international jury selected 15 final-ists and miniature perfect scale reproductions of the Egg Chairs were created.
D eutsche Hospitality has continued its inter-national expansion plans by exporting one of its successful brands to China.
The first IntercityHotel in China opened its doors in the coastal city of Qingdao, offering 281 rooms and conference facilities extending over an area of 500m2, as well as three dining options.
Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality, said, “In July, we opened the first IntercityHotel out-side Europe in Oman. Qingdao enlarges our portfolio with another international location.”
Following this year’s opening of IntercityHotel Qingdao, a Steigenberger Hotel will open in 2017 in Heihe on the Chinese-Russian border.
T he Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group will open their very first resort on the Cape Verde island of Sal in the third
quarter of 2019.Radisson Blu Beach Resort, Sal located
in Santa Maria, will feature 240 guest rooms, two restaurants, four bars, a wellness spa, conference centre, and an iconic swimming pool design with various pools and loung-es leading onto a spectacular white sandy beach and ocean.
Andrew McLachlan, senior vice presi-dent, business development, Carlson Rezi-dor Hotel Group, said, “The addition of the Radisson Blu Beach Resort, Sal will greatly complement our growing resort portfolio in the best beach locations in the fastest growing resort destination in Africa.”
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Park Inn by Radisson Makes China Debut
Thailand Hosts Egg Chair Exhibition
First IntercityHotel to Open in Qingdao, China
Radisson Blu Beach Resort to Open on Cape Verde Islands
3 DECEMBER 201620
TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel
GENERAL MANAGER, ALPHA AVIATION ACADEMY
GENERAL MANAGER, RIXOS THE PALM DUBAI
“Alpha Aviation Academy (AAA) is committed to its role of nur-turing aviation talent and the Arab Aviation Summit provides us with unique opportunity to stay up to date on current industry trends, while allow-ing us to demonstrate to the public and press the expertise in industry-leading aviation training solutions. AAA con-tinuously evaluates and assess its programs and ensure that they are aligned with the latest trends and developments and adhere to the highest stand-ards of world leading practices.”
“Rixos Hotels is one of the fast-est growing international hos-pitality brands in the world and we continue to expand in key existing and new mar-kets, especially in the Middle East with ongoing projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other GCC countries. [...] The charm of Rixos has overseas luxury travellers flocking to the re-sort during the week while the weekend sees our prem-ise buzzing with the energy of Emirati families and residents of the UAE. [...] Our success lies in the attention we give to de-tail [...].”
AAA is committed to [...] nurturing avia-tion talent
Our success lies in the attention we give to detail
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MANAGER, OPERATIONS, ARABIAN ADVENTURES
“The desert is so much a part of our cultural DNA in the UAE, and as pioneers in this industry, we know it well. We wanted to offer both tourists and residents the chance to experience it in a completely different way, while still of-fering our must-do tours and safaris. We want to create memorable moments and a deeper understanding of the traditions of the region, and hope that visitors will be enchanted by the desert and residents come away with a renewed sense of discovery about their home.”
We want to create [...] a deeper understanding of [regional] traditions
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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 comments, questions, frustrations and observations to
GENERAL MANAGER, BANGLADESH, ETIHAD AIRWAYS
“Etihad Airways [has kept ahead of competition with unique services such as] com-plimentary bus service be-tween Dhaka, and both Chit-tagong and Sylhet, [which] has provided ease of transfers on our departing and arriving flights. In addition, for those travelling to the US, the unique US Pre-Clearance Immigration and Customs facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport provides guests with the extra convenience of arriving in the US as domestic passengers, ensuring they avoid lengthy formalities on arrival.”
[Etihad Airways] provides guests with [...] extra convenience
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When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?Mideast Travel Worldwide [has been] operating successfully in the Greek tour-ism market since 1983. Starting from an agency specialised in trips from and to the countries of the Middle East, the com-pany has evolved to one of the greatest and most popular in the Greek tourism market, holding certifications from in-ternational organisations and a strong clientele comprising both corporate and individual clients. Today, Mideast offers its services worldwide, from its head office in Athens as well as from its two branches in Mykonos and Istanbul that [have been] operating since July, 2014.
What are the most important attrib-utes of a good travel agent/tour op-erator? [In addition to a] commitment to cus-tomer service, [one should have] sales capability, management skills, product mix, attractive network and financial stability. [It is also important to be] well organised, efficient, creative, willing as well as professional and friendly.
What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers? [Clients ask about the] view from the room, the hotel’s distance from sea or town, hotel star rating, cancellation pol-icy, emergency numbers, programme in details and free Wi-Fi.
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Greece that nobody should miss? Our mainland, full of nature, is a must-visit, including, Pelion, Kalambaka, Nafpaktos, and the Peloponnese area [...]. Additionally, we have numerous unknown islands which are amazing, such as Spetses, Samos and Chios [...], besides the famous ones.
Which destination is on your bucket-list? Vietnam.
AGENT’S INSIGHT
Maria Atik
DMC manager
Mideast Travel Worldwide
Athens, Greece
www.mideast.gr
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3 DECEMBER 2016 21
AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel
New Study Identifies Business Traveller Perspectives
S ome 79 percent of business travellers report their company’s travel policy has the greatest impact on their decision when booking travel for work, ahead
of convenience and cost, according to a new report from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation, in part-nership with HRS.
Flexible change and cancellation policies are also impor-tant, and one-half say automated expense reporting and mem-bership in a loyalty or rewards program play a large role as well.
Kate Vasiloff, director, research, GBTA Foundation, said, “The study results show that travellers want to do the right thing. Communicating the travel policy through the right channels at the right time and listening to your travellers’ feedback is key.”
3 DECEMBER 201622
TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Etihad Airways gathered senior government officials, business leaders and university students as part of a series of events to mark the International Day for Tolerance.
The main event at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, president, Zayed University, who stressed that spreading a culture of tolerance and peaceful co-exist-ence amongst people, institutions and internationally was a primary goal of the UAE government.
James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways, stated that tol-erance was a critical quality to succeed in today’s com-plex, globalised environment and was closely linked to respect.
“We are a customer service business and our guests are drawn from every corner of the earth. We have to be aware of this diversity and demonstrate tolerance in our dealings with people of all races and backgrounds,” Hogan added.
As revealed at World Travel Market (WTM) London, ancient hiking trails in the Middle East is seeing a resurgence in popularity, as walkers explore the region’s history, religions, culture and rural communities.
With many paths connecting to remote neighbourhoods, some of which have never encountered tourism, the trend is becoming a source of income for
those providing homestays. Some of the most popular routes include Nativity Path in Pales-tine; Abraham’s Path from Turkey to Egypt; the Jordan trail; and Lebanon’s mountain walkway.
Simon Press, senior director, WTM, enthused, “This is a very encouraging trend and there is plenty of potential for further developments. [...] In future we could see luxury lodges and glamping, which would further widen the appeal of these trails.”
A cheque of BHD1000 (USD2,600) was donated by Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) to Bahraini Mobility International in support of their activities.
The donated cheque was presented by Aqeel Raees, CEO, GHG, to Adel Sultan Almutawa, chairman, Bahraini Mobility International.
Almutawa expressed his great pride and appreciation to the executive management team of the group for their valuable efforts over the past years in achieving the goals and aspirations of the society, where he presented them a commemorative gift at the end of the ceremony.
Qatar Airways has officially opened its new Oryx In-ternational School, a premium education facility dedicated to the children of the airline’s employ-ees.
The school was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by H.E. Mohammed Al Hammadi, minister, edu-cation and higher education, Qatar, and Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.
Oryx International School is ideally located to be easily ac-cessible to the carrier’s employees, with the school day planned in line with the airline’s office hours to increase convenience.
Commenting on the opening, Al Baker said, “This is our way of ensuring that Qatar Airways is not only the best airline but also provides the best opportunities to our colleagues and their families too.”
TOLERANCE IS KEY FOR ETIHAD
AIRWAYSTREKKERS DRAWN TO THE
MIDDLE EAST
GHG DONATES USD2,600 TO BAH-RAINI MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN’S SCHOOL FOR QATAR AIRWAYS EMPLOYEES
Zayed University
Abraham’s Path
3 DECEMBER 201624
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Exhibiting James Bond in Dubai
Importance of Religious Tourism
Underscored
Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style exhibition officially opened on November 13 at Burj Khalifa ANNEX at a press
event attended by stars, exhibition cura-tors, VIPs and dignitaries.
Presenting the design and style of the, now more than half-century old franchise, Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style unveils the craft behind the sets, music, gadgets, vehicles, technol-ogy and fashion, in a showcase never seen before in the Middle East.
Ahmad Al Falasi, executive director, group operations, Emaar Properties, said, “Designing 007 is shaking up the Dubai entertainment landscape, as the latest international high-profile event and another first for the Middle East. Over the next three months, visitors to Downtown Dubai can revel in all things ‘Bond’ in a series of exciting showcases.”
Under the title Religious Heritage and Tourism, the Netherlands hosted a two-day World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) confer-
ence in October to underline the potential and growth of this segment.
The issues of heritage conservation were a major topic of discussion. The con-ference underlined the contribution of reli-gious tourism to economic prosperity and the role of such tourism as an added value to the offer of cities, villages and regions. The event focused on developing method-ologies to assess the social and economic impact of religious heritage tourism and strategies to develop these sites as authen-tic travel destinations.
The conference was held in coopera-tion with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Museum Catharijne-convent, the Centre for Religious Art and Culture (Flanders) and the Dutch Future for Religious Heritage Program Future for Religious Heritage.
ILTM CANNES
Cannes, FranceDecember 05 – 08 www.itlm.com/cannesA luxury travel show bringing together international high-quality buyers and suppliers.
IBTM ARABIA
Abu Dhabi, UAEFebruary 07 – 09, 2017www.ibtmarabia.comOne of the leading international events for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry.
FITUR
Madrid, SpainJanuary 18 – 22, 2017www.ifema.esThe 37th edition of the travel trade fair for both inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
EMITT
Istanbul, TurkeyJanuary 26 – 29, 2017www.emittinstanbul.comIndustry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussed on the East Mediterranean.
EVENTS
