8

Wyndham Hotel Group has signed an agreement with Cooperation Investment House to manage its

landmark property in Manama’s Bahrain Bay.

27 OCTOBER 2012 ISSUE 155

06

10

Etihad Airways and Garuda Indonesia to Codeshare

Novotel Returns to Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has signed a new codeshare deal with Garuda Indonesia, set to come into effect on October 28.

Accor has further strengthened its mid-scale portfolio in the UAE capital with the opening of Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate on October 19.

IN THIS ISSUERENDEZVOUS

WEEKLY NEWS

MARKET UPDATE

ACCOMMODATION

AIR NEWS

WHO’S MOVED

TRAVEL TALK

AGENT’S CORNER

TRAVEL CHANNELS

RENDEZVOUS

NEWS & EVENTS

02 03040610111213141516

Wyndham Grand to Debut in Bahrain in 2013

Travel Trade Weekly proudly enjoys readers on average per day

2 RENDEZVOUS

27 OCTOBER 2012

Q & A with George AssafAs Marriott International is gearing up to open its 10th hotel in Turkey, George Assaf, general manager, Renaissance Izmir Hotel, talks about the brand’s upcoming debut in the country and the Turkish hospitality industry’s fast-paced development and future prospects.

Travel Trade Weekly: Renaissance Izmir Hotel is due to welcome its first guests at the end of the year. What will make the hotel stand out from the rapidly increasing competition?

George Assaf: Renaissance Izmir Hotel is centrally located in the heart of Izmir’s com-mercial district, just steps from the water-front and the popular Kordon Promenade. You cannot miss the charming outside façade of the hotel when you are in Gazi Osman Pasa Boulevard. Renaissance Hotels is the signa-ture lifestyle brand within the Marriott Inter-national global portfolio, and this hotel will be a great addition to this beautiful city.

The hotel is housing the brand’s signature ’R’ Lounge, and it will bring the distinct look and feel of the Renaissance Hotels brand to the city while incorporating indigenous inspi-ration in every detail.

The 110 large and sophisticated guest- rooms will boast luxury bedding and the lat-est in technology. An all-day dining restaurant serving Mediterranean delights will be located on the rooftop offering sweeping views of Izmir Bay. Leisure facilities will include a fitness centre, spa, and plunge pool, while corporate needs are catered for with 198m2 of meeting space set across three meeting rooms and a dedicated business centre.

Travel Trade Weekly: Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, attracting not only tourists but also corporate travellers and businessmen. Which segments are you targeting?

George Assaf: At Renaissance Izmir Hotel, our main target will be the corporate traveller.

sions and tours, trendy cafés and restaurants, right by the sea, with great food and more. Therefore, of course the Middle East will be an important part of our plans.

Travel Trade Weekly: How do you think the country’s hotel sector will continue to de-velop over the next few years?

George Assaf: I believe that the demand for more hotels will further grow, as the number of arrivals to the country is increasing every year.

Travel Trade Weekly: Over the past few years, Turkey has become one of the most talked-about destinations in the region. What are the major factors behind this success?

George Assaf: Turkey has everything for in-vestors, as well as for businessmen and leisure seekers.

It has a long and exceptionally attractive coastline, many natural attractions, unique historical and archaeological sites, a suitable climate, improving touristic infrastructure, and a tradition of hospitality.

In addition, it has a stable economy with steady GDP growth and a qualified workforce, not to mention the country’s wealth of cul-ture.

Turkey is classified as a newly industrial-ised country by economists and political sci-entists, and is described by the World Bank as an emerging economy.

In fact, Turkey is one of the largest produc-ers in the agricultural sector, has the largest TV producer in Europe, is the seventh larg-est automotive producer, and its textile and clothing exports reach USD13 billion.

George Assaf General manager, Renaissance Izmir Hotel

Travel Trade Weekly: Turkey has long been a preferred destination among trav-ellers from the Middle East. How popular do you think Renaissance Izmir Hotel will be among this market?

George Assaf: I can see that the number of Middle Eastern travellers to Turkey is grow-ing every year. Izmir has a lot to offer from its sea to its nature, climate, cultural attrac-tions, and museums, as well as daily excur-

The demand for more hotels will further grow

3WEEKLY NEWS

27 OCTOBER 2012

New MotorCity for Hertz

Jordan Tourism Investments Unveils Mirage

Growth in car rental services among UAE residents has sparked the open-ing of a new outlet at MotorCity for Hertz, which marks the company’s 16th branch in the country.

Commenting on the new mem-ber, Nigel Johnson, managing direc-tor, Hertz UAE, said, “The new Motor-City branch will be a significant step in our strategic network expansion as the first neighbourhood car rental service available to residents in that particular area of Dubai.

“Our development across the UAE looks to offer greater convenience to our growing customer database, but it is also about a commitment to invest in the market in which we are operating and the people who are growing our brand.”

Johnson added that this new out-let is perfectly placed to capture the company’s large expat business, par-ticularly from Arabian Ranches, Vic-tory Heights, and Green Community.

Jordan Tourism Investments Company (JTI) has showcased the first phase of Mirage, a multipur-pose touristic destination built on a stretch of land spanning 4000m2 in close proximity to Queen Alia International Airport.

The project, scheduled to open in spring 2013, is envisaged to become the centrepiece of the new and expanding Amman as it merges the authentic local heritage with the contemporary experience, which reflects the nation’s aspiration, and repre-sents a significant milestone in strengthening Jordan’s position in the region’s touristic and hos-pitality landscape.

The project is also set to offer a lucrative prospect for business professionals to invest within the Kingdom’s tourism sector.

Since its establishment in 2006, Shar-jah Museums Department (SMD) has been playing an active role in pro-moting the emirate, as it continues to look for ways to improve its servic-es, according to Manal Ataya, direc-tor general, SMD.

SMD Plans Further Developments

The three main goals of the de-partment are to provide a learning environment through its diverse col-lections, to develop new museum projects, and to train UAE nationals in the field of museum studies, as Ataya explained, “The establishment of this department is the beginning of great plans to strengthen and unify the cultural sector of Sharjah and, most importantly, in this strategy is the sustainability of such a department and its museums which means that the recruitment and investment in training UAE nationals in museum work is key to our continued success and profile as a leader in the region for culture and arts.”

Ataya pointed out that there is definitely scope for new museums, renovations of existing museum gal-leries, and new exciting exhibition programming as part of the future plans for SMD.

Museum of Islamic Civilization

4 MARKET UPDATE

27 OCTOBER 2012

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

6.11

3.75

1,505.50

0.37

0.71

68.90

0.28

3.64

0.38

1.57

8.60

12,270.00

214.61

79.37

1.25

Accurate as of

26/10/2012Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

QAIA: New Records

Eurostar: Solid Performance and Fleet Refurbishment

Eurostar, the high-speed rail service between the UK and mainland Eu-rope, reported strong performance results for the third quarter of the year, although travel patterns were significantly influenced by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and unfavourable economic conditions.

During the sporting event, of which Eurostar was a sponsor, passenger numbers were up four percent, however the number of leisure travellers entering the UK from Europe in July declined, compared to 2011 figures.

Meanwhile, the entire three-month period saw the train company carry some 2.6 million travellers, bringing the year-to-date figure to 7.4 million, versus the 7.3 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2011.

Although having reported an overall drop in sales revenues of one per-cent, to GBP612 million (USD987 million), Eurostar announced significant progress to its GBP700 million (USD1.1 billion) fleet investment programme, which includes the refurbishment of its existing seats and the purchase of 10 new trains, placing the company on scheduled to complete the transfor-mation of its entire fleet by 2015.

I n September, a record number of 545,941 travellers passed through the airport’s terminal, marking a year-on-year increase of 5.69 percent, and pushing the year-to-date figure to

above 4.83 million, a rise of 17.42 percent over the corresponding period in 2011.

Meanwhile, aircraft movements (ACM) rose 1.74 percent with 5,564 ACM recorded in September, meaning that in the first nine months of the year, this figure at the airport totalled 51,063, an increase of 7.25 percent.

In light of the upcoming opening of the new terminal, September’s results are highly promising, Kjeld Binger, CEO, AIG, noted, adding, “These positive results and the in-creases seen in previous months, despite political and social instability throughout the region, further support our confidence in

Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) achieved new records in September, based on the latest traffic report released by Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian consortium responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of QAIA.

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the upcoming developments at the airport. However, it is also clear that the extremely high growth we have seen so far during this year has peaked.”

AIG is investing an estimated USD750 million in the construction of the new termi-nal, which is now 91 percent complete and which will increase airport capacity three-fold, to nine million passengers annually.

Rendering image of QAIA

http://www.jumeirah.com/Hotels-and-Resorts/

6 WEEKLY NEWS

27 OCTOBER 2012

Accommodation

Katara Hospitality and The Gambia Sign MoU

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi to Open in Q1 2013

Rotana Partners with MMI

Novotel Returns to Abu Dhabi

Katara Hospitality has signed a memorandum of under-standing (MoU) with the Republic of The Gambia. Under the MoU, the government of The Gambia will offer the Qatari company a plot of land, with an area of 18ha located in Bijilo Forest Park on the western African coast, to build a hospitality complex. Welcoming Katara Hospitality to the Af-rican country, H.E. Faton Mass Jobe-Nije, minister of culture and tourism, Republic of The Gambia, said, “We are confident that this investment in Bijilo Forest Park will contribute signifi-cantly to boosting the tourism sector not only in the area, but in the country.”

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, the latest addition to the Thai hotel company’s UAE portfolio, is set to welcome its first guests in the first quarter of 2013.

Strategically located between Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center and Abu Dhabi Corniche, the property will feature 402 rooms, 131 deluxe apartments, dining outlets, and leisure as well as corporate facilities, designed around the needs of today’s so-phisticated traveller, as Diana Ionescu, marketing communication manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, explained, “[It] offers a spacious convention centre with a variety of function rooms, facilitating all types of events, conferences, exhibitions, or social events, able to host up to 2,000 guests.”

Rotana has signed a hotel management contract with Al Majm-oua Almouritania pour l’Investissement (MMI) to manage a hotel in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

The signing ceremony for the new hotel, which took place in Abu Dhabi, will see the upcoming five-star property located within the southern sea-front of the mixed-use Ribat al Bahar project and launched under Rotana’s Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana brand.

The hotel, slated to open late-2014, will include more than 230 rooms, specialised restaurants, meeting rooms, swimming pools, and a gym, in addition to all the services expected of a world-class five-star hotel.

Accor has further strengthened its midscale portfolio in the UAE capital with the opening of Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate, on October 19.

Clustered with an ibis-branded property, the 224-room hotel features 24/7 cuisine, meeting facilities, a dedicated children’s area, and fitness and wellness services, catering to both business and leisure clien-tele.

“Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate is the latest addition to our growing network of mod-ern mid-scale properties in the region. We continue to trail-blaze in our ambition to build a strong base in Abu Dhabi which is prominent for our Novotel brand development,” commented Christophe Lan-dais, managing director, Accor Middle East.

Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate

7WEEKLY NEWSAccommodation

27 OCTOBER 2012

Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi Undergoes Refurbishment

Holiday Inn Celebrates 60 Years

Saudi Arabia to Welcome New Radisson Blu in 2015

Armada Hotel Opens at Dubai Investment Park

Holiday Inn turns 60 this month, six decades after the first Holiday Inn hotel opened in Memphis Tennessee in the US, and Cairo has been invited to join in the worldwide celebration of the diamond anniversary for this iconic brand at Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars.

The Egyptian capital’s property is one of 3,375 Holi-day Inn hotels around the world, and was the first of the IHG-brand to open in the city.

“For us, Holiday Inn’s 60th is a celebration of the firsts that have kept our hotels fresh and the brand so popular. Here, at Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars, it is also a great opportunity for us to share the excitement with our community and regular guests, and celebrate our own firsts,” said Mohamed Ibrahim, general manager, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars.

The Rezidor Hotel Group is to further strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia with the launch of Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Ri-yadh Diplomatic Quarter, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2015.

Featuring 110 units, an all-day dining restaurant, a fitness centre, and 150m2 of meeting space, the proposed hotel residence represents one of the several initiatives undertaken by H.R.H. Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the newly-appointed Crowne Prince of the Kingdom.

As visitor numbers to Abu Dhabi continue to climb, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi is undergoing a refur-bishment in a bid to further increase its market share.

According to Shaun Parsons, general manager, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, these changes come in line with the stiffening competition in the capi-tal’s hotel sector, thus will bring the hotel’s offer and service delivery to new heights.

One third of the room inventory has already been done, while the rest is set to be complete by summer 2013. “The Club lounge is being complete-ly re-done as well as the food and beverage out-lets, and soon we will be announcing a couple of new restaurant openings with brand new concepts which will be new to Abu Dhabi,” Parsons clarified.

Armada Hotel has welcomed its first guests at Dubai Invest-ments Park (DIP), the largest mixed-use development in the UAE and a subsidiary of Dubai Investments.

Spread over 18,580m2 of leased land, the property comprises 252 rooms and offers a cost-effective boarding option without compromising on any of the components provided by top-tier hospitality choices, as Rosemarie Aquino, manager, Armada Ho-tel, noted. “Flanked by multinational business houses and located in strategic proximity to key transit hubs, we are already witness-ing a significant influx of guests,” she added.

According to Omar Mesmar, general manager, DIP, the hotel, with its food and beverage outlets and recreational facilities en-sures all guests alike quality accomodation at a competitive price.

Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi

8 WEEKLY NEWS

27 OCTOBER 2012

Accommodation

Wyndham Grand to Debut in Bahrain in 2013Wyndham Hotel Group has signed an agreement with Cooperation Investment House to manage its landmark property in Manama’s Bahrain Bay, marking the first Wyndham Grand hotel in the Kingdom.

Scheduled to open by the end of 2013, the five-star Wyndham Grand Ma-nama will cover 14 floors of the mixed-use development and will comprise 260

guest rooms, 500m2 of meeting space, a 900m2 ballroom, indoor and outdoor pools, health clubs, and five food and beverage outlets.

Set in the USD2.5 billion Bahrain Bay Development, Wyndham Grand Manama will face the World Trade Centre, just a short distance from Bahrain Financial Har-bour, making it ideal for business as well

as leisure travellers. Commenting on the new project, Bani

Haddad, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group, said, “Each Wyndham Grand hotel takes in some of the flavour of its destination and this modern, cosmopolitan setting will be reflected in the hotel along with historical Bahraini influences.”

Dusit Thani Dubai Undergoes Room Renovation

Tulip Inn Royal Suites Ajman Targets New Markets

Elaf Group of Companies Welcomes Hajj Season

Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort Changes Concept

Dusit Thani Dubai, the five-star hotel located in the city’s vi-brant business district, has embarked on a room renovation.

“The renovation is now in process with very limited in-convenience to our guests,” James Wilson, general manag-er, Dusit Thani Dubai, explained, adding that the first new rooms will be available for guests within the next couple of months.

The refreshed new look is set to appeal to the growing number of guests at the 321-room hotel, which, according to Wilson, has witnessed a significant increase in bookings from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, especially during holiday periods.

Situated along the Corniche Road of the emirate, just 30 minutes from Dubai International, Tulip Inn Royal Suites Aj-man aims to tap into new markets.

With the beginning of the cooler months, the hotel hopes to recreate the success of the first half of the year, as Arun Kumar, general manager, Tulip Inn Royal Suites Ajman, explained, adding that in a bid to further boost business lev-els, the property runs various promotions. “We mainly con-centrate on the GCC sector and the CIS nations during winter months. We are now, however, also laying great emphasis on expanding to the Asian subcontinent,” he concluded.

The Hajj season remains one of the most important periods of the year for the Saudi tourism industry and Elaf Group of Compa-nies aims to utilise this opportunity.

“We remain upbeat in achieving outstanding results during this year’s Hajj and Ummrah season. In fact, we have prepared ourselves for the increased number of tourists making their pilgrimage this year by providing them with all the services that they will need for their visit,” commented Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group of Companies.

Recent studies have shown that hotel revenues in Mecca alone have previously hit SAR4 billion (USD3.1 million) during the Hajj season. In response to the high demand, Elaf Group of Companies has announced a 50 percent increase on incentives and group packages.

Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, the five-star Moroccan-style hotel in the heart of Fujairah, is to fur-ther enhance its offerings with the addition of new facilities. The hotel, which has achieved more than 70 percent occupancy so far this year, is building a new confer-ence and wedding hall that can accommodate up to 700 guests and more meeting room, according to Ashraf Helmy, general manager, Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort.

Moreover, Hemly revealed that the entire concept of the hotel will be changed from a 353-room prop-erty to a villa resort comrpising 60 units.

http://www.sofitel.com/gb/home/index.shtml

10 WEEKLY NEWS Air News

27 OCTOBER 2012

Air Arabia Launches Flights to Astana

Bahrain Air and nasair Sign Agreement

Air Arabia has announced the expansion of services to Kazakhstan with the launch of twice weekly flights to Astana, the country’s capital city, set to commence on October 31.

The airline currently flies six times per week to Almaty, the largest city in the coun-try, which, according to Adel Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, has seen a lot of positive develop-ments over the past years. ”We are delighted to complement our existing flight to Almaty by starting a new service to the capital, Asta-na. The economic links between Kazakhstan and the Middle East are strong and we are confident with this new launch, we will en-able more people to fly efficiently and af-fordably between the UAE and Kazakhstan,” he commented.

Bahrain Air and nasair have signed a codeshare agreement on flights from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, at a ceremony which was held on October 14, at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain in Manama.

The first phase will be implemented with the sectors from Dammam to Khartoum and Dammam to Beirut between the two carriers.

Under the agreement, travellers will have a wider spectrum of options in using both airlines’ route networks to their conveni-ence when nasair places its ‘XY’ code on Bahrain Air flights cur-rently operating from Dammam to Beirut and Khartoum.

Richard Nuttall, CEO, Bahrain Air, feels optimistic that this tie-up will be a win-win for both carriers, as he further commented, “We see this as the start of a more extensive collaboration that will bring benefits to customers of both carriers. Passenger numbers will grow with the wide offering of network and competitive pricing.”

Etihad Airways and Garuda Indonesia to Codeshare

Etihad Airways has signed a new codeshare agreement with Garu-da Indonesia, set to come into effect on October 28.

In the first phase of the partnership, Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on Garuda Indonesia’s services between Jakarta and Den-pasar and Kuala Lumpur.

Subject to regulatory approval, Garuda Indonesia will place its ‘GA’ code on Etihad Airways’ flights from Jakarta to up to 31 destina-tions in the GCC, Levant, Africa, Europe, and North America.

According to James Hogan, president, Etihad Airways, the code-share with Garuda Indonesia was a key plank of the airline’s deve- lopment strategy and will contribute to the achievement of the UAE national carrier’s goal of expanding its network and brand presence in Southeast Asia.

Similarly, Emirsyah Satar, CEO, Garuda Indonesia, added, “This codeshare partnership between Garuda Indonesia and Etihad Air-ways will further strengthen the global network of both airlines and provide increased benefits to all our passengers.”

Bahrain Air

11WHO'S MOVED

27 OCTOBER 2012

Nehal Rizvi

Nizar Abou El Ezz

Josef Kufer

Nehal Rizvi has taken on the position of general manager at Crown Palace Hotel, Ajman.A graduate of the Institute of Hospitality and Management in India, Rizvi was handpicked to take part in the manage-ment programme of the Oberoi School of Hotel Man-agement. After gaining experi-ence as a management trainee

at Oberoi Intercontinental Ho-tel in New Delhi, he spent six years in Dammam, Saudi Ara-bia, before moving to the UAE to join Habtoor Hotels’ Met-ropolitan Palace Hotel, Dubai, and Metropolitan Hotel Deira, Dubai, and later Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, where he served as associate director of sales - corporate.

Nizar Abou El Ezz has joined Al-Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Re-sort, Kuwait, part of the Millen-nium & Copthorne Hotels, as director of sales and marketing. Having previously worked in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ku-wait, Abou El Ezz brings vast experience to the position in which his responsibilities in-clude maximising potential rev-

enues; managing the sales and marketing department; and building up, maintaining, and enhancing business relations with all clients of the hotel. Abou El Ezz sees his new role as a great opportunity in which he can exploit his ex-pertise and utilise his already well-established business relations.

Josef Kufer has been named chief operating officer at Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsid-iary of Emaar Properties. In his new position, Kufer is responsible for the overall op-erations of the organisation and will work to develop and implement strategies that drive the group’s profitability. Spearheading projects within the subsidiaries, he will also focus on expansion the com-pany’s five-star premium brand, The Address Hotels +

Resorts. With over 30 years of ex-tensive experience in the hospitality industry, Kufer brings with him strong do-main knowledge of the sec-tor having gained invaluable insights on the global hos-pitality landscape through his work experience with renowned chains in Germa-ny, New York, Paris, Califor-nia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Indo-nesia, Oman, India, Lebanon, Egypt and Africa.

12 TRAVEL TALK

27 OCTOBER 2012

Ashraf Naguib

“[Having been named ’Egypt’s best hotel for sup-porting the environment’ and receiving a certifi-cate of excellence from the minister of tourism] is a great honour for us and it is wonderful for the hotel and its staff to be recognised for its commit-ment to protecting the planet […]. At Radisson Blu Heliopolis Hotel, Cairo, supporting the tour-ism industry and protecting the environment are two goals that go hand-in-hand.”

General manager, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis.

Managing director, Ayla Oasis Devel-opment Company (AODC).

CEO, nasair.

“[Jordan’s first 18-hole grass golf course, which is being developed by AODC in Aqaba], is an enabler that will enhance Aqaba’s and Jordan’s positions in the tourism sector and will complement the efforts towards developing the sector in general. We were encouraged by Greg Norman’s statement that from his 40-year experience, he considered Ayla among the best in the world due to the phe-nomenal scale and unique design setting.”

“The whole nasair team is very proud of the work achieved by our interactive marketing team head-ed by Akram Husain [after being named the ‘most popular airline on social media’] since the interac-tion with our nasair customers has always been of paramount importance, and I am glad that new technology, on which nasair has always been very active, assists us on providing better services to our beloved customers and enhancing our revenue.”

Sahl Dudin

François Bouteiller

trav

el t

alk

is

you

r sp

ace

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, and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

13AGENT'S CORNER

27 OCTOBER 2012

AGENT’S INSIGHT

NAME: Innocent DCosta

POSITION: Manager

COMPANY: Go Travel

LOCATION: Saudi Arabia

Travelport Signs Long-Term Agreement with Qantas Airways

Travelport has announced a new long-term agreement with Qantas Airways, effective immediately, which ensures Galileo-, Worldspan-, and Apol-lo-connected travel agents worldwide access to the air-line’s fully-published inventory, including ancillary content such as paid seating, consist-ent with the carrier’s website.

“We are delighted to sign this long-term agreement with Qantas and secure this im-portant content for our travel agency customers worldwide,” said Andrew Middleton, vice president, supplier services, Asia Pacific, Travelport.

In 2011, Travelport sub-scribers received full global distribution system access to the Qantas Airways’ advance seat selection product follow-ing the introduction of a new booking capability enabling agents to book and pay for preferred seats on the Austral-ian flag carrier’s flights via their desktop.

”We are pleased to reach this agreement and look for-ward to strengthening our long-term relationship,” con-cluded Stephen Limbrick, ex-ecutive general manager, do-mestic sales, distribution, and marketing, Qantas Airways.

Sahl Dudin

François Bouteiller

Who are you?I have been in the travel industry for over two decades and have grown with this agency which deals primarily with the booking of air tickets and tour packages to select destinations. What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?Job satisfaction and the pleasure of seeing our clients happy after a trip. When is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?In terms of the weather, November to March are the best months. Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?Maybe to Portugal. Why should people come to you for travel advice?Travellers today are well versed as a result of the information available on the net, news agencies, but above all from your pub-lication of the travel trade, which I, in particular, use for holiday destinations.

Having said this, advice can be relative and can be given not only by those who are experienced but more so by those who make an effort to learn through discussions, dialogues, and so on.

Over the years, I have learnt that advice given can be used as a selling tool. Let the client decide what is best for him or her after hav-ing taken your suggestion, and in most cases it will eventually turn out to be a sale which is the ultimate and that is what we are here for.

14 TRAVEL CHANNELS

27 OCTOBER 2012

Dubai Maritime Week 2012

Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced its full support to the first-ever Dubai Maritime

Week 2012, to be held in November.

D TCM has also pledged its support to the marine workshop, taking place on the sidelines of the event, which will discuss all maritime-related issues and marine tourism affairs in the emirate.

Dubai Maritime Week 2012 will host a range of events to cele-brate the emirate’s maritime heritage, including conferences, panel

discussions, and forums, as well as public-oriented activities. According to Hamad Bin Mohammed Bin Mejren, executive director, business tourism, DTCM, hosting this global event reaffirms Dubai’s exalted international status, which has been achieved due to its visionary leadership and their support for various events tak-ing place in the emirate. “The continuous efforts of Dubai Maritime City Authority and all the strategic partners [...] have also been noteworthy,” he commented.

Becoming Familiar with Dubai

In cooperation with the major German tour opera-tor, FTI Touristik, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Germany, conducted a Dubai - UAE group familiarisation trip with FTI’s 55 best-selling travel agents.

During their stay in Dubai, between October 3 - 10, the travel agents gained deep, insight knowledge of Dubai as a travel destination, experiencing the emir-ate’s hotels, desert safaris on off-road jeeps, gold and spice souks, and a tour across the Dubai Creek on an Abra taxi.

Mansoor Bawazir, head of overseas promotions and inward missions, India, Middle East, and Southern and East Africa, DTCM, also held a presentation at the Jumei-rah Zabeel Saray hotel to extensively inform the travel agents about Dubai’s sights, attractions, and new projects.

RENDEZVOUS

27 OCTOBER 2012

15Q & A with Navaid TehseenAs Oman continues to strengthen its position on the regional and global tourism map, Navaid Tehseen, general manager, Eastin Residences Muscat, looks into the factors behind the Sultanate’s success and the upcoming developments which are guaranteed to fortify its overall tourism product.

Travel Trade Weekly: How would you eval-uate the tourism industry’s role in Oman’s socio-economic development?

Navaid Tehseen: The tourism and hospital-ity industry continues to increase its propor-tion of Oman’s annual GDP, mainly due to the growth in the number of European tourists who are attracted to the unique experience that the sultanate provides.

One of the key reasons for this increase has been the investment in air links to help potential visitors to Oman’s shores.

New developments, such as integrated hotel projects and infrastructure, will also help to assert the industry’s presence as a vital part of a more diverse economic future.

Government investments into the future of the industry demonstrate the importance placed on meeting the requirements that come with being a top tourist attraction, which, in turn, will help sustain local communities.

Overall, during the last years, Oman’s tour-ism industry has rapidly expanded and has become one of the sultanate’s most pivotal non-oil sectors, specialising in eco-tourism and first-class tourism.

In light of this success, the tourism indus-try has become one of the top targets of the Omani long-term socio-economic plan.

Travel Trade Weekly: Which are your main source markets?

Navaid Tehseen: We have observed that the biggest market for our property and internation-ally-managed hotels are the GCC countries dur-ing the summer months and the German and European markets during the winter seasons.

in the Gulf and Europe, the ministry is putting greater emphasis on attracting tourists from Asia.

It also coordinated with Oman Air and ho-tels across the country to launch the ’1 Free Night in Oman’ campaign to encourage stop-overs on the carrier’s international network, which runs until December 22.

Another key pillar of the government’s tourism strategy is the construction of the Muscat Convention and Exhibition Centre, scheduled to be fully completed by 2015, and surrounded by one five-star hotel, two four-star hotels, and one three-star hotel.

Also in the works is a USD1 billion tour-ism resort in the southern port city of Salalah, whose first phase is expected to be ready this year, and will consist of three upscale five-star and four-star hotels as well as light residential and commercial components.

Travel Trade Weekly: What are your expecta-tions and plans for the remainder of the year?

Navaid Tehseen: Eastin Residences Muscat is a newly-opened property and the first Eastin-branded property in the Middle East. So far, we have received very affirmative feedback from our guests, who come from across the globe.

We are expecting very positive business growth during the last quarter. Lots of res-ervations have already been secured and by looking at the trend, we will close very good and affirmative figures.

We are targeting the leisure business, since it is our high end market and the volume of tourism [from this segment] has increased drastically, and we are in the process of tying up with AlMouj Golf course for guest room package options.

Navaid TehseenGeneral manager, Eastin Residences Muscat

Domestic and GCC tourism is growing strongly, especially for short-break holidays.

Furthermore, upcoming markets will be France, Germany, UK, Belgium, the Neth-erlands, Italy, and Scandinavia, as well as Russia, China, Japan, and India, during the course of 2013 and 2014.

Travel Trade Weekly: How do you think the sultanate’s tourism will continue to grow in the short- and long-term?

Navaid Tehseen: Oman’s Ministry of Tour-ism has forecast a 10 percent growth in the sector this year and aims to attract five mil-lion visitors a year by 2015.

In 2011, the tourism industry’s contribution to GDP was 2.6 percent and is on pace to ex-ceed the country’s projection that the industry will contribute three percent to GDP in 2015.

In addition to focusing on its core markets

16 NEWS & EVENTS

27 OCTOBER 2012

EVENTSThe Luxury Travel FairLondon, UK, November 1 – 4, 2012(www.luxurytravelfair.com)A collection of the finest and most unique travel experiences from around the world will be brought together for the seventh year running.

World Travel Market (WTM)London, UK, November 5 – 8, 2012(www.wtmlondon.com)A must-attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors.

PURE Life ExperiencesMarrakech, Morocco, November 12 –15, 2012(www.purelifeexperiences.com)A premier travel trade exhibition serving one of the hottest high-end travel sectors at the moment; experiential travel.

International Golf Travel MarketAlgarve, Portugal, November 12 –15, 2012(www.igtm.co.uk)The premier event for the golf travel industry with over 600 golf tour-ism suppliers and 350 pre-qualified buyers.

The Hotel Show – Saudi ArabiaJeddah, Saudi Arabia, November 17– 19, 2012(www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com)A full spectrum hospitality and supplies event for the region, bring-ing leading manufacturers and qualified buyers for the hospitality, catering, and food and beverage industries together.

EIBTMBarcelona, Spain, November 27 – 29, 2012(www.eibtm.com)A leading global event for the meetings, incentives, events, and busi-ness travel industry, held in a vibrant business and tourism destination.

India International Travel Mart HyderabadHyderabad, India, November 30 – December 2, 2012(www.iitmindia.com)India’s premier exhibition for travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related sectors.

Food & Hotel OmanMuscat, Oman, December 3 – 5, 2012(www.foodandhoteloman.com)Formerly known as Food Expo, the event has been re-branded to reflect the emerging hospitality and tourism market in the Sultanate and the region.

Dubai International Debuts New Way-Finding System

The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia to Bring Together Food and Hospitality

A new alpha-numeric system for gate numbering and way-finding has been installed at Dubai International, making navigating through the world’s fourth busiest airport easier than ever.

Dubai Airports, airlines, ground handling, and control agencies operating at Dubai International, have all applied the new system across all airport signage and computer support systems, thus the change has impacted everything from flight information display screens to boarding cards and airport reservation systems.

“Essentially we have looked at this through the eyes of our customers to help them find their flights with ease and convenience,” Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, commented, noting that research has shown that passengers find an alpha-numeric system a far easier way to navigate through the airport and locate their boarding gate.

While all three terminals of the airport retain their current numbering, all concourses and departure gates have been renamed and, in total, over 1,500 signs have been changed.

More than 100 companies from 24 countries repre-senting various supply chains of the hospitality sector across the Middle East and beyond, will be participating at the inaugural The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, present-ing food and hospitality, to be held in Jeddah between November 17 - 19.

The three-day show, being organised at the Jeddah Center for Forums & Events, will bring together leading regional and international manufacturers and suppliers from the hospitality, catering, food and beverage, and related industries, covering over 8,500m2 of space with over 5,000 invited buyers, live gourmet food demon-strations, seminars, and a dedicated hotel summit.

Held under the patronage of H.R.H. Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, chairman, Saudi Com-mission for Tourism and Antiquities, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia is organised by MICE Arabia Group and co-organised by dmg :: events.