Travel Trade Weekly Issue 106

19 NOVEMBER 2011 ISSUE 106

IN THIS ISSUEMARKET UPDATE

WEEKLY NEWS

ACCOMMODATION

AIR NEWS TRAVEL

INTERNATIONAL

WHO'S MOVED

TRAVEL TALK

AGENTS' CORNER

TRAVEL CHANNELS

RENDEZVOUS

EVENTS

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MSC Lirica Arrives in the UAE 8

13

MSC Cruises has opened up a world of Arabian splendour, with the cruise line’s first vessel,

MSC Lirica’s, debut call in the UAE.

Etihad Flies to Indian Ocean DestinationsEtihad Airways has launched scheduled flights to Mahé, the capital city of the Seychelles, and Malé in the Maldives.

10

Conrad Hotel to Open in Dubai Within MonthsA new Conrad hotel in the UAE is expected to welcome its first guest in the first quarter of 2012.

2 MARKET UPDATE

19 NOVEMBER 2011

TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY

MANAGING EDITORMary Kammitsi

[email protected]

JOURNALISTSRita Kasziba

Marianna Keen Dominique Christou

SALES & MARKETING

Maria Demetriadou Brighite Ess

Dominique Tennant Dimitris Thomaidis

WEB & LAYOUTElina Pericleous

DIRECTORS

Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

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UAE (AED)

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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

5.99

3.75

1,500.00

0.37

0.71

49.75

0.28

3.64

0.38

1.45

8.30

10,885.00

213.75

74.65

1.24

COUNTRY CURRENCY 1USD=

Accurate as of

17/11/2011Currencies shown in red are fixed against the US Dollar

MENA EXCHANGE RATES

Emirates Posts Strong Business Growth

Jazeera Airways Records Best Nine Months EverJazeera Airways Group has recorded the best nine months since its inception in 2005. The group’s nine-months net profit totalled KWD9.2 million (USD33.5 million), while third quarter net profit reached KWD6.1 million (USD 22.2 million), up 36 per-cent over the corresponding period in 2010. The results marked Jazeera’s fifth consec-utive quarter of record-profits since the introduction of the company’s Turn-Around Plan in mid-2010 and the best nine-month performance since inception. Jazeera Air-ways carried a total of 902,007 passengers in the first nine months of the year and reached a load factor of 67.1 percent, up 15 percent over the same period in 2010. Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways Group, commented on the figures.

“We are glad to report another quarter of record earnings, proving the continued success of the Turn-Around Plan and the institutionalisation of the business and op-erational enhancements that were introduced as part of the plan. Today, the group is well positioned for growth over the coming years.”

I n the first half of its financial year 2011-2012, ending September 30, Emirates produced a net profit of AED827 million (USD225 million), while revenue, in-cluding other operating income, grew

15 percent to AED30.3 billion (USD8.3 billion) from AED26.4 billion (USD7.2 billion) in the corresponding period in 2010. Capacity meas-ured in available seat kilometers (ASKM) rose 8.2 percent, whilst passenger traffic carried measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKM) increased by 5.7 percent, with passen-gers seat factor averaging at 79.3 percent.

Despite global challenges, Emirates Airlines has reported a solid increase in both capacity on offer and traffic carried.

term strategy despite global instability, ever climbing fuel prices which resulted in Emir-ates paying USD1 billion more in fuel costs over the same period in 2010 and fluctuating exchange rates. The global challenges of the past six months have again put Emirates to the test, and once again we have risen to the challenge and continue to maintain our high standards of product and services.”

During the past seven years Emirates’ reve-nue steadily increased by 20 percent per annum resulting in a record 23 years of profitability.

Emirates Airlines

During the past seven years Emirates’ revenue increased by 20

percent per annum resulting in a record 23 years of profitability

With the successful half year performance, Emirates remains on its strong growth trajectory, noted Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

“Emirates remained focused on its long-

4 WEEKLY NEWS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

The Saudi Commission for Tour-ism & Antiquities (SCTA) has shut down 14 hotels and furnished apartments in Riyadh after they failed to meet the standards im-posed by the Commission.

The accommodation facili-ties were ordered to close their doors after surprise inspection visits across Riyadh, which also resulted in the issuance of 552 violations of the criteria. Ac-cording to SCTA, the hotels and furnished flats in question failed to comply with the regulations, even after a grace period was granted to the owners. Another group of accommodation units is also subject to further closures after already having been fined and warned, thus exhausting all opportunities, according to the organisation. The ‘crack down’ reaffirms SCTA’s commitment to modernising and standardising the hospitality industry across the Kingdom. As part of the com-mission’s ongoing efforts, SCTA Branch, Riyadh Province, has also urged investors to settle their status in order to avoid the pos-sible final closures, commented Abdul Rahman Al Jasas, execu-tive director, SCTA Branch.

Al Jasas also highlighted the importance of cooperation be-tween investors and SCTA, and stated that criteria and condi-tions enforcement is for the inter-est of all parties of the hospitality sector. SCTA has long paid great attention to guest complaints and has already, earlier this year, closed down 36 accommodation facilities in Mecca and Jeddah.

SCTA Closes Down 14 Hotels in Riyadh

Etihad Airways Flies to Indian Ocean DestinationsEtihad Airways’s first flight to Malé, the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives, touched down on November 1.

E Y flight 278 was honoured with a traditional water cannon salute and local Bodu beru (big drum) dancers and singers greeted passengers with a performance on the tarmac, mark-

ing what James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways, underlined as a major development. “This is

Maldives inauguration

a very exciting day for Etihad Airways and we are thrilled to add another new destination, particularly one that is so important to the leisure traveller.”

Simon Hawkins, managing director, Mal-dives Marketing and Public Relations Corpora-tion, commented that the service is important

in maintaining tourism growth in the country. “At a time when the Maldives is recording its highest numbers of visitors and reach-ing new markets, this is fundamental to our continued economic growth. We very much look forward to a long and healthy partnership with Etihad Airways for many years to come.”

6 WEEKLY NEWS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Solutions Offered for Faster and Efficient Customer Service

T he multi-year contract for the SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service (CSS) suite of products was signed by Samer Majali, CEO, Gulf Air and Maher Koubaa, general manager, Sabre Airline Solutions.

SabreSonic CSS suite is a service which offers pas-sengers solutions, including check-in facilities, reservation services, ticketing, departure control and load planning, enabling Gulf Air to provide its passengers with an improved travel experience.

Majali commented on the partnership. “The renewal of Sabre Air-line Solutions’ contract demonstrates the decades-long relationship between the two travel industry leaders. We believe that the new suite of products offered by Sabre not only meets the current needs of Gulf Air but also supports the airline’s future growth plans. Our ul-timate aim is to provide a seamless travel experience to our custom-ers while achieving cost efficiency and better management of out internal passenger service systems. We look forward to continuing working with Sabre.”

The airline's entire network will be installed with the new suite of products, beginning with its headquarters in Bahrain.

“Gulf Air is a valued customer and we are committed to continue providing it with the industry’s most comprehensive passenger ser-vice solutions and tools across its operations,” noted Koubaa.

The contract for a new reservations system software package between Gulf Air and Sabre Airline Solutions, the carrier’s long time business partner providing passenger service solutions, has been renewed.

Gulf Air

Qatar Airways Partners with Precision

Qatar Airways has signed an interline agreement with Precision Air, Tanzania’s largest carrier.

In terms of the agreement, travellers are able to com-bine flights on both airlines’ networks by purchasing a single itinerary. The partnership allows Qatar Airways’ passengers to connect seamlessly via the Tanzanian capi-tal, Dar es Salaam, to and from a wide range of East Afri-can destinations, including Moroni, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Arusha, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Musoma and Tabora.

Qatar Airways currently operates double daily ser-vices between Dar es Salaam and its Doha hub. The partnership broadens the airline’s reach to diverse markets, noted Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways.

“Through Precision Air, we are able to open up an ex-citing array of destinations in East Africa and very much look forward to having passengers experience our ser-vice, particularly as they may have previously used alter-native gateways to get to their final destination.”

8 WEEKLY NEWS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Al Bateen Executive Airport: Increasing Aircraft Movements

Al Bateen Executive Airport has recorded solid growth in visiting aircraft movements in the third quarter of the year.

Driven by a healthy mix of private aircraft and charter operations as well as flights of based and tenant operations, a total of 1,903 commercial traf-fic movements were registered at the airport, up 12 percent over the corresponding period in 2010. Visiting aircraft operations recorded a rise of 42 per-cent, whereby the figure reached 202 movements. The surge reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing importance as a business hub, noted Steve Jones, general man-ager, Al Bateen Executive Airport.

“As an airport dedicated to business aviation, the significant increase in visiting aircraft reflects

the increasing volume of busi-ness traffic in Abu Dhabi. The airport’s strategic location, providing businessmen with access to the central business district of the city, is one of the key strengths of this facility.”

MSC Cruises has opened up a world of Arabian splendour, with the cruise line’s first vessel, MSC Lirica’s, debut call in the UAE.

Following a stop-over in Dubai, the 59,000 tonne cruise ship embarked on her maiden cruise to Abu Dhabi, her new win-ter season home port. During her 19 scheduled eight-night, seven- day winter season itineraries, MSC Lirica will enjoy a total of 95 ports of call and rotations in Muscat, Al Fujairah, the Musandam port of Khasab in Oman and Dubai.

MSC Lirica’s current season is expected to realise a potential 41,000 cruise passenger arrivals.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) estimates that the decision to home port the cruise ship in Abu Dhabi will generate in excess of AED135 million (USD37 million) per season in net economic im-pact to, and via, the emirate’s tour-ism sector.

For the following 2012-2013 winter season, MSC Cruises will expand its operations in the re-gion with the addition of a second luxury cruise ship. MSC Opera, which will also homeport in Abu Dhabi, will offer 25 cruises with 125 port calls, and is expected to bring a further 54,000 passengers per year.

MSC Lirica Arrives in the UAE

MSC Lirica

Al Bateen Executive Airport

9WEEKLY NEWSAccommodation

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Deira City Centre

Frasers Hospitality has opened Fraser Suites Doha, its third property in the Middle East. Located in the heart of the Qatari capital city, on the corniche waterfront promenade, Fraser Suites Doha comprises 138 serviced residences over 14 floors, ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites. Each residence is appointed with contemporary modern furnishing and state-of-the-art in-room technology, making the property suitable for both short and long stays. Mustapha Henini, general manager, Fraser Suites Doha, commented on the development.

“For travellers today, space and convenience is essential, whether it is for short-stay business travel or long-stay leisure travel. Our residencies of-fer guests the serene comfort of home like no other hotel room does, with fully-equipped living, dining and kitchen areas, as well as the convenience of a fully-serviced hotel at their fingertips. Whatever the guest's needs, we will be able to service their individual preferences.”

The property also features an all-day dining restaurant and cafe, a busi-ness centre with meeting rooms, a rooftop swimming pool and a fitness centre with sauna and spa facilities. Fraser Suites Doha follows the Frasers’ Bahrain and Dubai properties in the company’s portfolio, with Fraser Suites in Saudi Arabia expected to be added in 2012.

The rebranding of The City Centre Hotel & Resi-dence to the upscale Pullman Deira City Centre Dubai is scheduled to be complete by March 2012. The property will provide 317 rooms and suites and offer the finest facilities and luxury amenities. It will be linked to one of the larg-est malls in the region, Deira City Centre, and to Dubai’s transport link, the metro.

Facilities for relaxation will include a rooftop spa and swimming pool, treatment rooms, steam rooms, a fitness centre, and three food and bever-age outlets.

Pullman Deira City Centre Dubai will encom-pass the brand’s special-ist approach to hosting medium to large scale meetings, conferences and events, including dedicated areas and state-of-the-art equip-ment.

Frasers Hospitality Debuts in Qatar

Fraser Suites Doha

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Make it’s Mark in Ghana

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts have announced the open-ing of the rebuilt Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra. The hotel, which consists of 260 rooms, is located in the cen-tral business district with close proximity to the Accra In-ternational Conference Centre and seven kilometres from Kotoka International Airport.

Jean Gabriel Pérès, CEO, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, commented on the new development. “Mövenpick Am-bassador Hotel Accra is a shining example of expanding our portfolio internationally and regionally. We have over-whelming confidence in the region for both business and for its fledgling tourist industry and we are committed to developing more hotels in strategic locations in the African continent.” The hotel holds four meeting rooms, a 750m2 ballroom, two tennis courts and a health and fitness centre.

Stuart Chase, general manager, Mövenpick Ambassa-dor Hotel, gave his insight on the hotel’s significance. “Accra is becoming the economic hub of the West African region. Now, with Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, we blend the warmth of West African culture with the quality, reliability and personalised service that Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts offers.”

Pullman Deira City Centre Dubai to be Revealed

10 WEEKLY NEWS Accommodation

19 NOVEMBER 2011

A new Conrad hotel in the UAE is expected to welcome its first guest in the first quarter of 2012. Located in the heart of Dubai’s com-mercial, business and entertainment district, on Sheikh Zayed Road, the hotel will form part of a mixed-use development of 180,000m2. The latest addition to Conrad Hotels & Re-

sorts, Hilton International’s luxury brand’s portfolio, will feature 559 rooms with executive floor rooms and suites.

Built above a 40,000m2 Grade A office tower and a 5,000m2 outdoor leisure deck and pool area, the five-star hotel will also boast a business centre with meeting rooms, ball-rooms, a spa and health club and a choice of restau-rants and bars.

T he signing of the hotel, owned by Reisler Deri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Siketi, adds to Wyndham Hotel Group’s steady growth in Turkey, following the recent an-

nouncement that the nation’s first Wynd-ham hotel, Wyndham Petek Istanbul, is set to debut in 2012. The company currently operates seven Ramada branded hotels in the country.

The announcement is in line with a company-wide expansion strategy in the region, commented Eric Danziger, CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group. “Turkey plays an important role in our plans to expand

Wyndham Hotel Group’s portfolio in Eu-rope and the Middle East and continue providing travellers with first-rate accom-modations around the world.”

The five-star property will be located directly across from the exclusive Kalamis Marina in Istanbul and will feature 211 rooms over five floors, one presidential suite and eight meeting rooms. A large spa will provide 12 treatment rooms, while a fitness centre, indoor pool and rooftop pool will also be featured. Dining options will include three restaurants: one of-fering all-day dining and two speciality restaurants.

Conrad Hotel to Open in Dubai Within Months

Second Wyndham Hotel in Turkey to Debut in 2012Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina is due to open in autumn 2012, marking the second Wynd-ham Hotels and Resorts franchised property in the country.

Blue mosque in Istanbul

Conrad hotel, Dubai

12 WEEKLY NEWS Air News

19 NOVEMBER 2011

RAK Airways is to extend its route network to 10 des-tinations with the introduction of scheduled flights to Khartoum.

Starting December 15, the carrier will operate three flights a week to the capital city of Sudan. RAK Airways’ entry into the African country marks another milestone in its operation, which was re-launched just a year ago. Omar Jahameh, CEO, RAK Airways, elabo-rated on the airline’s expansion strategy.

“We had a clear mandate to fly to 10 destinations within one year of re-launching our operations. With the introduction of our flights to Khartoum, we have achieved our objective and laid the foundation for a successful and profitable future for the airline. Khar-toum presents compelling business opportunities and marks our commitment to furthering our presence in North Africa.”

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) and airberlin have entered into a codeshare agreement that will mark the German carrier’s first such cooperation with an Arab airline.

The deal, which applies to flights starting from November 1, al-lows RJ passengers to travel to a number of German and European destinations on airberlin services, while the German airline's custom-ers will be able to book onto RJ flights to Amman from Berlin, Frank-furt, Munich and Vienna.

Paul Gregorowitsch, chief commercial officer, airberlin, com-mented on the key development. “We are pleased to announce our first codeshare agreement together with an Arab airline, namely Roy-al Jordanian. Passengers flying Royal Jordanian will benefit from the cooperation in that selected destinations in Germany, Austria and Poland and can, for the first time, be reached under a flight number shared with airberlin. Furthermore, this cooperation allows airberlin to further expand its presence in the Middle East.”

Royal Jordanian and airberlin Enter Key Codeshare Agreement

Cathedral of Berlin

RAK Airways to Fly to Sudan

Qatar Airways will increase capacity across its net-work in Iran with 31 extra flights per week across four cities. Representing a 150 percent increase in fre-quency, the rise will be phased in over a four-month period, starting December 1.

Iran’s capital city, Tehran, will be served with an ad-ditional daily service, to reach 21 flights per week, while nine extra flights per week will operate to the country’s second largest city, Mashhad. Shiraz, the economic centre of southern Iran, will receive eight new flights per week. From January 2012, a fourth city, Isfahan, will be added to the network, where the airline will oper-ate daily services. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, commented on the strategic network expansion.

“This announcement is a historic mo-ment showing the strengthening of ties between our two countries.”

All flights will be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

Qatar Airways Expands Network Across Iran

Tehran

13WEEKLY NEWSAir News

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Emirates Touches Down in St Petersburg

Emirates Airlines has continued its Eastern Euro-pean expansion with the addition of St Petersburg to its route map. The carrier will operate daily servic-es to the city, often referred to as Russia’s Northern Capital. St Petersburg marks Emirates’ second desti-nation in the country after the capital city of Mos-cow, where the carrier offers twice daily flights.

The new link between Dubai and St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport is expected to further boost both travel and trade volume between the countries. It also enables the fast expanding Russian companies to access new markets across Emirates’ extensive network, noted Sergey Emdin, general director, Northern Capital Gateway.

“We made significant efforts to ensure the suc-cessful start of Emirates’ service, which represents the highest industry standards. Flights to the North-ern Capital, launched by one of the world's largest airlines, support Pulkovo’s route network expansion, offering our customers an opportunity to travel all around the globe in comfort with Emirates.”

Etihad Lands in the SeychellesEtihad Airways has launched scheduled flights to Mahé, the capital city of the Seychelles.

Etihad arrives in Mahé

T he airline, which will operate four weekly flights to the holiday hotspot via a two-class Airbus A320, has already received strong forward bookings for the route, par-ticularly from points of origin in the airline’s

European network. James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways, commented on

the new destination. “The ties between Abu Dhabi and the Seychelles

are already strong, and with this new route, Etihad Airways can help to make that relationship stronger. The Seychelles has long been a favourite destination among discerning leisure travellers, and global inter-est in the destination has been building in recent years, particularly following the much-publicised Royal Hon-eymoon. I am thrilled to bring Etihad Airways, a brand recognised for worldwide excellence, to a destination admired by travellers the world over.”

14 WEEKLY NEWS International

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Best Western to Expand in Malaysia

Best Western is to add a new hotel to its Malay-sian portfolio.

Best Western Plus, located in a 31-storey tower in the prestigious 1Gateway development in Klang, is scheduled to welcome its first guest in 2015. Besides 139 rooms, it will offer 90 small office-variable suites as well as a sky lounge, fit-ness centre and swimming pool.

The hotel is expected to attract a large num-ber of business travellers, noted Lim Thiam Huat, executive director, Lagenda Erajuta, the developer of the project.

“Best Western Plus is suitable for Port Klang as it’s a Free Trade Zone and surrounded by other in-ternational business developments, which is right

at 1Gateway’s doorstep. Foreign and local business-men will find it convenient and comfortable to stay in and will enjoy the right ambience for conducting business.”

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of its first Azerbaijan hotel, Hilton Baku. The hotel, which is situated on the coast of the Caspian Sea, includes the first eforea: spa at Hilton in the Euro-pean region.

The 25-floor hotel boasts 18 meeting rooms accommodating up to 196 guests and a grand ballroom catering to 738 guests as a theatre or 460 guests for a din-ner event. With a prime city location and close proximity to Heydar Aliyev Interna-tional Airport, Hilton Baku is ideal for busi-ness and leisure travellers alike.

Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Ho-tels & Resorts, commented on the new development and how it will affect the country's growth. “As a leading global hotel brand we are delighted to open our

first hotel and eforea: spa at Hilton in Azer-baijan, a growing European destination.”

Hilton Baku’s eforea: spa at Hilton of-fers guests luxurious pampering options, including facial and body treatments and a holistic spa, with some of the world’s fin-est spa brands.

Manuel Avila, general manager, Hilton Baku, gave his view on the exciting new property.

“The architecture of Hilton Baku has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase the glorious sights of the city and surrounding coastline as a key feature and selling point of the hotel. Set against the stunning backdrop we have created a truly unique hospitality environment that will be matched by the quality of the facili-ties and level of customer service on offer.”

Hilton Hotels & Resorts Makes its First Appearance in Azerbaijan

Signing ceremony

Baku, Azerbaijan

15WHOS' MOVED

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Nabeel Sheikh

Bill Sheppard

Wolfgang Maier

Nabeel Sheikh has been pro-moted to executive assistant manager of Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road. Sheikh, who has been work-ing in the hospitality industry for 18 years, has previously gained experience in food and beverage, revenue man-agement and rooms divisions with leading international five-star hotels and brands

across Europe and the Middle East. Most recently he worked as director of operations at Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Dubai.

Bill Sheppard has been ap-pointed general manager of Crowne Plaza Dubai, Deira. Since joining InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 2003, he has been recognised with a number of awards, including the best IHG hotel in Asia Pa-cific and the IHG general man-ager of the year with Inter-Continental Wellington, New Zealand. Having worked for several major global brands, such as Marriott and Hilton, at various locations around the globe, including Saudi Ara-

bia, the US, the Netherlands, the UK, Australia, New Zea-land, and most recently Egypt, Sheppard brings a wealth of experience to his role. His goal at Crowne Plaza is to success-fully drive owner return and all elements of service deliv-ery. Sheppard also holds the director of operations, Dubai position with responsibilities for Crowne Plaza Dubai, Holi-day Inn Dubai, Downtown, Holiday Inn Sharjah and Holi-day Inn Bur Dubai, Embassy District.

Wolfgang Maier has been appointed general manager of Hilton Abu Dhabi. Maier, who has been with Hilton for more than 40 years, brings with him invaluable inter-national hotel management experience. Previously he held positions across Europe, Australia, the Middle East and several locations in Asia. Most recently, he worked as cluster

general manager of Jeddah Hilton and Qasr Al Sharq in Saudi Arabia. He started his career at the company as an apprentice in hotel adminis-tration in Germany. He took on his first Middle East assign-ment in 1977 to join Hilton Kuwait. He then continued to gain experience at 13 differ-ent Hilton properties across five continents.

He has experience in food and beverage,

revenue management and rooms divisions with

leading international five-star hotels

16 TRAVEL TALK

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Taleb Rifai

Secretary-general, UNWTO.

“Tourism can be part of the solution to the economic difficulties facing the world. Amid in-creased economic uncertainty, unacceptably high unemployment rates and the challenges of fiscal consolidation and increased taxation in many economies, it is time for us to recall the role tourism can have in increasing exports, driving economic growth and creating jobs.”

Adel Ali

Group CEO, Air Arabia.

“Eight years ago, we could not have anticipated how rapidly Air Arabia would grow, or how dra-matically our pioneering low-cost model would change how, when and at what price people would travel here in the Middle East. From our earliest days, with just a handful of passengers, we have now served millions and millions of in-dividuals – connecting them with friends and families, helping them carry out their studies and helping them succeed in their businesses.”

Ahmed Al Haddabi

Chief operating officer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

“Being part of the service industry and in line with our strategy to become one of the leading airport groups in the world, ADAC always takes into consideration the needs and expectations of its customers, from passengers and airlines. Through such thorough assessments, ADAC is able to identify and closely monitor travellers’ ex-pectations and make suitable adjustments to its service offerings.”

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]

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17AGENT'S CORNER

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Adel Ali

Ahmed Al Haddabi

AGENT'S INSIGHT

NAME: Farukh Sardar

POSITION: General manager

COMPANY: Mannai Travels

LOCATION: Qatar

Who are you?My name is Farukh Sardar, the general manager of Mannai Travels. I am someone who loves the travel industry; I have been in this profession for over 30 years and I am still learn-ing and enjoying the ride. Being a travel consultant is a self rewarding profession. We are an IATA certified agency with five locations in Qatar and we have a young team of well trained travel consultants who will go out of their way to make things happen. We have a customer promise, being that we never say no and we will always find a solution.

What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?There is never a dull moment, there are always new challenges and a way to win customer recognition .

When is the best time to visit Qatar?The best time to visit Qatar is November to April when the weather is good.

Where would you like to travel to for your next holiday?We are planning, as a family, to go on a tiger safari in India.

Why should people come to you for travel advice?They should come to us as we need them as much as they need us and if we believe in this then they will go nowhere else.

Travelport Upgrades Complete Pricing PlusTravelport has introduced signif-icant enhancements to its Com-plete Pricing hotel product .

Complete Pricing enables trav-el agents to receive a total price, including all rate changes, taxes and surcharges for an entire stay. Meanwhile, the newly introduced Complete Pricing Plus allows agents to request additional pric-ing options. It also provides users with standardised room, rule and rate information in a structured format enabling them to inden-tify information such as a room’s view, bedding configuration, meal plans, credential requirements, cancelation policy, commission in-dicator and much more.

Currently, more than 70 hotel

chains and central reservation sys-tems are utilising the programme.

Niklas Andreen, group vice president, hospitality and partner marketing, Travelport, comment-ed on the improvement.

“Complete Pricing Plus saves time for both hoteliers and agents by reducing the number of queries about hotel rates and room infor-mation. It is the only GDS product on the market that enables hotel-iers to return pricing options such as charges for children, cribs and extra bedding within an availabil-ity request. This not only enhances leisure booking facilities but also provides a consistent approach with the way online travel agen-cies price hotel stays.”

Doha skyline

18 TRAVEL CHANNELS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

IATA Reports Divergent Trends

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported traffic results for September that imply trends for cargo and passenger traffic have diverged.

International passenger traffic was 5.6 percent higher than in the same month of 2010 and stronger than the 4.6 per-cent year-on-year growth recorded in August. On the other hand, a 2.7 percent

decline in air freight was recorded for Sep-tember compared with the same month of 2010, marking further deterioration from the 2.4 percent contraction recorded in August. Carriers in Latin America reported the larg-est increase in demand at 10.6 percent (up from a 6.4 percent increase in August), sup-

ported by robust economic conditions, while European airlines saw a 9.2 percent increase, slightly behind the 9.5 percent growth in capacity. Middle East carriers were reported to be next in the running, with traffic having risen by 9.1 percent, ahead of a capacity rise of 8.5 percent (a step down from the 15 per-cent capacity increases seen in recent years). African airlines experienced a five percent increase in demand, closely matching the 5.2 percent rise in capacity, while Asia-Pacific carriers saw a 4.3 percent growth in demand,

well below the 6.3 percent increase in ca-pacity. North American airlines recorded a 1.2 percent rise in demand, the weakest among the regions. Tony Tyler, CEO, IATA, remarked on the performance. “September’s strength in passenger demand was a pleas-ant surprise. Freight demand contracted for a fifth consecutive month and this trend is in line with falling business and consumer confidence. We are still expecting a general weakening in passenger traffic as we head towards the year-end.”

More Middle Eastern Visitors Attracted to Singapore

Singapore’s tourism sector has continued to flourish, having attracted 25,763 visitors from the UAE in the first half of the year, according to fig-ures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Figures indicate that the number of Emiratis visiting the country increased by 10.9 percent over the same period of 2010. The Middle East re-gion saw a 4.8 percent increase in visitors to Sin-gapore over the previous year, thus reaching an all time high of 69,226. This increase is thought to have been provoked by the burgeoning range of premier attractions, hotels and tourist amenities on offer. STB also indicates that tour-ism revenue for the period increased 32 percent

to SGD11 billion (USD8.7 billion), outpacing growth in total visitor arrivals, which climbed 15 per-cent to reach 6.4 million guests.

Singapore at night

19RENDEZVOUS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

Q & A with Hadi AklPolitical upheaval in the MENA region has affected the hospitality industry significantly, with players forced to re-evaluate their strategies. Hadi Akl, general manager, Bella Riva Suite Hotel, Lebanon, talks about the sector’s challenges and its outlook for the future.

Hadi AklGeneral manager, Bella Riva Suite Hotel, Lebanon

Travel Trade Weekly: Bella Riva Suite Hotel, conventionally situated within close prox-imity to the airport as well as the beach and the centre of Beirut, boasts an ideal loca-tion for both leisure and business travellers. What ratio of your business stems from the corporate and the leisure segments?

Hadi Akl: One of Bella Riva Suite Hotel's strong points is its location. Situated in a quiet street, within walking distance of the beach and Hamra shopping district, and a short drive from the airport and Beirut’s downtown area, our hotel attracts business travellers that form 45 percent of our clientele, while leisure guests form the remaining 55 percent.

Travel Trade Weekly: With its spacious and well-equipped units, the hotel offers excel-lent accommodation options for long-term stays. How has the demand for suite hotels changed over the years?

Hadi Akl: Due to unrest in the region, espe-cially in nearby countries, as well as to the timing of Ramadan, which took place from August 1-29, business, particularly demand on suites, dropped in comparison with 2010. Mostly, guests are interested in booking suites because they come as families and stay for a long period, but Ramadan falling in the middle of the tourism season has strongly af-fected the request on these room categories.

Travel Trade Weekly: With new hotels and resorts cropping up across the country, the competition is getting more and more in-tense. What are guests' major values in your experience?

Hadi Akl: During recent decades, 'brand' names have become a major key to affect-ing a guest’s perception of any property. This intangible value became a dominant trend in the hotel industry, which was suc-cessful in creating a large share of loyal customers.

However guests’ main expectations dur-ing their stay in any hotel are comfort, clean-liness, and a fast friendly and 'smiley' service with a special touch of personalised approach. Any hotel that can provide these values can preserve its place in the market.

Travel Trade Weekly: How has regional up-heaval impacted your business?

Hadi Akl: It has been a tough year for tour-ism in Lebanon. The Arab spring and the Ramadan timing made it difficult to meet the budgets and achieve sales targets. Though occupancy was not radically affected because we shifted to new markets to bring business, a 15 percent drop in the average rate is easily noticeable due to the promotions and com-petitive rates we had to implement in order to attract new business.

Travel Trade Weekly: As the Asian, espe-cially Chinese, and Russian outbound mar-ket is booming, many of the Middle Eastern hospitality industry's players are targeting these areas. Does this apply for Lebanon?

Hadi Akl: We get most of our business from GCC and Levant countries aside from the French, German, and English markets which were heavily affected this year. It will be very hard for Lebanon to attract any new markets for the time being, we have lost all our Far Eastern clients due to the unrest in the region. Stability must reign again and business will come by itself.

Lebanon has overcome a lot of setbacks in its tourism sector and I am sure business will heal itself again and again.

Lebanon has overcome a lot of setbacks in its tourism sector and I am sure business will heal itself again and again

20 EVENTS

19 NOVEMBER 2011

EVENTSPhiloxeniaThessaloniki, Greece, November 18-21, 2011(www.philoxenia.travel)The expo, now in its 27th year, aims at promoting tourism in South-eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. It acts as an international meeting point for professionals engaged in different sectors of the tourism industry.

EIBTMBarcelona, Spain, November 29 – December 1, 2011(www.eibtm.com)A leading global event for the meetings and events industry, which gathers more than 14,200 professionals for three days.

World Green TourismAbu Dhabi, UAE, December 5-7, 2011(www.worldgreentourism.com)A three-day event that is supported by ADTA and EAD, and the only one in the region dedicated to the promotion of sustainable tourism.

ILTM Cannes, France, December 5-8, 2011(www.iltm.net)A unique event that is ideal for buyers and suppliers working within the international luxury travel sector, who strive to provide the ulti-mate customised experience.

Ferien-Messe Wien Vienna, Austria, January 12-15, 2012(www.ferien-messe.at)The leading public access tourism trade fair in Austria, which is attended each year by more than 100,000 consumers and thousands of experts.

FITUR Tourism Trade Fair FeiradeMadrid, Spain, January 18-22, 2012(www.ifema.es)A meeting point for tourism professionals, in which they can estab-lish lines of action, strategies and business alliances.

Business Travel Market to DevelopReed Travel Exhibition (RTE) has announced its acquisition of the Business Travel Market (BTM). BTM, which was launched in 2009 by Paul Robin, is the first event to offer the corporate travel sector a platform in which to accommodate hosted key buyers from Europe. Business events run by RTE for the MICE industry annually at-tract 5,000 suppliers from 100 countries and 17,000 meeting planners, in addition to over 100,000 pre-scheduled appointments.

Richard Mortimore, managing director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, commented that the acquisition is strategically important for RTEs portfolio of events. “We have monitored BTM’s progress with interest; its successful hosted buyer programme for-mat complements our own. We believe we can further consolidate BTM’s position in Europe as well as develop its brand in other markets where we already operate.”

Since its first show, BTM has doubled in size with support from key players in the business travel industry.

Paul Robin, event manager, BTM, noted that having established the event in the face of difficult market conditions, with limited resources, it is as pleasing as it is exciting to look forward to developing BTM as part of the world’s largest event or-ganiser.

The event will take place on June 13-14, 2012, at London’s ExCeL exhibition and conference centre.

We believe we can fur-ther consolidate BTM’s position in Europe as well as develop its brand in other markets where we already operate