JANUARY 2013 ISSUE 39

VISIT: Abu Dhabi / Al Ain

VIEW: GDS

IN THIS ISSUEMARKET UPDATE

VIEW: GDS

VISIT: Abu Dhabi / Al Ain

EXPLORE: Qatar

ONSITE: Bahrain

TOUR: Austria

EXCLUSIVE: Sustainable Travel

INVESTIGATION: Winter Tourism

WHO’S MOVED

TRAVEL TALK

RENDEZVOUS

NEWS & EVENTS

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With its evolving modern skyline, ever-increasing leisure and entertainment options, and broadening appeal, Abu Dhabi is gradually turning from a regional business hub into a dynamic tourist destination in its own right.

Qatar, the world’s richest nation per capita, continues to march head on with serious investments being

injected into every sector across the country.

EXPLORE: Qatar

The global distribution system (GDS) is the most widespread way of streaming online travel sales and, in turn, this has triggered many concerns regarding the costs being spiralled as a result.

www.traveltradecyprus.travel

2 MARKET UPDATE

JANUARY 2013

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY

UAE (AED)

Egypt (EGP)

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

Lebanon (LBP)

Bahrain (BHD)

Jordan (JOD)

Syria (SYP)

Kuwait (KWD)

Qatar (QAR)

Oman (OMR)

Tunisia (TND)

Morocco (MAD)

Iran (IRR)

Yemen (YER)

Algeria (DZD)

Libya (LYD)

Dirham

Pound

Riyal

Pound

Dinar

Dinar

Pound

Dinar

Riyal

Rial

Dinar

Dirham

Riyal

Rial

Dinar

Dinar

3.67

6.39

3.75

1,505.50

0.37

0.71

71.00

0.28

3.64

0.38

1.56

8.49

12,258.00

214.06

78.73

1.26

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

Accurate as of

03/01/2013

Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi

mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

JOURNALISTSStefanie Saghbini

Rita Kasziba Dominique Christou

Maria Kazeli

SALES & MARKETINGMaria Demetriadou

Derek Lainsbury Pauline Shahabian

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Elena Stylianou

DIRECTORSAndreas Constantinides

Mary Kammitsi

HEADQUARTERST.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD

P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 210466

WEBSITE

www.traveltradeweekly.travel

EMAILSinfo@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

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Positive October in MEAHotel performance indicators across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region continued to improve in October 2012, based on data compiled by STR Global, as occupancy levels climbed 4.6 percentage points, over the corresponding month in 2011, to reach 65.5 percent.

M eanwhile, average daily rate (ADR) in-creased 9.4 percent to USD183.97, and RevPAR reached USD120.56, up 14.4 percent, during the month.

In the Middle East alone, for the first time in 2012, ADR recorded double-digit growth at 13.3 percent, totalling USD246, driven by a higher demand during the Eid celebrations, according to Elizabeth Randall Winkle, managing director, STR Global, who added that across Saudi Arabia, RevPAR jumped 38.8 percent, with the biggest increases be-ing reported from Mecca and Medina, at 88.2 percent and 36.9 percent respectively, followed by Al Khobar at 25.1 percent and Jeddah at 23.4 percent, while in Riyadh, RevPAR was down 38.4 percent, during the same month.

The largest year-on-year occupancy growth was reported from Cairo, up 11 percent to 52 percent, while RevPAR in the capital rose 17.3 percent to USD189.54.

Other markets in the region which achieved double-digit growth over figures recorded in October 2011 were Dubai, whose RevPAR levels rose 20.4 per-cent to reach USD224.51, and Sandton, South Africa,

which increased 12.5 percent to reach USD84.01.The largest decrease in all three key performance

metrics was registered in Beirut, where occupancy fell 37.7 percent to 38.5 percent, ADR was down 15.9 per-cent to USD159.34, and RevPAR dropped 47.6 percent to USD61.36.

Rising Passenger Traffic at Oman Airports

Cairo, Egypt

Passenger volumes at both Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport continue to soar, based on data compiled by the Oman Airports Management Company.

During the first nine months of 2012, the capital city’s airport welcomed a total of 5,640,520 travellers, up 18 percent over the same pe-riod in 2011, including transferring passengers. The number of departing passengers, including trans-fers, increased by 17 percent, reaching 2,699,022 over 2011 levels.

In September 2012 alone, total passengers num-bers increased by 14 percent to 626,593, equivalent to some 75,000 more passengers.

Civil aircraft movements during the nine-month stretch climbed seven percent to reach 54,722, while total freight and mail movements rose 15 percent to 84,949 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Salalah Airport handled a total of 476,482 passengers, a year-on-year in-crease of 24 percent, and civil aircraft movements surged 29 percent to reach 4,518.

In recent years, Muscat International Airport witnessed a period of healthy growth in passenger numbers and the positive trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

During the first nine months of 2012,

the capital city’s airport welcomed a total of

5,640,520 travellers, up 18 percent over the same period in 2011, including

transferring passengers

3VIEWGDS

JANUARY 2013

Maria Kazeli writes

GDS: A Blessing or a Curse?The global distribution system (GDS) is the most widespread way of streaming online travel sales and, in turn, this has triggered many concerns regarding the costs be-ing spiralled as a result, therefore a proposal has been unveiled aimed at improving airline distribution and allowing carriers to differentiate their product.

D ata revealed by a recent PhoCusWright study, co-sponsored by GDS provider Travelport, has shown that the online travel market in the Middle East is on a rapid growth trajectory, with sales via on-

line channels having grown by nearly a third in 2012, over 2011 levels.

These figures are expected to reach USD15.8 bil-lion by 2014, according to the research, indicating that this year, online bookings will make up nearly a quarter, precisely 22 percent, of all travel bookings made in the region.

However, as the Middle East still remains to be a traditional market where a large number of travellers prefer to book their tickets and pay in cash via a travel agency, travel agents and GDSs therefore maintain their necessary positions in the travel chain, as Perry Flint, head of corporate communications, the Ameri-cas, International Air Transport Association (IATA), explained, “On average only around 40 percent of all tickets by value are sold directly from airline websites. The remaining 60 percent of tickets by value are sold via indirect channels [meaning] travel agencies, both traditional and online, use global distribution system technologies.”

ASSESSING CURRENT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

Air travel reservations through the GDS channel, which constitute the lion’s share, are constantly in-creasing and the current distribution model seems to be profitable enough for companies in the GDS industry, as Antoine Medawar, vice president, Ama-deus MENA, disclosed, “In Q3 [third quarter] 2012, the global market share of travel agency air book-ings expanded by 0.9 percent, while global passen-gers boarded grew by 28.4 percent, to 420.4 million. The volume of Amadeus air travel agency bookings in Middle East and Africa rose by 15.4 percent, while passengers boarded grew by 16.1 percent in Q3 2012

as compared to the same period of the previous year.”With regards to airlines, the power players rep-

resented by the GDS companies are striving to help the carriers increase their sales and make profit, and this can be seen in Navitaire’s reservation client base whose customers sell 70 percent of all reservations through online channels, this according to Susan Adelman, director of marketing, Navitaire, a technol-ogy service provider, adding that the company offers huge advantages to their customers. “In the area of airline distribution, our airline clients can take ad-vantage of connections to any of 10 GDS companies, interline connections (more than 125 today), code-share services, web and mobile sales, online agents or corporate portals, call centres, and API [Application Programming Interface]/web services to create direct connections,” she further pointed out.

Another area of focus for GDS providers benefit-ing the airlines, is sales of ancillary products. Rabih Saab, president, Middle East and Africa, Travelport, reaffirmed that the company recognises that airlines are looking for ways to increase revenues and that one way of achieving this is through sales of ancil-lary products. “As such, Travelport GDS now gives travel suppliers the flexibility to offer ‘unbundled’ or optional services including priority boarding, Wi-Fi, and extra baggage, as well as target agents through value-add marketing services,” Saab stated.

The importance of ancillary products for airlines was reiterated by Medawar who said, “Owing to ris-ing fuel costs and growing competition among air-lines, there is a heavy reliance on ancillary services. [They] are a crucial component that could determine the success of the airline.” He called upon the results of the recent report, Amadeus Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue, issued by IdeaWorksCompany and Amadeus, where airline ancillary revenues are pro-jected to reach USD36.1 billion worldwide, signifying an increase of 11.3 percent over 2011, while ancillary revenues across Africa and the Middle East were set

to rise significantly, from USD1.39 billion in 2011 to USD1.73 billion in 2012, an increase of 24.5 percent.

Airline professionals on their behalf admit that selling through GDS has increased their sales figures, as Jassim Haji, director, information technology, Gulf Air, confirmed. “By using the GDSs, airlines are driv-ing their sales from GDS and travel agencies, to direct distribution via their own websites. By using e-com-merce, airlines can save substantially in distribution costs. GDSs also help airlines to extend their brand visibility.”

Another advantage Haji spotted was that global travel agents have access to the airline’s full content, such as schedules, fares, and seat information. On the other hand, he also noted the main downside of using GDSs. “[They] are [an] expensive means of distribution compared to other channels, as airlines are dependent on GDSs to a large extent, considering the major share of business generated through them.”

flydubai, Dubai’s low-cost airline, has agreements with two major GDS companies and attributes its growth partly to those instrumental partnerships. “We have been able to tap into an extensive world-wide network of more than 400,000 travel agents who can now offer our fares to passengers around the globe, while helping us diversify our target base,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai.

Similar views were expressed by John Brayford, CEO, RAK Airways, who stressed that through GDS, yields are improved as customers have access to the full range of fares, which is not easy through the website. He also identified that the main drawback of GDSs are their high costs, which has an effect on consumers. “The disadvantages are the increase in the cost of sale, which is not a factor of the price paid by the customer, and so we have to track this when thinking about promotional offers, for example. Also the GDS cost structure is complex, perhaps overly complicated and needs specialist staff to ensure we optimise our costs.”

4 VIEW GDS

JANUARY 2013

NEW HORIZONS AHEAD

Even though the current distribution model remains satisfactory, the basic drawback, pinpointed by the air-lines, is the high costs involved.

Gulf Air is certainly pleased with its respective GDSs in various regions, with which it boasts eight contracts, according to Haji who further revealed the carrier’s request. “Our expectation is for a single in-dustry standard platform, connecting airlines, agen-cies, and consumers that would facilitate a seamless and correct information flow, which would resolve certain bottlenecks we face with GDSs.”

Whatever the costs involved, the current model is an effective channel and one that cannot be over-looked, noted Brayford. In spite of this, he expressed his belief that technological advances will bring change and opportunity, while competition will help in driving down the costs and improving quality.

In an effort to address the increasing financial bur-dens in the GDS industry, IATA is endeavouring to bring change by introducing a new model namely the New Distribution Capability (NDC), which was unveiled at IATA’s World Passenger Symposium in October 2012.

“The foundation standard, known as Resolution 787, was adopted in October 2012,” commented Flint. “The associated XML [Extensible Markup Language]

messaging standards will be released in 2013 after con-sultation with Open Travel Alliance and Open Axis. In-dustry pilot projects will then be launched in 2013,” he added, which are set to help in fine-tuning the model.

Flint also explained the reasons underlying IATA’s decision, stressing that the current model has led to commoditisation of air travel and this needs to change. “In [current] transactions, the model is quite different; the travel offer is put together outside the airline by third parties,” he explained. “The customer is anonymous to the carrier until the transaction oc-curs. Thus it is impossible for the airline to tailor its offer to the customer via the indirect channel.” Flint continued.

Moreover, the new plan aims to support product differentiation and customer personalisation, while comparison shopping will be possible. According to the relevant fact sheet issued by IATA, NDC seeks to provide passengers with more choice of product and services, more transparency, and increased competition among providers. The same source presents the NDC’s benefits for airlines as being: the capability to sell all products through all channels; leveraging the investments made for their direct channel and developing retail capabili-ties for all channels; and greater ability to recognise and reward customers, by providing personalised offers. Overall, the benefits for travel agents will be better ser-

vice for customers and greater access to products.Tony Tyler, director general, IATA, who addressed

Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) Annual General Meeting in Algiers, in November 2012, said, “NDC is basically a set of standards that will allow airlines to make their inventory available to the outside world in the way that they would like to sell it.”

Mixed reactions to the new proposal have been generated as a result; Saab, for example, stated that Travelport considers standards as an important aspect of technology landscape, in other words having the ability to improve product offering and customer ex-perience. “However, these standards need to fairly and equally represent the needs of all participants in the end-to-end travel supply chain,” he underlined, calling IATA to address concerns raised by various parties.

Commenting on the NDC, Adelman pinpointed that many of Navitaire’s clients are using the com-pany’s API web services to create direct connections similar to the proposed NDC capabilities. Her belief is that carriers should determine the best way to con-nect with their distribution partners.

As Medawar observed, travellers are becoming technology savvy, and this has led to the availability of diverse channels for purchasing travel. “Undoubtedly, technological innovation can be deployed to stream-line and enhance the consumer experience.”

5VISITAbu Dhabi / Al Ain

JANUARY 2013

BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN, BUSINESS AND LEISUREWith its evolving modern skyline, ever-increasing leisure and entertainment options, and broadening appeal, Abu Dhabi is gradually turning from a regional business hub into a dynamic tourist destination in its own right.

ABU DHABI IN BRIEF

Country: UAE

Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)

Language: Arabic

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Yas Marina Circuit

Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara

H ailed as one of the most prosperous and fastest growing cities in the region, Abu Dhabi is developing at an exponential rate, boasting a diverse palette of cultural treats and a busy event calendar that at-

tracts an increasing number of visitors – more and more of them arriving with suitcases instead of brief-cases.

“Abu Dhabi is a destination where visitors can engage with the culture and heritage of the past and enjoy exhilarating experiences of world-class tour-ism attractions and events,” commented Mohammed Al Dhaheri, quality and performance manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), highlighting that the destination has witnessed phe-nomenal growth and improvement in the range of

Rita Kasziba writes

attractions, activities, and experiences in recent years. In 2012, Abu Dhabi set its annual target at 2.3 mil-

lion hotel guests, and between January and October 2012, guest volume exceeded 1.96 million, marking a year-on-year improvement of 11 percent. A signifi-cant surge in supply, however, has placed a down-ward pressure on average rates and revenues, leading to what Amina Maifi, public relations and marketing manager, Mercure City Centre Abu Dhabi, described as a tough competition and a ‘price war’.

Also commenting on the challenging market con-ditions, William Moujaes, executive assistant manag-er, business development, Park Rotana & Park Arjaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi, said, “[In 2012], room nights increased versus 2011 levels, however, at a sizeable pressure on the average rate, which negatively im-

pacted our revenue growth and profitability ratios.” Dhammika Gamage, finance manager, Vision Ho-

tel Apartments, revealed a similar pattern, confirming a notable drop in average daily rates, and slight de-clines in occupancy levels and RevPAR.

Arbind K. Shrestha, general manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, further added, “The market performance has and will mainly be deter-mined by the openings of new hotels. Further, the pricing strategies will also be determined by the pric-ing strategies of the market leaders in the hospitality sector.”

6 VISIT Abu Dhabi / Al Ain

JANUARY 2013

Building up a loyal clientele therefore can give hotels a competitive edge, as Shaun Parsons, general manager, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, pinpointed, attributing the hotel’s positive results to a loyal base of business travellers and groups from the Gulf coun-tries as well as European markets.

With the emirate’s room inventory expanding at an accelerated pace, high-level conferences and pres-tigious events are crucial to maintaining healthy oc-cupancy rates and building length of stay thus TCA Abu Dhabi lays great emphasis on securing major events for the emirate, targeting both the corporate and the leisure segments.

“We are readying for the hosting of the Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council in April, when around 1,000 of the industry’s international de-cision-makers will descend to the UAE capital, while in June we will host the annual congress of the UK’s Institute of Travel & Tourism.”

In fact, catering to the regional and the interna-tional business community has long been the desti-nation’s forte, noted Sayed Tayoun, area director of sales and marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group.

“From a MICE perspective, Abu Dhabi has so much to offer to the business traveller and TCA Abu Dhabi is working hard on promoting this so I am sure

we will see a huge growth in this segment over the coming years, attracting more guests from both Euro-pean and Asian markets,” indicated Tayoun, who also remarked on the impact of the roaster of events and exhibitions held on Yas Island, which has significantly contributed to Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island’s encouraging results.

A BALANCED SPLIT

Abu Dhabi also continues to claim a larger share of the region’s flourishing leisure segment, as Doris Greif, general manager, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, also highlighted.

“Modern travel today, especially to a place like Abu Dhabi, sees the lines between business and leisure somewhat blurred. Many who travel to Abu Dhabi for business or an exhibition are taking the opportunity to bring their families with them, conversely, the demand of the modern business environment often means we are not able to escape work even when on vacation.”

Correspondingly, the shifting pattern of demand is set to redefine the emirate’s tourism industry as a whole, including the car rental sector.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group anticipates a notable change in the capital, noted Sam Eltibi, ex-

ecutive director, MENA and Asia Pacific, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. “In Dubai, we have more tourist rentals than Abu Dhabi at the moment, but with all the expected tourism growth plans for Abu Dhabi, we anticipate, in due course, Abu Dhabi to be at par with Dubai.“

In fact, TCA Abu Dhabi looks towards a more bal-anced 50/50 leisure and business tourism split, as Al Dhaheri revealed, saying that the emirate’s leisure proposition is rapidly expanding with more beach-front resorts, more attractions, and an increasing number of activity offerings.

The capital’s impressive selection of world-class attractions, will soon be bolstered with the opening of a mega waterpark on Yas Island, which, as Mike Oswald, park general manager, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, claims, will welcome visitors with an experi-ence unlike any seen before in the region. Featuring 43 rides, slides, and attractions, the waterpark is set to further strengthen the UAE capital’s position as a top leisure destination in the region.

“Based on the growing resident population, in-bound tourism, and being the first and only water-park in Abu Dhabi, we are confident Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi will be very well received in the market,” added Oswald.

http://www.adnec.ae/

8 VISIT Abu Dhabi / Al Ain

JANUARY 2013

THE PLACES TO BE

Yas Island has, over the past few years, become one of the UAE’s most lively attractions, and in the coming months, Yas Marina will undergo an exciting expan-sion which is set to transform it into a vibrant dining and entertainment precinct, as Cedric Le Rest, gen-eral manager, Yas Marina, explained, adding that Yas Island is fast becoming a unique lifestyle hub with the addition of a number of other attractions, such as Yas Waterworld, the Yas Island Beach and the Yas Mall, which is slated for opening early 2014. Designed to best meet the transport needs of Yas Island’s visitors, yas express, set to be launched on January 1, will offer complimentary shuttle services, connecting guests to and from the destination’s main attractions.

Occupying 27km2, Saadiyat Island is another multifaceted destination of Abu Dhabi. “Saadiyat is becoming an increasingly appealing destination with its prestigious residences, cultural attraction, high-class sport and leisure venues, dynamic beach lifestyle, and world-renowned hospitality brands such as St. Regis and Park Hyatt,” explained Ahmed Al Fahim, executive director of marketing, communica-tions, sales and leasing, Tourism Development & In-vestment Company (TDIC), the master developer of some of Abu Dhabi’s most prestigious projects. “Un-precedented in scale and scope, the Saadiyat Cultural District will host world-class museums starting with the opening of the Lourve Abu Dhabi in 2015, fol-lowed by the Zayed National Museums in 2016, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017.”

Desert Islands, consisting of eight natural islands, including Sir Bani Yas Island and the historical Dalma Island, also continue to attract an increasing number of visitors and the latest addition to Sir Bani Yas Island, a new 552-capacity conference centre at Desert Islands Resort & Spa Anantara, is set to add a significant value to the capital’s burgeoning MICE industry, noted Al Fahim.

Furthermore, the Sir Bani Yas Stables, which

opened in April 2012, is another impressive facility at-tracting both residents and visitors, and the coming months will see the launch of a number of new tourism projects on Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Fahim revealed, in-cluding a watersports centre, and two Arabian inspired lodges, to be managed by Anantara, each comprising 30 villas; namely Al Yamm Villas and Al Sahel Villas.

NEW DIRECTIONS, NEW DIMENSIONS

Abu Dhabi’s transformation is well reflected in its dynamically broadening hotel inventory, which will soon include one of world’s most recognisable and iconic brands, the region’s very first Hard Rock hotel.

“We expect Hard Rock Abu Dhabi to bring a new energy and a new excitement to Abu Dhabi and add to its international appeal,” said Michael Shindler, ex-ecutive vice president, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, re-vealing that the hotel will soar some 38 storeys above the Corniche and will contain 378 rooms and suites, seven food and beverage outlets, a business centre, a 36th floor swimming pool, and an outdoor fifth floor party deck. The ground breaking is expected in early second quarter 2013, with an estimated opening in late 2015 or early 2016.

TCA Abu Dhabi is planning to stage a series of 19 roadshows across India, China, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Australia, in a bid to support the industry’s efforts throughout the year, and it will be showcasing the emirate’s tourism prod-ucts and services through the mounting of destina-tion pavilions at 16 trade fairs in 13 countries.

As Al Dhaheri explained, in addition to the grow-ing emphasis on the emerging CIS, Indian, and Chi-nese markets, the authority will also lead a destination pavilion at the World Travel Market Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil, the organisation’s first venture into South America, in a bid to support the June launch of Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi - São Paulo service.

Etihad Airways’ expansion strategy is indeed deci-

sive in the destination’s development. “Etihad Airways, our national carrier, continues to spread its wings and we look forward to a daily flight from Washington, D.C. starting March and from São Paulo, Brazil, beginning June. Recently we have welcomed a four-times-a-week Alitalia flight from Rome and a twice-weekly flight by Hainan Airlines, which has become the first Chinese carrier to service the UAE capital,” noted Al Dhaheri.

REACHING THE WORLD

“The connectivity provided by Etihad Airways is key to Abu Dhabi’s regional competitiveness and we rel-ish out integral role in inbound tourism and the pro-motion of Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination,” highlighted James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, adding that the destination’s growing and diversify-ing economy is backed by a government with the vi-sion, the will, and ability to invest in the future.

As Etihad Airways’ expansion and the emirate’s tourism industry tend to move in tandem, hoteliers are focusing their efforts on the airline’s new routes.

Asia, one of the airline’s main strategic regions, is fast becoming one of the most significant source markets of Abu Dhabi; one which has remained resil-ient to the global financial crises, as Parsons noted.

Likewise, as Mai Nassar, director of sales and mar-keting, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, the hotel also aims to capture a bigger market share from the Far Eastern and Asian markets, besides the equally growing Australian and GCC nations.

Paul Simmons, director of sales and marketing, Mil-lennium Hotel, Abu Dhabi, concurred, “Asia continues to grow with the number of large projects in the UAE.”

“Germany is also growing fast again down to the Etihad and airberlin expansion. These are two main re-gions of growth,” Simmons added, futher stating that by further increasing visitor volumes, despite a large num-ber of hotels expected to come online in the next few months, occupancy rates are set to continue growing.

T he historic city of Al Ain rarely steals the spotlight although, as George Titus, direc-tor of sales and marketing, Ayla Hotels and Resorts Management Company, noted, it continues its steady development, driven

by TCA Abu Dhabi’s initiatives aimed at promoting the ‘Garden City’ as an attractive destination for both leisure and business travellers.

“According to TCA Abu Dhabi, total guest arrivals to Al Ain in 2011 was 266,000, a figure the authority

Al Ainexpects to swell to 400,000 this year,” said Titus, add-ing that Al Ain continues to see increased demand, and having recently been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the city is set to experience a positive year ahead.

The authority recently reopened the historic Souq Al Qattara, as part of its efforts to restore and develop heritage and historical sites in various parts of the emirate, with the ultimate goals of striking a balance between heritage and modernity.

“Al Ain is growing as a destination domestically, hence [in 2012] we hosted UAE local travellers who visited Al Ain during weekends and public holidays,” explained Mohamed Soussan, general manager, Ayla Hotels and Resorts Management Company, further in-dicating that Europe, especially France, as well as other nations from the GCC region, are regular guests in the

city, and revealing that the company plans to open an-other two properties in the city in the third quarter of the year, namely Grand Ayla and Badawi Ayla.

Morover, Danat Al Ain Resort has recently been awarded the five-star classification, which, as Ahmed Margoushy, general manager, Danat Al Ain Resort, said, confirms its status as a luxury resort.

In fact, TCA Abu Dhabi encourages visitors to the emirate to take a trip to some of the area’s most entic-ing attractions, Al Dhaheri, explained.

“We shall place an ever-increasing focus on cul-ture and heritage throughout our promotional ac-tivities, with the inscription of Abu Dhabi’s heritage heartland of Al Ain to the UNESCO World Heritage list, adding depth to our credentials as a cultural destination, and prominence to our rich and diverse heritage.”

9EXPLOREQatar

JANUARY 2013

An Enduring LegacyQatar, the world’s richest nation per capita, continues to march head on with serious investments being injected into every sector across the country, as it climbs its way to becoming a unique combination of world class services and qual-ity tourism offerings in the fields of business, leisure, education, culture, and, of course, sports.

Stefanie Saghbini writes

Q atar has long been on its way to positioning itself as the latest quality tourism destination for sport, leisure, culture, business, and education, attracting tourism investors from all around the world, thanks to the country’s tourism board, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

According to Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, chairman, QTA, the authority is working on an integrated strategic plan to develop Qatar’s entire tour-ism infrastructure and alongside the help of the nation’s collective sports organisa-tions and hospitality industry, there exists the ever-present aim to elevate sports tourism in Qatar, into becoming one of its major attractive elements.

Similarly, speaking at the two-day sixth edition of the Annual Middle East Hospi-tality Expansion Congress 2012, which took place in October 2012 in Doha, Abdulla Malalla Al-Bader, director of tourism, QTA, who also inaugurated the event, stressed that as the authority’s mission to promote and support the country as a tourism destination of quality, hotel expansion is the cornerstone for the future. “Qatar Tourism Authority’s strategy is to grow the tourism industry by 20 percent in the next five years. As part of its five-year plan, Qatar is investing USD17 billion in tourism infrastructure, including the construction of luxury hotels, resorts, and meeting facilities,” he continued.

BILLION DOLLAR FACELIFT

According to a report released by Commercial Bank of Qatar entitled Qatar Con-struction Sector 1st Edition 2012, the Qatari government has allocated a significant 40 percent of its budget between 2012 and 2016 to infrastructure projects.

These include USD11.1 billion for the setting up of the new airport, New Doha International Airport (NDIA), which includes two runways, a 140,000m2 airport ter-minal, and an air cargo terminal which, upon completion, will boast a handling ca-pacity of two million tonnes, making it one of the world’s largest cargo terminals.

Furthermore, USD5.5 billion is being used for a deep-water seaport, USD1 bil-lion for a transport corridor in the capital, Doha, and USD20 billion on roads, while a further USD50 billion is being allocated to upgrade the country’s transport infra-structure including rail and metro systems.

Doha

QATAR IN BRIEF

Capital: Doha

Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)

Language: Arabic

10 EXPLORE Qatar

JANUARY 2013

The report further stated that following the suc-cessful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar’s construction sector has since witnessed a spate of new project announcements, which include USD48 billion to be spent on air-conditioned stadiums and USD77 billion on facilities for soccer fans and players from across the world.

Overall, direct spending to build nine stadiums and to renovate three, will cover four percent of the total planned investment, all of which will be equipped with cooling systems using renewable en-ergy resources to achieve what will become the first completely carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup.

Moreover, USD33 billion is being spent for the development of Lusail City, a futuristic project extend-ing across an area of 38km2, set to include four exclu-sive islands, 19 multi-purpose residential, mixed-use, entertainment, and commercial districts, as well as 22 hotels with different international star ratings, all ex-pected for completion in 2018.

Other mega investments across the country in-clude the USD1.7 billion Doha Festival City slated for the fourth quarter on 2014, the USD5.5 billion Msheir-eb set to be completed in the fourth quarter on 2017, the USD434 million expected to be completed in 2014, and the USD5 billion Pearl Qatar to finalise con-struction in the third quarter of the year.

Another major addition to Qatar’s skyline is the USD7.9 billion Sidra Medical and Research Center, which opened in December 2012; an ultra-modern, all-digital academic medical centre which has been designed and planned in accordance to the top inter-national standards in sciences, offering specialty care for women and children.

HOSPITALITY JEWELS

Synonymous with Al-Bader’s view on hotel expansion as the cornerstone of the future, hospitality giants such as Qatar-based Katara Hospitality, which dou-bled its portfolio in 2012, revealed its ambitious plans at the latest edition of WTM, London.

The company, which now boasts 26 properties, operational or under construction, in key destina-tions is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s leading hospitality organisations, this according to Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality.

“With decades of glorious history, these hotels have undertaken significant renovation works and have opened or due to open in the near future as true hospitality gems that testify for our commitment to preserving their heritage,” Al Mulla said.

Leading hotel group, InterContinental Hotels Group is also taking advantage of Qatar’s burgeon-

ing economy and healthy tourism industry having recently inaugurated its first Crowne Plaza hotel in the capital, Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park.

Located in the heart of Doha’s banking dis-trict, just 2km from Doha International Airport, the property is part of the new Business Park area in the city and features 378 rooms and suites, six food and beverage out-lets, a rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre and spa, and the iconic glass-domed meeting venue, The Event Centre, situ-ated in the middle of the park complex and com-prising two state-of-the-art ballrooms.

Also gearing up to welcome the expected influx of tourists to the country, is one of Asia’s largest real estate compa-nies, CapitaLand, whose wholly owned-serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (As-cott), one of the world’s largest international ser-

viced residence owner operators, recently opened its premier serviced residence in Qatar, Ascott Doha.

Located in the diplomatic centre of the city and at the north end of the Corniche waterfront prom-enade fronting Doha Bay, Ascott Doha offers views of the Arabian coast and easy access to City Centre Mall, Qatar’s leading retail and entertainment spot. Business travellers residing at the property will find themselves in the vicinity of Doha Exhibition Centre and a 10-minute drive from the city’s business and financial district.

Hilton Worldwide also made its initial steps into the country, having recently inaugurated Hilton Doha, with four more properties in the pipeline, which, ac-cording to Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East and Africa, Hilton Worldwide, reflects the hotel giant’s continued interest in Qatar.

“For us being the most attractive hotel with the best service is not enough; we are part of this com-munity and it is important that we are good corpo-rate citizens. Therefore, we hope to play an integral part in positioning Doha as a global city, and also in delivering an international experience rooted in local culture to global travellers,” he stated.

ON YOUR MARKS

In line with this, QTA, in partnership with ASPIRE4S-PORT and Qatar Olympic Committee, recently hosted a one-day forum to discuss sports tourism in the country during ASPIRE4SPORT, one of the largest conference and exhibitions on sports in the Middle East, which took place on November 12 – 15, 2012, at Aspire Dome Doha.

The event, which attracted over 4,200 visitors, some 100 delegates, 92 speakers, and hundreds of exhibitors and media, presented an opportunity for all local tourism stakeholders and participants to dis-cuss the different challenges and opportunities in de-veloping Qatar’s sports tourism industry, one which is flourishing and is very much a part of the country’s meetings and events sector.

Qatar is also home to one of the world most prestigious sports centres, Qatar Sports City - ASPIRE Zone, which is a world-class complex for athletics, en-tertainment, recreation, and wellness.

In December 2012, the sports venue hosted Doha Goals, an international conference focused on sport as a crucial vehicle for social and economic develop-ment, and on providing concrete initiatives to help individuals and communities.

According to Hilal Al-Kuwari, president, Aspire Zone Foundation, Doha Goals is an opportunity for world leaders and decision makers to come together to discuss initiatives that will stimulate social change through sport; a forum which, he believes, represents the foundation’s on-going commitment to encourage sport as a tool for global progress.

2012: A MEMORABLE YEAR

Qatar is rich in culture and heritage, and is today’s

http://www.qatartourism.gov.qa/

12 EXPLORE Qatar

JANUARY 2013

ultimate tourism destination offering refined luxury and the very latest business amenities, as well as su-perb sports and leisure facilities, according to al-Mo-hannadi, who largely praises the capital, Doha.

“Ideal for the tourist’s agenda, Doha offers a unique combination of world class services and luxurious hospitality as well as superb international award winning leisure provision with state of the art facilities to appeal to travellers from around the world,” he further commented.

Proof of this is clearly visible following the influx of corporate travellers who flocked to the capital to attend what is being hailed as the largest conference ever to be staged in Qatar, namely the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2012 (COP18/CMP8), at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) from November 26 - December 7, 2012.

With a vision to see the country’s, as well as the region’s, leading exhibition and convention centre as the preferred destination for prestigious events alongside a strong commitment to ecotourism, AM-LAK, the holding company which oversees the strat-egy and operation of QNCC, on behalf of Qatar Foun-dation, proudly hosted the event, which also marked the first anniversary of QNCC when it celebrated its arrival onto the world’s stage in December 2011, with 5,500 delegates and media.

“It has been a memorable year for us. The centre of-ficially opened [in December 2011] when it hosted the 20th World Petroleum Congress - the largest oil and gas gathering in the world. One year later, we [played] host to the largest conference ever staged in Qatar,” com-mented Saad Al Muhanadi, chairman, AMLAK, who added that following the positive feedback received from the clients, all the hard work is certainly paying off.

QNCC is certainly not about to rest on its laurels after hosting the prestigious COP18/CMP8, having been chosen as the venue for the 2013 ACI Airport Ex-change Conference, one of the leading airport trans-port events in the industry’s calendar, being organ-ised by Doha International Airport in collaboration with Airport Council International (ACI).

Slated to take place from November 18 – 20, the conference is expected to lure in some 2,000 del-egates from Europe, Asia Pacific, and other regions across the world.

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Doha International Airport, spoke of his delight at yet another key conference be-ing staged in the country this year. “Doha International Airport is extremely excited to host 2013 ACI Airport Exchange […]. It comes to Doha during a year when we look forward to opening a brand new home, the New Doha International Airport, which promises to set a global benchmark in service and quality.”

The event promises to include an innovation and architectural showcase, presenting the future of airport design, unique social programmes, work-shops, and exhibits from leading solution providers.

A TRUE LEADER

Qatar Airways has, with-out doubt, been playing a pivotal role in the trans-formation of Qatar into a power house within the region, since its birth 15 years ago, as it continues to enhance its fleet size with a relentless aim to add to its ever-growing route destination map, rapidly staging itself as a central hub for major con-nections across the globe.

In 2012 alone, the national flag carrier launched flights to Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Geor-gia; Kigali, Rwanda; Za-greb, Croatia; Erbil and Baghdad, Iraq; Perth, Aus-tralia; Kilimanjaro, Tanza-nia; Yangon, Myanmar; Maputo, Mozambique;

Belgrade, Serbia; and Warsaw, Poland, from its base in Doha.

On January 7, the airline will be launching flights to Gassim, Saudi Arabia, and on January 23 it will be operating to Najaf, Iraq. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is also gearing up to welcome Qatar Airways’ services from Doha on February 20, while Chicago, US, will become the airline’s new destination on April 10, and Salalah, Oman, on May 22.

Having recently taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner at a special ceremony held at the US aircraft manufacturer’s headquarters in Seattle, Qatar Airways marked a milestone in Middle East aviation, becoming the first airline from the region to take de-livery of the aircraft, with 60 more in the pipeline.

Ray Conner, president, Boeing Commercial Air-planes, commented, “There is no doubt in my mind that Qatar Airways is one of the most remarkable air-line success stories of our time and it is only fitting that it has taken delivery of the most technologically advanced jetliner […]. The 787, with its unmatched fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, is certain to enable Qatar Airways’ plans to continue to deliver on its promise of quality and profitability. [This] delivery marks the beginning of a new chapter in Boeing’s partnership with Qatar Airways, which is based on a mutual commitment to excellence.”

A PRESTIGIOUS GATEWAY

Rizon Jet, Qatar’s award-winning luxury flight services company, recently signed a founding member agree-ment with leading luxury affinity marketing, partner-ships, and events group, The Luxury Network.

As Fares Ghattas, managing director, The Luxury Network, Qatar, explained, the company is a private consortium of premium brands in each luxury capital of the world. “The Luxury Network's objective is sim-ple; to facilitate cooperation and new business de-velopment between top-end companies under the umbrella of ’affinity marketing’. Through The Luxury Network, unique partnerships are created via stra-tegic alignment, joint collaborations, product place-ment, media share, B2B [business-to-business], and B2C [business-to-consumer] networking events and brand partnering,” he further explicated.

Under this agreement, The Luxury Network Qatar will take part in Rizon Jet’s strategic business devel-opment as an addition to their existing marketing di-vision. “The partnership with Rizon Jet will enable us to hold one of the most exclusive invite-only luxury events in Doha; the launch of The Luxury Network Qatar at Rizon Jet’s stunning VIP Terminal at Doha International Airport during the first quarter of 2013,” Ghattas revealed.

Hassan Al-Mousawi, CEO, Rizon Jet, also expressed excitement for becoming part of what he described as a prestigious network, and one which he believes will be an ideal gateway to develop a comprehensive strategy to form new alliances and partnerships with brands that will complement Rizon Jet’s products and growth.

13ONSITEBahrain

JANUARY 2013

W orld Travel & Tourism Council’s Economic Impact Report for Bah-rain published preliminary fore-casts of a rise of 4.2 percent in direct contribution of travel and

tourism to the country by end-2012, over 2011 fig-ures where a total of BHD513.2 million (USD1.4 bil-lion) was generated.

These numbers are set to increase even further in the next 10 years, according to the report, which in-dicates that direct contribution to the Kingdom is set to witness an upsurge of 3.7 percent per annum, to reach BHD769.4 million (USD2 billion) in 2022.

In the coming months, Bahrain is certainly gear-ing up to welcome an influx in visitors, as the coun-try’s capital, Manama, takes position in the limelight as this year’s Capital of Arab Tourism.

The programme of festivity celebrating Ma-nama’s achievement was announced in September 2012, which, according to H.E. Shaikha Mai bint Mo-hammed Al Khalifa, minister of culture, Bahrain, was an exceptional event and one which has confirmed the world-renowned ancient civilisations of the Kingdom, its history and culture, and its capacity to develop its heritage in a fruitful way for all humanity.

Alongside the announcement, the country’s 2012-2013 cruising season is forecasted to bring about a positive number of arrivals to Bahrain, as the Ministry of Culture welcomed the arrival of the first cruise ship in November 2012; part of the function of ‘Manama as Capital of Arab Culture for 2012’ and ahead of ‘Ma-nama as Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013’.

TUI Cruises’ vessel, which will make some 20 calls throughout the season with a visit to Bahrain once a week, will continue to offer cruise trips through to March 22.

PROMISING TIMES AHEAD

A lot of big projects, events, and exhibitions, sup-ported by the government, alongside newly-opened properties are slated to take place in the country fol-

Embracing the World

BAHRAIN IN BRIEF

Capital: Manama

Currency: Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Language: Arabic

As Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013, Manama, is readying for a substantial boost in visitor arrivals, once again reserving its seat under the tourism spotlight.

Dominique Christou writes

lowing its ranking as the ‘destination to visit’ for Arab tourists this year, according to Yasser Bahaa, general manager, Mercure Grand Hotel Seef, Manama.

Having recorded a healthy 2012, where the to-tal percentage of the hotel’s MENA clientele base reached 81.6 percent, Bahaa expressed optimism for the year ahead with better demand and higher ex-pected occupancy rates.

Also describing the hotel’s performance as ‘above the market’, Puneet Singh, general manager, Kempin-ski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre, said, “By con-centrating our efforts into delivering uncompromis-ing Kempinski standard of quality, we have managed to claim a strong position within Bahrain’s hospitality market, attaining the number two slot in a short period of time.”

Popular among the Arab segments as well, Kemp-inski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre welcomed the majority of its guests from the GCC region while 20 percent hailed from elsewhere in the world.

Along parallel lines, Mark Neukomm, general manager, The Ritz-Carl-ton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa, indicated a promising 2013, highly attributed to Bahrain’s stance as Arab Capital of Tourism for the year, which, he under-lined, has lined up a large number of activities and events ready to attract visitors the world over.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa also proved to be a hotspot for tourists throughout 2012, particularly from the Mid-dle East who made up 60 percent of the overall cli-entele base, with empha-sis on Saudi Arabia, this according to Bert Plas, general manager, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa who is antici-pating a slight increase in occupancy this year over 2012.

Moreover, Best Western

International (BWI) recently marked its entry into Bahrain with the opening of a new 75 all-suite hotel, Best Western Al-Olaya Suites Hotel, in the capital city, Manama.

Moreover, Al Safir Hotel & Tower recently unveiled the most contemporary hospitality experience in the Kingdom of Bahrain with a fully refurbished 112 rooms, restaurant, public areas, and business facili-ties, boasting state-of-the-art technology while re-taining ancient traditional Bahraini heritage, combin-ing the elements of past and future. Stephen Daniel, director of sales and marketing, Al Safir Hotel & Tower, also indicated that the hotel is now classified as dry as a result of the bulk clientele coming from the family, sports, and religious segments.

AIMING HIGH

In its continuous efforts towards making custom-ers’ travel experience faster and easier, the country’s national flag carrier, Gulf Air, recently introduced mobile check-in, whereby passengers can check-in on the Internet through their mobiles, thus avoiding queues; a facility which Jassim Haji, director, informa-tion technology, Gulf Air, stated comes as part of the airline’s business strategy to be on top of the latest trends and technologies so that passengers are given the most innovative self-service facilities.

14 TOUR Austria

JANUARY 2013

Watch This Space

AUSTRIA IN BRIEF

Capital: Vienna

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Language: German

Austria is rapidly becoming one of the most favoured European destina-tions among Middle Eastern travel-lers, who touch down in a country surrounded by some of the world’s most naturally picturesque scenery, served with a large dollop of first class hotels and state-of-the-art MICE facilities, just to name a few.

Dominique Christou writes

H aving analysed outbound travel trends from the Middle East to Europe, the team at Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) has come to realise that Austria is the country with the biggest growth in the

last five years, as Klaus Ehrenbrandtner, regional di-rector, Asia and Middle East, ANTO, stated.

In the first nine months of 2012, Austria witnessed 188,000 arrivals and 635,000 overnights from travel-lers hailing from the MENA region, and according to Ehrenbrandtner, this means that the country is con-stantly gaining market shares and is growing faster than any other European destination.

“Middle Eastern tourists appreciate that in Austria they can combine a stay in the historic romantic city centre in Vienna, Salzburg, or Innsbruck, with a stay in the Alpine region with its spectacular panoramic views and the crystal clear lakes,” he commented.

“The most popular places in Austria for Middle Eastern travellers are traditionally Vienna, Zell am See-Kaprun, and Salzburg. However, we see a grow-ing demand for new destinations and our strategy is to add one new one every year, or two, in order not to confuse the trade and the consumers. Fortunately, there are still some destinations with a very high po-tential in the Middle East that need to be discovered by the market.”

In a bid to retain its status as the fastest growing Eu-ropean tourist destination for Middle Eastern travellers, Austria will be showcased through ANTO’s aggressive business-to-business and business-to-consumer mar-keting campaigns which Ehrenbrandtner explained will be implemented across all channels, with a strong focus on online marketing, throughout the region.

READY FOR BUSINESS

Not only does Austria offer an ideal setting for touristic activities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, but scores extra points with its high standards of service, as Alex-ander Kery, head, austrian business and convention network (abcn), a department of ANTO, explained, fur-ther stating that the country has long been top-listed in international rankings as an ideal location for meet-ings, events, and conventions for many reasons. “First of all, its easy accessibility, in the very heart of Europe; add economic and political stability, and a high level of security, which many organisers consider paramount,” he clarified, further praising its great scenic diversity within close range from anywhere in Europe, which is the country’s main market for the business sector.

Meanwhile, he remains confident that although MENA does not currently stand as a key feeder market for Austria’s business sector, it is a segment of the future and abcn remains keen on being ready for business.

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES

Austria’s hotel sector witnessed buoyancy through-out 2012 and this trend is expected to continue throughout this year, albeit with rising challenges following the entry of new luxury hotels, as Brigitta Hartl-Wagner, chief sales and marketing officer, Hotel Sacher Wien, explained, reporting that the property witnessed successful results in terms of occupancy and average room rate, over 2011 figures.

Adding to the wide variety of options available for travellers to Austria, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Com-pany opened its first hotel in the country, in August 2012, namely The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, a 202-room property located on the capital’s central Schubertring Boulevard.

“The hotel will bring The Ritz-Carlton service philosophy to the city and combine it with Viennese hospitality to create memorable experiences for guests whether travelling on leisure or for business,” said Herve Humler, president, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Furthermore, March is to see the opening of a new extension at the three-star 25hours Hotel Wien at MuseumsQuartier, situated in the Neubau district of the capital, which will take the property’s capacity to more than 372 beds.

Also set to open in March is the new five-star Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna, offering 304 rooms and a private spa zone. A boutique hotel will also be joining the capital’s skyline, with the entrance of the 78-room The Guesthouse, while in 2014, the 143-unit Park Hyatt Vienna is slated to open.

Salzburg

Vienna

Middle Eastern tourists appreci-ate that in Austria they can combine a stay in the historic romantic city cen-tre […] with a stay in the Alpine re-gion, with its spec-tacular panoramic views and the crystal clear lakes

http://www.changiairport.com/

16 EXCLUSIVE Sustainable Travel

JANUARY 2013

The Future is Now

As one of the world’s largest economic and employment sectors, travel and tourism holds enormous opportunities and equally imposing potential threats. The industry is not only responsible for millions of jobs but also for the welfare and wellbeing of the present and future generations, thus sustainable development is a shared and an indivisible responsibility of every single person under the travel and tourism umbrella.

W ith over one billion tourists having travelled the world in 2012, travel and tourism remains one of the industries that is continually grow-ing, accounting for nine percent of

global GDP, and one in every 12 jobs, thus balancing its economic, social, and environmental objectives and responsibilities is pivotal.

“Reaching one billion tourists is an extraordi-nary milestone for the sector, especially in terms of the employment and income generated for millions around the world. We can never forget, however, that one billion tourists is also a major responsibility; a responsibility to protect the people and places vis-ited,” highlighted Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), stressing that every single person that travelled in 2012 can make a real difference and this is the idea at the heart of the or-ganisation’s recent One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign.

“The message is simple: one small action multi-plied by one billion times can make a big difference. Imagine how much water and energy we could save if one billion tourists simply used their towels for more than a day. Imagine how much of the world’s heritage we could save if the entrance fees from one billion tourists were used for the upkeep and safeguarding

of the sites they visited,” Rifai continued.With aviation being one of the fastest growing

sectors, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) works closely with airlines and other aviation stakeholders to ensure its long-term sustainability, as Perry Flint, head of corporate communications, the Americas, IATA, explained, identifying the organisa-tion’s main objectives, in this regard, of achieving an average improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5 percent per year to 2020; imposing a cap on net aviation CO2

emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth; and reducing net CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2050, as compared to 2005 levels.

“IATA works closely with airlines, air navigation service providers, airports, and other stakeholders to help reduce air and ground delays that result in un-necessary fuel burn and CO2 emissions,” noted Flint, stressing that sustainability in the aviation industry extends far beyond environmental policies.

“Aviation connects the planet, linking producers with markets, bringing people together, and facili-tating greater understanding and awareness among different cultures,” highlighted Flint, adding that avia-tion also makes possible the development of interna-tional supply chains that have an enormous impact on local living conditions, especially in lesser devel-oped regions. The Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders re-port estimates that, including the catalytic effects of aviation-related tourism, the industry supports some 57 million jobs and generates USD2.2 trillion in global

GDP, and by 2030 these figures are set to rise to about 82 million jobs and USD6.9 trillion in GDP.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a global initiative, which works to expand the under-standing of and access to sustainable tourism prac-tices, by helping to identify and generate markets for sustainable tourism, as well as provide education and training, as Kelly Bricker, board president, GSTC, explained, pinpointing that according to UNWTO, the number of international travellers is expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, thus educating the industry about the vital need of sustainability is of paramount importance.

Shedding light on the most pressing issues re-garding the encouragement of organisations and in-dividuals to adopt such principles, Bricker said, “The main challenge is the assortment of labels which has made sustainability difficult to identify and define. We often see it referred to as green tourism, eco-tourism, responsible tourism, and a variety of other titles. The second challenge is that hundreds of organisations are doing the right thing, but in many different ways. That is why we launched a global initiative focused on a universal set of principles and a certification pro-gramme [Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria].”

SMALL EFFORTS, BIG CHANGES

Sustainable tourism is often equated with other ideologies, however, as Inge Huijbrechts, director of

Rita Kasziba writes

17EXCLUSIVESustainable Travel

JANUARY 2013

responsible business, The Rezidor Hotel Group, not-ed, “When we talk about responsible business, we are talking about taking responsibility both for the envi-ronment and local community.”

As such, the hotel company’s responsible busi-ness programme was built on three main pillars: guaranteeing the health and safety of guests and employees, respecting social and ethical issues in the community, and minimising environmental footprint.

In fact, as Huijbrechts reminded, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, if one contin-ues to do business ‘as usual’, energy use and emissions will double and water use will multiply by 2.5 by 2050.

“Only a green investment and green economy scenario can undercut these daunting prospects,” stressed Huijbrechts, noting that the group’s Think Planet! initiative was developed to help the company reduce its energy consumption by 25 percent over the next five years.

Echoing similar views, Lashley Pulsipher, regional director of public relations, Middle East and Africa, Kempinski, highlighted that it is important to under-stand that sustainability in the hospitality industry goes far beyond environmental policies.

“For Kempinski, sustainable business practices mean growing our business with respect for the over-all impact, whether social, economic, or environmental,” Pulsipher said, remarking on the great significance of in-tegrating local workforce, engaging with the local com-munity, and respecting the resources of the destination.

“Opening new hotels can have a positive eco-nomic impact but we need to manage the risks to lo-cal culture,” Pulsipher further stressed.

Similarly, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts lays great emphasis on initiatives which not only lead to great outcomes for the environment but also generate util-ity savings for its hotels and resorts. The Green Globe certification of hotels in the Middle East has already delivered significant achievements.

In 12 months up to summer 2012, energy savings were equal to powering a 200-room hotel for one and a half years, Gerard Hotelier, vice president of opera-tions, Middle East and India, Mövenpick Hotels & Re-sorts, revealed.

Likewise, Omer Kaddouri, executive vice presi-dent, Rotana, identified sustainability as the compa-ny’s ‘watchword’. “We have set out vision and identified key strategic sustainability objectives that align with our core corporate values of life: long-term, innovative, friendly, and ethical,” he said, adding that the company is committed to using these guiding principles and ob-jectives to manage its businesses in a way that sustain its bottom line; people, the planet, as well as profit.

Sharing similar values, Christophe Landais, man-aging director, Accor Middle East, said, “With the increase in global travel, we recognise our growing corporate responsibility in lessening our business im-pact on the natural environment, and improving our impact on the society. […] We believe that making day-to-day commitments and putting eco-friendly facilities and practices in place can drive continuous improvement across the board.”

Accor’s new sustainable development strategy is being written today with PLANET 21; the name is tak-en from Agenda 21 of the UN, which, as Landais pin-pointed, underlines the urgent concern that needs to be addressed. “The need to change methods of pro-duction and consumption to preserve human beings and eco-system,” he explained, conveying a strong belief that the programme will lead the company towards a new business model, gaining, at the same time, Accor’s brands a competitive edge and attrac-tiveness for its customers and partners, and further strengthening the loyalty of its employees.

On a broader scale, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are also at the forefront in educating people about their responsibility not only as tourists but also as inhabitants of this planet, Victor Louis, chief operating officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism De-velopment Authority, highlighted.

“[The Authority] believes that initiating and implementing sustainable practices should be an integral part of the hospitality industry, especially initiatives that focus on energy, waste, and water management, as well as giving back to the communi-ty,” he said, proudly listing the emirate’s hotels which have embarked on various CSR initiatives, including Bin Majid Group, which operates four hotels in Ras

One small action multiplied by one billion times can make a big difference

Al Khaimah, and which has recently rolled out a new project, whereby guests are being encouraged, upon check-in, to reduce changing the bed sheets, and once accepted, they will be rewarded by receiving complimentary services.

Other examples in the emirate are Hilton World-wide’s three properties. In fact, over the past few years, the hotel company has embarked on a host of new and innovative global initiatives, such as Light-Stay, which already resulted in over USD147 million in cumulative savings from efficiency projected for hotels reporting through LightStay.

“Sustainability is an increasing focus across all our brands and is critical to the operations of our busi-ness,” emphasised Christopher Nassetta, president, Hilton Worldwide.

Another new initiative is also being rolled out in the Middle East and Africa region, which, once com-pleted, is expected to result in significant drops in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In addition, Hilton MEA is also tackling water usage and has a number of ongoing sustainability initiatives focusing on food purchase and supply. In Egypt, for example, the company is piloting a new global programme, with the main objectives of miniminsing food waste and alleviate hunger; yet another example of how sustainability can be both profitable and beneficial.

WALK THE TALK

“In the MENA region, the foundation is being laid out for sustainable growth,” said Landais, noting that it is still in the development stage, although the hospitality industry clearly recognises the need to commit to sus-tainable actions, and as Landais said, to ‘walk the talk’.

According to Louis, the major challenge is ensur-ing that organisations engage with and maintain sus-tainable principles and practices, therefore it is crucial to provide regular and creative reminders.

Huijbrechts concurred, saying that one of the main challenges, particularly in this region, is the lack of environmental awareness.

“It is neither scarce nor expensive so there is not the urgent need to save on energy that other parts of the world have,” she pointed out, adding that rec-ognising the ways through which small changes in behaviour can have major impact is crucial.

“It is all about education and awareness,” stressed Glenn de Souza, vice president, international opera-tions, Asia and Middle East, Best Western International, adding that people still believe that their actions are insignificant and do not have any impact on the global environment, despite the fact that they actually do.

“This is especially true in hotels, where guests are not directly impacted by the economic costs of wast-ing energy. But perceptions are changing,” added de Souza.

Calling on all stakeholders in the industry, Rifai added, “Your actions count. That is our message to the one billion tourists. Through the right actions and choices, each tourist represents an opportunity for a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable future.”

18 INVESTIGATION

JANUARY 2013

Winter Tourism

Middle Eastern Winter Magic

T he MENA region may not boast a large num-ber of luxurious ski resorts to show off, but it can definitely ensure high altitudes and striking views, and one destination acquir-ing increasing attention regarding skiing

and all snow-related activities in the region, is Lebanon. In recent years, the country has become a very

popular winter destination boasting inexpensive, high quality ski holiday opportunities compared to a large number of European destinations.

“Our customers love snow and there is usually plenty of that at the Faraya Mzaar [Mzaar] ski re-

When thinking of winter travel, the mind triggers images of snowy landscapes, chilly weather, alongside warm and cosy resorts, where one can relax and un-wind, and the Middle East is a place which offers just that, and so much more.

Maria Kazeli writes sort in Lebanon during the holiday season. Leba-non is a value for money destination during the holiday season when you compare it with Alpine resorts,” confirmed Elena Varianou Loucaidou, general manager, Varianos Travel, a Cyprus-based agency which specialises in outbound travel to Lebanon.

Unfortunately, due to the political upheaval in the region and the travel ban imposed by many neighbouring markets, Lebanon has seen a major negative impact on its tourism sector. STR Global’s survey on hotel occupancies revealed discouraging figures for Lebanon, while in its October 2012 report, Beirut exhibited the largest decrease in all three key performance metrics.

The market’s occupancy fell 37.7 percentage points to 38.5 percent, its average daily rate was down 15.9 percent to USD159.34, and its RevPAR decreased 47.6 percent to USD61.36.

However, Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut has not seen a decrease in its occupancy levels for winter, as Janet Abrahams, cluster director of sales and marketing, Phoenicia Hotel and Le Vendôme Beirut, reported. “Despite [restricted travel from GCC and Europe] Phoenicia is maintaining similar levels of occupancy year-on-year and had a growth on 2011 for the full year 2012.” She supports that Lebanon is a flexible destination that can offer chances for city escapes, as well as holidays on the mountain, especially since Bei-rut is just an hour’s drive away from the most famous ski resort in Lebanon, Mzaar.

GOING UNCONVENTIONAL

Another destination in the Middle East which can be visited all year round but is at its best during the cool-er months of the winter season, as well as early spring time, is Jordan, as Varianou confirmed.

The country has been cashing-in on its unique attractions, since, according to STR Global’s Sep-tember 2012 report for Middle East hotel occupan-cies, Amman was the only city with a double-digit increase in average daily rate, reaching 10.1 percent to USD156.07, while the Central Bank of Jordan an-nounced that travel receipts increased by JOD273 million (USD351.8 million), equivalent to 19.2 per-cent, during the first eight months of 2012, despite the fall in inbound tourist figures by 5.3 percent, due to the rise in high expenditure visitors.

The ideal climate of the Dead Sea was also praised by Dimitri Deschamps, director of sales and market-ing, Adam Travel & Tourism, based in Jordan. “Our company wants to focus on the Dead Sea destination for winter holiday. Indeed, the temperatures there re-main very comfortable at this particular time of the year. Our guests can therefore escape from the cold of their country and benefit from a large panel of thalas-sotherapy services,” he said.

In addition to the climate, the area boasts luxuri-ous resorts that take advantage of their location and add to its value by offering medical and spa treat-ments, which are well-appreciated by individual travellers. “The base of business for Jordan has al-ways been the pilgrimage and medical and spa mar-kets that continue to be strong as they are less sen-sitive to the current regional situation,” suggested Sean Cullen, director of sales and marketing, Jordan, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, adding that free inde-pendent travellers constitute a large market for the region, as they are well-travelled and experienced enough to know that Jordan is a secure destination, therefore can take advantage of the competitive prices and low season.

Dead Sea

19INVESTIGATION

JANUARY 2013

Winter Tourism

A growth in the individual tourist segment was also experienced by other properties at the Dead Sea. “We have also witnessed an increase in the individual leisure travellers and a growth in new nationalities such as the GCC market whilst our repeat guest factor has increased in 2012,” disclosed Patrick Ritter, gener-al manager, Jordan, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.

INDULGE YOURSELF

Another ultimate destination in the Middle East for winter holidays is the emirate of Dubai, which offers yet an additional reason to visit, since hotel rates are now far more appealing than a few years ago, when they became disproportionately high and discour-aged visitors, as Tony Homsi, general manager, Coral Oriental Dubai, admitted.

Confirming the boost in occupancy levels, Olivier Louis, managing director, One&Only Resorts Dubai, expressed his delight, and said, “We were blessed with very strong occupancy continuously ranging within the high 80 - 90 percent in both One&Only Royal Mirage and One&Only The Palm.”

This is partly due to the fact that Dubai, apart from a world-class shopping paradise, is gradually becom-ing a major international sporting destination and expanding cultural hub by hosting various events in the winter months, such as the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, which took place in early December 2012, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2013, slated for late January, and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Champion-ships, starting mid-February.

Dubai evolves very quickly with new hotels, new attractions, and new events coming every year, ac-cording to Anita Carr, business development manag-er, Arabian Adventures Dubai, who added that sport and cultural events are increasingly attracting cus-tomers to the UAE during the winter months. “Over the years, a steady increase of international guests has been witnessed resulting in such events becom-ing more and more important on regional and inter-national calendars. Most of these events take place during the winter, which draw guests to visit the UAE, but they also complement the experience of holiday makers or business travellers. The calendar of events in the UAE is very busy and practically there is some-thing happening every week,” Carr said.

Complementing the athletic feeling, many hotels offer various sport facilities. Craig Senior, regional di-rector of sales and marketing, The Meydan Hotel, an-nounced that the hotel’s tennis academy is now open, as is the nine-hole golf course which launched in June 2012. “The Meydan offers breathtaking views over the race track, the home to the Dubai World Cup, the rich-est horse race in the world held in March each year,” Senior added.

Dubai’s good weather compared to other des-tinations is another motive to visit the emirate in winter. “The demand for winter in 2011 surpassed all expectations and we were seeing the same trend again in 2012. The fame of Dubai as a guar-anteed winter sunshine destination allows us to

According to Homsi, the expansion of air access and the transformation of the city from a stopover to a beach destination, that caters to all markets, have benefited Dubai and all its hotels.

This was corroborated by Senior who added that The Meydan Hotel works very closely with the Dubai-based airline to provide various packages to reach out to new markets.

continue with our incredible growth,” expressed Lisa Goswell, vice president, leisure sales, Atlantis, The Palm.

Admittedly, Dubai is, above all, heaven for every shopping enthusiast and the experience is further enriched by accommodation options being provided just steps away. “As a city mall hotel, we offer a truly unique proposition, which is well liked by travellers from the Arab region. What we add to Dubai’s hospitality scene is a destination with enter-tainment for the whole family. There is Ski Dubai and the new penguin encounter experience, a great selection of dining options, cinemas, one of Dubai’s most popular malls, and a community theatre, all in one loca-tion that is literally on the doorstep of the hotel,” reported Nasser Fawzi, director of sales and mar-keting, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

SPREADING WINGS

Emirates operates nearly 210 flights per week to Dubai from 14 gateways across the Middle East, GCC and Iran, while in Dubai passengers can connect to a global network of over 120 destination spanning six continents, as Majid Al Mualla, senior vice presi-dent, commercial opera-tions, Middle East, Gulf and Iran, Emirates, explained.

Omega Dubai Ladies Masters The Meydan Hotel Rooftop

20 WHO'S MOVED

JANUARY 2013

GOVIND PRATHAP

RANA EL KHOURY

RANIA J. KEEDY

KEVIN BRETT

Govind Prathap has joined V Five Continents Hospitality Group as general manager of the soon-to-open V Continents Executive Suites, Abu Dhabi.Prathap brings with him over 20 years of progressive UAE experi-ence in diversified industries. He started off with Ramada World-wide as sales manager of a Ram-ada Hotels property before being promoted as its general manager. During his time in the Middle East, he has acquired various positions

including travel trade manager, di-rector of sales, and opening head and general manager, with com-panies and hotels such as Millen-nium & Copthorne Hotels, Möven-pick Hotels & Resorts, Comfort Inn Dubai, Mazoon Hotel Apartments, ETA Star Hospitality and Khalidia Hotel, V Five Continents Hospital-ity Group’s first property in Dubai. In his new role, Prathap will be re-sponsible for the opening of the hotel as well as the overall manage-ment and operations of the property.

Rana El Khoury has been named general manager of Le Gray, Beirut. El Khoury joined the luxury bou-tique hotel in January 2011 as busi-ness development manager, and her strong leadership skills and year of experience in the hospitality sec-tor have quickly earned her the role of hotel manager, overseeing the operational side of the hotel. Her new appointment makes El Khoury one of the first Lebanese women to hold a general manager

position at a five-star hotel. She has a degree in hospitality management from Florida Inter-national University and has over 16 years’ experience in managing multi-million dollar projects in the hospitality sector.

Rania J. Keedy has joined The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre as director of sales and marketing. Keedy, who was with InterConti-nental Hotels Group for over 12 years, most recently worked as director of sales and marketing at InterContinental Doha The City, where she was part of the pre-opening team, responsible for the commercial and strategic devel-opment of the hotel. Prior to her position at InterConti-

nental Doha The City, Keedy spent five years at Crowne Plaza Dubai starting off as director of sales and later progressing to director of sales and marketing. Furthermore, she has held various sales man-agement positions at InterConti-nental Phoenicia Beirut spanning six years in total.

Kevin Brett has assumed the posi-tion of cluster general manager of Jeddah Hilton Hotel and Waldorf Astoria Qasr Al Sharq. Brett’s industry experience spans 31 years and includes both mid-market and luxury hospitality markets. Prior to his appointment, he led Conrad Cairo and has also worked as general manager of Hilton Abu Dhabi, Hilton Bahrain, Hilton London Islington Hotel, besides holding numerous senior

management positions with Hil-ton Worldwide and other hospital-ity organisations in Turkey, Oman, Malaysia, and the UK. In Jeddah, he will be in charge of the management of all operations, and will also focus on further en-hancing the presence and profile of the two hotels.

Rania J. Keedy has joined The Ritz-Carlton,

Dubai International Financial Centre

Brett’s industry experience spans

31 years

El Khoury’s new appoint-ment makes her one of the

first Lebanese women to hold a general manager

position at a five-star hotel

http://www.bestwesternhotelsasia.com/home/index.php

22 TRAVEL TALK

JANUARY 2013

ASHWINI KUMAR

GLENN DE SOUZA

ARBIND K. SHRESTHA

General manager, Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi.

Vice president, international operations, Asia and the Middle East, Best Western International.

General manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.

“I am delighted to announce our one-year anniversary [December 21, 2012]; it has been a wonderful 2012. Abu Dhabi is growing at a fast pace and as new hotels are opening in the capital, I believe we will continue to grow through constantly finding new ways to meet and ex-ceed our guests’ expectations. Due to our location with direct proximity to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre and the Embassies district, I believe exhibitions, conferences, and embassy delegations will remain our prime source of business.”

“The launch of our Best Western Plus brand in Bahrain marks another exciting stage in our Middle East expansion strategy. The Gulf region is one of the hottest hotel markets in the world today and Bahrain is a key part of this. I am con-fident that guests will enjoy the upscale splendours offered by this impressive new hotel.”

“[It] has been a dynamic and exciting 2012. The hotel has turned five [...] and has established itself as a choice destina-tion within a destination for business travellers and leisure guests. We have launched Shangri-La’s signature exclusive retreat, Horizon Club, with the primary objective of cater-ing to the special needs of frequent business travellers and leisure guests seeking a higher standard of personalised services. We have also received prestigious accolades for our restaurants; a confirmation that we remain the market leader with our established culinary excellence.”

GHAITH AL GHAITHCEO, flydubai

“More than 40 percent of our route development in 2012 took place in Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS. The geographical prioritisation of these markets has been key to flydubai’s continued growth and highlights our commitment to offering real choice and excellent quality service for passengers while boosting tourism and trade between our regions. flydubai has also been instrumental in increasing air traffic between the UAE and Russia by 85 percent; and the UAE and Ukraine by 112 percent.”

The Gulf region is one of the hottest hotel markets in the world today and Bahrain is a key part of this

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

editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

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23RENDEZVOUS

JANUARY 2013

Q & A with Craig BruceWith the entry of new year, Travel Trade Monthly takes a look back at some of the highlights of 2012 with Craig Bruce, general manager, Radisson Blu Hotel and Park Inn by Radisson, Abu Dhabi Yas Island, who also reveals the hotels’ future plans.

Craig BruceGeneral manager, Radisson Blu Hotel and Park Inn by Radisson, Abu Dhabi Yas Island

Travel Trade Monthly: Located on Yas Island, only seven minutes from Abu Dhabi International Air-port, Radisson Blu Hotel and Park Inn by Radis-son Hotel offer ideal accommodation options for business and leisure travellers alike. How have the properties performed in the past few months?

Craig Bruce: Both the revenue and occupancy showed a constantly increasing line. Since the open-ing in 2009, our occupancy has doubled [and is] 58.2 percent year to date for Radisson Blu Hotel and 81.2 percent year to date for Park Inn by Radisson, Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

The holy month of Ramadan showed the same development; more companies and guests are find-ing us to enjoy a quick escape. In 2012, we hosted an art exhibition with 15 artists for the first time and the response was amazing, from the media, from our guests or walk-in guests, who came to enjoy Iftar.

Travel Trade Monthly: In the Middle East, The Rezi-dor Hotel Group has long established its presence as one of the leading hotel companies. What role do you think brand recognition and brand loyalty play in competing successfully in the region’s hos-pitality industry?

Craig Bruce: Consistency and trust is key in creating loyalty. With the current oversupply of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi, brand loyalty puts you ahead of the com-petition.

Travel Trade Monthly: With a large number of hotels in the development pipeline, the competi-tion continues to intensify. What do you think are the main tangible and intangible factors that can make the difference for guests?

Craig Bruce: Service is the most important intangi-ble factor that guests are looking for. We are always striving for the highest guest satisfaction and we are constantly checking guest satisfaction.

With our unique ‘Yes I Can!’ philosophy and 100 percent guest satisfaction, we ensure our guests have a great time with us.

Travel Trade Monthly: Which are your main target markets and how do you intend to reach out to a wider pool of potential guests?

Craig Bruce: We are targeting leisure guests since Yas Island is becoming a perfect leisure destination

with the existing and soon-to-be-opened attrac-tions on the island. We see an increase in demand from Dubai inhabitants to come over to our hotel for a quick weekend getaway to enjoy a nearby mini vacation. We are developing combined pack-ages with our sister hotels in Dubai so guests can enjoy the best of both emirates in one vacation.

Travel Trade Monthly: With some of the UAE’s most enticing attractions and a wide range of events coming up, Yas Island is the place to be this winter. What are your expectations and plans for the coming months?

Craig Bruce: [With the openings of both Yas Water-world and the beach on Yas Island], we expect that the amount of leisure guests will rise in the coming months and are positioning ourselves as the per-fect location for leisure travellers with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links golf course, and soon the Yas Mall.

We aim to attract new tourists and leisure clien-tele. The leisure segment will increase and we will offer personalised packages to cater this market.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

24 NEWS & EVENTS

JANUARY 2013

EVENTS Sponsored by

Following the successful inaugural edition in 2012 of Dubai Maritime Week, which was attended by high profile govern-ment officials, industry professionals, experts, operators, and ship owners from the UAE and across the region, Dubai Mari-time City Authority (DMCA) has announced plans to further expand this year’s scope of the event, which is slated to take place in November.

DMCA announced Dubai Maritime Week 2013, and the possible addition of a Dubai Maritime Forum alongside a Mid-dle East Cruise Convention, in 2012’s event, which drew to a close on November 30, 2012, revealing that it has already shortlisted a number of maritime-related activities that will be featured in this year’s edition.

H.E. Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman, Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, explained that Dubai Maritime Week 2012 has given a better perspective of the expectations of key play-ers in the region’s maritime industry, adding that the author-ity is committed to organising a more comprehensive Dubai Maritime Week 2013, thus consolidates the latest trends, tech-nologies, ideas, and best practices in the industry, and uses this knowledge to address the most pressing challenges and explore new possibilities for growth and development.

In line with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA)’s new strategy and commitment to ecotourism, set to highlight the great signifi-cance of sustainability and protecting the environment, QTA was one of the official sponsors of the one-day Qatar Sustain-ability Expo, which took place on the sideline of the 12-day UN Climate Change Conference (COP18/CMP8) at Qatar National Conference Centre (QNCC), Doha, from November 26 - Decem-ber 7, 2012.

“At QTA, we are immensely proud that Qatar [hosted] this im-portant global event, attended by key representatives and del-egates from across the world to discuss environmental-related policies and topics, some of which are vital to preserve our planet [and] will have a lasting impact on our lives and generations to come,” noted H.E. Issa Al Mohannadi, chairman, QTA, reiterating the authority’s commitment to ecotourism and its strategy to put responsible practices at the top of the agenda for all hospitality outlets and tourism partners in the country, to ensure that the visitors appreciate how green Qatar has become.

During the event, which served to put the country firmly on the world map for ecotourism, QTA introduced delegates and visitors to the local Qatari culture and rich heritage, with a traditional hospitality tent which featured performances of Qatari dances, displays of local handicrafts, falconry shows, and traditional Arabic coffee and dates, just to name a few.

Dubai Maritime Week 2013 Announced

QTA Backs Qatar Sustainability Expo

East Mediterranean Tourism & Travel Exhibition (EMITT)Istanbul, Turkey, January 24 – 27, 2013(www.emittistanbul.com)Considered the fifth largest travel exhibition in the world, EMITT brings together 4,500 exhibitors and over 128,000 visitors.

HOREXPO Cyprus 2013Nicosia, Cyprus, January 25 – 27, 2013(www.horexpo.com)The second edition of the event covering a wide range of travel industry sectors, including hotels and catering.

Business Travel Show London, UK, February 5 – 6, 2013(www.businesstravelshow.com)One of Europe’s main exhibition and conference for corporate travel buyers, managers, and bookers to source, learn, and network.

Hoteliers European MarketplaceBrussels, Belgium, February 11, 2013(http://www.cvent.com/events/hoteliers-european-marketplace-2013)A one-day business-to-business workshop where European hotels and hotel chains meet contractors from all around the world.

Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME)Melbourne, Australia, February 26 – 27, 2013(www.aime.com.au)A must-attend, five-star event in the Asia Pacific region for the meeting and events industry.

International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin Berlin, Germnay, March 6 – 10, 2013(www.itb-berlin.de)An excellent opportunity for professionals to meet with business partners and for visitors to benefit from the possibility to discover the world within a few hours.