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What’s trending this summer ..................................................................................07Empowering travel agents ......................................................................................09Promoting Medical Tourism in UAE..........................................................................14

A DDP PUBLICATION Pages: 16Vol. XI No. 8; August 2015

During June to August,dnata, an air travelservice provider,

expects to handle over 50,000flights, 20 million passengersand 30 million bags fromaround the world. This volumemeans that dnata teams at the airport will handle aflight every 80 seconds, on anaverage. It is ensuring that it has the capacity to meet demand, given that Dubai International overtookLondon’s Heathrow Airport asthe world’s busiest airport interms of international passen-gers last year.

Jon Conway, Divi-sional Senior Vice President,dnata, says that in Dubai, they can turnaround a fully loaded aircraft in as little as 60 minutes.

“The aviation industry in the UAE has been record-ing an impressive growth overthe years. The first half of

2015 was no different,”informs His HighnessSheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President,Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

(DCAA) and Chairman, Dubai Airports.

“The UAE has an out-standing aviation infrastruc-

ture and is globally recog-nised for seamless travel facil-itation. We are developing AlMaktoum International Airportin Dubai World Central (DWC)

into the world’s biggest airportwith an annual capacity ofover 220 million passengers.Alongside, we continue to develop the DubaiInternational Airport which willhandle 100 million passen-gers when the expansionplans get over. Emirates and flydubai have remained in expansion mode,” AlMaktoum says.

“Quality is the strongfactor for ensuring a safe,orderly and sustainable airtransport infrastructure. TheUAE has been continuing withits commitment in air trans-port infrastructure develop-ment to adequately meet theneeds of the industry, nowand in the future,” he adds.

The UAE rivals majorglobal tourist attractions for2020. Phil Taylor, Director,Team Leisure LLC, previouslyChief Executive, Ski-Dubai,and Executive Director,London Eye, says that Dubaiis now considered as an inter-

national city on the samestage as New York, London,Paris and Tokyo, and is lead-ing the development of theUAE leisure market togetherwith Abu Dhabi.

Unique conceptsinclude the world's firstBollywood theme park, part ofthe Dubai Parks and Resorts development, and the newWarner Bros. resort on YasIsland, while some of the bestattractions and tourist destinations in the world arebeing reimagined.

Dubai's popularity as adestination for UK businessand leisure travellers is growing at the rate of 10 percent per year, thanks to a regularly evolving destinationoffer comprised of new hotels,meetings venues and leisure attractions.

Statistics released byDubai's Department ofTourism and Commerce

The aviation industry’s importance will grow significantly in the run up to ‘Expo 2020’ as the UAE continues withits expansion plans to cater to the growth of the industry. Also, hotels in the Emirates held on strong during thefirst half of 2015 despite various market challenges. They were on par with and often out-performed the competition.

Spirits soar as tourism boomsSU S M I TA GH O S H

Dubai's status as a destination for both businessand leisurecontinues to rise inthe UK, thanks to theemirate's superiorservice level

We are developingAl MaktoumInternational Airportinto the world’sbiggest airport withan annual capacityof over 220 mnpassengers

H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al MaktoumPresident, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority(DCAA) and Chairman, Dubai Airports

Steen JakobsenDirector Dubai Business Events (DBE)

Our 2015 H1 resultsdemonstrate ourcapacity to deliveron our objectiveswith determinationand disciplinedespite a slow summer

Laurent A. VoivenelCEO, HMH (Hospitality Management Holdings)

Contd. on page 3

NTO2 TRAVTALK A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

The number of visitors whotravelled to Egypt in May

2015 increased by 16.5 percent compared to the numberof visitors in May 2014. In asimilar trend, the number ofArab tourists who visitedEgypt in May 2015 alsoincreased by 23.1 per centcompared to the number ofArab tourists in May 2014.

These statistics demon-strate the positive impact ofrecently launched campaignsthat aim to attract moretourists from all over the worldto Egypt. This increase in vis-itors is in line with the objec-tives of the Ministry ofTourism’s “Masr Qareeba”(Egypt is close) campaignwhich specifically targets Arabtourists from Saudi Arabia,UAE and Kuwait.

Sami Mahmoud,Chairman, ETA, expressed,

“These positive results reflectthat Egypt has fans from allover the world, particularlyfrom our Arab neighbors. Thesteady increase in Arabtourists demonstrates theirtrust and belief in Egypt’s

ability to provide its visitors with opportunities toenjoy the most beautiful touristic destinations.”

Both the Ministry andthe Authority are ramping up efforts prior to the launch of their forthcomingglobal publicity campaign

which will focus on culturaltourism in the country. This new campaign aims to promote the importance of Egypt’s cultural destinations among familyand youth demographics.

Statistics reflect anincrease in the number ofEmirati tourists by 48.3 percent during the first fivemonths of 2015 compared tothe same period in 2014. InMay 2015, the number ofEmirati tourists who visitedEgypt increased by 43.5 percent compared to May 2014.

Statistics also demon-strate an increase in the num-ber of Saudi tourists by 67.2per cent during the first fivemonths of 2015 comparedwith the same period last year.In May 2015, the number ofSaudi tourists who visitedEgypt increased by 58.2 percent compared to May 2014.

Furthermore, the numberof Kuwaiti tourists increased by48.6 per cent in the first fivemonths of 2015 compared tothe same period 2014. In May2015, the number of Kuwaititourists who visited Egyptincreased by 74.4 per centcompared to May 2014.

Since early 2015, efforts by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the EgyptianTourism Authority (ETA) to revive tourism to the country continues to bereflected in the sustained growth of visitors to Egypt.

‘Masr Qareeba’ for Arab tourists

TT BU R E AU

Croatian National TouristBoard representative,

Jelena Slavujevic says,“Income from foreign visitorsto Croatia totaled $7.8 billionin 2014, growth of 2.8 per centover 2013. However, we havealready witnessed a 24 percent increase in the number ofarrivals during the first quarter of 2015, so we areconfident our tourism receipts this year will eclipseour 2014 earnings."

Slavujevic justified partof this increase to the new anddirect routes between Dubaiand Zagreb operated by fly-dubai which offers directflights three times a week.Qatar Airways has alsoannounced it will introducetwo additional flights soon tothe Croatian capital taking itstally to seven weekly directflights from Doha. Turkish

Airlines and Lufthansaalready operate seven flightsweekly to Zagreb from Dubaivia Istanbul and Germany.

“The GCC market holdsgreat potential for us, notwith-standing Croatia's stunning

natural beauty, our heritageand our cultural similarities.The real game-changer nowis the increased number ofdirect flights to Zagreb, mostnotably those operated by fly-

dubai and Qatar Airways.Many people may not realisethat we are little more than fivehours away from Dubai,"Slavujevic adds.

Martina Bienenfeld,CEO, Zagreb Tourist Board,

highlighted the work the cap-ital has undertaken to meetthe demands of the MiddleEast market. "Zagreb is wit-nessing a growth in demandfrom the GCC visitors and

was one of the first cities inCroatia to identify the oppor-tunities of halal tourism. We'renow home to 30 per cent ofCroatia's 15 halal quality certified hotels."

To attract a greater num-ber of tourists from GCCcountries the Croatian gov-ernment has introduced a raftof measures to meet the spe-cific demands of Gulf tourists.Croatia will host the HalalTourism & Trade congress inMarch and as a nation will cel-ebrate World Halal Day inNovember 2016.

The Croatian National Tourist Board and flydubai, along with the Zagreb Tourist Board, have highlighted an increase in the number ofroutes to the Croatian capital.

Croatia eyes GCC market

TT BU R E AU

Announced under the pres-idency of Benigno

‘Noynoy’ Aquino, theMactan-Cebu InternationalAirport (MCIA) is touted to bethe start of Philippine airportsmatching the best in the world.

“The kick-off ceremonyfor the construction of the newinternational terminal for thecountry’s second-biggestgateway, the Mactan-CebuInternational Airport (MCIA) ispublicised to be the establish-ment of Philippine airportsmatching the best in theworld,” informs Joseph EmilioAguinaldo Abaya, Secretary,Department of Transportationand Communications (DOTC).

“It will not only cementour place on the global map as

a major tourist and businessdestination, but will boost thelocal economy as its projectedto generate jobs especially inCebu,” he adds.

The project is envisionedby concessionaire GMR-Megawide Cebu AirportCorporation (GMCAC), to beregarded as the first resort air-port in the world. It covers theconstruction of a new world-class international passengerterminal building (PTB), aswell as the renovation of theexisting PTB and its conver-sion into an exclusively-domestic facility.

Construction of the newterminal will be completed by2018, while the renovation ofthe existing terminal is slatedto be completed in 2019. Theairport’s passenger capacitywill surge from 4.5 million to12.5 million per year.

“It is clear to us thatGMCAC brings internationalexpertise in running an airport,without delay it has made substantial improvements without making structuralworks yet. What it will do nowthat we are breaking ground isexciting for us and especiallyfor travellers to and fromCebu,” Abaya remarks.

Immediately uponassuming O&M responsibility,GMCAC began implementing“soft improvements” to theexisting terminal, thoseimprovements which did notrequire major civil works toenhance passenger experi-ence at the gateway. To further reduce passengerqueues, GMCAC also opened additional immigrationcounters and self-servicekiosks where in passengerscan pre-check-in.

World’s first resortairport in PhilippinesPhilippines’ Department ofTransportation and Communicationsbreaks ground for the world’s firstresort airport, the first airport PPPproject, on June 29.

TT BU R E AU

The steady increase in Arab touristsdemonstrates their trust and belief inEgypt’s ability to provide its visitors withopportunities to enjoy the most beautifultouristic destinations

Sami MahmoudChairman, ETA

The GCC market holds great potential forus, notwithstanding Croatia's stunningnatural beauty, our heritage and ourcultural similarities. The real game-changer now is the increased number ofdirect flights to Zagreb, most notably thoseoperated by flydubai and Qatar Airways

Jelena SlavujevicRepresentative, Croatian National Tourist Board

Croatia will host theHalal Tourism & Tradecongress in Marchand as a nation willcelebrate World HalalDay in November2016

Luring the Middle East

It will not onlycement our place onthe global map as amajor tourist andbusiness destination,but will boost thelocal economy as itsprojected togenerate jobsespecially in Cebu

Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo AbayaSecretary, Department of Transportationand Communications (DOTC), Philippines

In May 2015, thenumber of Emiratitourists who visitedEgypt increased by43.5 per centcompared to May 2014

Number Talk

Construction of the new terminal will be completed by2018, while the renovation of the existing terminal isslated to be completed in 2019

The airport’s passenger capacity will surge from 4.5million to 12.5 million per year

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is toutedto be the start of Philippine airports matching the bestin the world

Aiming for the stars

COVER STORY A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 TRAVTALK 3

Marketing (DTCM) revealedthat the emirate welcomed687,000 UK hotel guests in2012, and a further 759,000UK hotel guests in 2013, rep-resenting a 10 per cent year-on-year increase. In 2014,Dubai welcomed 845,000 UKhotel guests to its shores, anincrease of 11 per cent com-pared to 2013.

Steen Jakobsen,Director, Dubai BusinessEvents (DBE), a division ofDTCM which acts as the city'sofficial convention bureau,says, "Dubai's status as adestination for both businessand leisure continues to risein the UK, thanks to the emi-rate's quality infrastructure,accessibility and superiorservice level. Dubai's proxim-ity to the UK also makes it aconvenient destination for vis-itors seeking warm weatherand world-class experiences,a point underscored by the UKbeing the number oneEuropean source market forvisitors to Dubai, and third

internationally after SaudiArabia and India."

DBE team has partici-pated in the 2015 edition ofThe Meetings Show beingheld at Olympia London.

Laurent A. Voivenel,CEO, Hospitality Manage-ment Holdings (HMH),explains that, “The economicenvironment continues to varyfrom one region to another.However, our 2015 H1 resultsdemonstrate our capacity todeliver on our objectives withdetermination and disciplinedespite very challenging mar-ket conditions and a slowsummer. The CIS crisis, weakening of euro, politicalturmoil and instability in different parts of the Middle East, oversupply ofrooms in some key cities,competition from cheaperdestinations – all put pressureon demand and rates".

Abu Dhabi TourismAuthority woos travellers fromOman. During the first fourmonths of 2015, Oman was

Abu Dhabi's second largestGCC source market with21,342 visitors marking a 12per cent growth from last year.Qatar accounted for 9,793 vis-itors, while Kuwaiti visitorsamounted to 9,776 over thesame period. The Kingdom ofSaudi Arabia led the marketshare with 46,576 visitors, asolid 46 per cent growth overthe same period.

The tour aimed to rein-force bilateral relationsbetween the GCC countries,especially in the areas of busi-ness and conventions, notesMubarak Al Shamsi,Director, Abu DhabiConvention Bureau.

According to Shamsi,Abu Dhabi offers a favourableatmosphere and uniqueadvantages to organise specialised conferences andexhibitions, illustrated by the bureau's wide range of free consultation and advisory services.

Etihad Airways hasexperienced one of the busiest

travel periods in the history ofthe airline with 291,518 guestsflying across its global networkduring Eid-Al-Fitr, an increaseof 12 per cent on the 260,641guests flown in the same fiveday period in 2014.

The load factor out ofAbu Dhabi during this periodrose from 82.1 per cent in2014 to 82.3 per cent in 2015,with a network-wide seat fac-tor of 78.3 per cent. The airlineoperated 83 more flights out

of the hub than during Eid-Al-Fitr in 2014.

Capt. Richard Hill,COO, Etihad Airways, says,“We're pleased to have once again carried recordnumbers of guests and bag-gage across the EtihadAirways network during Eid-Al-Fitr, one of the busiest and most challenging periodsin the year.”

UAE confirms its lead asthe first family tourism desti-nation during Eid. Occupancyrate has exceeded 96 percent in Tamani hotel roomsand apartments allocated forfamilies that spent their Eidholidays in the UAE.

Sherif Elibrashy,Director of Sales & Marketing,Tamani Hotel says, “Weachieved great rates duringEid holiday, that came as a result of special offers welaunched during holy month of Ramadan addressed to Gulf and Arab family

UAE: most preferred by UK travellers

We’ve once againcarried recordnumbers of guestsand baggageacross the Etihad Airwaysnetwork duringEid-Al-Fitr

Capt. Richard HillCOOEtihad Airways

Contd. on page 8

Contd. from page 1

We achieved greatrates during Eid, thatcame as a result ofspecial offers welaunched duringRamadan addressedto Gulf and Arabfamily tourism

Sherif ElibrashyDirector of Sales and MarketingTamani

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GUEST COLUMN

Ahuge lineup of events related to the HolyMonth of Ramadan and a fun-filled

calendar of activities and promotions for thesummer season have kept the tourism moodupbeat in the Gulf region.

Interestingly, there was a 75 per cent surgein Chinese tourist numbers during the first four months of 2015, which resulted in higher guest arrivals in the UAE capital, as per WAM agency.

During January to April, Abu Dhabiattracted more than one million guests whostayed at least one night at the 161 hotels inthe emirate. In Dubai, the stage has been setfor the 18th edition of Summer Surprises, DSS,which kicked off on July 23 with a series ofevents packed with celebrity shows, worldpremieres and retail promotions. The emirateis already abuzz with Ramadan activities.About 40,000 visitors flocked to the RamadanNight Market in the first four days since itopened at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Under the slogan, ‘45 Days of Summer,’DSS 2015 is offering residents and visitorsfrom around the world an opportunity to enjoya diverse range of events. Internationalcelebrity appearances, world premieresfeaturing children’s cartoon characters, andsummer promotions that reward shoppers withmillions of dirhams worth of prizes are amongthe varied attractions for travellers.

The cruise sector is making waves too.National airline Etihad Airways and MSCCruises have signed a new partnershipagreement that will benefit MSC Cruises’guests travelling to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

In Sharjah, innovative ideas are beinginitiated to benefit tourists. The SharjahCommerce and Tourism DevelopmentAuthority, SCTDA, has announced thedistribution of Interactive Touch Screens, ITS,in all four- and five-star hotels and luxury hotelapartments in the Emirate, activating its‘Innovative Tourism Approach.’

The idea comes as part of the SharjahTourism Vision 2021 that aims to attract 10million tourists by 2021. The sun shines brightthis summer, so does the tourism sector!

UAE is hotand happening!

EDITORIAL

Within the last six monthswe have experienced

tremendous increase in pas-senger traffic, people eithervisiting or flying throughIstanbul. We have an averageannual growth of 4 per cent inthe region. Our success herehas encouraged us evenmore to plan an expansion ofour frequencies and routes ofour high quality flights at com-petitive prices.

Turkish Airlines celebrat-ed Eid-Al-Fitr by demonstrat-ing its generosity and appre-ciation for over 100 nationali-ties it serves across theMiddle East. Customers weregreeted with an ‘Eid Mubarak’message painted in Arabic

and English on the A321 aircraft which flies to 34 markets in the Middle Eastand North Africa.

In keeping with the spiritof Ramadan, Turkish Airlinesalso offered Iftar meals to theunderprivileged in 18 destina-tions across the Middle Eastand Asia. The airline alsocommemorated the HolyMonth by launching an ArabicCall centre to serve its cus-tomers across the UAE, SaudiArabia, Qatar, Bahrain,Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria,Tunisia and Morocco.

Our growth in the regionhas been very encouraging.During January-June 2015the total passengers carriedby Turkish Airlines in the GCCincreased by 37 per cent,reaching 1.35 million passen-

gers versus 983.931 passen-gers for 2014. OurBusiness/Comfort Class pas-sengers grew by 9.4 per centin the same period. L/Fincreased by 0.3 point to 75.3per cent and our ASK had a

32 per centincrease tobecome 4.3 mil-lion duringJanuary-June 2015,this was up from 3.2 millionfor the same period in 2014.

Our network is growingtoo. We are increasing flightsto/from Sabiha GökçenAirport by adding new routesfrom Kuwait and Tehran. Werecently have launched a newpassenger route to Dammamin Saudi Arabia from the sameairport and a new cargo routeto Bahrain as we believethese markets need moreconnectivity to and fromIstanbul and beyond.

People from the GCClove to travel. Saudi Arabians,for example, travel to Europea fair amount and Istanbul is

the perfect city for them to visitor transit through.

Beyond the GCC, wehave launched new flights toGraz in Austria and Baden inGermany, in the Americas wehave announced flights toMiami and Atlanta.

Travelling has become arefined experience, andthrough upgrading our fleetand lounge facilities, we aimto create memorable experi-ences which encourage brandloyalty. Moreover, we fly to 276destinations in 110 countriesaround the world, the most ofany airline globally. With thissort of unbeatable connectiv-ity, we are the preferred airlineof many travellers. In fact, wewere recently awardedEurope’s Best Airline at theSkytrax awards for the fifthyear in a row. Part of theappeal is our superlative in-

flight food, too, which setsus apart from many

other airlinesand whichmany of ourGCC cus-tomers haveappreciated.

Our cur-rent hub at Ataturk

Airport isn’t very largebut we see 57 million annualpassengers at that airport,which is the third largest inEurope. At the new airport,which will open in 2017, we’replanning massive businesslounges for economy passen-gers too so that they are com-fortable with Turkish Airlinesfrom the time they check in. Ithink many travellers from theGCC are quite used to luxuryand comfort and the new air-port will appeal to them greatly.

We are hoping to oper-ate a strict wide-body fleet todestinations in the ArabianGulf, as we fly to all the GCCcountries. Dubai and Abu

Dhabi are already operated bywide body aircraft as areselect services to Kuwait andSaudi Arabia. We hope thatsoon all our GCC passengerswill avail of these aircraft.

Dubai is one of the keymarkets in our network, andwe are planning to investmore in order to serve ourcustomers better. Now, we areflying to Istanbul with A330and B777 aircraft, but we willbe using only B777 aircraft inthe future.

We run social mediacampaigns on Facebook, etc.,to engage with our audiences.A very interesting on-boardfeature for entrepreneurs isour “Invest on Board” facilitywherein Turkish Airlines givespeople the chance to reachinvestors in the sky. “Invest OnBoard” is a worldwide pro-gramme that allows investorsto meet start-ups while sittingin their seats. We are alsoplanning on building strongrelationships with the univer-sities in the GCC to and will conduct workshops relat-ed to our “Invest on Board”project on campus.

With so much happen-ing within the GCC, we aresure to strike a chord not onlywith the youth of the regionbut also with families and busi-ness travellers!

Connections between Europe and Asia of Turkish Airlines and the growing popularity of Turkey as a holiday and business destination are propelling the growth of the airline. Today we fly to 13 cities in the GCC and this number is only growing.

Take off with Turkish Airlines

Emre IsmailogluGeneral Manager,

Turkish Airlines, Dubai

Dubai is one of the key markets in ournetwork, and we are planning to invest morein order to serve our customers better. Now,we are flying to Istanbul with A330 and B777aircraft, but we will be using onlyB777 aircraft in the future

During Jan-Jun 2015the total passengerscarried by TurkishAirlines in the GCCincreased by 37%,reaching 1.35 millionpassengers

“Invest On Board”gives entrepreneursthe chance to reachinvestors in the sky

Eying the GCC

FAMILY ALBUM6 TRAVTALK A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

Turkish delights for holy nightsTurkish Airlines invited travel fraternity for a special Iftar evening of Turkish delicacies. The event highlightedthe experience of the hospitality of the airline and celebrated its continued growth record.

NEWS A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 TRAVTALK 7

Alexandria is the most pop-ular destination of choice

for local holidaymakers, reiter-ating the growing trend ofEgypt’s tourism recovery.Turkey is also a clear con-tender to the most covetedholiday spot, with Istanbul andTrabzon ranking second andfourth respectively. Bangkokranked third in the list followedby Amman, London, Munichand New York are amongst

the trendiest western cities forUAE travellers.

“Eid holidays are theperfect opportunity to spendtime with family and friends,”says Ines Chueca, StrategicPartnerships Manager,Destinia.com. “This year’s topdestinations reflect both thelocal market’s preferences,but also the efforts of out-bound destinations to attracttravellers from this part of theworld,” she adds.

“We can see how Egyptis resurging as a tourist desti-nation with initiatives like MasrQareeba, the country’s newcampaign which highlightsEgypt’s proximity to other Arab

countries through culture, his-tory and social grounds.Thailand, on the other hand isproving that its strategies, likethe recently launched ThailandMuslim Friendly Destination

App, are extremely effective,making it one of the most pop-ular Asian countries amongArab tourists. European coun-tries, on the other hand, continue to attract Middle

Eastern tourists. Destinia hasjoined efforts with TourismGermany, to promote thecountry amongst GCC trav-ellers,” she concludes.

One of Europe’s toponline travel agencies,Destinia.com boasts a selec-tion of 300,000 hotels and 600airlines around the world,offering an infinite number ofdestinations for travellers topick. Having witnessed 140per cent increase in growthsales in the Middle East in2014, Destinia.com aims to bepositioned as one of the topthree online travel agencies by2017 in the region.

Destinia.com has unveiled the most popular travel destinations for UAE travellers during Eid holidays. Searches and reservations for flights and hotels through Destinia.com revealed that Egypt, Turkey, India and Thailand are some of the top trending travel destinations for Eid al-Fitr this year.

What’s trending this summer

SU S M I TA GH O S H

Ines ChuecaStrategic Partnerships ManagerDestinia.com

Egypt is resurging as a destination with initiatives like Masr Qareeba, the country’s new campaign whichhighlights Egypt’s proximity to other Arab countries through culture, history and social grounds

Alexandria

AVIATION8 TRAVTALK A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

The new First Suites are theharbingers of a new gen-

eration of premium travel. TheFirst cabin will have just eightseats in comparison to the 14available on other BritishAirways long-haul aircraft, giv-ing even more exclusivity andprivacy to customers. The seatand in-flight entertainmentconsole has been updatedwith a new handset, much likea smartphone, integrated intothe seat from which travellerscan control their in-flight enter-tainment. “British Airways con-tinues to renew its commit-

ment across the region as theairline invests in new aircraftand expands its premium trav-el offerings,” says Paolo DeRenzis, British Airways Area

Commercial Manager for the Middle East & CentralAsia. Return fares on the new aircraft from Abu Dhabi to London will start from as little as AED2375 for passengers flyingWorld Traveller and for as littleas AED 9855 for passengersflying with British AirwaysClub World.

“In response to our pas-sengers’ demand for luxurytravel options, we have select-ed Abu Dhabi and Muscatamong the first routes to wel-come the new Dreamliners,”he further states.

The 787s are the mosttechnologically advanced aircraft in British Airways’ fleet. The aircraft’s smoothride technology also provides extra comfort duringany turbulence.

The airline is revamping18 of its 747s in line with thenewest arrivals to BritishAirways’ fleet, the first of whichwill also begin flying duringthe winter 2015 schedule. Therevamped jumbos will operateon selected flights to New YorkJFK, Chicago, Lagos, Dubai,Boston, Riyadh and Kuwait,with further routes added in summer 2016.

British Airways is set to take delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 in 2015 withthe UAE, Oman and Delhi routes among the first to welcome the Dreamliner.Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, complete with a new First Class cabin, will startflying to Delhi from Oct 25 with the UAE and Oman to follow later in 2015.

BA expands premium options

TT BU R E AU

British Airways continues to renew itscommitment across the region as the airlineinvests in new aircraft and expands itspremium travel offerings

British Airways isrevamping 18 of its747s in line with thenewest arrivals to itsfleet

The revamped jumboswill operate onselected flights to NewYork JFK, Chicago,Lagos, Dubai, Boston,Riyadh and Kuwait

Taking Flight

Paolo De RenzisBritish Airways Area CommercialManager, Middle East & Central Asia

Turkish Airlines launches Arabic Call Centre“At DFW, we work hard to

introduce new servicesand amenities that cater to theexpanding demographics andtastes of our customers,” saysKen Buchanan, ExecutiveVice President-RevenueManagement, DFW. “Withthese new concessions andretail shops, the Airport welcomes fantastic brandsthat will enhance the travellingexperience and offer exciting choices.”

DFW’s Board approved10 new or expanded locationsfor eight brands. An additional24 locations will be awarded

over the next two months,intended to provide more newshops for DFW customers.

“Since adding new inter-national and domestic desti-

nations, DFW Airport hasseen a steady increase in customers,” says Buchanan.“These new shops andrestaurants are a reflection ofour commitment to provideour customers an outstandingretail, food service and relax-ation experience at DFW.”

Potential concession-aires attended a series of work-shops and outreach eventswith DFW Concessions repre-sentatives before the RFP wasissued to learn about doingbusiness with the airport, pas-senger demographic informa-tion, specifics about beinglocated in an airport and pro-posal requirements.

Dallas / Fort WorthInternational Airport (DFW) is ready for the busiest summer in its 41-year history, with more than 18 million passengers expectedduring the 2015 summer travel season.

In response to a Request for Proposals issued earlier2015, the Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) AirportBoard of Directors approved 10 new concessions outlets.

DFW welcomes new brands

TT BU R E AU

tourism, included discountson prices and benefits of stay-ing at Tamani to make theirholiday a happy and memo-rable one, a goal that wealways pursue.”

It is expected that familytourism’s value rise to $181 billion by 2018 driven by population growth in theMuslim world and strong economic performance.Industry experts predict thatfamily tourism will achieve

strong annual growth estimated at 4.79 per centuntil 2020, and at a rate higher than the global growthestimated at 3.8 per cent,reflecting the growing importance of Islamic economics.

Thriving on family tourism

Ken BuchananExecutive Vice President-Revenue Management, DFW

These new shops and restaurants are areflection of our commitment to provide ourcustomers an outstanding retail, food serviceand relaxation experience at DFW

Contd. from page 3

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Turkey, launchedan Arabic Call Centre to serve customers across 10 countriesin the Middle Eastern region. Arabic-speaking passengersbooking or travelling with Turkish Airlines can now get theirqueries answered in their language as tele-callers receivecalls from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman,Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The call centrewas launched at an Iftar event in Amman, Jordan, hosted fortravel agents and attended by senior Turkish Airlines officials.The awards night was held to honour and recognise TurkishAirlines travel agents.

Abu Dhabi Airports hasreported a 17.2 per centincrease in passenger traf-fic at Abu DhabiInternational Airport duringJanuary 1 to June 30, 2015,as compared to the sameperiod in 2014. During theH1 period, a total of

11,111,577 passengerspassed through Abu DhabiInternational Airport, com-pared with 9,481,744 in theequivalent period in 2014.The number of aircraftmovements rose to 84,938,representing 15.0 per centgrowth compared with

73,862 aircraft movementsreported in H1, 2014. Themonth of June alone saw1,848,080 passengers, anincrease of 10.8 per cent ascompared to June 2014(1,667,551 passengers).

Several new destina-tions were added during the

six months including flightsto Madrid, Pune, Edinburgh,Venice and Entebbe.Additionally, the frequency offlights between the existingroutes increased significant-ly. Just last month, the airportannounced 271 additionalweekly flights for its summerprogramme.

17.2% surge in passengersat Abu Dhabi InternationalAirport during H1, 2015

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These are available fromthe airlines that Travelport

distributes, with fully interac-tive, graphical screen displaysand real time booking.

Travelport Smartpoint6.0 is available now either asa simple download to thedesktop App or an automatedupgrade for those using theweb browser version. Usingthis latest iteration of the prod-uct, travel agents can nowaccess airlines branded fares

and ancillaries at the availabil-ity, fare quote and fare shopstages of the bookingprocess, providing a new level

of product insight and infor-mation at more of the key

stages in the customer buyingexperience. In turn, travellerscan be better informed of theproducts available to them,

the options, the cost of thenext product up and the ancil-lary products available to buy,to tailor their journey to theirspecific requirements.

Rabih Saab, President& Managing Director,Travelport Africa, Middle Eastand Asia, comments, “Weare constantly looking atways to improve our alreadyground-breaking point-of-sale solution TravelportSmartpoint. We are also lis-tening to our travel agencycustomers to find out exactlywhat they want from ourproducts and systems. Thislatest version allows travelagents to sell more efficient-ly, increase revenues andgrow their businesses. Wehave received positive feed-back from the agents whohave been testing this for usand we are excited to berolling it out so all of our cus-tomers can benefit.”

The new Travelport Smartpoint 6.0 provides travelconsultants with capabilities to advise their customersabout a range of products, optional services and offers.

Empowering travel agents

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Rabih SaabPresident & Managing Director,Travelport Africa, Middle East and Asia

We are also listening to our travel agencycustomers to find out exactly what they wantfrom our products and systems

UNWTO and Amadeus, a UNWTO Affiliate

Member since 2007, havesigned a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to consolidatetheir partnership in severalareas. This includes the development of a UNWTOPrototype on multi-modality –the door-to-door planning andticketing of trips involving allpossible transport options. Itwill further integrate different

means of transport betweendestinations around the world.

“Innovative technologi-cal solutions are fundamentalfor the tourism sector’s com-

petitiveness and ability to cre-ate jobs and inclusive devel-opment worldwide. UNWTO islooking forward to work evencloser with Amadeus, a highlyvalued Affiliate Member and

key player in this field, tostrengthen the ties betweentourism and technology,” saysTaleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO.

“It gives me great satis-faction to strengthen our rela-tionship and build upon ourrespective areas of expertise:technology and tourism.Amadeus is committed tostrengthening the sustainabilityof the travel and tourism sectorand already has many initia-tives in two of the key agreedpriorities, tourism educationand innovation in technology,”comments Tomas LopezFernebrand, Senior VicePresident, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,Amadeus IT Group.

UNWTO and Amadeuswill also collaborate on issuesof sustainability, CorporateSocial Responsibility and education.

To advance the use of innovative technology in tourism,Amadeus, a leading provider of technology solutions forthe tourism sector, and UNWTO are joining forces.

Pushing innovative tech

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Tomas Lopez FernebrandSenior Vice PresidentGeneral Counsel & Corporate SecretaryAmadeus IT Group

It gives me great satisfaction to strengthenour relationship and build upon ourrespective areas of expertise: technologyand tourism

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Relishing Indian feast for SuhoorIndia Tourism, Dubai and Consul General of India organised Suhoor, a meal just before sunrise duringRamadan, for the travel trade and other dignitaries.

HOTELS A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 TRAVTALK 1 1

The 426-room property sitson the hilltop of Makkah,

providing guests with exqui-site views of the Holy City andHaram. From the hotel, guestscan travel to Haram via ashuttle service that runs sev-eral times during the day.

“It’s very fitting that ourflagship brand, MarriottHotels, is seeing a rapid

expansion in the Kingdom.The opening of a MarriottHotel in Makkah is part of our

commitment to fill a growinggap in the religious tourismsector in the region, which

experts estimate will increaseas the population of theIslamic faith grows. We areprivileged to have opened ourfirst-ever Marriott Hotel in thisHoly City to serve millions ofglobal pilgrims over the years to come,” says AlexKyriakidis, President, MiddleEast & Africa, MarriottInternational.

Signature features at thenewly opened propertyinclude the Greatroom lobbyand mobile check-in andcheck-out facility. The re-imag-ined Greatroom is part ofMarriott Hotels brand initiativeto transform lobbies from aformal living room into a localdestination. With the Marriottmobile App guests can alsoeasily check in before theirarrival and will receive anautomatic notification whentheir room is ready, making ita seamless experience when they have come for the

most sacred trips of their life in Makkah.

During the annual pil-grimage of Hajj and Umrah, atradition that Muslims from allover the world need to fulfill atleast once in their lifetime,sees millions of Muslims fromacross the globe converge inthe Holy City. The SaudiCommission for Tourism andAntiquities (SCTA) forecaststhat domestic tourism willgrow to a staggering 128 mil-lion trips and 640 millionnights by 2019.

With the opening of Marriott Hotels brand in Makkah, Muslim pilgrims will havea property that resonates with their needs of a futuristic, comfortable place tostay while undertaking one of the most important journeys of their lives.

Marriott debuts in Makkah

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Alex KyriakidisPresident, Middle East & Africa Marriott International

The opening of a Marriott Hotel in Makkahis part of our commitment to fill a growinggap in the religious tourism sector in the region, which experts estimatewill increase as the population of the Islamic faith grows

With the Marriottmobile App guestscan also easily check in before their arrival and willreceive an automaticnotification when their room is ready

Going Mobile

Carlson Rezidor hasannounced the opening of itsnewest property in SaudiArabia, the Radisson BluPlaza Hotel in Jeddah.“Saudi Arabia enjoys a grow-ing economy and Jeddahcontinues to be an importantcity for domestic tourism inthe country,” says MarkWillis, Area Vice PresidentMiddle East and Turkey,Rezidor Hotel Group. “Ourprimary concern is to main-tain the high standards andquality reputation we haveestablished wherever wehave our hotels and I amconfident that the newRadisson Blu Plaza Jeddahwill complement our growthin the Kingdom.”

Located close to localbusinesses and near toJeddah’s Al Andalus Squareproject, the Radisson BluPlaza Hotel is ideally posi-tioned for business, leisure,and pleasure. Guests alsohave easy access to AlAndalus and Al Salam malls.The property has 112 roomsand suites, with space, lightand comfort taking priority intheir decor. Suites within the

hotel are designed to be apremier accommodationchoice in Jeddah, with sepa-rated lounge and bedroomareas. “With its prime loca-tion, the Radisson Blu PlazaJeddah is a welcome additionto the growing hospitalitymarket in Jeddah and we aredelighted to be flying theRadisson Blu flag at this newhotel. We have a first classteam in place and an unqual-ified desire to make this newlyrebranded property a hugesuccess,” says Basel Talal,District Director Saudi Arabia,the Rezidor Hotel GroupSaudi Arabia and GeneralManager of Radisson BluHotel, Riyadh.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel,Jeddah opens doors

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Together for a glorious RamadanGloria Hotel enjoyed the goodness and togetherness of the Holy Month of Ramadan with special Iftarevening inviting overall travel fraternity.

FAMILY ALBUM A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 TRAVTALK 1 3

Omani touch to the Holy MonthOman’s Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with Oman Air, invited the travel trade for an Iftar. The Ministry of Tourism in Oman have displayed an interactive authentic Omani experience as part of itsefforts to promote the Sultanate as a tourist destination.

The delegation from DWC’sBusiness Park Free Zone

visited three Chinese cities,Beijing, Chengdu andTaiyuan, as part of its exclusive B2B outreach programme.

Paolo Serra, VP,Business Park, Dubai WorldCentral, comments, “DubaiWorld Central is Dubai’slargest urban developmentproject, an ecosystem that willultimately support one millionpeople. We are keen to seeChina well represented here.Presently, we have over 2,500companies based at DWCand the objective of this tour was to demonstrate the value proposition DubaiWorld Central holds forChinese businesses.”

Bilateral economic tiesbetween the UAE and Chinaare witnessing an upward

growth trend with the countrymaintaining its status as theUAE’s second largest tradingpartner. The UAE is a hub forcountries in the ArabianPeninsula and one of the mostimportant countries for theexports in the Arab world.

Earlier this year, its busi-ness delegation toured Italy.In 2013, visits to New Delhi,Mumbai and Bengaluru werepart of its agenda to attractinvestors from India. TheChina meetings are the latest

in a series of international out-reach initiatives planned byDubai World Central to attractforeign investments.

“During this visit, wechose to focus on meetingswith specific companies fromChina’s perishables, logistics

and general trading sectors,who are also looking toexpand their operations in theMiddle East, North Africa andSouth Asia region. With that inmind, we held fruitful one-on-one meetings with severalbusiness prospects. We lookforward to growing their intentand interest,” adds Serra.

An increasing number of foreign investors are setting up operations at Dubai World Central to leverage its growing business ecosystem that centers on the Al Maktoum International Airport(AMIA).

The Al MaktoumInternational Airport receivedits first passenger flight in2013, while cargo operationsbegan in 2010. As operationsat the airport grow, the destination is anticipated to generate powerful busi-ness, employment and investment opportunities.

As part of its sustained drive to attract foreign investment, Dubai World Central’sBusiness Park Free Zone has concluded a series of B2B meetings withselected companies in China.

DWC targets Chinese companies

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Paolo SerraVP, Business ParkDubai World Central

Dubai World Central is Dubai’s largesturban development project, an ecosystemthat will ultimately support one millionpeople. We are keen to see China wellrepresented here

Generous gifts as Ayla marks RamadanSponsored by Ayla Hotels and Resor ts, Gulf Air and Eastern Motors,Ayla Hotels in Al Ain have conducted a Grand Raffle draw and markedthe last day of Ramadan. Throughout the month of Ramadan all Iftardiners in Ayla Hotel and in Ayla Bawadi Hotel got a chance to enter thedraw and win flight tickets courtesy of Gulf Air, test drive for a weekendby Mercedes Benz and valuable prizes from Ayla Hotels in Al Ain. Moreto mention, lavish list of gifts included free stays in Al Ain proper ties,dining vouchers and gifts from Pulse Health Club. Lucky winners weresimultaneously chosen in Ayla Hotel and in Ayla Bawadi Hotel. TheGrand Raffle draw is annual promotion organized by Ayla Hotels andResor ts in Al Ain and it is conducted during holy month of Ramadan.

NEWS1 4 TRAVTALK A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

India Tourism engagesAl Ain travel agentsIRV Rao, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Dubai, attended the maidenmeeting of Al Ain Indian Travel Trade Association (AITTA), Al Ain on July12, 2015, at Hilton Hotel, Al Ain. Rao gave a powerpoint presentation one-Tourist Visa for the 130 travel agents who are the members of theAssociation. The Association felicitated India Tourism, Dubai with a trophyfor their continued support. The President of the Association requestedthe office to have quarterly interaction with AITTA.

Keeping up with the grow-ing need, the KSA has

just opened the first phase ofits airport expansion project.The $1.2 billion expansionplans consist of a three-levelterminal covering over156,940 square metres with 16 aircraft stands andboarding bridges.

Frost & Sullivan esti-mates that the KSA receivesclose to 11 million touristsannually of which 5.7 millionare aviation passengers.Aviation traffic is likely to growat a Compound AnnualGrowth Rate (CAGR) of 27.2per cent over the next decadeor so. In view of this, the air-port expansion projectassumes special significance.The new airport is expected to significantly boostMadinah's economy.

"Privatisation is seen asa welcome move as it provides a more competitiveenvironment for airports to function. Besides improvingefficiency, privatisationensures that the airport management will have

a more focused business outlook that could contributeto the economy of the KSA," says Vinod Cartic,

Senior Consultant, Businessand Financial Services, Frost & Sullivan. "Growth is also more likely in the privatisation setup with airports looking to non-aeronautical revenuesources as well."

The Madinah airportproject was constructed andwill now be operated as a pri-vate enterprise. The KSA has

been steadily moving towardsaviation privatisation and thesale of Saudi Airlines was thefirst of multiple such steps.

With the need to supportan entire business environ-ment, airports have more var-ied source of revenue, leadingto diversification. "Given thatairport revenue is tied to eco-nomic cycles and uncertain-ties, diversified sources of revenue can help stabilise the airport's cash flow. Studiesindicate that as airportsmature in terms of traffic, non-aeronautical revenueincreases correspondingly,"adds Cartic.

The Madinah airportcould also pave the way for aMadinah Aerotropolis, anurban planning conceptwhere all economic and business activity revolvesaround the airport.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector is a dynamic industry due tothe country's expanding population and increasing religious tourism. The KSAGovernment is working to streamline the industry through infrastructuredevelopment, privatisation initiatives and market liberalisation.

Airport privatisation finds favour

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Privatisation is seen as a welcome move asit provides a more competitive environment.Privatisation ensures that the airportmanagement will have a more focusedbusiness outlook that could contribute to the economy of the KSA

Vinod CarticSenior Consultant, Business and

Financial Services, Frost & Sullivan

There are so many issuesrelating to medical tourism

and the area is developingquickly. It is essential for thehospitals, insurers and policymakers to work togetherclosely to streamline process-es to cater to this market.According to Thumbay GroupUAE, Dubai has a well-deserved reputation for excel-lence and professional prac-tice and hence they want tocontribute to the vision, mis-sion and goals of the UAEhealth authorities.

SNTTA will look afterthe travel, accommodationand other logistics forThumbay Hospital's interna-tional patients and increasetheir client base which is awin-win situation for both andcreate an all-inclusive pack-

age for international patientsincluding air flights, hotelaccommodations, visa andexcursion facilities.

“SNTTA will be ventur-ing in Medical Tourism for thefirst time and will be able tooffer healthcare services to itsever growing number oftourists,” informs T.L.S Iyer,General Manager, SNTTA.

The partnership will helpThumbay Hospital's to extendits reach and market world-wide to prospective patients.This partnership will leaveThumbay Hospitals to con-centrate on its commitment ofproviding world class health-care at affordable prices.

Thumbay Hospitals isaligning itself with the Dubai'sVision 2020 for MedicalTourism. Along with Dubai, the

other Emirates of UAE are gearing up to attract more medical tourists in thenear future.

Medical Tourism is nowperceived as one of thefastest growing segment inhealthcare. Technology willlead the way in future Medical Tourism.

Thumbay Moideen, Founder President, Thumbay Group UAE, and T.L.S Iyer, General Manager,SNTTA, signed a MoU to give a fillip to medical and health tourism in the emirate. ThumbayHospitals and SNTTA have strategically partnered to offer world-class services at affordableprices to international patients and guests, look after all their needs while they are in the UAE.

Promoting Medical Tourism in UAE

SU S M I TA GH O S H

SNTTA will beventuring in medicaltourism for the firsttime and will be ableto offer healthcareservices to its evergrowing number of tourists

T.L.S IyerGeneral ManagerSNTTA

The partnershipwill help Thumbay Hospital'sto extend its reach and market worldwide to prospectivepatients

Thumbay MoideenFounder PresidentThumbay Group UAE

Free iPadMini fromRegent SevenSeas Cruises

Regent Seven SeasCruises and CruiseMaster are offering freeiPad Mini to travel agentsacross GCC and MENAregions. Process to claimiPad Mini is very simple.Travel agents need tobook a suite on any of theRegent Seven Seas sail-ings up to March 31, 2016.The bookings need to bepaid in full by September30, 2015. The RegentSeven Seas Cruises fleetincludes sister all-suite, all-balcony, 700-guests shipsSeven Seas Voyager andSeven Seas Mariner; andthe all-suite, 90% balconySeven Seas Navigator.They will be joined in thesummer of 2016 by themost luxurious ship everbuilt, the all-balcony, all-suite 750-guest SevenSeas Explorer. Bookingshould be made viaCruise Master – preferredbusiness partner ofRegent Seven SeasCruises in ME.

The partnership will help ThumbayHospitals to extend itsreach and marketworldwide toprospective patients

Medical Tourism isnow perceived as one of the fastestgrowing segment inhealthcare

Handle with Care

MOVEMENTS A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 TRAVTALK 1 5

The ADIB payment optionscommence with immedi-

ate effect and supplementpayment through Gateway’sBNP Paribas account, provid-ing increased options, con-venience and time and cost-saving for agents.

“Gateway is constantlylooking at viable solutions toenhance our clients’ business-es and make agent bookingsas convenient and user-friendly as possible. By listen-ing to and addressing theneeds of our clients we areexcited to launch expandedpayment options with ADIB,”explains Shahjahan Syed,Regional Sales ManagerGCC and Middle East,Gateway. “With over 70branches and 460 ATMsthroughout the region, pay-ment has never been easier.”

Gateway offers a 24/7customer service desk that

can be accessed throughemail, live chat and landline.By providing professionalclient support and care, alongwith a portfolio of over200,000 unique hotels world-wide, Gateway has estab-lished itself as a popular hotelbooking engine that provides

travel agents access to busi-ness and leisure hotels, bou-tique hotels, aparthotels, well-ness resorts and guest hous-es worldwide. The travelagents presently using theGateway2Travel system canbook hotel properties at com-petitive rates while others caneasily gain access by subscrip-tion at the Gateway website.

Gateway intends toexpand opportunities inKuwait, Qatar and the otherGulf states after the officelaunched in Dubai in 2013,which has focused mainly on the UAE.

Gateway, an online hotel booking engine, has expandedthe payment options of travel agents to make paymentsat any Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) branch or ATM.

Expand payment options

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The first international prop-erty for the DUKES

Collection brand, whose flag-ship hotel DUKES London isa popular destination for GCCtravellers. It’s a five-star hotel

and adjacent residences arescheduled to be handed overwithin Q1 of 2016.

“With this launch we arebringing ideal British charmand style to the UAE, blendingit with cosmopolitan luxury tocreate a unique residence andhotel situated in the heart ofDubai’s most desirable island

community, Palm Jumeirah,”says Abdulla bin Sulayem,CEO, Seven Tides. “The resi-dences have launched onApril 14, 2015 for investorsand other guests, with theshow apartments open forviewing,” he adds.

The 273-room hotel willoffer leisure and entertain-ment facilities including a private beach, indoor pooland outdoor infinity pool plus gym along with a numberof restaurants.

The 227 studio and one-bedroom apartments thatcomprise the DUKES

Oceana, Dubai residencesare targeted at the regionaland international investmentcommunity, with Seven Tidesguaranteeing a return oninvestment (ROI) of 10 percent per annum for the first five years.

“International HNWIsconsider lifestyle appeal asmajor criteria when looking togrow their investment portfolioand Palm Jumeirah fits the bill in every respect,” informsBin Sulayem. “Dubai contin-ues to offer value for money even at the top end of the investment spec-trum, especially when itcomes to apartment squarefootage compared to other major metropolises suchas London or New York,” he adds.

Residents will also havefull access to the DUKESOceana, Dubai suite of leisure facilities and support services.

Seven Tides, Dubai-based luxury developer, has unveiledits newest project, the DUKES Oceana, Dubai hotel andresidences, located on Palm Jumeirah.

A British touch to Dubai

SU S M I TA GH O S H

With over 70branches and 460ATMs throughout theregion, payment hasnever been easier

Shahjahan SyedRegional Sales Manager GCC andMiddle East, Gateway

Park inn by Radisson HotelApartments Dubai

The Rezidor Hotel Group has appointed StanislavKondov as general manager of the new Park

inn by Radisson Hotel Apartments Al Rigga. Kondov was most recently withthe Radisson Blu Resort Jizan. Prior to that he was at the Radisson Blu Hotel,Lagos, Nigeria, where he was responsible

for the 170-room property, and at the Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton as

the executive assistant manager. Kondov has over15 years’ experience.

Radisson Blu HotelDubai Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, welcomes Maria Tullbergas the new general manager. Tullberg will be responsible for over-

seeing the refurbishment and financial perform-ance of the property and a team of over 500

employees. She worked as a generalmanager at Scandic Infra City inStockholm from 2006 to 2008 and as

district director for Scandic’s 10hotels in the Stockholm region from

2008 to 2010. Most recently,Tullberg was GM of the Radisson

BluArlandia Hotel and theRadisson BluSkycity Hotel

in Sweden.

Radisson Blu Hotel and Park Inn byRadissonAbu Dhabi

Guido Bayley has been appointed the newcluster general manager for the RadissonBlu Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island and thePark Inn by Radisson Abu Dhabi YasIsland. Bayley joins from the RadissonBlu Portman Hotel, London where hehas been the general manager for the last

five years. He has been with the RezidorHotel Group for the last 18 years.

and has worked in six different countries includ-ing South Africa, Hungary and Germany.

Six Senses Zighy BayOmanSix Senses Zighy Bay appointed Greg Kocsis as the new resortmanager. Kocsis has more than 15 years of experience in hospitality industry. A Hungarian national,Kocsis held the position of ExecutiveAssistant Manager of Taj ExoticaResort and Spa in Maldives prior tojoining Six Senses Zighy Bay. His professional career started as arestaurant manager at the FourSeasons Hotel in Newport Beach. Heis an adventure enthusiast and islooking forward to paragliding at Six Senses Zighy Bay.

Ahmad Shaban has joined Rotana as Head of Sales for AbuDhabi & Al Ain. Born in Spain, Shaban completed his degreein Accounting from Amman PrivateUniversity in Jordan and worked withinternational chains such as Marriottand IHG; his last position was CountryDirector of Sales & Marketing forMarriott Kuwait. In this new role withRotana, Shaban will be building on thestrengths of the sales team to develop asolid platform that will serve the 13 hotelsin Abu Dhabi & Al Ain.

Victor Devries was appointed as Head of Sales for Dubai &Northern Emirates. Born in Netherlands and completed hisMasters in Marketing and Advertising inSolvay Business School in Belgium,Devries’ last position was Director ofRegional Marketing – Canada & US withHilton Worldwide. With over 14 years inkey commercial leadership roles acrossthe Middle East, Europe, Asia and theUS, Devries will direct the company’ssales initiatives in Dubai & NorthernEmirates where Rotana currentlyoperate 20 properties.

RotanaUAE

With this launch we are bringing ideal Britishcharm and style to the UAE, blending it withcosmopolitan luxury to create a uniqueresidence and hotel situated in the heart of Palm Jumeirah

Abdulla bin SulayemCEO, Seven Tides

Gateway offers a 24/7customer service deskthat can be accessedthrough email, livechat and landline

Gateway intends toexpand opportunitiesin Kuwait, Qatar andthe other Gulf states

Reaching Out