04 GENERAL 05 LUXURY CRUISE LINER CALLS IN SHARJAH...2016/04/09  · Dinar Dinar Rial Rial Riyal Dirham Dinar Pound Rial Dinar Dinar Pound Dinar Dirham Pound Dinar Rial 0.37 0.71 0.39

MADINAT JUMEIRAH TO GET NEW HOTEL

SIX FLAGS IS COMING TO DUBAI

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SAUDI PIPELINE EXPANDS

OMAN AIR CARRIES 6.3 MILLION PASSENGERS

Mecca is leading the Saudi hotel sector’s development with 24,133 rooms currently in the construction pipeline, according to a new report commissioned by The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia.

Some 6.3 million people opted for Oman Air’s services in 2015, up from 5.1 million in 2014.

Riyadh follows with 10,053 keys and Jeddah with 6,980 units under development, with the majority of rooms forecast to open to the public over the next five years.

Predictions that the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina are expected to exceed 17 mil-lion visitors by 2025, drive investors’ interest, according to Christine Davidson, group event

director, dmg events Middle East & Asia, who said, “With Abraj Kudai forecast to open in Mecca in 2019, adding 10,000 new rooms to the market, it is not surprising that Saudi Arabia leads the way in hotel construction.”

As a result, over 28,000 round trips were recorded as capacity rose to 20.5 billion available seat kilometres, leading to an average load factor of 71.4 percent.

Notably, the Omani carrier’s revenues surged 14.1 percent, to OMR465.97 million (USD1.2 billion).

“Oman Air has paid lower prices for our fuel, enabling us to reduce the company’s losses. This, together with the major increase in the number of passengers carried, the amount of cargo handled and the continued development of ancillary revenues, has put Oman Air on a positive financial footing in 2015,” commented on the results Darwish Bin Ismail Bin Ali Al Balushi, chair-man, Oman Air.

Bahrain (BHD)

Jordan (JOD)

Oman (OMR)

Qatar (QAR)

Saudi Arabia (SAR)

UAE (AED)

Algeria (DZD)

Egypt (EGP)

Iran (IRR)

Iraq (IQD)

Kuwait (KWD)

Lebanon (LBP)

Libya (LYD)

Morocco (MAD)

Syria (SYP)

Tunisia (TND)

Yemen (YER)

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MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Kammitsi [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITORMaria Kazeli

SENIOR JOURNALISTRita Kasziba

JOURNALIST

Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR

Ana Mladenovic

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu

DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou

WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, announced a 12 percent year-on-year increase in figures at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for 2015. During the year under review, the venue welcomed 2.74 million delegates and attendees, along with 53,547 exhibitors from 185 countries, translating into a 17 percent boost in the volume of exhibiting companies.

“Backed by a prudent long-term expansion strategy with strategic diversification of the event calendar, DWTC business has steadily grown in number of events, venue occupancy rates, visitation quality and volumes, and in building Dubai’s international attractiveness for exhibiting corporates and trade delegates,” Al Maktoum added. Du

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Spa Tourism Invaluable in MENA

This is according to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2014 Global Spa and Wellness Economy Monitor report, which iden-tified the region as the second fastest-growing market for spas globally, after sub-Saharan Africa.Capitalising on this opportunity, the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM)’s new Wellness & Spa Lounge will host 25 exhibitors representing some of the world’s most recognised health and wellness hospitality destinations.

“[The report showed that] over nine percent year-on-year growth is forecasted for the next two years, which is a stag-gering 50 percent faster than overall global tourism,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, ATM.

The value of wellness trips across MENA has reached USD7.3 billion, with health-focussed tourists spending 130 percent more than regular travellers.

According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)’s annual Economic Impact Report, the sector added 7.2 million jobs to the global economy and contributed over USD7.2 trillion in GDP in 2015.Despite economic uncertainties and specific challenges, the industry still managed to develop 3.7 percent, pinpointed David Scowsill, president, WTTC.

With all areas of the world showing a positive development in travel and tourism contribution to the national GDPs in 2015, the Middle East was the third fastest-rising region with a growth rate of 5.9 percent. Southeast Asia topped the list with a 7.9 percent improvement, followed by South Asia which posted a 7.4 percent increase.

Tourism: 7.2 Million New Jobs in 2015

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9 APRIL 2016

SharjahREINFORCING SHARJAH’S POSITION AS A KEY CRUISE TOURISM DESTINATION, INTERNATIONAL FAVOURITE MS EUROPA 2 ARRIVED AT KHORFAKKAN PORT WITH MORE THAN 500 TOURISTS ONBOARD.

T he vessel, managed by Hapag-Lloyd, is the latest to call at the emirate’s east coast ports which have been witnessing remarkable development in recent years, especially since the launch of Kalba eco-tourism pro-ject and the announcement of new enhancements. Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority aims to attract some 28 cruise trips with 72,000 passengers to Khorfakkan Port during the current season. MS Europa 2 at K

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LUXURY CRUISE LINER CALLS IN

9 JANUARY 2016

Muriya Introduces Floating Water

Park

Russians Flock to Jordan

J ordan continues to gain popularity among Russian travellers as tourism tops the agenda of the two country’s bilat-eral relations.

In just two months, some 5,000 new visitors from the East-ern European country headed to Jordan, following Jordan Tourism Board‘s televised and social media promotional campaign in the Rus-sian language.

Deeming tourism a top prior-ity of cooperation, Imad Fakhoury, planning and international coop-eration minister, Jordan, described Russia as a very important market.

To further strengthen links be-tween the destinations, the coun-try’s signed a protocol, which, among others, includes a twin-ning agreement between Sochi, the coast of the Black Sea and Aqaba.

Muriya announced the opening of a new inflatable aqua park at Jebel Sifah Marina.Operated by Marassi Al Jissah, a com-

pany specialising in yachting, water sports activities and sea excursions, the attrac-tion boasts a fully-supervised experience that is available to residents, Sifawy Bou-tique Hotel guests, day-trippers as well as group visitors.

Open seven days a week, the park of-fers a choice of slides and swings, springy trampolines, high and low jumps, plus a climbing tower, bouncy bridge, slippery balance beam and monkey bar.

Aqaba is set to welcome some 30,000 cruise passengers this year, according to Aqaba Spe-cial Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).

As Sharhabeel Madi, commissioner, economic development and investment affairs, ASEZA, noted, the destination has already received a large group of European tourists by cruise ships, and further arrivals are scheduled from Ger-many, the UK as well as the Gulf region.

Accordingly, special promotional campaigns are underway to highlight the port city as a key tourism location. A

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Water park at Jebel Sifah Marina

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Dubai Parks and Resorts will hold its first general assembly this month to seek ap-proval from shareholders to raise AED1.68 billion (USD457.4 million) in additional capital to finance the development of a Six Flags theme park.Planned to open in the last quarter of 2019, the proposed Six Flags-branded venture

will be the fourth amusement park at the mega-entertainment destination which is slated to launch in October.

Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said, “The addition of a Six Flags-branded theme park – the first in the region – will further establish Dubai Parks and Resorts’ position as the Middle East’s largest leisure and entertainment destination.”

Madinat Jumeirah Welcomes New

Fort Island

Six Flags Is Coming to Dubai

Emaar Properties will inaugurate Dubai Opera with a spectacular line-up of world-class perfor-mances later this year.Located in Downtown Dubai, the city’s first purpose-built multi-format performing arts ven-ue overlooks Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain and offers the flexibility of a proscenium arch theatre, an acoustic concert hall and a 2,000m2 flat floor event space.

Welcoming a varied programme of cultural and lifestyle events, including operas, ballet, classical performances, musicals, and more, Dubai Opera will pay tribute to the emirate’s cultural heritage tak-ing design inspiration from vintage dhows.

Jasper Hope, CEO, Dubai Opera, said, “The Emiratis used to sing, as divers searched for pearls, and [this year] visitors to Dubai will be able to seek out new cultural gems in a sensational home for the arts in the heart of Downtown Dubai.”

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Madinat Jumeirah held a launch party at Fort Island to mark the opening of the destina-tion’s new outdoor events space.

Having been completed in Octo-ber 2015, the new expansion is set over 1,750m2, thus, tripling the overall area’s size.

According to Margaret Paul, resort general manager, Madinat Jumeirah, as one of the city’s most innovative and exclusive outdoor venues, the redevel-opment demonstrates the hotel’s com-mitment to continuously enhance the guest experience and cater to a larger and wider range of prestigious events for the MICE industry.

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Virtual Museum Tours in Riyadh

R iyadh’s Al Musmak Museum can now be experienced through a virtual tour, which offers 360-degree 3D camera im-agery of the establishment’s inte-rior in addition to detailed informa-tion on relics, photos and drawings exhibited.

Launched by Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the new app has been developed for smartphones, and enables users to enlarge photos, view inscriptions and decorations on the museum walls and more.

Al Musmak Museum is often fre-quented by Saudi state guests, visitors and tourists to the capital, as well as residents and students, as it presents the unification story of the Kingdom.

Aldar Jumpstarts Al Jimi Mall Overhaul

A ldar Properties awarded an AED318 million (USD86.58 million) refurbishment and expansion contract for Al Ain’s Al Jimi Mall to Pivot Construction Company.

The investment will add an extra leased space of 33,000m2, over 50 percent of which is already commit-ted to new tenants.

Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, the project will include an expansion to the west side, adding 51 new units over three levels for extra retail, and food and bever-age options. The north side, the Retail Park, will also be broadened.

The overhaul will also include the refurbishment of the existing shop-ping centre, including the entrances and public spaces, among more.

DID YOU KNOW...

Al Jimi Mall is currently fully

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SCTH Boosts Al Qassim Heritage Prospects

P reparations are underway by Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) to set up a specialised company for tourism and heritage related investment in Al Qassim province. The organisation falls under the interest of the state towards the development of national

cultural heritage. The establishment of the dedicated body follows a meeting between H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin

Salman bin Abdul Aziz, president, SCTH, and Al Qassim-based businessmen, which was held on the sidelines of the fifth Urban Heritage Forum in November 2015. S

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I n line with the growing demand for branded extended-stay accommodation in Jeddah, Mövenpick Hotels & Re-sorts revealed plans to open its first hotel and apartment property in the booming Saudi seaport city, in 2017.

Hadia Abdul Latif Jameel Group is to manage the 164-unit Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Tahlia Jeddah, which will be located on Hail Street, close to the destination’s ma-jor commercial, financial, consular and shopping districts.

Part of a high-profile mixed-use development, the property will predominantly feature suites, an all-day din-ing outlet, a casual fine-food Indian restaurant, gym with two spa treatment rooms and four meeting rooms.

Mövenpick Marks Foray in Jeddah

StayWell to Debut in Saudi Arabia

Expected to be unveiled in the second quarter of 2018, in time for the Hajj season, the two establishments will boast a combined inventory of 630 rooms.“These two unique hotels will offer guests superb dining options as well as deluxe accommodation within walking distance to the Grand Mosque in Mecca,” noted Simon Wan, CEO, StayWell Hospitality Group. “We are looking forward to both hotels complementing our existing Park Regis Kris Kin and our upcoming Park Regis Business Bay hotel, located in Dubai. We are also actively looking for further opportunities to expand our network in the Middle East.”

Australia-based StayWell Hospitality Group signed a management agreement to open and operate two Park Regis properties in Mecca, marking the company’s entry into the Saudi market.

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After a year of preparation and six months of monitoring and evaluating the hotel’s performance, Centro Capital Centre, Abu Dhabi obtained the ISO 14001:2004 certificate, an in-ternational standard with a set of requirements for environmental management systems.

“Being the first Centro Brand within Rotana hotels to get this im-portant certification, we have been always dedicated to maintain-ing quality and a high level of service to exceed guest expectations, including in the areas of high-quality food safety and environmen-tal management,” said Ayman Ashor, general manager, Centro Capi-tal Centre, attributing the success to his team.

Centro Capital Centre Boasts ISO Certificate

Aiana Announces Regional Plans

Aiana Hotels & Resorts unveiled the design and architectural elements of Aiana Suites and Res-idences, a 180-key luxury property located in Doha’s West Bay.

The company also announced its latest project, the 611-room Aiana Makkah which is set to open in the third quarter of the year. The development will become the hotelier’s first property to welcome guests, and its first venture in Saudi Arabia.

Strategically located near Mecca’s city centre with direct connectivity to Masjid Al Haram, Aiana Makkah will offer clear views of the Hajj ritual site.

Including the Saudi hotel, the company has seven properties in the pipeline across the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

Ayman Ashor (second left) with team members

Madinat Jumeirah to Get New Hotel

J umeirah Al Naseem, Madinat Jumeirah’s newest addition will launch this summer, marking the completion of the resort, which already encompasses Jumeirah Al Qasr, the recently renovated Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and the summerhouses of Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf.The property is set in the midst of 2km of sand stretching from Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the east, to Jumeirah

Al Qasr in the west, overlooking Burj Al Arab and the Arabian Gulf.The opening will signal the final chapter in the transformation of a part of Dubai’s coastline into a major tour-

istic destination by Jumeirah Group.With construction works on the 430-room establishment well underway, reservations are accepted for stays

from October 01 onwards.

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W ith delivery expended for mid-2017, Al Habtoor Group announced the sale of the three-towered Residence Collection, Al Habtoor City.According to Mohammed Al Habtoor, vice chairman, Al Habtoor Group, the development adds value to the overall project.

“Everything residents need is on their doorstep – from restaurants to gourmet ca-fés and stylish boutiques and the regions first-ever permanent water-themed produc-tion by Dragone, which is exclusively choreographed for the City,” said Al Habtoor.

Brian Etemad, CEO, Tamleek Real Estate, revealed that the initial interest has been strong.

“This is because the development provides the end-user with ultimate lifestyle choices. [...] It also marks the first time international investors can purchase a property on Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dubai Water Canal,” he explained.

Residence Collection, Al Habtoor City on Sale

Millennium Kuwait Unveils New Business

Offering

M illennium Hotel & Convention Centre Kuwait launched a new executive lounge to better facilitate interna-tional business by providing visitors with ex-ceptional amenities and services throughout their stay.

Located on the 17th floor, the new venue boasts the latest technology and provides guests with complimentary gourmet snacks and coffee, airport transportation, late check-out privileges and other exclusive perks.

Dani Saleh, area general manager, Kuwait, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, commented, “We are ideally located and well-equipped to satisfy the full range of business needs. The Ex-ecutive Lounge compliments our broader corpo-rate offering and aims to place Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre as the preferred choice for those seeking to conduct business in Kuwait.”Al

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Tamani Marina Dubai Predicts Growth

A ccording to Walid Al-Awa, general manager, Tamani Marina Hotel, Dubai, the estab-lishment witnessed an increased demand from all GCC countries during the first quar-ter of the year. Al-Awa indicated that the UAE’s safety, security and upcoming major projects are the key

variables fuelling interest especially from the family tourism sector.“[The UAE] has become a popular destination [...] for the GCC and the world in the light of

deteriorating security situation in many countries,” he said, predicting an increase in Gulf family tourism in the near future.

As Al-Awa noted, the growing number of new hotel rooms in the market contribute to the promotion of the destination and the improvement of service levels; a fact, that, according to him, is reflected in the rising occupancy levels.

The Address Unveils High-Tech Guest Experience

I n an effort to deliver superior guest service, The Address Hotels + Resorts is drawing on the power of advanced in-room automation technology with the launch of iGENIE, which is now avail-able at all properties.

Assuring a full breadth of guest of-ferings at the tap of the finger, the new tool enhances the user experience.

From booking leisure and recrea-tion appointments from the comfort of the room to ordering services, such as concierge, housekeeping, engineering, and surfing the Internet for informa-tion and entertainment, iGENIE is facili-tated through in-room iPads provided to guests.

J W Marriott Marquis Dubai experienced an inventory surge of 22 percent during 2015, nevertheless, occupancy levels across the property’s 1,608 rooms remained constant in excess of 73 percent. Throughout the year, the hotel recorded 100 percent occupancy on more

than 45 occasions.“Supply in the city rose 6.7 percent, whilst overall demand grew only 4.3

percent. This is stark contrast to JW Marriott Marquis, which witnessed an increase in demand of more than 12 percent in 2015. As a result, JW Mar-riott Marquis Dubai continued to drive room revenues by 13 percent over the course of the year. These positive figures further cement our position as a mar-ket leader in the region,” enthused Bill Keffer, general manager, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai.

JW Marriott Dubai Reports Strong Growth

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Qatar Airways Expands UK Network

T he carrier will serve the European city eight times a week with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, noted, “This vibrant and economically powerful region rep-resents an important addition to our worldwide network and is a testament to our commitment to the UK. Passengers now have access to more than 150 global destinations, accessed via 73 flights per week from the UK, facilitated by smooth transfers through our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.”

Qatar Airways inaugurated its fourth UK gateway with direct flights between Doha and Birmingham.

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RAK Welcomes Air India Express

E mirates marked the start of its brand-new Airbus A380 aircraft service to Birming-ham Airport.

Based on strong demand in the region for the carrier’s offer-ings, the European city now wel-comes three daily flights from Dubai. The carrier has been serv-ing the UK destination for well over a decade, with its first daily flight launched in December 2000.

The new itinerary, which will be operated in a two-class config-uration with a total of 615 seats, increases daily capacity on the route by 261 passengers.

A ir India Express launched four-weekly flights be-tween Ras Al Khaimah and Calicut.

The new route, which is expected to become a daily service in the near future, was long awaited, indicated H.E. Salem bin Sultam Al Qasimi, chairman, RAK International Airport.

“There was much need for this connectivity, but we also believe that this route may require more than a daily frequency to satisfy the growing demand. We would therefore urge the authorities to consider the needs of the passengers and increase seat allocations for high-demand sectors,” said Al Qasimi.

Likewise, Mohammed Qazi, CEO, RAK International Airport, ex-pressed hope to see Air India Ex-press further grow its footprint in the Northern Emirates both in terms of frequencies and routes.

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E mirates launched its Dubai – Clark International Air-port – Cebu circular route, marking the addition of the airline’s second and third gateway, respectively, in the Philippines.

“We are confident that our new service will have a posi-tive impact on the development of tourism and trade in the Philippines’ regional economies,” commented Adnan Kazim, divisional senior vice president, strategic planning, revenue optimisation and aeropolitical affairs, Emirates.

He added that the carrier’s extensive global network of over 150 destinations will help enhance connectivity for the two destinations, providing a broader reach for regional products and additional opportunities for inbound tourism.

Alitalia Returns to Jordan

Emirates Touches Down in Philippines

I n a bid to raise awareness and facilitate the understand-ing of the protection of state information and docu-ments, Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air together with the Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA) conducted a knowledge-sharing session.

“It is of critical importance that Gulf Air’s management team and the airline’s entire workforce, have the capabilities and knowledge to collect, classify and maintain information securely and responsibly - protecting and securing the air-line’s information in all its forms to ensure there is no mis-use,” noted Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting CEO, Gulf Air. “Such knowledge sharing sessions help us work together to secure all Gulf Air information and ensure the airline’s com-pliance with information handling requirements.”

Gulf Air and IGA Address Classified Information

K LM introduced its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Abu Dhabi – Muscat daily route, with the Omani capital becoming the third GCC destination to be served by the aircraft.

With a total capacity of 294 passengers, the plane offers fully-flat seats, privacy and direct access to the aisle for business travellers, as well as new seats enabling 40 percent more recline in economy class.

Gilles Roche, general manager, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, Air France-KLM, commented, “Muscat is a key route and destination for KLM, as we develop our services for passengers based in Oman and across the GCC region. The daily flight from Muscat to Abu Dhabi and then Amsterdam provides the ideal gateway into our global network.”

KLM Brings Dreamliner to Muscat

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A litalia relaunched flights between Rome and Amman offering up to five services a week during the summer period.The itinerary is one of the fastest growing links for the Italian carrier, with 25,000 passengers having travelled on the route between April – October 2015, marking a 20 percent year-on-year improvement.

The new connection between the capitals will be operated by Airbus A320 medium-haul aircraft, allowing passengers to experience Alitalia’s new service and cabin interiors. The airline’s medium-haul fleet renova-tion is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

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Abu Dhabi: 1.86 Million Passengers in February

“Traffic between India, UK, Thailand, Australia, US and a number of others, all wit-nessed increased passenger figures from [the airport],” said Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, adding that Etihad Airways’ part-ner network played a big role in the rise.

Notably, aircraft movements reached 13,307, up 3.5 percent over February 2015.

A irport International Group (AIG) celebrated the landing of the first Pegasus Airlines flight at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA). The arrival of the Turkish carrier corresponds with AIG’s ongoing ef-forts to expand its network and develop route incentive schemes that encourage airlines to operate through the Jordanian hub.

As Kjeld Binger, CEO, AIG, pinpointed, the company’s endeavours support the Kingdom’s national tourism strategy objectives.

The low-cost carrier operates three weekly services between Amman and Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara.

QAIA Welcomes Pegasus Airlines

Abu Dhabi Airports registered an 8.7 percent year-on-year surge in figures at Abu Dhabi International Airport in February, with 1.86 million people having travelled through the hub.

BAC Committed to Safety

B ahrain Airport Company (BAC) hosted the Airports Council International (ACI) Air-port Excellence Safety Review at Bahrain International Airport.

Recognising its commitment to the ACI Airport Excellence in Safety Programme, BAC signed a declaration of commitment and col-laboration with the global entity.

Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah, CEO, BAC, praised the initiative, the efforts of the safety review team members and all airport staff and partners involved in adhering to the best prac-tices in their respective areas who consequently help BAC further its mission of sustaining the hub’s reputation as an efficient and safe world-class environment.

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S tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide penned three new deals in Cuba, becoming the first US-based ho-telier to enter the market in almost 60 years.The Luxury Collection will welcome Havana’s iconic Hotel

Inglaterra, as well as Hotel Santa Isabel, while Hotel Quinta Ave-nida will re-emerge flying the Four Points by Sheraton flag.

“With Cuba’s rich history, natural beauty and strong culture, there is no question the entire US hospitality in-dustry has watched Cuba with great interest, and we are thrilled to lead the charge and bring our sophisticated, high-end brands into the market at this inflection point,” enthused Thomas Mangas, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

S ecluded on a private island in the Quirimbas Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique, Anan-tara Medjumbe Island Resort reopened following extensive refurbishment.

The 12-villa, adults-only African hideaway now fea-tures refreshed décor, luxury accommodation upgrades and new signature experiences, including a Robinson Crusoe-style star bed.

Adding to the wide range of ocean experiences, the re-sort’s new dhow sailing boat lesson offers couples a 90-min-ute experience on the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The resort aims to become the first African island resort to use 100 percent solar energy.

K uala Lumpur will welcome its first Hotel Jen in 2019, following a deal between Shangri-La Inter-national Hotel Management and Concorde Arch.Located close to the city’s landmark Petronas Twin Tow-

ers and KL Tower, the property is the brand’s second venture in the country, following Hotel Jen Kota Kinabalu in Borneo.

“The announcement of Hotel Jen Kuala Lumpur rein-forces our interest and expansion in Malaysia, in the coun-try’s capital city, where we will now increase the group’s presence with our third hotel and newest brand Hotel Jen,” said Greg Dogan, president, Shangri-La International Hotel Management.

Hotel Jen is promoted as fresh, friendly and fuss-free.

R IU Hotels & Resorts inaugurated Riu Plaza New York Times Square, its first property in the metropolis.Located in the heart of Manhattan, the newly-

constructed USD310 million hotel spreads over 29 floors and features 647 rooms, a restaurant, bar and two conference rooms, among more.

“This opening is a dream coming true. It took us nearly 10 years to find the most appropriate opportunity to invest in the right location in New York, in addition to the three years it took to pre-pare and build the hotel,” enthused Luis Riu, CEO, RIU Hotels & Resorts.

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Starwood: First US Hotelier to Return to Cuba

Anantara Medjumbe Re-emerges

Shangri-La’s Hotel Jen Signed for Kuala Lumpur

Riu Plaza New York Times Square Opens

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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: Please tell us about the properties’ unique location.

TOMAS ANDERSEN: We are located on Gaya Island, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, in a mass of jungle, fringed by mangroves and skirted by coral reefs. On this virtu-ally uninhabited island, we manage two private five-star resorts offering luxuri-ous villas on the tropical hillside and perched on stilts over the clear waters of the South China Sea. Handcrafted by local tradesmen, reflecting the traditional simplicity of the Borneo architectural style, accommodation ranges from one- to three-bedroom villas, 65 to 153m2 in size; all with private balconies or terrace,

TOMAS ANDERSEN

Q & A

with

GENERAL MANAGER, BUNGA RAYA ISLAND RESORT & SPA AND GAYANA ECO RESORT

TUCKED AWAY ON A TRANQUIL AND HIDDEN BAY, MAXIMUM PRIVACY IS GUARANTEED

JUST OFF THE COAST OF BORNEO, PERFECT FOR GUESTS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, AS TOMAS ANDERSEN, GENERAL MANAGER, BUNGA RAYA ISLAND RESORT & SPA AND

GAYANA ECO RESORT, EXPLAINS.

some allowing direct access to the sea, others with jaw dropping tree-top vis-tas of the jungle and beach.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What makes the hotel an eco resort?

TOMAS ANDERSEN: More than just using sustainable construction tech-niques and promoting environmental-ly-friendly best practises, we play an active role in the preservation of our marine environment. Gayana Eco Resort on Gaya Is-land is the only one of its kind in Borneo and is considered to be a pioneer in the field of environmental protection. Its outstanding facilities include the Marine Ecology Research Centre, which, among other things, is concerned with cul-tivating coral, giant clams and endangered fish species from the waters around Borneo.

We offer complete learn-ing experiences for adults and children alike, including the opportunity to become a ma-rine biologist for a day, work-ing alongside the professionals […].

Since the opening of the Marine Ecology Research Cen-tre in 2007, we have successfully culti-vated 500 giant clams of seven differ-ent species and 8,000 coral fragments in our ocean nursery through our in-house guest participation programme. […]

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What per-centage of your guests originate from the Middle East?

TOMAS ANDERSEN: Before undertak-ing any public relations activities in the Middle East, we did not have any guests from the region. In 2015, about five per-cent of our guests were from the region, both locals and expatriates. We attended Arabian Travel Market for the first time in 2015 and were overwhelmed by the interest. We then decided to extend our public relations activities into sales, ap-pointing a local agent to support the hotels and we [welcomed] our first travel agent familiarisation visit this April. […]

We have had guests [from the Mid-dle East] in most of the room types, but the two-bedroom villas are popular for those coming with their families. This gives them both space and privacy, as

they generally like to relax on the island rather than undertaking any excursions.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What ac-tivities can they undertake on the island?

TOMAS ANDERSEN: We are in the heart of the jungle, so there is no escape from getting up close and personal with the local wildlife on occasions. We have a

tree-top experience and jungle walk, and then there are the water-based ac-tivities. Guests can snorkel the house reef with an underwater camera or take a kayak trip into the mangroves, explore mudskippers and hermit crabs or trek into the dense jungle bursting with but-terflies, birds, cicadas and endless flora. The resort also houses a dive centre cer-tified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors […].

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are your plans for the coming months regarding the Middle East?

TOMAS ANDERSEN: We welcomed our first media group from Dubai to the re-sorts in late 2015, and [hosted] travel agents from the region. We are also planning personal sales calls in the re-gion and will continue working closely with the Malaysian tourism offices to promote the destination. Guests from the region tend to book at the last min-ute, so we will be launching some pro-motional packages for school holiday periods, the Eid [break] and the summer to tap into this market.

Gayana Eco Resort

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WEEKLY NEWS INTERNATIONAL www.traveltradeweekly.travel

B est Western Hotels & Resorts is fur-ther enhancing its portfolio in Malay-sia with its first project in Kuching.Scheduled to welcome its first guests

in 2018, BEST WESTERN PLUS Kuching will feature 200 rooms and suites, a restaurant, swimming pool and event space.

Speaking about the new midscale hotel, Olivier Berrivin, managing director, interna-tional operations, Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, noted that Kuching has now estab-lished a firm presence on the map for both leisure and business travel.

A ccommodation establishments remain the most impor-tant source of sustenance for online travel agencies in the US, according to Phocuswright.The total market is projected to grow six percent this year,

reaching USD361 billion, thus, lodging continues to be the lead-ing driver of development as hotels enjoy record average daily rates driven by high demand. This has helped accommodation surpass air in 2015 to become the US travel market’s largest segment.

In 2015, 45 percent of bookings were made online in the country, slightly under the 47 percent rate reported from Europe. By 2017, online and offline channels will surge at the same rate, as the US online travel market hits USD171 billion.

A delaide Convention Centre launched Australia’s largest Google Virtual Tour, becoming the country’s first confer-ment facility to adopt the technology across the entire building to assist clients in their event planning process.

The tool incorporates 316 panoramic photos, built from 3,792 separate images of the centre and showcases all 15,000m2 of the interior over three levels, including external views of the North Ter-race and the Riverbank precinct.

Visitors can also inspect the venue’s proximity to major hotels, shopping areas as well as BioMed City, a health research unit.

As Alec Gilbert, CEO, Adelaide Convention Centre, noted, the 360-degree navigation technology allows complete control of the viewer experience.

O NYX Hospitality Group entered into a new management agreement for a project in Hong Kong, paving the way for the company’s first Mosaic Collection property in the city.Slated to open in the last quarter of the year, the 24-storey 61-

room Hotel 108 is located at 108 Soy Street Mongkok in the heart of the Kowloon Peninsula, surrounded by a variety of dining and entertainment options.

“ONYX continues to spread its footprint beyond its established Thai roots and is committed to being a leading hospitality pro-vider in the region. Hotel 108 is not only a key milestone for our ongoing growth, but also an expansion of our portfolio offering to visitors staying in Hong Kong,” said Simon Dell, vice president, North Asia, ONYX Hospitality Group.BE

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Best Western Grows in Malaysia

US Hotel Demand Outgrows Supply

Adelaide Convention Centre Boosts Engagement

ONYX Expands Presence in Hong Kong

Q & A

with

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TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What makes social media an essential tool for hoteliers?

SIMON CASSON: Social media has completely changed the way we communi-cate with each other as individuals and how businesses reach out to their cus-tomers. Having a presence on social media is no longer optional but a requisite for continued growth. As a brand that has always placed the greatest empha-sis on guest experience, engaging actively with new and potential customers online, social media for Four Seasons is a natural extension of our legendary

SIMON CASSON

Q & A

with

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS NOT ONLY TRANSFORMED THE WAY PEOPLE

COMMUNICATE BUT ALSO THE WAY BUSINESSES REACH OUT TO EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS, ACCORDING

TO SIMON CASSON, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, FOUR SEASONS HOTELS

AND RESORTS.

service. Far before they check in, guests

are keen to discover everything they can about us online. This way, our so-cial media accounts help us create an-ticipation and convey the true spirit of [Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, of which I am the general man-ager], through glimpses of our beauti-ful property. In many cases, guests also use these channels to communicate to us any special or urgent requests that need our attention and we are always excited to share relevant updates such as offers on spa treatments and dining as well as events. In the past, we have also invited social media celebrities and influencers to contribute to our social media stories – a step that was received quite well by our fans and followers. And of course, it is always nice to learn more about the aspects of our property and services that guests are enjoying during their stay with us – through the lovely imagery they capture and share online.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What are the main benefits and risks of these so-cial media channels?

SIMON CASSON: Social media is real-time engagement, so we waste no

energy in analysing the good and the bad. We know it is here to stay so we embrace it and do our best to lever-age it positively. Naturally, opinions can be subjective and a dissatisfied cli-ent may at times exaggeratedly misuse the power of social media, but people are now smarter in their approach and tend to evaluate comments more criti-cally than before. Moreover, we look at social media as an opportunity to break down the previously-existing barriers in communication and if applicable, rectify, or respond to feedback almost immediately.

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: How do you think social media will transform the industry over the coming years?

SIMON CASSON: I do not think it will transform it. Fundamentally, our busi-ness is experiential in nature and thrives on real human-to-human interactions which cannot be replicated in the digi-tal space. However, owing to the range of customer insights it can offer, social media will remain an important tool for us, contributing to the growth of our brand in general and ultimately help-ing our bottom line – as we continue to welcome feedback on the experiences we create for our guests.

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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel

GENERAL MANAGER, SWISS-BELHOTEL SEEF, BAHRAIN

CHAIRMAN, OMAN AIR

“We are honoured and hum-bled to be recognised [at the Food & Travel GCC Tourism Awards] as the best four-star hotel among all the GCC prop-erties. The award is a confirma-tion that we are fulfilling our promise to our stakeholders and at the same time, an inspi-ration to further improve and innovate.”

“The level of support provid-ed to Oman Air by the gov-ernment was reduced in 2015 to OMR54 million (USD140 million). Furthermore, our in-creased revenues, continued expansion and lower finan-cial loss have meant that we are able to request a further reduction in the level of fi-nancial support for the com-ing year. Oman Air remains on track to achieve its stated aim of reaching an operation-al break-even point by the end of 2017.”

[It] is a confirmation that we are fulfilling our promise

Oman Air remains on track to achieve its stated aim

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DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING, THE SUN SIYAM IRU FUSHI, MALDIVES

“We are excited to be launch-ing Following the Equator, the first international tourism film festival in the Maldives, which will be held at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi between July 10 – 12. […] Our resort […] will be hosting the film festi-val with a VIP grand opening, concert, art exhibitions, yoga and pilates master classes and a grape and food acad-emy, in addition to a film competition […]. We will be sharing more details about Following the Equator with our tour operator partners, with special rates and promo-tions planned for July.”

Our resort […] will be hosting the film festival

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TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to

[email protected]

CHAIRMAN, ACTION HOTELS

“We are very excited about the opening of our first ho-tel in Brisbane. [ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street] is a high-quality three-star hotel and is well located for both business and pleasure customers which will drive occupancy from day one. The opening of this, our largest hotel, is a big step towards achieving our goal of 5,000 rooms by 2020.”

The opening […] is a big step towards achieving our goal

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9 APRIL 2016

ROGIER HURKMANS has been appointed opening general manager at Wynd-ham Dubai Marina.A hospitality veteran with over two decades of expe-rience, Hurkmans brings a wealth of expertise and valu-able know-how to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ first UAE property. Having served a number of reputable hotel chains, he was involved in various pre-openings and launches.In his new role, Hurkmans will oversee the management team, set strategic plans to meet budget goals and ex-ceed revenue targets, ensure maximum guest satisfaction and support the staff to de-liver first-class standards at the property.

PUNEET DHAWAN has been named vice president of oper-ations, economy and midscale properties, for the Gulf and Levant regions at AccorHotels Middle East. Dhawan brings with him a wealth of experience gained while working for the hotelier in Asia Pacific, in Australia, Sin-gapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and India. Having accumulated consid-erable international manage-ment expertise, Dhawan now joins the expanding Middle East team where he will be instru-mental in further strengthen-ing the economy and midscale operations. He will look after more than 30 hotels with over 7,500 rooms. In addition, he will be also in charge of 2,500 new units that will be launched over the coming years.

GEORGES EL KHOURY has joined Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island in Abu Dhabi as director of business devel-opment. El Khoury’s 11-year career with prestigious hotels in Lebanon, Kuwait and Oman has provid-ed him with a wealth of knowl-edge in the hospitality indus-try, which will now be utilised to support the advancement of both properties’ position in the market. In his new capacity, he will over-see and lead the sales team of both establishments with a particular emphasis on the im-plementation of new strategies. Prior to moving to the UAE capital, El Khoury served as director of sales and market-ing at Salalah Marriott Resort in Oman.

Dhawan brings with him a wealth of experience

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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel

CLUSTER DIRECTOR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, ORYX ROTANA DOHA AND CITY CENTRE ROTANA DOHA

PRESIDENT, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

“This [year was] the first partici-pation for City Centre Rotana Doha at Earth Hour, which [came] out of our eagerness to interact with the global community to curb excessive consumption of energy and to send a message to tackle glob-al warming and environmental problems in the world. At Oryx Rotana, we are keen to par-ticipate annually in this global event to send a message about environmental issues and cre-ate awareness that lead to ac-tions in order to preserve the environment and to reflect the interest of the management in increasing attentiveness of cli-mate variables.”

“Dubai is a natural choice for the Cultural Game Changers [forum]. If you look at the vi-brancy and the multicultural scene and the energy in the art, film, media and fashion world, it is extremely crea-tive. It is changing the game, which is what Dubai does. We are committed to evolv-ing our brands to meet the expectations of our millen-nial guests, and the ideas shared among these leading influencers at Cultural Game Changers are a great inspi-ration to us as we craft new travel experiences.”

We are keen to [...] create awareness

We are committed to [...] craft new travel experiences

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GENERAL MANAGER, AJMAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

“In line with the new brand identity, our key objective is to raise inbound tourism by 20 percent this year. We will embark on an aggressive mar-keting campaign which will promote Ajman as a tourism destination in select interna-tional markets. We will con-tinue supporting our feeder market which is the GCC and will tap potential international markets such as India […]. With our diverse offerings, we can target a large number of visiting friends and relatives travellers […] as well as mid-dle-income families.”

We will embark on an aggressive marketing campaign

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TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to

[email protected]

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CITYMAX HOTELS

“Citymax aims to be a hos-pitality innovator and create exceptional experiences for each and every guest who passes through our proper-ties. It is our vision that each of our Citymax delighters demonstrates ‘go beyond’ [employee engagement ini-tiative] behaviour to consist-ently delight our guests and our teams. Our aim is to turn our guests into our ambassa-dors and our fans. Asking for more loyalty, starts with giv-ing more loyalty. Together we have the potential to build a brand that becomes a bench-mark and source of inspira-tion for many.”

Citymax aims to be a hospitality innovator

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When and how did you get involved in the tourism industry?I have been in the tourism industry for more than 20 years and for the past five years I have been operating my own destination management company. We have offices in Mauritius, Vietnam, Cam-bodia, Myanmar and the Philippines. We specialise in tours all over India, and offer international holiday packages, cruises, events, destination weddings and film shootings. Besides tourism, we are international line producers assist-ing film production. Due to our contact with all international tourism boards, we can also assist film producers with subsidized rates on accommodations and logistics to any international desti-nation. We also have special Bollywood-related tours in Mumbai.

What are the most important attrib-utes of a good tour operator?We give our clients the holiday experi-ence of a lifetime. That is our mission as well as our vision.

What is the most frequently asked question that your company receives from customers?As we have offices in six countries and do worldwide holidays and cruises, our clients ask us to suggest options based on their budget. For film shoots our cli-ents mostly ask for the destination that can give them the best incentive and that have the best locations. For desti-nation weddings, the venues in hotels for different ceremonies is always the prime concern.

Which destination is on your bucket list?I want to focus more on niche and unex-plored destinations and also promote very strongly Myanmar and Cambodia. For film shoots we want to promote countries in Africa like Rwanda, Na-mibia, Kenya, South Africa as they too have started giving incentives. For des-tination weddings we want to strongly focus in Mauritius and Thailand.

A irline websites have achieved major gains over on-line travel agencies (OTAs) in the last few years and now account for about three quarters of online bookings, according to Phocuswright’s US Airlines: At Cruis-ing Altitude report.

According to the study, online air bookings – including desktop, mobile, direct and intermediated – continue to grow slightly faster than air overall.

“While it appeared that airlines’ website growth was unstoppable, they actually have maxed out their online di-rect booking gains for the time being,” elaborated Maggie Rauch, senior research analyst, Phocuswright. “Airlines have optimised their advantage selling ancillaries [...], and now it is the OTAs' turn to grow airline revenue based on new mer-chandising capabilities.”

Carriers Take Over OTAs

AGENT’S INSIGHT

Terence Cardoz

Managing director

Divine Holiday Management

India

www.divinehm.com

COMPANY:

POSITION:

NAME:

LOCATION:

WEBSITE:

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AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel

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TRAVEL CHANNELS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

Elaf Group organised Moroccan Food Festival at Elaf Jeddah Hotel with celebrity chefs from the North African country joining the property’s kitchen team to serve a gastronomic feast of au-thentic and distinctive dishes to guests.

As Abdullah Bakri, vice president, hotels, Elaf Group, explained, the happening was in line with the company’s strategy to offer unforgettable dining experiences and ex-emplary services while promoting international cuisines.

“The event [highlighted] the rich diversity of exotic Moroccan cuisine which is fast gaining popularity among citizens and tourists of Saudi Arabia. We have planned to make food festivals integral part of our annual events with an aim to bring tastes and flavours from various regions of the world to the table of our guests,” he added.

The inauguration of the event

On behalf of the aviation industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed a declaration aimed at reducing the illegal trafficking of wildlife and underlining the sector’s commitment to sustainability.

The United for Wildlife initiative, created by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, invited representatives of

the transport industry to Buckingham Palace in London to pledge their support. IATA, along with several other key industry influencers signed commitments for raising awareness of the trafficking issue among passengers, and training staff to recognise and report suspi-cious packages and behaviour.

“[The declaration] marks a step forward for environmental protection – a commitment that we take very seriously.” said Tony Tyler, director general, IATA. “We will collaborate in support of government enforcement authorities to put an end to this evil trade.”

Demonstrating its commitment to environmental protection, Centro Sharjah par-ticipated in Earth Hour for the fourth consecutive year.

In support of the Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature initiative, the hotel went dark in back-of-the-house areas and also dimmed the lights in public spaces, res-taurants as well as on the exterior, and guests were also encouraged to join the

programme. “Centro Sharjah will remain devoted and committed in pursuing initiatives that alleviate

the effects of climate change, not only through Earth Hour but also through other environ-mental corporate social responsibility activities like tree planting, green project implemen-tation, and use of recycled products to name a few,” said Michael Kasch, general manager, Centro Sharjah.

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman unveiled an all-new reverse osmosis plant which is set to re-duce the establishment’s water waste by 60 percent leading to annual savings of approxi-mately AED290,000 (USD79,000).

The property’s daily water supply currently stands at 67,000 gallons, of which, 17,000 gallons go to waste due to high level of total dissolved solid (TDS). Through the new project, approximately 10,000 gallons will be filtered and treated to bring down the TDS level and make the wa-ter suitable for use in the hotel’s gardens and urban farm.

Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, commented, “Apart from the monetary benefit, this initiative entails impact on the precious use of water.”

ELAF HOSTS MOROCCAN FOOD

FESTIVAL

IATA BACKS WILDLIFE INITIATIVE

CENTRO SHARJAH GOES DARK FOR EARTH HOUR

RAMADA AJMAN EMBARKS ON WATER EFFICIENCY

SCHEME Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman‘s Reverse Osmosis plant

Take a Shot!

Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know

what you have been up to.

Send your photos to [email protected] Because a picture is worth a thousand

words...

English pop star Tulisa Contostavlos bonded with animals at Emirates Park Zoo

and Resort

Mall of the Emirates in Dubai launched its Spring-Summer fashion campaign,

SHINE

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman celebrated Earth Hour

Abu Dhabi International Airport and Etihad Airways welcomed the one millionth passenger at the airport's US preclearance facility

Two employees from Park Inn Muscat received the professional barista certification from Fling Bar Service

Emirates SkyCargo flew Dubai World Cup winner, California Chrome, home to the US

9 APRIL 2016 23

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9 APRIL 201624

NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel

RIYADH TRAVEL FAIR

Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaApril 12 – 15www.riyadhtravel.netAttracting leading travel and tourism companies from Saudi Arabia and the GCC, the event is a platform for introducing new tourist products and services, and making investments.

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT FORUM

Muharraq, BahrainApril 13 – 14bahrainairportforum.comA business platform for the global airport fraternity to meet senior decision-makers from Bahrain Airport Company and Bahrain International Airport to ensure a market share in the hub’s development project.

IMEX

Frankfurt, GermanyApril 19 – 21www.imex-frankfurt.comA landmark exhibition for professionals working in the MICE industry where global decision-makers meet with 3,500 suppliers for three days of business.

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

Dubai, UAEApril 25 – 28www.arabiantravelmarket.comA major event where global tourism destinations showcase a diverse range of accommodation options, tourism attractions, travel technology and airline routes.

EVENTSibtm arabia Delivers

Maximum ROI

FITUR: A Hit on Social

Media

Having delivered maximum re-turn on investment (ROI) to buy-ers and exhibitors, this year‘s ibtm arabia proved to be a

success.The event format featured a com-

bination of networking programmes, a one-to-one buyer-to-exhibitor ratio and a mutual match appointment system.

“Each year we strive to provide a platform for the meetings industry in the Middle East to connect with the world, whilst also creating a personalised ex-perience for every hosted buyer and ex-hibitor who walks through the door so that the event is 100 percent valuable to everyone. This is what makes ibtm arabia stand out from other events,” comment-ed on the event that was held at Jumei-rah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, Shinu Pillai, exhibition manager, ibtm arabia.

The latest instalment of FI-TUR exhibition achieved its best results in the digital domain on social media,

having garnered 62 million users who shared content through the official #FITUR2016 hashtag during the five days of the event.

A growing audience prompted the Spanish trade show, together with HEY AV agency, which is responsible for FITUR’s digital strategy, to launch a survey of travel trends and consumer habits through the Are you a 3.0 tourist? application.

Among the findings was that 48.8 percent of FITUR followers search for trips through travel blogs and 36.1 percent use down-loadable travel guide apps to help get by on holidays.